PREAMBLE:
If you pass in personal life and fail in personal assignment (mission) of God you have woefully failed.
As this world is not a permanent home likewise, no condition is permanent. It then means that your problems can be solved before you leave this world, or when you die the problems come to an end.
The day someone is planted in someone’s destiny/assignment, gift/talent, problems are also planted in someone’s book of life. And same is being monitored by the planter until the day the creative goes back to the creator if you care you may find out on time or the messengers/servants may prophesy to you. And that is if you will heed and believe in them. All I know is that no one comes into this world without a mission.
Age or poor health condition, or, still, poverty can never be a barrier or an excuse to God’s call and His assignment.
Prayers, love, Charity, Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding are the medicine to our problem solving.
Disciplined without Development produces Anger and Resentment and Chaos.
We are long on discussion and short on deeds, long on promises and short on performances, long on feelings and short on doings.
The Lord plans the future for us in disguise.
When you fail to work it is already a transgression of God’s law. Work is not all about earning money, it is also about earning experience. Anyone who refuses work also refuses experience which keeps your brain at alert. Work also is a channel of education. Do you know that I must be about my father’s business (Luke 2:49). I must work the work of He that sent me while it is day for the right is coming when no work could be done (John 9:4)
These quotations are the sayings of our Lord Jesus Christ who confirmed that work is very important in one’s lifetime.
An action without a vision is labour. A vision without action is a visionary. But a vision with action makes a missionary.
THE DIVINE PLAN FOR THE POOR AND NEEDY
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| Founder, Elizabeth C. Okpalo in her youths |
This social work had been desired, planned and assigned to me long ago by the Creator through my father, though, now late (Late Mr. John N. Maduabuchi Modebelu). I did not know or understand what social work is all about which I found myself.
I was born and bred of poor parentage in a Roman Catholic family of Late Mr. & Mrs. J.N.M. Modebelu. I was the first child out of the nine survived children of the couple. In this religious organization I was brought up from birth throughout my schooling in Roman Catholic Schools up to post primary stage.
My father enrolled me in one of the religious associations (The Legion of Mary) to make sure that this gives me chance and opportunity to be visiting the sick in hospitals and the motherless babies’ homes. His dreams were that I would work in the divine yard of the Lord. This he started when I was only a child of six years old. I was happy ad enjoyed the visits because I was allowed to pray for the sick and also played with the motherless children when we visited them. We never made any visit empty handed.
At times, I wept when I saw very cases but I could not express or explain why I was weeping.
My mother was also involved because I always lifted some of her goods when going on a visit for she was a petty trader selling various commodities from which I was able to collect and share among my little friends whom I visited. As I grew up, I added more works to the ones my father taught me, such as fetching water for the elderly and washing clothes for the little ones in their homes.
I always made sure that something was in my bag for the street beggars whom I met along the road or entrance to the market places. It was a habit that I formed and grew up with it till date. And I always asked myself if I were in these people’s shoes/condition, what would become of me. Even those who came to my mother’s little inn were set free to go if they were unable to pay up their bill after eating. I even hawked selling all these seasonal fruits, such as groundnuts, oranges, banana, pears etc, frying and selling chin-chin, kokoro, buns, pan-cake etc. just to make sure that I have something to offer to the poor and needy because I was passing through what they were in. this exercise always kept me busy thinking of what to do in other to help them. When I started working after my post primary education, I stopped using my mother’s materials, rather I used some part of my salary in this exercise to satisfy my conscience.
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| Founder, Mrs Elizabeth C. Okpalo |
Infact, I was always worried and disturbed trying to find means of helping these less privileged so that they will feel happy. At times, I brought some children home and begged my mother to accommodate them because they were poorer than we were. She usually allowed such a request especially in the feeding aspect and also clothing those in rags.
All these while I did not know that it is a divine assignment. Now, here I am, may the Creator take glory in Jesus name Amen.
