You’re welcome! You’re welcome! That was the excited greeting we received over and over from the locals on day three of our Nigerian adventure.   

Caleb, Ben, Jessica, Jennifer, and I spent an eventful Friday walking the streets of Lagos, Nigeria, taking in the sights, sounds, smells and taste of our environment.

After breakfast we strolled through the neighborhood surrounding our hotel. The back streets contain a number of small shacks and stands populated by individuals selling all manner of food and goods. We purchased freshly made puff puffs, which are like large donut holes, and snacked on them as we walked. Ben and I accepted an invitation to eat some boiled yam with a man and his family along the roadside.

Lunch was more American as we stopped at Dominos for pizza before meeting up with Dare. After a quick trip to his office for a tour, we traded Dare for his sister Fumi, and Mary Williams, who took us on an adventure through one of the local markets. Riding in overloaded Volkswagen vans and zipping through the streets in three wheeled yellow taxies were all part of the adventure. We were glad to have young Ralph from Benin City join up with us along the way.

The marketplace was flooded with thousands of people buying and selling food and goods. I had never experienced anything quite like it before. We pressed our way through the fray, managing to stay together. Every few seconds someone would cry out “Oyibo” meaning white man. Many jumped up to wave at us or shake our hands. It was a fun experience, but reminded me I would never want to be a movie star.

We visited the Akinbo’s home for a delicious dinner and lively fellowship. A number of the campers arrived late in the afternoon, and settled into the church hall for the night. We’re looking forward to seeing them all on the Sabbath and heading out together for camp on Sunday.