The Anthis Family Adventures
Volume 3, Issue #9 joel.anthis@sim.org
www.anthisfamily.com December, 2004
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Anthis Update and Year in Review
Dear Friends and Family,
Merry Christmas and Happy 2005! We have had an awesome year here in Nigeria, and in it all we have seen the Mighty hand of our God. In Joshua 1:5 God tells His people, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” The Anthis Family has claimed this promise, and God has not disappointed us. Here are some highlights from 2004:
January 2004: Joel and Cindy participated in medical outreaches to a neighboring state. Joel was able to begin a relationship with a Muslim Chief and fit him with a solar powered hearing aid. Cindy’s team saw 30 adults and 55 children pray to receive Jesus.
February 2004: Joel’s long awaited operative microscope arrived at Evangel Hospital. This microscope is the only one in Northern Nigeria and enables Joel to do ear surgery.
March 2004: A Muslim woman from an unreached part of far northern Nigeria had surgery for a very large and disfiguring facial mass. Post-operatively, she prayed to receive Christ.
April 2004: Joel did the first hearing restoration surgery at Evangel Hospital. The patient was a young Nigerian man in full time Christian ministry. Cindy traveled to a Muslim village for a medical outreach with a team from our Nigerian church. Our vision is that God will ultimately plant a church in the village as a result of continuing outreaches.
May 2004: Cindy traveled with an outreach team from Evangel Hospital to a village in Kaduna State. She was rewarded with 13 eggs and a one-eyed chicken as gifts from a group of Fulani Muslims that had been her patients.
June 2004: We were visited by Pastor Buck Oliphant his wife Lynn and David and Matthew Mason from Cornerstone Church in Katy, Texas. Joel went with them and others on a village outreach. 120 people (many of them Muslims) prayed to receive Jesus as their Savior through the ministry afforded by patient care, home visits, and the showing of evangelistic films. We have had continued follow-up from the Nigerian pastor in the village and we are encouraged to hear about the perseverance of the new believers despite some persecution.
July 2004: We traveled back to Houston for Austin to undergo surgery. We were blessed and encouraged to visit with many friends and family.
August 2004: Joel performed the first ever stapedectomy at Evangel Hospital. This is a surgery where a tiny hearing bone of a patient who can not hear is removed and replaced with an artificial hearing bone. The patient’s hearing on post-operative follow-up was normal.
September 2004: We celebrated the one year anniversary of our arrival in Jos. Joel was able to remove a coin swallowed four months earlier from a young girl’s esophagus! He accomplished this with a specialized scope that is one of the many pieces of equipment we have added to the hospital through your contributions.
October 2004: We encountered armed robbers on the road during our attempted mission trip to Galmi Hospital in the country of Niger. God’s overwhelming peace held us through this very frightening incident. As Austin said, “They can take our money and our lives, but they can not take away our Christianity.” Amen! There is no substitute for the assurance of eternal life through Jesus Christ!
November 2004: Joel treated many complicated and challenging patients at the hospital. With the use of a special donated scope he was able to save two children - one who had a straight pin in his lung and one who had aspirated a bean. It is awesome to be here and to offer healing in the name of Jesus.
December 2004: We are looking back on all the events of 2004 and we are grateful for God’s promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us! What a Mighty God we serve.
Kid’s Corner
Austin, Allison and Abigail are continuing to adjust to life in Nigeria. Austin is in Grade 4. One highlight of his year was a class fieldtrip to visit the palace of the traditional king (or tribal ruler) of our area. Austin continues to share with us about all he learned and saw on that visit. Allison is in Grade 2. She has made good progress in her gymnastics even though her mom is her coach! Abigail is three years old or “uku” as she likes to say. That is “three” in Hausa. She is a big hit with all the Nigerians we meet as she has mastered the Hausa greetings and loves to use them.
Prayer and Praise
Praises:
- For God’s presence and protection in our lives
- For the awesome ministry opportunities God has given us here in Nigeria
- For our awesome support and prayer team
Prayer Requests:
- That God would continue to guide us to the ministry opportunities that will bring Him Glory
- That we would neither grow weary nor fearful in doing good
- For continued growth in Christ-likeness for each member of our family
Serving Christ on your behalf here in Nigeria,
Joel and Cindy
Austin, Allison, and Abigail