In the meanwhile of all my business in Abuja, life in the village for Catherine and Amos has been equally if not more busy. The meetings, appointments and scenarios they have been dealing with could be comedic if from a film, however not so fun at the times they have been happening.
Catherine and Amos have daily met with Eze’s, Tribal Leaders and Church Leaders who have all brought forth cases of vulnerable children to be considered for our program. It has taken time to go through each one of them, do some investigating, considering, discussing and decision-making. We initially posted (on here maybe and our FB page) that we had 7 children, possible two more all coming in. Well as this is Nigeria, Africa and things operate on a completely different time line…we have waited, discussed and considered each situation as it unfolds.
Catherine and Amos did paperwork and have accepted two children to live permanently in the home. We also have a third child who has been processed and will be coming still, it is just a matter of time for him to be collected by members of the extended family as he is not close to where we are. We have expected him at anytime and we hear it may be soon finally.
There was also paperwork processed and signed for two other children and they came to stay in the house, after two days and one night…issues arrived with the relative and it was brought back up to discussion with the Eze and it was in our best interest to hand the children back over to the relative. We are not here to fight for custody of children, we are here with open arms to take them when there is no one else. There was also a second situation of two children whom we were processing to come in and a similar issue arose. It seems that some people here think they can bring their kids here, tell us they want help and us to take care of the children, but expect us to pay them money for us to keep the children. We have needed to clear that up, hence these four children specifically not staying with us now.
On that note however, a little story about the two children who came to stay for one night…
It was a five year old girl and a three year old boy who were basically feral. That word makes so much sense here, all our kids fall under that word, but the severity varies. These two were extremely feral. They basically threw food everywhere, peed and pooped on the floors, threatened to find the knives in the house and kill everyone while they were sleeping, fell out of bed at night, hit, screamed, bit, attacked with their full body force, tried to “kill” the stuffed toys… and basically exhausted Catherine and Amos completely. So it was a bit of a relief I am sure that God did not intend for those two to stay in this house :)
Things have been very busy! I had last taken John and Leonie up to Abuja for them to return to Canada and I began on meetings and paperwork that ended up having me stay in the capital for three weeks! I made a little progress during that time as far as immigration and security meetings. I was able however to meet and interview several times, a couple to possibly hire as our first “house parents”.
Eventually as time was going I returned to the village to await a call to go back for a meeting regarding visa papers (re: Foundation and myself). I was in the village two days when I received the call, so I ended up being in the village for one week before returning back to Abuja. During the time in the village I had meetings with Catherine (that she already had been working on), we met with several children and those who brought them and worked through some cases to start processing.
I then returned back to Abuja to get on with the meetings and paperwork once again. On my second day there, on my way to a big meeting I fell down three stairs and injured my ankle badly. There luckily was a doctor at the place it happened and he was a great help. Within 50 minutes i had it splinted and wrapped after being iced and was on some pain killers and half hobbled was carried off to my meeting. It was slightly difficult to be sweating so profusely from shock and pain and try to remember was I was needing to request at the meeting, but I succeeded in getting an appointment for the next morning. The next day started with the hospital with xrays and exam, no broken bones but torn muscles and ligaments. I went to some very important meetings over the next two days, tripped twice and succeed in tearing a calf ligament also, however I did get what I wanted from the offices and meetings :). I ended up staying in Abuja for three weeks once again, this time however, I succeed in making many important meetings and accomplishing much, all that on make-shift crutches or having a shoulder to lean on. Thank goodness for wonderful friends. Every night ended with my leg up in the air and ice (yay for the city and mostly constant power) to help the swelling go down.
I have since returned to the village once again, and am awaiting information regarding our Expat quotas.
I put up our last update in the beginning of August when John and Leonie had recently arrived. Things were super busy and great the entire time they were here. We were able to attend many important meetings with politicians and other government personal, top military men, Igwe’s and Eze’s along with tribal councils, religious leaders, and community meetings. All in all great networking for getting our information out and our requests. We have received amazing feedback and support in return.
We are currently looking into a specific situation regarding three children (1yr, 2yr, and 4yr) that are siblings and potentially fit our profile. We are doing some researching and meetings surrounding the situation.
We also have some other situations that have come to our attention regarding some infants being rescued out of baby factories. We are looking into what we are capable of taking on at this point.
