Phyllis has a new book out!
Did you know that SFA Director Phyllis Sortor is an outstanding AUTHOR? She has written two fascinating books!
Phyllis's first book is called The Kidnapping of an American Missionary. It reads like a thriller, Praise God with a happy ending! Her second book is called Kidnapped Redemption, and tells the story of returning to Nigeria after being kidnapped to create an amazing ministry. Links to both books are below!
Phyllis’s 1st book, The Kidnapping of an American Missionary
Phyllis’s 2nd book, Kidnapped Redemption
September Newsletter!
Friend of Schools For Africa, Ginger Kauffman, wrote about us in her blog!
Check out her blog below!
https://gingerkauffman.com/phyllis-sortor-missionary-on-a-mission/
We reached our fundraising goal for the Kidnapped Redemption film!
Friends,
The good news is that we surpassed the fundraising goal for the Kidnapped Redemption film with a total of $47,202! And yet, we have received over a thousand dollars more in additional support. In case you know someone who missed the Kickstarter fundraiser, we can still receive and effectively use more funds. All contributions will go 100% to the promotion and distribution of the film and are tax deductible. Simply send your friends to the website: kidnappedredemption.com and click the Donate button. They will be directed to give by check or online through the Sage Hills Church account.
Our next steps include some Backer Previews in August for those who have supported the film.
Following that we will make a final revision of the film and submit it to various film festivals with the hope that it will find an avenue of distribution on a grand scale.
With grateful and relieved hearts we again thank you for your generous support of Kidnapped Redemption and its powerful message.
IMALA DIARY, JUNE 9 THROUGH JUNE 23, 2021
IMALA DIARY, JUNE 9 THROUGH JUNE 23, 2021
5 Things you should know about the Imala Project!
1. RICE SMUGGLERS ON OUR RIVER!
We first found out about the smuggling of rice via our river soon after our arrival in Imala when we were looking to buy rice in the local market.
“Where can we buy rice?” we asked. No one would tell us! One man actually turned his back and walked away, which in this country is considered very rude!
We gradually learned that because of the fertility of the land, big rice farms are everywhere, but the amount of money farmers have to pay to the customs officers along the road from here to the capital is exorbitant. And so they smuggle their bags of rice in long canoes, (like Big Blue,) along the river to Abeokuta, avoiding the payment of tax.
Three things have happened lately that directly affected us in all this smuggling!
First, the other day I asked Okon, our cook where Officer Jacob and Sani were. He said they’d just driven by in the pickup with a ‘load’ in the back.
“Oh, they bought cement?” I asked.
“No, I think they were bags of rice,” Okon answered!
“WHAT?” Oh, no. Immediately I realized that someone must have asked them to sneak rice past the custom officers, since those officers never stop our vehicles. But if it were discovered that we, SFA, were helping the smugglers in any way, we and our project would be in serious trouble. I called Jacob and asked him to meet us on the road to the site. With Lawal and Saidu, I drove down the road; very soon the pickup appeared and pulled over. No bags of rice to be seen. I’d thought about how to broach this subject and decided just to go straight to the point.
“Jacob, can you and Sani explain why you are carrying bags of rice in our pickup?”
Jacob’s face just froze. He was stunned. And the truth came out.
Yes, they’d been asked, (and paid,) to carry some bags of rice through the nearest customs roadblock, but it was only four bags…..
After a serious dressing-down, Jacob and Sani realized the risk to our project and promised not to do it again!
Secondly, we were nearly mowed down along the narrow, one lane, dirt road to our site, by an SUV followed closely by a big, white van. The SUV was literally flying – traveling at at least 60 mph, nearly crashing into us. We barely had time to swerve into the bushes, out of the way. These were rice smugglers - obviously having offloaded the rice onto canoes – and getting out of the area as quickly as possible.
I was at the riverside shortly after this happened and saw the two, heavily loaded canoes on their way to the capital.
We immediately hired some men and cleared the sides of the narrow road in areas where the bends obstructed visibility, to avoid a fatal crash in the future!
When we brought the matter up to the local chief, the Baale, he told us he wasn’t going to talk about it! Obviously, he’s being paid by the rice smugglers to let them use the road through his land, down to the river to their canoes!
The third thing happened yesterday, when two strangers on a motorbike rode into our compound. We do have a big gate blocking the entrance to our compound and the river and are building a security house but don’t have someone posted there yet. Both Jacob and Saidu were somewhere….I was the only one, apparently, who saw these men come in, park their bike and walk straight into the school we’re building!
