Introducing Pastor Elijah, and Enugu Update!

Introducing Pastor Elijah

and Mountain Of Light Gospel Church!

What would Jesus do? Another INCREDIBLE life story from Missionary Phyllis:

On our way to church on Sunday, as we passed this compound (above), I noticed rows of people's heads showing above the walls of this distant pile of bricks. Upon our return, we stopped to investigate. We discovered that this building was both mission house and sanctuary for a wonderful Man of God, Pastor Elijah, and his small group of believers.

I was so touched. What would I do about this? I could only immediately tell the Pastor that we would help him! We would complete the building of his church. He began to weep. One woman in his congregation fell to her knees, arms lifted up, praising God.

What would Jesus do? I believe He would build this church.

This is Pastor Elijah, although he calls himself Prophet Elijah. We all immediately fell in love with him! Pastor Elijah, a warm, kind, humble Man of God. He has pastored here for 13 years.

This is where Pastor Elijah sleeps. On a bench. No roof over his head. We immediately went to town, buying a mattress and having a bed made for him. Can you imagine sleeping on a narrow wooden bench for 13 years? We're also buying a pillow, supplying sheets and pillowcase, and building a small cupboard. We're setting all this up in a Friends and Neighbors classroom where Pastor will stay while his church is being built!

Here is Pastor Elijah, meeting a mattress for the first time in 13 years! The carpenter had his bed frame ready by that afternoon!

This is the original sanctuary. Pastor Elijah told us that this is where God meets them every time they gather for worship.

We took Pastor Elijah over to Friends and Neighbors High School, where he'll have an empty classroom to store his things and a place to sleep while we work on his little church. We will raise the walls, put a roof on his church building, INCLUDING doors, windows and floors! He and his congregation can use our church facilities here at the high school or join us in our services! Praise God! We are all so, so thankful for this opportunity to get to know Pastor Elijah and his people, and to build this church for them!!

Pastor Elijah gave his testimony today in our combined service. But before he did, he walked over to the guard house and invited our security guard to join us in church. I love this man!

Then the Pastor told his story. I want to share just one part of it. A family came to him one memorable day, carrying the body of their child who had died during the night. The family had already shaven the child's head, as is the custom, and dressed him in a white gown. They wanted Pastor Elijah to bury him.

But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Pastor Elijah, and falling on his knees, he began asking God to return this child, alive and well, to his family. He prayed and prayed, and God heard him. God answered his prayers, and raised this little boy from the dead. It happened right here, in front of many witnesses, in the small sanctuary of this little church.

And today, noticing that our security guard walked with great difficulty, Pastor Elijah laid hands on him and prayed for his healing. I believe the man will walk again! Praise God!

Exactly ONE WEEK after God led us to this church, we had already made some progress on the building! On Sunday, we held a wonderful combined service, with Pastor Elijah and his congregation AND our own, at the Free Methodist Church at Friends and Neighbors School. Both Pastor Elijah and Pastor Ojo conducted the service.

Afterwards, we trekked over to the church under construction and prayed for God's special favor and blessing to rest on this church, the Prophet and the congregation. What a wonderful day!

We are now raising the roof of Mountain of Light Gospel Church! We are all so very happy to do this, and we know that God is happy, too!!

Enugu UPDATE!

You may recall that work has started on the unfinished secondary school at Bright Hope Christian Academy, Enugu. Things are going well! The ground floor building and retaining wall are nearly completed. We are starting now on second floor! Please continue to pray for the project, for safety, and for God's blessing over our wonderful workers there!

BIG GIVERS, UNITE!

SEND CHECKS!

Our mailing address is:

Schools For Africa

c/o Don Standley, Treasurer

1010 Silver Springs Way

Stanwood, WA 98292

Did you know that when you send in a donation online, we pay a percentage for the processing fee!? This is just a friendly reminder that it helps us when you send CHECKS, especially when you are sending BIG GIFTS, to avoid paying those fees.

Your bank can set up an automatic draft check each month for you! Most banks that have billing services will send the check out for you, from the account you choose! Have you tried that yet?

Easy Peasy!

 Is your stock gaining TOO MUCH VALUE?

Direct transfer some to us!

Do you have appreciated assets that need distributing?

We can help with that, too!

Email our SFA Treasurer, Don Standley for more information!

Email SFA Treasurer

Save The Date!

Plan on joining Schools For Africa at Missions Fest Seattle!

We would LOVE to see you there!

As the Lord pours Himself into Nigeria, it is an absolute delight to be His hands and feet there. We see the Lord moving mightily! God certainly doesn't NEED us, but He does INVITE us to join Him. Would you care to join us by supporting the work financially?

GIVE ONE TIME

GIVE MONTHLY

Our Current Work At Enugu!

Our Current Work At ENUGU SCHOOL!

Work has started on the unfinished secondary school at Bright Hope Christian Academy, Enugu. Enugu is the capital of Enugu State, in the center of Nigeria. It is a safe, stable part of the country, Praise God! The school is run by Rev. Mathias, who is also a Free Methodist Church Conference Superintendent, and his wife, Nse. They are faithful Christians and trusted friends!

