IMALA DIARY - May 7 through May 15, 2021

May 7 – May 15, 2021

Imala Diary, Continued.  

Further news of building ‘Peace Village’ in Imala, Ogun State! 

Greetings again, from our new site for Fulani work in Ogun State, Nigeria!  I’d like to call the ten acres allotted for the school, outbuildings, guesthouse and clinic, ‘Peace Village’!  

James 3:18.  ‘Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness’.  

That’s the promise on which we base this new work and our entire ministry.  We are seeking a harvest of righteousness, and God will grant it to us, in Jesus’ Name. AMEN!  

Clearing the site and building – with bees!  

The bulldozer manager, with machine and driver, finally arrived on the site, five days late!  The manager wanted me to pay extra because it took them four hours to drive down the long, dirt road to the school site!  But he had already seen the road before he agreed to come and do the work – he knew how remote our place is – so I gracefully declined paying him more money!  Fortunately, he saw the logic and there were no further requests for more pay!  

The driver did a great job, even when the work began with a serious attack by a large swarm of bees!  The first we knew about the attack was when we saw the dozer speeding away from the area the driver had been clearing, onto an adjacent field!  We watched in surprise as the driver leaped down from his seat and ran crazily across the field, swatting at his head and shoulders with the jacket he’d been wearing, running all the way across the field and disappearing into a nearby stand of trees! Two of our team immediately ran after him, located and brought him back, wiping at his face and head where he had been stung multiple times.  Poor guy.  I’m just so thankful he was not allergic to bee stings!  The driver came across another beehive a couple of days later, but this time recognized the signs early enough and left the place alone.  A local man was called upon to smoke out the bees and then burn the trees where they’d had their hives.  Sad, but there was no choice – it was either the bees or us!  

The bulldozer, manager and driver did a really great job.  Building sites for the staff, teachers’ quarters and clinic, for the school and playgrounds, and for the guesthouse are all cleared and ready for action!  The roof is going on the staff quarters today and the walls are being raised on the teachers’ housing.  As soon as the teachers’ rooms are built, we are all going to pack our things and move into those rooms while we build the school, which will take time as it’s large and of a unique design which we’ve not tried before.  

Because the site is so remote, we’ve had a lot of challenges getting building materials delivered there.  The first attempts at bringing blocks down that long and winding dirt road ended in disaster; many blocks broken and unusable.  So, we’re now molding our own blocks!  We’re also going to invite two welders from Abuja to come and make all our doors and windows at the site.  We’ll buy the materials in Abeokuta; deliver them ourselves to the site and pay the welders labor only.  This will save money and time and guarantee good work, as we’ll be there to monitor it.  

The school bus/boat: The Good Shepherd! 

Another bit of good news is, we’ve bought a big boat for the school!  A school bus/boat!  Many Fulani children live across the river from our site, children we’d like to invite to join us in this new school.  Life jackets will be needed; I’ve asked friends to begin thinking about raising money and bringing over the jackets. We would greatly appreciate your help with this – please contact me for information on how you can be a part of this project.   

Both the new school AND the bus/boat will be named ‘The Good Shepherd’.  

SFA Partners Dr. James Rose and Dr. Gary Maxey visit the site!

It’s been such fun having James and Gary nearby, to talk and plan with men having similar passion and plans to develop this area for Kingdom use!  James has been to our site twice; Gary came for the first time yesterday!  I felt so happy, showing them around the place – explaining the layout we have in mind.  The stunning, 180 degree views of the river and wetlands were of course the grand attraction; I cannot stop thanking God for gifting SFA with this amazing location!  It was fun showing James and Gary the boat landing and pointing out several local African birds – James took a little video of us standing by the landing and photos of a Lapwing complaining loudly in a nearby field.  I believe we were too close to her nest!    

Because of the amazing and beautiful location, James is planning to annex a retreat center and prayer garden to our site, adjacent to our future guesthouse!  I love this plan and look forward to the special times of fellowship ahead.  

What more can I say than, “Thank you Lord.  Thank you.  Thank you.  All praise and glory be to your wonderful Name.”  

