Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Looking back

Someone asked me recently what I learned from my experiences in Nigeria.
She wanted to know how I reflect on those years as I look back.
I was able to say a couple of things.

I learned so much. Those were the first years of adulthood, in which we learn so much about who we are, what we can do, and what we can’t do. Because we lived and worked in another culture we were also confronted with the sharp contrasts one finds in the world: rich/poor, black/white, educated/uneducated, etc. We became quickly acquainted with all kinds of areas of life: education, medical care, rural development, transportation, government, church, theology, culture.

I also think that I missed a lot. I wasn’t adult enough to ask the right questions and find the answers (assuming there are some answers somewhere! ;-) I don’t feel guilty about that. Everyone who is young and starting out experiences that. And I had no one around me to help me in that area.

Those ten years shaped and formed the rest of my life and work. When we came to Holland I was very conscious and deliberate about taking what I had learned in Nigeria with me. Those were valuable lessons and I have benefited enormously from them.

With these comments I come to the close of this series of stories about our years in Nigeria.
Because we have spent the largest part of these last 30 years in Holland I will write a few blogs reflecting on our experiences here, to close out this series of stories.
Thank you for reading these stories. I hope you have enjoyed and benefited from them.

(Note: this is the fifteenth in a series of blogs celebrating the 30-year anniversary of our departure for Nigeria. The blogs can be found under the label "Anniversary". Click here for the first one.)

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Norm,
My name is Miriam Holkeboer Herron. I used to live in Serti with my parents Gilbert & Helen Holkeboer. My dad was the missionary in Serti and he is the one who opened up Serti. I am in the process of writing a book on their experiences while they were in Nigeria (from 1949 to 1967) as missionary teachers in Lupue and then as a minister in Serti. I would love to see pictures of Serti while you where there if possible. While our house was being built, my parents and brother lived in the mud hut guest house. Eventually, the house was completed, along with the nurse's house and the maternity center. About 1 1/2 years later the newer guest was built. I would love to communicate with you further about Serti. My private email is: miriamrh50@comcast.net. Thanks. Miriam

Anonymous said...

Hi Norm,
My name is Miriam Holkeboer Herron. I used to live in Serti with my parents Gilbert & Helen Holkeboer. My dad was the missionary in Serti and he is the one who opened up Serti. I am in the process of writing a book on their experiences while they were in Nigeria (from 1949 to 1967) as missionary teachers in Lupue and then as a minister in Serti. I would love to see pictures of Serti while you where there if possible. While our house was being built, my parents and brother lived in the mud hut guest house. Eventually, the house was completed, along with the nurse's house and the maternity center. About 1 1/2 years later the newer guest was built. I would love to communicate with you further about Serti. My private email is: miriamrh50@comcast.net. Thanks. Miriam