I walked up to them, greeted them. One was an Indian man, the other a Nigerian. The Indian pointed to himself and said, “Indian.” That was it! I smiled and said, “You are welcome. Can I help you?” Again, he pointed to himself. “Indian.” Okay….so, he can’t speak English!
One of our builders came up and began talking with the Indian in Yoruba. They had worked together before, the worker told me, on the Indian’s big rice farm behind Anigbado, the village where we’d been living while the staff quarters were being built.
“Okay…so what does the man want?” I asked.
“Oh, just to greet me,” the worker said.
The Indian and his friend climbed on the motorbike and drove off, but in less than fifteen minutes were back again. By then I’d found Saidu, briefed him, and together we went back to the Indian. He was talking with three of our builders now!
“What does he want?” I asked the builder who speaks good English.
“Oh, he just wanted to come and greet us and also the woman who used to cook for him. She lives in the fishing village just over there on the river.”
The wheels in my brain were turning, turning, and suddenly I knew exactly what was going on.
We had blocked this rice farmer’s access to the river, blocked his way to get his rice down to the river! He was talking to our workers, maybe figuring he could bribe them into letting him use the road while we weren’t around! Maybe also looking for a different way to smuggle out his rice! Grrrrr! Just made me so mad!
No way is he going to jeopardize everything we’re doing here by smuggling his rice through our land!
These are desperate people and desperate people will do anything when lots of money is involved. It could be dangerous. But God is there; God is by our side, and I trust that He will keep us safe.
Then this. On Monday night at around 8 pm we heard the sound of car and truck engines down by the river, and so crept down to investigate. There, on the other side of the river, hundreds of sacks of rice were being loaded from the trucks into canoes which pulled up to the shore, took their load then set off in the direction of the city. This activity continued throughout the night ‘till daybreak. The following night, they continued their work. Thousands of sacks of rice must have gone down the river these last two nights.
We had blocked the smugglers’ access to the river, so they had driven all the way around the south end of the river and were continuing their nefarious activities on the other side, directly opposite our school!
God is taking good care of us. Instead of causing us trouble, bribing our workers or even attacking us, the smugglers just found another way in which to continue their work. And we have no intention of trying to stop them. In this life, we must choose our battles, and fighting rice smugglers is not one of them. God gave us our work – to help these Fulani with schools, health care and grazing. We will focus on doing our work well, to the glory of God, and leave the rice smugglers to Him!
Driving back from Abeokuta yesterday we talked about the smuggling situation and made a plan to visit the district police station and the local army headquarters to ask if there could be regular patrolling of the 13km, one-lane, dirt road we drive almost daily from the main road to Peace Village. Suddenly, around the bend of said dirt road came two army vehicles filled with the soldiers – the very soldiers we’d been talking about! The trucks stopped, we stopped and got out to greet them. The soldier in charge was very friendly, telling us that they intended to patrol our road regularly and promised to keep the area peaceful and secure! What an answer to prayer!
2. ROTATIONAL GRAZING DEMONSTRATION AT PEACE VILLAGE!
We have started putting up bamboo fencing for the five paddocks on this compound which we’ll use for training and demonstration of rotational grazing. With the help of our new Fulani friends, we’re cutting sticks and bamboo, using all local materials to show the Fulani what they themselves can do on their own land. Alhaji Bature will graze just a small herd here, rotationally, while we prepare the larger area of 1,000 acres for the big herds of cows.
An extension worker is coming on Saturday from WAMCO, Friesland Campina, the largest milk production company in the world. I’m familiar with the WAMCO people as we worked together on the Bobi Reserve. I invited this man to come and talk about how we can join hands, planting grass, building a milk collection center and planning for a large cattle market here in Imala, all for the benefit of the local herdsmen.
3. SCHOOL PROGRESS REPORT:
The security post and gate are completely built, Yahaya is roofing the school while his partner is doing the same on the school clinic. Masons have a huge job now, plastering this large school with all the classrooms, verandahs and pillars, after which they’ll need to install the multiple windows and doors.
Work has begun on Arcadia, Peace Village Guest House; men are digging the foundation today. I don’t expect this building will be ready for occupancy until sometime in August, as all of our workers are going to be taking a three-week vacation, and I’ll be in and out of Imala for the next few months as well.
