Nigeria Notes: Part 14; November 7, 2013, Visiting Ehime-Mbano

Christine, the Beautiful Lady, with her daughter and
my new friend, "God's Gift"

Peter, our very own body guard

Finally we boarded the plane and after a 45 minute flight we touched down in Owerri.   Oct met us at the airport, along with a tall older man whose name I can’t remember, and his tall wife, dressed in a gold and pink two piece dress with a mermaid skirt.  I think she will always be “The Beautiful Lady” when I think of her.  Her name is Christine.  We also picked up Peter, our very own personal body guard.  He’s a member of the local police force and was hired for the day to ride in the front of the van with his AK47 and keep us safe.

The market near the village of  Ehime-Mbano.

 Our first stop was the noisy, crowded market in IG’s boyhood village.  We all got out and  walked through the market, rubbing elbows with the locals.  Some sellers called out to us, trying to entice us to buy, but we only had a few minutes and then it was back in the van and on to visit IG’s childhood home.

Friends and relations in Ehime-Mbano

It was a really pleasant little place. I thing there were three little houses, all clustered very close together, practically touching each other, they were so close.  They made a kind of U shape with a spot for parking in the center.  The house IG had grown up in was on the left.  They all looked alike from the outside, smooth mud walls, painted yellow, with corrugated tin roofs and small porches.              

We were welcomed by what seemed like a sea of relatives and friends, many with their cell phone cameras clicking away.  Once again, everyone was so warm and welcoming.

Ignatius' brother, the Chief of his village.

The man that IG called his “father” is actually his older brother.  His father having passed away, his brother had now become the “father’ of the family.  He wore a special suit, like the pajamas most men wear but made from an open cutwork pattern of lattice strips with beautiful pink embroidered flowers scattered over all.  Very distinguished and rich looking.

The house Ignatius grew up in.

The house was so crowded, not everyone fit!

On our way to view the village

We were invited into the house where we were offered seats on the comfy, overstuffed couches, while as many relatives as could be squeezed into the room around us could be.  The living room walls were painted blue and hung with many family photos, pictures of Jesus and a couple of crusade posters.  It appeared that there was a kitchen behind the living room and on the right wall a door that I assume led to a bedroom.  There was electricity but no running water.  I don’t know where the privy was.

Prayers were offered up on our behalf and then some food was passed around, little buns with sausages baked into the center and small cookies with cheese melted on top, like icing.  Very nice!  

Nigeria Journal; 2013

Me in Oweri

This is the beginning of a new line of posts that I'm starting.  I went to Nigeria in 2013, on a mission trip that included helping to set up a 12 step program and going on a prayer journey.  Each week I'll be posting a portion of my journal.

I hope you find it interesting.  It was my first ever trip outside of North America and I was so incredibly blessed to be able to go and to be able to be a blessing to so many people.  But before I begin in earnest I want to give a little background info.

Pastor Ignatius Ummuna

Pastor Lozie Ummuna

Pastor Ignatius Ummuna and his beautiful wife Lozie are the pastors of Rescue Mission Church in Lagos, Nigeria.  They have been friends of Shore Vineyard Church, where I attend.  Actually, my pastor, Brett Conover and his father Rod, met Ignatius in Cote d'ivoire, (Ivory Coast) which is located just north of Nigeria.  He was running away from God, much like Jonah had tried to do.  He had heard the Lord calling him to ministry and decided that trying to get to America was a safer bet.  Oh well!

Pastor Brett Conover

Pastor Rod Conover

After much prayer and conversation Ignatius returned to his home where he began his studies for ministry.

He has since been to visit us at Shore Vineyard on several occasions and we love him and his wonderful wife, Lozie, dearly.  When they asked us to come to help set up a 12 step program based on the program we use at SV, we said yes.

There were 9 people that went; 4 especially to do workshops at the Rescue Mission Church and 5 us that helped but were primarily there to go on a Prayer Journey to the city of Lokoja.

Three weeks before we were set to go, Penny and I went to the Nigeria consulate to obtain our visas.

Penny

Unfortunately for us, we did not know that a bribe would be required and only brought enough money to pay for the visas themselves.  Penny, who had lived in Nigeria for a time 20 years ago, tried to convince the head of the consulate, Mr. Iggy, that we needed the visas right away, rather than taking the 6 weeks minimum he was telling us it would take.  He told her that all of the nine visas would have to mailed to Abuja, the capitol of Nigeria, to be approved and them mailed back to us, which we understood to be ridiculous.  So we left NYC without our visas.

My journal proper begins on October 29, 2013... which will begin next week.