The school was built thinking it would be a primary school only, but Rev. Mathias and his wife Nse introduced a secondary school using the 2nd and 3rd floors of their building. When they tried to register the secondary school, they were denied based on their use of those upper floors as secondary. So they began building the unfinished school below, five years ago. The building was abandoned when costs proved too much for the school administration. SFA was not involved at the time, but we are happy to come alongside, NOW! The secondary school is greatly needed as children progress in their educations!

We have had builders and engineers carefully study the existing foundation and partial building. With safety as our first priority, we will be able to use what was started to build a two-story school! This saves on costs considerably, instead of tearing down what was already begun!

We will finish this school together!

The first thing we have to do is bring down an old retaining wall, which would eventually fall in and damage the NEW work we will do!

The school is a former International Childcare Ministries School, as well as a Free Methodist Church AND Middle Belt Conference Headquarters!

BIG GIVERS, UNITE! SEND CHECKS!

Did you know that when you send in a donation online, we pay a percentage for the processing fee!? This is just a friendly reminder that it helps us when you send CHECKS, especially when you are sending BIG GIFTS, to avoid paying those fees.

Your bank can set up an automatic draft check each month for you! Most banks that have billing services will send the check out for you, from the account you choose! Have you tried that yet? Easy Peasy!

Our mailing address is:

Schools For Africa, c/o Don Standley, Treasurer, 1010 Silver Springs Way, Stanwood, WA 98292

Port Harcourt UPDATE!

Mission Accomplished in Port Harcourt! We now have ninety-nine hectares (245 ACRES!) total, bought and paid for, for the Port Harcourt Fulani! Mogodi has already staked his claim by moving his large herd of cattle onto the land. We will go back soon to build a school there! Praise God!

Hopefully our meeting with the local king will help to smooth things over with the hostile local villagers. Please continue to pray for peace as we develop this space for the Fulani to live peacefully.

The Place Where Peace Reigns

From Phyllis: Today was my kind of day. An SFA kind of day. The girl in the first picture below, Hadizat, a Fulani girl, attended primary and secondary school at Bright Hope Christian Academy Enugu and is now in nursing school. I asked her if we could visit her camp, and today she took me, along with the principal and head teacher of Bright Hope (pictured below right), to her village high up in the hills outside of Enugu town. It was a long walk!

We talked with Hadizat's father, Alhaji Bello, about school. He is very much in support of education for his children. We discussed the modalities of a school in this particular location and agreed on a plan. Alhaji will build two large, open-sided huts (pictured below left) in the camp. We will send two teachers who will come and go daily using a school motorbike. When children are ready and able to attend Bright Hope Enugu, their fathers will provide transport for them.

And this is how a new school is born! You will not believe the name of this camp! 'Ebe udo na achi.' 'The place where peace reigns!'

Is your stock gaining TOO MUCH VALUE?

Direct transfer some to us!

Do you have appreciated assets that need distributing?

We can help with that, too!

Email our SFA Treasurer, Don Standley for more information at don@standleycpa.com!

As the Lord pours Himself into Nigeria, it is an absolute delight to be His hands and feet there. We see the Lord moving mightily! God certainly doesn't NEED us, but He does INVITE us to join Him.

Would you care to join us by supporting the work financially?

GIVE ONE TIME

GIVE MONTHLY

In The Presence Of A King!

Lord Jesus, we pray over THESE precious children in Imala. We pray that as You relentlessly seek after them, they would find their way QUICKLY to You! We pray salvation over their precious souls!

Bless them and their WHOLE FAMILIES! In Jesus name, Amen!

BIG GIVERS, UNITE! SEND CHECKS!

Did you know that when you send in a donation online, we pay a percentage for the processing fee!? This is just a friendly reminder that it helps us when you send CHECKS, especially when you are sending BIG GIFTS, to avoid paying those fees.

Your bank can set up an automatic draft check each month for you! Most banks that have billing services will send the check out for you, from the account you choose! Have you tried that yet? Easy Peasy!

In The Presence Of A King In Port Harcourt!

Phyllis and team were invited to the palace of His Royal Highness, King Solomon - yes, that's his actual name! He wanted to hear about our plans for the Peaceful Village Primary School and other work on the new Port Harcourt land! He expressed full support and welcomed the new development! Phyllis was with Mogodi and Musa, and others too. We had stopped along the way, before going to the palace, to buy King Solomon a goat and bottle of wine! This is the cultural way of doing things. You don't visit the King empty handed!

SUCH FAVOR!

Please pray this will help the villagers to see us as a favorable addition in their neighborhood! Phyllis said, "If I'd know I was to sit at the right hand of King Solomon, I would have dressed up a bit!! Ha Ha!"

Our new signboard for the school in Port Harcourt is finished! We are facing quite a bit of resistance of the Fulani people settling permanently here. Please pray especially for peace over this project!

Land ACQUIRED IN Port Harcourt! MORE Discrimination!