Our first two teachers, Mr and Mrs Ojo, are coming to Peace Village in just a few days with their two little sons. They will move into the teachers’ quarters and begin working with the local Fulani and Yoruba in preparation for starting school. I’m transferring Ojo from our school in Port Harcourt, New Town Primary, at his own request! He is a Yoruba man, loves the Lord, mission work and the Fulani people! His wife is a certified teacher as well! We’re very blessed to have them as our first teachers at the Good Shepherd School!
4. MY SCHEDULE FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS:
For your information, here is how I’ll be spending my time for the next few months:
July 1-16, I’ll be working in Peace Village. Officer Jacob, Sani and Okon go on leave.
July 17 – August 2, I’ll be in Abuja. Lawal, Officer Saidu and Haruna with all our other workers take their three weeks off.
August 3 – August 12, I’ll be with Rev. Nelson Reed of Action International, as he conducts pastoral training and visits our work in Imala.
August 13 – September 8, I’ll be in the Seattle area for the premier showings of the documentary, Kidnapped Redemption.
September 9 – October 10, I’ll be working in Peace Village, registering children, starting classes, training herdsmen in rotational grazing.
October 11 – 23, I’ll be with Bishop Matt Whitehead as he conducts four annual conferences in Nasarawa, Enugu and Akwa Ibom States.
October 27 – January 8, I’ll be in the Seattle area again, to spend time with my family.
5. PRESIDENTIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!
President Buhari has announced the sanctioning of new grazing reserves in states throughout Nigeria!
Friends, we would greatly appreciate your financial support in the opening of a new grazing reserve, schools and clinic in Rivers State! Alhaji Mogodi Musa, my best friend and colleague in Nigeria, the Fulani leader with whom I’ve opened thirteen schools for Fulani children, has asked me to assist him in opening a new work in the state where he is living, Rivers State. This is the same state where we have the SFA school, New Town Primary School. With President Buhari’s recent announcement, we expect to be called in other directions as well, and certainly need your help.
If you want to join us in this peace-making effort, please send your check to the following address or contact him for other ways to donate. His email is Don@Standleycpa.com.
THANK YOU! Phyllis Sortor
Schools for Africa
c/o Donald Standley
22205 93rd Pl W
Edmonds WA 98020
7/21 Updates and Greetings from Abuja, Nigeria
7/21/2021
Greetings, friends, from Abuja, Nigeria!
I decided to use my letterhead with the Abuja address, for the last time, as this week I’m packing and moving out of my Abuja flat to go and live permanently at the new SFA site, Peace Village, in Ogun State.
The project in Ogun State is immense, involving not only what SFA is doing among the Fulani, but also the work of Christian Development Foundation, CDF, and Imala Land Development Foundation, ILDF. Those two organizations are building a mega Christian University in Imala and a vocational school. SFA will work together with CDF in a large clinic and cattle ranch. So, you can see the wisdom in my making Peace Village, just minutes from CDF’s and ILDF’s headquarters, my new home base.
Besides packing to move to Peace Village, I’m also preparing to fly to Seattle on August 13, to be on hand for the first showings of the documentary, Kidnapped Redemption, to be shown at Seattle First Free Methodist Church on August 22 nd and Sage Hills Church in Wenatchee on August 29 th . There will also be a showing at Warm Beach Camp in Stanwood, but that date is yet to be announced.
Rev. Mike Henry, Producer, Andy Yardy, Director, and Yayo Ahumada, Cinematographer, have worked tirelessly on this film and its promotion; I cannot thank them enough for bringing this story to the public. May God, who saved my life out there in the bush and has subsequently blessed and favored the work and ministry of SFA among the Fulani, be forever honored and glorified. May His Name be praised. Amen.
Let me update you now with the work of the past three months at Peace Village in Ogun State.
On the twenty-three acres given to SFA by the Imala King, we completed the building of a large primary school, teacher and staff quarters, a small school clinic, and a security post with a gate. We're still working on the guest house.
Also on the twenty-three acres, we fenced off four large paddocks and a holding pen, on which we'll demonstrate Managed Intensive Rotational Grazing, MIRG. We bought three ‘starter’ cows, but Alhaji Bature, the overall Fulani chief of Imala, intends to bring thirty of his own cows to add to our three.
Four hundred acres located around the twenty-three for SFA have been given for four Fulani families – one hundred acres each - for their compounds and grazing – MIRG - with the added benefit of planted grass. I will buy grass seed while we're here in Abuja in anticipation of a fenced, grass farm, from which we will sell, at a very low price, grass for the Fulani to transplant onto their own paddocks.
