The Farmer and the Refugee - a two year bait

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Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 9:51 am

Highlights of over two years in the life of David the farmer, and his inability to successfully send money to a refugee.

1. Getting to know each other

Philomena wrote:

Hello dearest i need a help, hope you will be of help to solve this problem for me, it’s all about my life at present. I am ripe to be settled down, do you wish for that as well, like I do?, and more, there’s other help if you cannot be with me as a life partner, just get back to me so that we can talk better, take care of yourself, and please be aware that I got Ur profile from the dating site, hoping to read from you , yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,
Thanks for writing after seeing my profile. Yes, I’m looking for a relationship too. Tell me more about yourself. Do you have a profile? What else would you like to know about me?
Love David

Philomena wrote:

HELLO DEAR,

DEAREST, THANKS FOR YOUR EARLIER MAIL TO ME AND I AM SORRY FOR THE DELAY IN WRITING TO YOU, ACTUALLY I DON’T KNOW HOW YOU WILL FEEL, If THIS IS TOO EARLY TO TELL YOU, BUT JUST BECAUSE OF THE CONDITIONS OF WHERE I AM, IN ACCRA GHANA, AS A RESULT OF THE CIVIL WAR THAT WAS FOUGHT IN MY COUNTRY,FOR THAT REASON I AM FACING SO MANY DIFFICULTY’S IN LIFE AT MY AGE,SO DEAR I HAVE TO ASK YOU IF YOU WILL ASSIST ME.

HERE IS MORE ABOUT ME,LIKE I SAID BEFORE I AM PHILOMENA FROM LIBERIA 23 YRS OLD. WITH TEARS AND SORROW , I EXPLAIN MYSELF IN A HUMBLE MANNER, AFTER THE DEATH OF MY FATHER MR WILLIAMS NELSON, WHO WAS INTO GOLD AND DIAMOND MINING WITH SOME WHITE BUSINESS MEN FROM BRITAIN WHILE HE WAS ALIVE, HE WAS GIVEN A LICENSE TO MINE GOLD AND DIAMOND IN LIBERIA BY THE PRESIDENT IN MY COUNTRY. BUT BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL CRISIS IN MY COUNTRY WHICH TAKE A LOT OF SOULS AND TENDER MANY HOMELESS, WE NOW DECIDED TO RUN FROM MY COUNTRY WITH MY MOTHER, BROTHER ZICO, AND I, ALL OF A SUDDEN MY BROTHER WAS KILLED BY REBELS AND MY MOTHER LATER DIED DURING HER LITTLE Illness. BEFORE HER DEATH, I BELIEVE IT’S COS OF PAINS THAT SHE HAS LOST THE ONLY SON AND MY DAD ALSO.

AFTER THE DEATH OF MY MOTHER, UNCLE OPA, MY FATHERS BROTHER, STARTED TO PERSECUTE ME OVER MY FATHERS PROPERTIES WHICH HE LATER SNATCHED FROM ME UNDER THREATS,

SO DEAR BY THE HELP OF A REVEREND FATHER, I CAME TO ACCRA GHANA AS A REFUGEE, IN FACT, THE MORE I EXPLAIN MY SELF AND MY SITUATION, I SHED TEARS WHEN REMEMBERING THE PAST, I’M THE ONLY ONE REMAINING IN OUR FAMILY NOW. TO BE SINCERE, I’M IN A CRITICAL SITUATION, STAYING IN THE REFUGEE’S HOSTEL HERE, ITS LIKE BEING IN PRISON TO ME, BUT I CAN’T MISLIVE MY LIFE’ BECAUSE OF THIS CONDITION,OVER MY DEAD BODY, BECAUSE OF THE WAY I WAS BROUGHT UP BY MY LATE PARENTS. I AM PUTTING ALL MY HEART TO YOU, I HOPE THAT GOD WILL USE YOU TO SAVE MY SOUL.

PLEASE DEAR, LISTEN TO THIS,I HAVE MY LATE FATHER’S STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT AND THE CERTIFICATE OF THE VERY DEPOSIT HERE WITH ME, WHICH WILL I SEND TO YOU LATER, WHEN HE WAS ALIVE HE DEPOSITED SOME AMOUNT OF MONEY IN A LEADING BANK, IN WHICH HE USED MY NAME AS THE NEXT OF KIN,THE AMOUNT IN QUESTION IS ($6.5 MILLION US DOLLARS ) AND NOW I WILL LIKE YOU TO HELP ME IN TRANSFERRING OF THIS MONEY, AND FROM THERE, ONCE THE MONEY HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED TO YOUR ACCOUNT, YOU CAN SEND SOME MONEY FOR ME TO GET MY TRAVELLING DOCUMENTS AND AIR TICKET,TO COME OVER THERE AND MEET YOU. DEAR I KEPT THIS SECRET FROM PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU KNOW IT’S A MONEY ISSUE, AS SOON AS PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT IT, ALL EYES WILL BE ON IT,

IN THE LIGHT OF THE ABOVE I WILL LIKE YOU TO KEEP IT TO YOURSELF ,FOR I AM AFRAID FOR MY LIFE AND LOSING THE MONEY, IF PEOPLE GET TO KNOW ABOUT IT, REMEMBER I GIVE THIS INFORMATION TO YOU WITH FAITH AND TRUST THAT YOU WILL BE OF HELP TO ME WITH THE HELP OF GOD, I LIKE HONEST AND UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE,TRUTHFUL AND A MAN OF VISION,

MEANWHILE I WILL LIKE TO HEAR YOUR VOICE ON THE PHONE, THOUGH I DON’T HAVE CELL PHONE OF MY OWN, BUT YOU CAN CALL ME WITH THE REV NUMBER (00 233272391404) . JUST TELL HIM YOU WANT TO SPEAK WITH ME AND HE WILL SENT FOR ME AT THE HOSTEL, LIKE I SAID I HAVE A LOT TO TELL YOU IN MY NEXT MAIL OK. HAVE A NICE DAY AND PLS THINK OF ME, NOTE THAT I CONTACTED YOU AFTER MUCH PRAYERS AND FASTING.

I WILL BE WAITING TO HEAR FROM U!!,

PHILOMENA

David wrote:

Hello Philomena
I can see why you want to tell me all about yourself and that you are in a refugee camp, and your life has obviously turned awful. Can we talk about all this a bit later though? I’m really looking for a relationship, someone to share my life on my little farm. I was a bit upset that you didn’t really answer my letter or ask me about myself.
Love David

Philomena wrote:

Dear i am so sorry for having offended you that way, so now can you tell me about yourself and family? life style, what you nomally do on your free time, i mean your likes and dislikes,
hope to read you soonest.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,
Thanks for writing again!

About me: I have a small farm which I inherited from my dad. My mum left us when I was small and lives in Canada now, and we don’t have contact. Most of my time is spent working on the farm, I grow organic vegetables and I also keep chickens and goats. As well as that, I’ve got 4 dogs, 7 cats, and a pony, who is mostly a pet, but also pulls a small cart.

I’m a Christian and attend the Anglican church and also belong to a home group for study and prayer.

I’ve never been married, but I did live with a woman for about 8 years, no children.

I hope to meet someone who would enjoy farming and the outdoor life, a Christian of course, and who wants a family.

Now what about you? What was your life like before the civil war? What do you hope for in the future?

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Dearest, it has being a long story, in fact if i tell you that i am Happy living today, please note it is because i was born in a happy family where we were two, my big bros Zico and I, mum and dad. that is a family of 4 living very happy because my father is not too rich, but he had sawmill industries where we all pass our free time in the factory.

I had grown before my dad had the opportunity to work with government, gradually he become a politician, and from there he made more money i believe, so our life changed more, at first my mum didn’t like him being a politician, but after a time i believe she adapted with dad.

then at the start of the war, when people did not yet know it would happen to be total war, my dad died the same day my bros didn’t come back, we hope he will come home one day, and there are stories, people say they witnessed his death face to face, my mum could not believe it, in fact i don’t like telling this story. Dave.

after 2years my mum also left me too. since then i have been living in sorrow and suffering.

i will love to bear my own children, and will love to see the same farm and industries just as it was in my fathers time with my parents in my own home. i love pets and by your explanation i can believe you love pets too.

but i will like to ask you some thing, if you are willing to have me as a wife what are you going to do with the woman you live with???

and again, if you want to have me as a wife, i want to ask you, can you come so that we can see each other face to face?? again i have told you i want you to help me transfer my fathers money in the bank, but youre with a woman.

if you wish to help in any way, i want you either to visit me here or you help me to come over to Canada, then we can proceed with whatever thing we are to do, then we plan together. or do you what me to trust u with all??

hoping to read you soon.
yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Dear Philomena,

Oh, I don’t live with a woman anymore! I lived with her for about 8 years, but the relationship ended 5 years ago, back in 2003. She met somebody else who she wanted more, and left me for him. Since 2003 I’ve been living on my own. Well, apart from the animals!

I think it is a bit early for you and I to make plans for the future. I’m hoping to find someone who I can discuss all sorts of things with, who will want to share in my church life, and who shares my ideas and ideals about living lightly upon the land, consuming no more resources than we need.

I’m not living in Canada myself, I’ve never actually been to Canada. That’s just where my mother lives, but I never see her. We don’t really know each other at all.

Has your mother died too? I wasn’t quite understanding.

Are you a Christian? If so, what sort of church (Anglican? Catholic? Something else?) do you go to?

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Dear thanks for your letter, i am pleased reading your mail, i must say i am very happy, now i understand. i thought you said she is with you, and sorry for misunderstanding.

i read from you again dear, and about the money my father left in the bank, and about us planing life together, Dave i do know that it is Early, but the issue is my life and condition as of present, please i want you to know it is this atmosphere that is pushing me round to do everything fast, usually before i should trust anything to you, normally i have to study u and think more, learn u the more, but conditions are not allowing me to concentrate. ok now i want this relationship to be for some time, but before then i want to ask you something. if you will trust me, i will give you some document of my fathers deposit and lets go into agreement with it. if u like i will disclose the bank to you, and if you want some documents to prove this, I will sent them to you since you will promise not to betray me.

and it will be on agreement. so that you will do me a help, and the help will go this way, it is to help me to travel out to where you are. or to help me get a house outside the camp so that I can live a normal life, then we will go into any discussion you wish like living with me.

or if you can pay me a visit here in budubera camp i will be most happy, because it will help you to understand the life i am talking about here. I am a Christian, i attend a Pentecostal church, my church name is Pure Fire.

my Mum is late too, she died 2006 in may. after a long time illness.

but remember that i said above all if you will help me to travel out to meet with you face to face, that also will be another wonderful part of you, so that before the transfer, like i said, we will be seeing each other face to face. please i will like to read yours response very urgent, ok take good care of your self and please think about my condition here, hoping to hear from you again,

Philomena

Philomena wrote:

EXCUSE ME PLEASE DAVE, WHY DON’T U KNOW YOUR MUM ???AND WHY DON’T YOU THINK OF MEETING HER??

AND WHERE RE U AS OF NOW??

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Thank you for your letter. My mother left my father when I was 2 years old, she left him for another man, and didn’t want anything more to do with either him or me. My dad never directly heard from her again, and she never enquired after me. I know she went to Canada, because my dad told me, but I don’t know any more than that, I don’t know where she lives or even what she is called now, because I expect she remarried and now has her current husband’s name. I’m guessing she’s still alive because she’d only be in her 70s now.

I live in England, of course, like my profile said. This is my dad’s old house, he brought me up of course, and I carried on living here after I was adult, and then inherited when he died. He’d let things slip a bit, so I’ve had quite a lot of work to do, but things are coming together now, and, of course, ever expanding.

I expect you used to be accustomed to quite a life of ease with such a rich father! Are you hoping for a man who be able to keep you in that sort of style again? I live a very simple life myself, voluntary simplicity. I don’t have a car or a TV set or any more gadgetry and luxury items than I need. I don’t even have a telephone. I do have this little computer, of course, because it is invaluable for staying abreast of things like the latest rules on livestock movement, current prices of goods, tax returns, and, of course, the weather. I totally believe in making do and mending, re-use, recycling, consuming less.

What is your father’s document that you would like me to see?

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Dave hope you are doing well, am ok here, hoping on God. well i should blame u for not asking after Ur mum since u know she is alive, but the case there is that u don’t know any information to start asking of her. so let that be first, though i believe that it is the WILL of God that u meet her again one day in life, it must surely be.

About my life and condition Dave, i will never pray for a disappointment that will Look smellier to the one i am facing now, to never see me or my children to be, but i must tell u that one will not be on fire and be relaxing there, its quite impossible. my condition is not bearable, this so called camp is not the same as it was before, at first we received some money from UN every month, but for 6 to 7 months now there is nothing like that.

so I believe that anything i do now has to survive, if i lose i will not blame myself much because one uses what she has to solve her problems. i said i will send to you the Deposit certificate of the money i told you my father has in a bank, that is if you will help me out of here, then i will use it as a collateral for the financial help you are to give, that will help me with my travelling document and air ticket.

but that is not the case now because from what you are saying, your suggestion is for me to remain here and be looking unto God, because you live a simple life, but i must tell you this Dave, lets assume you are not having your Daily bread, will you realise and say you want to live a life without stress? my dear, honestly if you die out of that, it is the same as if you killed yourself, because its all suicide in the sight of God. take care of yourself while i look unto God.

please note that my fathers Documents are being mentioned if only you promise to save my soul in those two ways, either promise you will be there, not to betray me, then i give you the Documents and the bank info for you to talk with them, from there after the money has been transferred to your account, then you come over here to take me along, or send to me the money that will be able to prepare my traveling papers to come over, or if you can afford my traveling paper, then i will give you the Documents with the agreement that you help me out, that is why i made mention of my fathers documents, so whichever ways you like ok, let me know.

bye Philomena.

David wrote:

Dear Philomena,

I’m not totally sure what you were saying in your letter. Maybe the language barrier is too big for us to cross? I’ll try and say it again simply:

I am a farmer. I choose not to have luxury items. I like to eat good fresh food. I am well fed. I am quite fat!

I like to make things with my hands. I like to raise animals. I live in a big house and I have lots of land. I make money by selling vegetables and milk and eggs and crafts. It is a very happy life. I do not need a TV to make me happy. I could go out and buy one if I wanted one, but I don’t want one.

I think we need to know each other better before we talk of meeting. Let’s see if we can understand each other first.

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Hello dearest, i am very sorry for the late response, I was not feeling at all fine but i think i am now, so how was your days this three days, hope you don’t miss my mail, or do you?

Dave I understand all you said, you don’t have TV not because u don’t have the money to buy it but .......... I don’t think that has anything to do with me because for past years I have never had TV, i only can see TV or watch it while passing by where it is, or some times at the video hall - which also is not my main focus, because all i need is freedom first. Though if i will help you to explain it better, you are always a busy man and don’t have time for TV.

But when i come there you will buy some!!!!!!!! even if its the smallest one in the market dear, at least it helps in hearing news, or don’t you think so?

again you said I am a farmer with ............... yes i said something about it before that once. My parent was having mills just like a Farmer and i do enjoy those aspects of living, look Dave the only thing that will make me uncomfortable with a man is POLITICS, if the man is a politician i really will not because ...............

so can you send to me your Current pictures??

hoping to read from you soonest.
yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Dear Philomena,

Thank you for your letter, of course I missed hearing from you! I hope you are feeling better now. What was wrong?

Oh no, I don’t want a TV! There’s no need to have one! I read the News on the internet! I don’t like TV programmes or movies! I like reading and making things and working outdoors.

I think some politics are good politics. Like the politics of FREEDOM. Governments, however, can be very wrong the world over.

Tell me what you hope for in the future. Where are you hoping to live? What are you hoping to do?

Why can you not access your inheritance yourself right now?

I’m sending you a photo of myself. May I see one of you also?

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Dearest I am happy reading from you this early because its as if i dreamed but really can’t tell the dream at all well, i am a bit surprised you missed my mails and i want to ask does it mean I have beginning to cover maybe a part in your life?? Well I have malaria and its getting better now, about television - sometimes the programs are not good for anyone that is single, or maybe up growing children because the world is gotten too corrupt now, as in sometimes the musicians almost dance naked, and the movie industries most of time parts are naked.so in that part i don’t like TV, but its good sometimes, well forget about that first, its not the problem i am facing now,

and of politics that rendered me homeless, families and so on i don’t think there is any thing in life that will make me like politics and i don’t ever believe there is freedom in politics, dear don’t you understand? It the profession that is known as dirty game, ohhh come on, there is no way i will believe there is freedom in polities, so lets leave politics.

About where i will like to live, first i said i will not live anywhere around Africa, but up til now most of my friends that arrived here the same time as me have all got their resettlement, but i have not, so that makes me to think if here is the WILL of God, let it be, but Anywhere outside Africa will be my ultimate dream.

as for me, i will love to do any creative work in that I will not be under anyone, such as Fashion designing, or if before then i get my money from the bank, i will like to go into Stock and other investments,like farming as you Operate on.

Well I cannot access my Inheritance simply because i am a refugee and theres some law that forbids refugees from Claims, that is according to the bank authorities, because most of the laws that is against others are not against refugees because they can do things out of frustrations, so the bank requests that I get married or a partner that will assist me for the claim. Or if i am free from the CARE of UN, that is if I get of of the camp, get my own House in town, have my national passport, and residency of the country where i am, which is about 3 to 4 thousand, then I will be eligible to request for my claim , OK where will i get money to do all this things? and if i go into town now i will be responsible for my upkeep in full, so my dear, its a very difficult tax to me.

my dear, don’t remind me of my life,i will try to get you my photo ready tomorrow ok.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

It doesn’t sound good about how few rights you have as a refugee. What is the best thing for you to do? There has got to be some way forward, some way you can find freedom. Are you in any danger, though, from your Uncle Opa if you leave the camp? I remember you once mentioned him as persecuting you.

I will look forward to seeing your photograph.

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Dearest hope you are doing well today, thank you for your mail, and if i may say, I do really desire to go out of Africa as fast as possible, but as you can see I have no power of my own, just as uncle Opa is still there, he can do anything to make sure nobody ever talks about what he is doing, nor thinks of recovering anything from him, so in terms of your questions What is the best thing for me to do? i am really really confused, my wish is to leave Africa as a whole.to somewhere i can find freedom.

Another question says, Are you in any danger, though, from your Uncle Opa if you leave the camp? I remember you once mentioned him as persecuting you.

Oh no, well I believe anything that will happen will happen, but if i leave the Camp to be outside the camp, I will be more free to plan my way, but the point is that the force to do that is finance, which i don’t have now, I send you my photos, and please do think of me in any way you can assist me, God will always be your comforter to that, hope to hear from you again.

yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

How was Christmas in the Camp?

I had an elderly gentleman, a widower, come to my house for Christmas dinner. He seemed to have quite a nice time, telling me lots of stories about when he was younger. Then yesterday I went to tea with a couple from church, which was pleasant.

Today everywhere is white with ice. It looks very pretty, all the ground is white, and the fences are white, and the roof is white, but it is very cold too! The chickens did not want to get up and go outside at all!

I’m going to spend the day indoors. I’m making some small bookcases from fallen branches from trees. I don’t cut the branches from trees, instead after there has been strong winds, I go out with the pony and cart and collect the branches that have fallen in the wind, and bring them home and dry them out, and then use them to make things. Later I sell them at craft sales.

Thank you for your photographs. Were they taken in the hostel? It looks very comfortable.

How do people usually make their way out of refugee camps? Do they have to find work first? Are there organisations that help? Please excuse my ignorance, I don’t know how these things work, its different here, because if someone is granted refugee status, they can then get a small welfare benefit from the government, allowing them to feed and house themselves until they find work.

I hope you are having a peaceful day.

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Hello Dave, how are you today, hope cool, feeling better with the Snow, i will need some education more about it, how it looks like, how people feel with it , an so on.

dearest i am happy you appreciate the pictures i sent you. dear the pictures you see is taken here, but not right inside the camp, they were taken in a Hotel in Dakar, that was when we went for a resettlement interview in Dakar. it normally looks good because while on interview we pass through medical treatments, feed well and so on, infact we were taken good care of then, but now things are not the same again, you can imagine, the United Nation normally gives us 50$ every month but for five good months now our payment has not yet been released. so with all this the camp gets boring day by day.

about the camp and how we leave, actually the camp is being taken care of by the UNHCR and it works this way, when you have been taken into the camp you will be in the house free, and the commission will provide food once a day and Sunday twice, then it will be going barge by barge, some goes to America, some to Canada and some To Australia, i think these three countries are the people that open there lands for refugees, there are other countries too!! but those three are the main countries that grants refugees welcome, and when you have been taking to the country, then after Six months, they will give you a working permit to work free in the country, but it depends on your application, you know when my mom was alive, we never thought of being resettled, it was not until she died that i went to add my name to be resettled, and since then i have not been lucky to go out. my dear i am tired of this very life and condition, any well i will stop here

please take care bye.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Snow makes everything look very pretty, all covered in white, and it makes all sounds much quieter, so everywhere seems very still and peaceful. Dogs and children love to play in it, though it is cold and wet and so makes them cold and wet too in a short time.

It makes travelling very difficult though, cars and bikes slide on top of the snow, or get stuck in it. Trains can’t travel, and aeroplanes can’t take off. People have to walk everywhere instead, and that means that many cannot get to work, as it is too far away, or cannot get to the shops to buy food to eat. Some places lose electricity, and then they can’t heat their houses to keep warm, or make hot meals and drinks. So although it is pretty and fun for the young, it makes life difficult too.

We get more ice than snow, though. The ground and everywhere just freezes at night, and that is actually colder than snow. It is slippery, so old people and disabled people don’t want to go out and walk on it, and when you go outside, your fingers and toes turn very pale, because it is too cold for the blood to flow properly inside your body. Sometimes the water pipes freeze too, and you can’t get any water out of the tap. Nobody likes it when it freezes!

We have to wear lots and lots of clothes in winter, and hats and scarfs and waterproof boots, and eat lots of hot food.

Surely it would be a big shock to you to go and resettle in another country far away? With all the cold weather! Are you not able to stay in Ghana?

What was life like before you were a refugee? How did you spend your time? What did you enjoy doing?

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Wow!!! dear that arts of snow is really a wonderful one. I hope to witness it in life by the grace of God, hope you are coping with the atmosphere there, Honey You see life was being a wonderful one before the war, and after the war while my mom is still alive there is a lot of hope for me, but intime she passes on and things become miserable, that was when I think of being in the camp at least to be feeding.

About life in Ghana, well its been a part of lecture to me that things are not always smooth, so to leave here I will still be uncomfortable because Ghana is still close, because its west Africa, thats why i want to leave here and go out far for good.

Dear, see you soon, i must say that your mails give me hope and make me feel like i am still living, take care of yourself and i hope you will be a vindicator to my soul.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

How did you used to spend your time before the war? What was your typical day like? Had you been expecting to marry soon?

How do you spend your days now? What is provided for you to do at the camp?

I spent most of yesterday making bird nestboxes for the Spring. That’s boxes made out of wood with a hole in the front for a bird to get in and out. People nail them to fences and trees and the birds use them to make nests in and lay their eggs in. The secret to a good nestbox is having the right sized hole for an entrance, and a good curved shape inside so that the nest/eggs can sit safely on it. I’ve been collecting appropriate logs and branches for this for some time. I’ll sell them at the markets and fayres in a couple of months time.

Dolores, a young woman from the village, called by with her father to see if I was interested in some scarves she’d knitted. I traded a bookshelf I’d made and two jars of pickles for a couple, they were very well done. We drank some coffee and talked about candlemaking, Dolores had recieved some supplies as a gift, and wanted to get into this, so I gave her a few tips. So a pleasant day.

There’s a midnight service at the church tonight, to give thanks for the year past and pray for the next, so I’ll be going to that. Only about 5 of us (plus the vicar, of course) ever turn up, but it always feels quite special, and the walk home in the icy darkness is lovely. Its raining at the moment, but I expect that will stop later.

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Dearest hope you are doing well,

Well before the war I loved reading and in my free time i watched TV depending on the programs, we normally spent must of our time in the saw mill, together with my bros Zico,. Here in the camp, most of my time is spent thinking how will i get out of this place,i do plait peoples hair,on my own, officially there is nothing here to do like the UN or camp authority providing any job, no there is nothing like that, we are here just for safety and waiting for resettlement.

wow you are really having a wonderful day, dear here also there is Church, but in the camp the church starts at 8pm and close about 10 to 11.

i am OK, hoping that you will send some dollars for my upkeeping after you sell your goods. ok dear have a wonderful day there, i love you!!

lovely yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I wish you all the best for 2009!

What subjects do you like to read?

It was freezing last night, and somewhat foggy, but a pleasant New Year to be out walking to and from church. I’ve just been looking at the photographs on the BBC news site of celebrations in the cities. People appear to be enjoying themselves, albeit in very large crowds (half a million people gathered to watch the displays in London), but encouraging such passive enjoyment and waiting six hours for a ten minute pyrotechnic show does not seem the way to build strong individuals.

I’m sure I could find a way to spread a little good fortune around! But what do you have to spend money on in the refugee camp? We don’t use dollars here, of course, only pounds and pence!

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Hi Dave, I pray the year 2009,is your year of all accomplishment.

hope you are doing well, I see its very interesting in your end and i thank God for that because hands are not equal. people live life the way they can afford it, I can remember there was a time in my family on the 24th a cow will be slaughtered for the feast and friends and relations all gathered to enjoy, but today things have all torn apart.

Dave you ask me what money will be used on in the refugee camp? that sounds again interesting because your question makes me understand that you don’t even imagine close to what life is all about here, but I think I have told you some time ago about the $50 that is normally given to us every month for our personal cares. and back then at least the authority fed us here once a Day, but now things are all spoilt. nobody even thinks of the poor masses any more, ok just think about this, yesterday being new year, the foreign observers that come from Europe to observe the run of election here in Ghana, they paid Budubra Camp a visit and many of them shed tears because they come at a time we are about to eat, and they view the food that was prepared for humans on the first day of the year while they were all celebrating in their houses, the observers weep but we are happy because even on the Xmas day there was nothing like that but we are living, my dear if you must know we are surviving only with individual helps. and that is why you see a lot of Girls flatting round , but as for me I will not give up because of hardship. my dear if you have any help to do me, just do from your own free will.

because here is not like "Indian refugee camp"or Canada or America, if it was then nobody would talk of resettlement now, but its not, here is simply hell.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

No, of course I don’t understand about Ghanian refugee camps, we don’t have anything like that here.

The only refugee camps in African and Middle Eastern countries I’ve seen are on News reports, and they show lots of temporary dwellings, and a food distrubution place and maybe a medical tent, but absolutely NO shops or markets, so that’s why I wondered if you had anywhere to spend money.

But I looked up your refugee camp on the internet and I see it is like a town there! One site said:

"But the Liberians, who live on the outskirts of Accra, dispel commonly-held myths that refugees are hooked on government and UN handouts. In their settlement, they run schools, clinics, build their own houses and have their own businesses."

I looked at lots of photographs too, sports areas, pool tables, beauty salons, markets, churches, mosques, and even a cinema.

I read that the problem though is where to go next. It seems that the only two options are back to Liberia or into Ghana, and neither is an attractive choice, and integration into Ghana difficult, with hostility and insecurity. What did you think of the action last February/March by those women and children?

It was good weather here yesterday, so I was outside all day, working. It froze again last night, but I think it might be OK again today. I’ve just come in from seeing to the animals. Will be going to church later.

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Hello darling, hope you are coping with the freezing ice, of course i know u will because it has been part of you, well about the camp here, i thank God you have seen it all, and now you know there is nothing heading on it, as you know here is poor, even my country is far away richer than here, so there is no need of building fences to cover the refugees because they are not even happy to be here, its just an open land that the Government has provided to the UN and they build temporary Houses where the offices will be, and then they will plan and resettle us to countries where one can at least find a living, as you know there are many crises and the UN is just a body, so to think about it, if i am in their shoes i will not blame for not providing for everybody, because its not so easy.

Here in the Camp when the government bring out the land people come with money, and they start up things, the indiginous and other neighboring countries as well will find the avenue for a trade. then some of the men will engage themselves in some bad activities while some of the woman Will be selling their body for money.my dear here is not worthy of living.i think that is all i have to say and the rest will be for GOD to Say.

in it all i need your help,

yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

People here do notice the cold weather, and don’t like it, but at the same time, we know it will happen every winter. There was some snow yesterday, and last night it froze again, so it is quite slippery out.

On the other side of the country, there are warnings that the tap water is freezing in the pipes. This makes the pipes swell up and crack and burst, and when the frozen water melts, it drips or pours out of the pipes, and causes flooding in people’s homes.

There are also reports that elderly people are slipping on the ice and falling over and breaking their bones. And a lot of people are stuck at airports because it is too icy for the planes to take off. So, all in all, winter is no fun for people. Not if they need to go anywhere. I’m alright, because I don’t need to travel anywhere at this time of year. The next time I need to travel is 14 February, when I’m taking seed potatoes to sell at the East Anglian Potato Day.

It must be very unsettling for you, not knowing where your future will be. I suppose it is a problem repeated the world over. It is all so sad.

It is a shame the desperate measures people will go to to try and survive, or get a bit more money, like prostitution, as you say. Mind you, there’s always prostitution, in every country, including richer ones, and ones with a welfare system of government benefits for poor people. It is quick money, I suppose, and there’s always a demand for it from some men!

Love David

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I haven’t heard from you for a few days, are you alright? I hope you are not unwell or anything.

I’m thinking about you, anyway.

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Hi dearest hope you are doing well, I am bit busy this day, not doing any thing but the opportunity to get an access to Computer is a bit hard because of the election in Ghana, and also the church which I normally use had some problem, But we are happy here yesterday and today because the election nearly put this country into devastation, but by the Grace of God Yesterday there was a peaceful swearing to the new Government.

earlier before then we were shivering because they want war, but then many of them don’t know how war looks like.

Again some time i wonder why some people are not proud of there ethnic countries, i wonder if they thought more that God created them there at first, lets assume that the problem in my country does not come up. i wonder what on earth will make me think of going into another man’s country, though the people that do that may have there own reason, but all the same people need to be sensible and not do it by hidden ways, any one who loses his or her life as a result of such risk, i will never weep for such a person, though whenever a human is being hurt it looks painful but for me, i will not shed tears for such person. there my time is up, take CARE of yourself.

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I think it is important to feel compassion for people, even when they do things like hide in lorries to try to enter another country, or get involved in prostitution out of desperation, or anything else. Who knows what made them do it? Who knows what I would do in those situations? Only God sees the heart, and only God can judge. We are just commanded to love everybody, to have tender hearts, and to weep with those that weep. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. God loves us despite all our failings, and we are called to be like Him.

Yesterday was a bit milder, so I did some ploughing of some land, which was hard work, and then spent the evening looking over some paperwork, we have forms and regulations for everything to do with farming! It is supposed to protect people, to make sure they are only sold good healthy food, but it can take up so much time, its a wonder there is any time left to produce the food to eat!

I’m glad I did the ploughing yesterday, though, because there has been a big frost in the night, and this morning everywhere is white outside, and very very cold. I let the goats out while I was cleaning their barn, and they messed around a bit on the freezing ground, but I’ve shut them inside again now, its really too cold for them out. I’ve put a good thick layer of straw down, so they’ll be able to keep warm in there. The chickens have no wish to go outside anyway! The dogs like it, though, and have been running everywhere. My pony has a big shaggy winter coat, so he’s alright, and as for the cats, goodness knows where they are hiding up to keep warm!

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Hello Darling Dave.

Today,am some how broken and that is why I do not communicate closely and sorry for that, its one of the conditions one passes through in life. dear I want to tell you about how much I love you and think about you: Because since I met you dear, you have been a success of joy to my soul , you give me some new stories about things that happen within the globe, my days and nights are always brighter if only I remembered you. but I come to be thinking of some things this day, but to the end of it all I will always say God Forbid. I have hope of all in life because I have you,’cause I know that you are there 4 me. Yes, Dear, you make me feel extraordinary. I feel myself flying and feel that the world is such a beautiful place each time I think of my love—Dave. Thank you so much for your love and your care which you give me every second of my life, and thank you so much for you all your did to make me happy, your prayers and your love for me.

I know that I can’t give you as much love and care that you have given me because I know I can’t be an angel like you. But I so much believe God that we must share A wonderful time together, HONEY DO YOU THINK THE SAME AS I DO? yes you are real, Angel. You are an angel of love and kindness. I really adore you and want to give you my heart feelings. I want to give you a special prayer: God bless you and may you live long. No one can take your place. And listen, I’m here for you every second of my life with lots of love and best wishes.

Once again thank you of this wonderful joy you have putting into me shortly.

and lest i forgot dear, its not that people that find them self in the situation we talk about sneaking into another mans country without good entry, it is not as if i will not sympathise with them if they get into trouble, but the issue is that i can’t imagine my self doing it at force, I tell you instead that if I will undergo such, I will commit suicide simple. dear lets forget about that for now,

Honey, this is another year and i want to ask you this what do you want me to believe of you this year ??? so that as well we can commit it all into prayer, thanks hoping to hear from you soonest.

Yours lovely forever
Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Thank you for your letter; please don’t have the idea though that I am some sort of wonderful human being, I’m only ordinary! And probably not your type at all, I’m a very hard working outdoor type, and I think that anyone who wanted to spend time with me would also have to love being outside in all weathers and getting involved in heavy jobs. And I expect you’d like a more comfortable life than that!

Also I am quite political, not in terms of government politics, but on a personal level, relating to socialism, anarchism, self-determination. Politics of liberty and autonomy. This, entwined with following the will of God through the Lord Jesus Christ, is the foundation of my life and the way I live.

Let me show you some photos of where I live! Probably not the sort of place most young women would enjoy! Especially not when the temperatures are freezing, or like today, when I’ve spent most of the day out in the pouring (cold) rain, repairing some fencing that were blown down by strong winds in the night.

I am glad to know you and I enjoy your letters, but I think we also need to be realistic, don’t you?

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Hi Dave you have quite a large land map, is that yours alone? Or the Governments? and how do you cope there Alone, You must be a wonderful man in your life arts, i believe?

So tell me how large is the Land map there?

And the road out there is quite broad so you won’t be having stress if you want to go town.

so how many acres is the land you have and how much tax do you pay to the Government for acquiring those land? Dave you know what you are so much like like my father, you know that before my father joins the Politics he lived in the sawmill week to week, he only come home Saturdays, spend the weekend, and went Monday or sometimes Tuesday.

And tell me what is wrong with the place that a young woman can not like. or is it when one wants to leave a jam packed area looking for Giuseppe here and there, well that may be to your own understanding anyway! but I have a little problem with what you said about Politics, so tell me how do you do your own Politics??????????????????????????

Philomena wrote:

Dearest

I am sad that you are no where to be found what have i done to deserve this long term silence?.
I am giving you all I have, -- love.
It is difficult being apart, you know that?.

I did not remember doing anything intentionally to hurt you, or do I.

please tell me if i do

Philomena

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Sorry to have been out of touch, I’ve been unwell with flu. I had to email my cousin and ask her to come and stay to look after the animals, she went back home last night, I’m still quite weak, but I wanted her to get back home for the weekend.