All the time that I was doing this type of work, I never for one day thought of building a home for these group of people but I was bent on helping anyone who needed my assistance not minding your race, (as in the case of an Indian family of six who their father taught me modern mathematics) sex, religion or whoever. My only concern was to see that you are comfortable and happy if I could do so. I was able to train some intelligent children up to where my means could carry them, because the brain would be wasted if nobody cared for them. I derived joy in doing so.
When I got married I feared that my husband would not allow and permit me to carry on with such activities in his house, but to my greatest surprise, he never disturbed or quarreled with me over this issue, rather he assisted me with the much he could. My marriage is blessed with only a male child but we were living with more than fifteen children both males and females. My husband helped me to put some of them in the normal school while some were put in vocational schools, according to their abilities. As I was meditating on how to care for these children adequately as supposed, it occurred to me that if I manage the small inn which my mother willed to my son on her pack-up with the business that it will help. So I looked into the business with every seriousness. My mother named her own little inn “Charity Inn” while I founded this one in my son’s name Romeo and Juliet Vinecourt which is registered now with the CAC. This was founded in September 12th 1992 and was registered in April 11th 2007.
Though the Vinecourt is founded as a full business on its own, we agreed willingly that the Vinecourt will sponsor and take care of the Needy Home and that is why they are bearing the same name, ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
In the Article and Memorandum of the Association, Section 27 of the association you will find out where it is written down. The two establishments are founded by the same person that the Creator’s work (assignment) would not be neglected.
The founder is a missionary who has been wandering in the wilderness, wasting time until the mighty hands of the Creator pulled her with force out of her confused home in the wilderness to come and serve and worship God, and also the service of Humanity.
This means that the “Vinecourt” gave birth to “Needy Home”. The Needy Home is duly registered with the CAC, and with all the three levels of the Nigerian Government, thus:
1. CAC/IT/NO 37579
The Vinecourt is the main sponsor of this Needy Home and has been running it all alone with the meager donations of very few individuals who do not want their names to be announced. Remember that no assignment can be carried out alone especially that, that concerns human problems, so government, federal government, other sister, NGO’s, philanthropist and the world at large are expected to come to the aid of this “Home”. You should show interest meant to be cared for very well for you don’t know who will be there next, including the founder.
This is not the type of work that an individual or organization will successfully do alone. You must have some contribution to make, no matter what. It may be your suggestions, pieces of advice, genuine visitations and so on. In totality, it is the work of charity and love to whosoever that needs our help and assistance even our youth need this home though they are not meant to live there permanently. It all depends on the type of their needs. The “Home” is global, non-denominational, non-racial, all sexes both young and elderly, both black and white. It is expressively defined as your right if you really need our service to come and seek for it. No matter what, it is your right and our concern.
What I am saying here is that we should join hands and reduce street begging and abject poverty, fight problems and ailments and make ourselves comfortable, happy and belonging in this little world of our own.
Though my Charity work and activities started as a legionary in the Roman Catholic Church by visiting the sick in hospitals, children’s homes every Wednesday and Thursdays of the week which also included fetching water, fire wood, washing clothes, sweeping rooms and compounds for the elderly, it was my late father who was the brain behind this type of life. He so much trained me that humility, sympathy, empathy, passion and compassion were inculcated in my being. On the other hand, my mother groomed me living no stone unturned in all manner of domestic work (cooking, mending torn clothes, keeping the house and environs clean, neat and tidy, ability to manage the little we have for the up keep of the family house hold etc) which is now helping me in the management of this Great Home which the Creator has commanded instructed me to establish and take care of.
It is not only my parents that did this work in me, it will be incomplete if I do not mention Miss C. Isama and the Reverend Sisters both Whites (the Holy Rosary), and the Blacks (the Immaculate Heart) who really nurtured me in the fear of the Lord. I can now see that all these were in preparation for the task ahead. All these people I have mentioned above God used to develop my talent and gift in the name of both social and Charity work.
