Teaching and Learning in Jos!

Setting Up a School and Other Inspiring Experiences

By Val Cheesman

It was a really great privilege to go and be part of the visit to Jos. It was about a year ago that we were sitting around chatting, and I felt that I really wanted to go and see what God was doing in this place. We’d been hearing lots of stories about the college from Kent and Ruth, and so we saved up and went this summer. Just shortly before we were due to leave, we got a phone call from Ruth, and she asked me how I would feel about helping to start up a kindergarten in Jos. I thought that sounded a bit big for me to do, but said ok, and was happy to be able to help in any way.

Blessings of Toys and Books

So I put a note in the church newsletter, asking for donations of toys, books, games and so on, in order that we could start up a kindergarten. And this was the first way I was blessed, even before we went to Nigeria, because so many people gave things to us. I was away for a couple of weeks before we departed for Nigeria, and Peter my husband kept ringing me up and saying that more people had dropped round things at our house to take with us to start the nursery. And that was wonderful to see just how generous people were, and it felt like I was taking everyone from the church here with me, as if everyone was a part of what we went along to do.

First Few Days at School

When we arrived in Jos, I was asked to start a morning summer school for the children of the staff and students. On the first morning about 16 or 17 children turned up. We had agreed that the school would run from 9am-12 noon, but on the first morning, I arrived at 8, an hour early, hoping to be able to prepare, but the children were already there, sitting waiting for me. We finished at 1pm on the first day, so that was a bit of a marathon!

God Speaking to Me and the Children

I ran the school for two weeks and after a few days we got a routine going, telling Bible stories to the children every day. It was a very special experience.  It was as if as I told the stories to the children, God was telling them to me in a new and fresh way. It was really quite amazing - every time I spoke to the children, God spoke to me! And it rekindled that fire of love for God in my heart, just telling the children about how much God loves them.

Looking to the Future

At the end of the two weeks with the summer school, I then met with a lady who we’re hoping will start teaching at the planned primary school for the children in September. Her name is Antonia, and I sat with her and prayed with her about CFI’s plan to start the school, and shared the things that I’ve learnt about teaching and the things that God’s taught me. And that was really a privilege – it was wonderful.

Faith Alive Hospital

The second major thing that God really did for me whilst I was there is that I visited Faith Alive hospital. This is where my daughter-in-law Esther and her friend Susi (David’s daughter) are working for two months as medical students. The hospital was set up 17 years ago by a Nigerian doctor. God spoke to him and said that he should try and help his own people who were suffering with AIDS and HIV. He started with a counselling service because initially he says that he didn’t have enough faith to set up a hospital. But gradually, his work has  grown and grown and they have a beautiful big hospital building and lots of sponsors from all over the world. The whole hospital is run on a voluntary basis, with God right at the centre.

God’s Presence was Tangible

The day we visited there, we walked into the hospital, and Susi Liniker was praying with all the staff, and that really touched me deeply. We just stood there praying whilst she was praying for the staff and it was like God was really moving through her. And you could just feel God’s presence in that place, and his care for everyone there, all those who were so ill with HIV. The hospital runs programs where they give people a chance to learn practical skills such as sewing and woodwork, as well as the counselling. So that was a wonderful thing to see, and to witness God moving there.

Protecting and Loving Former Muslims

What also really affected me was our visit to see the work that a pastor who used to be a Muslim is doing around the north of Nigeria. Because of the work he does, this pastor has had several attempts on his life, including being put into the boot of a car and kidnapped, and also having been set on fire. This sort thing has happened to him quite often, but God has kept him from being killed. So now he runs a safe house for other Muslims who’ve converted to Christianity and are fleeing for their lives.

Educating Teenagers

He is also involved, with his wife, in providing an education for teenagers who are converted Muslims. We heard some of the testimonies of these youngsters and the things they’ve been through since converting to Christianity.  Some of these young people were there simply because they needed physical protection. All were being educated and given a chance to know God’s love and have a completely different life, because of this work that the Pastor and his wife are doing.

God Burning His Love into my Heart

At the end of our visit to the safe house, I was asked to pray for the young people. I felt a bit put on the spot, but as I prayed, it was like God was just burning his love again into my heart - he loves me, he died for me, he loves those teenagers there, he loves us here in England. The simplicity of the Gospel really came back afresh in my heart. Jesus died for us, he loves us – that why we love him, and that’s why we reach out to others. So the time we spent in Nigeria in August 2009 was really precious to me.

• Click here to find out more about Christian Faith Ministries »