No, the roads round here are not broad at all, they are quite narrow, only as wide as a car in places, so when people drive along them and meet another car coming the other way, one has to go backwards again to find a place wide enough so they can pass. When I take the pony and cart out, we hold up all the cars in a queue behind us for quite a while until we come to a passing place!

Oh, I don’t really have much land, only about three and a half or four acres, I think. I’d like to buy a bit more one day, but agricultural land doesn’t often come up for sale.

We only have to pay a tax when buying land or property if we pay more than £150,000 for it. The only other tax that comes into it is an annual tax everyone has to pay, based on the value of your whole property and land. It changes every year, but mine is currently about £3,000 a year. We usually pay it monthly, for 10 months of the year, so I pay £300 a month on it.

What I mean by personal politics is this: I can’t change what the government does, but I can decide to work for freedom in my own personal life and the personal lives of others. For example:

The government makes rules about keeping chickens. I can keep chickens, because I have a licence for farming. But my neighbour cannot keep chickens, and cannot get permission, because they have an ordinary house, not a farm. My neighbour cannot change the government rules. But my neighbour can decide to choose for freedom for herself. She can keep her chickens on MY land! She has chosen her own freedom to keep chickens (which is anarchy - making your own decisions, not letting someone else make them for you), and we’ve worked together to make this possible (which is socialism - working together to make society fairer).

It doesn’t change anything on a national level. But we can still gain more freedom in our personal lives.

Well, I’m going to get some breakfast now. I need to eat my way back to full strength!

Hope you are keeping well.

Love David

Philomena wrote:

o!!!!!!! Darling how are you feeling now hope you are to your full strength again, am so sorry, this is why I am worried. i am really worried and even wondered a lot, that why i ask much questions because i feel like all I have now is just the out pouring of my heart to you in response to all you have been doing for me, and I feel that I do that always.so when i couldn’t hear from you its so terrible for me here.

And I became so worried because this is still Snow time and there is not any signs of you, but am happy now that I read from you.

I was even thinking what the case should be but I am fully convinced that nothing evil will happen to you, so I came to think if Maybe i have wronged you in any way, but as i think and think i couldn’t remember any, so I ask if by any way, because,I didn’t remember doing anything intentionally or even unintentional to hurt you, or do I? if I do please you will tell me so that I will ask your forgiveness,

Dave you have saved my soul from worries and I will never on earth wish to hurt you, so now that I hear from you i am happy and I wish you the best even as the water gets too cool. I want you to have me right in your heart to keep you warmed and always do be with you in Spirit. love you Dave, you mean a lot to me, i mean whole lots to me.

i have heard your view on politics, its quite interesting, yes no one can change what the government fixed. i am ok with that, its just about human policy deciding what and what not to do, it applies to all even me. so hope you are ok today,, and tell me, how did your cousin cope with the house, the farm and everything? see you!! hope to hear from you sooner.

yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Lovely to hear from you. Yes, thank you, I’m feeling much better now. Still a bit weak, I think, but there’s not much heavy work I need to do at the moment, so I’m having a relaxing time. I’ve just ordered some books from Amazon so I can rest and read in the evenings.

My cousin, Shelly, breeds dogs and keeps horses, and is very good with all animals. She’s been here to help out before, the problem of living alone is that if I have to go out for the day, or if I’m unwell, there’s nobody here to look after the animals, so I do need someone to rely upon, and Shelly is always willing to lend a hand. She’s married and her husband works from home, so he can look after their horses and dogs while she is here.

There was bad weather over the weekend, lots of wind and rain, but its quite pleasant outside today, even blue skies (instead of lots of rain clouds) this morning. I let the goats out and they were very energetic, running around and butting each other, and even the chickens agreed to come outside and peck around. We don’t eat goat here, by the way, just use their milk. The chickens aren’t for slaughter, either, but for their eggs, people do eat lots of chicken in this country, but I just keep them for eggs, which sell very well.

I’ve had a visitor from church call by this morning, just to see if there was anything I wanted from the city. I’ve given them a list of spices to buy for me! I like spicy food, and was running low a bit. I could do with some new boots as well, but I’ll order them online. No need to make my friend go running round lots of shops for me! I expect he will bring me back some coffee too, he likes buying interesting types of coffee for me to try!

Do you like coffee? What sort of foods do you like to eat? I expect you eat very different things to me! I like spicy meat and vegetables with rice, and lentils and vegetables, and spaghetti with tomato sauces, and I eat a lot of potatoes too. Probably too many potatoes, I’m a bit fat!

Hope you are well.
Love David

Philomena wrote:

Sweet Dave!!.

Hope you are doing well today, I’m somehow broken and that is why I have not replied so fast, please I hope the hardship will get off one day. Dear I want to tell you about how much I love you once again. Because since I met you dear, you have been a success of joy to my life.

I read about how your cousin help and a bit of her own profile, so it means all your family are farmers??

That is interesting, so how is you health today, hope you are ok now?, please I will not write much because of time I have on the Internet. But just want to know how you are feeling ok.

Yours
Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Lovely to hear from you, I have missed you!

No, none of my family are farmers. My father was a businessman with his own companies, he just happened to buy a house with some land attached. He really just left it as it was, and it was in rather poor condition when he died. I inherited enough money from the sale of his companies to be able to devote myself to caring for the land and seeing what I could do with it, without having any need to get another job, and so that is what I’ve been doing for a number of years.

His brother worked in a senior postion for the council (regional administration), but his daughter, my cousin Shelly, was always mad about horses and dogs, so when she married her husband, a computer programmer, she started breeding them. Her dogs are just pets really, but she does show her horses. She’s a very practical woman, and good with animals, that’s why she comes to help if needed, but no, nobody farms. And really, my smallholding couldn’t yet support anyone financially, so I need to have the back-up of the inheritance money, but I do hope and dream that one day it will become self-sufficient.

Yes, thank you, I’m getting back to full strength, and a good thing too, because we had some fierce wind the other night, and rain was getting in part of the roof, so I’ve been up there and fixing a few things. My neighbour came to help, holding the ladder securely while I was climbing it, and passing a few things. We did get rather cold, but a couple of beers warmed us up later!

Love Dave

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 9:53 am

2. The money request & the problems with Western Union.

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Darling,

Hi once again dear, your mail is quite understood.Well is been long time I hear from you hope that all is well with you? dear i have being working hard to solve this problem myself but its getting too had for me soIve, so i want to ask you for a help,Honey. Please I want to ask you something and i hope that my begging will not meet you at the bad mood, Dave we are still undergoing interviews and so on here over for resettlement and now I have an interview to take it, normally it will be at the UNHCR office inside sandakar, but as i am talking to you now I don't have any money with me any more, not even money for feeding and the transportation to this interview, which is second to the last interview that, if God Permit me, everything goes through I will be resettled, though I don't know were it will be, either Canada or Australia, these are the 2 countries I choose, but I know that the problem I have is to be out of Africa first, please to under go this interview and feeding i will need at least 400 Cedis. dear please this may be how God is going to help us after this period of waiting, please do me the best help you can ok, i always pray that God wills you for me,
love you!!!

I hope to hear from you soonest,

Yours forever
Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

It is good news that you are heading towards resettlement. I understand your worries about the money for travel and food, and I'm sure I can help, I just hope it is not needed too quickly because we have snow (apparently coming in from Russia!) here at the moment. It is not too deep tonight, but by tomorrow it is expected to make travelling impossible, and it is quite a way from here to the city. Not that I'm quite sure how best to send you money, is there someone trustworthy you know with a bank account I could make a wire transfer to?

Here's a little bit about our weather if you are interested:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7863374.stm

It is expected to be the heaviest snowfall for six years!

I had a delivery of shopping ordered for tomorrow (I order it online), but it seems that the delivery van won't be able to get here now. I've got enough food stored to manage, of course, it was really just things like toilet paper and shampoos and rice and grains and dog food for the next month. It won't matter if it comes late, even with the dog food, I've got enough for the next two weeks at least, and if that runs out, well they'll have to eat the same as me!

It looks very attractive outside, all covered in white. The wind is very icy cold though!

Oh, you'll also have to tell me how much 400 cedis is in another currency. We use pounds, but I can also work out euros and American dollars, I think!

Love Dave

Philomena wrote:

Dearest Dave how are you today, hope all is well and you are enjoying the white atmosphere over there as it’s all white. yesterday I could not write because I don’t have the account for you to send me money. Dear you really give me hope as I read your mail because this has cost me lots of thinking on how will I get through this interview. dear I am very grateful for your promise. and I must tell you that I have hope to be Yours for all in life, ’cause I know that you are there 4 me. Yes, dear, you make me feel extraordinary. I feel myself flying and feel that the world is such a beautiful place each time I think of my love -- Dave.

Dear I ask somebody on how to get the account so I will receive the money but she told me that it depends because the Account her brother in-law has will take at least 1 week if I have to receive money through it, but there is an easier way which is western union or money grams transfer. She give to me her brother in-law name to receive and she said that there is number of control that you have to send to me if you make the transfer and your sender name, because without the control and the name It will be impossible to receive.

Here is the name PHILIP EKWUNIFE.

And the western union, she said its from the bank you use, or maybe you have a credit card, you can send it through your card by WESTERNUNION.COM

Honey you said if your dog food runs out, then they can eat the same as you, does that mean your Dogs can eat only tea and bread?

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,
I wanted to write to you yesterday, but I couldn't get an internet connection. It is working alright today, though.

I smiled at the thought of my dogs eating bread and tea! English people do like bread and tea, but we eat and drink lots of other things too! Normally dogs are fed a special mixture of dried meat and grains, called kibble, which is fairly cheap, and has all the nutrition they require. But if I didn't have any kibble, they'd eat cooked rice and chopped or minced meat, like beef (from cows) and lamb (from sheep), maybe with some eggs mixed in. Same sort of food as I like to eat, only I'd make theirs separately, without any garlic and onions and spices!

I've never heard of western union or money grams, but I'm sure my bank can tell me about that! I don't believe in using credit cards, so I'll go into the bank itself as soon as I am able. It is only half an hour to the city of Norwich on the train (and another half hour walk into the city itself!), so I can easily do that once the snow has cleared and the trains are running again properly. You will need to tell me how much you need, though, in a currency I can understand. I use pounds, but I also have a basic understanding of American dollars and euros.

The snow did melt a bit yesterday, but now it is snowing again. I read on the news that it is the heaviest snowfall for 13 years. I'll attach a picture from the News website. You can see that cars aren't going anywhere, so most people have been unable to get to work, and the schools are shut too, because the teachers can't get to the schools!

Love from Dave.

Philomena wrote:

Dear Dave,

I am happy you are enjoying the snow, and the way you talk about this snow time i feel like being there so that i will experience it too, and you again always said you are enjoying it, so if i may ask what is the secret between you and the Snow that makes it enjoyable to you??

Wow it will be very sweet!! i mean kibble for the Dogs, can humans eat it? has your order reached you? i asked of the bread and tea because you said your food stuff is very small before the Snow and i know that Dogs do eat very well, so do you have extra rice to be cooked for them without your new shopping? or extra minced meat?,

So during the Snow even schools can not Work , this snow must be something else o!! how I wish to witness it, well honey the most important thing about it is that you are enjoying it so I pray that God will always keep you on the State Of Enjoyment at all seasons of the year.

About the Money I need dear, the Most important one is the 400 Ghana Cedis that is for the Interview issue which is about 390 dollar us.which to me its a huge amount of money. other things like feeding during this Period, I believe God Will help me out, but if you can afford any thing more than the 390 it will be wonderful dear. have a wonderful day.

Yours and only Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I hope you are well. I think that I can enjoy the snow because I am healthy and strong and don't have to travel anywhere or put myself in danger. It is the same sort of thing as when it is very very hot (and I expect you know more about it being very hot than I do!). If you are healthy and have the right sort of clothes to wear, and if you have some food at home to eat (and plenty of suitable drinks to drink), and if you don't have to travel anywhere, or do any hard work, then you can be happy in very hot weather. It is the people who have to travel a long way, with no food and drink, and who are old or sick anyway, they are the ones who will suffer, and maybe die.

There is more snow and ice forecast for tonight and tomorrow, but after that, it should turn to rain. Which will make everything very muddy, but at least it won't stop travelling, so I should be able to go to Norwich maybe on Wednesday or Thursday and see about sending some money to you.

$390 is about £250, I think, though the bank will be able to tell me exactly. I could add another £100 on, making it £350, so you have a bit of money to spare for other expenses.

Dog food is made with parts of animals that humans in this country don't want to eat, like the heads and tails and stomachs and feet of cows and sheep; plus with animals that have died of old age or disease or illness. Dogs have very tough digestions, and can eat animals that have been sick, and animals that have tumours. Humans might get ill if they ate them! So it is not good to eat dog food, because it might have meat in that would make us ill. Having said that, though, most children have sampled a piece of kibble, just to see what it tastes like! I have! It tastes like old uncooked rice or flour with a faint meaty flavour - not good at all!

I buy rice in big sacks, and also other things like wheat and millet and spaghetti and dried beans, so I always have lots of that in the house, as well as a big freezer full of meat and some frozen vegetables, and lots of tins of tomatoes, and cartons of stay-fresh milk, so I never run out of things to eat. It is important when there are no shops or markets nearby!

I've been spending quite a bit of time lately with some neighbours, Duncan and Rosie, who are feeling rather unhappy about the church. They are finding it all a bit restrictive and inhibiting. They make some very valid points, but I think its just the nature of the Anglican church, the church services are always the same, following the words in the service book, and there is no room for change. Also many people attend there because it is a 'respectable' thing to do, and they want to be seen to be respectable, it's not that they are really interested in the things of God, they just want to be seen as good respectable people. So I think you have to just accept that, and find a way to meet with God within it, it's no good trying to change it. Duncan is frustrated though, and I do understand.

Anyway, I said I'd meet with him and Rosie this morning, instead of going to the church building for the service, we'd have our own service at his home. I don't know whether this is the most helpful thing I can do, or whether I really should be encouraging him and Rosie back to the Anglican church, but anyway, that's what I'm doing.

Love Dave

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Darling,

Thanks to God, you are cool my dear, am happy at your promise and that gives me lots of strength, Dave. do you know that i no longer feel like i am alone each time i think of you my heart fills with hope, joy,nice feelings, and so on.

honey above all i see this resettlement program as gate way that God has planned for my liberation, and i hope it is, as well as hoping at your promise to send me some money, i am very grateful and fully hoping for the money because it will serve as a Cornerstone so as to be moving to the offices for activities, as well as doing other Official things with it,dear, resettlement has been my utmost hope, because living here is like being in hell. Which i hope to be of out soonest.

Wow!!!!!! Dave, Duncan, Rosie and the Anglican church, Honey if i may ask you this: has any one proven that he /she has seen or talked with GOD?

If yes, that means that i will agree with your statement,that many people attend there because it is a 'respectable' thing to do, and they want to be seen to be respectable, it's not that they are really interested in the things of God, they just want to be seen as
good respectable people.

But if not, Honey I will suggest that we face our own life and and leave others to live theirs till the judgment day. don't say that one is not for God, because the heart is very deep and secret.

And please I want you to do this within you, don't look at the priest, or the pastors, or their sin, rather look at the words that comes from them, and repent, because everybody will be on his and her own that very day of judgment.

Please do go to church for prayers because iron shapes iron, don't refuse to go because you can equally pray alone, thanks for i know you will do this for me.

i wish you the best of the day honey have a wonderful day,

Yours forever
Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

The snow has melted due to very heavy rain. A lot of places are now flooded, it's all been too much water falling (and melting) for the ground to absorb. But we're OK around here, it's just very muddy. And so I've arranged to go to Norwich on Friday.

I'm meeting a woman I have been writing too, we're going to meet up at the cathedral and spend some time there, have lunch at the refectory, and then visit the market and the Asian Grocer's, to buy some spices and things, but I'll have time to go to the bank too, and get the money sent off to you.I'll send £350 made out to Philip Ekwunife, like you said.

I'll try and make time to write and let you know its been sent on Friday evening, after I get home and have seen to the animals, but don't worry if you don't hear from me until Saturday evening or maybe Sunday, as I also have to prepare for Potato Day on Saturday, and then will be out at that selling some seed potatoes!

http://www.eapd.btik.com/

It's OK, I'm not going to give up going to church! I just wanted to be supportive of Duncan and Rosie last week. I can understand their frustration, really I think they would be a lot happier at a Pentecostal or Baptist church really, but the problem of living in a village is that you don't have the same choices as when you are in a town, and you have to put up with whatever there is! Personally, I can appreciated a lot of things about Anglicanism, but more than that, I think people should ask themselves WHY they are attending church, is it just to have a good time, and to satisfy themselves, or is it because they are there to worship and thank God? If it is the latter, then that should be enough, and it shouldn't matter that it is not exciting. Though I do also agree with Duncan that it is all too old-fashioned for youngsters today, and no teenager is going to stay there for more than a couple of weeks before getting too bored and feeling too much like the odd-one-out.

Mind you, I don't think that many teenagers today have much patience for anything! It's like they have a constant demand for instant entertainment, and, if that is not provided, they get sulky and start making a nuisance of themselves.

Love, Dave

Philomena wrote:

Hi!!! Sweety!

Today, I want to tell you about how much I love you and think about you: my days and nights are now brighter than anything 'cause I have you. Yes, Dear, you make me feel extraordinary. I feel myself flying and feel that the world is such a beautiful place now. Thank you so much for through your love you have restore to me Hope, joy, and happiness which is missing in me for so long. and your care which you give me every second of my life, from your emails, stories of life, and promise that i hope for liberation, Dave thank you so much for your your love. And for now all i have is my prayers to you that God will be with you provide for you in all you do And always give you joy in all.

Wonderful advice from .....Though I do also agree with Duncan that it is all too
old-fashioned for youngsters today, and no teenager is going to stay there for more than a couple of weeks before getting too bored and feeling too much like the odd-one-out.

Mind you, I don't think that many teenagers today have much patience
for anything!,

Well if i may say anything about that, I Will say do you know also that a lot of adults as well today don't have much patience to be there either?? with this you get to know that life is different for different people, people are not the same, that is why all feelings are not the same Ok.

Coming to Anglicanism,Pentecostal or Baptist church Romain Catholic, any church at all, i believe Churches are all the same at heart, what matters is the heart you use in going there, your interest, and your plan.

have a wonderful day dear.

Yours sincere luv,
Philomena Dave....
Yours lovely forever

Philomena wrote:

Hi Sweety !!!

happy Valentine!!
Hope you are enjoying your day there?

I wish you the best in LUV life:

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I don't have much time for writing right now, but I wanted to quickly
write and tell you how I got on in Norwich. It turned out that the
bank does not deal with Western Union transfers. The cashier said I
would have to go to a special Western Union Transfer Outlet, though
the only one she knew was quite a distance away and too far to go to
right then. So I'm going to have to go back another day.

I had a look in the business directory when I came home, and it turns
out there is one in the Castle Mall shopping centre, which is only
about 20 minutes from the railway station, so that will be the place
to go. I'll go on Tuesday. Sorry about the delay.

Please don't have too many emotional thoughts about me. You seem a
lovely woman, and very interesting, and I do care about you and your
life, but I don't think we can ever become more involved than that.
We are from different backgrounds and I simply would not like to think
of you out working hard in the ice and snow with your fingers and toes
going numb and stiff and your eyes watering in the wind, and living
the sort of life I like to live.

The woman I met on Friday is called Jenny, she is from a farming
background and rides and shoots (that is she goes out hunting edible
birds with a gun), we have been writing a while and wanted to meet up
to see if we liked each other in real life. I do like her, though I
feel she is maybe too good for me. I feel a bit sort of fat and stupid
around her, she is very intelligent and confident and capable. She
does want to see me again, and she doesn't seem to look down on me or
anything, I just feel a bit not good enough. I suppose I'm not that
confident really! Not inside myself.

I had a good day out at the Potato Day yesterday. Rounded it off with
a few pints of beer with a friend. I'm tired today. But going to get
ready for church now.

Love Dave

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I hope you are well. I haven't heard from you lately and I hope my last letter didn't upset you with what I said. I hope you understand.

Anyway, I went to Norwich again today and found the Western Union place in the Castle Mall quite easily. It turned out, though, that I had to provide identification in order to send money! I had quite an argument with them about it, because as I obviously had the money to pay, there was no need to worry if I was who I said I was. Do you know what I mean? I can see the point of having to provide identification in order to COLLECT money, but it is just silly to have to provide it in order to SEND it!

But they wouldn't let me do it without the identification.

They said it has to be either a passport or a driving licence, so that started another argument, because I don't have either. I can't leave my animals to travel, so I don't have a passport, and I always go anywhere by foot or bicycle or public transport, so I don't have a driving licence. I said I could provide a birth certificate or a utility bill, which even a bank will accept for opening a new account, but they said no, it had to be a passport or a driving licence.

I suppose I could get a passport issued, but that usually takes about 3 months this time of year, so that is no good for us. Do you not know ANYONE who has a bank account? It would be quicker to send you a cheque, or, quicker still, organise a bank to bank transfer. I could do that before the end of the week, I should think.

I feel dreadful, as if I'm letting you down. Do you have any good ideas?

Love Dave

Philomena wrote:

Hello Sweety, Hope you are doing well,Honey you don't know what happened, I was ironing my dress on Sunday morning and the hot iron mistakenly fell from the Table and split my leg, so i couldn't go to church again, rather to the hospital. and since that day till yesterday night it's like hell on me, my leg kept brightening, and the face of the wound is like drawing with Sharp pain right to my heart. and the Doctor said it is because the pressing iron is hot and its so heavy that when it fell it split my leg with the hotness.

But now am a bit fine, am at the hostel since yesterday night.so dear all i have to say is am happy to read both your last and to days mail and I want to assure you Dave I am not a kind of person that gets upset over simple things like that because according to history its always leads to evil. for instance our President today in Liberia happened to remarry because she can not trust the Husband, as well could not even trust the person she set as an informant to always see and tell her all about the relationships the husband keeps, because of maybe jealousy or untruest, she went and accused the wrong person and ruined the husband’s business, well that is by the way. Dave all i want you to understand is that you are The God I can see, and believe that God sent you to me as an angel, dear your caring words and promises really gives me new life.

About the Money you promise me. I have told the person that Gave me the account and she ask the Man, I give you his name about his account and he said that he might travel out of town this coming week and don't know exactly when to return. in order not to affect the interview program. he suggests that either he tell another friend of him to help me, so that the person will give me his Account, or maybe you try asking people over there, either from the western union Staffs, or maybe your friends who may have the western union request.

My reply to him is that I will tell you his suggestion, and as well will like him to direct his sister and i to the trustworthy person he made mention for account, so that if i tell you all this and you are not able to get a friend to help you over there, you can use the account, so i still look to receive the Account information from her, as soon as I do I will let you know ok.

Once again dear thanks for all your effort to my assistance.

Yours Philomena.
Once more God Bless.

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Dear,

Please I am sending you this short note in completion of my earlier mail to you today, the account owner has finally given the account information to me. Below is the account, and their instruction is that you have to pay in EURO with the information given to you and at once it will reflect, please remember to follow the instruction. I will stop here as you know that I am in pain at this time, take good care of yourself ok.

EURO – REMITTING INSTRUCTION

DEUTSCHE BANK AG
A**** H****
**** GERMANY
SWIFT CODE: **DE**
UNITED BANK FO AFRICA (GHANA) LTD
EURO ACCOUNT No; 1****

SWIFT CODE; **GH**
ACCOUNT HOLDERS NAME: P****. O****
ACCOUNT No; 0****
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA
**** GHANA.

Please sweety remember that the info is to be taking complete as it is to the bank.

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I'm so sorry to hear about your bad burn, that sounds so horrible and
painful, poor you, I do hope you heal quickly.

I'm so glad though that I can send you money through the bank. It
shouldn't be any problem sending it in Euros, after all we are one of
the very few countries in Europe who don't use Euros as our currency,
so the banks must have to transfer money in Euros all the time! I've
sent money by bank to bank transfer several times before, and all I
have to do is fill in a form at the bank, and the money is sent to the
account, usually takes a day or two, depending on which bank and where
it is being sent to. Thank you for making sure you took all the
details I'll need for the form. I've got the vet coming today to look
at one of my goats which has a bad leg, but I should be able to go to
the bank tomorrow. I'll be glad to get that done and know you have
the money for getting out of the refugee camp and beginning a new life
somewhere.

I’ll let you know after I've been to the bank tomorrow. And I do
hope that your poor leg gets better soon.

Love Dave

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I was just going to copy out the bank information to take to my bank for the transfer, but now I look at it again, I feel so muddled, I don't understand it.

DEUTSCHE BANK AG - This is the name of the bank, yes?
A**** H**** - Is this the name of the account holder?
**** GERMANY - Is this the address of the bank?
SWIFT CODE: **DE** - This is fine, the Swift code of the Deutsche Bank, yes?
UNITED BANK FO AFRICA (GHANA) LTD - But what is this bit??
EURO ACCOUNT No; 1**** - This is fine, the account number.
SWIFT CODE; **GH** - But what is this second Swift code???
ACCOUNT HOLDERS NAME: P****. O**** - Is this a second Account name? This is muddling!
ACCOUNT No; 0**** - And a second account number???
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA
**** GHANA. - And a second bank address? Which doesn't seem to relate to either the first or second Swift codes?

Please help! I want to get this done for you!! But there seems to be a muddle of at least two, if not three, account informations here!

Hope you can get back to me soon!

Love Dave

Philomena wrote:

Hi Dear, if you take proper look at the account i sent you it states the foreign remittance instruction, the account ORIGIN is in Ghana and in CEDIS, while you are to pay in from UK and in EURO, so it requires the FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT ACCORDING TO THE account owner, what you are to do is take the two information to your bank and the banking officer knows the best, you tell him or her that the first the bank is the corresponding bank while the money is going to Ghana ok.

EURO – REMITTING INSTRUCTION

DEUTSCHE BANK AG
A**** H****
**** GERMANY
SWIFT CODE: **DE**
UNITED BANK FO AFRICA (GHANA) LTD
EURO ACCOUNT No; 1****

SWIFT CODE; **GH**
ACCOUNT HOLDERS NAME: P****. O****
ACCOUNT No; 0****
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA
**** GHANA.

please i will not write much just take care of yourself.
Philomena

Philomena wrote:

Hi Dear,

Please listen to this again

EURO – REMITTING INSTRUCTION

DEUTSCHE BANK AG --- this is the correspondent bank name.
A**** H****
**** GERMANY ---- this is the correspondent bank address
GERMANY ----- the Country of the corresponding bank.
SWIFT CODE: **DE**----- the swift
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA ( GHANA ) LTD --- the bank name
EURO ACCOUNT No; 1**** --- the corresponding bank A/C as you are to pay in in Euro
ACCOUNT HOLDERS NAME: P****. O**** ----- A/C Holders name.
ACCOUNT No; 0**** ----- the A/C Number from the ORIGINE.
SWIFT CODE; **GH** ---- the swift
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA --- bank origine name.
**** GHANA. ---- the bank address in Ghana.

please i will not write much just take care of yourself.
Philomena

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Thank you, I think I understand now. I remember something on the bank transfer form about corresponding banks, though it's not something I've ever had to fill in before, because transfers I've made have been more straightforward than this. Sorry for getting confused, it was out of my knowledge base.

Anyway, I've got the vet coming back today to look at how my injured goat's leg is healing, but I'm free tomorrow, so will go to the bank then. I'll be glad to get the money finally to you!!

I've had a pleasant weekend, Jenny visited (and brought her dog, Milly), and the weather has been quite pleasant and sunny too, it made a change to be able to go outside without having to put on a thick coat and warm hat. It is colder this morning, but I fancy the mud everywhere is drying up.

I will write to you tomorrow after sending off the money.

Love Dave
PS Is your leg healing well?

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Dear,

Am happy to read that you have understand properly my mail and will make out time tomorrow to send me the money, as the program has drawn closer to be started soon.

How is Jenny hope she is doing well? and you did say that she come with Milly, how come? did she have her own Car? or do she join the public transport with Milly?
and how is Milly going to Cope with your own dogs, don’t they fight Milly?

My leg is healing but although the wound is now covering, I feel pain inside it, that was after a trek to Church yesterday, so I hope that when you send me the money I will visit the Hospital again as I wouldn't like disturbing the neighbors who has helped me with the first bill.

So my dear how is your farm doing with the season you are in now, is it still potato season, or what?

Hoping to hear from you soonest,
Yours Philomena.

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 9:55 am

3. The failed bank transfer (and a marriage proposal)

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I will write more later or maybe tomorrow morning when I have more time, but I just wanted to send you a note to say that I've transfered the money alright. I rounded it up to 400 Euros, which is £354 (and about 514 US dollars). I'd written out all the details you'd given me, and the bank clerk checked that I'd filled in the form properly. They said it should take 3 to 4 business days to clear in the receiving account, so that'll be there either this Friday or the following Monday.

I'm sorry you are still in pain. It is a shame that you have to pay for hospital treatment - everyone can get it for free here. I hope the amount I've sent will be enough to cover any doctor's fees for you.

More letter to follow later/tomorrow!
Love Dave

David wrote:

Hello again Philomena,

A little more letter as promised!

It is still very much the dormant season here - everything is waiting for the Springtime when the weather is warmer. The ground is far too wet to plant anything at the moment, so I'm just maintaining the animals, and spending my time making things with wood to sell. I do have some more goats arriving the beginning of next week. I bought them some time ago, but have not had them delivered because the weather has been too bad for them to be outside, and I want them to have outdoor freedom to meet the other goats. They can be a bit aggressive with each other at first, so they need space to run away if necessary! But even though the weather is not yet perfect, they do need to come now, before they are too big and heavy with pregnancy. My original goats are due to have their babies in April, and the new ones will have their babies in May.

Jenny has a car, a Mitsubishi Shogun, which is something like a Range Rover or Land Rover, only cheaper! She lives in a place with no bus service or train station (or shops or doctors), so says she needs a car to get places. So yes, she drove up, and I had said to her to bring her dog, Milly - I'm sure that Jenny would have missed her a lot if she had left her behind.

Milly is her gundog - when Jenny goes out shooting edible birds, Milly runs out into the fields or woods or water to collect the birds from where they have been shot down. When people go shooting like this, they usually go in groups, all with their own gundogs, so the dogs are accustomed to meeting other dogs, and usually just ignore them.

My own dogs are also accustomed to having dog-visitors. People camping in tents in my field in summer often bring dogs with them, and my cousin Shelly often brings a dog or two here, and my neighbours have dogs too. So my dogs are fine with others. One of them, Fly, can get a bit short-tempered, when she is in season (ie ready for mating), but she's not in season at the moment, so is her usual laid-back self, instead!

Jenny did take Milly to her bedroom with her overnight, though, rather than leave her with my dogs, just in case they got into an argument/fight when we weren't looking! I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have done, but it's best not to take any risks.

It is Ash Wednesday in the Anglican church today, when the congregation get ash put on their foreheads as a sign of repentence - it marks the beginning of Lent, the 40 days of repentence, meditation, and self-sacrifice before Easter. We're doing a Lent Course called Life Balance, this year. It's apparently about balancing work and rest and play. Because my own work is outdoor and enjoyable, my work is also my rest and my play anyway, so doesn't need to be 'balanced', so I don't know what I'll think of this course. I mean, if someone is doing a job they hate, or a job that’s very difficult or stressful, then I'm sure they need to balance this with periods of rest and periods of fun, so maybe thinking about all this is useful to them. But I can't divide my life up like that, my work is my fun. And it's relaxing, not stressful. Still, I'll go along to the course with an open mind, and see how it goes. I think it's probably based on Jesus' words of 'Come to Me and I will give you rest' and about the Sabbath day of rest and things. I suppose I could do with more time with God, in His presence, praying, etc. So maybe I do need to learn about Life Balance after all!

Love Dave

Philomena wrote:

Wow!! dearest i am so exited to read your mail this morning. am so happy you've finally sent me the money you promise, Dave you are a darling,, What a man you are, you always stick to your word, honestly am so happy.
Dear let me reserve my comment till I receive the money because it is a revelation in my life. this will convince me that my liberation is already with me.

Dear please there are some thing very important that will help me to collect the money, as the account owner said, that there is a document you will have from the bank which is the transfer slip or (payment slip), you have to attach it to me, then he will use it to go to the bank for the money, so please can you make that available for me please.

Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hello!! Darling Dave.

Today is another day that the Lord has made for his people to rejoice and give him thanks for their life and all he has given. yes i do this every day, every night, and every morning because he is the beginning and the end. then after i have thanked God, i think of one thing, one person, and whenever i do this, i pray some thing about that, if i may ask, what do you pray about?.

Dear please before i forget the money you sent to me, the account owner says you have to sent to me the transfer slip in order for him to be able to get the money tomorrow or Monday, as soon as it clears into his account, ok, please try to make it available, its very important.

OK lets talk about something very important again, you said that your goats will deliver in April, and the ones you bought will deliver in may. So i want to ask how do know that they will do this at that time? and how many are the goats?

is it possible that 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 or more will deliver at the same day or the same period, how possible is that? so how about the sick ones, are they OK?

Again has Jenny gone?

More about the Lenten season, how are you doing it, do you fast? and if i may ask you, the seasons of the year, which of them do you like most?

yours Philomena

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

This is just a note because I'm a bit busy at the moment, but I
thought I'd better tell you that I don't have a transfer slip, I gave
that in at the bank so they could conduct the transaction. The money
will just be there in your friend's bank account, nothing special is
needed at your end. Hopefully it is there today, but, if not, it will
be on Monday.

My goat with the injured leg is fine now, the vet put some stitches
in, but they've dissolved now and she's healed very nicely.

I'll write more when I've got more time!

Love David

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I hope you have had a good weekend. Jenny has been here and we took a day out yesterday and went in her car to the coast along with all the dogs (quite a squash in the car!) and did a fair bit of walking. I think I am quite fit and healthy (for all my fat!), but she is fitter than me, and I ended up quite worn out! Today we went to church, and then spent much of the afternoon sitting around and talking. She's gone back home now, because she has a job to go to tomorrow, she works in the office of a local (to her) animal feed company.

Goats start coming into heat (being ready for mating) about September or October and then they come into heat every 3 weeks. So even if your goats are all ready to be mated at different times, it will be no more than 3 weeks apart, so therefore you can still make sure that the kids are born no more than 3 weeks apart too. My own goats were quite similar with their heats though, so they were all mated within 5 days of each other - so will have their babies all in the same week!

The ones I'm buying have a 2-week mating period, so their babies will be all be born over a period of 2 weeks.

I only have 4 goats at the moment, but I've bought another 6, so I will have 10 in total tomorrow. Plus their kids. Last year my goats only had male kids, and so I sold those. I'm hoping for some female kids this year! Though I also intend to keep a couple of males of my own, so I have my own rams to mate with my females, instead of having to use somebody else's. I want to get my goats up in number to about 18 or 20, but it has to be done slowly. There are all sorts of rules and regulations about the movement of goats (buying and selling) and lots of forms to fill in for everything you do. The idea is to make sure that livestock is kept healthy and any disease does not spread - but, in reality, it just seems like one big job of form-filling for the smallest thing. I get quite fed-up with it.