This has not ended, the Community of Yahweh World Wide has immensely immersed me in the word of God which helped me win for the Lord very many lost souls. These three years in the theology school with sound doctrine and four years of service in the Charity ministry unit of the organizations as a divine minister is not a joke for very many people need the word of God to solve their spiritual problems.
Finally, the Federal School of Social Work which is an umbrella that brings all the professional disciplines under its control has now given me the final retouch in the name of a mapped out planned course to open my eyes, brush me and get me fully prepared for the services of Humanity. All these are the hand work of God and May He Almighty take Glory in everything.
In addition, the three intensive Field Work Practice which if you fail to go through will definitely disqualify you from being issued with a diploma certificate no matter your excellence in theoretical performance: These field work Practice were carried out in different places and states.
1. The first IT was carried out in the Ministry of Gender Affairs and Social Development, Enugu, Enugu State. This was done for two months. Here we were lectured on how to settle dispute in families and handle juvenile cases including child adoption etc.
2. The second IT was carried out in Njikoka Local Government in Anambra State. It is all about Community Development which lasted for three months. In some of my pictures, you will see me with other workers working during clearing of land and construction of local roads, pipe borne water, bore whole etc. all these are at Nawfia town in a community called Umuriam.
3. Finally, the third IT was carried out in an Institution –National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, in Enugu State. This is where after the IT, I again promised God and mankind that I will worship God and serve mankind. What I and my colleagues experienced there is beyond our imaginations and expressions.
Evidence of the Divine Assignment
1. The Outbreak of influenza in Nigeria
2. The Nigeria/Biafra civil war – Olo Sector 1968/69 Abandoned children during the Nigeria civil war.
3. Visits to the Catacomb (Italy – Rome), St. Joseph’s Hospital Lourdes – France, 1975
4. Services in the Charity Ministry Unit of the Community of Yahweh Worldwide
5. Dreams and visions.
The above captions may make you picture or have a glimpse of instinct or motivational attitude that confirmed this divine assignment and instruction.
As I mentioned earlier in this brief write up as a history, I was only a child of six years old when my call started manifesting through my father making me a legionary in the Roman Catholic Church. This gave me an opportunity to visit the sick and the Homes without knowing that it was the work of the Creator. This work was done instinctively out of the ignorance of God’s purpose of sending me into this planet earth.
Now, still in the range of the childhood stage, there was an outbreak of ‘influenza’ in 1957 in Nigeria – Igbo land – Enugu where I was born.
I was the only child in my yard that was not sick. Schools were closed down. Movements of people were restricted. Even markets were scanty because almost everyone in Enugu was sick according to news and very small, the Red Cross personnel’s used me to carry out some domestic/health activities such as sweeping the compound every morning and evening, running on errands for those sick people both young and old in my yard, serving them the already cooked food by the Red Cross Workers and so on and so forth. Yes, I was doing this work but I did not understand what was going on.
What I remembered most was the blankets and some clothes that I was given to go and give each person in their various rooms. This exercise lasted for a period I could not specify because of my age. They gave me inoculations and enough clothes to be changing with for the work. They gave me enough food and drugs and I was never for one day sick throughout that period of uncertainty. No one died in my yard unlike in other buildings where children and adults were dying everyday. It was a very sad and critical period. This was my very first social, charity work as a child.
The second social/charity work was that of Nigeria civil war. It was very pathetic and families were separated from each other. Children were abandoned by their parents while they were running away from the enemies for their dear lives. Husbands and wives were separated and many other dreadful things/events happened. The situation then was very sad.
Now, I have grown but a very young youth. I was separated from my parents and my fiancé and I joined the Roman Catholic Missionaries who were in charge of the relief materials/Drugs/food for the war affected areas. We were first at Okigwe and resided where they called Ugwu Ntiji Egbe. We did not stay long here but that did not prevent us from working throughout the day preparing dry packs for both our soldiers and those destitute (those who had nothing to eat nor clothing to cover their nakedness).
