June 17

The team of seven left late last night on a flight headed for Lagos, Nigeria. It is a 12 hour flight.  They had plenty of time to rest while flying.  They have landed and will catch up on rest before they begin their first ministry project tomorrow.

June 18

Day One of the basketball clinics at Rowe Park, the park where the Ohonme family lived and where Dave provided Manny that first pair of shoes.  The team gathered with local volunteers to plan out the shoe distribution and set up the dental clinic.  150 developing basketball players had their feet washed and received a brand new pair of shoes.  The smiles of the children were the first indication for the team of what this trip will mean.

June 19

Day Two of our Rowe Park visit was filled with basketball.  All the children returned with a new bounce in their step.  The group was separated into 6 different teams, each with a coach and a different basketball fundamental to focus upon.  The SF team presented Manny's story to all of the children in the form of storyboards, allowing time for the children to ask questions.  The dental team completed their appointments including teeth cleanings and even extractions.  The day ended with Manny leading the players in a game of Simon Says.

June 20

Father's Day was celebrated with worship at the church of one of Manny's early basketball coaches.  The worship service was a real event for the SF team filled with uplifting praise and worship songs, scripture reading and words of encouragement.  Manny provided a message to the congregation challenging the fathers there to not be afraid to show love and compassion for their children.  A guest pastor provided words on fatherhood.  For our afternoon meal Manny's sisters hosted the team and treated them to a dinner of African food including Pounded Yam, Mixed Meat and fried rice.  The evening ended with a spiritual discussion about the day and the impact the visit will have on the children for years to come.

June 21

This day was dedicated to the first of four visits the team will make to local community schools.  Today's visit was to the community of Okota.  The school was an open-air structure resembling a pavillion.  The roof was made of tin with no walls and a concrete floor.  The children there greeted the team with smiles and songs.  Each child received the word of God, a new pair of shoes, and dental/medical care.  This was the team's first real taste of life in the side streets of Lagos.  Thank God there are three more to come.

 June 22

Our local community distribution today was in a small one room school, smaller in size but similar in structure to the one in Okota.  This school was located "by the tree" in the middle of the community known as "Trash City".  The community was established near an open landfill which caught the team somewhat off guard.  The walk from the vans to the school weaved through muddy, trash lined streets with smells not to be forgotten.  But as the team approached the school we were once again greeted with cheers, smiles and hugs.  How could this be ?  Each child's muddy feet were washed clean while our SF team and outstanding volunteers prayed and delivered the message of God's everlasting love.  God was truly in this place !!

June 23

The team visited the Ilaje water community where Hands at Work has several schools.  Ilage is located on the coast of Nigeria where rainfall and tides flood the area on a regular basis.  Luckily for the team it has remained dry for a day and a half.  The vans gingerly criss crossed their way down the streets dodging accumlations of water.  The school where our shoe distribution was completed had concrete block walls with a dirt floor.  The classes were separated by blackboards giving the impression of three separate rooms.  This time some of the children performed a song and dance welcoming the team.  The team answered with an SF choir rendition of the US National Anthem.  Mud was caked on many of the childrens feet making the foot washings a true blessing.  Once all the children received the message the SF team was treated to a boat ride out into the bay where they could view the water huts built upon stilts jetting out quite a distance from land.  Fishing is their trade and many boats were there pulling in their nets.  But the water there was very dirty as all of the trenches which amount to the sewer system throughout the village run into the bay.  Each trench was filled with standing water and trash filled the streets.  It was quite a day God blessed us with.