That's one thing, the other is that goats are really argumentative animals, and it is better to introduce just a few at a time, and let them get very accustomed to each other before having more. I also, of course, need to see how many I can manage well. I really want to continue milking them by hand, and not using milking machines. I think they prefer to be treated as individuals, and not just as walking udders to be plugged into a machine.

I did consider gettting some sheep as well. Sheep's milk is quite popular, and then there's the wool as well. But the restrictions and the paperwork with sheep is even worse than with goats, so at this time, I really can't be bothered with all the difficulties. I'll probably get round to it one day. My dream is to make my smallholding self-sufficient so that one day I can pass it on to others and they can just enjoy working it and not need any other financial source at all. It is nothing like that yet, but that is my hope and intention. My inheritance supports me, but I want the land to be able to support others after me.

I don't fast for Lent, nor even give up anything. I think, to be honest, I'd feel as if I was just doing it because other people said it was a good idea - I don't think it would really have any spiritual benefit to myself. I do hope, however, to use the time for some introspection - thinking about myself and my life and how much (or rather how little) of my time I give in service to God and to other people.

I think, to be honest, I spend too much time doing the things I enjoy, and working towards my own hopes and dreams, that I shut out other people and the concerns of the rest of the world a bit. Other people do all sorts of voluntary work and structured giving and things, and me, I just plod along in my own little world like it is all that exists.

Maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, there, I do care about other people, of course - but it is not balanced. It is mostly Me, and a little bit left over for giving to others. Really, it should be the other way around.

Love David

David wrote:

Oh Philomena, I sent off my letter to you, then I noticed that I had not answered one of your questions about which season of the church year I liked the best.

Without doubt - Easter!

It is so joyous in church then, with such lovely songs to be sung, and, as well as that, in this country there are usually the first signs of Spring then, when the weather starts warming up a bit ready for the summer. The birds sing after a winter of silence, and fly back and forth with pieces of nesting material in their beaks. The first of the flowers are appearing, like the lovely yellow daffodils which most people have in their gardens. And the clocks have usually just changed too, they are put forward an hour for British Summer Time, and that means it stays daylight longer into the evenings, which always cheers everyone up after the long dark of winter. And there are babies to be seen in the fields - goats and lambs (baby sheep) and calves (baby cows), all skipping about and being happy like only the young can.

It all seems part of the same whole - you have the dark time when you wonder how you can keep going on (a British winter - and the death of Christ), and then you have the sudden light and new things happening (British summer time and the flowers growing and the baby animals being born - and Christ's resurrection) and somehow it all seems as if the natural world is echoing or reflecting the spiritual realities that we are remembering. It is a wonderful time!

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Dear
Thanks for your mails. I will respond to those mails later. because am not feeling too well, Honey a day before yesterday I walked from Bujumbura to North-Ridge, where my friend’s brother in-law's office is, for the money you said you sent and that day the man was so busy at the office that he can not attend to us. then yesterday my leg swelled up, so i did not go any where, and this morning my friend tell the brother inlaw what happened and he pass by while going to work this morning with his Car, so we followed to the bank finally today, the bank cashier said that no money entered the account and even she said there is nothing that even shows that money is coming, she advise you have to either provide the payment slip or you call your money back, because you need to send the payment slip, because if there is mistake anywhere it will be easier for them to detect, but without it, there is nothing they can do , to know if you sent the money or not.

So dear please I will like you to do something about that immediately, if you can't send the payment information slip that the bank have to give you, please try to call or visit your bank immediately so that you can call your money back, because i will not be happy if i will not have the money, and if you too lose such an amount, it will be painful to hear, so please call it back. if there is any other way you can send it, good. if not, let me be and keep hoping on God.please i will not like you to lose the money, do some thing very fast about it, my friends brother inlaw buy some drugs for me and the pharmacy instruct that i have to rest after taken the drugs

Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I am shocked to read in your letter that the money is not in the
account, that is not right at all, I feel most concerned about it, and
will get in touch with my bank as soon as I can. It is awful because
I've been imagining you being on your way to freedom, and being so
happy and relieved about it.

I hope I filled in the form correctly, I feel sure I did, because the
bank clerk checked it for me, and she said it was right. Still, I'll
see. In the meantime, I am dreadfully sorry, you must be so
disappointed. I'll try and sort it out as soon as possible.

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Hi!!! darling? hope you are fine and cool with the atmosphere over there now? Dear, life is so unpredictable. Changes always come along,in diverse ways. but its all for the glory of God, for one doesn't know what God has in store for his people.

Hope you are managing the farm well? Hope you are strong in your Faith so that whatever struggles we have to endure in our relationship, we will be true friends still, because I believe that this is just the way of God to teach us to be strong and faithful to each other. Honey i feel you in me all round my thoughts, my thinking, my words and my everything. I love you.

Yours lovely forever
Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Dearest Dave,

Hope you are doing well? I come over to see if you have done what you promised last, that you will see your Bank as soon as possible to know why the delay of the money, I am yet to hear any thing from you please what do i do?

did you see your bank since then?

Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Honey Dave" hi!!,

Hope you are fine and doing well? I haven't heard from you for a while hope all is well?

Please remember that someone needs your help, somewhere.

I love and cherish our mails together and hope to read from you soonest.

Honey the program is about to start and i need the money like i told you last time to follow up the program of resettlement, please this will be the the last interview section for CANADA and AUSTRALIA. and i could remember last you told me you will shake things out with your bank, please do you promise me to hope on you or to forget about the resettlement for now?

yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I've been so worried about you. Last Monday, I went to put my
computer on, and it wouldn't load. One of the initial screens came
up, but nothing else would happen. I used to have a laptop as well,
but I gave that away to someone who didn't have any sort of computer
last January, so when my PC wouldn't start, I had nothing. And I've
been so worried, thinking about you, and you not knowing why I hadn't
been in touch.

Anyway, I went to Norwich yesterday and I've bought a new laptop. I'm
not really very good with technology, and I was getting really
frustrated because I couldn't get the internet connection to work on
it at first, but I got it going late last night, and so here I am
writing to you at my first chance this morning.

Anyway, about the money. I went to the bank and they told me that the
money had been processed at this end, but the receiving bank, as they
called it, that's your friend's one, they rejected it. Apparently it
happens sometimes and it can happen for all sorts of reasons,
including simple ones like the receiving bank's computers being down,
or complicated ones like there being some sort of problem with the
account. The man I spoke to said the receiving bank never tells them
what exactly the reason is, which is quite unhelpful, because they
can't know whether or not to try again.

He said he didn't know what to advise. I could try again and risk the
same thing happening (if, for example, there is a problem with the
account), or, then again, if it was just due to a power outage or
something, then it could be fine next time. I said couldn't he
telephone the bank and ASK, which seemed the simple solution to me,
but he said that according to some banking code and protection of
privacy thing, the bank simply won't tell him, they can't, there's
just some standard wording they use.

Well, I still had to pay the transfer fee for that, because my bank
still did it's job (they tell me, such that it was, it'd just be an
entry on a computer!), and I'll have to pay that fee again for a
second attempt, even if that doesn't work. But I am willing to try it
again. What do you think?

Would you mind, though, just checking with your friend that he hasn't
suddenly closed his account or changed the type of account or
something, and that all the details are correct. I'm thinking they
must be, because the cashier checked it all for me when I filled in
the transfer form, and entered it on the computer, and said it was all
fine. And, of course, there has been a reply from that bank. So
maybe it doesn't need the details checking. But perhaps you could
check that it's not already up to it's savings limit or something, or
overdrawn or anything that could cause a problem.

This is so frustrating. I'm sure it was easier in my father's day.

I'm thinking it would be simpler to purchase some Euros and just stick
them in an envelope and airmail them to you.

Other bit of news before I send this: I asked Jenny to marry me last
weekend and she said yes. We are formally getting engaged tomorrow,
and are having a little celebration at her parents' house. We intend
to marry as soon as possible, in about 4 weeks time, before the goats
have their babies. We are going to live at my house, and
Jenny will give up her job, and, hopefully, we'll have babies of our
own by this time next year!

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Wow Congratulations!!!,

My dear i wish you all good in your marriage life. and about the money it is very very confusing to me but i think now I am a bit relaxed because i have been thinking maybe the account owner has taken the money, and was lying to me about it not being there, but now i can believe them that the money is not yet in the account.

but i will like you to check if the account i sent is correct on what you present to the bank.her is the account again: EURO – REMITTING INSTRUCTION

DEUTSCHE BANK AG
A**** H****
**** GERMANY
SWIFT CODE: **DE**
UNITED BANK FO AFRICA (GHANA) LTD
EURO ACCOUNT No; 1****

SWIFT CODE; **GH**
ACCOUNT HOLDERS NAME: P****. O****
ACCOUNT No; 0****
UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA
**** GHANA..

or you can think of asking the western union officers because i believe some one from the western union must have have the ID that he or she can use to send the money with the Name I give you before Philip Ekwunife, but if you insist on posting then i will ask my friend for their address.

Or if there will be available a copy of that very transfer form you fill in the bank then scan it and send to me a copy so that the bank will sort it out themself, if there is mistake or whatever they will know better. but without any form they will only wait until the money reflects before they process it. so please which ever way you choose let me know.once again thanks dear I just want you to know that someone loves and cherish your efforts so far.

Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hi dear It's brief,

Hope you are doing well i m happy that i have some one as you. thanks a lot for your mail and promises, so far. Dear like i said before the program is close, so what do i believe, can you please try and see any body, be it from the western union or a friend who has either Driving license or International Passport, that will help you to make the money available for me this week please!!!!!! i don't wish this chance to pass me by, and the resettlement is now, people are going through the process and that is why i ask you if you can make money for me to be able to do every official thing required, and hope on God that my name comes out at the end of it all.

Please i will drop here. I wish you the best of the week,

Love you!!!
Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I've checked all the bank account information, and that's exactly what I had before and took to the bank and supplied, so no, there wasn't a problem there. Now, I can try again, I don't mind. Or, about Western Union, Jenny has a driving licence of course, and I'm sure she would be happy to send the money for me. She won't be able to do it until Saturday, of course, because she is working during the week, and she can't take time off at the moment as she is working out her notice-to-leave, she's leaving the job just before we get married.

We've booked our wedding for the 14th April, we are having a private ceremony with just her parents and my best friends in attendance, because I am against the pressures of the advertising industry and the retailers, trying to persuade people to spend thousands of pounds and make a big show of getting married. Who benefits? The people selling all the clothes and the flowers and the food and the taxis and the photographs and the music and the marquees. I'm not really sure that Jenny's parents are best pleased, because they would have liked a big party with a live band and lots of drinks, but they are respecting our wishes. I'm still very excited (and a bit nervous) about it though. And there still seems to be lots to do, combining our lives together so soon.

Anyway, if Saturday is not too late for the money, I'll drop Jenny an email about it. I think you'll have to send me the information for that again, though, because I'm not sure where I put it, and I don't know if I still have the email with it in.

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Dearest Dave,

I hope you are doing well, and about your wedding, like I said before, I wish you the best of all during the ceremonies. Talking about Jenny parent’s, Well I think the best for them to do for you both is to wish you well because after a wedding there is still a lot to be done.

Please before I forgot how is the farm is doing and it contents, The Dogs, The Goats, The potatoes, I mean all especially the Pregnant Goats, how are they doing???

Dave, over the money It will be very easy if only Jenny will make time out of her time to help you in sending me the money, I will be very grateful and that will be ok because after she send it there will be Security number which the western union will give to her, which she has to give it to you to send to me through email, together with the Senders name and the amount she send.

I think with that on me I will at the same time move to the bank with my friend and his Brother inlaw who is to help me collect the money from the western union here.

The person name is: PHILIP EKWUNIFE. The destination is Ghana.

I think this is the only information needed. The person will use his international passport in case there is indications for that, extend my greeting to Jenny and take care of all around you including her.

Yours Philomena

Philomena wrote:

Dear you asked if saturday will be late? No actually it is not too late, as you know that some banks does not work here on Saturday, but yet is not too late if i get the money that saturday or monday morning.

The program will be going on but you know it not going to end by then.

I hope to hear from you soonest Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Dear,

How are you today? hope cool, just come around to read your mail but yet to hear from you so i decided to say just hi!!!.

please my interview has been have fixed, and like you know you are my hope, i am waiting eagerly to read from you ok.

May our Good lord Be with you and your newly found family, bless you and all you lay hands open. have a goodnight.

Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Dearest Dave,

Is everything alright? I have checked your mail time without number and still yet to hear from you, hope all is well?

once more how is everything in the Farm? your health? have you talked to Jenny?
I hope to hear from you soon, please note i am hoping to be out of here through this resettlement and the time is already at hand

Yours Philomena

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I have been so worried about you! You know my PC failed, so I bought
a new laptop? Well, I don't know if you remember I had some trouble
connecting it to the internet with it? Well, it started happening
again, and then some other things on it weren't working, so I took it
back to the shop and they agreed that it was faulty, and said they
would replace it. They said first of all that the replacement one
would be ready for collection the next day, but their supplier was out
of stock or something, and it has just dragged and dragged on, me with
no PC and no laptop, and it wasn't until today that finally I got the
replacement laptop. So I've been so worried about you and you
expecting the money towards your freedom. But I haven't been able to
get back to you until today.

Am I now too late with the money? I can go to Norwich and try the
bank transfer again at the end of the week, or Jenny says she can do
a MoneyGram transfer for you, she says that is the same sort of thing
as Western Union but more reputable. She says she's not prepared to
do a Western Union one because they've got a bad reputation here, but
MoneyGram is the more reliable and respectable alternative. So what
shall we do?

All is well here, Jenny and I got the fields raked at the weekend,
which was just in time, as that was the last of the good weather, and
we've had strong cold winds and much rain since then.

Love David

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 9:56 am

4. A MoneyGram mix-up.

Philomena wrote:

Dearest Dave,

How are you today? The Canada / Australia Schedule - the form will expire coming Tuesday and the program of resettlement will leave only Miami, for the first quarter of this year 2009.

Dear I really need this assistance from you I have all hope in you. Please there is MoneyGram here with the same name i tell you (PHILIP EKWUNIFE) HE WILL HELP ME GET IT,just do what Jenny said its ok here too,

Please it will do me so much good if you will make it to call the Money you sent

Please am eagerly awaits you please! Steve in the name of God in heaven I plead with you once again please try all you can to do this soonest.

Yours Philomena.
Dear don’t let this open chance pass us by, I beg you.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Jenny will be happy to send the money by MoneyGram on Saturday morning on her way here. She says MoneyGram is ready for collection the same day, so you will certainly have it ready for Tuesday. I was a bit puzzled about this part of your letter though

> Please am eagerly awaits you please! Steve in the name of God in heaven I plead with you once again please try all you can to do this soonest.

Who is Steve?

From David

Philomena wrote:

hay!!! Dave I made mistake in typing!!! after I read your mail this afternoon i went back to the last mail I write because i normally write down my message in a note book before i will be to the computer to write it to you, so while i went back to my letter i found out i was to write STREAKS, what i mean there is to let you know that i have all my hope on you and your promise to me, that am waiting seriously for it, but i believe it will be while i am checking the spelling i could have click steve in instead of Streaks. pleaseooo!!! i don't have any body called by the name, even around the surroundings, please get me Right, after i write i check my mail from the place you can see ABC, and if i made a mistake there will be suggestion for correction, i believe it was there i made the mistake because i was ruining out of time on the PC, so while rushing to send the message before the time it turn off, it resulted the mistake.

please understand me i am not pretending to you, but for sure i know i do not have any affairs with any man, and i give myself time for that because one could not be suffering at the same time smiling. i swear by the name of GOD it was a mistake from spell checks please.

i am happy you are given me the hope that before Tuesday that i will smile, i thank you a lot and at the sane time extend my greetings to Jenny and tell her how i wish i could be present on your wedding day, but all the same may God be with you in Jesus name.
i love you both and will not erase you in my memory God Bless.

yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Don't worry about it! I've read some entertaining stories of how Spellcheckers have totally changed the meaning of what somebody intended to type!

I was chatting with Jenny on Messenger last night and she seems to think that she needs your town or city name to enter on the Moneygram form. What should she put? It would be good if you could let me know as soon as possible, because I've got some visitors arriving later today, so won't be online tonight.

My good friend George has been taken to hospital suffering from pneumonia, he is 86 or 87, so it's rather serious, and his daughter and her husband are travelling down from up north to be able to see him. They don't really want to stay in George's house, so I said they could stay here, there's plenty of room. I don't know how long they'll be staying, I suppose it depends on how George gets on, they are retired themselves so don't have any commitments to go back for. I'm going to sit with them tonight, though, in case they want to talk.

Jenny is coming here tomorrow after going to Moneygram, but then leaving to go and stay with her cousin for a week. Really, she still had Monday and Tuesday to work, as that is still the end of March, but her boss said she needn't bother, so she is finishing work today. Her cousin has arranged a pre-wedding hen party for her for the end of the week, and I think before that she has some old friends to visit.

It is still wet and cold here, and very muddy everywhere!

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Dearest Dave,

I must thank you for your understanding and all, and I keep saying you are God sent to me. My prayer to you always is that that God will care for your own needs, you will never lack nor seek for assistance and fail, because your heart is open, and you can see it too that God has being doing it for you.

In all this I am not surprise that Jenny’s boss says she can leave, even though there are still days to work, because you are blessed, and when a man is blessed, his entire family is being blessed, so we thank God for all.

The person that will help me to collect the money is called,
Philip Ekwunife.
the Money is coming to, city: Koforidua,
Country: Ghana.

So they said there will be some information from you, that is sender name, city, and country plus the control information from the Money Gram.

dear have nice day and may the best of the week, best blessing of the week be yours and your family,

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Sorry I couldn't get back to you until now; after Jenny left I went
to visit my friend George in hospital for a while. Anyway, the
Reference Number that Jenny says you need is:
41386425.

She says she paid it to your own name, so it would be easier for you,
without having to rely on anyone to get it for you. She rounded it up
to £360.

Got to dash off now, I haven't evening done the evening feeds for the
animals yet, and it's getting dark!

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Dear Dave ,

Please respond to this very fast. I am in trouble, I have visited three banks that do Moneygram, the first place says i will only take the money with International passport or driving license which i don't have, and i went to the second place it the same, then I went to talk to the man - I told you to use his name and send the money to me. he then take me to his bank and there the official says that the money has been processed. and we ask by who, the bank officer says it is only the sender that will be in position to locate that please all i need from you is to let Jenny know what is going on, and talk to the Money gram so that they can tell the station were the money is taken from please!!!!.
How i wish you are on phone, it could have be the easiest way.

please i pray my spirit will touch where ever you are to see this message soonest
yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Well, it must be that God has answered your prayers, because I was
outside and I suddenly thought I should go and check my mail (which I
don't usually do at this time of day) and now I've come indoors and
found your letter.

When you say the money has been processed, do you mean that it has
been withdrawn by somebody? Somebody who shouldn't have taken it? Is
that right? Who could have done that, though? Another refugee,
pretending to be yourself?

You're saying that if Jenny contacts Moneygram, she can ask them who
withdrew the money? I suppose they would have record of it on their
computers? Not that that will help YOU any, unless you are able to
confront them and get the money back?

Jenny is staying with her cousin in Lincolnshire at the moment, and I
don't have any contact details for her, but what I can do is go to my
friend Duncan's house this evening, and use his phone to telephone her
parents, and ask them for this cousin's phone number and then ring
Jenny there. Duncan won't mind.

Would Jenny have to return to the place where she sent the Moneygram
money from, though? She's quite a long way from that at the moment.
Or could she just go into the nearest one where she is? I suppose she
can ring them and find out, it should all be on the computer system,
whichever one she goes to.

I'll get back to you after I've spoken to Jenny tonight. I wish I'd
tried again with the bank transfer now, I was just trying to get the
money to you the quickest way.

I'm sorry for this trouble.
Love David

Philomena wrote:

Dear please, see i don't even know who to suspect but i have no body that knows about the money except me and the two different moneygram offices i visited that refuse to give me the money, i present my Refugee ID and they both says it is only driving License or international passport. I am thinking that any of those agents could have taken the money, though i am not sure, but Mr PHILIP EKWUNIFE who i went to tell after those two places, he suspects that those agents might have taken the money. but the money gram office says its only the sender who can find out who has taken the money, if it is taken, so please any how you can get to Jenny to contact the office there, please do it so that i will know what to do next please.

Philomena wrote:

Dearest,
I have been in the state of confusion all day, and keep doing inquiries on how possible it is that some one else picked money that is not for him or her. and there was a banker that one of the UNHCR officals, miss rossy sayas, she has asked one of her banker friends how possible it is, and she said that the sender has to visit his or her agent, that is the bank where she sent the money, and they will track the bank name, the agents name, because the agent’s password must appear while processing the money, and with that i will be able to know the best I have to do in order to get the money back, or even to know the person that have caused this pain for me. meanwhile the lady i was talking to, miss rossy, has promised me that the form is still with them till Friday, probably to be moved either friday or coming Monday, so that the operation of a none registered member will end, tomorrow she will do the best she can to have my form valid till then. Dave, please in the name of God i plead with you, i know you have tried but please, more of your effort is needed, plead with Jenny for me to please do the best she can to contact the MoneyGram were she sent the money from, more over is this the reference number;41386425? please i don't know what else to do. i beg you dear please.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Sorry I couldn't get back to write to you last night, I'll tell you about that in a minute.
I tried to telephone Jenny at her cousin's house, but there was no reply, they must have been out at a restaurant or something. I did leave a long message for her, though, on the answerphone, explaining everything and asking her to look into it this morning, and then email me by midday. I don't know whether or not her cousin has a PC or a laptop, but there must be a library or something in the area where there are public computers which she could use. Jenny is very efficient, so I'm sure she'll get this sorted. And I'll make the biggest effort to write to you as soon as I get her email.

I feel very frustrated, the main reason that Jenny said she'd use Moneygram not Western Union is because she'd heard of people losing money through Western Union, and she thought Moneygram, which is much more respectable here, was the safer option. Still, we'll see what they have to say this morning.

Do you remember about my friend George being in hospital, and how I've had his daughter and her husband staying here? Well, sadly, George passed away at 3.18 yesterday afternoon. His daughter was with him at the time. He'd developed pneumonia and really, at his age, there hadn't been much hope for him. Poor old soul. At least the next thing he'll know will be meeting with his Lord.

Anyway, Val and Rob are staying on now, there's the funeral to arrange and his old home to sort and clear and put up for sale. I said I'd be happy to host the bun fight - that's the gathering together for food and drinks after the funeral. It's called the bun fight because, at a funeral, all sorts of relatives come who don't actually like each other, and there is the danger that they will start arguing and end up throwing the buns (that is, the cakes) at each other. It's a joke, really, relatives don't usually have bun fights, or even argue, after a funeral, but often there are a few who won't speak to each other at all, and avoid being near each other, so there can be a bit of tension in the air! Anyway, I said the bun fight could be here and I'd arrange the food and drinks.

It's to be confirmed as yet, but the funeral should be next Monday. Jenny will be back from her cousin's by Saturday or Sunday, so she will be able to come and help.

I know George is in good hands now, but I do feel a loss. It doesn't seem five minutes since he was here for Christmas Day lunch and telling me all his old stories. And he was so looking forward to being at our wedding.

I'm going to see what I can do to help Val today. Clearing out somebody's home after they've died is such a big job. People have so many possessions, so many drawers full of memories, so many papers and documents.

Like I say, though, I'll write to you later.
Love David

Philomena wrote:

Dearest,

It's quite a pity, am so sorry for the loss of a friend like Sir George, as you said he is a good friend, no matter how old he may be the feelings must be there. am sorry for not having commented on it, even while he is still sick at least i could have asked how he is doing, but i believe you will understand that I am in a very big tension this period. i am also grateful for your efforts so far, together with Jenny, but dear please if you can reach her through email, please try to let her understand how fast this is supposed to be,and again, have you checked the reference number so that there is no mistake on it? well i am waiting for your letter, take care and console the bereaved people as much as you can.
bye Dave hope to hear from you soonest.

Philomena wrote:

Dear i come round to see if you have communicated with Jenny but yet to hear from you.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I am really sorry for writing so late when I hoped to write at midday.
It has been quite a fraught day, what with one thing and another, but
all that is sort of my problem here, and not for you to worry about.
What you need to know is what Jenny had to report. Which is:
Moneygram can tell her WHICH branch/outlet the money was picked up in,
but not by WHOM. They can't tell her WHO picked it up, they said,
because, in their eyes, there is only ONE person who can pick it up,
and that is YOU.

They said that the person picking it up was required to have some form
of identification that they were Philomena Nelson. They said a refugee
card would be sufficient in SOME outlets, but it really depended on
the policy of the bank or other unit, it wasn't sort of a national
rule or anything, as far as they knew. So they thought that only
someone pretending to be you could pick up the money, at least
legally. They did say though that in some countries the Moneygram
clerks and officials or whatever they are called are not 100%
reliable, and it is a possibility that the money could be given to
someone WITHOUT identification, especially if that somebody gave them
a bribe or a tip.

Jenny asked for the information as to WHERE it was picked up, in case
that was of some help, but they said they couldn't give her ANY
details unless she presented identification herself AND the Moneygram
receipt. Well, she had identification, but not the receipt because
she'd left it at home, of course. She had, apparently, not paid it in
on the way here, as I'd originally thought, but paid it in earlier in
the day, then driven back home, and left the receipt there.

So she is going to have to wait until she gets home, then take the
receipt back to the post office, along with her driving licence, and
then they can tell her where it was picked up and what time. Until
then they won't tell her anything, because, they said, she could be
anybody, coming along and trying to find out things she had no
business to know. Which is fair enough, I suppose, but a bit
frustrating at the moment.

I thought maybe her parents could take the receipt along to the post
office, and do it for her, but it seems they won't accept that, she
has got to do it herself.

But is it going to be much use knowing WHERE the money was withdrawn,
if they can't tell us by whom? It'd be like looking for a sewing
needle in a marshy swamp, wouldn't it?

This is not a good day. I feel kind of depressed about everything
today. Maybe I'll have some fresh and new thoughts tomorrow.

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Oh dear i am finished, i even don't know what else to say at the moment, the man whom i asked you to use his name at first, that is my friend’s brother in law, he says they may be of help if we get to know the branch where its been taking from, though he said it is not 100% guarantee but he will try, and now Friday is fastly approaching. Dave i am really confused, has it been that God wants me to remain like this for the rest of my life ? no no no, i reject that, please Dave, have you examined the Reference number to be correct?

Ok, if the only option is for Jenny to go to the bank with the receipt, please do you know when she will come back to go for that clarification.? Please, because i am suspecting the one of the two places i went to that reject my ID saying that they can only accept International passport or driving license, i suspect them because humans can be heartless, since i have pleaded that i don't have those documents and a chance for that, i am tired and confused, please what do i do now.

Philomena wrote:

Dearest Dave,

I hope you are fine and doing well, My dear I know that I have been causing lots of inconveniences to you all this while, But please in the name of God i beg you to bear with me.

Please I will like you to help me check the reference number that Jenny Give to you, to be sure that we are not making mistakes, and please ask her to crosscheck her own too with the bank receipt. please also ask her to be patient with me for all the stress and inconveniences i have cost her this time, please plead with her for me.

Dave I know that you have triad for me, but please keep it on, i see you in my heart and eyes as my own brother, mother,father, and all the relations i need in life. i will want to ask you this, please consider me because i know that the road to greatness is never an easy way, with my experiences in life this long while, though short while in the eyes of others that are not in my shoes, i learn a lot, and i believe that resettlement is the easiest way to my freedom and liberation in life for now.

why am i saying all this? is because the opportunity i believe is now.

Dave, I am not totally convinced that a well paid banker could rob me, not even the poor ones in the street, but a banker? but at the same time i suspect them because i have not shared the information with any one accept the two banks which refused my ID and said it is only the international Passport or driving license. so if the mistake is not from us, and some one has picked the money, it then means it must be one out of the two places.

But in all this Dave, I want you to know that it is not any of ou fault, you David, Jenny, nor I, Philomena. Rather my enemies is at work, against my Liberation. So please I will like you to help me out of this problem with what ever it takes you, because if this set of program goes, the next is America, MIAMI, BUT PEOPLE ARE DESPERATE to go there, people with money and what ever it takes to be out of the present Country.

what am saying is if you could make me leave this place Dave, i promise you will not be out of my heart for life. i may not pay you back, but even if I later paid you the money.my dear i still know that you are the God I see for now, because with out you there is nothing i can do.

please i want you to do this for me ,if this money has been lost or not, please make out another for me in the name of borrowing to make sure that I have this program now. try and send to me another money in between now to Friday, even Saturday because if they are to carry out the form it must be from Monday, while Rossy promise me to keep my form in till then, if you send it with my name, i have a place that agree to accept refugee ID card. If its by my friend’s brother inlaw name Philip Ekwunife, he can operate any where. I beg you this in the name of God, its very had for me to voice out this because i know that money is not so easy to get, but please i have no other option than to tell you.
if it’s a borrow i know i have nothing to give you now as collateral, but do it as if you are doing it for God sake, I beg you dear i have no other place to go.

yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Oh please don't apologise, nothing is your fault, it's just the messy
situation, not helped at all by Jenny being away at the moment. She
primarily went to stay with her cousin because her cousin is arranging
a hen party for her on Friday night. That's what's made it awkward.
Her cousin has booked a chef to cook the meal and ordered all the
wines, and invited the guests, and Jenny can't just cancel it and
come back early to sort this out. IF she doesn't drink too much on
Friday night, she'll drive back on Saturday, but, really I think it is
going to be more likely to be on Sunday, because it is against the law
here to drive the next morning if you've been drinking the night
before, because the alcohol will still be in your bloodstream, and the
police can just stop your car and give you an alcohol test now, even
if you don't do anything wrong while driving.

She can certainly check the reference number as soon as she gets home,
though. Or, better still, she could ring her parents and get them to
do it before then. She wrote it down on a piece of paper to give to
me, and I wouldn't have thought she'd make a mistake, but it's worth
checking anyway. Really, it would be good if a copying mistake is all
that it is. I'll see if I can get into contact with her today. I'm a
bit busy at George's old home, his daughter wants to go back to her
home after the funeral, so we are sort of racing against the clock to
get the place cleared, but I can come back and check my mail, and, if
necessary, borrow a phone to ring Jenny this evening. We've arranged
for a house clearance firm to bring a lorry tomorrow and take most
everything away, but there's still some personal papers and mementos
to go through first, and the putting aside of stuff that can be passed
on to friends and relatives.

Anyway, the money itself isn't really a problem, I'm sure I must have
told you once that my father was quite successful in business, and
when he died, he left me a good inheritance, so I don't have to worry
about that. Time is more of the problem, it is such a nuisance really
that Jenny is away at the moment, and on top of that, there's all the
things we're having to do after George's passing away. It's the
funeral on Monday at 11 o'clock, which ties us both up for the entire
day. I can't see how we are going to be able to get this money to you
in time, unless Jenny can do something on the way to the funeral.
She did tell me that when she sent some money by Moneygram to a friend
who was travelling abroad and who suddenly needed some cash, this
friend could pick it up where they were just 15 minutes after Jenny
had sent it, but I don't know whether that was just some special
arrangement between countries, her friend was in Thailand or somewhere
round there, I think.

All may be difficult, but not necessarily impossible, so don't lose
hope. If there's a way to get anything done, Jenny will do it, she's
very efficient.

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Dear Dave,

I thank you for your understanding and your assistance so far, both in the area of finance and the words of hopes you have been supplying me, i must say i am very grateful for have some one like you, and Jenny by your side. once more i thank you so much but i am still insisting on the time, please like you said, she sent to some one and the person picked it within 15 Minutes, so it is, because since this incident i have heard lots of advice and directions over the easy transfer moneygram, and others they said that as soon as the transfer is made i can pick it as soon as possible. i have heard you, and i hope that with you, God will see me through and out of here soonest, only i am afraid of the time, really i am.

i am waiting to hear from you dear, have a nice day, please do take care of the house.
still i repeat that this very time i don't want to miss it.

please my regards to Jenny.
yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Oh!! my God,
Dearest, is everything alright? how is Mr. Gorge's Burial arrangement ? I did not read from you yesterday and this morning again hope all is well?

Please how is Jenny, did you hear from her?
Dave i awaits to hear from you before the last hope alarm please.

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Just a quick note to say that Jenny got back yesterday but too late
to get to Moneygram (the post office shuts at noon), so she'll go
first thing tomorrow morning and see what can be sorted out.

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Dear am happy to read your mail this morning, thanks a lot and may God be with you. I am hoping to hear from you soonest because I am still hoping that If i got money now, i still have chance because the file according to ms Rossy is not yet taken out from Bujumbura camp office.

i hope to hear from you once its been sorted out.
yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

About Jenny hope the party went successful at her cousin’s place. please my greetings to her and tell her i wish her best in life.

Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Dear I come around again to check if there has been any mail from you over Jenny’s visit to the MoneyGram this morning, but yet to hear any thing, is she back?

am worried over this chance please.
Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

This is the first chance I've had to write to you, it seemed like the
bun fight went on forever! Everyone has finally left, there's a lot
of clearing up and washing up to do, but I need to see to the animals
first. Jenny is making a start though, while I write this.

She went to the village post office this morning to see what's been
going on, but the old woman who works there was not really familiar
with Moneygram, and had great trouble with the computer, and wasn't
really any help at all. She did suggest that it could be that we are
misreading the numbers, they are written a bit casually, and it could
be, she said, that the 4s in it are really 9s, so it really reads
91386925.

I've been arguing against that idea, though, because you said that the
number was alright, it was just that the money had already been
withdrawn. So really her and Jenny’s discussion about this was just missing
the whole point.

Jenny came back thinking she'd found a solution, and I said no, she'd
got it wrong, it wasn't that you couldn't access the money, it was
that the money was GONE - by then, though, it was too late for her to
go back to the post office, and I don't think it would have done any
good anyway, with the old woman poking about on the computer and not
getting anywhere. The only thing Jenny can do is go back to the TOWN
post office where she sent it from, and let more competent people sort
it out.

But it's all going to be too late for you, isn't it? I feel like I've
failed somehow. I know I can't control what any thief might do, but
it still upsets me.

Anyway, I must get on with the animals now before it gets dark.
Jenny will go to the town post office tomorrow, at least we might
then have some definite answer, even if nothing else.

I'm sorry.
Love David

Philomena wrote:

Dearest I got your mail first thing this morning and I went to the bank for the money, as I was going I meet one of our resettlement officers, the Philippe lady I told you about that wants to help me, and she repeated that the forms are yet to move, though she has no idea of when they will be moved..
I joyfully went to the money gram office only to face another disappointment. The number is still saying Invalid the 91386925 and she used it the other way round which is last nine to four 91386425 and that one says wrong number so I don’t even know what to believe, either the money has been withdrawn or the number is wrong.
My dear I know it is a huge tax but please, since this lady want to help me on this, it will be painful that after all this while and long hope waiting, I lost this chance, please I want you to send another money to me now, and when I say now, I mean as fast as possible. Either with my name or with the person I told you before that wants to help me, and full name of the sender like if Jenny sent it with her name I will need the name in full either Jenny Elsdon or any name, please let me know. Then the first can be withdrawn by her or if she is able to ratify what the problem is, I will be happy to read from you soonest.
Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Please my dear i ask for your patience, i know i disturb both of you but pls bear with me. i have been transporting from Camp to town over this issue, borrowing money for transport, as i talk with you now, i should go back to Bujumbura today, but if i go back, i don't even know how to come back out if you finally send it, so for today i will remain in town to see if you are through, because to walk from Bujumbura camp to town, it takes a car 50 Minutes and above, so it is a bit far and you know that Lack of treatment to my leg injury makes it very painful to walk a Long way, i beg you please if possible do it today to lessen the stress and increase my chance to the program.

Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Dear I am still in the town with my friend, please like i said, i hope you received my mail earlier and do something about it, please since we are still in the town, you can send the sms to my friends phone when you are through, i am with her always.the number is +233246030482.
Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Dear, Good morning how is your day over there, hope fine?

I know that a lot has come and gone that I have not commented on through my messages these days, though its not that i don't read it from you, but the situation at hand covers everything, so we will talk about all this later, about the Burial of Mr George, the Farm and it contenst, the weeding that is coming on, and so many other things.

But I hope we will chat about all this in a due time, for it is that i am still hoping for liberation. hope to hear from you after long wait in town yesterday.

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Sorry I couldn't get back to you yesterday, I wasn't very well,
probably after all the stress of the past few days. Jenny went back
to the original Moneygram place though, and it seems that the original
reference number WAS correct (not misread, like the village
postmisstress suggested) AND the money had not be picked up at all!
So I've got no idea what went wrong there and why the Moneygram person
at your end told you that someone else had withdrawn it.

Anyway, seeing there obviously was a problem with it, Jenny decided
to recall the money, I hate the way this has all gone wrong, so much
for modern technology, it is supposed to make things quick and easy,
but it seems to me that it still far too open to human error, and
people just aren't trained in their jobs like they used to be, I'm
sure.

But enough of my ranting, all I can say is that I am so truly sorry
that I have failed you and let you down. All I can hope is that God
has other and better plans for your life. I do so hope so and will
pray so forever.

That's all for now because I'm still not quite well and need to get
some more rest. With my wedding less than a week away, I can't risk
being below par like this.

With the hugest sorrys, love David

Philomena wrote:

My dear I am sorry for your Health and I pray that God will renew your strength, Dave, now I really know that the problem i have is more of spirit than of fiscal, Ok just look at this issue now, the reference number i have at first was 41386425 and all this while I visit Money gram they have been telling me there is no money on it, and now you are angry with me, Jenny also is upset with me. that means that all my hope of Liberation has been shattered. who will i blame, i am not an expert on moneygram and have never been there, and i told you to use the name of someone who has the knowledge, but you went and sent it on my name, now everybody is angry with me after all the long waits and stress, yes i know its not easy for you and Jenny there, but you can now think of me, how much pain this could be, my resettlement now is at risk, and you are angry with me, ok ok no problem, You have tried, its not your fault. but its like God is no more, why am i living? O my God, i feel like killing myself.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Of course I am not angry at you. If I have any anger about anything
(though really it is more frustration, not anger) it is about the
incompetence of modern technology and modern workers, but that is
something I feel in general, not just about this. All business should
become easier with each new invention and innovation, but instead it
seems we are going backwards in inefficiency.

It was Jenny, not myself, who made the Moneygram payment, and of
course, as another woman, she wanted to make it in your name. It is
so important for women to be able to conduct their own business
affairs and not be dependent upon some man, for when a woman is
dependent upon a man, she is handing control and power over to him,
and no woman should permit that in her life. It is like God tells us
in the Bible, when He describes the ideal woman in Proverbs 31.10-31,
women should be responsible for their own handling of money. Verses
16 to 18 say:

'SHE considers a field and SHE buys it, and from HER earnings she
plants a vineyard. She gathers her strength around her and throws
herself into her work. SHE sees that HER business affairs go
well....'

So, of course Jenny thought that you would want to live God's way and
do things for yourself. I think that is the best way too. Please
don't give up. Trust yourself to Him. Really you can't go wrong when
you are relying upon God. He must have other plans for you. And He
says that His plans are for our well-being, not for bad things, so
that there is hope for the future - see Jeremiah 29.11.

I am still a bit unwell. I might be a bit run-down or maybe have a
virus, I don't know. When I wrote before of stress, I wasn't really
refering to our problems, but to the stress of my friend George
getting pneumonia and then dying, and then having his bereaved
daughter and her husband come to stay, and having to sort out his old
home against the clock, and then the funeral itself. All that on top
of normal life. I have a WWOOFer coming for the Easter weekend, which
will help, I'm sure.

Love David

Philomena wrote:

My Dear,

First of all I Thank you both, that is you and Jenny, for your assistance, Dave you have built me up through your Emails, I told you this before that through your mails I am really having much hope and good plans for life.

Well I understand your sermon over Jenny’s idea and I’m never against that. but it later happens I think, I told you that here in Ghana its not the Camp we use to hear about, we are being denied lots here,

From my investigation I told you that my friend who had the idea before directed me to her brother Inlaw as she is sure that he has every permit needed for one to work in a foreign country like Ghana. I explain this to you. of cause I am more happy to do my things on my own, and not for friends to know everything about me, and through that which Jenny did, I have got to know some banks that will give me the service I need with my ID, and not Only when I got Driving License or International passport. So her idea is good, only that I don’t really understand what happened with the first transfer she did with the Moneygram. Though I suspect that the first place I went to might cancel the money, that is according to the man that my friend took me to, the one that I give you his name before.

But as for me, I love doing my things on my own, if only you will still wish to help me for a new life, I just don’t want to talk about that now, lets talk about your wedding.

A NEW CARESS ON YOUR SOFT AND SMOOTH FUTURE, MY HONEY, FULL OF LOVE, HUGS, PASSION, SWEETNESS AND TENDERNESS,

YOURS ONCE MORE,
PHILOMENA.

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 9:59 am

5. Married Life and Goats’ Births.

Philomena wrote:

Hello dear,

Happy married life!!!!! I haven’t hear from you since last you write, though I know the wedding arrangement and all other things before your honeymoon will keep you so busy, I don’t even ask were you are spending your honeymoon, So where???

Bros I don’t even know what else to say except that I depend on you, not that if you refuse to help me, that one will do you any harm nor hold you responsible, but because of God, please try to do some thing.

Its not that there no other chances of life but here is not like out there, that any one serious to work will find some thing to do, Ghana is not that kind of place, I don’t even know how to explain it for you understand. But what ever, I need to be resettled because that is the smallest way for you to help me, I don’t mean that the money you will send me is small, but to compare with other ways I could be free. Ok, to say now I learned hair dressing and can do the work to the best of my ability I believe.

But since I have been searching for work, documents Deny me working opportunities, i have no working permit, but before i can get a working permit I have to visit my embassy first, declare my self from the camp, and that I am no more in the care of UNHCR, and an official will take me to my country embassy for documents that will make me eligible for work, but to talk about that, first I need to have plans for a house, and money to start the documents process,

I don’t have the money you sent me that is later recalled back because of the incontinences picking it caused to all of us, You, Jenny and I, but even if I had received, it is not enough for me to get out of the Camp to my embassy to declare that I am no more a refugee, I need to be sure of a house, feeding. other refugees that have left from the camp say that this is the best for me to do. But I have no work, no money to open up my own hair saloon, though i now think that will be much better than this resettlement program. Please I still need you to achieve this freedom, I beg you in the name of God.

Please I am not happy with how things are going, please do all you can to help me out of here soonest ok.

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Well, here I am again, now a married man! Jenny and I could not go
away for a honeymoon, because we couldn't leave the animals, so we've
stayed right here, just shut ourselves away and told everyone not to
call, while we properly got to know one another!

Now we're facing a busy time ahead with baby goats being born!
There are still a few practicalities to sort out, we have to take a
trip to a see a lawyer to issue us with a document to state our new
chosen names are legal. If Jenny had simply taken my surname/family
name, or I had taken hers, there would be no problem, but we decided
to instead combine them (so I'm now David Chorley-Smallwood Elsdon and
she is Jenny Chorley-Smallwood Elsdon) and that means that the banks etc
won't accept them without this special document, and special certified
copies have to be made too. It is ridiculous really, when you think
about it: you'd think a marriage certificate would be sufficient, and
proof enough of change of name. They just make work for themselves to
justify the existance of every department, I'm sure.

Unemployment is pretty high in this country, but we have the safety
net of the welfare benefit system. Anyone who is looking for a job
but can't find one can sign on for benefits. It's not a fortune, it
is just enough to pay for food and enough electricity to cook it (and
rent, if you need it) for every week, but it stops people starving.
Yet still people slip through the safety net and end up homeless and
begging on the streets. And some people, of course, are so miserable
with no more than just the basics to live on
that they turn to drink or drugs, and then all their money goes on
that instead. Some people judge others who do that sort of thing, but
I don't, I just think 'there but for the grace of God go I', because I
think, well I don't know what I'd do if I was in their circumstances,
maybe I'd be strong and positive and self-controlled, I'd like to
think so - but, then again, maybe I'd be tempted to drown my sorrows
in a bottle of wine or three too, who knows? I'm just thankful that
I've never had to find out.

Anyway, how are you doing, and what are your plans now? Have you
missed the opportunity to join the resettlement programme, or will
another one be coming up? Or are you looking into the possibility of
staying where you are and opening up your own hairdressing salon? Do
women grow their hair long in Ghana? Black women in this country
often like to grow their hair and then it have it arranged into most
beautiful styles, but of course, it is not hot here, so we can have
lots of hair without getting too hot. Though I must admit, my beard
does get a bit hot in summer, but I still won't shave it off!

I'd better stop now, I have a wife to make happy! Jenny says hello!

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Dearest Dave,

How is your day? over there with your new married life? How does it look like? Big Bros i want to hear from you how it looks like, how you feel having some one that is helping you, or should i say by your side, while you are working around the farm. I mean having some one that...... like you just said, i have new wife to make happy WONDERFUL WORDS, i love those words there, I have new wife to make happy,the worsd there are lovely, and it painted a picture of how caring you could be.

wow!!! extend my greetings to her!!!. my dear i hope you are doing fine in all around you and the farm and its a good news. Now the Goats new born babies, so how many kids did the Goats deliver?? and I hope our prayers worked out, that this season you will have more females than males from the Goats??.How is the atmosphere there with the new babies???

Well Dave, I am somehow confused, just living by the grace of God and still hoping that his will is not of evil but of Good to my life, and i hope it will come through one day in life, so that I will give the testimony of life.

About resettlement, the Group for the Australia / Canada is over, i missed it, though they have not left, but according to the official i talk with last, she says that the first trip for Canada will leave may 26th, then the rest in June.

Now the Miami Forms are still Open though I don't ask when it will end, because it adds 150 Ghana Cedis to the previous one, while i have no money and have no other hope, again I did not hear from you about this, so i do not ask when the forms will stop. though the program is where i hope for liberation because the cost for it is less than my hairdressing plans. but I am to start hair dressing first i have to go out from UNHCR and seek documents legally to resides here here in Ghana, and then go after a shop to rent for about 6 month for a start, and then buy the tools to start with, of which all this protocols will cost between 3800 to 4000 Cedis - where will i get such amount of money from? though that would be the best thing that ever happens in my life, first i will be free, have my legal Documents that is not under any organization,and make my dally bread from my work as well, it is beautiful for me to be on my own but to afford it is the problem, not only a problem, but a big problem so….

i will stop here Dave, my greeting to the lady of the house, you know that now you will not have to eat everything in the house alone, for when you eat now you will be with the lady of the House, Jenny.

hope to hear from you!!!
Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I have been awake all night with two goats who were giving birth, so
this mail will be a bit short as I need to get some sleep soon.

Yesterday our first births were 2 females, then last night one goat
had one female and one male, and another goat had 2 males, but they
were born a couple of days too early, and one died within a couple of
hours, and the other one is not very strong, so I think we will lose
him as well. I know I shouldn't, but I get very sad about that sort
of thing. I'm telling myself, well at least it's boys dying, not
girls, but it is still sad and their mother is going to be sad too,
unless we can get one of the others to be adopted by her. I'll try.

I want to keep two males for myself, for breeding next year, so I
don't have to hire a ram or use artificial insemination, and I've got
two people on a waiting list for a couple of males each for pets, so I
can have a total of 6 males, without having to let any go to be made
into dog food. Ones that go for pets have to be neutered (as well as
de-horned, but I de-horn them all anyway, so they don't injure each
other!), because whole-male goats are quite revolting, they urinate
over their own faces and smell terrible. Castrate them and they
become very nice instead, and suitable for pets. Some people like
them as pets, they keep them in their garden or in a field and take
them for walks on a lead like we do with dogs. It is a better life
than being turned into dog-meat.

There's still another 7 goats still to give birth.

Yes thank you, it is wonderful to be married, I seem to be laughing so
much. Mainly at Jenny telling me off and reprimanding me! She
thinks I am very disorganised and too much of a daydreamer. She is
very efficient and gets jobs done in a fraction of the time it takes
me to do anything. I'll send you a photo of her next time I write.

What are you preferring to do? Would you prefer to go to another country for resettlement?
Or would you prefer to stay where you are and work there?

I suppose it depends on your personality. For me, I like familiar
things, familiar culture, familiar way of living, I think I'd rather
stay where I am than go off to somewhere else. So I can understand a
preference to stay, too. What do you want most?

I don't see any reason we can't try Moneygram again and send you
something to help. There wasn't any real problem with it before, just
a confusion at the bank at your end. There is no reason that would
happen again.

So much for a short letter! I'd better go to bed! Jenny went to bed
at 4.00 am, so she can get up again in an hour. I'll just go and
check on the goats, then go to bed, and then she can get up and take
over until I wake up again. I've fed the chickens and the dogs and
the cats, so there's only the goats to supervise - and a bit of work
in the vegetable fields!

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Dearest Dave.

i am very happy to hear from you and about the Goats conditions, Though it's sad to have lost one of them and even look on to another, but God knows best. its really a Pity to their mom.

And Dave Don't you think you Stress Jenny??? well you too, to have notsleep till now o!! it really a work my dear, May God Be your Stength.

I know that the farm will multiply next year, how do you intend to do it?? I mean the license since the other 7 of the Goats hav not Delivered yet and you have 5 already. it means you have to re-register again for having that many? or is it not many to your license of operation you have???

well about me Dave I will tell you the truth, i would prefer to stay here and arrange my life and see if i can recall some of my parents property if possible. but the issue is what i told you, to settle down here requires whole lots of cash to arrange myself and get settled.which I told you it is very huge and i am thinking it is too big to demand from you.so that is the reason i focus on the resettlement.

Dave there is a saying that says, A BEGGAR HAS NO CHOICE, what i ask you is what do you think you will be able to do for me? So either of these two helps you give me, establishing here is beautiful, i love it, going for resettlement too is fine. will be appreciated greatly.

please my regards to Jenny.
Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Dearest,
How are you doing together with the family? hope enjoying the best of the atmosphere there.

Have you got the deed of the changing of names?? so that I will call you Mr. and Mrs David Chorley-Smallwood Elsdon. or are you still on the process?

i just come aroud to say hi!!
yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Thanks for your mails. That other little weak male goat kid died, but we've had 2 more females born since then, and the mother of the dead twins has accepted another kid to suck on her, so she feels happier now. We've now got 5 female babies and 1 male, and a week's rest before the next 6 goats are due to give birth, though that will be spread over a couple of weeks so not so tiring for us humans!

Goats aren't too bad to keep records about. I have a general licence, and I only have to give updates to the government department once a year in December. All the new babies have to have their own registration number, and wear 2 ear-tags with their number (and my licence number) on, and I have to fill in forms about anything they do (like have a visit from a vet or go to live in another field), but I don't have to keep sending them off or anything, it's only that once-a-year report I have to send in.

Sheep are a bit more fuss, especially this year, with new EU regulations coming in, which is why I decided not to get any sheep this year. I'll let more experienced people cope with the new regulations first, and then once it is all explained much clearer, I'll think about it then. The rules for pigs, however, are just beyond me! Though I admit I'm not very good with understanding all those sort of things, I just feel like panicking when I see a list of rules and regulations all typed out in such an official way, and forms full of boxes to tick and numbers to put in.

Jenny and I are going to see the solicitor next week to fill in the deed poll forms to change our surnames. Then, at last, we can also change everything else. It is a bit silly at the moment, because we don't have any legal names! Our old names are not legal anymore, because we are not keeping them, and our new ones aren't quite legal yet. We took enough money out of our bank accounts in cash to live on for a few weeks, because we can't access our money in the bank until we give them the deed poll certificate. And I want to put the house into Jenny's name too, so if I die, she hasn't got to pay any inheritance tax on it, but I can't do that yet, either. Everything is such a fuss these days. It is like nobody believes anything about you unless you can prove it 6 times over.

Jenny wants to get telephones put in - we have landlines here, and they have to be wired into your house by British Telecom, the telephone company That's not cheap, and then they charge you another lot of money every month for 'renting' the telephone line they have put in. I wouldn't have it myself, but Jenny insists, she says she would not feel at peace unless her parents could telephone her if they needed her, they are getting older, and they need to be able to contact her. She's left them her computer, so I don't see why they can't just email, but there we are, I need to please my new wife, so we're getting telephones like she wants!

Eventually. We are going to pay them lots of money to put the telephone line in, and then more money in rent for it, and then more money for every phone call we make - so you'd think they would be WANTING to put the phone line in and take lots of money from us, wouldn't you? Oh no. They want a million proofs of identity first. I would never have been able to do it if I'd been on my own, I don't have a driving licence or a passport or anything with my photo on. Jenny does, though, so she said she could sort out a copy of those, but that wasn't good enough! They also wanted an electricity bill with our names and address on, plus a bank statement. We haven't GOT an electricity bill with our names and address on. I've got one with my old name on, but that's not good enough. And we won't have a bank statement with our names on it for months yet, they now only send them once every six months or something. It's so frustrating!

Anyway, enough of my moans! Your letter read as if you still were not quite sure what your future plans are. I suppose it is such a big decision. But please, Philomena, once you are decided, let me know how Jenny and I can help. My late father was quite a successful businessman and he left me a good inheritance, he was a man who liked to help others, so it would please me to honour his memory by doing the same.

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Dearest Dave,

First I am happy because everything is working out just as it supposed to be because at first when you tell me that you don’t have either telephone or Television, it’s very hard for me to believe it, but I had to because some times one likes to live or do something very different from what others do, that is how I come to believe you.

Though I know that some day it will change and I told you that you would change, at least a bit, when you got married, and it’s now happening, so my dear, it may look frustrating now, but with time you will be happy living with the new age and systems.

Well I should have said sad to hear about the little KID but since the mother is now happy, glory to God.

About the telephone, from the look of things it’s like you first have to get your name changed before that will work out?? Please, its lots of money, but please try to get it fixed, its important, I also believe that with time you will be happier with it all.

Dave is not as if I don’t know what I like, but the truth is that I look at the finance side of it all, to go for resettlement, it will have to take me 6 months from being in the new country I get resettled into, before a refugee will get his/her working permit to work in the country and search for what to do for a living, while as we are being resettled, I don’t even know what the conditions of the country will look like. So without doubt, my dear, I prefer to settle down here in Ghana, start something going to feed and pay a house rent, I am only looking at the money involved, but please I am sorry to have underrated you and the help you are capable of giving to me, am sorry Dave ,what I need is to settle here in Ghana and what it will cost me to get all the necessary documents to be a legal resident in the country, then get my own shop to start my hairdressing, it will cost me about 3860 cedis, but to start all this process I need 4000 cedis to start and accomplish my wish and be a free lady here in the country.

This will do me lots of help because my late parents have lots of property around and being around will help me to get some I can see, I believe this is better for me and that is what I have desired for so long, please this is what I need, and I hope you will do it for me, thanks for your love and caring so far, may God bless you for me, Jenny and the Children to Come.

Yours Philomena..

Philomena wrote:

Hi Dearest,

Hope all is fine??? How is the Farm doing? Hope the stress is reducing since the other Goats are to give a bit of rest before their Delivery, and the new Born's, hope thet are growing?

Dave, last time you promise to sent me Jenny’s Picture and I have not received it, why?
Please I awaits to see it soon,

My greetings to everybody around and good wishes of the week to you all.

I hope you read my last mail? and I hope i have not demanded much? please its not easy to get good things done, i hope to hear from you as soon as you can.

yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Oh yes, all is well here, Jenny and I have been making the most of our free week (with no births happening) to go into the city and get a few things sorted out, like the things we needed to do at the solicitor's. We've also got a WWOOFer volunteer at the moment, and a friend of Jenny is staying too. So lots of busyness and not much time for writing mails!
I completely forgot that I said I'd send you a photo of Jenny, I'll send one when I have a little more time.

I'm happy to help with whatever you want to do. Do you know what your needs are in British pounds? I can never remember anybody else's currency and what it means.

Can't stop any longer now, but I'll see if I can write more at the weekend.
Love David

Philomena wrote:

Hi dearest,

I hope all is fine? Please give my greetings to Jenny. I will be very brief due to the time - I am going to Church, I asked the money-gram agents around and she says it‘s

4000 GHS Ghanaian Cedi 1 GHS = 0.48 GBP 1980 GBP Great Britain Pound
1 GBP = 2.1377 GHS

Which is (1980) pounds is the amount that other calculation also I think I got it the way she write it but to end the figure is 1980pounds.

Dave I want to drop here now, I hope that the kids are doing well too???

Please don’t forget that photo, and how far on the solicitor's, have you people changed the name?

Did I hear you say We've also got a Woofer? that is interesting that you finally can have some sound systems at home, so tell me how do you feel with the sounds???

Hoping to hear from you soon,
From yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Thanks for your mail! My cousin Shelly has given me a very recent
photo of Jenny that she took, so I'll send it for you to see. The
horse is one of Shelly's horses, and called Roly. Jenny is a good
rider, and she's getting on very well with Shelly, and helping her out
with the horses, which is lovely for both of them.

We do have a hi-fi music player thing now, because Jenny brought hers
with her. I do admit its rather fun having some music playing in the
evening, we're working our way through Jenny's classical music
collection, I didn't really know anything about classical music, but
I'm learning, it's quite an interesting subject.

The WWOOFer though, isn't to do with that. It stands for Willing
Worker On Organic Farms, volunteers who come and help with farmwork in
exchange for teaching, food, and accommodation. I have quite a lot of
them through the summer, including people from Europe and even
Australia, who are really using the scheme as a way of getting free
accommodation while they travel and see the country. That's fine,
they learn things, and I get some helping hands. This weekend is Bank
Holiday Weekend (the Bank Holiday is tomorrow, on Monday), so I've
also got some paying campers in the camping field who are just
holidaying. The weather is very warm and dry for this time of year,
so that's good for them. Though it's meaning a lot of watering of the
fields and vegetable plots.

Jenny is going back to the solicitor's tomorrow to pick up the change
of name documents, so that will be all sorted then. She is going
straight to the bank to get the accounts sorted out in the right names
too. They'll still have to send through new cheque books and whatever
cards they giving us, but that shouldn't take long.

Thank you for finding out what the money you need is in our currency.
I'm thinking we may as well round that up to £2000. Of course we can
help you out with that. Jenny says she's not sure if one can send
that much all at once with Moneygram, but we can look into that. She
can call in a post office while she is in Norwich on Tuesday and find
out: I can't actually think where on earth the main post office is in
Norwich, but it must be quite central (it is not a huge city) and I'm
sure somebody can point her in the right direction.

I can't go with her because we've got the first of the second batch of
goat babies due that day, so someone needs to stay here and check that
all is well. And so it's better that I stay, and Jenny goes to the
solicitor's etc, because she can drive there and back quite quickly,
whereas I'd have to take the train, because I don't have a driving
licence. The other kids are all doing beautifully, and are lovely
little things who climb onto your lap if you sit down amongst them.
They are not a bit afraid of the dogs, either, but treat the dogs as
if they are their brothers and sisters, and run straight into them and
push them and are generally quite silly around them. The dogs are all
used to goats, except Jenny's one, but she is safe with livestock, so
just stands still and pretends she can't see the babies who are
playing with her.

It was lovely walking to church this morning because there are wild
flowers growing along the hedgerows and just a smell of fresh growing
green things in the air. It is so easy to praise God on a morning
like that. Though it is probably worth more to Him when we praise him
when things aren't so beautiful, but we praise Him anyway. Not sure
I'm always good at that.

I've asked Jenny and she has said I can tell you this secret: we are
feeling very very hopeful (and prayerful) at the moment because her
period is now three days late. I've never heard of any woman I know
getting pregnant as soon as they get married, but of course it IS
possible ... and we are so hoping it has happened that way. I feel as
if I want to wrap her up and lay her down and tell her never to move
again, just in case she dislodges something. I expect you think I'm a
bit silly. But I never thought I'd have a child of my own - it was my
birthday yesterday, and I was 41 years old. I thought I'd missed my
chance to be a father. Now I'm so hoping that God has granted it to
be.

With love, David

Philomena wrote:

Wow!! Wow!! Wow!!! Dearest,

What shall I say? This is the lord’s doing and the song says it is marvelous he’s on our side ……… Dave, I give thanks first of all to God almighty, for he is God that honors his words, he said come unto me all you that is over labored and I will give you rest, call upon me in the time of trouble, and I shall answer you, put my name first and every other thing shall become your own, Dave it’s thanks given to God for this Good–news, but the other way round, the blessings of God always goes to those that honor the name of the lord, I am happy you said it yourself, that you though it …….. And now you are hoping to be a father. My dear, not only a father, but father of many.

O! my God, you have a wonderful wife, pretty, lovely, sweet lips, and pointed nose, in fact what shall I count? she is beautiful, now I see why the man of the house says always I have to run along for I have a Wife to take care of, my dear you really have a wonderful wife, I confess, my greetings to her, and please take good care of that lovely lady, I will be asking for more of her copies, you know why? As time goes on, so as to be sure you are taking care of her.

As for her I know she takes care of you because you are confessing lots of good things she has introduced into your life so I don’t need to ask again, for she already has the good mark of a caring wife, may God bless you the more.

The WWOOFer you said I thought is the one people use for music, but now I got it right, so this time what are you expecting from the Goats all females or mix?

Once again I thank you for your caring and i pray to God that he strengthen you the more. my greeting to Jenny, I love you all,

Dave, do you know that I am now feeling as one who has her family around her, well I will not love to talk more about that now, take care of the house, yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Thank you for your lovely words. Jenny can take the pregnancy test at the end of this week, so then we will know for sure that there is a baby growing inside her, but we do think so, and it is more exciting than baby goats!

Though we have just had one more of those this morning. A male, but that is good, because I want another male to keep for ourselves, so we can do the breeding ourselves from now on, and not have to hire a male from someone else.

We had a Bank Holiday here on Monday, and so went out to a car boot sale, which was rather fun. A car boot sale is where people put things they want to sell in the boot of their car (that is the trunk, or luggage compartment, I don't know what you would call it) and then drive to a place where there is going to be a sale. They then open up their car boot and take all their unwanted things out and put them on a table, and lots of other people come and have a look at what they have for sale, and buy anything they want.

We didn't have anything to sell, but we went to see what other people were selling, and bought quite a few secondhand books, and then a bookshelf unit to put them all on. It was a bit old and not smart, but I have painted it, and it looks nice now.

There was also a van selling hot dogs (sausages wrapped up in bread! Sausages are meat and cereal mixtures made into a long thin shape) so we had one of those too. It was a very pleasant morning out.

On Tuesday Jenny went to Norwich to sort out the bank. We're just waiting now for the confirmation of changes to come through, and then we'll be able to access the bank accounts again and send you some money. Jenny went and asked about Moneygram limits, and it's fine, it's quite high, so we'll be able to send the money to you, hopefully at the beginning of next week. Jenny thinks it will better to go back into Norwich to do it, as the employees there seem better trained than the employees at the village post offices. It is easier now that we have the car, though I hate to say it! Now we must get it right this time, so which name should it be made out to?

I hope you are well and staying optimistic.
Love David

Philomena wrote:

Dearest,
it is quite interesting you eat the sausage, so how is it tasting? like Goats-meat, cow-meat, or bush meat, how like those does it taste? and you make the meat sound so interesting, that is hot dog meat, so can i have the definition of how it tastes like??

well is also interesting you people are having great fun, its a mark of a happy home, i love that, and i pray you keep it on. till ...... do you apart. Amen.

The goats also, Dave, its is like God just turned unto you this time to furnish you with his good wishes because anything prayed for has been coming through, though you said its always like that and you don't bother yourself for any thing, because you know God is ready to see his people through. so now that one male has joined do you still need to borrow a male from people?

My dear i am grateful for your effort so far to see my liberation, i must tell you that though i have not received the money, your kind heart,and Jenny’s caring really touches me, well i have nothing much to say about it yet, just have to say for now, may God also work in your vineyard.

How to send me the money i told you I have found a place they accept to pay me the money with my ID , not only if i have international passport or drivers license.so its of no problem please send it with my name PHILOMENA NELSON to GHANA,
then after you might have sent it you sent to me, give me the senders name and the tracking number, well of course just the number because i know the sender will be JENNY CHORLEY-SMALLWOOD ELSDON.

Dear please keep taking care of somebody for me!!!!
yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I've been outside nearly all day, sowing lettuces and carrots and a
few onions, and am a bit tired and hungry now, so this will only be a
short letter, but I wanted to tell you two things.

One thing is that our new bank account details and cheque books
arrived this morning, no atm or credit cards yet, but the cheque book
at least means that we can now use the bank account again, so Jenny
will send you the money you need at the beginning of next week.
Hopefully on Monday, or Tuesday, I'll let you know, it depends on
which days we are awake all night with new baby goats!

The second thing is that today Jenny used a pregnancy testing kit,
and it says that she is indeed pregnant! So that is very exciting,
she will visit the doctor next week so she can arrange her pre-natal
check-ups and baby classes. I will go to the baby classes too,
because they teach you things like how to bath a baby and change its
nappy (diaper) as well as all about the birth. The father is expected
to be present at the birth and help the mother, but at least I'm used to
births and don't faint at the sight of blood and newborns!!!

Apparently some fathers feel quite weak when they watch!

Sausages, like in hot dogs (which just means sausage-in-bread) are
made of either pig-meat or cow-meat. The meat is the not-so-good bits
from the legs and tail and neck, and mixed with cereal (any sort), so
it is less strong tasting than good and plain pig or cow meat, the
same as if you take some meat and mix it well with rice or other
grains. Pig-meat is the cheaper meat here, so when you buy hot dogs
while out somewhere, they are usually pig-meat sausages. Which means
that Jews and Muslims do not buy them, not if they keep the diet laws
(not all do!).

This might surprise you: we never eat goat-meat here! Only the milk.
So my goats are milk-goats. Most people prefer cow-milk, but some
people (and quite a few human babies who are not fed breast-milk) are
allergic to cow-milk, so they have to have either goat milk or sheep
milk (which isn't so nice) instead. We also make goat milk and sheep
milk into cheese to eat. We eat sheep-meat too (a lot!), but never
goat-meat. I don't know why, but I think it is because people also
keep goats as pets, and it is hard to think of eating a pet-animal -
it would be like eating cat or parrot!

I'd better go. Jenny has started cooking us a meal, but I can't
leave it all to her!

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Praise!!! the Lord!, You see when God starts blessing some one, there is nothing on earth that will come against it, i wish i could be there by December for i know she will come down by December with a bouncing boy .............. Let me keep the prophecy for now, but i will soon prophesying over our new born baby. hope you are not in haste to hear it from me, OH!!! JEN! am happy for you and pray that things will work out well when i start my work to be earning good money, i will work harder to make more, so that I will join the thanks-Giving day.

o! my dear it is the lord’s doing, we thank God for everything. So you will be going to baby Classes too?? its good, i don't think its the same here, its only the ladies do go for antenatal, you have differences over there, but its good that the man should be helping, oh! that is nice.

So tell me, how is the baby goat, that last one, how is he doing, hope beautifully? and when will the rest give there own births, hope it will be at the same period??

O my dear i am very happy to hear the news about the bank and i hope to hear from you as soon Jenny has done the transfer, i will be much more happy to see the end of the present situation, though am already happy to communicate to some one that cares , to a family that i have longed for, i am happy i have a family with you and Jenny.

My greetings to her and my prayers always is that God’s blessings will continue with you, my people,the only comforter, and the caring family i have so far, Mr. and Mrs Chorley-Smallwood Elsdon.

God Bless you for me.
Yours Philomena.

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:01 am

6. A dollar chop … and a new idea.

At 09:08 in the morning, a dollar-chopper wrote:

Hello Dear,

Please there has been a change. Please make the western union/moneygram payment to these details-

Name - Isaac Johnson
Address- Accra, Ghana
Question - what color?
answer- blue

As soon as it is payed send me senders name ,address and mtcn number immediately.
Thank you
Philomena

At 15:22, David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Just a quick note to check you got the MTCN number at your other
address and that the money was picked up alright. I'm so glad I read
your email about the change of name it was to be sent to, right before
Jenny left! We've just had another goat birth, so can't stop now, I
just came in to see if I'd got a mail from you about collecting the
money yet. If I don't hear back from you within an hour or so, I'll
write again to your other address, OK.

Hope all is well.
Love David

Philomena wrote:

Hello Dave what are you talking i did not get any mail from you, please can i be clear over what you are saying???

Philomena wrote:

Dear, you said another goats birth, how many and what is the Sex??
Please what number are you talking about, i did not get any number please

Philomena wrote:

Sorry Dave I am Confused at your mail. can you tell me what is going on, I will be here for next 30 minutes to hear from you dear,have you sent the money???,

i pray that you come around to your mail box soon!!!

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I just hit 'Reply' to your mail about changing the name it was to be
sent to, and sent the MTCN number and other things to your
philomena.phil address. If you go there, you'll see the mail. Yes,
of course the £2000 was sent, Jenny sent it to the name of Isaac
Johnson like you requested.

Love David
PS. Twin goats born today, 1 female, 1 male, all doing well.

Philomena wrote:

this the last mail i sent you on Sunday, what do you mean????

--- On Sun, 5/10/09, Philomena Nelso <[email protected]> wrote:

From: Philomena Nelso <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Happy sunday!!!!.
To: "David Chorley-Smallwood Elsdon " <[email protected]>
Date: Sunday, May 10, 2009, 2:01 PM

Praise!!! the Lord!, You see when God starts blessing some one, there is nothing on earth that will come against it, i wish i could be there by December for i know she will come down by December with a bouncing bay .............. Let me keep the prophecy for now, but i will soon prophesying over our new born baby. hope you are not in haste to hear it from me, OH!!! JEN! am happy for you and pray that things will work out well when i start my work to be earning good money, i will work harder to make more, so that I will join the thanks-Giving day.

o! my dear it is the lord’s doing, we thank God for everything. So you will be going to baby Classes too?? its good, i don't think its the same here, its only the ladies do go for antenatal, you have differences over there, but its good that the man should be helping, oh! that is nice.