Also we were shown several wonderful pieces of land, belonging to various individuals, families, communities, ect. There is one in particular that really is perfect for what our plan is. We are considering, discussing, and praying about it. Soon we will decide whether to enter into negotiations for acquisition.
I have been in Abuja the capital city for going on three weeks now. I came up here to drop John and Leonie for the trip back to Canada and to have some important meetings. I was able to see Steve (dad) off also. I have had one informal interviewed a couple for potential staff hire, there are still many things to be sorted before anyone can be brought on for probationary training and hire (like we have to have children in the house first).
I will be traveling back to the village after the weekend.
PLEASE continue to spread the word about TWCF and help raise more financial support!
This morning was an impromptu meeting with our Igwe Chris and our two Eze’s Ifeayni and Alfred. These are the men who have spoken and acted on our behalf to enable our Foundation to enter back into Nigeria after the previous issues that we have had in past years. We work closely with them, and take their council and advice into consideration as culturally they are highly respected. I was surprised that i was to Chair the meeting and it was more formal then a visit. So it was with laughter that I tried to run an agenda from memory and used an imaginary gavel. They were very excited and happy to meet John and Leonie, further members our Foundations team. It speaks volumes to them on our behalf that there are always different people for them to meet. It helps promote the work of the Foundation and the involvement of many different people. Leonie presented them with the whole-made baked cookies she brought for them. They were beyond excited about them. Igwe Chris (our King and retired Chairman of the entire Tribal Council of Isuikwuato) opened and started eating his right away. Leonie is now the favorite!
Our meeting went well, covering several important points. We are grateful to have their support. We will meet with them next week again, as well as the new Eze of our immediate area.
Well, I am off…today is laundry day and yard maintenance day – the guys are trying to fix the water tanks. Also we are preparing a big meal as there are some poor neighboring children coming to share food with us today. About 7 that we know of, perhaps their will be more..
REQUEST: We would like to start back up a feeding program for Saturdays only. One big noon day meal for any of the children around that need to come and eat. If you feel inclined to support and give to this ministry specifically, please contact us through the website so we can set up a fund for this! Thank you!
On Friday we all traveled into Umuahia to the big market place to shop for some house-hold and food items. It was a great experience for John and Leonie and a good refresher for the rest of us. The traffic was busy and “dangerous” as usual, with KKs (three-wheel buggy things), vehicles and pedestrians running and dodging everywhere. The concept of being kind, sharing the road, not hitting people, allowing someone in front of you, does NOT exist at all. We finally made it to the market it place and came down out of the van to enter it. People right away start yelling and hollering for us to come buy from them. The words “onyocha” follow all of us through the entire market and trip, being yelled and whispered by children and adults alike. It means white man or white person. Many of the adults and children run up and reach out to shake our hands or grab our arms (just so they can touch us). It was fun to see john and Leonie smiling and experiencing this. It is quite interesting to always be talked AT in another language, not be sure if someone is saying something good or bad, and then try to respond, haha. Mostly if you just smile and life, and give chance for people to say hi or shake you, they are very happy.
So we bought food some staple food for the next week or two, and some fresh foods for the next couple days. John and Leonie also experienced some bartering for material, they laugh and enjoy it…while I on the other hand get annoyed and become Nigerian by raising my voice and walking away…until they chase me back. Oh joy… not haha.
Steve and I went into Umuahia to have our much awaited meeting with the State Director of SSS. It was a wonderful meeting! We were so pleased and and relieved at the outcome of it. We have now been able to get to know the man more and he is in full support of what we are doing in this area. He gave us wise council and advice, asked us good questions to make sure we have thought of everything and covered all aspects in regards to setting up our projects. He believes that due to his work the area is okay for us to stay in and not have to have full-time security. (Yay!) However he will have SSS come around and see us and check, as well as undercover SSS in the village to make sure that we are protected and secured. We are so relieved that we do not have to have them visibly follow us. Also, if we are traveling to any area that he thinks sketchy, he will send them to escort us every time.
Another big thing, after a suggestion from our friend Philip, and some careful consideration and prayer, during our meeting I asked if it was possible for him to help us with a vehicle temporary as our arrangements had fallen through, we were without a vehicle and it was near impossible for us to do anything without having transportation, and if he could help us we would be so grateful… Well he thought and then said OF COURSE. Let me see what I can do. And it seems that the driver of our security team from last time is now assigned to us with a 4 door pick-up truck for us to be using. YAY!