An additional one thousand, six hundred acres has been promised but not yet allocated. On this, we will create paddocks, plant grass, put a borehole, and drinking trough and hopefully a milk-collection center in collaboration with WAMCO, with whom we've already met twice.
WAMCO is a Dutch consortium, the largest distributor of fresh and powdered milk in the world. I know of them from the Bobi Grazing Reserve in Niger State, where they have a large, economically beneficial project for Fulani herdsmen. I have asked them to partner with SFA in Imala to provide the same benefits to our Fulani friends here.
WAMCO will assist in bringing the herdsmen together into a cooperative, teach them pasture development, MIRG, proper health care, feeding and watering of their cattle and milk collection. If we can prove that 1,500 litres of milk can be delivered to a milk collection center daily, WAMCO will buy the milk from the herdsmen which will greatly improve their economic strength and standard of living.
Now, imagine for a moment a three-legged, African cooking pot. Inside the pot is simmering ‘The Good Life’ for Fulani herdsmen and their families. There are three legs holding up this pot: Family, Environment, and Economy. All three legs MUST be cared for, must be strong and healthy, to maintain this ‘Good Life’. Should one leg fall, all would be lost.
We are paying attention to the family, by providing education and healthcare. The environment is cared for by following holistically sound, MIRG guidelines. The economy can now be strengthened by working with WAMCO to provide an opportunity for the Fulani to sell their milk at a very good price.
Will you help?
Needed is money for grass seed, to pay for the labor of planting this seed in two large grass farms, a borehole, and a drinking trough for the cattle. (WAMCO emphasizes the importance of cattle drinking large amounts of water daily in order to provide the quantity of milk they are looking for.)
We also need money to fence the two grass farms.
A veterinary clinic supplied with medicine and equipment is desperately needed in this project.
Altogether, a minimum amount of $50,000 is needed for this new project, a project to shore up that third leg – Economy – for Fulani herdsmen and their families.
All we are doing is paying attention to this neglected tribe in Nigeria, sowing those seeds of peace towards a harvest of righteousness.
‘Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.’ James 3:18.
This is God’s PROMISE! And we are working on the basis of that promise.
If you are able to help, please send your check to SFA Treasurer, Mr. Donald Standley.
Donald R. Standley, CPA
425-672-1040
22205 93rd Pl W
Edmonds, WA 98020-4512
Thank you so much,
Phyllis Sortor, Director
Schools for Africa
Our KIDNAPPED REDEMPTION film Kickstarter fundraiser has begun!
Something incredible is in the works! Otherwise, there would not be opposition, strife, and also a strong wave of support and encouragement coming...
TODAY is the day our Kickstarter fundraiser begins! See a trailer of the film, and support us TODAY by clicking on the link below!
https://www.kickstarter.com/…/laxglobal/kidnapped-redemption
IMALA DIARY, May 30 - June 8, 2021
May 30 – June 8, 2021
Imala Diary, Continued
Still awaiting drilling of the three boreholes!
We had THOUGHT the drill rig would be on site today to begin the job, when the message came that the driver, who’d started off from Lagos yesterday, was arrested along the way for having no driver’s license! The driver of the second vehicle, carrying pipe and other supplies, was also arrested for having no identification papers whatsoever! They had to pay a total of N250,000! Over $5,000! That is a lot of money! Don’t think the drivers will be making that same mistake again!
But we DID have another arrival today which was very special! ‘Big Blue’, Schools for Africa’s new school bus/boat, was driven down the river to our very own landing located down the hill from our school! Of course, we had to take a maiden voyage! The ride was smooth and quiet – simply wonderful! As we cruised along past egrets and lapwings on the shore, I was reminded of cruising the Kazinga Channel in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth Game Park! There, we could see elephants, buffalo, Marabou and Saddle-billed storks along the water’s edge, as well as egrets! But egrets are okay! Maybe other wild things will come along later!
Trouble on Bobi Grazing Reserve
Rev. John Raji reported that bandits entered the Bobi Reserve in Niger State and surrounding area, shooting, stealing cattle and motorcycles, killing four people and injuring many more. There was serious damage caused to the town of Company Bobi as dozens of these bandits on motorcycles rampaged through the streets shooting their automatic weapons. People fled of course; even the police, whose weapons were no match to those of the bandits, ran for their lives. Reports are that over 3,000 head of cattle were stolen from the Fulani herdsmen. We’re so thankful none of our teachers, students or their families were hurt. Of course, our seven schools on Bobi are temporarily closed.