So tell me, how is the baby goat, that last one, how is he doing, hope beautifully? and when will the rest give there own births, hope it will be at the same period??
O my dear i am very happy to hear the news about the bank and i hope to hear from you as soon Jenny has done the transfer, i will be much more happy to see the end of the present situation, though am already happy to communicate to some one that cares , to a family that i have longed for, i am happy i have a family with you and Jenny.

My greetings to her and my prayers always is that God’s blessings will continue with you, my people,the only comforter, and the caring family i have so far, Mr. and Mrs Chorliey-Smallwood Elsdon.

God Bless you for me.
Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

how come you are talking of ISAAC??

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I've been sitting here hoping you'd write back, but not like this. I
received a mail from you this morning, saying that there had been a
change and you now wanted the money to be sent in a different name. I
assumed this was because of the identification documents problem. It
was from a different email address, but I didn't notice that until
later, and even then I didn't worry about that, because people do
often have more than one email address.

Did you send the mail this morning?? And if not, who did? It was in
your name, from Philomena.

I'm concerned now about what is going on.
Love David

Philomena wrote:

It is not true, Dave please go and stop the money immediately, I have never said to you send it to Isaac, and why would i change email address between yesterday and this morning? please go and stop the money immediately, this is why a Phone is very important, Dave please don’t tell me that people have Scammed us, please don’t let it be true, please tell me something now

Philomena wrote:

Dave, don’t tell me i am back to square one, no no no

David wrote:

I can't stop the money, Philomena, it is past 5 o'clock here, and the post offices all shut at 5 o'clock, I think. Hold on a moment, I'll see if I can find out anything from the internet. If there is any chance one is open somewhere, Jenny can go in the car.

David

Philomena wrote:

please go and stop the money now

Philomena wrote:

please read my mail, if any body tell you anything different, that person must be a thief!!!!!!!!!!

Philomena wrote:

my name, philomena nelson, to ghana please!!!

David wrote:

I can't find anything on the internet about closing times, but Jenny has gone off in the car to Norwich just in case the city post office
stays open until 6 o'clock or half past six.

I can't understand this though, I mean, yes, I know there are thieves
in the world, but they are usually opportunists, seeing a chance to
steal and then going for it. How would a thief know my email address
and our names and that Jenny was going to send you the money this
week? Unless it is one of your friends at the refugee camp who you
have spoken to about this? Could that be it? Another young woman
being jealous because you have got a future and she hasn't?

That's sad, but still bad, if that is so. Other than that, though, I
don't see how anyone could know what was going on. The mail I got
this morning was definitely from 'Philomena' and you are the only
Philomena I know.

David

David wrote:

Look, I'm sorry Philomena. The mail I got said it was from Philomena,
and it said there was a change, and could the money now be sent to the
name of Isaac Johnson, address Accra, Ghana. I thought maybe you'd
discovered that you couldn't pick up the money yourself without
identification papers again, so you'd got another friend or pastor or
somebody to do it. I had no reason to think that this wasn't true and
right. I was just glad that I'd read it in time before Jenny left
for Norwich.

I need to go and do the evening feeds now. I'll write again after
Jenny gets back.

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Hello Dear I am not the one who sent you that mail ok, even if i changed the name to send the money to, i will not also change my email address this morning, Dave, am confused, i went to tell my friend what is going on now, and her Brother inlaw come with us to the internet café, and the cafe server said that some people do come to the cafe and set some hacking code, so that if people open their email address from that computer, after you leave there, they will go back and hijack your mail to see what is going on in there. i have changed my password now and they said there is a way to reset the computer after you have checked your email, so i have learnt that. please i am not isaac johnson, you have to resend the money with my name, PHILOMENA NELSON. That person that wrote you is thief.

Philomena wrote:

Please isaac is not me, for God’s sake please do what ever you can to see that this money does not go to the Wrong hand please..

DO READ THE ADDRESS CAREFULY AND MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT SEND EVEN THE mTCN nuMBER TO WRONG PERSON.

Philomena wrote:

Dave don't let this my joy be short just like that, i am pleading with you, don't make mistakes, please PHILOMENA NELSON and don't sent the MTCN to any other address that is not this please!!!

Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hi Dear, I am very sorry for given you all this stress and inconveniences but please bear with me for i will not watch and see such huge amount of money go just like that. it will be a painful news to human hearing.

Please has Jenny returned???

If she has, has she stopped the transfer???

If not, please do me a favor by running very early to see that this money has not been lost please,

it is 6.38 pm here, i will check my mail again to see if you have written some thing, please i am confused and long to hear from you,

yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Jenny went to several places around Norwich, but couldn't find a post
office still open, so she won't be able to go back until tomorrow now.
I feel absolutely awful about this because the lady in the post office
who took the money this morning said to her that it could be collected
by you after only 10 or 15 minutes, and we were so pleased, and I
wrote to you (or who I thought was you) as soon as Jenny came home.
I never thought about the possibility of internet hackers. We don't
have internet cafes here anymore, not anywhere I know, anyway. There
used to be some, when computers and the internet first became popular,
but now people have their own at home. Libraries usually have some
that people can use, like students who are there using the books too
for research, but they are all watched over by the staff, so I don't
think anything wrong would happen. So I never thought of what could
happen in an internet cafe, I just thought you were using your other
email address, lots of people have two, or even more, Jenny used to
have a hotmail account and a yahoo account for instance.

I'm sorry for asking again, but you absolutely do NOT have an email
account called [email protected]? There's no way you would be
accidentally using that address? Honestly, I didn't even notice it
was different at first, gmail doesn't display the From address unless
you click on 'show details'. And it said 'From Philomena' and you're
the only Philomena I know, so I just thought it was real and from you.
It was only after I sent the details from the payment slip that I
noticed that the address I'd sent it to (I'd just hit 'Reply') was
different. But I just thought you were using another email address,
perhaps the usual one wasn't opening properly this morning, or
something. Gmail wasn't working properly last Saturday, so I know that
sort of thing can happen.

Jenny will go back to the post office and see about it tomorrow. I
have a fear that Isaac Johnson, whoever he is, might have already
taken the money, though. That email told me what question and answer
should be used, and as well as the MTCN number, I mailed our address
(I wasn't sure that you had it, I don't know if I ever told you my
address) like the person pretending to be you had asked for.

I don't feel good about this. It wasn't a small amount of money, not
even by British standards.

The thought of a hacker taking it is awful. They can't have any
conscience or morals or shame.

I wish that Jenny didn't know how much it was. I don't want her
upset at this early stage when she could miscarry our baby. I think
I'm going have to pretend to her that it really doesn't matter, and
remind her that God will always work everything out for the good of
those who love Him and obey His commandments.

At least the bit about God is true. Please, Philomena, you trust in that too.

Love David

NEXT DAY:

Philomena wrote:

Please Dave can you do me a favor, tell me, has Jenny left to go to the post office??? O!! Look at me, God I wonder what is happening to me, does it mean that there will be no day of Joy? all this life? Please I am short of words, do tell me when she comes back, i will be around internet, until I hear from you,

Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Please send a mail to the isaac person, ask if he or she has received the money, lets hear from that person too.
O! God, why me?

Philomena wrote:

I don’t have another email address, I don’t, and if I did why would it be that the day you sent money, I would use it to write? God Help me!!!!!
What is all this?

If this is the type of life I am to be living, I wonder why God did not let me die with my family, what is this….

Philomena wrote:

Please am waiting to see the outcome when Jenny comes back

Philomena wrote:

Dave please don’t tell me it is true that I have been robbed out 2000, that is enough to make a living for me, please can some body tell me something ????

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Sorry I couldn't reply to you earlier, I went to Norwich with Jenny
and we are only just back. Yes, the money has been collected in
Accra, it was collected yesterday.

I'll write a bit more later, I need to get something to eat first.

Love David

Philomena wrote:

some body tell me it a lie, o God, am finished.

David wrote:

Hello again Philomena,

I really don't know what to think first.

Last time we tried to send you some money by Moneygram you wrote and
said somebody else had taken it.

Now this time you also say somebody else has taken it.

The first time, of course, it hadn't been collected at all. But you
TOLD me someone else had taken it. I'm wondering now if you had
EXPECTED someone else to collect the money. But for some reason they
never got to the Moneygram place, and so didn't collect it after all.

This time it HAS been collected. And again you say somebody else has taken it.

I'm wondering if it is all a trick.

The first time, did you ARRANGE for someone else to collect the money,
and thought they had done this, so said to me, 'Someone has stolen
it'? Maybe you hoped I would send the money again, so that you, with the
help of the 'somebody else' (who is really your friend), had twice the
amount?

But that didn't work out, because your friend got held up somehow and
never got to collect it after all.

So now you are doing the same trick again?

Maybe I'm wrong, but you have to admit it is suspicious. That is the
second time you have said the money has been stolen. The first time
it was still there all the time.

If I'm wrong, then there is something very wrong with the Moneygram
people in Ghana. Why would they lie to you the first time? Did you
even go to get the money? Or did you stay at the camp, confident that
your friend was getting it, and you could just pretend it was stolen?

I don't know what to think.

I tell myself that you are a nice young woman, good and honest. But
how do I know?

I don't see what good it will do for me to write to the philomena.phil
address. If it is your own other mail address, then you will not
write back and tell me that! If it is your friend's address, then
they won't write back either. And I'm pretty sure that if it is
indeed a thief, then he is not going to write back and admit it!

I'm just confused.

Why would someone hack your email account anyway? You are just a
refugee, a thief wouldn't expect to find all your bank account details
and credit card numbers and letters about all the jewellery and
antiques and Rolex watches you have stored in your house. Why would
they pick on your account to hack? Surely they would only be
interested in the mail accounts of someone who lived in a big house
with cars and a safe full of money?

It doesn't make sense.

I don't know what more I can say right now.

Something doesn't feel right about all this.

Love David

To the dollar chopper, Isaac Johnson, Philomena wrote:

Hello Mr or Mrs Philomena/Isaac,Johnson,

Thanks for the Job well-done, My dear you have played a smart game on me but i want to remind you that the Game you play is also a deadly one, i am not ready to search for you fiscally but mark it that if you chose to eat all that money you have chose to dance the drum of the death, believe it or not, i know you know the best way to locate me either through mail you hijacked or see me face to face, because money is so sweet to enjoy but this one might not be so at the end, i will give you some time to think about this and tell me what to do, but if you hide your heart, God bear me witness i send across to you message of life and Death,

Regards,
The Philo you Robbed.

To David, Philomena wrote:

Dave i am really confused myself but all this blame don't have to come to me alone, Yes i told you the money was stolen, but it was later found that was not, but how am i supposed to know when the official working with MG said the money has been processed? to the real sense of this, Dave i am not at fault, it is either those post officers that said there is no problem that were planning to take the money away from me, or maybe a technical error,

This time its a different story, some one said to you that the address has been changed and you have to send money to him or her with the name Isaac Johnson. Dave, you could have asked why not my name, again why would i change from the person i asked before to help, which is my friend brother inlaw, now to Isaac Johnson? i don't know what to believe again, the post office people now ask me if am sure you sent money, because the last mail about the first money you sent me, i take a copy of the message to show them, i ask them if that’s not good enough that they should tell me now, but now the issue is some one telling you this is the name to sent the money to,

Its either while i was composing the mail to send you some one picked your mail address and went ahead of me, or the thief, the hacker, came to the public cafe and each computer there, they fix some software on it so that after them if you come in to open your mail box on that particular machine, they will have Ur mail address on the web and after they picked it they will go through ur mail box and see what you have in you mail box,

O my God I don't even know what to say again, Dave how could you think that i have some one to pick the money you sent me, only to come and tell you that the money has been picked, God. what is happening to me what is the need of living, God?

please i am confused i don't know what to do or say

David wrote:

Philomena, of course you are right. I just went ahead and let Jenny
make the transfer to the name of Isaac Johnson without thinking. I'm
sorry for being suspicious about it all, I suppose I was just confused
and worried and angry. Thieves just don't realise what anguish they
can cause. I don't know if there is anything I can do. Jenny will
go and find out whether Moneygram have any sort of compensation
process tomorrow. She won't need to go back into Norwich, they should
be able to tell her that at the nearest post office. Then we'll go on
from there, I think.

I'm sorry for my earlier letter. I was trying to think it all out and
I suppose I just got it all muddled in my head. Please forgive me.

I'll let you know what news I have about the situation tomorrow.

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Dearest,
Greetings of the day to you and the entire lovely family, please my greeting to Jenny, a special one. Dear, am sorry for not asking about the farm, Jenny and her new body, am so sorry there is some thing that happen yesterday, with it i come to understand that is very good to take counseling when things are going on.

Yesterday i was so confused that i even think of forgetting this world, if God do not do it, let me help him out, because living makes no sense to me, that was yesterday when you sent a short note saying that the money has been collected.But Rita went to tell her brother inlaw, the one i wanted to help me with the money before, he is an Evangelist, and when he came he started with jokes first, when he said that women believe that what men do, they can do better, that is, i am like a man, with things i have seen in life, why will i weep money that way,in fact he said lots of things and so many examples and instances of life.

Well after all, i am here today, not too happy but at least i can have some hopes of living again,

Even yesterday, i was reasoning with what Rita said, before she invited the Brother inlaw, she said that the person who sent you any money, probably he is one of the evil agents and wants to kill you gradually, and now you see twas his wish, at first the bank transfer when the bank refused to welcome the transfer, second the money in the moneygram not picked, but the agents here say it's been processed, and then this time the money has been taken by Isaac johnson, less than 24 hours before sending the money, sombody from nowhere appears and gives another name, then the money issent to him

in all this my dear, with tears i still said and answered that my spirit tells me that Dave and Jenny will not think of such ....

Well the best news of it is that I'm OK looking unto God, I think that is the best i can do now.
because i can see that my problem is not only losing money, but it's now more Spiritual, that i believe because all these things are still looking like a movie to me, am sorry if i have said any word that displeased you this past three days.

Please how is the farm doing, hope great??? the baby Goats, the dogs, the new dog and goats babies,

Has Jenny went for the Doctor test and school??

My greeting to her, tell her to forgive for stress of going up and down to Norwich and other mental stress as well.

Bye for now ,
yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Yes, it has been a difficult and confusing three days, to say the
least. I hope you are not truly thinking of me as an evil agent, I am
a committed Christian, and would not permit myself to be used as an
agent of the devil, I can assure you. I'm a human man, and I have my
share of human failings, that's for sure, but I repent of all my
wrongs and ask God to fill me with His Holy Spirit and uphold me once
more. I was wrong to be suspicious about what was happening, and I
have asked your forgiveness for that in my previous letter, and I have
asked God's forgiveness also.

I don't think anyone could stop Jenny being an active lady, including
her baby growing inside! I think she will be one of those women who
are still working hard (and going horseriding!) when she is nine
months pregnant. Anyway, she went to the post office this morning to
see what could be done, and basically, the answer is: nothing. If she
had made the payment out to you, and that Isaac Johnson came along and
somehow got it, then that would indeed be the fault of the Moneygram
providers, and a claim could be made because they had not kept to the
rules of payout. But as she made it out in his name, and he collected
it, then the trickery and frauding is nothing to do with Moneygram, it
is all our own fault.

However, while at the post office, Jenny met up with Rosie, who is
the wife of my friend Duncan, so she invited Rosie back for lunch
(once she'd picked up her daughter River from pre-school) and we told
Rosie all about it, and Rosie said why don't we speak about this at
church home group tonight. Our church home group always has annual
fundraising, this year we are collecting money to send to a church
project in India, but Rosie says she can see no reason we shouldn't
break for a couple of weeks and raise money for you instead. That
seemed a lovely idea, and I'm sure the home group would love to
sponsor a refugee, but I said I'd better ask you what you thought
first, you might not like receiving charity donations like that, you
might feel too proud or something.

So what do you think? I would, of course, present your needs in a way
that portrays the difficulties of refugee resettlement, and presents
yourself in a very dignified manner, you can trust me on that.

Everything is fine on the farm, another goat birth expected tomorrow,
and, concerning the fields, at last today we have got the first rain
for a long time, so that will help enormously.

Love David

(PS Jenny has an appointment with the doctor on Friday and he will
run another pregnancy test to absolutely confirm it. I don't think
there is any doubt though! Can I tell you something? If it is a
girl, we want to give her the name Philomena, so when she grows
up, we can tell her why, and she will grow up knowing about the plight
of refugees and hopefully care to do her own part to help.)

Philomena wrote:

Oh!! My God Dave am very happy to read from you, this morning its indeed a good news just like what the evangelist says to me, that what I should have be praying is for the Disappointment to turn out to a larger blessing, he said instead of that you are crying, ok cry, let’s see if crying will bring solution, look at you, if there is roll call of Christians to stand up or raise hands you will not raise yours, you just have a little temptation and you are shivering,

He said, just look at you, youre tired of living, so as to give the Satan a way to rejoice then? what makes you Christ-like??

Look my dear if there is no trail there is no Christianity, but look at what you are saying now – if the entire Church will help then who are my enemies?

The whole Church of God will come to my aid. Who is the devil to be against me?

Before I forget, please I have never regarded you as the Devil!!! Please, I was just telling you what people are telling me, I did not agree to that!!!
Please I will be happy if only the church will agree with you,

My greetings to Jenny, tell her that I appreciate everything she has been doing to assist me, though it goes the way it goes, I believe that God will reward his people, take care of yourself, the farm and everything.

Yours Philomena.

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:03 am

7. Conversational days.

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Dear,

I hope that all is well and fine? I also hope you read my mail yesterday?
Please i want to know how far you've gone with your church group and please what is the name of the church?

How is Jenny? when are you people going to fix the telephone line ? i wish to talk with her,

I am hopefully waiting to hear from you,
Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Sorry I have not been able to get back to you earlier, we had rather a
silly sort of day yesterday, worrying about Ellie, a goat who we
thought was due to give birth, she seemed very distressed and we ended
up calling out the vet to come and take a look at her. The vet said
that she was not quite ready to give birth yet, we'd got the day
wrong, and the only reason she would be distressed was because we had
shut her in the barn on her own, and she wanted to go outside with the
others!

Then this morning, Jenny had to go to the doctor's to have her
pregnancy confirmed, which it was. We have been told that the baby is
due on the 5th or 6th of January, that seems too long away! How can I
wait that long?!

Anyway, I did not speak to the church home group on Wednesday, because
I had not heard back from you yet, and I didn't want to say anything
without your permission. I talked to my friend Duncan (Rosie's
husband) after we'd left and he said he thinks it is a wonderful idea,
and the home group will like to do that. Now if we just ask them for
donations, I think we will only be able to raise £100 to £200, but the
alternative is to have a proper fund-raising time for a couple of
months, and then we should be able to raise the whole £2000. I feel
quite confident about that because we managed to raise nearly £4000 in
four months last autumn for a project for orphans. So what do you
think? Can you bear to wait a couple of months so we can raise more
money? It is not absolutely definite yet, you do need to bear that in
mind, because I haven't spoken yet to anyone except Duncan and Rosie,
but we do think that the home group will agree.

The church is called St Mary's, it's an Anglican church.

Jenny and I are still waiting for our debit and credit cards to come
from the bank. They've sent our new cheque books but are being slow
about the cards. I think they are sent from somewhere else, I ought to
get on to them really, hurry them up. Once we've got that, we can
make an appointment to have telephones put in. As well as the
telephones in the house, we want a line run to the main barn, and also
some sort of bell set up outside, so it can still be heard when we are
in the fields. That's what we want, though whether the telephone
company actually does anything like that, I don't know.

I'll talk to the home group next Wednesday. I'll see most of them in
church on Sunday, but I'd feel a bit bad talking to them then, because
we're supposed to be concentrating on God only when we are there, and
worshipping Him, so I think I'll follow my conscience and leave it
until Wednesday.

In the meantime, hope you are well.
Love David

Philomena wrote:

Well, Well, well, Dave,

First I thank you and Jenny so far for your assistance though things went the way it did but yet to God be the glory,

My gratitude to Mr. Duncan and Rosie as well, i thank you all, Asking me of the time, i have nothing much to say about the time because i don't have another hope.

So who am i to say its too long, because you are helping me.

So i will only say let the will of God be done.

So have the Goat feel better now that her problem has been solved?

About Jenny’s pregnancy, Dave why are you saying its too long, have you forgotten it's for nine mouths? o!! come off that, you are not God, all you need to do now is to take Good care of her this early stage and the last stage of her time, you are saying too Long, what if you were the one carrying it??

what will you say,please don't ask God questions over the blessing he has given you!!!!

Take care of the house, yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I laughed at the things you said about my impatience about my baby being born, you are quite right, I'm sure it would seem even longer if I was the one who was carrying the baby! I'm just impatient, I want to have a baby NOW, not in nine months time!

Still, January is a very good time of the year to have a baby, because there is very little work to be done, I usually spend that time of year mostly sitting indoors making bookshelves and toys to sell during the summer. I've got quite a nice little collection of things to sell from what I made last winter, so I think I will donate all that to our fund-raising effort. There's a lady in our church home group who spends most of her time making baby clothes to sell for fund-raising, so I hope she will join in, she does quite well with her selling. We might be able to get a stall or two at the Worstead festival in July. All money raised at the festival goes to charities and people in need, so it's a very good and useful event. There are singers and exhibitions of all sorts of things, as well as things for sale.

Ellie, the goat I was so worried about, finally gave birth in the early hours of this morning, she had one female kid, both mother and baby are well. I debated whether or not to go to church this morning, I wondered if I should stay home and keep an eye on the new baby, but Jenny pointed out that God could look after His animals without my help, and it was my duty to go and worship Him! So I did go as usual.

There are only 3 mother goats still to have their babies. I hope we have another male born, because I want to keep 2, and let 2 go as pets. I can't let one go as a pet on his own, because he'll be lonely. I've only got 3 at the moment, which is a big change from last year, when I had ALL males, which was frustrating!

I hope you are well. I'm looking forward to presenting our idea to the home group on Wednesday. It is also good for Duncan to have something to throw his heart into. He had been involved in fund-raising for a youth outreach centre in the city, and he was very enthusiastic about it, because he really wants to help young people change their lives (the outreach centre is basically a centre for young people without hope, to help them start afresh, young people who are homeless or unemployed or addicted to drugs or drink, or having other problems), but the people in charge of it have not been sensible with keeping records of money raised, and he thinks that some of it has found its way into the pockets of those in charge, instead of being spent on the youth centre, and he has had to pull out of it, because, as he says, you can't expect God to bless anything which is not honest, but he has been a bit depressed since then, as he really wants to do something good and helpful with his life. So he is now really happy to be able to help you, as it has given him a purpose once more. He is absolutely confident that the home group will be behind us and agree.

I'm now off for a bit of a walk with Jenny and the dogs. It was raining all morning, but it has stopped now, so it will be nice to get out in the fresh air.

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Wow that is very interesting, I mean everything that is happening now, it sounds so interesting, and about the Goat birth, Glory to God.

About the Home group, I am very very excited to hear from you about them, I hope for the best wish of God from them,
There is one thing that makes man Complete, you are a complete man now because Jenny is there, if not for her you would have forgotten that the bible says that If God does not watch the city, then the watchmen are … what? watching in vain. And you wanted to watch over the Goats!
Well I will be brief because of time, I am short of hours to write but I will write better soon.
Take care of yourself and the Family, my greeting to Jenny and the home group, have a lovely week,
Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Hope you are well. I'm so tired! Why do animals always seem to have their babies in the middle of the night! We've nearly done now, we've had 4 more kids born (all females) and only one goat left now to give birth, I do hope she has a male baby, we really need one so he can join the other male who is going as a pet. Jenny thinks I worry too much about them giving birth, really, she says I could just leave them to nature and God, if they lived in the wild, they'd always be giving birth without me standing there fussing over them. She's got a point, but I'd never forgive myself if something went wrong in the birth and a goat died simply because I wasn't there to check she was alright. Jenny says I might change my mind when we've got 100 of them!

She's been making me laugh because she said I really shouldn't give all the babies names, as if they were pets not farm animals, so I said she's probably right, and stopped naming them out loud, but just gave them names inside my head. Then I accidentally referred to one as 'Bright Eyes', so Jenny realised that I was still giving them names after all. So she said, right, SHE would name them all, and then gave them all names like 'Goes Well With Rice' and 'Dog Food' and 'For Sale'.

It was a joke of course, but I'm afraid that 'Goes Well With Rice' (even though we don't eat goat in this country!) has stuck, and we are still calling him that, except I shortened it to 'Rice Baby' and she's telling me off again, saying I can't call a male that is going to grow up into a big sex-mad ram the sweet name of 'Baby'.

Anyway, it's the church home group tonight, so do pray that they are accepting of our fund raising idea. I think they will be, but I shall still pray that God gives them open minds and open hearts for this evening. If I can, I'll drop you a line when I get home (probably about 10.30 or 11.00 our time, I don't know if you're still an hour behind or what - it is 8.22 in the morning here at the moment), but if you don't hear from me, don't worry, just assume that the last goat is showing signs of birthing and I'm with her, or, more likely, that I've fallen straight asleep!

I'm going to get a bit of rest now, though.
Love David

Philomena wrote:

My dear you are a wonderful man and God has given you a wonderful wife too, Dave, you and Family are God Sent to me as i have always told you. I want you to know that if there is anything Else i could have done to show you that i appreciate your help, i would have done it long ago.

Well, Well, Well Dave, thank you once again, i am happy, i think we are behind you with an hour as you said, though if i did not read from you today i can wait to hear the Good-news i believe tomorrow morning,

Yes i agree with Jenny you can't name all the farm Goats for they are not pets, or do you like putting confusion on your head yourself???

But i think i disagree with her on this - she said the name Baby does not fit the male, that is going to grow up into a big sex-mad ram. but females have sex too - if she Say it is not good for him, that means the female goats are also not suited to answering to the name Baby either, tell her i disagree with her on that, at least for once we disagree, please my greeting to Jenny.

I love you all, with all my heart,
Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I'm sorry I couldn't write to you last night, home group went on very late, and, after checking the goats, once I got home, I just fell straight asleep, I was so tired. I had extra sleep this morning, though, because Jenny got up early and attended to all the animals, so I could lay in. So I'm feeling much more human now!

Anyway, the home group were very enthusiastic about the idea of raising the money to enable you to start a new life, and really want to do this. This woman called Felicity says she will take charge of it, and that's for the best, because she is very experienced at raising money. She and her husband are big landowners, they own all the best land round here, and employ a farm manager and labourers to actually farm it for them. It's just a money-making thing for them, they don't have any interest in farming, they just grow lots and lots of crops (and keep lots and lots of cattle) and collect all the money it all makes. Her husband also does something in London, he's got property there which he rents out, and a couple of businesses, he stays in the city all week, and just comes home for weekends. So Felicity is at home alone most of the time, with no work to do, and so she spends her life helping others, raising money for all sorts of things from breast cancer charities to new equipment for the scout troop. It's her life, and I must say, she's very good at it, knows exactly what to do, and gets everything organised. She's much more organised than I am, and has lots of contacts who will let her get things done, so I'm quite happy to let her take charge, she'll be much better at it than me.

She says the first thing is that she must get approval from the vicar (that's what we call our pastor in the Anglican church), because anything the home group does must get his approval, but that's a formality. She will meet with him tomorrow, and then, having his approval, says she'll draw up some plans for money-raising over the weekend.

She asked if she could have your email address, so she could send you a little message, I said I would ask you first. Do you mind if I give it to her? You wouldn't have to get into correspondence with her, or anything, she's not that sort of person to enjoy much mail writing, she's always too busy. I expect she'd just introduce herself to you. Be warned, though, she's a very kind woman, and her heart is absolutely all for others, but she does speak to everyone as if they are about six years old and mentally deficient!

I nearly burst out laughing at home group last night, because Felicity was saying (in her very posh voice like very rich people have) to me, when I put forward some idea, 'But Darling, I don't think you are able to do that!' and, 'Darling, we'll find you a LITTLE job to do,' and Jenny, who was sat next to me, started whispering to me, 'She thinks you're stupid! She thinks you haven't got a brain! She thinks you're a little boy who can only manage a little task!' Felicity doesn't think that sort of thing at all, of course, it's just her way of talking, but if you're not used to her, you might think that is what she meant, and Jenny was being so funny hissing all that stuff at me, while I'm trying to talk to Felicity, I could feel this laugh start shaking inside my tummy, and the more I tried to stop it, the worse it got, and I was afraid I was going to suddenly burst out with a great laugh right while Felicity was talking to me!

Anyway, Felicity says I can go and see her next Monday and she'll give me an outline of her plans I've got every faith in her, she's done so much in the past.

So, all is going ahead. All praise to God.

Love David

(PS I've told Jenny that you said that Baby was a fine name for the male goat, so he will HAVE to be called that, now. Jenny said that if we are all approving names for each other, then when you open your hairdressing salon, she'll insist it is called Shaved Heads or Look No Hair Now or something. She's joking. She thinks she is funny!)

Philomena wrote:

Wow,Wow Wow,

My dear Am grateful for all, i don't even know where to start but all i have to say is may God Reward you and family in all you have been doing for me.

God has his own way of doing things, i believe that so very well, Because it's not by coincidence that Felicity is at hand while you are in the process of seeing to my Liberation.

And after all is said and done, here we are today, You are as free as air to give my email to her,I don't have problem with that,

Though you have done well telling me how she behaves, so that i will be aware of that, and more please, how old is she so that i will know how to Address her like, Sister Felicity, Aunty...., Mom... i think u get what i am driving at.

My greeting to Jenny i hope our Baby is doing well???

I think u didn't give Jenny my reason of supporting the name baby for the male goat, it's because i am trying to be fair, in that both male and female are all mad in Sex. so if Baby is not ok for the male goat, it will definitely not be ok for the Female, and if we took it by vote, Jenny and i are two, and if we let the Female Goats vote, they will vote with us too, so still we win.

No,no,no,tell Jenny my Salon has gotten name already in my heart, and she will like the name so no need of changing, though the name is two waiting to Chose one out of it, one MINT FOUNDATION HAIRDRESSING or REVELATION HAIRDRESSING.

tell her to chose one of these Names,

yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena

I will give Felicity you email address on Sunday, when I see her in church. I'm going to visit her on Monday at her home, though, so she can tell me all her plans. I'll let you know about them. You can just call her Felicity if you like, though I think that she would be very happy also to be addressed as Aunty, she is over 50 years old, so that would be very polite.

I've got a busy day today because this weekend is another Bank Holiday weekend, and we have three volunteers coming to help on the farm (including a young man called Gavin, who has been several times before, and is experienced with goats, so we're going to get him to do the night watch on the last goat who is due to have her baby/babies, so that Jenny and I can sleep!) as well as two sets of couples who are coming to camp in our campfield, and another couple who are bringing a caravan.

So we need to get the bedrooms prepared for the volunteers, and check the toilets for the campers, and Jenny is going to drive us out to go and collect some beer, so we can all have a drink in the evenings.

Once Jenny stopped being funny and continuing to suggest names for hairdressing salons (like Chopped Off Ears!), she said, seriously, that she did like your names for the salon, both of them and thought it was really hard to choose which one she liked best. She says you probably know best what name sounds more attractive in Ghana, which might be different from here, but she likes Mint Foundation Hairdressing best, she thinks.

Jenny is very well in her pregnancy, not a bit tired or feeling sick yet. She has a visit from the community midwife next week, who is coming to talk about her pregnancy care and check-ups, and arrange a scan at the hospital, to check that the baby is growing in the right place in the womb.

I'd better go now, before Jenny starts carrying lots of bedding around all by herself. I hope the midwife tells her to be more restful, she won't listen to me, but just keeps saying, 'pregnancy is natural, you know, you don't have to lay down all the while, you can still keep living normally', but I'm sure I've read that pregnant women shouldn't carry things and struggle about. She thinks I fuss too much.

Better go!
Love David

PS Ok, I'll let you and Jenny and all the female goats win about goat names. I know when I'm outnumbered!

Philomena wrote:

Dearest Dave,

I hope all is well with you and the Family, I think Jenny can be
Funny with the names she always suggest for my Salon.

About the name i have for my hairdressing, the one she chose is
the one i have in mind because i want it to be a symbol of new
things in my life, you know a foundation without Stain, without
sorrow, without tears, i really wish it will come true one day in my
life. MINT_FOUNDATION

I hope the preparation of the house for the visitors are over, how do
you people intend to spend the holiday?
Outing to the place you eat hot-dog?

I also hope that the farm is doing well has the last goat delivered?

Have a nice weekend with love and cherishes, love you all,
Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Praise God, the last baby goat born was another male! That means I've got the two to keep for myself, and the two to be sold together as pets. It has worked out perfectly, I'm so pleased.

And I'm pleased all the births are now over, I do worry too much about things like that, I know, but I can't help it, I get afraid things will go wrong and there will be suffering. I can relax a bit now.

It is traditional for people to go to the coast or into the hills for Bank Holiday, do something different, eat ice creams and, yes, hot dogs, go to markets and sales, or for trips on boats. Jenny and I are staying right here, though, and enjoying relaxing with our guests. It is lovely weather, thankfully, and so last night we had a barbeque for everyone. A barbeque is just cooking meat outdoors over a little fire, it probably sounds very ordinary to you, but in this country, we can't usually cook outdoors, over a real fire, because most of the time it is too wet from rain or there is too much wind. Or it is just too cold! So we have to cook indoors in an electric cooker. But food tastes so much nicer when cooked outside over a real fire, so when the weather is good, it makes everyone happy to have a barbeque. So that's what we did last night, set up a barbeque fire and cooked lots of meat and had bread and sauces and fresh vegetables put around, and the farm volunteers and the campers and us all sat around it and ate lots and drank lots of beer, and it was a very nice relaxing time.

I'm going to see Felicity, the expert fund-raising woman, today. I spoke to her in church yesterday, and she says the vicar has approved the idea, though wants to see her fund-raising schedule, which she says she has mostly drafted already, and will show me today. She seems very confident about raising our target of £2000 and thinks we may make more than that, but she'll show me her projected figures today.

Jenny says she'll drive me to Felicity's house, so I don't get too hot and sweaty on my bicycle and end up dripping sweat over her furniture (she makes me sound so attractive, I don't think!), so she's coming too, which is probably good, because she can remember all the details better than I can, and can add better points in conversation.

I'll write again either later or tomorrow morning and let you know about Felicity's plans and so on.

I'm sure that God has great things for you in the future. You are one of his faithful servants, always steadfast and maintaining faith. I admire you.

Love David

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I don't have much time to write right now, but I just wanted to tell you that Felicity has lots of lovely plans, and if all goes well, we will be able to raise a nice lot of money for you. Felicity says she will email me a copy of her notes and projections tomorrow, and write a little note to you as well.

I'll write some more about it tomorrow, but just wanted to let you know tonight that all seems really positive, just in case you go to check your mail this evening.

It has started to pour with rain here! I'm off to eat now.

Love David

To David,Felicity wrote:

David, find attached the planner and projections, I've jpged it in case you don't have Open Office. It has been approved as of this morning. I'm going to need a little piece for the magazine, forwarded to Rosie by the 12th. You're welcome to write it, darling, but it would be better coming from Philomena herself, if she doesn't mind. But I will leave that in your hands. Just remember that it MUST be in Rosie's possession by the 12th, please don't let me down on that.

