NIFES (and other updates)

Over the past week and a half, we’ve finally had a chance to connect with staff and students of Nigerian International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (NIFES), a sister movement of college students to InterVarsity-USA. Last Sunday, we went to a Large Group meeting of Vet students. It was a lively fellowship of about 60 students where we could tell they enjoyed meeting together and sharing God’s work in their lives. We spent two days this past week at the headquarters here in Jos. We’ve been graciously welcomed in by folks who’ve also hosted Francis F, Ann C, Jeanette Y, and others from our Madison IV community. It’s like meeting up with extended family. Ryan led out of Ephesians at their chapel, and I shared from Daniel tonight at a meeting of NIFES alumni and supporters. Ryan has been working on promotional materials for their tri-annual missions conference in Nov 2007. We’ve been officially invited back, and are excited about the possibility of returning to Jos to serve again with Faith Alive and NIFES. I’ve met with their coordinator for HIV/AIDS awareness and share in his passion to bring correct and holistic information to college students and provide them with an opportunity to be tested. Less than 10% of Nigerian college students know their status, and many still have misinformation about HIV and STIs. I’ve dreamt of the possibility of a partnership between 2-3 US college students coming to volunteer in the area of HIV/AIDS awareness and testing among fellow Nigerian college students, and secondly, perhaps also raising funds to enable testing of all 6000 students from West Africa who will be at next Nov’s conference.
Regarding other things we’ve been up to, I’ve finished the first draft of “Expansion of HIV-1 Screening and Anti-Retroviral Treatment Programs in a Resource-Poor Setting: Results from a Faith-based Organization in Nigeria.” I look forward to Dr. Chris’ comments. Ryan is working steadily on the 2nd Edition of “Touching Lives,” a full-color 28-page magazine highlighting the 10th anniversary of the ministry of Faith Alive, as well as the video of personal stories of how people infected and affected by HIV.
And lest you think it’s been all work and no rest for us, we enjoyed a nice hike yesterday at the highest place in Jos, Shere Hills (including a little free climbing near the top,). It was great to be out of the city for a bit. We’ve also had delicious grilled Tilapia from a roadside stand, met with Carmen for lunch on Thursday, and haven’t yet tired of wonderfully ripe mangos on a near daily basis.