Praise Notes

1. HEAR YE! HEAR YE!! The primary reason in uncharacteristically delaying this monthly email prayer letter is to announce the unloading of our long, long, long-awaited 40´ containers. WOW! What an incredible ordeal we have had. Weeks turned into months. Two containers with valuable and urgently-needed supplies and donated gifts from our friends in the US sat unmoved in the port and became objects of enough prayer to seemingly have cleared dozens of containers. Then FINALLY, on Monday, November 9, we received on the WATS campus the FIRST of the two containers, with the second one presumably to follow in short order. The flooring for our chapel and even for the nine-classroom work project expected to take place next year is now safely in our hands, as well as other donated goods from the hands of our dear people in Moline, Illinois (thank you, Dr. Plemons and crew!!). HALLELUJAH!!! Thank you for your prayers! We are deeply relieved.
   
   
2. Thank God October was a great and busy month at WATS, filled with the blessing and help of heaven. Our undergraduates took a one-week break after mid-term exams, and are now back in their classes. In the meantime, as always, Masters modules continue to come and go with exciting results. Early in the month modules were completed in Biblical Hermeneutics (Keith Norman, of Memphis, Tennessee), History of Muslim-Christian Relationships (Jacqueline Hoover, of Beirut, Lebanon), Survey of Church History (our own Frederick Luogon, undergoing his PhD in Church History), and African Traditional Religion (Professor Umar Danfulani, University of Jos, Nigeria). Later in the month Pastor Kalu Okechukwu (long-time WATS teacher making good progress on his PhD in New Testament) continued his multi-week teaching of a module in Mastering Biblical Greek, and Pastor Kenneth Luseni (WATS registrar) directed a module in Christian Ethics.
   
   
3. In October we enjoyed the FOURTH coming of Dr. Ira Pence, once again focusing on forward progress with our chapel construction and other highly-needed areas of campus construction and maintenance. Dr. Pence´s engineering skills, combined with his indefatigable work habits, are an inspiration to the entire campus.
   
   
4. Our Lagos Fundraising Dinner on October 20 was a great success and a harbinger of more such events to come. More than N4 million ($26,500) was given in cash and pledges, and follow-up after the event is gradually increasing that amount. We are grateful to Pastor Tony Rapu and This Present House, for providing a great venue and hosting the event remarkably well. The program also involved a hearty reception for Brig. General Dr. Samuel Teidi, who in May was awarded a WATS Doctor of Humanities degree in absentia. The entire evening was under the chairmanship of Apostle Hayford Alile, and graced with the presence of WATS Governing Council chairman, Rt. Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Gbonigi. It will be long remembered.
   
   
5. In October WATS occupied our new Wesley House — the first of hopefully other major housing blocks for WATS students situated off-campus but within easy walking distance. The Wesley House—made possible by the generosity of United Methodist friends in the US—consists of six four-bedroom flats in one three-story building. We are seeking to eventually fill it with Methodist students from all over Africa! Thanks to our Methodist friends in the US, and especially to Pastor Steve Wood of Mount Pisgah UMC, Johns Creek, Georgia!
   
   
6. Finally, I returned to WATS October 22, after delightful times with Emma Lou, especially visiting children and grandchildren. I squeezed in a mission trip to Mexico with First UMC of Ardmore, OK, under the guidance of Steve Zink, Emma Lou´s brother (what a delight to indulge my nagging Latin America itch and jabber in Spanish all day long!). I praise God for His family blessings, and seeing the younger generation eagerly serve God. Hallelujah for the Gospel! Hallelujah for transformation of our unworthy lives to enable us to serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives. AWESOME!