Today was a Nigerian holiday- National Workers Day. So, instead of heading to the SIL office, we visited an orphanage called Seeds of Hope. A Nigerian man named Bomshock met us and took us out to East Jos for the visit.

Bomshock had an incredible testimony. He barely survived a muslim attack when he was a teen, but God used this to build his faith rather than destroy it. This growing faith led him to be a missionary in the Philippines where he met his wife (an American). He moved to the US for seven years and spent sometime as a youth pastor before God laid it on their hearts to return to Nigeria.

Upon returning to Nigeria, they began participating in a food distribution project at one of the refugee camps. These camps exist because of large scale attacks against villages, towns, and farms that have forced people to be displaced. Over time, it became clear to Bomshock and his wife McKayla that there was a need for a safe place for some of the orphan children that they were finding in these camps. Normally, orphans are cared for by their extended family, but what happens when the aunt or uncle is starving, too?

There were around forty kids at the orphanage. They have hired dorm parents and cooks to teach these kids, care for them, and feed them. They all have heart wrenching stories, but they are learning about Jesus in a safe place where their basic needs are being met. Rachel came away so encouraged by what she saw and it was a highlight for Evan as well as he thinks about what God might be calling him to do long term through missions (either as a goer or a sender).

After that, we took some time to go back to Rachel’s for lunch. After lunch, we went to some small shops to pick up some souvenirs. I was excited to pick some things up for my kids. Evan picked out for himself a really nice painting from one of the vendors and Rachel found a nice skirt that she liked.

In the evening, we had dinner with the Yoder family. They had five kids and a number of friends waiting to greet us. We played some “Knock out” on the basketball court before sitting down to a packed table filled with good food and sweet fellowship.

Right before we left, Rachel’s friend Emily stopped by (she lives down the street) and showed us some flowers that she had picked. They weren’t just any flowers. They are called Night Blooming Cereus flowers. They bloom once a year and only for a single night. What a grace from God that we got to be here to see them in 2024?

-Jimmy