HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-04-28, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2011.Runner with local connection participates in Boston Marathon
Many of you have probably met
Rev. Dr. Peter Kugba-Nyande.
Originally a Methodist minister, he
left his home country of Sierra
Leone for Canada in 2000 due to
over a decade of (1991-2002) brutal
and devastating war. He has served
the United Church of Canada since
2002 and moved into this
community in July 2009.
Located on the west coast of
Africa, Sierra Leone is boarded by
Guinea to the north and east, Liberia
to the south and Atlantic Ocean the
west. Sierra Leone has a tropical
climate with a rainy season May
through October, the balance of the
year representing the dry. The
beginning and end of the rainy
season is marked by strong thunder-
storms not unlike those of the hot
summer period we experience here
in Canada. Sierra Leone has an
average year round temperature of
80°F. The high humidity rate is
somewhat relieved November
through February by the famous
Harmattan, a gentle wind from the
Sahara desert affording its coolest
periods. The population of Sierra
Leone now exceeds six million,
about half Ontario’s population.
Freetown, the country’s capital is
also the commercial and educational
centre.
Sierra Leone, one of the poorest
countries in the world, experienced
an 11-year civil war until 2002, and
has been in the process of rebuilding
the nation, including the education
sector. Sierra Leone’s net enrolment
ratio in primary education dropped
to 41 per cent after the war
(UNICEF, 2005). This is largely
related to widespread poverty; about
70 per cent of the population lives in
poverty with more than two-thirds of
the people categorized as being in
extreme poverty (the Government of
Sierra Leone, 2005). The govern-
ment, with about half of the national
budget donor funded, has made a
strong commitment to achieving
compulsory basic education, along
with the international goal of
Education for All (EFA). This is
not only because having an
education is one of the basic human
rights, but also because education
can be one potential way to tackle
poverty. However, behind the rapid
progress in terms of access to
primary education, there are still
more than 30 per cent of
children who are not in school and
primary completion rates are below
60 per cent nationally (MEST,
2007).
A former Liberian president
Charles Taylor awaits trial in The
Hague for his role in a brutal war in
neighbouring Sierra Leone during
the 1990s. He is accused of
supporting rebels who carried out
widespread atrocities. Since the end
of the war the government is trying
hard to regain public confidence to
eradicate poverty, provide jobs,
secure food sustainability, and
improve education. There is still a
high rate of unemployment
particularly among youths and ex-
combatants.
In a modest way, Rev. Peter is
making an effort to raise funds
rebuild the Methodist Schools and
provide safe drinking water in his
community. With the help of Simcoe
County he built a school and a well
at his home town Bunumbu and now
plans to build an extension that will
accommodate 75-100 students. It is
estimated that the new building will
cost $16,000 less $4,000 community
input. With your help Peter can
achieve his dream.
While Kugba-Nyande is still
in the planning stages for this
foundation, there is not yet an
avenue for donations, but
information will be forthcoming as
the foundation develops.
Happy Easter to everyone.
Families gathered together to
celebrate Easter near and far this
past weekend. Our clan travelled to
Mitchell to gather with my family. It
was also clean-up-the-yard day
when there were plenty of family
around to help. We had a great day
together and the work was done in
record time.
Barry and Karen Hoegy
welcomed their daughter Sherry and
husband Eric from Morristown,
Tennessee. They also brought their
best friend, Dawson, the dog. He
loves coming to visit Canada and
seems to know when packing starts,
a trip is coming. They enjoyed
Easter with the rest of the Hoegy
family on Sunday.
Ross and Anne Hemmingway
have returned from a trip to
Lethbridge, Alberta. They were
visiting their daughter Darlene and
husband Josh and granddaughter,
Leah. It is always great to visit and
Anne looks forward to returning
later this summer when a new
grandchild is expected.
Jack and Maryanna Ryan’s new
house arrived last Wednesday andwas placed on the foundation. Theworkmen quickly went to work onother structural additions and itlooks like it is coming along nicely.
Congratulations to Neil and Ruth
Schade on celebrating their 10th
wedding anniversary. They celebrated
with dinner at the Fireside Café.
The Boston Marathon was held
last week with a local connection.
The granddaughter of Elizabeth
McKercher participated in the run.
Heather (Larson) Rogers of
Burlington, is the daughter of Anne
(McKercher) and Ron Larson of
Sarnia. Anne and Ron and Heather’s
husband Blair were in Boston to
cheer her on. They were so busy
cheering for all the runners, they
missed Heather running by. Heather
completed the 45.1 kilometre run in
under four hours, the fastest time she
has ever run. Congratulations to
Heather on her triumphant day.