In 2015, when I was seeking guidance from the Lord on whether or not to return to Nigeria, He gave me these verses from Psalm 37.  I have the place marked in my Bible as ‘Huge Promise on Staying in Nigeria’!  

‘Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.  For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. 

Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.  Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.’  Psalm 37: 1-4. 

AMEN!  

Peace Village staff house

Peace Village school site

Peace Village teacher’s quarters

Peace Village, making our own blocks!

LOTS of blocks made, and ready to build!

Peace Village block-making site

IMALA DIARY – APRIL 23, 2021 through MAY 4, 2021

April 23

First, a bit of background!  

Imala is an area of Ogun State in the southwest of Nigeria, an area under the jurisdiction of a traditional ruler known as the ‘Kabiyesi’ by his subjects.  Wanting to develop the area (which by the way is one of the most depressed I’ve seen in Nigeria,) and wanting to find a solution to the conflict between the Fulani and Yoruba tribes living here and just across the river in Oyo State, Kabiyesi with his own organization, Imala Land Development Foundation, (ILDF,) is working with three organizations, including our own – Schools for Africa - towards permanent solutions.  

Professor, Dr. Gary Maxey, Founder of West Africa Theological Seminary, (WATS,) and Dr. James Rose, Director of Christian Development Foundation, (CDF,) are planning to build a mega Christian University here in Imala, including a vocational school and training centers.  Dr. Rose tells me that Imala Town will be a city of over a million people once the University and vocational training centers are established.  

Schools for Africa, (SFA,) has been given 2,000 acres of land on which Fulani families may settle peacefully, with a large school for their children, a clinic and training for Fulani women in Community Health, guest and teachers’ quarters and most importantly, an area of their own on which to graze their cattle, sheep and goats.  

In the Nigerian system, all land under the Kabiyesi is his by rights.  Although legally owned by others, as the Kabiyesi, he can take the land, arrange with the owners on compensation, and use it as he will.  

The 2,000 acres belonged to four families – three of whom willingly relinquished their portions.  

The fourth family, however, has not.  

On this first day in Imala, we were invited to the Kabiyesi’s palace, where he told us of the conflict and asked that we be patient for another two weeks, not starting work until all of the land was free.  This put me in a very bad situation, as we were eleven people in our team, drivers, police, masons and carpenters, a cook and our dog Bullet…..and we only had very temporary shelter before we’d have to move.  Our plan was to quickly build a staff quarters on the site, (which we’d not yet seen,) then move there, out of the training center we’d been given to stay in for just one week.  But now Kabiyesi was telling me we had to be patient for two more weeks before starting work!  After I pleaded with him, explaining our circumstances, the Kabiyesi said to be patient until the coming Tuesday, just four days away.  I could do nothing more than agree and thank him, before driving back to explain this to the ten men on my team.  

Good things happening on this first day in Imala were:

I had a nice chat with Dr. Gary Maxey who with his wife Emma Lou are having a house built in Imala and plan to stay here permanently.

I found out I can get my Covid vaccine right here in the government clinic!

Bullet and I saw a Pin-tailed Whydah in the side yard of our temporary shelter!  

April 24

Today we visited Alhaji Bature, the Fulani chief who will move to the new SFA site with his extended family, leading the way for other Fulani to come.  At Alhaji’s camp, after sitting for a few minutes with the men, I walked around with Haruna, (the Fulani man who works with us in SFA,) greeting the women and children, just giving them a chance to see and become used to this strange, white-skinned woman and know they have nothing to fear.  It will take time!  Many women covered their faces while several of the younger children ran away screaming!    

When we got back to our temporary shelter, we found Sharjeel there, working, with several of his team.  Sharjeel is a Christian missionary from Pakistan.  He told me his mother and father had come to Nigeria as missionaries, years ago.  His mother died here of an apparent heart attack, and now his father has gone to America.  Sharjeel has at least one other brother who is a missionary in Nigeria.  Sharjeel is married with two sons both attending university.  He and his wife live in Lagos, but plan to move to Imala by next year.  

