LADIES DAY AT CHEROKEE

All ladies are invited to a Ladies Day at the Cherokee Home for Children on Saturday, February 18, 10:00 am to 2:30 pm. Speaker will be Janet Marks, the author of ‘Three Little Decisions”.   A light breakfast will be provided, there will also be Lunch, Singing and Fellowship.

Our Brother Sylvester reported on the events and some perspectives from Nigeria last weekend. Let us keep them in our prayers. For the elders, Ken D

Leadership Seminar Sat. Feb 4

Our monthly leadership held at Ugbogbo congregation. Because of the current cash and fuel crisis affecting everything in Nigeria, we expected less attendance. But many brethren managed to turn up from various villages from 6 counties. To our surprise, close to 300 turned up for the day’s exercise. The Ugbogbo women prepared local food that hardly went round to feed the brethren.

Widow’s Program (Food and Equipment Distribution)

As we have arranged, we distrusted sacks of rice for the various congregations to take home. And we gave out a total of 2 Sewing Machines. And 7 Grinding Mills to 9 widows as support for their sustenance. The Widows were very, very happy and grateful for the wonderful provisions they have received.

Sunday Feb. 5 Ugbogbo Widow’s Food Relief

After AM worship today we gave out sacks of rice to the widows of the Ugbogbo congregation The women received their gifts with great joy and prayed for the donors in the native language.

Update About the Fuel and Cash Crisis in Nigeria

The government of Nigeria has caused a huge problem for the people right now. The government may have had good intentions to plan to change the currency and exchange the new notes with the old ones in circulation. I think what was intended among other things is to remove excess cash in the hands of the politicians who have been keeping cash in billions of Naira outside the banking system. That was certainly not healthy for the economy. However, the circumstances we face now are dire. Most of the old notes have been retrieved but the new notes are not in circulation. Thus Nigerians have no money for exchange.

The situation has been growing from bad to worse with spiraling negative consequences…. The cost of buying anything has increased. Nigerians are now “buying” their own currency to be able to buy food. We are paying as much as 20-30 percent for cash. Families are stranded, businesses are struggling, and the economy is in difficulty. In Delta State one person slumped last week and died inside the bank.

People wake up and line up at ATM spots in banks waiting for when banks will open and maybe load cash in the machine. You can go for 3 days and not collect anything. Several pictures and videos have emerged on the social media of men and women who protest the frustrating experiences in the bank by stripping naked (inside the bank).

While this cash problem is going on, we also have another major crisis – no fuel. The cost of fuel (if you get any at all) has risen by between 400 to 1000 percent.

Transportation is affected. People are threatening riot in several cities already. Crowds at the banks and at the filling stations have become unmanageable.  Those who are able to get fuel sell it at cutthroat prices in the black market. Elections are planned for February 25, but there are apprehensions already. Collection in churches have diminished. And most church leaders are only using whatever they collect for Food Relief to save lives!!

Please remember us in your prayers,

Sylvester Imogoh