Mogodi is the FIRST Fulani man that Phyllis met in Nigeria, and has become a very dear friend and partner in our ministry. Mogodi and his family had permission to use a complex of vacant buildings for their homes and our school, New Town Primary. Without warning, the Nigerian government came and evicted the families, tearing the buildings down! Mogodi and his family had nowhere to go! After many road blocks and much hateful discrimination of the Fulani people, Phyllis was able to purchase 128 acres just outside of Port Harcourt! Thank you to those of you who helped purchase this land! THEN, longtime friends and SFA supporters bought an ADDITIONAL 123 acres MORE! That is 251 acres TOTAL! It's a gorgeous place - fields, streams, access roads, and a very good paved road into town!

Mogodi has been well-trained in rotational cattle grazing. He visited the founder of rotational grazing in Zimbabwe to see the work first hand! Mogodi is going to divide that land into paddocks, gather together all his people's cattle, and practice rotational grazing there! Thank you God for this SAFE new home for Mogodi and his family, AND for this wonderful provision for rotational cattle grazing in Port Harcourt!!

Phyllis has been working from Ogun State to get our Port Harcourt school properties - desks, chairs, tables, zinc roofing sheets, etc. - from the destroyed school to the new land. She asked Mogodi to find a used container we could buy, to put on the land, to keep our furniture in and use later for building materials. Jacob reported to Phyllis that we cannot buy a container for now, as we cannot put it on our new land! "Why?!" Phyllis asked!! "It's our land!  We've paid for it!" The legal documents on the land are signed and sealed by both parties, recorded in court, and without question, the land belongs to SFA.

Jacob told Phyllis that we must wait until we put up our school signboards on that land. As long as the local villagers think the land is just for school, there will be no problem. That the problem they will have is when the Fulani move in! Phyllis couldn't believe her ears. The locals must know that we wouldn't buy 128 acres and want another 123 acres for just one primary school!

Jacob reported that we need to be patient, that he is talking with the villagers. He said we should give them at least 2 weeks to get everything settled and agreed upon. Phyllis agreed, but only for 2 weeks. At the end of 2 weeks, if we cannot move our container out there and if the Fulani aren't allowed to move in, we will return to Port Harcourt with our lawyer. The chief and recent owner of the land agreed to sell us this land, knowing full well it's for this very unpopular tribe of people.

We're calling the new school Peaceful Village Primary School. Promoting peace between tribes is what we do, and in this particular situation, this new school will be in a Fulani village surrounded by Rivers State tribes. NAMING PEACE IS CLAIMING IT!! WE CLAIM PEACE FOR THE RIVERS STATE FULANI, IN JESUS' NAME. AMEN.

Please pray about this - it's very serious. It is not fair for the former owners to keep us and the Fulani out of that land. This is exactly the kind of discrimination that the Fulani people face throughout Nigeria! Please join us in praying that things will calm down.

Pray with us for PEACE IN NIGERIA!

This is the beautiful new land we just bought!

Remember Phyllis's friend, Doris Heritage?

Her film is NOW available!

Own LAST LAP on DVD and Blu-ray

Purchase your copy of the film HERE

Stream the film!

While they await approval for streaming on Amazon Prime, the first 25 people to stream LAST LAP on Vimeo get 1/2 OFF. Use the code HALFOFF to receive the discount. Rentals have a 72 hour streaming period.

Stream LAST LAP

WELCOME to new SFA board member, Mike Sparling!

I am 63 years old and father to 6 adult children. We also have two grandchildren. My wife's name is Gay. We have been married for 40.5 years. We and all of our children and grandchildren are bible believing Christians. Missions/service attitude has been taught in this house to the best of my ability. My faith journey began early in life, at 13 years of age, with the death of my grandfather. For the first time, I realized where I would spend eternity was important/real. I would call that time marker when I owned my faith, not just my obeying my parents' wishes.

My mission's interest began with viewing the effects of starvation/malnutrition on children. The images were shown in my first and last human nutrition class. Those images said to my simple mind: "This ain't right" and I want to be a part of the solution. I changed majors, quit trying to play varsity football, and transferred to an agriculture school. Six years later, I graduated from Veterinary School. This June will be my 37 years as a clinical veterinarian.

I will skip up to 1999, when I met Jim and Phyllis Sortor in Rwanda. I was there by invitation from Todd Stephens, MD. My task was to educate/encourage Huiti pastors to use their cattle (which they got from a program Phyllis started) to the best of their ability to improve the nutrition of their families. In short, make the cow make more milk and put more calves on the ground. 

A lot of life has happened since then, and I have always followed and supported Phyllis in her work in Nigeria. I have not been able to see it in person for various reasons. I will support her work as long as I am on this earth. My heart waits in expectation to see Fulani Christians in the great throne room singing in unison with me. HOLY HOLY is the Lamb that was slain!!!! If I can help you hasten the scene of the last sentence into reality, I am all in! If you need a more normal resume, I can send that also, but I wanted to express how crazy in love I am with Christ's Great Commission!

Mike Sparling DVM

Mike, we LOVE your enthusiasm! Welcome to the team!

Is your stock gaining TOO MUCH VALUE?

Direct transfer some to us!

Do you have appreciated assets that need distributing?

We can help with that, too!

Email our SFA Treasurer, Don Standley for more information!

As the Lord pours Himself into Nigeria, it is an absolute delight to be His hands and feet there. We see the Lord moving mightily! God certainly doesn't NEED us, but He does INVITE us to join Him. Would you care to join us by supporting the work financially?

