Posted on 05/01/2008 5:53:34 PM PDT by LibreOuMort
Things are slow. Students are doing finals this week and last. I'll be busy correcting about 24 test papers next week. I may be moving from my house. The property manager is demanding we pay for water, electricity, salary for "gardener", and night security. He and I have had several nose-to-nose discussions. He was down on his knees begging me to leave but now my lease is up. I'd rather stay there but it's up to John. He thinks he can get a better place for less. The Nigerian couple across from me are moving, the American man across the other side of me is moving and I'm not sure about the Zimbabwean lady and her two daughters next to me. She doesn't want to move but the P.M is such a liar that you cannot depend on a thing he says. He only loves you when you invest your own money in his places. I won't do it. John has malaria but is up today. He has much to do. I wonder who would do it if he died? There are food riots in nearly every country here in Africa from what I read and hear. The lady from Zimbabwe flew to see her folks and took suitcases of food for the. The stores are bare. They go to S. Africa to buy food but it's getting bad there too. The crime rate in S.A. is about as bad as it can get. Prices are going up, up, up exponentially but I guess they are there as well, right? Our riots are over oil skimming and food but for right now it's limited to the South-South. That's the designation of the area around Port Harcourt, Niger Delta, etc. People from outside the region are forbidden to go there because of killings and kidnappings. Some "off-brand" tree hugger types tried to get around it and are in jail, for how long is uncertain. Let them stay. They are some arrogant Americans and think that because they are, they can do as they please. Sometimes I'm ashamed of Americans here. Enough of the good news! Our bank's computer system is down and is going is in its third week. I personally believe that some has embezzled millions if not billions of Naira and don't know what to do. Remember, one Naira is worth about .83 cents (117.5 Naira to the $ last I checked) so a billion is about $8.3 million. Not exactly chump change, but that's just my thought on it. We have been having gas lines for the last month or so. It is easing some now. Some lines were over a mile long. The 'machines jump to the head of the line as do people carrying jerry cans so that really slows things down. I've only seen one fight and that was in Abuja. I saw a strange sight the other day. Pepsi had a brand spanking new truck. All else her is brand new off the boat from The USA, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Holland, etc. This is where they dump their used cars. Our Mercedes had over 150, 000 kilometers on it when we bought it brand new off the boat. Belgium also dumps their used tyres here and they are sold to Nigerians. They are called, aptly enough, Belgian tyres (their spelling, not mine). Things are spelled in the British way, i.e., programme, etc. I'll keep you posted on my possible move. Love to all, Dad
Need to teach you some basic HTML. Sorry...
Nigerian generals have stolen more billions (about $250 billion) than all the rest of the world has given in aid to Africa.
Your friend's dad?
This pains me to read.
All, the author has been a personal friend for decades but left the U.S. some time after retirement for missionary work in Nigeria -- and since his wife's passing a year and a half ago he has no plans to ever return to North America. We do not expect to see him again in this life.
You only have my word on this, but this is straight ground-level news from a trusted source.
“you see this? this is sand!” rofl. it could go, “you see this? this is a dictator.”
Friend is our parents' age.. but a longtime friend.
Christian missionaries often go to places that are less than "nice." Where other first-world folks don't even want to go. Think of Mother Teresa. Where would she be if she'd chosen Hollywood instead of Kolkata?
ROFL!! Now THAT was funny............
In this case, my FRiend, content trumps format.
Prayers up for the Nigerians; and all who are suffering on the Continent.
My grandfather lived and missioned in the Jungles of Mexico for the Navigators from about 1960 until his death in the late 90’s.
Good for him! Mine lived (post-retirement) in the central highlands of Mexico working in various ways such as building a reservoir for the town, a church (under the altar of which he is now interred), a Mayan researcher, and leader of an ex-pat American community. Accomplishments I'd be hard put to match.
Nice place to live eh? I have a buddy from Nigeria that I met on-line. He was part of the Royal family and is now seeking asylum. I’m trying to help him get his family fortune out of state hands right now.
“If all goes well I will receive quite a large stipend for ten years when all is said and done. ;)”
Hey cousin. Could you help out a long lost relative? 100 K would do.
Sure, all you need to do is put about $5,000 in an account that I set up with the Prince to help “season” it and then you will get your share of the loot.
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