Because of the persistent bombing by the Nigerian Soldiers and the uncertainty of, and security of people’s lives, we, the missionaries were evacuated from Okigwe to Umuogem village in Ufuma town where we settled and did more humanitarian services without much problems of the bombing, though we were almost very close to the Olo sector.
It was at this time that the relief materials of all nature came into ware houses from Caritas Ubitates – France, Red Cross Organization and other Sister Organizations and some individuals who were better off. Though I was very young, it was here that my divine assigned assignment was glaring, announced and pronounced more but still I could not read the handwriting on the wall. Just as I was shown in my dreams and the voice telling me to come and help, that the Creator’s people/children were perishing.
Now, coming to the camp where we were serving mankind with the seminarians, I was selected to join the Red Cross Society and go to the war front in Olo Sector and to collect all the abandoned children and keep them in another village called Akpu. Initially, I was afraid because of the enemy but to my surprise, they helped us (the Red Cross Personnel’s and I) to fish out and gather these children and some very old people whom their people abandoned and fled to unknown destination. Good enough, these children’s names and identities were tagged around their neck as was announced in churches before the war got intense.
Though I cannot remember the number we gathered and collected from the war front but they were not less than two hundred children including the elderly. They were not of the same age. But the children were within the range of one (1-8 yrs) and eight years old.
Without any waste of time I suggested to the Reverend fathers with whom I was living that these children should and must be kept busy in other to keep off the thought of their parents and relations.
My ideas were welcomed by the Reverend fathers and thatched house/hall was constructed by the volunteered people around for these children. This was my first Needy Home though it was constructed and built out of instinct and inspiration. There was a nurse who (Nurse Ichoku Theresa from Nawfia) volunteered to work with me, and another Miss Bridget who again volunteered to give her helping hands as a nanny though she was a bit elderly. And I, myself became a teacher. If not the guidance of the Almighty, we would not have been able to handle this case work because it was human beings that we were dealing with. The Nurse did a dual job, that is, she sewed dresses for our inmates and at the same time cared for us all as a medical personnel from Nnewi Miss Bridget Anekwe acted as a cook, maid, mother and fostered these children whole heartedly in all ramifications.
I myself who brought the ideas and suggestion did my work as a teacher, baby sister, laundry man (dry cleaner etc) and behold, we were night watch for the children besides that of the Creator who created them. We were very happy doing this work because nobody forced us. We derived joy in doing so. It was not up to two weeks, the children became clam and got used to us. The elderly ones were equally very happy and had a rest of mind too.
The Reverend fathers financed and supplied all the needs of these inmates which the Creator had earlier from the beginning provided. They monitored and supervised all the activities and programmes we mapped out for the inmates. The inmates did not lack anything for their up keep. They were well cared for in all aspects except that they were separated from their parents and relations. But when the war was over, announcement was made in various churches and parents and relations came and claimed their children with joy and happiness. It was a period of sleepless nights but with devotion and dedication without any complains, murmur and regrets.
The Creator was with us and the children too. He directed and guided us. He protected us. Not even a child was lost either in the war front or in the home where they were housed. Even the elderly men and women were all alive when their children and relations came and collected them. We could take record of them through the tags around their necks and wrists though very few had no tags on them but their parents were able to claim them.
Before the issue of collecting children from the war front, with my four friends Virginia Onyia, and Catherine Chime, Patricia Alukwu from Nenwe and another Virginia from Nsude town of Udi. I was very busy cooking and sharing food in the refugee camps. We also shared raw food and clothes to those who needed them. The Reverend fathers whom we lived with really supervised all our activities. They provided whatever that would be cooked and shared or shared raw. Those that were given cooked food were quartered in schools used as the refugee camps, while those shared with raw food were those that had cooking equipments.
This again created an opportunity for me to go on pilgrimage in 1975. My funds for all these were sponsored by the missionaries and some individuals whom I served during the war.