GIVE ONE TIME

GIVE MONTHLY

Feb 15th, Port Harcourt update

Port Harcourt - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Our primary school in Port Harcourt, New Town Primary, was reduced to rubble, along with all the surrounding buildings on this estate. We had permission to use this land and the buildings, but the government showed up unannounced and began to tear them down, to build army barracks here. Phyllis is looking now for land to purchase, enough for our friends to live, graze their cattle, and have a new school and clinic. It hasn't gone well, yet. We're looking for land, but any place near or around Port Harcourt is terribly expensive. Land owners have not been receptive to new Fulani neighbors, even blocking sales. Please join us in praying for God's direction and favor, and OPEN DOORS for our Fulani friends. We are trusting that the Lord is in the process of working it out!

Meanwhile, check out these cute photos of the family there! There were 140 children displaced from school there! Incredible donors have raised $57,738 for the land so far. Follow the links below to help us fund this purchase, so that these families will NEVER be displaced again.

SPOILER ALERT - WE FOUND LAND!

Leaders Of Tomorrow New International High School Update! 

We had a great football match this week between our building team and the local Durgu men! Painting of the interior and exterior walls has begun, and the school signboard is ordered and almost ready! Carpenter Yahaya is building desks, tables, chairs and cupboards! Whew!! This is not a small project!!

Dr David Tsado, Director of the Bobi Reserve, is setting a date for the commissioning event - in early July!

WELCOME new SFA board member, Shane Verschelden!

Shane has been a dedicated supporter of SFA throughout the years. Working alongside Phyllis in Nigeria, he has made significant contributions to SFA’s initiatives by aiding in the planning and construction of multiple schools, clinics, dams, and boreholes. His work has been instrumental in the accommodations of project teams and hosting training sessions on rotational grazing. In addition, Shane has coordinated stateside donations and transport logistics, as well as assisting in grant writing, developing newsletters, blog content, and managing the organization’s website. Shane is committed to advancing SFA’s mission and values and looks forward to helping out where he can.

(AND he's Phyllis's grandson!!!)

SO glad to have you on the board, Shane!

As the Lord pours Himself into Nigeria, it is an absolute delight to be His hands and feet there. We see the Lord moving mightily! God certainly doesn't NEED us, but He does INVITE us to join Him. Would you care to join us by supporting the work financially?

GIVE ONE TIME

GIVE MONTHLY

So much good news to share!

Visiting churches was an absolute DELIGHT!

Phyllis and Team SFA visited many churches in January. It is always so special to reconnect with church families, seeing LOTS of familiar faces and old friends. Thank you all for joining us, greeting us, and saying hello! Phyllis shared a powerful testimony about what God has been doing in Nigeria. If you were not able to join us, you can watch Shoreline FMC's recording HERE! OR watch Northlake Christian Church's recording HERE! :)

Phyllis is home safe in Nigeria, with LOTS of plans for 2025!

  1. Secure land for Mogodi and family in Port Harcourt, rebuild school and settle family

  2. Hire teachers and open the Leaders Of Tomorrow High School near Bobi

  3. BUILD Idako School and Healthcare Clinic, where the villagers bought land, and a donor is funding the school!

  4. BUILD Enugu High School in Enugu State - build on existing foundation, drain soggy land for play yard, and hopefully build an admin/student exam building!

  5. BUILD Bauchi State School and Healthcare Clinic

SFA Secretary Carisa Haven supported Phyllis at churches we visited, setting up a table w/ books, DVDs, and sign-up sheets!

Friend Carol Schaper, Shoreline FMC, brought baby hats, knitted by a friend, for Phyllis to take home to Nigeria!

Look what happened in Nigeria while Phyllis was here in the US! Leaders Of Tomorrow High School near Bobi Grazing Reserve is almost complete, thanks to our experienced and competent building team! Phyllis will go there soon to hire teachers and they will open immediately! Thank you, God!

Introducing a sweet friend of Phyllis's, Doris Heritage! Phyllis and Doris both went to Seattle Pacific University! Doris and husband Ralph live in Stanwood, and we were able to squeeze in a quick hug with these beloved friends on our way out of town!

Andy Yardy (pictured above with Doris) is the same friend who made Phyllis's BEAUTIFUL film, Kidnapped Redemption, has completed an incredible film about Doris, called Last Lap! These two beautiful women sat on the couch together and argued about who was MORE FAMOUS! LOL! I (Carisa) was absolutely HUMBLED to sit on the couch with these two 'Pillars Of Faith'. I hope I can be like them when I grow up! Thank you Lord, for friendship and shared faith!

Our SFA Board of Directors met last week for a board meeting. It was very nice to be together! We celebrated all that was accomplished last year, and looked ahead to our hopes and dreams for this year. We approved the budget for projects this year. We have a strong board, and we are working on getting even stronger! We are building board health through culture and prayer. We built a Salary Committee to investigate teacher salaries, to ensure we are paying our teachers well. We enjoyed lunch together, and the whole board was in attendance, either in person or on Zoom. I WISH we would have taken pictures! We are SO THANKFUL to have such a supportive board to work with!

MANY THANKS to retiring SFA Board Member Betty Buzitis!

