.Sharing ~ Learning ~ Growing ............................... The World Stories Project.

Stories from Nigeria
Lessons Learned from Mothers It’s amazing how many lessons we learn from the people in our lives, lessons that make us who we are. Tell about something you learned from your mother
Lessons Learned from Father Fathers may have a different approach to teaching their children. Tell about something important you learned from your father. How did he teach you this lesson?
Adventures Unusual and exciting experiences. When was the last time you went on a daring or risky adventure. Tell the story.
Holidays Sometimes holidays have a way of bringing people together. What is your favorite holiday and how does your family celebrate it?
Days Off Many people look forward to days off from school or work. How do you spend your days off? Do you spend time with family or friends? Tell about a recent day off.
Other Stories Other stories that help to express personal experiences or conveys a feel for culture.

Courage From the Heart

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Have you ever experienced a war in your life that nearly led to losing your own? My family's journey into the United States began with this experience.

On May 21, 1994 there were gun shots heard around the town. My family and others in town knew of what was going to happen. We began to pack our possessions to leave our town and get away from the danger ahead. We knew our properties were about to be stolen away without our consent. The Share Company was ordered by the Nigerian government to take our oil.

This army of people wanted the rich oil which our townspeople worked so hard to own. We also knew that the leader of my town would be tortured and killed if captured. We were directed by our leader to flee to the forest with our families and belongings. We were shivering with fear because of the confusion of not knowing what was going to happen to our lives.

The strongest people stayed behind while others found safety in the woods. Night after night men and women who stayed behind were captured, whipped, and thrown in jail. Those who ran to the forest helped to gather food to survive. The young and the weak were hidden under ground while the others fought against the army.

As my peole were captured many were burned alive, their hands were tied as hot fire was set to their bodies. Some were shot to death with their hands removed by bullets cutting through their skin. Young and old women were battered and dishonored by the soldiers. I saw and heard most of these evil things against my communities.

During these horrible attacks on my town all of our property was stolen and destroyed. Bombs were placed inside pipes that supplied oil and gas to our homes. This destroyed soil, vegetation, buildings, and power lines leaving us with nothing to survive with.

Even though we were able to travel back to our community, so much had been destroyed. Life could not move forward to the way it once was. The United States of America knewo all these awful thngs that werre happening to the Nigerian people.

While we were in camp, stories of these attacks were told by the youth through acting. They used letters of the alphabet to represent all the unspeakable acts that had happened to their communities. This dramatic acting was done for the Americans so that they would understand what we lived through. Many kinds of emotions ran through all who watched the stories being told. It made our minds and bodies shiver with grief.

The American government was troubled and touched by these assaults to our community. Food and money were being provided by the United States. We believed that this was God's helping hand and things would get better than they had been since this tragedy happened. Because God would continue to help us, prayer and fasting, three hundred people were chosen to be settled in the United States. I was one of the chosen few.

It was my time to say good-bye to my country and family. The United States government was waiting to take me, my two brothers, one sister, and the rest of the people to America. I had only a few minutes to say good-bye to my father. This all seemed like a sad dream because I knew I wouldn't see him again for at least six to ten years. Looking into his eyes for the last time expressed what was in my heart and mind. I knew he was filled with sadness and pride because he knew I was going to have a better life.

My father's final words to me were, "Remember where you come from, know where you are going, and always place God first in your life."