Clement, Blessing, and Godwin, who had slept on the floor in that room.
Some singing, some out-loud-all-at-the-same-time prayers. It was nice, even
before 6 am. Next was a walking tour around the ECWA compound and vicinity.
We saw the house that Clement's mother, our school nurse Lucy, and father
started back in the early eighties but never finished. It was an interesting
house, very western style floor plan with a garage, master bedroom with
private bathroom and wardrobe, kitchen and bathroom for company. Just never
had a roof. After returning to the guest house, Clement showed up with a
big plate of scrambled eggs Mustafa had made with bread and hot water for
Bornvita (Ovaltine). After breakfast and another quick bucket bath, this
time no cockroaches, and we were off to the palace again. We stopped to
pick up Victor on the way as he was the one to do the introductions.
Remember this was going to be a motorcycle ride. Jack was in his best tank
top and shorts from yesterday, and Ben is going through a phase on rolling
around on the ground a lot and his cloths looked like it, plus they were
from yesterday and slept in. When we arrived at the Chiefs Palace we were
ushered into the "throne room". This Chief is the Chief over the all the
Bassa-Nge people in Nigeria. As we were brought in we, the Oyibo, were told
to sit on the comfy chair on the side as the Bassa people in our group bowed
down hands and knees before the Chief on the carpets laid out in front of
the Chief. This man named His Royal Majesty Abu Ali was an Army man who
rose to the rank of General and in the early 90's was the Governor of Bauchi
State when Nigeria was under Military Rule under Muhammad Buhari. The same
Buhari that just lost a bid for President that is causing so much Wahalla
now in Nigeria. Chief Ali gave us a great history of the Bassa -Nge people
from when they migrated from Niger in 1885 until they settled in Gbloloko.
In the throne room the Chief had 120mm shell casings, from the Russian built
tanks he used to command, as flower vases. Interesting man - he is a Muslim
but credits the Christian Missionaries for giving the Bassa people the
education that has, in his opinion, giving them an edge on the other tribes
in the area. He was very proud of his people and I believe cares greatly
for them.
After leaving the Chiefs palace we headed for home. First we stopped by a
small village, perhaps the size of Emi-woro, called Emi-Tseja after
Clement's Grand Father. If Clement were to move back it would be his
village and he would be the Chief. We are truly blessed to have this guy
working with us. After that we went to a Bible school that was established
by some Irish missionaries named Hysslop a few generations back. It's nice
to see what a mission compound can become after time and the physical growth
is complete and the work continues. By the way at the end of June some
Forsythe's, Grand kids and Great Grand Kids will spend a few days with us
here in Emi-woro before heading over to the bible school.
From the bible school we drove home with Bridget and the kids swapping out
turns riding in the back of the truck. Jack got his first sunburn of the
year, looks just like Apple Blossom.
All said and done this "Motorcycle Trip" was a one of a kind. My life is
not my own and when we are open to go with the flow amazing things can
happen.
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