Betty did SO much to help Phyllis - she was instrumental in helping Phyllis build a new NGO called Schools For Africa! Her support here in the states, her work writing grants, and her service on the board has meant A LOT both to Phyllis and our US team, AND to the Fulani people in Nigeria.

Thank you, Betty!

WELCOME to a new SFA board member, Phil Aronson!

Phil Aronson retired as the Vice President of Industry Relations at ADT Commercial in January 2022. Phil was President and CEO of Aronson Security Group (ASG) for 30 years before the company was acquired by ADT in 2018. During his time at ASG, Phil grew ASG from a small local integrator to one of the largest and most influential Security Risk Management Services (SRMS) companies in North America. Phil has been married over 40 years and the father of two daughters. He resides in the small community of Stanwood North of Seattle, WA. When he is not boating, fishing, hunting or playing with his grandchildren he is advising, coaching and mentoring the next generation of leaders.

Pictured above, from left to right: SFA Board Chair Larry Nyland, SFA Secretary Carisa Haven, Newest SFA Board Member Phil Aronson, long-time friends Martha Smelser, Brian Smelser, Art Smelser, SFA Director Phyllis Sortor, and SFA Board Member Steve King. We enjoyed a lovely lunch at the Aronson's home - many thanks to Phil and Susan Aronson!

PROJECT UPDATE onEnugu SCHOOL!

All great news! Phyllis and Carisa met with a team of builders in Arlington to talk about the current foundation. We shared blueprint plans and pictures, and the concensus was that if we build a ground floor and second floor only, we would be safe to use the current foundation! This is wonderful news, and does not waste the initial investment already in the ground. Our first priority is of course safety for the children and teachers. This plan will only cost about $20,000!

To register the high school with the government, the school will also need an admin building / student exam hall. This will cost an additional $20,000. If the Lord provides the funds, as He usually does, we will build it! Please pray that the funds will indeed come in, and we can help and support this wonderful Reverend/Principal and his school.

Rev. Mathias is very pleased with this plan, our help, and your prayers. They will be SO BLESSED to facilitate the further education of their primary students! Praise God!

As the Lord pours Himself into Nigeria, it is an absolute delight to be His hands and feet there. We see the Lord moving mightily! God certainly doesn't NEED us, but He does INVITE us to join Him. Would you care to join us by supporting the work financially?

GIVE ONE TIME

GIVE MONTHLY

Phyllis visits more churches!

Phyllis is HOME in JANUARY, visiting Seattle-area churches!

Phyllis is home for the holidays, and got to spend some great time with family in December. In January, she will be visiting MANY Seattle-area churches. We would love to have you join us!

Please come to church with us, and stop by our table to say hello!

  • January 19th, Phyllis will be sharing at Northlake Christian Church in their 9:30am service, 19029 North Road Bothell, WA 98012. Join us after the service for a Meet & Greet, 11:15-12:15, upstairs in rooms 231/232. Watch LIVE HERE!

  • January 26th, Phyllis will be sharing at Warm Beach Church. She will share highlights for 15 minutes in both the 9:30am and 11:00am services. She will move to Soulcrafters Class at 9:45, to share more at length. Start at Soulcrafters at 9:30am (in the Wesley building), then join us for 2nd service, 20815 Marine Drive, Stanwood, WA 98292.

HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON!

ANOTHER SECONDARY SCHOOL in Enugu!

Enugu is the capital of Enugu State. There is currently an ICCM school there, run by Superintendent Reverend Mathias and his wife Nse. Also in Enugu is a wonderful Free Methodist Church, AND the Free Methodist Middle Belt Conference Headquarters. Reverend Mathias and Nse, a faithful Christian couple, have a very successful primary school. As their students got older, they tried to open a secondary school on the 2nd and 3rd floors of their building. Sadly, they were denied registration with the Nigerian government, because the primary and secondary schools are not allowed to be in the same building.

Instead, they began building the unfinished school below. They did their best, but ran out of money, and the project was canceled. NOW, the children are in desperate need of a GOOD, quality secondary school to continue their education! We hope to build a new secondary school for them in 2025. The cost is $80-100K, and we are waiting to see how the Lord will provide those funds! Our sweet Lord has continued to provide for our EVERY project, and for our EVERY need, we are certain this will be no different!

Enugu is in the middle of Nigeria, and the area is very safe. We hope to send a team of builders to Nigeria in September, to assist our Nigeria team in building! Wanna COME?

Here is what WE NEED:

  • A church to fund, partner with, and pray for this school

  • a team of builders to come over in September to build the school!

  • prayers for the existing ICCM school, and our wonderful leaders there

As the Lord pours Himself into Nigeria, it is an absolute delight to be His hands and feet there. We see the Lord moving mightily! God certainly doesn't NEED us, but He does INVITE us to join Him. Would you care to join us by supporting the work financially?

GIVE ONE TIME

GIVE MONTHLY

Phyllis is home for the holidays, and visiting Seattle-area churches!

Phyllis is HOME for the holidays, visiting Seattle-area churches!

Phyllis is home for the holidays, and got to spend some great time with family in December. In January, she will be visiting FOUR Seattle-area churches. We would love to have you join us! Please come to church with us, and stop by our table to say hello!