The fourth social work was that which surprised everyone at coal camp where I was residing with my parents.
Two years after the Nigerian Civil War, I was asked by my then Headmistress (Mrs. Tagbo) of Onitsha origin to seek and gather all the boys that constituted nuisance and delinquent who were in the senior department, especially the elementary 5 children. Frankly speaking their parents had driven them away from their families and they were roaming the streets of coal camp as well as the nooks and corners of the little city of Ogbete.
Initially, I hesitated but with time I picked up courage and started the work. These boys were kept under my care and the Almighty arrested them and we become friends and they obeyed me earnestly in whatever instructions I gave to them. They even gave me a mark on my right hand with a jack (pen) knife before they calmed down and they formed a class of primary five ‘C’. They were 48 in number. It was discovered that these boys were genius and materials for community and social development. Many of them are now very big men in the society doing very well both in material and spiritual wealth.
My third missionary work as a social worker was that of outside the country in a small village of Lourdes in France. This is in the form of pilgrimage though it is of late I realized that all these my movements are in preparation for the task ahead which I did not understand.
In 1975 a group of men and women with just two or three young girls under the care of the Late Bishop (G. Okoye) Mgns. (Uchegbu) Rev. Dr. (E.U Igboaja) Rev. Fr. (B. Ikegwuonu) Late visited Rome, Lourdes (France) and Jerusalem as pilgrims.
We took off from Nigeria and landed first in Rome where I was privileged and opportune to visit important places like the Catacomb.
This I presume is cave where the earlier Christians ran in to hide when they were being persecuted. Inside this cave (Catacomb) you will see dead bodies. Some were strangled, some just died and some children were seen sitting down with tears that ran down their chicks and very many others. This scene is very pathetic and eye saw. As we were moving from one corner to the other, I again started asking myself the following, questions:
1. Supposing I was born in this part of the world that time and I happened to be one of these people, what would have been my fate?
2. Would I have betrayed my God by denouncing my faith?
3. Would I have had enough courage and strength to defend my faith?
Now that time has passed and life still goes on amongst the living as Christians. How can I serve humanity having seen what the early Christians passed through while defending their faith?
The answer is not very far from fetch because we have been instructed by the Creator to love your neighbor and I strongly believe that if you love someone you can never persecute or do any harm to that person, no matter the race, religion, colour or sex, for we are all hand work of Him.
Another time I was taken to the Carmeli Convent Sisters where they were keeping their elderly as their own service to humanity. If you visit this place you will see very old people above a century (100 years) but feel very happy and waxing strong and very healthy being very well cared for. I learnt a lot from these Reverend Sisters. They care for these old people with every seriousness, whole heartedly, sacrifice, patience, endurance and love in the real sense of it. Demonstration of actual and natural love is found in their work. I was privileged to do some work for the elderly though under their supervision. I was very happy to have been there.
Remember, the spirit of the Lord is now moving me to see the task ahead of me which I have not acknowledged and understood.
The next place I visited in Rome was the famous colosuim where the Nobles and their families, officials and the men at the hem of affairs did the worst thing a human being could do to his fellow human because he is/was poor. In this very place, during their festivities these Nobles were entertained by the Lions and other Carnivorous animals fighting with human beings (captives and prisoners) which at the end the humans were killed or devoured by these animals. Though it’s no more obtainable or practiced presently.
What I am trying to stress is the need for man to be protected in all ramifications. The early Christians which the Romans persecuted needed freedom to practice their faith in their God while their prisoners needed someone to protect their interest from the hands of their wicked emperors where as the elderly people needed care for their vulnerability.
The pilgrims now moves to very small village in France called ‘Lourdes’. On approaching this little, quiet village you start experiencing that feeling that you have gone into another world. Then dressing alone will tell you that God and His angels are there working.