In an ensuing security meeting attended by Rev. Raji, teachers and many Fulani parents, representatives of the State Government gave advice on measures to take in case of further attacks. On my part, I’ve written to Governor Bello requesting financial restitution be made to those herdsmen whose cattle were stolen. The Bobi Reserve is under State management; the State is responsible for the security and livelihoods of those resident Fulani. Security was NOT provided, so many cattle were stolen. The State needs to compensate them.
It’s been over ten days since the bandits’ attacks; schools are reopening on Tuesday. Pray please, for peace on the Bobi Reserve and throughout Nigeria.
More important visitors!
On Saturday two groups came to visit our site and learn about the work we’re planning here! One group was a mission team from Dr. Gary Maxey’s congregation in Lagos, the second, fifteen Fulani leaders from the greater Imala area, come to ‘see with their own eyes’ the school we were building for their children and express their full support of the program! Mrs. Maxey brought the mission team; they arrived first. After showing the visitors the new staff and teachers’ quarters, and the school building, we took them down to see the school bus! They were pretty surprised to see that the bus was actually a boat! All of us climbed into Big Blue and had a little cruise down the river to see the egrets! They loved it and were taking photos like mad! We stopped at THE shade tree – AKA ‘Phyllis’ favorite tree’ - where bottled water and chairs and Fulani leaders awaited, and there we spent a very nice hour talking and sharing together about plans for the school.
The Fulani men told of a great need for medical help. The mission team leader promised a medical team in September, and teams at least twice a year after that.
Lagos mission team and Fulani visit Peace Village
Fulani chiefs visit Peace Village
Big Blue, Peace Village’s school bus
Lagos mission team experience Big Blue
Building Progress
At both the staff and teachers’ quarters, only the floors, doors and windows remain to be done. The welders have nearly completed the thirty-two doors, fifty-nine large windows, five small windows, one set of double doors (for the guest house,) and two gates for the school! All of these will be completed today; tomorrow the welders will spray paint them, then the mason will begin installing them in the two completed buildings so that we can begin using those facilities.
Walls on the round school building are going up! The masons are doing a beautiful job; I’m so happy with their work. The classrooms are spacious; each can hold at least thirty children. The welder wanted to talk about desks already; I suggested we wait until all the buildings are completed THEN talk about desks!
Cow Pictures for Kickstarter!
I had an email from Rev. Mike Henry, the producer of the upcoming documentary, Kidnapped Redemption, asking me to take at least 40 pictures of cows! Large, small, standing alone or together – he needed lots and lots of pictures of cows! Apparently, Rev. Mike will use these for the Kickstarter campaign – for a fun activity of naming Fulani cows!
So Haruna, Lawal, Officer Saidu and I arranged to visit the nearby Fulani village at a time when the cows would be home, resting, and had a nice time trudging from one group of sitting or standing cows to the next, taking their pictures! Fulani cows are very tame; they are hand raised and used to being around humans, so there is no danger. I’ve sent Rev. Mike the pictures; you will see some of them when the Kickstarter campaign is launched on June 15!
The purpose of this Kickstarter campaign is to raise the final money, $40,000, to help the film team finish production and distribution of the documentary.
Premier showings of the film are scheduled for the last weeks of August, in Seattle, Stanwood and Wenatchee, Washington. I’ll be flying back for those showings! I’m so thankful to Rev. Mike Henry, Andy Yardy and Yayo Ahumada for their outstanding work, the time and effort they’ve spent to make this documentary film possible.
And please note, this film will strongly benefit Schools for Africa, as it promotes our work among the Fulani people. The film will also and most importantly be a huge encouragement to our Fulani friends who for so long have been sidelined and neglected as a tribe but are brought forward in the film as the beautiful, intelligent, loving and caring people that they actually are.
Check out the Kidnapped RedemptionFacebook page for updates on the film!
https://www.facebook.com/Kidnapped-Redemption-Film-101741308048633
Finally, we have boreholes!
I’m happy to report that we have a borehole at the school site, one at the nearby Yoruba chief’s village and one being drilled as we speak at Alhaji Bature’s new compound! Alhaji Bature is a Fulani chief, brother of our own Alhaji Mogodi Musa from Emiworo!