Our get-well wishes go out to
George Cousins who underwent
surgery last week. He is home and
doing well.
Get-well wishes go to Doreen
Hackwell who is now a patient in
Seaforth Hospital following knee
surgery in London Hospital two
weeks ago.
Our thoughts and get-well wishes
go to Harold and Pearl McCallum’s
son-in-law, Wayne Hartman, who is
a patient in Goderich Hospital.
Our condolences to the family of
Shirley Leek who passed away last
week. Our sympathies to her family
Dorine, Dianne and Tom and their
families. Shirley will be missed byher many friends at the AlexanderStreet apartments.There was a large congregation atthe service at Duff’s United Church
on Easter Sunday. Those attending
were greeted by Chad, Crystal and
Kaleigh McCallum. Special music
was provided by Glenda Morrison,
Margery Huether and Phyllis
Mitchell. The sanctuary was
decorated with many beautiful
flowers for the celebration of Easter.
Birthday greetings for Graeme
Craig, Amanda Morrison and
Margery Huether were sang. The
Lenten Liturgy was read by Patti
Banks and the Lenten candles lit by
Teresa Baan. Jim McDonald read
the scriptures for the service. The
ladies of the choir, Patty Banks,
Marie McGavin, Pearl McCallum,
Marion Godkin and Phyllis Mitchell
sang a lovely Easter song, “Hosanna
for Evermore”.
Announcements included the
UCW meeting is May 4 with Joelle
Glanville as the guest speaker and
showers May 4 for Katie Emmrich
and May 13 for Sarah McDonald. A
lasagna dinner is being hosted by
Bluevale United Church Sunday
school, Saturday, April 30 with
proceeds to Rev. Peter’s school
project in Sierra Leone. A memorial
gathering from 2 - 4 p.m. is being
held for Dena (Wey) Kale at the
Seaforth Legion on Saturday, April
30. Dena passed away earlier this
month and her parents are Campbell
and Edith Wey.
Celebrating birthdays this past
week include Dennis Rijkhoff,Danielle Williamson, Stan McClure,Gail Searle, Sheldon Courtney,Darrell McClure, RobertMcLachlan, Amanda Morrison, Jeff
McKee, Avery Boven, Derick
Bachert, Isobel Burke, Hayden
Love, Spencer Hackwell, Margery
Huether, Cody Terpstra, Tanner
Steffler, Michael Axtmann, Amy
Alcock, Brad Finlayson, Graeme
Craig, Paul Humphries, Jenna
Fraser, Kelly Marks, and Jenna
Regele. Happy birthday to all.
The April meeting of the Melville
Guild and Women’s Missionary
Society was held at the home of
Jeanne Kirkby on April 19 with 11
members present. Dona Knight
opened the meeting with the call to
worship and the WMS purpose was
repeated in unison. The hymn, “In
the bulb there is a flower” was sung
and a prayer “A Litany for Easter”
was read in unison.
The topic, “Easter Morning After
the Storm” was read by Jeanne
Kirkby, followed by prayer. The
hymn, “All Things Bright and
Beautiful” was sung and Jeanne
Kirkby read “An Easter Story”.
Dona Knight led in prayer and the
Mizpah Benediction was repeated
by all to close this part of the
meeting.
President Cathrine Campbell
presided over the business. The
minutes of the March meeting were
read. It was moved by Elaine
Armstrong, seconded by Jeanne
Kirkby to adopt the minutes as read.
The correspondence included an
invitation to the Maitland
Presbyterial WMS Rally to be held
at Camp Kintail on Monday, May 9.
Treasurer Jeanne Kirkby gave the
treasurer’s report and a summary of
the springtime supper which showed
a profit of $3,150.46. Leona
Armstrong gave the WMS
treasurer’s report and the roll call
was answered with everyone telling
their plans for Easter.
It was moved by Dona Knight,
seconded by Jean Bewley, to
purchase six folding tables. It was
moved by Mary Douma, seconded
by Elaine Armstrong, to give the
Board of Managers $3,000. Leona
Armstrong gave a report on
Synodical that was held in Goderich.
The Scott Woods concert “All
Aboard” to be held in Melville
Presbyterian Church on Sunday,
May 1 was discussed.
It was decided not to have a May
meeting. Elaine Armstrong and
Margaret Siertsema will be in charge
of the devotions for the June
meeting.
Alice Marks moved to adjourn the
meeting and Cathrine Campbell
closed the meeting with prayer.
Lunch was served by Jeanne Kirkby
and Dona Knight.
Kugba-Nyande raising funds
Melville Guild meets
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