Camping for 7 days with friends away from home: Preaching campaign Part 1

Camping? Yes! Yearly, some friends who are religiously related decide on their own to camp away from home for the sake of preaching the goodnews to others. I have tasted it twice before the COVID-19 and since then, I have been making arrangements to join but it hasn't worked out for me. Sometimes due to time constraints and sometimes due to the funds.

Yes, funds because one needs to fund his or her movement throughout his or stay there. The fund depends on where is decided and the food as well as other expenditures. The duration is another factor that determines how much fund will be needed. The duration can be a week or 2.

When I was told about this year's camping by a close friend, I thought it won't be possible. Thankfully, the date was fixed to be in September 21st to 28th. This means that we will take off on 21st and return on 28th. I told that friend that it depends on our schedule for exams in school where I am working. I prayed to the Almighty to have free period by that time. When our exams timetable came out, I was glad to see that I will conclude my invigilation on the 18th September. It was a wonderful thing for me.

Then, I quickly notified my friend that if things should work out the way it is in the timetable, then I will camp with them this year. He was so happy to hear that and promised to also pray it works out. A public holiday was announced on the first week into the exam. I thought they will shift the paper for that day to a week after every other papers. But, it was later fixed in-between other papers before final paper was taken.

To cut all the stories short, it happy that my entire family and I went for the camping at Ethinan Local government Area, Ikot Eba village to be precise but still in the same state. I haven't been there before.

We were told to pay 15000 naira each that will care for both transportation and feeding including other logistics over there. Thankfully, all 4 of us in the family, including my niece made our payment before take off day.

I was also assigned to go to the market for shopping with another lady who will be traveling with us. We made a list of what we will eat over there and we began shopping. The shopping lasted for 3 days but I only joined on one of the days.

We were able to move on the said day which was 21st of September to the village. We went wit our personal effects as well as the general stuffs we will use over there. Our Christian brothers a d sisters were already notified over there that we were coming and so they also made preparations for us. They arranged were we will sleep, firewoods for cooking, and other things.

On arrival, we camped and prepared our food for that night. We cooked soup and swallow which we enjoyed as a group. I was part of the cooking crew. Imagine cooking for 28 persons and sharing same to all of them too. Eating together was fun! We only had 2 bathrooms to use and you know what it means to cue up to take turns to shower. That was fun too.

Then, we were given only 4 rooms and seating room to use. The women used 3 rooms while the men used a room and the seating room. That same night, we had fresh palm wine. Yes, a palm wine taper tapped close to the house were we camped, as soon as he came down, we bought everything and enjoyed that night.

In the morning, we work up, considered our morning worship together as a team, then the women went to the kitchen to prepare morning food while other started taking their shower. Before 8.30 am, were all set and ready for the main reason why we had gone there which is to preach the goodnews of God's kingdom to the people of Ethinan Local government as much as we can cover.

After arranging and pairing, we were shown where to work. It was our first day and as such we had to get to work. Our work involves preaching and teaching.

Preaching means that we meet people in their houses, on the road, farms and business areas. Then for the first time, we talk to them on the topics we had prepared or on what our listeners wants. They may have questions in mind to ask even when we had prepared a topic for them. We will then use the bible to respond in am appealing way. Then we can book appointment to return.

Teaching means going back to the people we had promised to return and visit and then having more in-depth Bible discussions with them. We can use a study aid that is Bible based or we can go ahead to use the bible depending on what the topic is.

But for that first day, I personally wasn't able to get anyone I could return to visit. So I only preached and when after about 4 hours, we went back home to get ready for the next day.

At home, one takes care of his lunch. Yes, we didn't make provision for lunch, only breakfast and dinner was arranged for as a group. I already bought things that my kids will eat in the afternoon and so they arranged it and enjoyed.

When it was time for dinner preparation, we also went out and made fire for it. We prepared beans and ripped plantain that night. We also enjoyed as a group. We prayed together and went to sleep.

Very early in the morning, I woke my kids up to take their shower before the rush hour. They did and slept again. I went out to assist other women with the cooking. We prepared Jollof rice and shared to all. After eating, the people left took their shower and we all left before 9am.

We arranged for the ministry and left to the assigned territory. That day, I was able to get 4 different persons I was to go back and teach. After our morning preaching which ended by 1am, I and my partner returned to visit those people. I was so excited to be able to get those people and they took were so happy to discuss the bible with us. We also arranged to go back the next day.

At the end, we went back home, rested and started preparing dinner for the group. We prepared soup and swallow. This time it was fufu that was the swallow and the men helped to turn it for us. The soup was editang. Thankfully, we were able to conflict earlier, we eat, enjoyed games before sleeping.

It was really fun filled! Day 3 and 4, day 5 and 6, day 7 and 8 will be out soon, be on the look out. You can afford to miss all the existing things that happened there including the day we went to the river. Just stay glued to my blog. See you in the next part!