Sharjeel and his men were attaching batteries to the solar panels and reactivating solar electricity for us!  We have light!  And fans!  WooHoo!  This means a lot in this country which is so hot and humid at this time of year!  

Alhaji Bature had suggested we go across the river tomorrow to visit his elder brother, Alhaji Shehu, leader of a large Fulani community there.  We agreed and decided to buy a bag of rice to take along as a gift to Shehu.  But do you think we could find rice anywhere?  We drove for miles, from one little village to another, but people didn’t even want to TALK about rice!  Finally someone explained that the customs officers took so much money from anyone bringing rice from the capital city, Abeokuta, that rice was smuggled in, and it was forbidden to even talk about it!  But we persisted and finally were rewarded by one Yoruba woman who brought a bag of rice out of her house and sold it to us.  We divided the rice into three, planning to give a portion to Alhaji Shehu, one to Alhaji Bature and saving one portion for our team.  

April 25

Today is Sunday.  Officer Jacob, Okon and I, the three Christians on our team, worshiped together and prayed.  We especially prayed for our dear Muslim brothers on the team, that they would come to know and love Jesus.  

At 7:30 am we set off for the river, along with Alhaji Bature and four, rented motorcycles and drivers.  We loaded everyone on a large canoe and made the trip across in just five minutes!  The motorcycle ride took longer, about thirty minutes – and I hated each and every one of those minutes – sure we’d crash and burn at every turn!  No matter how I begged and pleaded, my driver insisted on top speeds on a little, winding path that was either deep sand or rocks and gravel!  It was horrible!  I’ve got to find another way to get to this Fulani village!  

The visit itself, however, was great.  Alhaji Shehu was so happy with our coming, and of course, with the rice!  We walked around again, greeting men and women who had NEVER seen a white-skinned person before!  Can you imagine?  But with time, they got used to me, and we were able to talk, take pictures, have a nice time together.  

Alhaji Shehu’s wife was sitting by a fire on which was a pot of boiling milk in which floated large, green leaves.  Haruna explained that she was making ‘cheese’.  Hmm.  The leaves, he said, were to wrap the cheese in preparation for sale.  He pointed out a Yoruba man sitting nearby, waiting to buy the cheese. 

I remembered seeing these ‘packets’ being sold along the roadside and wondering what they were!  Now I know and will have to buy and try!  I’ve not seen anything like this in any other part of Nigeria!  So much fun to see something new!   

Alhaji Shehu welcomes the idea of a school and requested a borehole for water.  

April 26

I’m getting very nervous about this long wait to start work.  The workers are better about this than I, but we’re spending big money feeding eleven people who are doing nothing but sitting about all day long.  I’ve sent a text to Prince, Kabiyesi’s son, asking if any decision has been made about starting work, but he’s not responded.  Also, I’ve looked up the signed agreement between ILDF and SFA which clearly states that 2,000 acres will be given to SFA for this job.  

I made a big decision today!  I’m moving permanently from my flat in Abuja, (which I rent for 4.5 million naira yearly,) to our SFA site in Imala!  The site is only a little over one hour’s drive from Lagos where there’s a good airport, from which I can fly to do regular visits to our projects in Niger, Nasarawa and Kogi States, and out to the U.S. when needed.  The money SFA will save on this move will pay for the additional teachers we’re hiring for our schools in Bobi and will hire in Imala!  So happy also to be a part of a missionary community again, with Dr. and Mrs. Maxey and Sharjeel’s family close by!  

Finally, Prince has called!  The dispute between the four families has not yet been settled, but Kabiyesi together with Dr. Rose has found a piece of undisputed land on which we can start.  In fact, according to Dr. Rose, or James, (as I will now call him,) the very fact that we are starting the project may help to propel a positive decision on the rest of the 2,000 acres.  

I dreamed tonight of JW Haley, pastor, pioneer missionary in South Africa, Mozambique and Central Africa.  In my dream I saw Rev. Haley standing on the hill overlooking Lake Nyalendati, saying, ‘What a beautiful place to build a mission station!’  That mission station would later become my home, Inhamachafo. 

