Miles In Missions

Click to see the video of Amarchi’s home visit.

Amarachi stands nervously as we walk up to her house. She has her 4 children all lined up to greet us. I immediately notice that their clothing shows age but the children are well groomed and show much respect to their mother. Amarachi’s middle girl, Damilola is 10 years old and has been accepted into C.A.R.E. Africa.

I ask Amarachi to share her journey with me. In the early years the family lived in Lagos where they had jobs that paid for food and school fees for the children.  Amarachi’s mother-in-law fell ill so she and her husband had to leave Lagos and move to Egbe to care for the ailing mother. Once in Egbe, they crammed all their possessions into the mother’s 20 x 16 sf room. The floor is dirt, one window, no ventilation, no plumbing, no electric, and no toilet. All seven lived in this one room for four years until the mother passed – now there are six. All six of them sleep on two foam mattresses (see picture). Before she passed, Amarachi’s mother-in-law taught her to make palm kernel oil to sell. The locals use it for skin salve and also take orally for stomach problems. The smell and texture reminded me of motor oil.

Amarachi also works with her husband who is a vulcanizer – repairs tires. Amarachi and her husband freelance a street corner where people know them to be honest workers.  They attend church as a family and are well liked in the community. She and her husband are both hard working people but the need for palm kernel oil or tire repair is not much. The need to feed and educate her children is a constant worry for Amarachi.  Her other three children will not be attending school as they cannot afford the school fees. Amarachi is very thankful Damilola has been accepted into C.A.R.E. Africa because her daughter will be well educated, looked after physically and spiritually and have a chance at a better life.

At the time of writing this article, Damilola has a sponsor but the family does not. C.A.R.E. Africa would like to come alongside the family through their church to help empower them through business and the education of the remaining children. Please consider becoming one of the families sponsors at $35 a month or $420 a year by clicking Amarachi.