  • January 5th, Phyllis will be sharing at the Samaritan Sunday School Class at 11:00am, right after the 10:00am main service at Seattle First Free Methodist Church, 3200 3rd Ave. W. Seattle, WA 98119.

  • January 12th, Phyllis will be sharing at Shoreline Free Methodist Church, in their 9:45am service, 510 NE 175th St. Shoreline, WA 98155. Watch LIVE HERE!

  • January 19th, Phyllis will be sharing at Northlake Christian Church in their 9:30am service, 19029 North Road Bothell, WA 98012.

  • January 26th, Phyllis will be sharing at Warm Beach Church. She will share highlights for 15 minutes in both the 9:30am and 11:00am services. She will move to Soulcrafters Class at 9:45, to share more at length. Start at Soulcrafters at 9:30am (in the Wesley building), then join us for 2nd service, 20815 Marine Drive, Stanwood, WA 98292.

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Butterfield Memorial Clinic is SAVING LIVES!

Dr. Godfrey recently sent us the BUTTERFIELD CLINIC 2024 ANNUAL REPORT! MAN - we are blessed! WOW. Thank you Jesus! This report made me (Carisa) cry! The clinic is serving several patients each day, and running smoothly. There are some examples of life-saving treatments below, and I am so pleased to get to share with all of you this awesome report. It is an easy way to see how SFA is making a difference in the lives of the Fulani people! Praise God! Butterfield Memorial Foundation has granted us the money to build AND EXPAND this clinic, as well as purchase medical supplies and lab equipment. Clearly, Phyllis named the clinic for them. What an incredible BLESSING Butterfield has been to Schools For Africa AND the Fulani in Nigeria.

A case report of severe malaria complicated by an acute abdomen

An acutely ill-looking 37-year-old man, conscious, and in painful distress presented with a 2-day history of intense and intermittent lower abdominal pains which according to him did not respond to tablets (Ibuprofen and Flagyl) taken since the onset of the pains. On the second day before his consultation, he developed nausea and had 3 episodes of vomiting. He had a medical history of intestinal amoebiasis treated with flagyl on several occasions and peptic ulcer disease which worsens whenever he eats maize, bread or takes ibucap. On clerking the patient, we noted that he had passed 3 days without toileting but emitted gases as usual. The abdomen was tender on a slight palpation. His heart and respiratory rates were unusually raised. Other parameters like the body temperature and blood pressure were within the normal ranges on arrival. No lab test was done. Spasmolytic (hyoscine IM and then IV), intravenous fluids (Dextrose saline), paracetamol and diclofenac injections were given. On stabilisation, he was given bisacodyl tab 10mg per OS. The following day, he developed a severe fever with a temperature of 39.7oC and another episode of vomiting. He was later diagnosed with complicated malaria in which artemether IM was given for 3 days. He was discharged after 3 days of hospitalization. Praise GOD! His life was saved!

A chronically malnourished woman presented with other differentials

A chronically ill-looking 28-year-old woman, 5 months post-partum, presented with severe malnutrition and pellagra characterized by cachexia, emaciation, diarrhea, and paleness. The patient being abandoned by her husband in the course of her ill status developed severe depression and confusion. On arrival, she was hyperthermic and tachycardic. She was diagnosed in adjunctive with gastroenteritis, UTI, severe malaria and moderate anaemia. The initial EUCr test elucidated electrolyte imbalance. The initial EUCr test elucidated electrolyte imbalance. Her PCV was 29%. She spent about 15 days in the clinic for the correction of her electrolyte disturbances and careful nutritional rehabilitation. Also, the associated differentials were managed with antibiotics, antimalarial drugs and hematinics. She was counseled on her daily diet. Praise GOD! Her life was saved!

As the Lord pours Himself into Nigeria, it is an absolute delight to be His hands and feet there. We see the Lord moving mightily! God certainly doesn't NEED us, but He does INVITE us to join Him. Would you care to join us by supporting the work financially?

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Port Harcourt UPDATES, National Modeling, and our 2nd high school this year!

Port Harcourt UPDATE

You may have read that our dear friend Mogodi and his family were suddenly evicted from their homes. The land where Mogodi and his family have been living for so long was always land that belonged to the government. The Fulani were squatters, with permission of course, and our school was making use of an abandoned building at that place. The government apparently and suddenly has decided to use the land for military barracks, and so has evicted everyone and is tearing down the buildings, including the one we used for our school. 

Now, we are going to purchase our own land - land that will belong fully and forever to SFA. No one will be able to evict the Fulani from that land, as we will make it available to them in perpetuity, for living, farming, and grazing their cattle. The school we build there will belong to SFA - no one will be able to close it down.

We would greatly, greatly appreciate your help to buy the land needed, a piece measuring some 143 acres, in the outskirts of Port Harcourt. We would greatly appreciate help to build a small school there for the hundreds of Fulani children. SFA Manager Lawal is now in Port Harcourt with Mogodi, to see the land and meet its owner, and negotiate a good price. We are expecting the costs to reach $75-100K. Praise God, we have raised $23,603.43, with a couple of other promising donors hoping to help.