Is this dream significant somehow, a foretaste of our own introduction to the land we’ll be shown tomorrow?  Land on which we will build a mission station?  Tomorrow will tell!  

April 27

At 8 am today, Prince came riding up on the back of a motorcycle, and led the way to the new, SFA site.  This was it!  TODAY we would see the place that will be home to Alhaji Bature’s clan and many other Fulani, and home to me!  

We followed Prince through one small village, then another, finally turning and driving about ten kilometers along a fairly decent dirt road through a landscape that was mostly jungle with only a few cleared patches of farm.  Prince then turned into one small settlement and introduced us to the ‘Bale’, or local chief, who had donated the identified, undisputed land to SFA.  On his motorbike, Bale then led the way to show us the land.

The road continued some three or four more kilometers, then there was a break in the jungle, a change in the light, and suddenly, a break-through!  And there was the river!  The river, flowing gently through green wetlands, the river, flowing down past Alhaji Shehu’s boat landing, all the way to the dam!  

The land we were shown was above the river, with full access to the water before us!  A natural wetlands area, teeming with grasses, flowers and birds.  I saw Lapwings, great flocks of African Jacana, Coots, ducks and Egrets.  A birdwatcher’s paradise!  

I stood on that high ground overlooking the river and could only say, ‘Thank you, Lord.  Thank you, thank you.’ It was my dream come true.  

This will be a fine place to build a mission station!  

May 4, 2021

We’ve started with building the staff house, then will go on to the teachers’ quarters, guest house and school.  The first foundation has been laid and walls are going up. We’re ordering lumber today.  Work has begun on the borehole, and a bulldozer is coming tomorrow to clear the entire 10 acres for the school compound.  Haruna is showing Alhaji Bature the 200 acres; Bature will select a suitable place within this land where his own family will live.  All glory be to God!  

I’ll send the next diary installment in a week or so!

Thanks for caring about SFA’s work in Imala!  We’re so excited to see the wonderful things God will do in this place!

Love and blessings,

Phyllis Sortor

SPORT DAY at New Pointe Primary School! :)

Check out photos of our first contact with Fulani families across the Imala Dam! What an amazing experience!

God is SO GOOD!

Imala Dam

We rented four motorbikes and took them across the dam with us.

Loading the bikes.

In the other side is Oyo State and a large Fulani community we wanted to meet.

Alhaji Bature led the way to the Fulani village.

Arrival at the village.

Officer Saidu always watchful!

Alhaji Bature talking with the village leader, Alhaji Shehu. Haruna Ali, a Fulani man himself, working with SFA, explained that we'd love to establish a school in their village.

Shehu, Bature and Haruna.

We spent time with the women and children. They were very shy!

These two laughingly offered us this baby! Of course they weren't serious! It was just for fun!

What a little doll!

This is Alhaji Shehu's wife, boiling milk to sell.

Here we are again! Weird reflection on my face!!

We had such fun walking through the extended compound, meeting and greeting everyone!

These two were emptying water from their canoes before heading back to the Ogun State side of the dam.

Then it was time for us to return as well.

We bought dried fish before heading back to camp.

And eggs...you can never have enough eggs and dried fish, right??

Haruna, connecting with Yoruba children in their village.

Haruna showing the children how beautiful they are!

These little boys....

So cute!!

He was just sittin', not planning to jump in!

Mimosa Pudica fern. If you touch it, it curls itself.

Like this!

Just some little flowers by the side of our boat.

God, we thank you!

Dear friends and partners in ministry,

I have to share a total miracle with you - another huge confirmation of God's favour on our work in Schools for Africa!

Last week as my team and I were driving south to Rivers State, (where we are now,) to add five classrooms, an office and toilets to our school here, we were discussing the upcoming work in Imala where we'll build a large school, teachers' quarters, clinic, etc., etc. for Fulani herdsmen, their families and others in that area. We talked about the work and how we will need to hire several new teachers for this large school, hopefully teachers living close by.

