Dear Friends and Family,
I am writing from another hotel room, this time in Dallas , as the hours slip by before our departure back to Africa. It seems many did not get my last letter, for some unknown reason, so I hope this note helps bring everyone up to date.
Our purpose for this long stay in hotels was to minister to our son, Jonathan, who has struggled with many health challenges over the years. During the five year period I did not get to come back to the US, he faced his biggest challenge with cancer that required extensive surgery and radiation. I did not know till this visit that he was 32 days in the hospital. He respected what we were doing for those he considers his family as well, and chose not to deflect our attention and resources from our life in Nigeria in order to provide care for him. While I applauded his love and care for us and his sacrifice, I am also pained that I was not there when he needed me most.
I am therefore, eternally grateful for all who supported our being here during this time of need, both here in America and in Nigeria. I had help from old friends and new, and our being here was critical and I believe successful. Jonathan was in failing health. He has only one kidney and it functions at 80%. His liver function is at 30%. His weight was down to 136lbs on his 6’3’’ frame. His skin was breaking down, making it hard for him to walk. The use of steroids since childhood for his asthma have left his bones brittle, and several have broken. He has weakened heart muscle and high blood pressure. The thing he asked me to do when we came, was to pray for a miracle and help him get his teeth fixed.
During the follow up radiation after his surgical removal of tumors in his mouth and throat and sinus, his teeth were damaged beyond repair. This made him have constant pain but no one locally was willing to remove the stubs that were remaining. Thankfully, the Dental School in San Antonio took up the challenge, and they were able to remove all 29 of his remaining teeth. Though it is still a process to heal and get dentures, the process has started, and we are glad to see him eat more than before and gain 6 lbs in the process.
Just as in every aspect of our lives in Nigeria, we could not have done this without your love and support. We praise you for your constant prayers and devotion. We thank you for standing by us in this time of great need. We know that we still are on a long and difficult journey, but we believe that it is a journey divinely appointed and committed to His glory. Thank all of you for walking with us.
I have to thank all who served faithfully in our absence. Everyone knew their role to play and did it well. Our work is a team effort, and the team did well, even when the coaches were not there.
I told you of the difficulties in Nigeria before our departure. Things have continued to decline. Fuel is now 600% higher that just over a year ago. This, and other factors such the declining value of the local currency, has led to so many problems. Folks are suffering and dying in ways difficult for many to understand. We are able to feed 1600 meals a week to family, church family, and others in need. Other measures are being made, such as medical support, etc. These things we are able to do because of the grace of God and your mutual efforts. Though we are all tired to the point of exhaustion, please don’t give up in this time of urgent need.
I have two more distressing items to report, and then I close. One is in regards to Lovett. She and her family are a part of us, as her older brother married one of our daughters. She has been quiet and humble, and excels in sewing, something we were able to help train and equip her to do. She and David are running the sewing center that Nkiru and others were able to establish just before our traveling. She reports that several ladies come each day to learn to sew, a valuable trade to learn. Last week, near to our house, she was standing on the road, waiting to cross when a van screeched to a stop and men got out and dragged her inside and took off. They beat her, robbed her of her phone, ATM card, money and tried to rape her; all before dumping her off further down the road. What a trauma for a young innocent lady. Thankfully she escaped with her life, and we pray for her healing, as well as for those wicked men to repent.
The second tragic news was the unexpected death of my friend Mr. Brooks Schley. Brooks was to have turned 70 this month, as I hope to in November. He and I have been friends for a long time. He and I had many things in common, having been brought up in many similar ways. In the last year plus he has joined in worship with his children in our assembly. Afterwards we had Sunday meals together, and spent time as only two friends who share many common experiences can.
A few days ago, I asked him to travel to see how we could set up a bakery to support Darrell Memorial Bible School in Obudu. Only those of you who have lived it can know how difficult travel in Africa can be. I did not know that he was already having serious upset stomach, something the travel by no means helped. He wrote to say that he was still not feeling well, but no one thought a runny stomach would prove fatal. He has been a brittle diabetic for some time, and sometime in the night of Saturday he slipped into a coma and died.
What a tragedy on many levels. One was that he leaves behind a family with little support, not even the means to give him a safe and decent burial. He was expecting me back with a US phone number to be able to finally file for social security. That filing never took place. It is tragic that he still had much life to live and things to offer to others. But to me a greater loss than his friendship is that I did not do enough to share the pure gospel message that all of us need. I wish I had talked more about Jesus and less about football, more about our eternal destiny and less about the past. I know the level of effort I made, but I stand guilty of not doing more.
I pray for grace, for forgiveness for my lack of not sharing the gospel message more clearly and forcefully. I pray for the gentle soul of my friend Uncle Brooks. I pray for all of us to be more and more committed to sharing the love of God to those around us, especially to those we call friends.
Please pray for us. We face another nationwide strike on the 15th. So much uncertainty and need. We do not know what tomorrow brings, but the clouds of storm look threatening. Pray we keep our eyes on Jesus, the one who walked on water in the midst of the storm. He remains our only hope.
We love you,
Cliff, Nkiru and family
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