13th Annual International Day of MERCY
Dear Kip and Elena and the Fellowship of Mountain Movers –
Greetings from Lagos, Nigeria, the location of the 2022 African MIssions Conference, Compelled by the Spirit!!
Denise and I were so grateful to be part of this momentous Missions Conference, which included the sending out of the Kampala (Uganda) Mission Team. We had the opportunity rekindle old relationships and develop new ones in the Africanus World Sector.
Our dear friends, Andrew and Patrique Smellie, kicked off the opening session by welcoming all the attendees, with representatives from over 10 different nations.
We were especially excited about The International Day of MERCY, which was held on the Saturday of the Conference at MERCY’s signature project in the Africanus World Sector, The Real MERCY School.
The Real MERCY School is located in Okobaba, an extremely poor community located on the banks of the Atlantic Ocean.
Biodun and Yewande Abodunrin, Headmaster and Headmistress and founders of The Real MERCY School, reside in this area and are committed to transforming the lives of the children and parents of this community through education. Biodun is currently studying to get his PhD in education.
Tony and Jacinta Adamu, MERCY Coordinators for Lagos, Nigeria, did an amazing job organizing the MERCY event, including the videos, the MERCY Walk, the MERCY Award, and the event itself!
Over 300 people attended the event, including 28 elderly women from the community, all dressed in their colorful Nigerian attire. Each of them received a food basket from MERCYWORLDWIDE.
After a tour of The Real MERCY School, the 150 MERCY Ambassadors went on “The MERCY Walk” through the neighborhood surrounding the school, before arriving at the tented area where we assembled.
As we walked and sang through the neighborhood, the children were so eager to take photos with us.
The 100 school children from the school who attended the MERCY event watched their classmates on the school’s drama team perform a skit that highlighted the challenges they face growing up in what they call a “ghetto” area: abuse, homelessness, lack of food and nutrition, no money to pay school fees, and a lack of medical attention. They expressed their appreciation for MERCY’s help in overcoming these obstacles and battling the exploitation that is so prevalent in this poor community.
One of the highlights was awardIng Ms. Koiki, the Principal of the prestigious Greensprings School, with the MERCY Compassion Award for her support of the school and the children. (L-R: the Bordieris, Ms. Koiki, the Smellies, and the Adamus)
In addition to providing valuable advice and guidance as we build the school, Ms. Koiki has offered Aliya, one of the graduates of The Real MERCY School, a full scholarship (US$70,000) to continue her education at one of Greensprings four campus boarding schools.
This MERCY Compassion Award (hands holding up the world) is given to a MERCY partner who has been instrumental in helping MERCYWORLDWIDE develop MERCY projects that impact their community. The award is made from wood indigenous to the area and hand sculptured in Okobaba.
We gathered together as one to discuss the day’s event and solidify plans to improve and build on the foundation that has been set at The Real MERCY School. [L-R: Andrew Smellie, Bordieris, Bolaji Akinfenwa (Lead Evangelist), Goodhope Addison (administrator), Biodun Abodunrin (Headmaster), Jacinta and Tony Adamu (MERCY Coordinators), Chinyere Akinfenwa (W’s Ministry Leader), and Yewande Abodumrin (Headmistress).]
CLOSE – An encouraging email …
In closing, I will share an email MERCY received from one of the residents who took notice of the “Green Lanterns” walking through his neighborhood:
Hi, good day, so I witnessed you guys arrival at the real mercy school today at okobaba and to be honest I really loved to be part of this movement, I had to search for the organization online hence me writing this. I’d really love to know the criteria for joining this movement or if there is anyone I can meet to know more.
Thanks, Jopera
MERCY: Compassion in Action
To God be all the glory … 💚 Nick and Denise