Only God could have led us to work with the Fulani in Imala, where we found Bature, the over-all chief of the Fulani here, Mogodi’s own brother! This sort of thing doesn’t happen by chance! It has God’s Name written ALL over it! Mogodi promised me on the phone this morning that he’ll soon be coming to visit us here in Imala! I really hope so!
Alhaji Bature is setting up his own compound within just a few steps of our school compound, the pathway connecting the two winding through a lightly forested area carpeted in green grass and flowers. So beautiful. Soon children will be running down that path to get to school on time! I look forward to that day!
So, there was real drama when the borehole drillers set up to do Bature’s borehole. The crew had arrived late; it was around 7 pm when the drill was to begin. But when the boss told the nine workers to start; they refused and begin shouting at the boss! Officer Saidu quickly intervened and was told the reason for the workers’ refusal to start! They were hungry! They had not been given a single bite to eat for over twenty-four hours! Hungry men are angry men! The boss told them he hadn’t any idea where to get food out here in the bush! They accused him of eating and drinking, and not bringing anything for them!
I quickly suggested that we, Lawal, Saidu and I, go for food; we knew where to find it. Let them start work, we told these angry guys; we’ll be back as quickly as we can with food. And so they started, and we took off into the bush – 20 miles on a very rough road to reach the main road to a village called Kahra – where food was available. We bought ten plates heaped with molded rice, meat and gravy, and two big bags of ‘pure water’ – small baggies of drinking water – and took them back to the drill site. We opened the boot, handed each guy, including the boss, his plate of food. That food was GONE in a matter of minutes! And the guys drilled and found water! A good night, all in all.
drill rig on Bature’s site
Alhaji Bature with drill rig
borehole and tank stand
Thanks for following our story, for your faithful prayers and support; we love you so much!
God bless and keep you ‘till we meet again,
Phyllis
IMALA DIARY, May 17 - May 29, 2021
May 17 - May 29, 2021
Imala Diary, continued.
Saturday’s Wheelchair Distribution
137 wheelchairs were distributed at the Imala, Government Primary School today, given freely by Wheelchairs for Nigeria, a non-profit run by Dr. Ron Rice, (SFA Board member!) and his partner Ayuba Gufwan. Ayuba is a polio survivor himself, but has in his life overcome his condition, graduated from university, has a law degree and is helping so many thousands of others in Nigeria by directing the building and distribution of these chairs.
Meeting with pastors in Angbado Village
BTW, I’m trying to learn the names of the nearby villages; the Yoruba language is so foreign to me that it’s taking some doing! We live in Angbado Village, (for now,) nearest villages to the north and south of us are Olorunda, Idi-Emin and Obada. Writing these down will hopefully help me remember!
Today, Sunday May 18th, we were planning to attend the service in Imala commemorating the Kabiyesi’s sixteen years as Traditional Ruler in Imala. On the way, we were flagged down by Dr. Eric Ighalo, the Imala Director of CDF, who was in his bus along with a group of eight men. Dr. Eric asked us to return to our rented house in Angbado Village as he wanted to have a ‘little chat’ with us! Hmmm!
We parked in front of our ‘boarding house’ and quickly brought out enough chairs and benches for everyone to be seated in the shade of one tree close to the road. After introductions all ‘round, Dr. Eric asked me to explain my work with the Fulani people. These were all local pastors, he told me, who had real concerns about our project. Because of the worsening situation in Nigeria, in particular between the Igbo people and the Fulani, these pastors wondered what we were doing and how it could possibly help the situation.
I told them the whole story of our work and answered their questions to the best of my ability.
When they began talking about the Fulani as ‘bad people’, massacring whole villages, kidnapping and killing women and children, I turned to Haruna, our Fulani staff member in SFA, asking if he’d like to respond to that issue. Haruna talked very well, defending his people and, using his own amazing story, emphasizing the importance of educating Fulani children and youth on into university or vocational schools, so as to avoid joblessness and criminality in the future.
The meeting went well, one pastor closed in prayer, we took group pictures then piled back into our cars and drove to Imala arriving in time for the church service!
The service was good, but very hard for us northerners as we don’t understand Yoruba and knew none of the songs and choruses! But God was there and we worshipped Him. That’s all that counts.