Really, I was asking myself why I have come to such a lonely town but the answer to my silent question was given after twenty four hours of our arrival. How? You may ask. It was in the morning when we were asked to go to their bathing pools that I realized why that little town was so quiet and lonely. I observed the very big hospital named “St. Joseph’s Hospital, Lourdes”. It is the Roman Catholic Church that established this hospital and according to records then and even now, it is the biggest hospital throughout the whole world, with the various inmates of various ailments from various countries of the world irrespective of your race and colour, sex and religion. It is only hopeless cases that are admitted there. You are not there for you to be cured or healed but that notwithstanding atimes some miracle of God manifests.
Doctors and Nurses of various specializations are there working twenty four hours of the day. Other workers like ward maids, dietitians, laboratory technician, X-ray, physiotherapists, pharmacists etc are equally seen working. The types of sicknesses, diseases, ailments are what I cannot describe or discuss. It is really terrible, some are eye saw. After visiting there, you will definitely come out there with tears running down your checks. It was in this hospital that I promised my God that I will try my best to serve humanity. I took a lot of pictures with very many patients but the management did not allow me to take any as I was living rather, the management after I had paid the photographers collected the pictures and gave them to the patients whom I snapped with. I asked them why, the answer was that they do not allow such for certain reasons best known to them. Anyway, I was granted a request which was to pray for them. So every morning and evening I went and prayed for them for the duration of time we spent there.
Whichever country/town we landed I led the Nigeria pilgrims with the banner given to me by a cardinal whom I did not know his name and it was recorded that I was the youngest pilgrim of the year (1975).
All these while, I have not understood that the Lords hands are on me and that from my childhood He (God) has been giving me signs and nature of my call.
My own problems and ailments started with a ruptured appendiceptomy just in my first year in the college after a netball march with another school. I was a shooter end we won the march. From the field to the general hospital I was rushed and I was operated upon. Since that year till date I have been passing through many ordeals. My doctors, my parents, my relations and my husband have tired and done everything humanly possible to get me well but all proved abortive.
But remember, my dear reader, that this my pitiable condition is not and can never be an excuse to ignore or fail to do my divine assignment. The assignment must be carried out but I need and ask for everybody’s help assistance and contribution so that it will be done well for no one should be an island in the land of the living. God started at my early stage in life to show me what to do but my previous religious belief and environment blindfolded me so that the much I was doing I thought was a routine endeavour was just to satisfy my conscience.
God is very wonderful. You know He planned and created everything that man would need before the creation of mankind, such things as the light, the air, the water, the plants and animals etc.
It has never been the intention of God that man should lack anything for his well being.
Likewise my own case. He gave me all sorts and manner of training in preparation for this task He proposed for me in readiness for the work so that I would not mess it up. I have under gone many training programmes such as theology school, school of social work in which I obtained National Diploma in each.
This type or nature of work involves both spiritual and physical ability. For one to go in for such adventure, one must be morally sound and maintain the fear of the Lord to avoid creating more problems for those that need the services of the ‘HOME’.
After my training in the Theological Academy of the Community of Yahweh Worldwide, I was posted to the Charity Ministry Unit which gave me another opportunity to come in contact with the poor and needy and I was free to discuss their problems and needs. Many people are subjected to abject poverty, some are very sick, some have no homes (Shelter), and some are not able to continue with their carrier because of one reason or the other. Nobody is free as this planet earth is concerned.
Each and everyone of us needs one thing or the other. Remember that money is not everything so think of other needs and see for yourself where you fall in.
Though spiritual messages from various seers and men of God had been given or delivered to me, I was still stupid and continued wandering about in my lonely Home in the wilderness until the Lord Himself called me out and showed me the people with various problems which included sickness, poverty, and destitution.
These He showed me three consecutive days and then gave me instructions and mandate otherwise I go in for the consequences of which my son will be involved if I delayed more. He has had more than enough patience and endurance if not the love He has for me, He would have finished with me ever since.
The long awaited dreams have gradually and eventually come true despite all odds tests, temptations and obstacles, especially in the poor health and financial sectors. May the Creator take glory.
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