MONDAY FAX
A News and Information Service
for Leaders in North America
November 17, 2003

This "Update" replaces the regular issue of Monday FAX for this week.

FROM THE EDITOR - -

North American Division President Don Schneider is in Nigeria
for the next two weeks, conducting an evangelistic meeting in Aba, a large
town in extreme southern Nigeria. The meetings will be uplinked
around Nigeria and throughout Africa.

Don and his wife, Marti, are giving up their Thanksgiving vacation to hold the two-week series of meetings. Marti is writing daily e-mails back; this is her first one.

SCHNEIDERS' NIGERIA UPDATE #1

ABA, NIGERIA Tuesday, November 11 9:00 pm
By Marti Schneider, On location

Our first day in Nigeria is just ending. It is raining quite hard,
Don has fallen asleep. And we are cozy in a two-room suite that is quite
spacious. Plenty of closet space, two TVs with CNN available, a delicious Chinese meal at the hotel's restaurant. Actually we arrived in Lagos last evening and spent the night at a hotel near the airport.

The flight from Frankfurt to Lagos was pleasant after we had slept well
during the flight from Atlanta to Frankfurt.

The Heralds were on the same flight. We met them at the departure
gate in Frankfurt. It was fun to see familiar faces and to meet their
new second tenor, Jerry Fuentes. They were flying directly from Lagos
to Ghana for a concert and will arrive in Port Harcourt tomorrow. Bob
Folkenberg is scheduled to arrive tonight.

We were met at the Lagos Airport by Luka Daniel, the division
president, and Joseph Ola, the union president. The bad news is that
one suitcase did not arrive, but the good news is that it was the one with
extra supplies, food, etc. Both of our clothing suitcases came through
fine . . . and the box of Don's books.

We took a national airline today to Port Harcourt. When we all
landed at the airport in Port Harcourt this morning, there was a Pathfinder
marching band and drill team escort. They led the "dignitaries" single
file among the rows of Pathfinders standing at attention. But all of
our luggage including my backpack with camera had been quickly taken off
toward the vans while all of this was happening . . . so no pictures.

At a signal a driver pulled his car up for Don and me to get into
the backseat and a policeman in the front seat. Then a police car pulled
ahead of us and a motorcade began . . . the siren shouting the news of
our arrival. Unfortunately, the police car broke down within two blocks
of the airport. . . we waited while many people gathered around the car
watching someone work on the throttle. Then off we went again. The
breakdown occurred three or four more times. We wondered why we would
need the police escort as we drove through the lush green countryside.
But when we drove through the first town, we realized the value.

With much hand waving, the police signaled all of the cars to move to the
side as the long line of cars snaked through the traffic (sometimes
the cars did move over). When we came to major intersections, the
energetic little policeman that seemed to be in charge would jump out of the car
and run out into the traffic to assure that we could move through as a
group. Then he would come dashing past us to take his place in the
front car again. At times we would see him leaning half his body out
of the car observing the motorcade, I suppose. It seemed that the
motorcade grew longer and longer as we traveled. We passed one
Adventist church with a group of uniformed Pathfinders standing out front . . .
no time for anything but a wave. The entire morning trip was a delightful
event!

We went to the East Nigerian Conference Office and were hosted in
the president's office where we met the officers and departmental
directors. This was followed by the noon meal beautifully served at
the pastor's home.

I was really impressed with the East Nigerian Conference Statistical
Board in the president's office . . . statistics for the Third Quarter
of September 2003 are as follows:

203 Organized Churches
84 Unorganized Churches . . . They plant about five churches per year.
60,292 Church Members
76,634 Sabbath School Members
42 Ordained Ministers . . . This includes 3 officers and 5 directors.
25 Unordained Ministers
21 Office Workers
7 Press Workers
4 Gardeners
4 Guards
21 Literature Evangelists
124 Total Number of Workers

This morning we met Mrs. Luka Daniel as she came out of their room
ready for the trip. Don told them that even though I had brought a
large suitcase of things, I simply had "nothing to wear." She agreed that
when anything major is happening, the ladies in Africa also want a pretty
new dress. And they do dress! Beautiful, colorful dresses. "Just an old
thing that I travel in," Mrs. Daniel described her bright orange with
navy print two-piece dress and matching headdress. "At least five
years old." I loved it.

We drove by the stadium . . . It's huge! Men were there building the
platforms. A new generator was set in place today. And two Adventist
Media guys have much of the production equipment looking ready, even
if it does not have its maze of wires installed. Kandus Thorp has been
here hearing reports from various organizing teams to be sure that nothing
is falling between the cracks. We saw her at supper. She has been quite
ill last night and today. Can't keep down her food.

Don't forget to pray for us . . . for the people that need to hear .
.
. and for the "International Evangelist" Don Schneider! We will truly
appreciate your prayers!

Good night!

Marti