Work at Peace Village
The work on the SFA site, Peace Village, is going forward quickly! The staff house and teachers’ quarters are almost finished; we’ve marked out and dug the foundation for the school. Clinic plans are in hand – we will build that as we also build the school. Six thousand 9” blocks are molded and ready for use for these next two buildings.
Teachers quarters almost finished!
Staff house almost done, ceiling going in now
Imala round school
GSS center view
GSS right side
GSS left side
Today we were visited by Dr. Maxey, Emma Lou and their grandson! I took them round the site, showing and explaining the work to date, pointing out where we’ll build the guesthouse, and finally, serving them lunch under our favorite shade tree down by the river! I hope they enjoyed the visit as much as I did!
BTW, we all saw Red Bishops today! The male bird is an iridescent scarlet with black markings on the face and chest, while the female is grey and yellow! Both male and female birds presented themselves to us, perching on the tops of some flowering grasses near the path! So lovely!
Maxey’s visit
SFA Boreholes
The news that is not so good regards the SFA borehole situation, which is the same as it has been all along. There is still NO borehole on the site, and no second borehole either. According to Officer Jacob, who was on duty here at the site yesterday, (while I was in Abeokuta buying supplies,) the men digging the borehole met up with rock and left. They’ve not been back, and I’ve had no report from the man in charge. This was the second attempt by Sharjeel, the missionary James contracted with for this work. Both attempts have failed.
The boreholes were paid for in full back in March; it’s now May ending, and we have no water. Thank God for the river nearby and the farmer who has a water pump and long hose! Officer Jacob and Sani drive to the river multiple times a day in the pickup, with four water barrels, which the farmer fills for us. As you know, for building blocks and mixing cement, water is pretty much the biggest need around.
So, considering this most urgent need for water, I’ve asked that the SFA money deposited in March for two boreholes, solar pump and overhead tank be refunded to us. This will permit us to go ahead and contract with commercial drillers to get the work done quickly.
AND….the money has been refunded and with Lawal’s help we’ve contracted with a professional driller from Abuja who is even now on his way to Imala. He sent a project proposal which includes two boreholes, one solar pump, one hand pump, an overhead tower and 3,000 litre tank and all the plumbing and taps involved, all for $3,700 LESS than the failed, CDF boreholes would have cost us!
So, thank God.
When will the Fulani families arrive?
Haruna, Alhaji Bature, Lawal and I met with Prince on Monday afternoon and heard what the Kabiyesi has in mind for our work among the Fulani. We understand that it’s only the Fulani living in the Imala area who are invited to live around the SFA site and graze their cattle in the 400 acres which will be provided for them. We understand that any Fulani wanting to live here will have go through Alhaji Bature and be approved by the Kabiyesi. Prince also intimated that 1,600 acres of grazing land would be made available at some point, across the river. (I do hope this will be sooner rather than later!) Alhaji Bature made an appointment to see the Kabiyesi this Thursday to gain final approval for packing with his family to live near us, with their cattle, on the 400 acres designated for this purpose.
Training in Managed Rotational Grazing and Commercial Milk Production.
As soon as Alhaji Bature is situated on our land, we will plan for a week’s training in rotational grazing for him and other heads of families and begin marking out the needed paddocks. When I told James about Friesland Campina’s commercial, milk-collection project on the Bobi Grazing Reserve in Niger State, he was very interested in having the same project here, side by side with the rotational grazing. The two plans are quite different – one completely holistic, the other very much commercial - but having both would serve to compare the choices available to herdsmen and businessmen. James’ people will attend the training as well.
Finally – Big Blue!
Our SFA boat/bus, fondly nicknamed ‘Big Blue’ while officially named ‘The Good Shepherd’, is still docked at the fishing village where it was built. The engine we bought in Abeokuta is not working properly yet; a mechanic has promised to come tomorrow to put it in good order, then we’ll bring it over and pull it up to shore in front of Peace Village.
Thank you, Lord Jesus!
When Gary Maxey and James saw what we have here at Peace Village, they are both overwhelmed – as am I – with what God has given in this place. James has already taken steps to annex a CDF retreat center and prayer garden to the SFA Guest House location; we will keep as much natural woodland as possible as a natural haven for birds AND humans. It will be wonderful. So thankful to have a small part in this amazing development.
Our view!
Thanks to all of you for your continued prayers and support. Please pray that all we do and say will reflect the love Jesus has for these dear Fulani and Yoruba people, and that many will come to accept Him as their only Lord and Savior.
Phyllis Sortor