Felicity

To Felicity,David wrote:

Hello Felicity,

What should the piece for the magazine include? I'll ask Philomena if
she'd like to write it, I expect that would be best. But can you give
me an idea of what it should be like? If I hear back from you today,
I'll write to Philomena about it tonight.

Thank you for the projection thing, it's looking good.

From David

Felicity wrote:

Just a basic "I am ... name, age, length of time at [named] refugee camp" etc, few lines about future plans/use of money, a little photograph would help, maybe a few lines about how she came to be a refugee, something to capture the attention of the readers, something to make them want to pick up their chequebooks. Rosie can tidy it up. Don't forget, though, Rosie must have it by the 12th.

I will write a little note to Philomena tomorrow. Have you given her my name and email address so that she will not puzzle about whom I might be? If not, please do so when you write to her tonight.

Felicity

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Hope you are well, I feel a little worried that I haven't heard from you for a few days.

Anyway, I was intending to write to you tonight anyway, because I wanted to share with you Felicity's plans, and, more importantly, the amount of money she thinks she can raise for you. I think the easiest thing for me to do is to forward her mail to you, because I'm not sure how to unattach the attachment!

She thinks she can raise £2360, if I'm remembering it right, though, of course, it could end up more than that if all goes well.

One thing she wants to do is to have an announcement about the appeal in our parish magazine, so we can reach people who don't come to church, and ask them to make a donation too. She thinks it would be most effective if you yourself wrote a paragraph or two about yourself, so that could be included. I said I could write it, but she doesn't seem to trust me to do it right! I'll forward her email about that, too, I think, though there's no rush for this, it hasn't got to be ready until 12th June, though, of course, you could do it before that if you like.

I'll send those emails to you now. I'm running a bit late today, because I've had lots of interuptions, including a meter reader and a BT engineer, both of which managed to annoy me, though for different reasons. I suppose it was funny really, I'll tell you about it another time!

Oh, and Felicity says she will write to you tomorrow (you don't need to reply to her unless you want to) and said I should tell you her email address so you know who it is from - it will be on the forwarded mails, I think!

I'd better get this done and then start the animals' evening feeds.

Hope you are OK.
Love David

To Philomena, Felicity wrote:

Dearest Philomena,

A few lines to say hello, my name is Felicity Bingham, a friend of David's and an experienced fund-raiser for many a cause. We have all been touched by your plight, and I am heading the campaign to raise enough money for you to make your own way in life and business. I hope David has filled you in on the season's events, we aim to raise £2-3,000 by the end of August, which will be available for you to use as you see fit.

I hope you will be able to write a little piece about yourself for our parish magazine, please direct any questions towards David, the finished article may be sent via him, or direct to our editor, Rosie Chapman at

[email protected]

May I take this opportunity of wishing you every prosperity in the future.

Felicity

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I'm probably just being a silly worrier, but I haven't heard from you for days, and I am worrying. I hope you are OK, are you able to let me know?

Jenny had a visit from the midwife this morning, and she's booking a scan at the hospital, apparently I can go in too and see the pictures of the tiny baby inside of her. The midwife says they even print out a photograph for you, so it sounds really exciting!

After that I went out to sow some lettuces, but the weather turned nasty, windy and rain of a most unpleasant kind, big rain drops that make you very wet, so I decided to leave it for today and come indoors and poke about here instead. Jenny is making some cakes to take to home group tonight to eat with our coffee. She has told me I mustn't eat any before then, but I'm thinking that if I smile and plead and beg in the right way, she'll let me have a couple!

I do hope all is well with you.
Love David

Philomena wrote:

Dearest i thank you very much for your efforts so far, the strength, and the energy and even cash you have used just to see my welfare, am grateful.

Please i see all the mails you wrote me this few days and your efforts is wonderful, thanks a lot and May God thank you the best, I even see a mail From Aunty Felicity but I was too tired to read it, or to open the attachment you sent.

I have had Malaria for some days now, that's why i did not write, but now am getting fine, I hope to be more strong tomorrow so that I will review all your emails and reply to you in detail of all.

thank God For Jenny and the family, please my greetings to her by the grace of God tomorrow i will be fine and I will write better ok.
Yours Philomena.

To Felicity, Philomena wrote:

Aunty,
Thank you so much for your email, I am grateful reading from you, am sorry that I delayed replying to your mail, its because of my illness, I am down for about 1 week now and you know what the conditions are like, though the camp authorities and Good friends, they always try in a case like this, but it will never be compared with freedom. I have heard much about you from David, and I hope that God is keeping his promises with you, because you work in his vineyard.

Aunty I have nothing to thank you with now, but I know that God has greater thanks for you. may God bless you for me aunty,

I will write about me to you or David now.

My regards to all around,

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Jenny's parents suddenly arrived yesterday, totally unexpectedly, and
here they are still! They are staying until tomorrow. I just excused
myself a moment to check my mail, so I've just seen your piece for the
parish magazine, I'll send it along to Rosie, who sets everything out
for it to go to the printers, thank you, that's great. I haven't read
it yet (I'm trying to hurry here so I can be polite and go back to my
parents-in-law) but I'm sure it is wonderful and will really help to
bring the fund raising to the entire village, and some people further
away too, because some people who used to live here but have now moved
away, they are still sent the magazine.

I'll write you a proper letter after Jenny's parents have left!

Love David

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Jenny's parents finally left about half an hour ago! I've found it
very difficult with them here. It has surprised me really, because
I've always thought I am very gregarious and sociable, and there's
always been a lot of other people around here, especially in the
summer months, what with the farm volunteers and the campers, all
sorts of people and ages, and I've thoroughly enjoyed having everyone.
But Jenny's parents are different. They don't want to join in with
everything, but just wait impatiently while jobs are done, and they
just sit there and wait to be entertained by us, expecting meals at
regular times, and conversation which is about anything except farm
work. But farm work is my life, so that feels like I mustn't talk
about my life, or myself. I don't think I'm much good at talking
about other things, really.

The worst of it, though, is that they kept telling me what I should be
doing. They kept saying things like, 'This room needs painting' and
'You should have a boot rack for your boots' and 'Why is this laptop
here? You need to turn one of the rooms into an office' and 'This all
needs tidying up' and 'Do you ever do the dusting?' and 'There are too
many dog hairs here. You shouldn't permit the dogs to enter the
sitting room' and on and on like that. I found it really hard to keep
my temper, and, really, I'm an easy going man, who doesn't get angry.
But I found it all hurtful. This has been my house for years, and
before that, it was my father's house, and how dare they criticise it?
I really felt I wanted to tell them to go away, and much less
politely than that, too.

Jenny said this morning that I shouldn't let it get to me, all
parents are like that, thinking they know best how to run their
children's lives, but I don't know, I just think it is rude and
unnecessary. I don't want them to come here again, but I suppose I'll
have to allow them to, for Jenny's sake.

I've read you piece for the magazine now, and I think it is wonderful,
you are a very good writer. I've forwarded it to Rosie to deal with,
and also a copy to Felicity, just because she likes to be kept
informed about everything, though she's away at the moment in London,
for a neice's wedding, I think it is.

I'm now going to go and do something really energetic, like digging,
to see if that will work off my negative mood about Jenny's parents!

Hope you are having a reasonably pleasant day.
Love David

David wrote:

Oh, I'm sorry, I was going on about my own moans so much, I forgot to
say I hope you are getting well recovered from the malaria, poor you.
I do pray that you will soon regain full strength and health. And I
hope you have a good friend to be with you when you are unwell, too.
Love David

Philomena wrote:

Dear Thanks for your understanding and please don't let your anger to raise like that at some one very close to you ok,

And i hope Jenny forgive and you truly have forgiven whoever that offends you too?

Dave I will not write much for am going to help a sister dress her hair at home,Please send my greeting to Jenny, tell her that i ask her a question and i demand her answer to that ok, the question is WHAT MAKES A HAPPY HOME???
another is WHO IS THE GREATEST IN A HAPPY HOME???

have a lovely day and a wonderful beginning of the week!!!
Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I'll ask Jenny the questions you asked! (Later, because she has gone for a walk with a couple of the dogs at the moment - I'm cooking the evening meal while she is out.) She can answer you herself, she's got her own mail address, it's [email protected] - if I remember correctly (!), it's been a long time since I needed to email her!!!! She uses this laptop, because she gave her old PC to her parents when we married, but she still has her own email address so I don't have to dig through all the mails from her female friends in order to find my own mails! (She says she needs it so she can talk about me without me reading it, but I'm sure that's just a joke!)

It's been really hot (for us English people!) here today, so I've done lots of things outdoors, I don't really mind the heat. I'm milking the goats late, though, because they get cross about being fussed with in this weather, they are English-born too, and aren't used to be being hot!

Jenny is a very forgiving sort of person, so she forgives me for anything very quickly and easily. She says she just has a sense of proportion, but I'm too dramatic, and that I over-react too much to little things. I suppose she is right, I do worry about things, and bother about things, and get cross about things. I want a perfect world, I want to do my bit to make it right. And I suppose I've also always worried what other people are thinking about me, I've never been the most popular person around or anything, and have had a lot of criticism in my life, right from school when I was called fat and stupid, and then when I was growing up, the girls never wanted to go out with me, because they thought I was dull and ugly. It's all no excuse I know, but when somebody says something that I think could be a criticism, I just think 'and they don't like me either, and they think I'm no good at anything.' And then I turn it round and somehow end up getting angry at them. I know I'm wrong to do this, and I was glad you spoke good sense to me.

I don't really know if I'm very good at forgiving others, really. I do try, but then it all comes back into my mind again, and I have to forgive all over again, and I'm not really sure how real and deep and true my sort of forgiveness is. But I do my best and try not to remember things, and try to act well towards people. I hope that God will continue His work of improving me!

I'd better go and stir the soup.

Hope you have had a good day.
Love David

Jenny wrote:

Hi Philomena,

We get to talk at last!

I'm hoping to attach a piccy of me to this, so you can see who's talking to you. I say 'hoping' because I don't always manage these things, computers don't like me very much and do everything they can to make things go wrong!

I love questions! My parents used to have these dinner parties and my father would ask all the guests all these questions to make them really think and get discussing things. I was always told to be polite and not dominate any conversation or push my views forward too much, but I loved to think about difficult things! Like your questions! What make a happy home? I say Love, Commitment, and Trust, but the most important of those isn't necessarily Love. I say it's trust. You see, you can be loved by someone, but if they don't trust you, and are always suspicious of your motives, or what you are doing, or who you are seeing - the relationship just collapses. And it doesn't matter how much you swore by commitment - if there isn't trust it all goes wrong. (And yes, I speak from experience, I've been married, not trusted, and divorced in the past!)

And who is the greatest in a happy home? I'd like to say that God is the greatest anyplace, but, you know, people can be happy even without God. Maybe they'd be happier WITH Him, but they can get by without. I know some Christians would disagree with me, but I just think, well, look at my parents. They go to church only a couple of times a year, and don't really give God a thought in between, they are not good Christians, they don't seem much like Christians, and they are not even good half the time! (Joke!) But they are happy.

The greatest person, in my opinion, is the most dependent. The one who is dependent is in the most vulnerable position, so therefore should receive the most care and reassurance. Children come into that category. They should be put first. Elderly parents or other relatives might be the most vulnerable and dependent in some homes, then they are treated as the greatest and most important members. Or, if there's no children or grannies, it might be the pet dog who needs the most care! Or the spouse who is the most vulnerable and dependent emotionally. The sad person is greater than the happy one. The one who appears to be the last in line for anything is the one that should be put first.

What do you think?

Lovely to talk to you! Hopefully we'll converse again one day!

Lots of love,
Jenny

To Davic, Philomena wrote:

Hello!!!, Bros,

I have had a wonderful day, because our people do say that nothing on earth will make blood flow from the eyes, whatever that happens in whatsoever conditions and situations,water will always flow and not blood ok, for some while i was with my mom alone, and some times i did say to her that if on this earth God helps me to make a good home, i must show uncle Opa that woman sometimes are more wicked than men.

when ever i say this my mom will laugh with tears after that, but still she did let me remember one verse of the Bible that says forgive and forget, but actually that is not that one will ever erase something in his or her memory just like that, but when you do remember oh! my God Mary did this to me? at the same time remember oh! devil get behind me, i don't want to think of evil against Mary, God have Mercy.
and with time you will forget it.

but whenever you remember that persons offense to you, and you started thinking about it again and again, you will see more evil to it, and before you know it, you can find yourself thinking of evil against the person, and by so doing, you have offended God, So let us pray that God will always see us through.

Dave i want to tell you this and I want you to give me a promise on it, you see since i know you there is relief in me, there is joy of brotherhood, there is happy home joy in me, that i feel like let me go and talk to big bros, a thing i do not have for long and this gives me joy and i don't wish this joy to end in my life again, so Dave promise me that you will ever keep this joy of God within us, And if i may, i will go into details for you to know how to make this Happen???

Its by governing your own home into peace so that you will have the appetite of leading others around into perfect peace.

May God grant you the strength you need my dear. thanks for Jenny, she sent me a mail i will go through it now.

yours Philomena.

To Jenny, Philomena wrote:

Hi!!! Darling,

It is my pleasure to write you my darling, indeed it is.

But why will you be an enemy to Computer, don't you want to join the Global world?
See who is talking, Don't mind meOOOO!! For I know you are still better than me,

Wow!! my dear where will i start, i don't really know, but have to start somewhere, First of all Jenny, I will like to thank you for your generosity, actually your adaption to my assistance since you are with David really amazed me, because It's not all woman who will do that, so i must say you are one in thousands.

Am happy for your understanding and i pray that God will also see you through in all of your needs from him, May God continue to bless you in your home, and in all you do in life, Amen.

My dear i read your answers to my questions, and it was educating, my father used to say that he that is tired of learning is tired of living.

To my queries: What make a happy home? You said Love, Commitment, and Trust. Yea it's all correct. but am confused on the mark i will give you, 65 is pass, 75 is credit, and 85 and above is A.

ok so what will i give you oooooooooooooo let me say credit, clap for yourself ,

Then another is Who is the Greatest in a happy home, in your opinion, its the most dependent. that is ok,

You have given some good reasons and i will like to say my dear you've gotten it all.

so my next question is for the two of you, each with his own idea, and it goes this way, can you define your answers to me:

One - Love:
what are the symbols of love?

Two - Commitment,
what shows that one is Committed???

Three -Trust.
How can one trust???
and what makes the trusted one know that he or she is being trusted.???

Have a wonderful day , Please tell Dave to give me his own answer while you answer yours ok,i hope to read from you again.

love you!! all
Philomena.

Jenny wrote:

Hi Philomena,

How cool of you to write back! Oh, I don't want to be the enemy of computers, it's just they don't seem to like me at all, they lose all my documents and give me blue screens and sometimes forget to ever work again. Keep it a secret though, because David thinks I'm proficient with them, and I'm using his laptop, which is quite new, and he doesn't know that I'm likely to break it any moment!

He's a sweetie, and I have to keep him under control really, because he keeps giving things away to people who don't have things. When we last went to Norwich, that's a city near here, he saw a man begging with a blanket wrapped round him, because it was a bit cold, so David took off his jacket and gave it to him. It was a good jacket too! I'm just worried that he might meet a man who doesn't have a wife, and he'll say, 'here, have mine!' (joke!)

But, seriously, it's a cool thing about him, and I go along with whatever he wants, as long as he also goes along with some things I want! I'm insisting that he comes at least a bit up to date with the modern world, honestly, you'd think he lived several centuries ago, the way things were. I've got a washing machine installed now, and there's a microwave too, and the next on my list is telephones, if we can actually manage to force British Telecom to run the wires where we want!

Naturally I'm overjoyed with the credit from you - when I was at school all I seemed to get was 'could try harder' and 'talks too much'. I went to boarding school and so my parents had to spend thousands of pounds a year on my education just so I could .... well, firstly work in the smallest of offices, and then go and become a farmer's wife! They probably hoped I'd become Prime Minister (like a President, and just as annoying) or something.

I think that commitment is a decision. A promise. Saying you will do something, and then doing it, whatever happens. Even if it doesn't turn out the way you thought it would. Then you think again, and find a way to keep on going on the same path anyway. Never giving up.

Love is a hard one, because it seems to me there are so many sorts of love, from the love of a pet to the love of a lover, when it all gets muddled in with sexual attraction and physical expression and things like that. But at the very least love must be wanting the best for someone, so a giving thing. Wanting them to feel good, wanting them to have the best in life, wanting to protect them, all that sort of thing. At best, it's like you have all that, plus an ache deep down inside of you, a need of the person, and you'd lay down your life for them.

Trust is believing the best about someone. If you take any person, you could listen very carefully to every word they say, and watch every piece of their behaviour .... and then construct this theory that actually they are bad person. OR: you could just believe the very best about them instead. Here's an example: I don't know where David is right now. I've got no idea. I can't imagine what he might be doing in the yard or fields or barns or wherever, and I would not know where to start looking for him. I suspect that he might have gone somewhere. Without telling me.

So what should I think?

Should I think, oh-oh, he has gone somewhere without telling me where he is going, therefore he must be doing something secret! He must have crept off to meet that pretty girl down the lane, and right now they are naked in the long grass, having wild sex.

Or should I think, I don't know where he is, but I expect he is doing something useful and productive. If he has gone somewhere, I expect it is to visit a friend or help a neighbour.

What shall I believe about him? I'll tell you what I believe: I believe the best. I believe he must be working hard. Or helping a friend or neighbour.

That's trust. Believing the best things you can about someone.

That's what was missing in my first marriage. I was the good faithful wife, but every day my husband came home and accused me of having affairs with the neighbours while he was away. How could he think that of me? Why didn't he believe the best about me? Why couldn't he believe that I had morals and self-respect and kept my marriage vows?

Whenever anyone accuses me of something (which isn't that often, really!), that's when I know they don't trust me. When they imagine that I am living with good morals and ethics, and am truthful and kind, that is when I know they trust me.

Of course, they could be wrong, and I'm actually an evil old witch who wants to put curses on everyone! (joke! honestly!! I'm not!!) (Except when the moon is full.) (no!! that was a joke too!!)

I'll tell David to give his opinion. He'll probably tell you that love is milking your goats on time, commitment is resisting spraying chemicals on your crops, and trust is believing that your chickens will lay eggs even when nobody has laid one for six days!

(If he does, let me know, so I can start crawling around on four legs and making animal noises, to make sure I get that sort of devotion myself!)

Lots of love,
Jenny

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Thanks for your letter, and that's a really good advice of yours about saying devil, get behind me, when I'm tempted to be cross with someone again after I'm supposed to have forgiven them. You should come and be a preacher at our church!

We've still got hot weather here, and some more campers came today, a group with the hugest tent I've ever seen. I've been helping them erect it. They're a couple of English people and four Germans and the other, I think is Swiss. Jenny said she'd make a whole load of pizzas and they could come and share them, which they were grateful about, though there's a hidden motive, it is still quite windy, so we don't really want them lighting a big fire in the camping field and setting the hedges alight.

I agree with you that peace in the home is very important, a home should be a place of relaxation and serenity. I'm not sure I'm the most peaceful person around, because I worry about things quite a bit, but I'm working on it. I probably need a lot of improvements.

Jenny has left me a text document on my desktop with questions from you I've got to answer, she says. I'm not sure I'm the best at that sort of thing, but I'll try!

What are the symbols of love? I think the best answer comes from 1 Corinthians 13.4-7: Love is patient and kind, not jealous, not boastful, not proud, rude, or selfish, not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not gloat over other people's sins, but takes delight in the truth. Love always bears up, always trusts, always hopes, always endures.

Once at home group, we read that and we had to put our own name in the place of the word love, so I had to say, 'David is patient and kind' and so on, all the way through. It was awful, it just showed me how much I fail in many of these things. But that's the ideal and, with God's grace, I'll get there.

What shows one is committed? I think maybe it only shows when trouble comes. It is easy to appear to be committed to someone or something when everything is going wonderfully. But you only know how committed someone is when everything starts to go wrong. If they are committed, then they will still be there at the bad times. There's a saying in this country, it's 'Fair Weather Friends'. They are friends who are only there when the weather is fine (that is, really nice weather), but they go away and go home when the weather is bad and stormy. In other words, as long as you are giving them a nice time, they are your friends. But when things go all wrong, they go away and go home and don't want to know you anymore.

How can one trust? And how can someone know that they have been trusted? I think trusting someone is a risk. I'm not sure you can know for sure that someone is trustworthy, only time and experience will tell you that. Oh, I can get a sort of gut feeling about someone, and just feel inside that they are trustworthy, but I don't know if I'm right or wrong actually. I suppose I just go by feelings, and then hope for the best. And I don't know if I can tell when someone is trusting me. They might just be being polite or something. I'd hope people can feel they can trust me because I'm a Christian, but I don't know how I'd know that they did, unless they gave me a position of responsibility or something. It's a strange sort of thing really, just going by feelings like that. But I do all the time, I think.

I like you calling me brother. I've never had a sister, I was an only child and there was just me and my dad, once my mum left.

Love Dave

PS. I also meant to say, tomorrow evening is the official launch of our summer fund-raising for you. It's going to have an official title, Felicity said she would come up with something.

To Jenny, Philomena wrote:

What a brilliant answer from you Jenny, I presume you are having a first class upper!!

Oh!!! no, no , no, i disagree with you that Dave will use his farm work to analyze my questions, for that i will tell him that you are making fun of him, (yes i will) but ... i will not tell him now, so that i will take you by surprise.

Jenny, honestly if i am a teacher and you happen to be in my class after this little but great text, i will crown you a professor-when-it-is-ordinary.( and what could that mean?) incredible i will not tell you now.

Actually you really surprise me with the answers and for this sweet work of yours i will like to use an adage so that you will learn something you already know and something you always come across almost everyday in life.

If you could get this attractive inspiration of yours about Love, trust, and commitment, my dear i believe you have no reason for sorrow in your marriage,
because those are keys to a successful home.. and i want you to apply it daily. all the day, all the time, and in all situations, i hope that you are doing great with your double body, i hopefully believe she is kicking well? hope you've started your School.

Have nice and lovely week my dear.
yours Philomena.

To David, Philomena wrote:

Wow dearest, what a praise!!! ok, ok I will come to be a preacher but it will only happen with the call of God.or do you want to help God?

And you people have been enjoying yourself? tell Jenny to Send my own Pizzas Oh!!!,

I'm not sure I'm the most peaceful person around, because I worry about things quite a bit, but I'm working on it. I probably need a lot of improvements, yes you need not only improvement but the best.
What are the symbols of love? I think the best answer comes from 1 Corinthians 13.4-7: Love is patient and kind, not jealous, not boastful, not proud, rude, or selfish, not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs,

wonderful answer my dear, Slow to anger, and quick in forgiveness, and forgive 70 x 70. my dear, did you see that you have no reason to ban any body from from your home???

Thank God you are now teaching us what the Bible said.

Tell Jenny i give you the Higher mark on this!!!!!!.

Bros, i think i learned from your answers, and i must comment that all these things we think and look onto in life, all have their answers in the Bible, so if any one is christian
(Christlike) he or she don't have to move without the direction of the holy bible and when any one is lead by the bible, automatically he or she is led by God,

Thanks for the answers and make use of this little question and answer always because it is the Key to a happy home.

love you!!
Philomena.

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:06 am

8. Fund raising, pregnancy, and ducks.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Just a note to say that Jenny and I have been out most of today so
haven't had time to write, I'll write a proper letter tomorrow and
tell you all about last night's home group and the launch of the fund
raising. We've got an unexpected £400 already! But more about that
tomorrow, need to go and get something to eat right now.

Love David

Jenny wrote:

Hi again Philomena!

David is out kissing every goat good morning or whatever he does out there, so I thought I would write to you, so I could be the one to tell you about our home group.

I'm sure David must have told you about Felicity. Well, he was telling me on the way to home group that she was going to come up with some marvellous name for our fund raising. 'She's good at that!' he said. I just believed him, I haven't known Felicity very long and I assumed that David knew that Felicity was good at names.

And so we arrive and we are all sat there, and Felicity stands up like a schoolteacher amongst all the stupid children, and announces that tonight is the official launch of what she has named the....

Future Forward Fund!

Everyone said Ooooh! and 'Super name, Felicity,' and I thought 'Future WHAT Fund?' So I said, 'Wouldn't something like Future Freedom sound better?'

And Felicity just LOOKED at me like I was some idiot and spoke down to me as if I was 3 years old, and said, 'No, Jenny. The name is Future Forward Fund. F.F.F.'

Now, when said F.F.F she sort of paused between every F, and it didn't sound too bad .... F...F...F

But when I repeated it, I said it fast: 'FFF'. Then again, 'FFF'. You try it. Say 'FFF' a few times. Go on, try it! It sounds as if you have something wrong with your throat, a cold in your throat, and you are trying to clear it! I had to try it again, and then I got David to do it, and then I'm afraid I got the giggles, and Felicity said, 'I don't really think this is a subject for laughter, Jenny!' which made it all much worse.

I hope you're not offended, I mean, of COURSE I'm not laughing at what we're doing, it's just Felicity, and I don't mean to be rotten to her or anything, it's just the way she is, I always seem to get the giggles around her.

Anyway, she then told us all this story. She'd been to a wedding last weekend and she'd bought a new hat for the occasion. However, when she was there sitting in the church, this new hat was getting more and more uncomfortable. She said when she was telling us this, 'It was a DREADFUL hat! I thought that as soon as we leave this church, I'm going to throw it into the nearest rubbish bin, because I am never going to wear this dreadful hat again.'

But then she had another idea, and so, instead of throwing away the dreadful hat, she decided to try and sell it instead, and donate the money to the Future Forward Fund.

So later that day, after the wedding meal and the speeches and so on, she said, 'Who will make me an offer for my hat?' And one person said £20, then another said £30, and another said £50 and it went on like this until someone offered to pay £400 for the hat (which was far more than Felicity had paid for it of course!), and so Felicity sold it and raised £400 for you, just like that!

Now, when Felicity told us this story, I had been feeling a bit bad for giggling like a silly schoolgirl earlier, so I thought I'd make it up to her now by being adult and nice and encouraging, so I said, in front of everyone that that was wonderful, and then I added:

'You should sell ALL your dreadful hats!'

What I MEANT to say was, 'IF you have any other hats that you think are dreadful, you should sell those ones.'

But the way I said it, 'You should sell all your dreadful hats,' it sounded much more like, 'I think that all your hats are dreadful, so sell them.'

I didn't mean it like that!

I felt awful! I said immediately, 'No, no! I didn't mean that all your hats are dreadful, I just meant....' but I couldn't really get it out, because everyone else was laughing, and Felicity was pretending to look shocked and hurt.

Thankfully, she wasn't really! She knew what I meant, really.

I kept quite quiet for the rest of the evening, though!

I don't feel the slightest bit pregnant, no tiredness, no morning sickness, no cravings to eat earth or the walls of the house, I'm not even the slightest bit fatter! If it wasn't for the fact that I have no periods and I've had two positive pregnancy tests, I would never think I AM pregnant!

But I am, and I'm going to the hospital for a ultra-sonic scan thingy next week, so they can see whether I'm carrying one baby or two and that all is well. I think that after that the ante-natal classes start. They teach you how to relax and breathe well while giving birth (not sure that works, I can't see me being very relaxed and counting my breaths or whatever you're supposed to do, I'm more likely to be screwing up my face and screaming, I reckon!), and teach you other useful things like how to bath a baby without drowning it. More interestingly, apparently you also get free samples of things, oils to spread on your big tummy to make the skin happy, and bits and pieces for the new baby.

I've persuaded David that we needed to create a flower garden. He wasn't keen, because you can't eat flowers, but I told him that birds and bees and butterflies and moths all ate from flowers, and so they were necessary for the good of all animals and the health of the whole planet, and that worked! So I stood behind him with my whip (joke!) while he cleared a piece of ground, and then I put him in the car and took him to the garden centre and we bought some plants and bulbs and seeds, and today I'm going to put them in the ground! Just to look pretty. Everything does NOT have to 'useful', whatever he thinks!

(And I've warned him: if any goat escapes her field and EATS my flowers, that goat will be a kebab by evening. So he had better check the fences every day, or else!)

Talking of eating, I'd better get some breakfast in me. Eggs. It's always eggs. I'm going to start hiding the chickens’ eggs as soon as they lay them. There are too many eggs in my life.

Lots of love,
Jenny

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Sorry I've been a bit slow in writing to you, I had to get a whole lot
of radishes picked yesterday so I could sell them to this man who
sells them on a market stall. I've been doing some planting out of
more radishes plus carrots today, but I've had to stop because I've
gone really stiff and strange feeling, I suspect I might be getting a
cold, which is a nuisance.

Anyway, Felicity did a nice speech to launch the fund-raising on
Wednesday, and has called the appeal the Future Forward Fund, which
has a nice ring about it, whatever Jenny might say! She says she's
told you about Felicity auctioning her wedding hat, and how she went
and said completely the wrong thing in response! Felicity just
laughed about it, though. We're doing the receiving of donations from
the home group next week, which Felicity thinks will raise about £60.

Oh, and Rosie, who does the parish magazine, said could she include a
little photo of you with the piece you'd written? She could use one
you have already sent me, or another if you'd prefer.

Thank you for reminding me about the number of times Jesus said we
must forgive. You have been a great help to me on this subject.

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Dear David,

I have not been writing to you because of the Light off here almost the whole of yesterday and today, am afraid I will not write more because it may go off any time which has happen to me twice today,
Please since you have my pictures with you can give any one to sister Rosie for the magazine if it’s needed.
And my greetings to everybody around and biggest greeting to the queen of the house Mrs. D. Elsdon tell her i will write as soon as we have constant power
Have nice day Bros and please don’t get Sick!!!!
I hope you have been taking some medications because prevention is better then ………
Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

It has been like that here too, lots of people have been without
electricity at times over the weekend. We've been alright, though
last night, the lights kept going off then on again, which was a bit
worrying as we were cooking a meal on the electric cooker at the time.
It has been stormy for much of the country, that's what has caused the
electricity problems. Much worse further south, and there's been
lightning too, and buildings hit by lightning and catching fire.

I did get a cold, and I'm now taking honey and lemon for it. I still
went to church yesterday morning, and I found half the congregation
coughing and sneezing, so it's obvious that I caught it from someone
from church. It's the time of year for it, really, as soon as the
weather warms up, the germs start breeding, I think.

I need to get better really quickly because I want to go with Jenny
for her scan this week, and see the scanned pictures of our baby. But
I can't really take all my cold germs where other pregnant women are,
that's not fair. Jenny doesn't have any choice but to breathe my
germs, that can't be helped, but it would be wrong to force other
women at the hospital to do it, they might be vulnerable to illness,
being pregnant, I don't know, but it doesn't seem right.

Jenny says I should eat hot spices to make me sweat, and then I'll
get better quickly, but I don't know if she is being serious, or
whether she is kidding, and just wants to see my eyes water as I eat
hot chilli peppers or something.

I'm taking the day off from working today, apart from seeing to the
animals of course, though Jenny did most of that this morning, and
I'm going to rest and read. Jenny is going to visit my cousin
Shelly, she says she's going horseriding with her, I said she
shouldn't really do that when pregnant surely, but she says it is good
exercise and she'll only ride a quiet horse, so there's no chance
she'll fall off. I'm going to worry anyway.

Hope you are well.
Love David

Philomena wrote:

Dearest Dave,

Hope you are doing well today? How is the family and all around you? hope things always go as planned?. I will not write a long mail because of the Power off we have been having here, some times after i might compose the mail to be sent, the light will just go off, and you can imaging how frustrating that could be,

O! my God so how are you doing with your health now, is there any medications for that over there?

Is honey and Lemon really doing any Good to such ailment? Yes you can eat something hot like Jenny said, it will help you. More over if you can, try this too JUST GET WARMED WATER, NOT TOO HOT!!! ADD SALT TO IT, WHILE IT IS STILL WARM DRINK IT AT LEAST TWICE A DAY,

it works here for people when they catch cold, can you try that?

O my God, colds could be more harmful there because of your weather, i pray that you regain your health soonest.

please take care of your self and try what i said, it works.
Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Well, I don't know if your cold remedy is what has worked, but I'm certainly feeling a lot better today! Maybe you should be a doctor as well as a preacher! It's a good thing I'm feeling better,because now Jenny has got the cold too. I told her to have some warm water with salt, but after one little sip at it, she said it was like drinking the ocean, and she'd have some nice medicine from the chemist's please. So I had to go out and buy her some medicine. Yes, there are things you can buy here for colds, just painkiller and fever-reducing stuff, paracetamol and something else, I don't like taking medicines and drugs, myself, though, I think it's better for your body to stick to natural things, but she said she doesn't care at all, and she'll have anything that works! I did check that what I got was OK for unborn babies, though. It is.

I also went to my neighbour's house to phone the hospital and cancel her scan for tomorrow, I don't really think she'll be well enough to go. The receptionist I spoke to said that she'll send through a new appointment for next week.

I'm well enough myself to go to the home group tonight, though Jenny won't be going. We're having the collection for the Future Forward Fund, so I'm interested to see how much we raise.

It's raining again here, but really nice outside because everything smells so fresh and clean. (See, I can even smell things again now, I couldn't a couple of days ago!) It's the growing season, so it's the smell of all the new growth of plants and crops and grasses.

Is your power more stable again yet? Do people have their own generators in your country? Hospitals here do, and some other places that need to make sure they keep electricity, including some farms where they keep thousands of egg laying chickens and keep them indoors in the light all the time so they lay more eggs (many people say this is very cruel, they are kept in tiny cages and can't even walk around), but not many private homes have their own, except those ones that are so far from any town that they have to use a generator all the time because electricity isn't otherwise connected to them. My dad had one once, but it didn't work very well, and was really too much bother. We don't lose electricity very much, only for a few hours two or three times a year, when the weather affects the cables.

Hope all is well with you.
Love David

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! it's good to hear that you are better today, a bit sad you exchange with Jenny, you should have not done that because pregnancy is one big sickness already ( Joke), my dear please send my greetings to her and i think this is high time you learn how to drive since there is car in the House, because now that she is sick is when she needs to go hospital, please if there is any how you can do it don't cancel the hospital appointment, she really need it now.

Is not good to buy medicine from chemist for early pregnancy, ok,

I am ok, people do have generators here, hospital, big offices then small once for like hair dressing and so on.

Please my greeting to the prayer group as i always pray God will reward you all, Amen.

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I've got some great news for you. Felicity had thought that we'd only
raise about £60 from our home group collection, but we had a couple of
really big donations made, and we got over £750. I can't remember if
it's £765 or £785, but a lot, anyway. So we're up to over £1100
already, with still all the main events to come.

Which is probably a good thing, as Felicity isn't sure we're going to
be able to get a stall at the Worstead Festival, the organisers want
all the money taken to go to their choice of charities and appeals and
things, it seems. She's still working on it, though.

Jenny isn't really very well at all, the cold seems to be affecting
her lungs a lot, so I've been to the neighbour's house to telephone
the doctor (I'm going back later to get on to British Telecom again
about having our own phones put in, they said they'd contact us again
after their visit, but they haven't done so, and we really do need a phone now,
with Jenny pregnant), and the doctor is going to come out and see
her, before midday. I think he'll give her some antibiotics or
something. Jenny says I'm fussing too much, but I want to be on the
safe side.

