Conference Review
A Nigerian Experience - click here for report
Abstracts of Papers presented at Conference ( click here for download )
Nigeria Trip Slideshow
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Into Africa: A Mission Trip with a Twist
Judith Allen Shelly (and Renee Lick)
When most North Americans think of a mission trip, the first thing that comes to mind is going to an under-developed country to provide health care, bringing superior Western skills and advanced technology. However, the Nurses Christian Fellowship "Transcultural Immersion" in September 2008, had just the opposite intent. We went to Nigeria with two major goals: First, to encourage our sister movement in Nigeria, the Fellowship of Christian Nurses (FCN). Secondly, we hoped to learn from Nigerian Christian nurses. We were not disappointed.
The Nigerian Fellowship of Christian Nurses is a thriving organization of over 5,000 dues-paying members, who donate an enormous amount of time and expertise to holistically care for the poor and underserved. They have carefully developed Christian discipleship and leadership training programs, conferences that usually attract over 1,000 participants, a wide range of ministries to people with HIV/AIDS and their families, clean water programs, and free clinics for the rural poor. We participated in all of these. However, in respect to Nigerian nurse licensure regulations, we did not provide hands-on care. On top of all this, FCN is also beginning to send mission teams into Cameroon. We were humbled by their vision and commitment.
The event that initially drew us to Nigeria was the quadrennial Nurses Christian Fellowship International (NCFI) Conference, which the Nigerian Fellowship of Christian Nurses hosted. The NCFI conference had 456 participants—106 internationals, about half of those from other African countries. The rest were Nigerian. However, the cost of the Western-style hotel prevented many Nigerians from attending. The conference worship was lively and upbeat, with lots of dancing, great singing and passionate prayer. Excellent presentations by nursing leaders from around the world focused on the causes of the global healthcare crisis and how Christians can get involved in the solutions.
In the Transcultural Immersion that followed, we saw firsthand how the Nigerian Fellowship of Christian Nurses is doing its part in the solutions. We traveled about 1000 miles, saw the work of the Nigerian fellowship, worshiped in village churches, met government officials and enjoyed the hospitality of village communities. We were so impressed with the Nigerian fellowship. We grew to love and respect our Nigerian hosts, especially Peter Maji, who traveled with us. Our hearts and minds have been expanded.
Things started off pretty scary as team members experienced some serious injuries and illnesses, including one teammate having a finger bitten off by a chimpanzee and another team member contracting malaria. They went home early. I fell on an uneven step and split my lip open. Most of us had traveler’s diarrhea at some point. I was proud of our group, though. Everyone adapted well and maintained a humble attitude—except when very tired and basic-amenity-deprived.
Over 3% of the Nigerian adult population (15-49 year olds) is living with HIV/AIDs. In the USA, only about 0.3% of the population is HIV positive. Much of the FCN volunteer work focuses on HIV/AIDS. They are also working hard to combat discrimination against HIV positive people. Many of the nurses have been touched by HIV/AIDS themselves. During one conference session, I sat with a radiant young woman, who told me that she was HIV positive. Her husband and two of her five children had died of AIDS, but she told me with a huge smile, "HIV drove me back to Christ and made my life much better."
An FCN-led HIV/AIDS support group at Plateau State Hospital welcomes people who have tested HIV positive. They gather for education, encouragement and a meal together on a regular basis. As we visited the support group (about 40 people), we were struck by the joy and sense of camaraderie shown by the participants. There we saw the first of many "play lets" (skits) designed to educate against discrimination. This one was presented by members of the support group but we saw others produced by nursing students and a delightful one done by village youth who had been educated by FCN members.
In Lafia, Nasarawa State, FCN has organized the Nurses for Life Community Initiative (NULCI) which runs HIV counseling and testing (HCT) centers throughout the state. The regional FCN office, located in the heart of a village community, also serves as an HCT center.
However, HIV/AIDS is not the only healthcare problem Nigeria faces. Over dinner one evening at the conference, one nurse passionately shared her frustration that so much of the attention given to HIV/AIDS is directly related to the influx of funding from government and non-government organizations (NGO), leading to the neglect of other health problems with higher mortality rates: malaria, typhoid, diabetes, heart disease and childbirth. FCN is also working to comprehensively address these health problems.
FCN has been working with the village of Unguwan Ayaba to educate the community about water safety and help them implement a simple filtration system for their water supply. The village welcomed us warmly, greeting us with drums, singing and dancing. After the educational program, presented jointly by FCN and the village youth, the villagers led us down the half-mile path to the contaminated water source (a small creek)—past the pig sties and trails into the bush that served as toilet facilities. The village women make 2-3 trips a day to the water source, carrying the water back in large jugs on their heads. I will never take clean tap water for granted again! As we left, the village chief presented us with three huge stalks of bananas, a welcome sight to our fruit and veggie-deprived team. We were deeply impressed with the warm relationship between FCN and the villagers. They obviously loved each other and enjoyed each other's company.
Our final project took us to Iyara village in Kogi State. Here we encountered a new language and culture, Yoruba. We participated in one of several FCN Medical Mission Outreaches, held in selected rural areas across the country. This temporary clinic was set up in a village hospital, treating 574 patients in two days. Each patient rotated through eight stations: reception, registration, observation (vital signs and medical history), consultation (the physician), testing (lab), treatment (pharmacy), counseling and prayer. Each patient received a booklet-style chart with a page for each station to complete. All of this took place in a facility where the only running water came from a hand pump in the outside courtyard. Electricity came on only sporadically (the norm for most of Nigeria). The laboratory technicians began using gloves, but after running through the inadequate supply, they continued to conduct urinalyses and test blood for HIV/AIDS, typhoid, malaria and glucose with their bare hands. There were no facilities for hand washing. We gave away most of our hand sanitizer solution, but that soon ran out as well. Every patient received some form of treatment—most had typhoid and many had malaria. A few tested positive for HIV. Every patient received counseling and prayer. Dozens accepted Christ for the first time and many experienced significant healing.
Wherever we went, we met government and health care leaders. We were followed closely by the media—television, radio and newspaper. We heard that we made the TV news, but never saw the reports. The electricity never seemed to be functioning when the news was showing. Although we sometimes found all the attention distracting and annoying, we learned that it was extremely beneficial to FCN, giving them exposure and access to government officials and potential funding.
The day after the clinic outreach, we began our long ride back to Abuja for the plane trip home. The FCN national leaders, met us at the retreat center in Abuja, where we had our "valedictory debriefing." The Nigerians expressed appreciation for our openness and encouragement. Our Nigerian host, Peter Maji, wrote afterward, "What a wonderful team to meet and work with! You have touched my life in a more positive way than you thought. I will ever live to cherish the memorable times and wonderful experiences I had with you all. You took me as a brother, son and grandson. I am so grateful. You have taught me what it means to be courageous, simple, and sensitive because that was what you all exhibited during the tour."
However, we received so much more than we gave. Our Nigerian brothers and sisters welcomed us into their hearts. They taught us what it means to truly serve our neighbors. They demonstrated the joy of the Lord and a willingness to give sacrificially of their time and resources. We were deeply touched by their concern for the poor, by their love for us and by the beauty of Nigeria and its people.
Overall, Nigeria was amazing, scary, wonderful, gut-wrenching, and stretching—physically, emotionally and spiritually. We’re glad we went and look forward to continuing our partnership with FCN.