Unfortunately, Lawal emailed that the owners of the 143 acres are no longer willing to sell us that land, even at our best price. Why? Of course... because they don't want Fulani families living there. Such hatred towards the Fulani, I've never seen. Lawal told Mogodi to look for another place. They have nowhere to go. Mogodi is desperately searching for land for his family to settle on. Please pray for an immediate solution! Lord, help!

Pictured below is Phyllis with Mogodi, the very first Fulani man she met in Nigeria. He has been a champion and friend to our ministry!

National Modeling!?!

World Bank has advised Dr. Bolarin to focus all his efforts on building up Ero Mountain Grazing Reserve!

In case you didn't hear why World Bank is partnering with us, it stems back to a friendship with Dr. Femi Bolarin, then with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. We worked together setting up grazing reserves in Jigawa, Kaduna and Niger states.

Now Dr. Bolarin is Head of World Bank for Kogi State. He decided to come in as a partner and assist the work on the Ero Mountain ranch making it a model ranch and grazing reserve, and use it as national center for cattle registration and vaccination!

What World Bank is doing for SFA is AMAZING!! They've drilled a borehole, built and erected this fabulous water tank, plowed ANOTHER paddock and are planting MORE grass seed, AND are planning to set up a sprinkler system for the paddocks!!

Thank you Dr. Bolarin and Vet Mogauri (pictured above)! You are the BEST!!

THIS IS BIG! This could be the beginning of national modeling, our goal and purpose for the Fulani people!

Meanwhile, over on Bobi Grazing Reserve... We're making headway on the BIG 'Leaders of Tomorrow High School' project!

The looong perimeter fence! Still a long ways to go! The fence is costly, but very necessary to prevent encroachment. Also much needed for security!

Our borehole was dug, we found water, Praise God! It doesn't look like much yet, but soon a large water tank will benefit the school & surrounding community!

The first building will be what we call a 'bacha' - a storeroom for the cement and other building materials we keep on site. The bacha is taking shape!

Here's a mighty team! Left to right, Mason Bello, SFA Manager Lawal, Bobi Reserve Director Dr. David Tsado, Mason Wada and Carpenter Yahaya.

The government is still clearing our land, as maize and beans were planted here. It's ours - as soon as they are done harvesting. :)

Sariki Bello, Kiri Bauchi and Sarki Ahijo, Fulani leaders on the reserve. We had a wonderful meeting, together with leaders and staff, about the school.

Come Thou Fount Lyrics

Come Thou fount of every blessing

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace

Streams of mercy never ceasing

Call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet

Sung by flaming tongues above

Praise the mount, I'm fixed upon it

Mount of Thy redeeming love

Here I raise my Ebenezer

Here by Thy great help I've come

And I hope by Thy good pleasure

Safely to arrive at home

Jesus sought me when a stranger

Wandering from the fold of God

He to rescue me from danger

Interposed His precious blood

(Precious blood)

Oh, that day when freed from sinning

I shall see Thy lovely face

Clothed then in blood washed linen

How I'll sing Thy sovereign grace

Come my Lord, no longer tarry

Take my ransomed soul away

Send Thine angels now to carry

Me to realms of endless days

Oh, to grace how great a debtor

Daily I'm constrained to be

Let Thy goodness like a fetter

Bind my wandering heart to Thee

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it

Prone to leave the God I love

Here's my heart, oh take and seal it

Seal it for Thy courts above

As the Lord pours Himself into Nigeria, it is an absolute delight to be His hands and feet there. We see the Lord moving mightily! God certainly doesn't NEED us, but He does INVITE us to join Him in the work He is doing all over the world. What a delightful blessing it is to work together for Him.

GIVE ONE TIME

GIVE MONTHLY

This Christmas season, please prayerfully consider giving to Schools For Africa. To learn more about how your gift impacts God's kingdom, reach out to SFA Secretary Carisa Haven, through email at carisahaven@gmail.com. You can give online with the buttons above, or mail a check to: Schools For Africa, c/o Don Standley, Treasurer, 1010 Silver Springs Way, Stanwood, WA 98292.

Thank you for your faithful support and prayers this year!

May you feel the presence of Jesus this Christmas season.

WOW! Praise Your Name, Jesus!

SO Thankful! Praise Your Name, Jesus!

From Phyllis: It's amazing... but I've never felt better in my life! And so, so blessed and happy! I'm just bubbling... God is showing Himself able and mighty, every single day! Every situation is just turning out right! Amazing God. What a privilege to be here in this country I love, with these people I love, doing the work that I love!

Thank you, Jesus!!

INCREDIBLE NEWS! Remember Pricipal Ojo and his wife Seun, fromFriends and Neighbors High School!?? They had a motorcycle accident last week, and are recovering well. He is going to plant a church at Friends and Neighbors High School, using the new canopy we're building as the sanctuary!!! Praise God! They just sent Phyllis a wonderful message!! Check it out below!

Good morning Ma, how are you doing today? I am recovering fast Ma and my wife is also fit to be at work tomorrow. I will also be at school tomorrow. The hand of the Lord is so strong on me. Can we start a Sunday Service at our new centre in the school by next week Sunday? The work will be finished then. I have the call of God for Salvation of souls and I would like to discuss this with you more when you are back. Thanks for all you do. 