This area, largely Yoruba states governed by Yoruba chiefs, is under crisis right now, with the Yoruba fighting to expel Fulani from their place. Our hope is to meet these chiefs and request grazing reserves for these Fulani and their families.

As we were talking in the car, I mentioned to the team that since 2005 when Jim and I first came to Nigeria and began working with the Fulani, opening schools for their kids, we've had NOT ONE Fulani teacher apply to work with us! NOT ONE! And I said, how amazing it would be to have Fulani teachers, who would be role models to their students, living examples of what the children could be if only they stayed in school and graduated! And also to show the Yoruba that the Fulani are intelligent, civilized people, with whom they could live harmoniously, helping one another, being friends.

Well, here's the miracle! GOD HEARD ME! Because this Saturday, a well-dressed, very clean cut, FULANI man was brought to our work site by a friend from the nearby camp and introduced to me. After greetings, etc., the man told me he was a 'degree holder', (that's how they say it here,) and wondered if we were hiring teachers, as he himself wanted to apply! I almost fell out of my chair, I was so surprised! His name is Abubakar Mohammed. A Fulani man!

I told Abubakar about Imala, asked if he'd be willing to relocate there when the project started. He said absolutely, he would do so. He's not married, so is free to move there.

THEN, as if this wasn't enough of a miracle, at that very moment one of our teachers here at this school in Rivers State came out to talk with me. A fine man who has worked for us for three years, whose name is Ojo. And guess what?

Ojo is a Yoruba man! He said he is originally from Lagos, (an hour or so from Imala,) and has family there. He wondered if he and his wife, (also Yoruba, also a teacher with a college degree,) could be transferred to the new school in Imala! My brain was buzzing, at this point, when I thought of the possibilities! I told Ojo, YES, we could transfer him! Yes, I'd hire both Ojo and his wife Oluwanseun, (translated, 'God we thank you!' How appropriate!)

I introduced the Yoruba teachers, Ojo and Seun, to the Fulani teacher, Abubakar, and said - "See what God is doing ALREADY?" GOD has done this! God is bringing together Yoruba and Fulani, to stand together as teachers and leaders in front of the children, in front of their parents, to demonstrate that we CAN work and live together in peace!

God is so amazing!

It's just a total miracle!

Thank you for being a part of the miracle, as you continue to pray for and support Schools for Africa!

Much love,

Phyllis Sortor

Ojo and Oluwaseun, with their sweet boys

Abubakar Mohammed and friend

Bright Hope Christian Academy

SFA’s Gift to Bright Hope Christian Academy, Emiworo, Kogi State, Nigeria! Repair work!

In the following photos, you will see the original condition of the primary school, repair work, and final results! You’ll be happy!

Before

Heavy rains have eaten away at these foundations.

The original steps are gone.

Bright Hope Christian Academy is the first school ICCM founded especially for Fulani children.  Today, children of many different tribes are receiving a high standard of education at this school! 

Schools for Africa had the privilege of lending a hand and gifting the school with some much-needed repairs! 

WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER! 

Heavy rains have eaten away at these foundations, as you can see; original steps are gone.

REPAIR WORK BEGINS

Asphalt is used to fill eroded areas.

Gutters and downspouts for all the buildings. Teachers and school security were engaged to do most of the work! Extra money for them!

Asphalt and laterite spread to level the ground.

A blocked drain cleared and repaired.

Drums cut in half and used to catch rain water.

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Sustainable Results!

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Thirty-eight new Fulani children enrolled!  Paying school fees! 

Schools for Africa wishes to thank Bright Hope Christian Academy and ICCM for allowing us to spend two very happy weeks on the campus with them! Principal Roselyn, HM Gambo, their deputies, the teaching and non-teaching staff have all been so gracious, putting up with trucks coming and going through the gate, dust and dirt, ladders and paint cans everywhere…. but we’re all happy and thank God, now that the work is completed, for the good results which we pray will sustain the primary school facilities in good condition for years to come.

BHCA Dyna put in order, to bring the distant children to school!

