Do I need to answer that call?

The other morning I was awoken by something I have never been awoken by before. A call to prayer.

I sleep with a noise maker next to the bed. I have to otherwise my mind begins to race and I will never sleep. The electricity was off and the batteries in my noise maker had run dry, so no noise within our bedroom. So when the call to prayer went out I heard it, loud and not so clear since it was in Housa.

What is a call to prayer? For most that is a good question.

The call to prayer is from the Muslim Mosques that are around. I have to believe that in the US of A there is a law that keeps the call to prayer outside of the mosque quiet. But in most countries the call to prayer is loud and over a speaker placed outside. Thus the reason it is called a “call to prayer”. Muslims pray 5 times a day on a set schedule.

I have heard it numerous times since our arrival here in Jos. But that morning it was loud. Plus with no other noises outside or inside so it came thru our window very loud.

After being awoken by the call I could not fall back asleep, it was around 6 or so in the morning. All I could do was think.

Here are a few of my thoughts.

How very sad. Being a Christian I can have a personal relationship with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He asks to chat with Him as much as possible, without a set schedule, anytime anywhere. He is saddened when we choose not to during the day but if we are in Christ we want to talk to Him. Not to be told too at specific times during the day.

They are following man in His call to prayer. It is not God speaking to their heart asking them to take some time to chat with Him a while. They seem so accustom to this mind frame that even when they commit to Christ they may wait for mans call for him to pray to God.

God never asked us to stop our life for Him as we go thru the day. Where ever they are and there is a call to prayer they stop and pray. Even driving past a Petrol station there were about 20 guys on their carpets kneeling and “praying” to their god.

They all come into the mosque, separate the male’s from the females, line up in a large open area and begin their prayers.

It just saddens me that so many people are fooled to believe that Islam is the way to God and to a life ever after.

So to answer the question above: NO I do not need to answer that call.

A few of the funniest things I have seen that I wish I had photo’s of.

The funny part is that they all take place on motorcycles that are tooling around Nigeria. The roads seem to be cluttered with them and they will carry almost anything. Here are a few examples for you:

1. A Door! Yes you heard me right. We were driving around yesterday seeing a few of the ministries around Jos and coming down the other side of the road is a cycle with a passenger on back and on top of his head is a full sized door. Talk about drag, that bike had to be pushing hard. These are not Harleys with big ol’ fat engines.
2. 1” x 1’ x 12’ boards. I think there were about three boards on top of the passengers head. Those things were bending like crazy. I am surprised first off the driver could see around the boards and that the boards didn’t shift the weight all over the place throwing the bike on the ground.
3. There was a fella on a medium trying to put this huge bag of, what I think were, potatoes on his bike as well. Unfortunately for him the bike took a tumble (as witnessed by my wife and our driver). This time he was the only one on the bike and to hold all that and drive. Yikes!
4. A Wheel barrel. Yes a full size one not a kiddy sized wheel barrel. The scary thing is that it was making a u-turn in the middle of the road and did not take a tumble, at least not at that moment could have further down the road that I am not aware of.

I have been told that most of these motorcycle drivers do not have licenses. They seem to be pretty laxed on their rules of the road already and then to learn that half of the bike drivers are unlicensed can be a bit scary. They swerve in and out of cars without much notification but a honk on their horn if that.

This is just an example of the most populr motorbike in Nigeria, a Jincheng!

So much to say so little time

When I say that I mean that!

All I can really say is that my biggest hardship so far is not being connected. I know I have said that and have put that on facebook as well but it is the truth. I love knowing what is going on and what is in the news. I miss connecting with you all and all the great things going on.

In our small group back home we have 6 couples and 4 of them just bought homes. We will not see the homes until we see pictures. That is sketchy due to the internet or the lack of the internet we have.

Babies, we have some friends that are pregnant and we will miss seeing their child when so little. Again only by photo's but they do not do it justice.

Just the relationships that I already had and the ones that I have been building recently. When we get home all of the relationships will have changed. Hopefully fo the better but I know they will have changed.

Well I must quit before everything shut down on me once again!!

Tobias

I miss you all! But there are some great relationships here to be built as well which I look forward to. So take care and remember us who areout of sight but yet prayefully not out of mind.