Welcome Nelius!

Mike Arnold and Michael Waddel sharing with some of the women of Iftin (Michael's presence certainly set Tunis, one of our friends, giggling)

On Monday, the Midland team joined us in Eastleigh for one of the English literacy classes with Iftin and a tour of the ministries we are a part of within the Eastleigh Community Centre. During the class time, the guys had a chance to hear about the difficulties facing Somali women living in Eastleigh. The ladies enjoyed getting to know our Canadian friends!

On Tuesday, we returned to Eastleigh with Michael Waddel for another ESL class and to go on a home visit with one of the mature students. It was a good opportunity to walk the dusty streets of Eastleigh and to enter into a more intimate setting. The woman we visited lives with her five children, a cousin and her mother in a small two room apartment within one of the many bee hive structures that fill Eastleigh. It was difficult to hear the woman's struggle with deep bitterness and anger over her situation as she struggles to hold on to hope. We pray for tangible ways to encourage her and her family as they face issues of poor health, unemployment and lack of education. We believe that God is in the business of restoring lost hope!

This is also the first week for our new teacher, Nelius! She will be helping us in our growing English Literacy program as we expand to more classes and community development projects with the Iftin group. We are so thankful for God's gift of Nelius as she will bring a new set of skills and her sincere love for vulnerable women into Iftin.

Late Tuesday afternoon, we joined the Carline family for a good-bye pizza picnic at Rosslyn Academy to say farewell to Alden, Bryden, Michael and Mike. It was a time to be thankful. The Midland team had a full and diverse time of ministry, but they all seemed tired and excited to return to see their wives and families. We pray for their safe arrival in Halifax tonight as they will be coming home to a snow storm. Please join us in pray for their journey!