Happy children! Fulani, Hausa, Bassa Nge, Igala, Igbo, learning and playing together…towards a better, more peaceful Nigeria!

WE WILL BE BETTER TOGETHER, IN 2021! 

Bobi Grazing Reserve Report

Read the report here.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Greetings to all of you - family, friends, and Partners in Ministry - and best wishes for a very happy and meaningful celebration of Jesus’ birthday! As we draw near to the end of a most challenging year, we must thank God that He has carried us through and blessed us in so many unique and wonderful ways.

God is faithful, loving, and good. His promises are for all of us who put our faith and trust in His Name!

I’m writing this from my apartment in Abuja, where, because the risk of contracting Covid19 is so great, both in air travel and in the U.S., I’ll be spending another Christmas. Hopefully, Christmas next year will be in Seattle!

Actually, along with Mogodi, his family, and many other friends in Port Harcourt, we celebrated an early Christmas on December 18th! A cow was purchased – butchered and reduced to small chunks of meat in about 180 minutes - then along with pounded rice Fulani style, was served to at least two hundred people – Americans, Hausa, Fulani, and Yoruba together! It was such a happy occasion, exemplifying the peace and unity among people of different tribes and languages that is our deepest prayer for Nigeria.

For the past, nearly three weeks, our team of ten, led by Producer Rev. Mike Henry via internet from Wenatchee and Andy Yardy and Yayo Ahumada, Director and Cinematographer, finished the filming for the upcoming documentary, Kidnapped Redemption. Rev. Mike, Andy, and Yayo were here last year too, filming in various locations, but they all agreed that this year, the pieces just seemed to fall together perfectly, and all of us are so excited about the final product, due to come out by May 31, 2021. News and updates can be found on the website, KidnappedRedemption.com.

When the holidays come to a close, we’ll be turning our faces towards the new project in Imala, Ogun State. Once the land given to Alhaji Bature has been legally secured, our SFA team will work with Alhaji to scout out locations for the camp, school buildings, teachers’ quarters, and clinic, and begin work. I thank God for my new assistant, Mrs. Zainab Lawal, who will closely oversee and manage our existing schools and clinics during the time it will take to develop and oversee the new projects in Imala.

And I thank God for all of you who have been so faithful in supporting Schools for Africa. I don’t know how to thank you enough. I can only say, may God Himself reward you, bless you, and grant you the desires of your hearts. May the new year, 2021, be the year of God’s favor in your lives and those of your families.

Please continue to hold Schools for Africa in your prayers and in your hearts. We are all together in this ministry, and we are definitely better together! Again, thank you so much and God bless you!
Phyllis Sortor

Imala Report

November, 2020

I just returned from the King’s Palace in Imala, Ogun State, where we were ushered into the throne room, Dr. James Rose invited to sit at the right of the King’s throne and I to sit on his left! (Hmmm, so I’m the goat??) The rest of our group was asked to sit on the couches lining the three sides of the room.   

In Nigeria the custom is to bow very low when you are in the presence of a king all the while chanting the king’s local traditional name.  In Ogun State, the name is ‘Kabiyesi’.  So, the group, (except for James and me,) bowed to the ground crying “Kaaahbiyesi, Kaaahbiyesi!”  I had been following James’ lead – and was so greatly relieved when he didn’t do the bowing and chanting thing!  

The meeting with Kabiyesi was to inform him of our findings of the past three days and request land for the first Fulani family’s rotational grazing project.  

The first family that will receive land from Kabiyesi is Alhaji Bature, brother to my long-time colleague, Alhaji Mogodi Musa! Amazing! 

I first met Alhaji Bature at a meeting yesterday of several area Fulani, a meeting in which I informed them that Kabiyesi wanted to give land across the dam where the Fulani could live in peace, raise their families and cattle, have schools and clinics for their families. I began the session by telling the story of meeting Mogodi in Akwa Ibom State and working with him to open the first school for Fulani in Emiworo, Kogi State.  The moment I mentioned Mogodi’s name, this tall Fulani man jumped up and shouted, “Mogodi is my brother!  I know Emiworo, I know Hope Academy, I know all about rotational grazing!”  