So needless to say it went very well. There were a few other positive outcomes but I will just wait to report to you all on the outcome of those.
This week has been so busy. We welcomed John and Leonie, two of our other summer team members. They finally arrived safe and sound to us here in the village by the late afternoon on Wed (not after being stopped at many roadblocks and being asked if they were kidnapped by the drivers… sigh, Nigeria). They were lucky to arrive WITH all their papers and travel documents still with them.
We had issues with retaining the van we were arranging to use for the next few days, so the second driver was released and sent away. Our main driver Ifeanyi went to Umuahia to make arrangements for something else. He was able to find someone who would give us a van and driver for the set prices, everyone else as soon as they knew we were white refused to do it unless they were paid way more since we are white and can apparently afford it. Ifeanyi found a good deal for us. So we have had a van to move around a little bit and start getting things done finally!
Since we have been in the village we have been mostly having conversations, writing lots of documents, speaking with guests and visitors who are dropping by, and work on the house. Steve, Amos, and on of our neighbours HeavyD have been cleaning the compound by digging holes and burying metal, glass, and garbage. We have been burning lots of garbage also. Cat and I have been bleaching floors, killing mice things (chichi-ba) and lizards in rooms and get them ready for beds or office supplies. We have also been carrying lots of water, and cooking. Steve and HeavyD chopped down a banana tree that was touch our NEPA power lines in hopes that it would help…it hasn’t haha, the light is just that bad, as in when it is even on. It has been on three times in 6 days. They also chopped down some big trees that were growing to close inside the compound walls and making the wall crack. And by chop down I mean using a machete. We are trying to write lists of supplies that we are going to need from town… which is a lot, however we do not have a vehicle so it is very difficult. We haven’t been able to move out of the compound since we arrived. I have walked down the road a couple times to buy phone credit, but I am not suppose to until we have clearance from the head of state security. The Igwe gave us his second vehicle to use, so Amos went Thursday to go and collect it from Port Harcourt. Unfortunately it is in disrepair and broke down on the way. So we finally got it on Friday night but we are not sure about using it. Steve and Amos and HeavyD spent some time working on it on Saturday but it is going to be sketchy to use. But we have to get around somehow. We are praying for getting a vehicle here to use that is in good shape for a couple weeks or at least until we get our own. We have connections to be able to purchase/ship/clear of the docks a vehicle from Toronto over to here. We however just need to “find” the vehicle we need for the price we can afford and then people to help pay for it! So if you know anyone who can help in those areas… let us know!!!!
There are lots of pics up on Instagram and FB.
I suppose it has been awhile since I have wrote on the blog and I blame it on the VILLAGE! :) We have now been down in the village for about 6 days. We travelled by road on Tuesday, and after 9 hours, arrived at our home. It was a very long trip, but it rained only once, so the road was clear and dry to drive on. We stopped a few times to get fuel and pump up the air in the tires. It was wonderful to finally get to the house. Our staff Amos was waiting for us, and our widow and three kids!
The last several days have been filled with lots of talk and discussions with various people that have come by as well as with Amos, in order to prepare the hearts and minds of those around, for the work that we are going to start again. It is very important that everyone has a very clear understanding of what we are going to be doing here, so that our program and system is not abused, but rather supported and valued by those in our community and surrounding areas. We have very specific guidelines and program as to how this project is going to work (as in we are here to help orphaned children who fit a specific criteria), which means it will take time before the community themselves will be benefited. So we need grace as we help share this and they need understanding to accept it.
Well, after waiting for what seem like EVER, we have received our official legal Certificate of Incorporation for “The Wanted Children Foundation Nigeria” NGO to operate in Nigeria!!!!!
We are so excited and relieved. Having this paper is a big piece of our puzzle in place. Now that we have it, we can begin making preparations for children to live with us. We will be working with the Tribal Council Leaders and the Religious leaders in our area to help identify children that fit our specific criteria. We will take children starting from our immediate location, and then slowly expand out. We will reserve a few spots at all times for our collaborative efforts with the Governments Human Trafficking Law Enforcement Agency.
We will be leaving Abuja shortly to get to the village finally! We are so ready, we heard from our staff Amos, that the people and children in the village are “disturbing seriously” at the gate, saying where are we and why haven’t we come yet, they are waiting for us!!