THANK YOU LORD!!

As the Lord pours Himself into Nigeria, it is an absolute delight to be His hands and feet there. We see the Lord moving mightily, just like in the story above with Principal Ojo and Seun! God certainly doesn't NEED us, but He does INVITE us to join Him in the work He is doing all over the world. What a delightful blessing it is to work together for Him.

As we move rapidly towards the end of the year, would you prayerfully consider making a year-end gift to Schools For Africa to help continue this incredible work? Schools For Africa continues to grow through schools, healthcare clinics, and grazing reserves - ALL of these are making a huge impact for Christ and His Kingdom. With your support, we will be able to continue the work God has given us! For 2025, we are already prayerfully planning a school and healthcare clinic in Bauchi State, and a high school in Enugu State. May Christ be made known in Nigeria!

Principal Ojo and his wife Seun ride together on a moto every day to work. At this new place of work, Friends and Neighbors High School, the opportunity to share Christ has just exploded into regular Sunday morning church services! Praise God! The school, these jobs, and regular church services would not be possible without your support. We invite you to partner with us to bring schools, clinics, and grazing reserves to our beloved Fulani and other tribes in Nigeria. Most importantly, we invite you to help us bring CHRIST to our beloved Fulani and other tribes in Nigeria.

This Christmas season, please prayerfully consider giving to Schools For Africa. To learn more about how your gift impacts God's kingdom, reach out to SFA Secretary Carisa Haven, through email at carisahaven@gmail.com. You can give online with the buttons above, or mail a check to: Schools For Africa, c/o Don Standley, Treasurer, 1010 Silver Springs Way, Stanwood, WA 98292.

Thank you for your faithful support and prayers this year!

May you feel the presence of Jesus this Christmas season.

Remember our partners and friends at Wheelchairs For Nigeria? Pastor Ron Rice is on our SFA board. He and his wife Sharon had to cancel their annual October trip to Nigeria. It has become too dangerous. Ron's partner Ayuba is trying to schedule distributions in safer areas. Check out the AWESOME update below!

CHIEF AYUBA GUFWAN APPOINTED - FEDERAL OFFICE!

The President of Nigeria has appointed Ayuba Gufwan, head of Beautiful Gate Handicapped People Center and Ron's partner for 25 years, as the Executive Secretary of the National Commission on People with Disabilities. Ayuba will supervise 128 agency staff and represent the needs of 35 million disabled Nigerians before the federal government. It is an amazing honor and achievement for a polio survivor who didn't start 4th grade until he was 19, when his uncle built him a wheelchair, and with great effort graduated from the Law Faculty of the university of Jos. Ayuba has built Beautiful Gate into the largest wheelchair ministry by far in this huge country of 220 million.

Lord, BLESS Ayuba in this work!

Fulani Prayer Focus - Adamawa Fulani

In the 1800s, Modibo Adama, a scholar and Muslim holy warrior, led a jihad in what is now Cameroon and Nigeria, opening the region up to Fulani colonization. He continued his campaign, eventually conquering many villages and founding his own empire, which he named Adamawa after himself. His Fulani people established Islam as the religion in the region. New converts learned classical Arabic in order to study the Koran. There are also Fulani found in Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Cape Verde and Sudan, that can trace their origins back to the Adamawa Fulani of Nigeria.

There are many "taboos" within the Fulani culture. For example, they are forbidden to call a first son or daughter by name. When in public, wives must stay at a distance, but are watched over by their husbands. Goat meat may not be eaten and beef is only eaten at formal ceremonies.

The Fulani traditionally remain both physically and psychologically distant from non-Fulani. They are very reserved and show no strong emotions. In fact, their only emotional ties appear to be with their herds. It is said that no one really knows what a Fulani is thinking. He is gentle yet shows disdain towards outsiders.

The Fulani are a proud people who teach their young children to have dignity. The Adamawa Fulani are expected to follow a code of high moral behavior known as Pulaaku. Pulaaku extols virtues such as kindness, bravery, patience, tolerance, perseverance, honesty, diligence, generosity and dignity. To be reserved is part of being dignified; thus, they are shy and modest in public. A mother does not show affection to her infant son. In fact, she never even calls her firstborn by his name all throughout his life.

In terms of spiritual beliefs, the Adamawa Fulani are almost entirely Sunni Muslim with many animistic beliefs blended in. They seek to control the spirit world through animal sacrifices and by wearing fetishes.

Prayer Points

·        Pray for the Lord to humble Adamawa Fulani leaders and lead them to humble devotion to Christ.

·        Pray for the Lord to intervene among the Adamawa Fulani in such a way that they will become open to accepting the lordship of Christ.

·        Pray for the Lord to provide for the Adamawa Fulani's livestock so well that they acknowledge his goodness and power.

·        Pray that God will call those who are willing to go to and share Christ with the Adamawa Fulani.

·        Ask the Lord to give Adamawa Fulani believers boldness to share Christ with their own people.

·        Pray that God will open the hearts of governmental leaders to the gospel.

·        Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Adamawa Fulani.

·        Pray for a disciple making movement among the Adamawa that will spread to other Fulani groups.

Shared with permission from https://fulani-prayer-focus.epistle.org/