We visited Alhaji Bature’s village today – I should say - villages! He has an enormous, extended family!  In his immediate family there are one hundred adults, three hundred children and eight hundred cows!  Can you imagine!  During our visit, we talked over the very serious commitment he would be making by accepting to change from the traditional mode of grazing cattle to managed, intensive rotational grazing.  We talked for a long time at the end of which Alhaji stood and promised, in front of the large group of witnesses before him, that he would do this grazing project, would never disappoint me or his brother Mogodi.  

So, at five this evening we went to Kabiyesi’s palace to request land, land which would be sufficiently large to accommodate Alhaji Bature’s family and a rotational grazing project for eight hundred cows!  

Kabiyesi granted Alhaji Bature one thousand acres of land!  

And this is just the beginning!  Kabiyesi is ready to give land to at least two other prominent Fulani families for the same purpose!  We hope to position the three parcels in such a way that a community farm and teachers’ quarters will be convenient to all three locations.  

It’s all about peace.  Giving land to Fulani who have previously never been landowners gives them the sense of being real Nigerians for the first time.  Providing a school for their children, training their women to be healthcare providers – these things have never been done for them before!  They now have such hope, such joy, a completely new lease on life.  They are cared for, they are loved.  They are recognized and valued as people, as Nigerians.  So wonderful!  And as they are recognized as real Nigerians, they put off their former anger and resentment and begin to live as equals with their neighbors.  

We, in Schools for Africa, now have a massive work ahead of us!  The process of resettling these Fulani families is our responsibility!  

Here is how we’ll proceed, by God’s grace.  Between now and January, James will work with Kabiyesi to identify and locate the one thousand acres, which by the way is on the other side of a dam, (with no bridge,) and pass the information on to me.  As soon as this is done, I and my team, Lawal, Sani, our two police officers and Wada, (the mason we’ve been working with,) will go to Imala, along with Alhaji Bature and locate the area on his newly acquired acreage where he would like to create a small village for himself and his family. We’ll help the family move across the dam and settle in, along with all their cattle and sheep. Staying temporarily in tents within that village, we will begin by building the teachers and visitors quarters, then build the school.  We will work with Zainab to hire teachers, enroll children and start school.  

After that, I’ll work with Alhaji Bello Mahmud and Haruna Ali to do a one week’s training on rotational grazing for all local herdsmen.  We’ll then do a GPS survey of the thousand acres, separating it into paddocks. The community farm will have to be identified as well, which Alhaji Bature’s family will share with at least two other families that will settle there in the future.  

And there’s still the health care issue to address.  In partnership with James Rose, we’ll build a clinic and train Fulani women to be community health workers.  I’m praying for a strong, capable nurse to come to help with this training and set up the program properly.  

We visited the Queen’s school in Imala.  After all I’ve seen of schools in Nigeria, I thought of myself as immune to the worst conditions.  This school however really shook me.  

Not that the facilities weren’t clean, or that the children weren’t nicely dressed in beautiful uniforms, seated at their desks with paper and pencils in hand!  Just that, for all of the classes, from Nursery, through the primary, junior high and high school grades, there was only one teacher!  For ALL of them!  

She had written lessons on the boards, which the children copied into their notebooks, then sat quietly for hours until it was time to go home.  

Zainab, my assistant, has promised the Queen to contact the government and get teachers for that school, whether graduates, or from the two programs, Empower and Nigeria Youth Services, she will find teachers.  I’m so thankful we can be of help in this terrible situation.  

In summary, in Imala, Christian Development Foundation is developing vocational training in various fields, West Africa Theological Seminary is planning the building of a large Christian university while we in SFA are working with the thousands of Fulani to ensure that they also feel loved and cared for.  It’s a great partnership and a great ministry.  

I hope we can work together to make this project a lasting monument to the faithfulness, grace and goodness of God to ALL His people, whatever their tribe and language.

Phyllis 

SFA Article in Light + Life Magazine

Be sure to check out SFA in this article online or in the December issue of Light + Life Magazine.