Update from Nate and Jenn Hosler in Nigeria - September 2011

Announcement about our Work
This week, we marked two years since we first arrived at Kulp Bible College in Kwarhi, Adamawa State, Nigeria, to begin our peace and reconciliation work alongside EYN (Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria).  We have learned and grown in our knowledge and capabilities while here.  Our work has seen milestones and obstacles; we have seen small, local successes while the broader security in the country has been deteriorating. We have made great friendships and acquaintances with colleagues and neighbors, our brothers and sisters.  Our contract was originally for two years and we have decided only to continue in Nigeria for a few months beyond its end.  We will not be renewing for another term in Nigeria and we will be returning the United States on December 15^th, 2011.  We will likely be sharing about our work with Brethren congregations in the U.S. during the first few months of 2012. 

One motivating factor has been the desire to return to school and we are currently pursuing opportunities.  We are grateful for the prayers, support, and encouragement that we have received while working for peace in Nigeria and we ask for your continued prayers.

Progress on Interfaith Work
Since June 2010, a group of Muslims and Christians have been meeting together as an interfaith peace planning group and it meets under the name CAMPI, or Christians and Muslims for Peacebuilding Initiatives.  The goal of CAMPI is to bring together peace-minded Muslims and Christians in the Mubi area to plan and implement projects that promote understanding and harmony between the two religious groups.  Preparation on the first project began a year ago, with preparation, hurdles, and obstacles including illness (our own), prohibitive schedules (on the Nigerian side), the elections and subsequent violence in April, and religious observances (such as Easter and Ramadan).  We are happy to say that that project—an intergroup dialogue and conflict resolution training for imams and pastors—has finally begun. 

We arrived back in Nigeria just at the start of Ramadan, the month of fasting that Muslims observe every year as one of five crucial tenets of their faith.  Muslims do not eat or drink during daylight hours of Ramadan and also prepare meals to break the fast each evening. Due to this, we held off for the month of August and then quickly gathered the interfaith planning group together after the end of Ramadan. 

Our first intergroup dialogue session brought 3 imams and 3 pastors together in Mubi on September 10^th.  CAMPI members introduced themselves, as did the imams and pastors.  Our Muslim and Christian facilitators re-explained the purpose of the group and the need to increases ties and understanding between religious leaders (this was discussed earlier during the recruitment of the imams and pastors).  Each meeting includes a resource person’s mini-tutorial on conflict and peace, followed by group discussion.  September 10^th’s meeting included an overview of conflict and peace, broadly understood.  Conflict is a normal part of life and can be either good or bad, depending on how people handle it.  Peace is not simply “no violence” but also includes the presence of good relationships, health, and well-being.  Peace is food to eat, clean water, healthcare for all, children attending quality schools, and the ability for people to provide for their families. Peace is diverse groups of people trying to understand each other’s similarities and differences, respecting the differences, and living alongside each other cooperatively. 

We are encouraged by the discussions and openness present in the first meeting and also in the second, held this past Saturday, September 24^th.  Two resource persons (a Christian man and a Muslim woman) presented on Christian and Islamic Scriptures for peace.  There was engaging dialogue on religious understandings of “Who is our neighbor?”  One Christian participant shared on how he and his Muslim neighbor share a wall and a well.  The Muslim family crosses into his compound every day because of the water available in the Christian household.  According to the participant, a visitor to their households would not know “whose children are whose” because of how the two families intermingle.  We are thankful for the openness of participants to share stories such as this. 

International Day of Prayer for Peace
Kulp Bible College held its first event to mark the International Day of Prayer for Peace on September 21^st.  Every year, churches around the world gather on 21^st September to pray for peace in their relationships, communities, countries, and the rest of the world.  International Day of Prayer for Peace has been an initiative of the World Council of Churches since 1981, connected to the United Nations observance of an international day of peace.

Three surrounding churches were invited to attend the event hosted by KBC Chapel.  The event was a prayer service which included special presentations from the Women’s Fellowship at KBC and the KBC Peace Club.  The Women’s Fellowship (ZME—Zumuntar Matan a Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria) presented several beautiful songs about peace, accompanied as always by several Nigerian percussion instruments.  The KBC Peace Club performed a drama that highlighted ongoing conflicts in the world.  The Peace Club dramatized the problem of leaders clinging to power and terrorist attacks.  They illustrated that violence was the wrong way to handle problems and that prayer (in addition to action) was a necessary ingredient to achieving peace.

Following the songs and drama, Jenn gave an overview on the event’s background, purpose and theme.  The Scripture theme for the event (promoted by On Earth Peace in the U.S.) is adapted from Jeremiah 29:7: “Seek the peace of the city—for in its peace, you will find peace”.  This Scripture explains some of the purpose of this event: God uses both our prayers and our actions for peace to transform the world around us.  Both action and prayer are essential.  We commemorate the International Day of Prayer for Peace to lift up our lives, actions, and the problems of this world to God, to raise awareness for ourselves, and to ask for God’s intervention in our relationships, communities, country, and the world at large. 

Interesting and Ordinary in Nigeria Kola Nuts
Last week, we received a small bag of treats: gum, hard candy, and… a kola nut.  The bag was part of the celebration and gifts for the wedding of a KBC staff member.  In Nigeria, cultural practices involve the groom’s family bringing gifts as the wedding discussions begin.  Traditionally, kola nuts are important symbols for agreements, negotiations, and formal discussions. Two people in disagreement who come to understanding—or people partaking in special ceremonies—would break a kola nut together and eat the pieces. 

Eating kola nuts, for us, is not pleasant because they are extremely bitter.  Those who know us well know that we like most foods from around the world.  Yet, somehow we cannot make our tongues enjoy kola nuts. Some Nigerians who drive vehicles for their livelihood chew kola nuts because of the caffeine they contain.  One interesting American connection is that extract from the kola nut was an original ingredient in a patent medicine drink from the 1880s.  This patent medicine combined kola extract and coca leaf extract to make a beverage called Coca-Cola (the creator was advised that two “C’s” looked better for marketing).

Prayer Requests
Interfaith Dialogue Group
Please pray for relationships that are being built, that they would grow stronger and more open, that our participants would continue their relationships and be examples of peace to their congregations and mosques in Mubi.  Our meetings will continue bi-weekly into November—pray for good attendance and engaging discussions about what it means to be religious leaders working for peace.

KBC Peace Club
The Peace Club will be conducting two peace outreach events on November 5-6 and 12-13.  They are currently in the preparation phase of their events which will be held on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings.  There will be a drama and sermon on Saturday evening and also on Sunday morning concerning the relationship between poverty and peace.  Pray for wisdom and strength for the Peace Club as they work on the preparation in the midst of assignments and teaching practice. 

Peace Work in Nigeria
Please pray for us to finish our work in Nigeria on a strong note and that we would be filled with strength and joy as we work.  Pray for EYN and its leadership, especially Rev. Dr. Samuel D. Dali (EYN President) as he supports peace work becoming a larger ministry of EYN.  Pray also that creative, energetic, and skilled Nigerian staff would join the Peace Programme to complement and add to the work and leadership of Rev. Dr. Toma H. Ragnjiya (Peace Programme Coordinator).

In Christ’s peace,
Nate and Jenn

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