You're right, too, I need to learn to drive. It's never mattered
before, I've got my bicycle and the pony and cart, and there's a train
service which goes to the city in one direction and the nearest town
in the other direction, and all that has been just fine. Do you have
driving tests where you are? Here, the driving test is quite
difficult, most people need about 20 or 30 hour-long lessons to pass
it, and you have to pass a 'theory' test as well, to show you know all
the rules of driving on the road, and what all the road signs mean.
Driving lessons are really expensive, so most people only have one a
week, they can't afford any more, you need a proper instructor who
will prepare you to take the driving test, because you have to drive
absolutely perfectly and do everything correctly, looking in every
mirror before doing anything different, and having your hands in the
right place on the steering wheel, and always being at the perfect
speed for the road. And be able to reverse the car round corners, and
turn round in the road to face the other direction and start the car
and drive off while facing up a hill. Most people usually fail their
first driving test! Jenny had to take it three times before she
passed!

It takes most people six to eight months to be able to pass a driving
test, but if I have extra lessons, I should be able to do it fairly
quickly. I'm not a 17 year old with no idea about how to behave on
the roads. I have to buy a provisional licence first, which entitles
me to drive a car with a qualified driver sitting beside me (but not
on my own). I'd get the full licence (so I can drive on my own) once
I'd passed the driving test. I should see to that. I think I have to
go to the post office and fill in a form to apply for the provisional
licence. I hate forms!

I'm now going to see if I can persuade Jenny to eat a little
breakfast. I think some scrambled (broken open and mashed up as they
cook) eggs would do her good.

Love David

Philomena wrote:

O!! my God please sent my greetings to her and please do take care of her!!!, really it's high time you had a telephone, you know i said it before, you said you have no need for it, but now you are no more single but double, you have someone to care for, and soon it will more than one to care for, so you really need to have proper communications, Yes the driving is very important because there could come a time Jenny can not drive,or lets say at labor, if it's morning, noon or even midnight you have to take care of things, yes here there is Driving Schools but i really don't know much about it,
though i believe it will be all the same, like in Liberia it's 3 /4 months unless you fail the exams then you can continue again, but i hope that yours will be easy because Jenny can teach you a lot about driving, even can take you on a drive either round the compound or at field if you have learner's card, then it will not be too hard for you.

This home group, i think God is using them to ease me from frustrations of life, it means that the money is by the grace of God, will it still continue until 31 august since people are turning up the way it is now?

I am very grateful and must say, i don't know how to thank you and the rest of the group, all i have to say is God bless you all in his own way, Amen.

take care of yourself bros, and don't think too much about anything, i know that God is with you ok.

Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Bros how is Jenny doing today hope better???

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Yes, thank you for asking, Jenny is improving now. The doctor gave
her some cough medicine and told her to put some menthol oil into hot
water, then put her face over it, with a towel over her head, and
breathe the steam, and do it 3 times a day. It was quite funny
because Jenny hates the smell of menthol, and made a very big fuss
about doing it!

It all seems to have worked quite nicely, though. She still feels a
bit unwell at the beginning and end of each day, but in the middle
part of the day is quite cheerful and wants to do things. I'm telling
her to rest instead!

I want to paint some external doors today, but dark clouds keep
gathering, and I fear it is going to rain. But insteaad of getting on
with something else, I keep going outdoors and staring at the sky
instead. I think I really should make up my mind to do something else
and get on and do it, otherwise I'm going to waste the whole day like
this! Though I'd rather be painting.

Hope you are well.
Love David

Philomena wrote:

Am doing well, thanks.

Oh!!! About Jenny’s two seasons of unwell, each is likely the feelings of the Pregnancy, it does so to many, I mean it is one of the Common signs to know that one is pregnant, when the pregnancy is about 3 months and four, its either vomiting or sleeping all the time, and lightly ill morning and evening,

I thank God for her Health, and please my greetings to her ok.

Bros is like you are growing lazy this time because there is a saying in my place, that he that watches the weather while others are at work is ......

isn't that Funny????

Have a lovely day dear and take proper care of the house ok
Your Little angel Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Very funny about 'he that watches the weather...etc'! Cheeky!

We've suddenly got a duck! We didn't intend to have a duck, it just
arrived yesterday. It is all white, and I don't think there are any
wild ducks that are all white, so it might have flown out of someone's
private collection. It seems quite friendly, anyway, and will eat out
of my hand.

I can't tell whether it's male or female, so I've called it Kim, which
can be a female or male name. I've spent this morning making a sort
of temporary pond for Kim, but it hasn't gone into it, so I don't
think it likes it very much.

You're right, Jenny is starting to feel sick in the mornings. She
says she doesn't like pregnancy anymore, but Rosie at church has
reassured her that it stops again later. There was no need for Rosie
to then mention the back ache, the swollen ankles, the uncomfortable
tummy, the wind and burping and farting, and everything else that
follows.

Jenny had the letter about her scan appointment this morning. It has
been rearranged for Thursday. We have to go to Norwich for it. I'm
both scared and excited. I'm excited at seeing the pictures on the
screen of the baby, but I'm scared they'll find something wrong. I
don't know what we'd do then. I'm worrying again, aren't I?

I saw Felicity yesterday and she was trying to tell me about the sale
of work and coffee morning thing she had last week. It was really
noisy at the time (coffee after church and everyone talking loudly at
once) and I couldn't really hear her properly. She told me how much
money was raised, but I didn't catch what she said. I said, 'What?'
and 'Pardon?' and 'How much, again?' several times, but then I got too
embarrassed to ask once more, so just smiled and nodded as if I had
heard. I'll ask her again at home group on Wednesday.

Jenny is still coughing a bit, but is much much better.

I hope you are OK.
Love David

Philomena wrote:

Hello!!!!!!

Bros, I've told you time without number that there is power in the words we speak, so always claim the best for yourself, and surely best will always come, yes it's true you have to worry but always have it at the back of your mind that all must be well.

Thank God Jenny is much better and we hope perfect health not better, my greetings to her and tell her I said that this time is the time she will add respect to her mother,knowing that she really deserves some thing more than 100% respect, isn't that funny???

Have a wonderful day and about the Duck don't you think he/she will fly away just the way he comes??

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I'm not always good at being positive and having positive thoughts!

Yes, you're right, Kim the duck will probably leave again, especially as there is only one of him (or her, I'm not sure, but I'm calling it 'him' because I don't want to call it 'it' forever) and I presume he'll want company (and a mate) of his own kind. That's why I only made a temporary pond, not a permanent one, so it can be filled in again if/when he leaves. I do like having a duck around the place, he's very nosey and follows me around, I'm thinking that maybe I should make a big permanent pond, and then get some ducks. There must be a market for duck eggs, surely.

I've arranged for the vet to come next week and neuter the two male goats who are going to be sold as pets. Then, in about a month's time, they will be ready to go to their new home.

There was a big storm here the night before last, lots of lightning and very much rain. Lightning struck a railway station in the adjoining county, so all the trains got stopped. There's been a lot of flooding too, but we were alright here. Then yesterday was really nice and warm, with nice air, so Jenny stayed outside all day, just pottering around and doing little things, I think it has done her much good. She will be able to come with me to home group tonight, though she says she'll drive us there, not walk, so she won't have to walk home in the colder night air.

I've got another person from British Telecom coming today to see whether there is a way to route a phone line to the barns. The last one who came didn't seem very optimistic, and said we'd have to have a phone put in the house only. Which is a waste of time, as I'm hardly ever indoors, except for coffee breaks and meals, so it would not be heard when it rings. He said we had too many trees in the way to run a line to the barns. This one coming today, though, is a proper outdoor-lines engineer, and is supposed to be looking at whether there is a way round the trees, or, alternatively, which trees would have to be cut down. I don't like cutting down trees, but I suppose that is the price of progress.

Hope all is well with you
Love David

Philomena wrote:

Dearest,

Hope all is well with you today and the family? how is Jenny doing? hope she is getting fine, Did she still go with you to the group meeting? I hope that her visit to the Hospital is today being Thursday, has she gone?

And about official from British Tele communication did he still come, and how was his inspections?

I am doing Little well here, I hope that the Home group did well yesterday too?

Have a nice day and tell me how is the weather like, now Summer???

Hoping to read yours mail soon, Philomena

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Jenny was going to write to you and tell you herself about her scan, but she can't open her mail account, it keeps saying the password is wrong. She hasn't been reading or writing mails since she got that bad cold, but she says no way has she forgotten the password, she has had the same one for years. We're just hoping that there's something wrong with the mail website today, and not something else, she has got some letters to the bank and things in there.

I said she could use mine, but she said that she doesn't like gmail and the way it keeps interupting you to save drafts, so I could write instead.

Anyway, all is very very well. The baby is fine. We couldn't see it properly on the screen, the nurse said it had its bottom towards us, though I don't know whether that was a joke or not, but we got to listen to its heartbeat, which made it all become much more real, if you know what I mean. It was 'the baby' and now it feels like a real live human being! Next time we go, they should be able to see whether it is female or male. We have to choose whether we want to know. Jenny says yes, then we can start calling it 'she' or 'he' instead of 'it'. And we can choose names. I'm not so sure, because if anything goes wrong, and the baby miscarries, it will seem even sadder if we've already named her or him and talked about it as 'she' or 'he'. Still, we don't have to make up our minds yet.

Jenny is fine too, she has put on a tiny bit of weight, but only what is expected at this stage. Her blood pressure is fine and normal. The nurse told her that she needs to nibble on biscuits (flour and sugar and water, baked in the oven until crisp) to stop herself feeling unwell in the mornings. I said I'd make some when we got home, and Jenny said oh no I wouldn't, she'd buy some ready-made from the shop. And I think she has brought enough to last her for all the rest of her pregnancy!

The home group last night was good, Felicity told everyone that the coffee morning and sale of work had raised £57, and that she is expecting further donations of about £500 when the parish magazine goes out next month. Everyone prayed for Jenny, which was really nice of them, though it nearly went a bit unserious at one point when this older man prayed, 'And may the Lord greatly multiply you,' and Jenny said, 'I can't say Amen to that, I don't want to find I'm carrying eight of them!'

I did think it would be exciting if we discovered she was carrying twins, but, no, there's only one baby in there.

The British Telecom engineer who came yesterday thinks it will work out too expensive (for them as well as us, they have to maintain the lines) to put them around the trees. He thinks they would all have to be chopped down, and that's not good, because they give some shade to the goats. He's come up with another idea though, which is to have a main line to the house (which is simple) and then have like radio phones at the barns, which receive radio signals from the main phone in the house. He is going to send us some brochures about this, and then send someone out to test that the radio waves or whatever they are will travel without interference, it needs to be tested because I have a wireless connection on my laptop, and that might interfere. The easiest way round that though, is to change to a plug-in modem that uses the telephone line. British Telecom can supply the modem as well, but I think that might mean going back to a dial-up connection, I'm pretty sure we can only get wireless broadband here, not broadband through a British Telecom line. Still, we shall see, that wasn't really his department, because he deals with the external lines, not what can be provided in the home.

It is all a bit complicated, but I suppose that's what happens when you live in the countryside, instead of a town or city.

The weather is supposed to be hot and sunny at the moment, but actually all the sky is covered with clouds and it is very dull. Summer properly starts on the 21st June.
Everything I've planted seems to like this changeable weather, though, some days hot, some days cloudy, some days pouring with rain, because everything is growing well. Except some of the garlic, I'm only getting about half of it growing, I'm not sure why.

21st June, by the way, is our longest day. It is daylight by half past three in the morning, and it doesn't get dark again until ten o'clock at night. Many people go to the east coast during the night, to watch the sun rise over the sea, and others go to ancient religious sites (the old religion, before Christianity came to this country, there are stone circles set up for worship ceremonies) to watch the sun rise there. I'll send you a picture of people waiting for the first sun of the day at a stone circle.

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Bros the light off is still a very big problem here, I have wrote more then 3 mail, after writing, about to send it the light will go off.
Please I will write you again letter.
Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Just a little note to say I'm sorry about your power problems there, it must be very frustrating.

Thank you for letting me know, though, as I would have worried about you after a while.
We've got the vet coming tomorrow to castrate the male baby goats that are going to be pets. Poor things! It has to be done, though, because entire male adults are quite disgusting, urinating over their own heads and wanting to have sex with everything, including humans! Once they are castrated though, they are very sweet and friendly, and nicer than females really.

Hope you are OK, other than the electricity problem.
Love David

Philomena wrote:

Hi Bros?

Hope that all is well and you are doing well and good, How is Jenny hope she is really strong now?

I will write in brief in order to avoid the light off in the middle of my mail, but all the same i hope all is fine? So if i may ask, i think it will be painful while the vet is castrating the goats or isn't it?
I feel for them. so how was the British telecom services, are they coming to fix the line?

Have a nice day and i will get to you again if the light is steady.

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

The newly castrated goats are doing fine. The vet gives them local anaesthetic first, so it doesn't actually hurt them, but they do still feel pressure and discomfort, so they do make a lot of noise about it! The vet does bloodless castration, which means that instead of cutting anything, he uses this special tool which crushes the blood supply to the testicles, and so, without blood going to them anymore, they sort of shrivel up and die, and just turn into pieces of skin.

I need to keep an eye on them for a few weeks, and check that it has worked properly. Then they can go to their new homes and be pets. I've already been teaching them to wear headcollars and a lead and walk with me, so they will be ready for their new owner to be able to take them out for walks if she wants to.

Also yesterday, a farm labourer of Felicity's came to cut my hay for me. It has grown marvellously this year already, and I'm hoping I might get three lots of hay from the field this year. I only got one last year, and two the year before. I gave him a box of chicken eggs as a thank you, I'm going to take some for Felicity too, but she's away at the moment, so I need to wait until she comes back. The labourer, his name's John, will be back to bale it up in a couple of days, so I'm really hoping and praying that the rain stays away until then. The forecast is good.

Jenny has her first antenatal clinic tomorrow, I'm going with her, though she says that it will probably be a bit boring, full of advice about eating healthily and taking gentle exercise and not drinking alcohol and stuff like that. She says she will take along some chocolate and a beer as a snack, and see what the nurse thinks of that! She's joking. I hope.

She's quite well, and has more appetite again now, which is good.

The parish magazine should be printed by next week, so I'll ask someone to scan a page of it and mail it to me, so I can show you your piece in it. I haven't got a scanner myelf, I've just got the laptop.

We haven't heard a thing from British Telecom since that engineer was here. I'm glad you reminded me actually, we're going to have to chase them up. I am getting worried about what if we needed a doctor really quickly during the pregnancy. I can't totally rely on using a neighbour's phone during the summer, because other people do go away on holiday a lot.

Hope all is well with you.
Love David

Philomena wrote:

Thanks for your mail,

Am doing fine by his grace, i thank God for every day as days comes and go, hoping that a day of joy must surely come since there is Life,

Am very glad about Jenny health, and i believe God her health is restored to the fullness of it,

its also good to attend to antenatal its very important because those that have human health as their professions will always know about health, more than ordinary human understanding could get to.

thanks God all is well, i am waiting to see the magazine as soon as you get it, and the Goats that will be going for pets, its like you already got someone that is to take them - you called the new owner ‘she’ in your letter.

Have a wonderful day together with the Family and farm, Has Jenny corrected the problem with her mail???

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Well, we've been very blessed by the weather, it stayed very sunny and dry until we got the haymaking completed yesterday. Jenny and I celebrated by having our evening meal outdoors and staying out there until darkness completely fell. Very nice, and nice to get a bit cooler too.

Her antenatal clinic was a bit boring, as she had thought it would be. All about the stages of pregnancy and normal weight gain, and good eating, and how to buy maternity clothes, and how you can get free dental care while you are pregnant, but, as well as that, it seemed almost like it was an excuse for pregnancy and babycare manufacturers to get a load of free advertising. We came away with a whole bag full of leaflets and booklets advertising various products, and even some free samples, a CD with an excerpt from a Exercise Through Pregnancy instructional CD (or DVD or something) you can buy, and some body oil that is supposed to reduce stretch marks. (Jenny made a joke and said, 'Stretch marks? I forgot about stretch marks? I've changed my mind, I want to cancel the baby!') I think the worst thing, though, was this little book they gave us, it's called 'Complete Guide to Pregnancy and Birth', but its really just an excuse to advertise Baby Milk Formula, its produced by the manufacturers of Baby Milk, and it ends with all this positive stuff on how convenient and wonderful it is to buy Baby Milk Formula and give that to your baby, and not bother with that messy old breastfeeding at all.

That seems totally wrong to me, I can understand that some mothers may not be able to produce any or enough milk, and then they have to give Formula instead, but God gave women breasts for a reason, and that reason is to feed their babies, it's the best way, the natural way, and it seems wrong to me that manufacturers of Baby Milk, just to make more profits, are trying to persuade people that breastmilk is inadequate, and everyone should buy their stuff instead.

Though I don't think Jenny is as convinced as me. She says she doesn't really see the problem, loads of mothers feed Formula nowadays, and she's not really that keen on sore leaking nipples and feeling like one of my goats. I'm hoping she's just joking, but I don't know. I thought I'd leave the subject for now, and bring it up again a bit later.

Oh yes, I had a lady who wanted two pet goats from before they were even born. She's very serious about it and has read lots of information about enclosures and worming and things like that. I feel fortunate that she got in touch with me, it can be more difficult nowadays to sell goats as pets. When I was a child, quite a few people had them, and you saw them being taken out for walks. But now you've got to register even your pet goat with the government organisation, and they are subject to movement orders, and you have to keep a record of every time they take one step outside of your property (which means it becomes more of a hassle to take them for a walk anywhere - it's better if you own a lot of land yourself, so can just take them over it, if that's what you want to do) and a record of every time they see a vet, and send in the forms every year, just like you were a farmer, and I think that really that's just too much for the ordinary pet owner, they see all that, oh and the tagging of their ears and how any lost tag has to be officially replaced, and they think, oh no, I think I'd rather have a pet cat or dog, that's much easier. So you don't see them as pets like you used to.

I really don't know what's gone wrong with Jenny's mail account. It might just be the site, I suppose. She got into it one night, and basically just deleted nearly every mail in there, just in case it had been entered illegally, she wanted to get rid of her letters to the bank and some personal mails to friends and things. Then the next day, she couldn't get into it again. I've told her to set up a brand new account somewhere, but she's saying she doesn't want a gmail one because everybody she knows has one of those, and she wants to be different, and she doesn't want a yahoo one because when she had one of those before, the site kept crashing, and then I went and said, 'Is it your hormones making you feel like this?' which was apparently the very wrong thing to say, but she did laugh about it, but I don't think she's done anything yet. I don't know what else to suggest because I don't really know much about these things.

Well, I'd better get on. I've promised I will clean all the windows of the house today. I've been told that they are filthy. I hadn't really noticed, but yes, they are, rather.

Hope you are well. Yes, I'll send you a scan of the parish magazine when I get it. It should be back from the printers by now, or, if not, on Monday. It gets sent out from the 1st July.

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Thanks for your long mail Bros,

I am very happy each time i read from you it's really makes me feel like one important person to some one, Thank God for the Antenatal check-Up and thank God too that all is well, Though i know it will always be so because you are a dedicated child of God and his blessing will never pass you by.

Tell Jenny that i want my own share of the celebration you have for the successful weather this day of ....!!!!. Bros Don't mind those companies that come to advertise the baby milk, tell Jenny that I said baby milk or not, let her feed the baby with breast milk for at least 6-months, and for the best, for 1-year, it is very important because God is not stupid creating a thing like natural breast milk.

Like my Mother then, usually saying it's very nice to breast feed a child 1 good year with breast Milk, no water, no hand made milk before then ever, and so say many other woman around, and i tell you when you see those children, you will know that there is a difference between natural and hand made..

am very happy for you and i hope to see the church magazine soonest, as i also look forward to my liberation day, but if i may ask when will this be???

Yours Dearest Sister Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I told Jenny what you said about breast milk, and I think she's agreeing now.

There was a warning issued yesterday that all pregnant women and elderly people and people with poor health should stay indoors with the windows open and the sunlight shaded, because it was a suddenly very hot day, and could be harmful to all but the strongest bodies. It was extremely hot, for here, for this time of year. The weather usually heats up slowly until we get to August, then we get a couple of weeks of very hot days (though it cools down at night). But yesterday it just suddenly went to August temperatures, without anybody being able to get accustomed to it first. I shut all the dogs indoors with Jenny, because it would not have done them much good, either, dogs are not very sensible and can end up dehydrated if the weather changes suddenly like that. This morning there's a mist, and its quite pleasant, though it might turn out equally hot again.

I saw my friend Duncan last night, and he was telling me that there is a law about working in offices in cold weather - it is the law that an office must not be too cold, and if it does become too cold, the workers are legally entitled to walk out and go home (and still get paid for the day). But because the weather is not often very hot, there is no law about offices becoming too hot, so however hot it gets at work, you are not allowed to go home.

He said it was alright where he is though (he works for the Council - local government administration), because they have air conditioning and desk fans, and it doesn't get too bad.

Anyway, he told me while he was here that his wife, Rosie, had scanned the parish magazine article and emailed it to me, I've looked since, it's not a very good scan really, she's chopped off the bottom (the whole thing does fit on one page, it's just Rosie has missed scanning the bottom of the page), and the writing is not at all clear - that's just the scanner, Duncan showed me the real thing and it's perfectly clear on the page. I noticed too that Rosie has made a mistake in the heading she wrote for it, and your name is given there as 'Philomena Newson' instead of 'Nelson' - but I don't think that really matters, I shouldn't think anyone would even notice, and, if they did, well, you expect a few typing errors in a parish magazine, they're always produced by volunteers on their own computers, not done by experts. It's on page 4, so in a nice position, early on, before anyone gets bored with reading the magazine!

Felicity has planned fund-raising events up to the 31st August. After that she'll have to fill in some charity forms for checking by the accountant (that's really to see if she can claim some tax back on any of the donations, I don't really understand it myself, but everyone pays tax on what they earn, but if you give some of your money away via this charity organisation - you give it to them, and then use their payment slips to take it back and give it to whatever you want - the tax that was originally paid can be claimed back, or something like that, it adds a bit more money to the total collected anyway), and then it will be ready to go to you. It'll be up to you what you do with it, nobody (except me, I hope!) will stay in touch with you afterwards, or want to know what you're doing, or anything, that's not what we do. After giving a donation, we then go away. We raise money for people and churches in other countries and all sorts of things (like the Shelter for Homeless People in Norwich), sometimes they write 6 months later and say how they are getting on now, but mostly they don't bother, so we just assume that we've helped a bit, and that's all we need to know. The rest is up to God. It's God's money, really, isn't it? We're just stewards of it, handling it for Him.

We say that in church every week, when we give our offering of money to the church and its charities, 'For all things come from You, O God, and of Your own do we freely give You.'

Well, I'm going to make some coffee now. First let me see if I can successfully take the parish magazine scan from Rosie's email and attach it to this!

Love to my adopted sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Dear Dave,

How are you together with the family? hope all is well,Have you given out the pet Goats? hope Jenny is doing well with the unborn baby?hope that weather you talk about last time did not affect any of you??

I am very grateful to have you as a brother and that is what i will like us to do if i start my salon and make some money, i will like us to make a legal document that i am your adopted sister oh!! my God that will be great.

I receive the attachment you sent me, though it isn't clear, its nice,I am happy because i believe the Church will be praying for me too as fund raising is going on.

I have every confidence that the there will be no problem this time, because after the last incident i was convinced that my problem is not only Financial but also spiritual.but this time with the church help, the devil must surrender this time, so i am happily looking forward to my Liberation day.

Dearest have a wonderful day,
From yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Well, there's certainly been some bad weather round the country, hundreds of lightning strikes, some people injured when hit by lightning, building damage, floods and things, but we're OK here, I lost my internet connection for a couple of days, and then last night we had a very noisy storm that woke me up, but nothing is too bad here.

The pet goats are still here for another couple of weeks, while they recover from their castration, and I check that it didn't miss anything, and that they've just got the little testicle sacks, and not big entire-male ones growing. Though all seems well, and they are the friendliest of all the babies, which shows their breeding hormones are going away.

The hot weather has made Jenny and I very lazy lately, we've been doing as little as possible, and mostly sheltering indoors. The dogs are a bit fed-up, because I won't let them run round outside in case they get overheated or dehydrated. Kim the duck is still with us, and even swimming in the little temporary pond I made for him (I've decided to call it 'him'), so now I'm wanting to buy some friends for him. Jenny thinks that ducks are for eating, and doesn't really approve of keeping them as pets, but I'm sure she'll love them in time. Though due to having no internet, I haven't done anything about buying some more yet. Hopefully, this weekend.

Yes, it says in the Bible that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers and the rulers of the darkness of the world, Ephesians chapter 6, I think it is. It is said that the devil and his demons hate the Christians of this world and do their best to stop what they are doing, but it is important that we keep going and persevering anyway. Some people and churches call it Spiritual Warfare.

I would love you to be my adopted sister. Jenny says it would be lovely too, because it would make you her sister-in-law, or as French speakers say it, belle-soire, beautiful-sister.

Of course people in my church will be praying for you. Some of the older people engage in much prayer, they are too old to do anything practical to help people, so they offer the better thing, and pray to God for people. My church teaches that we should pray for people every morning and evening, after we have confessed our sins to enable us to come into the very presence of God. It is an amazing privilege.

I hope you are well.
Love David

Philomena wrote:

Yes Bros am fine.

I thank God For everything, I also hope that the Dizziness caused by the weather is not that much, as for the Floods, failings of houses and so on, am not afraid of that because i always believe that the God we serve is awake.And he will never let his people want.

We thank God for everything and Dave don't you think that the pets goats spending so long with the others will affect them when theye will be taken to the new owner??
Because i think they may get too friendly, and taking them away after long while might be a heart break to them.

You know that sometimes i think and ask my self what i should have done without you, and you know what, when you were about to get married, i was worried and say to my self, the wife might be some stone hearted one that will say i don't, i will not want, to hear any thing about that Girl in this house again, but i only prayed to God that his WILL be done. and today here we are. thank you for accepting me as your Sister, though you always have, to Jenny i will only say let GOD reward her according to her hearts desire.

I love you Both

have a wonderful day,
from yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

It is sweet of you to care for the goats. They can't leave their mothers anyway until they are 2 months old, they are still drinking her milk up until then, and then, whether or not they are going to be pets, or whether they are being kept to be the fathers of the next year's babies, they have to be separated from the rest of the herd. It would be unkind to make one male goat live on his own, away from everyone else, that's why we keep them in pairs. The two males I'm keeping for breeding will go and live together on the other side of the smallholding, well away from the females, and the two who are going for pets will be living together, so nobody gets lonely. By the time they leave, the mothers are getting a bit impatient with them anyway, she doesn't want them to keep acting like babies and trying to feed from her, and tells them to go away. I do leave the weaning to nature, though, and don't try and force it to happen if the mum and kid are not ready.

We had the most dreadful storm here yesterday, right overhead, with forks of lightning coming down all around, its amazing that nothing got hit by it. We dare not go outside at all, not even to shut the goats up in the barn in safety, we just had to leave it in the hands of God. Our electricity went off, and the rain came down so heavily, it wasn't at all pleasant.

Regarding what you said about Jenny, she's a sociable sort, and happy to get on with everyone, people seem to like her too, she's very laid back and easy going.

Though she thinks I'm daft to buy some ducks to keep Kim the stray duck company. But I've ordered some anyway, Aylesbury ones, which I think is what Kim is. Boys and girls. They are not quite old enough to be independent yet, but will be by next week, so I need to get busy making a permanent suitable home for them. Jenny says they will be a nice size when the shooting season starts - she is NOT going to be shooting our ducks! I'm sure she'll come to love them, really. I've seen her hand-feeding Kim!

Duck eggs are not very popular for eating at all, some people eat them, but not many. I don't like them myself, I think they've got a funny taste. So I won't be trying to collect them and sell them next year at all, we'll just leave them to breed. And sell the babies if the flock gets too large.

Hope you are keeping well.
From David

Philomena wrote:

Wow it has been Sweet and nice stories so far, I thank God for you and the Family, I am OK too, just putting More hope of life in God, This time i really fed well and got myself three good wears. God really provide some works for me, there is this Sister in the Church that calls me to do her hair - while plaiting her hair it takes two days, and while i was doing the job i don't even know that there are people around that are observing my hand work and after doing that sisters hair, a lot of ladies come for hair plaiting and i make some money. i will go for one now she will be free by 1pm.

so i am really fine, its very interesting and if i will get my shop around that area of the city oH!! my God I will really love that.

Bros I will drop now, am going to work, have a nice day and my greetings to Jenny.

about storms, lightning and so on, i am not afraid of it all because God is watching his people, lovely day to you Bros!!

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena

I've ordered a tank to sink into the ground to make my new duck pond, and today I'm busy making a duck pen to keep the babies in when they come, until they get used to the new area, and think it is home, and don't just try to get back to where they used to live.

Jenny has been trying to do some weeding, but keeps having to leave it to go to the toilet again - just to urinate, I mean. She says it must be her womb pressing against her bladder more, her little pregnancy book she got says her womb should be the size of a grapfruit now. You still can't really see she's pregnant, though, but then she had a bit of a rounded tummy anyway.

I'm so glad to hear that you have got some hairdressing work to do. Two days to plait hair! The woman having her hair plaited must be really patient, I can't imagine sitting still for that long! It will be wonderful if you already have customers and a good reputation when you get your shop. My father always said that a good reputation in business is the most important thing. Get a good reputation, and then the money will always follow.

It is good that you are able to put all your trust in God. He is the source of all blessings, praise His Name.

I'd better get back to my building of the duck pen. I hope I'm making it the right size, I'm just guessing about that.

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Amen,

Dear, So now how is she?? I couldn't write because there was too much rain here and flooded almost the City for two day now and the weather is too cloudy that even the little time i want to use and say hi, the Internet connection is too Dull.

It's just now i checked and find out that the line can open mail again.
So how is Jenny doing today, hope better??

Please bros you should make some inquiries from the Doctor to know the kind of work she should be doing O!!!,

Please My Greetings to her and tell her that the Lord will always be her stength.
Take care, i Hope the ducks will not fly away after youve built the pond and every expense you are making in the name of Kim and Co.

Love you Bros,
Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Jenny is very well, thank you, we have had one of her old schoolfriends and her husband and two kiddies staying for the weekend, so that's been nice for her. Somehow, I seemed to end up as the Nanny for the children, though! Jenny says it's good practice for me, but I think I need breaking-in a bit slower than this. I mean, babies grow into children quite slowly and you get used to them. But suddenly being in charge of two 4 year old twins, that is something quite different! I'm exhausted!

I've learnt something though - I know its going to be a long time before our baby is even born, never mind it crawling around, but I'm going to have to do something about fencing the duck pond in. Those twins just seemed to be running straight towards the pond, every time I took my eyes off them for a second, I never realised that I could run so fast, chasing after them.

I think the best thing is a fence all the way round, with a locking childproof gate.

I saw Felicity at church this morning, and she says that donations for the Future Forward Fund are flooding in, but she was going to keep the total a secret for now and surprise us all at the home group later. It's cheered her up a bit, anyway, she was really cross with Rosie for just putting 'Summer Appeal' (instead of Future Forward Fund) in the Parish magazine. Rosie apologised a lot, but Jenny reckons that Rosie did it deliberately, because she didn't like the name.

Actually, though, I think it worked out for the best, because the error meant that it got added to the church notices last week, which it might not have done otherwise.

We've had a lot of rain lately, which is good for the fields, but the days have been quite pleasant and a normal sort of (warm, but not too hot) temperature for this time of year.
I've had a word with a driving instructor and I'm hoping to start driving lessons soon.
So all is well, and I hope all is going well with you, too. Jenny is now apparently past the risk-of-miscarriage stage, and can live a normal sort of life for the next three months, so the pregnancy book says.

Love David

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:08 am

9. Life (and fundraising) goes on.

Philomena wrote:

Hello Bros,

How you are today, together with the family, hope all is well, it has quite a long time since you heard from me, I know you might have been worried about the silence. likewise I too, lately here in Ghana, Rain became every days issue and almost all the city was flooded and it took three good days to dry up, so many were indoors, with the situation I had no alternative way to reach you and the Internet links even as I am talking to you now still very unstable.

So how is every body, the mama of the house Mrs. Jenny Chorley-Smallwood Elsdon and the unborn baby?? Farm? Duck pound and gate?

And above that, your studying with your classmates the twins, hope you are doing better at the class??

Of course I know you will be doing better, so tell me how the class is so far and what have you learned??

I wish you best of fatherhood,
Yours Sis Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Oh, I quite understand about the weather, it has been quite awful here again, no flooding here, because we don't usually get flooding in this area, but storms and more storms again, and rain, rain, and more rain. At least it tested the new duckling shelter I made. No leaks!

But, really, I'm just hoping I can get this written to you before the electricity starts going off and on again!

So let me start with the most exciting bit - Felicity announced at home group on Wednesday night that so far she had received £912 in donations for the Future Forward Fund, following the parish magazine article. I don't know how much that totals so far, I've lost track, but I'm hoping it makes up for us being unable to get a stall for the Worstead Festival.

Felicity was also having a coffee morning and sale of work yesterday, so that'll be a bit more money added to the Fund.

Jenny is well, though I've banned her from taking part in the potato harvesting I will be doing tomorrow. It involves a lot of bending over and standing up and bending over again, and I don't think that will do her much good, and it's not necessary, because I've got some farming students/volunteers arriving later today, and they can help do it. She is actually listening to me (for once!) and agreeing not to insist on joining in. We've got another antenatal class to go to next week. I think you can tell by looking at her, that Jenny is pregnant now, though she just says she looks like she has eaten too many big dinners!

And as for those twins I was looking after - I think the main thing I've learnt is that I'm not really a natural parent. I don't think ahead about little ones, but expect them to just act like miniature adults. Maybe its because I never had any little sisters and brothers, or little cousins, or nephews or neices, nothing around me. I need to start learning a few things! Don't laugh, but there's a parent-and-toddler group that meets at the church, and I'm going to volunteer to help at it, so I can get more experience of little children.

Oh, I don't know if you use the word 'toddler'. 'Toddling' is baby-steps, baby-walking, you know, before they can walk properly, they don't walk (like a big child or an adult), but toddle. So a 'toddler' is one who 'toddles'. Aged about 18 months to 3 years.

I'd better send this because the power is beginning to dip and fade again! I hope you are well, despite all your floods. It's OK, I won't worry too much if you seem absent at this time of year - like I say, I understand it all too well. Our power is probably about to disappear again!

Love to the best sister I could have, David

Philomena wrote:

Hello Bros,

How is the family today, hope every body is fine and doing well, this side i thank God for everything just according to his word that says in every situation give him thanks. hope you went to church yesterday. did Jenny go with you??

Over the home group i hope that God has just chosen them to sow the seed of life and happiness in me, i just hope that, please my greetings to everybody.

How was the Potato harvesting hope it goes well? did those students/volunteers come as promised?

Oh we don't use the word toddler - we called it baby-walking,

Well it nice reading from you so far have a nice day, and my sincere greetings to every body and a very special one to mama of the house Mrs Jenny.

