When we arrived at UB, there were two Fulbright Fellows already in residence. One fellow, Bill, we barely got to know, but we became good friends with Denise and her husband, Alan. I just read someone's essay that suggests that every ex-pat becomes a friend in a foreign land. That is close to true, but some are better friends than others.
We hit it off well with Denise and Alan, and we were delighted to make contact with the two new incoming Fulbrighters even before they arrived. Dr. Kelly Phelan is a Tourism prof from Texas Tech, and Dr. Mike Avoseh is an Adult Education prof from U South Dakota. As a Tourism prof, Kelly has traveled extensively and lived in West Africa for a while, as well as our favorite foreign country, Alaska. Mike was born in Nigeria, and lived in Canada and the USA. Kelly lives just a few doors down from us, and Mike's office at UB is only a few doors down from mine in the same "block" (we would say building).
We were amazed to learn that both are... Christians. Wow! Two faculty from state universities and both are Believers, that is unusual, and only someone working in this environment will understand how unusual that is.
We have enjoyed getting to know both of these fine people and have been able to spend time with them. it seems a bit strange, but it is also kind of nice to be the "experts" and share what we have learned about living here.
The nicest thing is that both of these folks are just terrific. They are thoughtful, considerate, positive, and pleasant. Hard to beat. It is extremely comforting to have two people who we can count on in a pinch. Which reminds me of John 15:15, "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."
But I would be remiss not to also mention John 15:13- 14, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command."
What a friend we have in Jesus!
We hit it off well with Denise and Alan, and we were delighted to make contact with the two new incoming Fulbrighters even before they arrived. Dr. Kelly Phelan is a Tourism prof from Texas Tech, and Dr. Mike Avoseh is an Adult Education prof from U South Dakota. As a Tourism prof, Kelly has traveled extensively and lived in West Africa for a while, as well as our favorite foreign country, Alaska. Mike was born in Nigeria, and lived in Canada and the USA. Kelly lives just a few doors down from us, and Mike's office at UB is only a few doors down from mine in the same "block" (we would say building).
We were amazed to learn that both are... Christians. Wow! Two faculty from state universities and both are Believers, that is unusual, and only someone working in this environment will understand how unusual that is.
We have enjoyed getting to know both of these fine people and have been able to spend time with them. it seems a bit strange, but it is also kind of nice to be the "experts" and share what we have learned about living here.
The nicest thing is that both of these folks are just terrific. They are thoughtful, considerate, positive, and pleasant. Hard to beat. It is extremely comforting to have two people who we can count on in a pinch. Which reminds me of John 15:15, "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."
But I would be remiss not to also mention John 15:13- 14, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command."
What a friend we have in Jesus!
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