Tribute

We woke up on Saturday the 10th of September to the news that our dear sister Charity Onovughakpor Fakinlede had completed her sojourn on this earth and had gone home to be with the Lord. The news was like a blow to the gut. This could not be, I went back to read the notification again hours later, perhaps I had misread the sentence, perhaps……..

The last few times I had spoken to Charity she had been in such high spirits and we were certain that she had this illness beat. I was encouraged because of her optimism and reassurance that all is well. She was classic Charity, talkative, cheerful and not afraid to call things as she saw them. Charity maintained the ideals that I witnessed many years ago when I first met her as shown by her work in empowering the youth in her village as well as her other projects that have made a positive impact on so many lives.

I came to know Charity in the early eighties in Edmonton Alberta. We had a lot in common. We were both spouses of graduate students, Urhobo and above all Christian. She was my sister and played a significant role in helping me to settle into a new country and as a newlywed navigate the nuances of married life in a strange country. She gave me pointers on where to get needed supplies. Being students we were always on the lookout for a bargain and with a small family we would split a can of palmnut cream to make banga soup. Her husband, was the best man at our wedding and in the tradition of something borrowed … I wore her shoes at my wedding. She gave me a lot of pointers on conducting a wedding in Edmonton as well since she had hers there a few years prior.

We could always count on the Fakinledes to give us advice and support whenever the need arose. Did we need a car because we had to run an errand at some faraway place that was not easily accessible by bus, they were always ready to put their car at our disposal. Was I bored and just needed someone to talk to or spend some time with?, I knew I could always drop by their place for a chat. She it was who encouraged me to try gardening in the lot provided for students at the University of Alberta students housing and sharing the excitement of seeing and enjoying the produce from the garden.

After reconnecting last year, in one of our conversations, I commented to Charity how brave she was to have allowed her two girls to go back to Canada for school at their relatively young age and her response was “ We have spent all these years raising them and teaching them the right thing we are assured that they will be able to take care of themselves.” ( I am paraphrasing) You can always count on sister Charity to give a rational and pragmatic response to any challenge.

Ireti and Lola, our hearts really breaks that your mom has left us at this time. We pray that the Lord will envelope you in his arms, bless you both, strengthen you and comfort you both in ways that only he can. To our brother Coli, We do not know the words to say that but that with our broken hearts we are trusting that the Lord will continue to be your strength and your comfort, may he uphold you and strengthen you. We love you guys and we are praying for you.

God Bless

Thessalonians 4:13-15King James Version (KJV)

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.