I love you all.
Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Oh yes, we had a good time harvesting potatoes, a very good crop, and already collected by the market trader.

We always go to church on the Sunday mornings, but not usually in the evenings, only sometimes. The Government and Royal College of Midwives have issued a warning that pregnant women should avoid crowded places (and unnecessary travel) because of the risk of catching Swine Flu (apparently, if a woman is pregnant, she is more of a risk of getting it badly, and even of dying from it), but Jenny said that she was still going to church, she'll just avoid going into the city or anything, she should be reasonably safe here.

I'm not so convinced, because plenty of people in church do go to Norwich to work, and even London, Felicity's husband is in London all week, and she spends many days there too, so they could be carrying Swine Flu germs, but Jenny says she can't live in total fear and seclusion, she'll take sensible precautions, and just leave the rest to the hand of God.

Her car has to go in for its annual service today, and MOT test, that's a test of roadworthiness, all cars by law, have to be tested by qualified MOT mechanics every year, to check that they are safe and everything works well on them, a car has to pass the MOT test to be allowed on the roads. Anyway, a mechanic is coming this afternoon to collect the car and take it to the garage, and then do the service and MOT tomorrow, and then bring it back again to us after that. Unless it fails its MOT, then it will have to stay there a bit longer for repair. We are hoping that does not happen, as we have an antenatal class on Friday, and that's in a town called North Walsham, so we need the car to get there.

British Telecom have been back in contact and have said that they can find a way to wire up the phones we want, if we can remove one particular tree. I'd be prepared to do that, but that tree has got a Tree Preservation Order on it, which means it cannot be cut down by law. We've got to apply to the council (local administration) therefore, to have the Tree Preservation Order taken off the tree. They will have to come out and look at the tree, and decide whether they can change their mind and allow it to be cut down, or whether it must stay.

The idea of Tree Preservation Orders is to stop people in this country chopping down all trees! Tree Preservation Orders are put on old trees, or trees essential to the environment (because of their roots helping rainwater drainage or something), or uncommon species of trees. I don't know why this particular tree has a Tree Preservation Order on it, it just looks like an ordinary sessile oak tree to me, and we have more of those around, which don't have Tree Preservation Orders on them.

It's raining here again. If it carries on like this, I don't think our camping site is going to do too well this year. People want to take holidays in the sunshine, not in downpours of rain.

Hope you are well.
Love David

Philomena wrote:

Hello Bros,

Wow wow!! I thank God for you, I always do because I know that His hands of favor is always with you, what - a man with pure heart, clean mind, and God Fearing, so tell me a person like you, why won't God bless you??

my dear, Swine Flu germs or whatever it called is not our Passion.

So tell me how was the car service ? The antenatal class and so on?
I am fine, just that in Africa we are not first in repair like you the British and other whites. what about idea of Tree Preservation Orders, has it been resolved?

Its amazing Dave, you finished your last mail with out saying anything about your Ducks, are they still there,what about the pet goats, have them gone? For me, am ok very fine, looking unto God ,you know there is some thing I learned, most of the time i don't move by what i don't have, rather i am ok with whatever i have.
my greetings to Jenny!!
Yours Sister Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

You are lucky if your country hasn't got Swine Flu, it seems to be going all over the world (it started in Mexico, I think), quite a lot of people have died of it in this country.
It was the Worstead Festival this weekend, but Jenny and I could not go to it, because of the Swine Flu risk to her. She didn't go to church yesterday morning, either, because there would be extra people there, people who had come for the Festival. I still went, though, I thought it best to go and worship God, and trust my mortal body to Him. I don't know if I did right, because I was still risking bringing germs home to Jenny, but that's what I did, anyway.

We've had lots of campers this past weekend, they came for the Festival and for all the singers and groups that were performing on the stage. So I was running round a bit, checking the toilets were kept clean and seeing whether there was anything they needed, and then last night, we made lots of baked potatoes and coleslaw and offered it to anyone who wanted it, and that was very popular.

The animals are all fine, the ducklings are growing before our eyes, and the two male goats I'm keeping are now separated from the female herd and living in an enclosure on their own. They are still quite babyish and cute, and haven't developed any nasty adult male habits yet!

All the recent rain seems to have made the vegetables grow like mad, and we've got so much growing that I've got a new market trader arriving this week to take a look at what we've got and see whether he would like to buy some too.

My only real worry is that Molly, my pony, seems a bit tired. She might just have worms, I'm hoping, Jenny says she'll go to the vet's and get some more wormer for her tomorrow. If that doesn't pick her up a bit, I expect we'll have to have the vet out to look at her.

I've heard nothing from the council about the Tree Preservation Order. I'm thinking the best thing I can do is actually go into Norwich and to the council and speak to them in person.

I'll wait until at least the second week of August though, the last week of July and the first week of August are traditional holiday times here, and places are never fully staffed because everyone has gone away on holiday or to the seaside.

The car was fine, it didn't need any repairs or anything, and the garage even cleaned it for us!

Well, I'd better get on, I've still got some things to do this afternoon, and I want to go and visit my friend Duncan and his wife Rosie this evening.

Hope you are continuing well and at peace.

Love to my sister, David

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Big Bros,

How are you? together with your family and farm? well well well there is nothing like that here,though there are Germs, like water borne germs, but it's from the northern part of the country.

O!! my God don't tell me Jenny refuse to attend to Church because of the different people that will attend probably, because of the flu?.

OH come off it, you are Christ-like, make proclamation and that is all. when you wake up every morning thank God,ask for forgiveness for sins known and unknown, and then proclaim what you want for yourself and what you don't want.Though Jenny is right partially because she is double, but for you too, what you did is the right thing.

as for the pony, God will take control, well bros i can see that everything is fine and cool, I thank God for you and your family, my life, and his spirit around us, may his name remain blessed.

Dear have a wonderful day and week together with your household, and my big greetings to the madam of the house Mrs Jenny Chorley-Smallwood Elsdon, see you!!

From yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Well, we had the vet out to take a look at Molly, the pony, and his conclusion was, and I'm sure you'll laugh at this, is that she is depressed.

He can't find anything physically wrong with her, and thinks she is just missing a pony she has been sharing her field with for the past month or so. He belonged to someone in the village, whose field had got a bit flooded, so came to live here while it dried out. He's now been taken back to his old field, which is nearer their home, and the vet thinks that Molly is just missing him.

He suggested we get her a companion. Well, we do intend to buy a riding horse for Jenny next year, but it is too early to do that yet, as she won't be able to ride once she becomes more heavily pregnant, so what we're doing for now, instead, is looking for an old and retired pony or horse to buy or loan, just to be a friend for Molly. I've emailed my cousin Shelly to see if she knows of any oldies who need a retirement home, so we'll see what happens there.

Jenny has now got her appointment for her next scan, and at this one they will be able to tell us which sex the baby is! We can choose not to know, if we want, but we do want to be told. We're rather hoping it is a girl, but it doesn't matter really, of course. The appointment is still a week and a half away, but I'm quite excited about it.

I've had quite a relaxing week, though next week will be busier as we have several bookings for the campsite, plus three farming volunteers coming. There's two Americans, who are arriving this weekend, they are serious about learning farming, and then there's a French student who is coming next week, I think he is just traveling the country, and looking for some free accommodation! I don't mind, I think it is nice that students can travel cheaply, without having to pay big hotel bills, and I'll find him something quite nice to do. Jenny says that French cooking is lovely, so we should send him into the kitchen to cook for us, and he can learn all about eggs and milk and farm vegetables that way, but I don't think that really counts as 'instruction in farming'!

As well as that, it's Churchside Crafts beginning on Saturday, and I need to take some turns at the stalls. We have a stall for the Future Forward Fund, so I hope that does quite well too. I can't remember the exact figure that Felicity gave us on Wednesday, but I think so far we've raised about £2,300, so we're ahead of target! Isn't that wonderful! Felicity is so good at fund raising.

Well, I'll go and have some breakfast now.

I hope you are continuing well, and that your weather has improved too.
Lots of love, David

Philomena wrote:

Dearest,

Wow that is very nice of all, am grateful too, though will not say anything till i have the cash and start all i want to do with it,Hope you are doing well? how is Jenny? hope fine? Lets hope she is a girl till Jenny attend to the pregnant test?
Well well well about pony it's funny!! well all is well for her. so how is Shelly? its been a long time since i heard you talk of her, hope she is doing well too.

Bros please send my greetings to everybody, am fine, hoping the best for future.

the weather is some how here not too good to some people, because it has been unusual, but for me am fine.

Take care of the house!!!!!!!!!
yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I am so busy! Yesterday was Jenny's birthday (she was 35), so we had a bit of a celebration, and quite a few visitors came with cards and presents and bottles of wine. We've got the two American volunteers staying here, with the French student arriving today, campers in the field, a new donkey to keep Molly the pony company (he's called Thomas and he's very cute), I'm supposed to be changing bed linen right now (!), doing some staffing of the craft stalls tomorrow, and it's pouring with rain and all the dogs are soaking wet and dripping rain and mud everywhere, which will need cleaning up.
I wanted to just write a few lines to you, though.

Molly was a bit worried by Thomas the donkey at first, I don't think she'd ever heard the sort of noises donkeys make before! She stood as far away from him as possible and just stared. She seems to be getting fonder of him, though. When I was out there this morning, Thomas was standing in the field shelter out of the way of the rain, and Molly was grazing right by the entrance, keeping close to him.

Oh yes, Shelly is fine, I hadn't seen her for ages, though she emails several times a week. She's been busy with her horses, trying to fit in riding in between all the storms we have been having. She came here on Sunday, bringing Thomas in the horse trailer, and then came again yesterday for Jenny's birthday, so it has been quite funny, don't see her for weeks and weeks, and then she visits twice in two days. Jenny has seen more of her, mind you, because she drives over to go and talk about horses with her, and sometimes ride.
Jenny's scan is next week, on the 13th. It still seems too long away!

Well, I'd better get on, or else Jenny will start changing the bed linen instead, and I don't want that. She is making some cakes so we can all have cakes and coffee this afternoon.

Glad to hear you are remaining well.
From David

Philomena wrote:

Wonderful get together has taking place yesterday i believe.please send my birthday greetings to her and tell her i send her bunch of flowers in spirit. since i can not come to celebrate and offer my gift fiscally.

i hope the occasion was memorable i think.

Alright, you have wonderful visitors, so hope they were all coping with the weather and life over there, as they all come from different parts.

Pony pony, it's funny any well, but such is life, even humans do study people before coming close to them.

this day as it showering, the Ducks Will be enjoying themselves i believe.
all right bros Take care and my greeting to Jenny,
Your Sister Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello my sister Philomena,

I've got strange ducks, I think, they all go and run for shelter as soon as it starts to rain!

I went and took my turn again on the Churchside Crafts stall yesterday afternoon. It wasn't a very nice day, really, it was too hot, and, on top of that, there is a train strike in this region, and no trains are coming into Worstead bringing visitors to look round the church, so there weren't many people about, still a few people came and bought a few things, some handmade cards and a dried flower arrangement, and a nice mirror in a wooden frame, and a wall decoration that I had made last winter. One couple were really interested in the history of the church, I gave them a little printed guide, but I thought it was a shame that there wasn't someone who could actually show them around and point out things of interest, I couldn't do it, I couldn't leave the stall (and I don't really know enough, anyway), but I might suggest we have a volunteer to act as church guide for next year, maybe even for all the summer months, people do like to come and look round, it's an old church, built right back in the 1300s.

The farm volunteers here seem to be having a nice time (and not moaning at all about the weather!), the two Americans are very serious about farming, the French student isn't so serious, but he is doing his fair share of work and is a very nice young man, very polite and well-mannered. I was intending to take him to Norwich yesterday morning, and show him around the Castle Museum, but then he decided to go instead with two of the campers, who were nearer his age, which actually turned out to be a very good thing, because I hadn't realised about the train strike at that time, and so we wouldn't have been able to get there anyway. The campers had a car, so they were alright, though apparently they had to park outside the city and catch a bus in, because everyone was taking cars to work or go shopping, as there were no trains, and all the city car parks were full.

I hope you are continuing well.
Jenny says hello to you!

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Bros,

Hope all is well there, I read your mail very late because we have had very bad weather which affects me, though it wasn't serious, but that was reason for not writing to you, even as i talk to you now, i am not all that comfortable facing the Screen, so I just want to say hi!!

Hope Jenny is doing well with the baby and my greeting to every body,

I had this kind of illness that affects people eyse it's called APOLO here, I don't know if it's the same there, It will be some how painful and your eyes red.

Please I will drop here for now, i wish you best of the weekend,

yours sincerely
Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Oh dear, I'm so sorry to read about your poor eyes. No, we don't have that eye illness here, not with the same name, anyway, but it sounds awful. I do hope you get better soon.

This is just a short note because I wanted to tell you our wonderful news-

Jenny had her second scan today - and we now know the sex of our baby - it's A GIRL!!!!!

We are so happy.

We are going to call her Philomena Louise.
Philomena Louise Chorley-Smallwood Elsdon.
She'll be known as Philly for short.

We are so happy! We really really really wanted a girl.
All praise and thanks to God.
He is so wonderful.

Love David

Philomena wrote:

Wonderful wonderful, the name of God is wonderful, and the men of God are wonderful, yes I said it, though i believe my dream, but some times I pray let God Show me My Future so I can hope on it if its beautiful as i hope, though i hope it will be.

Bros I am happy for you!!! my greetings to Jenny and tell her I send to her Bountiful reddish flower in advance!!!

my health is cool today, it's just that the eyes are painful facing the screen, but before i drop let me tell you I am Philomena Louise Chorley-Smallwood Elsdon’s Baptismal Mother, let no one drag it with me!!!!!

Yours Sister Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Thank you for sharing all our joy about expecting a baby girl. Jenny says she can feel baby Philomena move inside her now, I wanted to feel her too, and have tried putting my hands on Jenny's tummy, but disappointingly, I can't feel a thing! Jenny says I've got insensitive hands anyway, with all that working outdoors and handling tools, the skin has got thick and without much feeling. She might be right. I certainly don't have soft hands like an office worker does.

We had a bit of a worry this week because our youngest cat, who is called Mystery, went missing. We feared that she might have gone onto the road, and a passing car hit her. Or maybe she injured herself some other way, and couldn't get home. But, after two days of being missing, she just turned up at meal time, as if nothing had happened. No injuries, and didn't even seem starving hungry. Just normal.

She is a neutered cat, to stop her having any kittens, so it is not even as if she has been off romancing. I don't know where she was, but I'm glad she's back, she is my favourite.
She got her name of Mystery, because it is a mystery where she came from in the first place. Her mother (called Elsa) wasn't much more than a kitten herself, only a few months old, and then she gave birth. But how did she get pregnant? My male cats were all neutered, so they couldn't make babies. And nobody else round here had a male cat capable of making babies either! And yet Elsa produced three kittens. One was very small and died, and one I gave to someone at church, and I kept number three, which is Mystery.

My eldest cat, Smokey, is 12 years old now, and doesn't really do much except sleep in the warmest places he can find.

There's been a couple of volunteers here this week, very hard working and cheerful, so nice to have around. The weather has improved, no storms, much nicer. And I've let the (growing fast!) ducklings out of their pen to have the freedom of the farm. They still have their duck house for shelter, if they want it, but they can go where they like now, and swim in the pond.

The pond looks a bit boring, it needs some bushes round it. Something to make it look more natural. At the moment it looks like what it is, something made by me. Sort of more like a duck's swimming pool than a nice natural pond.

Are you have treatment for your eyes? It really does not sound good, that they are still hurting you. Is there not anything that can help?

I hope you are Ok.
I worry about you, you know.

Love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hello!!!,

I am very well now, thanks for your concern, Am happy to hear that someone is somewhere thinking and feeling for me, oh!! God you are Good, it has not been part of me for years now, so I'm very happy to hear that.

Wow wow wow, the baby movement and the iron hand of yours which can not feel any thing, well it's funny but i think you have to feel it move spiritually, not too Fiscal.

Mystery mystery? that is a wonderful story of her and i hope she has found a lover some where, but because there is no place like home, she has to return after days.

Hope Jenny and Baby are doing very well, i know that the Tummy getting more bigger and will do as the time is drawing close.

And you know that it's block by block that Rome was built, so hope that as days come and go the pond will get to look more like natural.

have a wonderful day Bros.
God is always Good to us,

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Hurrah, at long last I have someone from the council's Tree Preservation department coming to look at my tree and see if it can be cut down so I can have the telephone wire to the house installed. It must be a couple of months since I asked for someone to come out. Anyway, at least someone is now coming. The letter says that they will arrive tomorrow 'between 8.00 and 5.00' which is not very helpful. We'll have to be ready to receive them at 8.00 in the morning, just in case they come then, but, of course, they might not come until 5.00 in the evening, after we've waited around all day.

And, of course, I can now think of many things I'd like to do tomorrow which involve being in the furthest away field, or visiting someone, or going somewhere! Normally, I could be quite happy to hang around the yard all day, but if I 'have' to be there, I get all stubborn inside, and don't want to be there at all!

I'm trying to look on the bright side, though, and saying at last we can get this sorted out, hopefully.

It will mean a lot to Jenny and her parents to get telephones installed. Jenny gave them her old PC when we married, and they are capable of emailing, but they really don't like it, they say they are too old to learn about computers, and they don't like emailing. They want to be able to pick up the phone and talk to her. I suppose it is what you are used to. When I grew up, one always communicated important things, whether to friends or businesses, in a letter anyway. Phones were only used for one-sentence information that had to be given immediately. For proper communication, you wrote a letter. But her parents, although older, had a different sort of cultural background, and they always think first of using a phone. So they will be happy.

After all the sunshine we have had lately, the ground has been very dry, so I have spent a lot of the past two days watering everywhere. I don't have any automatic water sprinklers, so I have to walk round and do it by hand. It is not hard work, but it is boring. And, after all that, guess what happened yesterday evening- it poured with rain! So I needn't have bothered, because the rainclouds went and watered everywhere for me.

I'm now off to have breakfast, Jenny (who says hello!) is cooking some eggs.

We have the Future Forward Fund book and toy sale this Saturday, and then, on Monday, which is a public holiday, a barbeque - so we are praying for good weather for that.
And then that's it, our fund-raising for you will be concluded, and it will be time to add up all that we have collected. I think it is going to be more than we expected, everything has gone very well, despite us not being able to get a stall at the Worstead Festival.

I'd better go, before the eggs spoil.

Much love to my sister,
From David

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Bros,

It's all well, thank God for everything, i am sure that above all, you are doing well with your health and Family?

Well about the tree and the complicated issues surrounding it, its very unlike here, because there are lots of trees, forests and bushes, so counting trees is nothing here, though there are forest-reserves and so on. but i think you have to follow it up, that is one thing that makes you now a family man.

Like I told you before, Telephone is used for short and and urgent messages, but people prefer it because it is easier and more time saving (though costly on charges) than writing emails.

But you have to try, don't get boring with a thing like that, time is not reliable so one doesn't need to waste his/her time, 8am to 5pm is not a definite time for any appointment. but still you have to try.

please hope you are taking good care of yourself and family???

the future forward fund i can say has really given me much hope to live but the best thing that has ever happened in my life for years now is Mr./Mrs. Chorley-Smallwood Elsdon.

Have a wonderful day and remember I don't want any thing to happen to the money when it is finally released to me, note that IF YOU ARE TO SEND IT TO ME BY MONEY-GRAM YOU USE MY NAME (Philomena Nelson) BUT IF IT WILL BE BY WESTERN UNION, PLEASE NOTE YOU HAVE TO USE MY FRIENDS BROTHER INLAW WHICH I TOLD YOU BEFORE, DUE TO INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT DRIVING LICENSE, HIS NAME IS (Philip C Ekwunife) please no mistake this time!!!!!!!!!!.

have a lovely day and my greeting to Jenny.

Have a nice weekend too!!

And try to make your self happy all times.
yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

The weather managed to stay fine all weekend, so we had quite a lot of people come to the Book and Toy Sale on Saturday, and then a good few to the Bank Holiday Barbeque yesterday, though I don't know how much we made.

The money now has to go through the church accountant, to check that there are no irregularities, and also to claim tax back from the government for anyone who has donated under the covenant scheme, that's all Felicity's department, though, I'll see her on Wednesday at home group and get the details to let you know.

I have to go to Norwich today, which is a bit worrying at the moment, heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecast, and it does look very dark and threatening out there. I'm going to have breakfast and then see how it is, I might have to rearrange.

The council have refused to lift the tree preservation order, so we're back to square one now. There's going to be no option but to pay for the lines to be installed the long way round, which I think will end up costing thousands. When my father was alive, he had what they called a 'party line', it was shared with the neighbour next door, so it went to her house and then another little line came off it to this house. The trouble with that is that it is the same line, it's like an extension, and you can pick up the phone and listen to next door's phone conversations! Nobody would agree to have that sort of thing nowadays! I doubt it is even an option. Very old-fashioned!

All is otherwise very well here, we've had some campers over the weekend, but the last of them are leaving this morning, before the weather changes and they get flooded out!
I hope all is well with you.
Love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Dearest,
Hope everybody is fine? the household and the farm.

Thank God, and it's very nice hearing from you Bros, I do hope for freedom. did you still go to Norwich yesterday or did you act like that man that always looked at the weather while others face their daily jobs???

It's frustrating!!! this council thing, i am surprise at one taking permission before he can cut the tree in his compound, here is not like that at-all!!, there is Gov tree that is normally positioned at the road side which you can not cut any how, not that people don't still cut it some time.

That next door connection of a thing is not advised!! because the world we are into today is full of strange things, wickedness has taking more percent than the Good. one needs to be careful these days, hope that Jenny and the baby is doing fine?

Have a nice day and my greeting to everybody Aunt Felicity, Mrs Rosie, the husband Mr Duncan and everybody around.

Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Bros?,

Hope you are doin fine? It's been a while since i heard from you last, hope all is well?

My Greetings to everybody.
Yours philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Yes, everything is well here. You are very cheeky still remembering about me watching the weather! I don't like getting caught in storms! We did have some last week, and the electricity went off a couple of times, though not for long.

We've got an aunt and uncle of Jenny's staying here at the moment, they are being a little bit demanding, wanting to be taken to see local churches and coastal towns, and not understanding that I have to get back to see to the animals. And nor that Jenny is supposed to stay away from crowds because of the risk of swine flu. Still, it is good for developing patience!

Hundreds of years ago there used to be lots of trees in this country, but then everyone chopped them down to build houses and roads and factories and towns. So then the government decided that it should stop, and that you had to ask permission to cut down older trees.

I'm going ahead though with the long telephone wires, the telephone company have to come and put up wooden poles to hang them from, and put lots of metal around the bottoms of them too, so that the goats won't chew them! They said they would come and do that within the next six weeks, so they are hardly in a hurry. It's ridiculous, this whole thing has been going on since June, I think it was.

Jenny remains in good health, and has quite a big bump now. The weather is getting cooler now it's September, so that is nice for her. She says that the first thing she is going to do after giving birth is drink lots and lots of wine, because she is fed-up with having to be careful and only have a little. I said it will get in her breast milk, surely, and she says well at least Baby Philomena will sleep well. I think she might be joking (about drinking lots of wine), but I'm going to ask about this at the next pre-natal class, whether wine or anything will affect the milk. I don't want to risk a drunken baby!

I was remembering something the other day, I'll tell you about it. When I was about eight years old, there was a lady at church who was pregnant, and I was staring at her big tummy, so she said, 'I'm growing my new baby in there. You can come and touch it if you like.' But instead of just laying my hand on her tummy, I poked it with my finger.
And the lady said, 'Now you've poked one of its eyes out! It will only have one eye now!'
And she meant it as a joke, but I really believed her. And I was so worried about what I had done, I thought she was going to have a one-eyed baby and it would be all my fault. I was so upset about it.

I was terrified when later she came to church holding her new baby. I didn't want to go over and have a look. My dad said, 'Go and see the new baby!' and I didn't want to, because I didn't want to see a baby with just one eye.

My dad insisted, he said it was polite to admire new babies, so he dragged me to see. And when I saw that he had two eyes, I was so relieved I could have cried! I really believed I'd damaged him for life.

I'm hoping that Felicity will tell me at home group on Wednesday when the money will be ready to be sent to you. She was in church yesterday, but rushed off so quickly after the service, I didn't get the chance to speak to her.

In between being polite to Jenny's aunty and uncle, I'm digging up carrots. We have so many this year, and they are lovely too. My market buyers are going to be so happy with these ones, they will be able to get a good price for them.

I hope all is going well with you.

Love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Wonderful!! Wonderful!!! Bros,

You don't cease amazing me Bros, You thought you'd spoilt the baby’s eyes inside her mother's tummy, how do you think it will be possible that you did a thing like that and the mum will take it very easy with you??

Well well it's child’s beliefs and thinking, any-well that Shows you sooo kind, though that is children’s life style.

Please send my greeting to Jenny, ask her to have patience. Those past days, my mom used to say that every woman will experience that which her Mother has experienced in life.

You know this is the moment when women respect their Mother the more in life.send my greetings to her and tell her that I said she should look unto him that is in heaven at a time like this. About taking wine, its just a joke, she can take wine in small amounts, Because trying to take much more will cause her to have hatred for wine, so it's better we do the right thing at the right time and remember that too much of everything is......

Bros i am happy that now we are talking of how i will start up something for my self, my prayer is that God will do the best to all those that have contributed to assist me, that is all i can say, I hope God knows the best to do.

Again please I will like you to please be careful with this one to avoid stories, please I plead this in the name of God. And I will like you to send it Twice even if you send it the same day just divide it two when you sent part one I pick it, then you sent the other Info Ok,

Please I am saying this because it is in this i have every hope of freedom.Remember IF YOU ARE TO SEND IT TO ME BY MONEY-GRAM YOU USE MY NAME (Philomena Nelson) BUT IF IT WILL BE BY WESTERN UNION, PLEASE NOTE YOU HAVE TO USE MY FRIENDS BROTHER INLAW WHICH I TOLD YOU BEFORE, DUE TO INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT DRIVING LICENSE, HIS NAME IS (Philip C Ekwunife).

take care Bros and God Bless you,
From yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

This is just a short note because we still have our visitors, but I just wanted to tell you that the final total for the Future Forward Fund is £3,236. Isn't that wonderful? It is nearly £1,000 more than we expected. Felicity is so good at fund raising.

She says it now has to be signed off by the Bishop, that just means that he signs the accountant's form, to say he's seen it. She says she'll send you a copy too, but please make sure you keep it safe and private, because it contains church bank account information on it, and signatures, so it mustn't fall into the wrong hands!

Once the Bishop has sent the form back, the money can be sent to you. Felicity said she didnt' really want to discuss that at home group, taking up worship and Bible Study time, so she will come here next week (once Jenny's aunt and uncle have gone!) to talk about that. She'll handle the sending of it, she says, because she always does the church donations, we've also been fund raising for an Anglican church in India this summer, and that needs to be sent as well.

I'd better go and join the others for breakfast.
Lots of love, David

Philomena wrote:

Whoooooooo!!,

I know that my Redeemer lives, Yes sometimes God allows some delay in order to multiply his children's faith.Of course believe it Bros, In the time of Jesus He was told that a very Good friend of his is Sick, very ill, yet he waited for 2 good days before he set on the journey to see him, and the journey take 4 days i think, before he get there Lazarus is dead, though Mary and Martha hoped that if Jesus was there in time that he could have been healed, but he did not, till he died and buried, but when Jesus arrived. he raised him from death, which everybody knows is greater than healing the sick.

Blessed be the name of the lord and peace to his people on earth.

once again i thank you in advance, sent my greetings to Jenny and every other person around.

I know it is the lords doing and he will surely visit all those he used in raising the fund. I can't wait to hear from you again and to see the cash to settle for best in life.

love you!!!!!
Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I don't really have much time to write right now, I've got some men here with a tractor to cut my second lot of hay, and I'm supposed to be indoors making drinks for them, not sittting at my laptop!

Felicity says she’ll send you the accountant’s form to see within a day or two, did I tell you that before? I just wanted to let you know, so you’d know what her attachment is.
I need to get back to making drinks for the men now, but I should be able to get back online later, after milking.
Lots of love, David

Philomena wrote:

Say thank you to Felicity, though i don't think i need whats on it.

I hope everything went well that yesterday about your workers??

How is Jenny, hope the baby is kicking.
has Jenny’s Aunt and Uncle Gone??

did you speak with Aunt Felicity on how she went with the Church officials???
And when is she coming to the house as promised?

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

We had a very hectic time on Monday, and ended up working after dark until quite late, getting the hay not only cut but baled and under cover before the forecast rain came. We got it all in just in time, yesterday was terrible, it rained so hard. I was actually expecting Felicity to come here yesterday, but when I saw that rain, I wasn't surprised that she didn't come, it wasn't fit to travel in, not even that short way. The electricity kept going off as well.

I think it's going to be a lot better today, raining, but only a normal sort of amount, so I think she'll probably come just after lunchtime.

Oh yes, Jenny's aunt and uncle left last Saturday, which was rather nice, they were quite difficult guests to have.

Jenny is absolutely fine - apart from a bit of indigestion after meals, I think Baby Philomena is taking up some tummy room and not helping digestion! She's got an antenatal check-up tomorrow.

I've got my left hand bandaged, however! I sliced the palm in several places with some binding twine while I was hurrying about carrying the baled hay. It's not deeply cut or anything, the bandaging is really just to protect myself from getting dirt in it and getting it infected. It makes things awkward though, especially milking, which I do by hand, not by machinery.

The milk is drying up a good bit with the goats, though. There's one still producing a fair bit, but the others don't have so much. They'll be coming into season soon and be mated for next year.

Well, I'd better go and have some breakfast. I would've liked to have dug up my maincrop potatoes today, but the ground is so wet, it will mean taking up so much space for them to dry out before putting them in sacks for storage and sale, so I might leave that a couple of days. The market traders will have to wait until next week to buy some. I might dig up some turnips for them, instead, there's not so many of those.

It's a busy time of year!

Hope all is well with you, my sister.
Much love, from David

Philomena wrote:

OH!!! God Baaaaad-news O!! Bros I know you are hurt but you don't want me to feel the gravity of the pain you might have been passing through at this time of the year, thats supposed to be a busy time with joy for bountiful harvest,am so sorry and only can say i am truly sorry, may God be your strength.Amen.

Well mummy Jenny I know will be feeling quite uncomfortable at this time through indigestion after meals, indigestion always comes-up to pregnant women, I think its not too bad,please sent my greetings to her.

And please take good care of your poor hand
yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I was too tired after home group last night to write to you, and now today I'm rushing around to get things done before going with Jenny to her antenatal check-up -so I'll write later and tell you what Felicity said!

Lots of love, David

Philomena wrote:

Thanks for your update, hope your bandaged hand is getting fine? I will check back to hear what you said Aunt Felicity said, you know i am checking my email everyday just to make sure nothing goes wrong this time, please take care.my greetings to Jenny hoping to read from you later in the day.

yours Philomena.

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:10 am

10. Pregnancy Problems. Bank Transfer Problems.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Jenny is in hospital, they found at her antenatal check-up yesterday that her blood pressure is high and she has protein in her urine, which means pre-eclampsia, which is potentially fatal to her as well as the baby. What we thought was indigestion is just part of it.

She's got to stay in hospital now on total bed rest and with blood pressure medication in the hope that they can keep her stable for at least another six weeks. The only cure, you see, is having delivery of Baby Philomena, either by induced contractions or by caesarean section. But Philomena isn't big enough yet to be likely to survive birth, she's only 24 weeks old, they want to try and get her to 30 weeks, and even then she may not survive. But if she's left inside, the chances are that Jenny won't survive either, so it's going to have to be done, I'm just praying that they can keep Jenny stable for the necessary weeks.

I'm just home from the hospital now, Rosie took me today and will do so again tomorrow, I need to go and milk the goats and feed all the animals, and then get myself something to eat too, but I'll try and get back later, if I'm not too tired (I feel exhausted, stress and worry, I suppose), because I still haven't told you about Felicity sending the money, though that won't be until next week anyway, because we've still got to wait for the release from the Bishop first.

My hand is fine, thank you, I heal quite well when I have cuts.

Hope you are well.
Love from David

Philomena wrote:

Goodmorning Bros,

I couldn't check-up my mail since because we were having Church programs during the weekend,

All i will like you to know and always do, is speak positively and not negatively.Nothing will Happen to my Baby and the Mum As well, Jenny will deliver like the Hebrew women.

Whatsoever, the case is though I don't have an Idea of pre-eclampsia, but all I know is that nothing will Happen to Her and her Baby, I am ON program today and will start up another tomorrow for her. this evening I will talk to my pastor about it and we’ll see, he may have a program for you too, but just hope you are going to Carry your Baby alive, and your Wife besides,Amen.

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Well, it is basically good news, Jenny's blood pressure has dropped a bit, and the hospital says that if it does not go up again, nor the protein in her urine increase, she can come home on Thursday.

She will have to have TOTAL rest and not do a thing except lay around in bed, and a nurse will come in every day to check her blood pressure and urine protein levels, and if there are any increases in these, she will have to go back in hospital.

It still really remains the same, to keep her stable for the next six weeks or so, until it is safer for Baby Philomena to be born. If Jenny can be kept alright after that, of course, then that is a bonus, and every single week that passes is more chance of successful birth and survival for Philomena.

I'd never heard of pre-eclampsia before, though apparently 1 in a 100 pregnant women in the country get it every year, it is thought to be caused by something being wrong with the placenta, where the baby is attached to the mother's womb, which causes a bad reaction in the mother. It is called pre-eclampsia because it is the part of the illness which happens before actual eclampsia occurs. It is eclampsia itself that kills, it causes seizures to the brain which often result in death. The only prevention is to take the placenta (and therefore the baby) out of the mother.

As long as Jenny remains in the PRE-eclampsia stage, she is alright, it is when it gets worse, and heads towards eclampsia that the doctors have to act fast and get the placenta out of her before she dies.

She can't be 'cured' without taking the placenta away, so the hope is that she stays in PRE-eclampsia as long as possible, once she starts heading towards the next stage, she will have to give birth or have a caesarean section.

But the nurse will come in every day and keep an eye on her and check she is still pre-eclampsiac. And if anything starts to get worse, she will go and call an ambulance for Jenny.

The staff at the hospital have been very reassuring, so we are feeling much more calm about everything now.

I've got the telephone company coming today to mark where they are putting the telephone poles for us, and then hopefully next week they will put them in place and run the telephone wires to the house, so we'll have the phone installed as well, which will be another reassurance.

Anyway, about sending the money to you.

Felicity says that our donations overseas are always done in the same way, the money is sent to the Anglican church in the area, and the Vicar of that church then hands it over to the receiver. This can be done publicly (in the church), or privately (just between you and the vicar), whichever you would prefer, but we do ask that a couple of photos are taken, because that's nice for our church back here to see, and all the people who have given money feel good about that.

Felicity says that she has had contact before with the Dean of the Anglican Cathedral in Accra, and also a church called St Cecilia's, which has a very nice vicar (she did tell me his name, but I've forgotten it), and they've received money from this country before. But she (Felicity that is) says she really doesn't know Accra, or where the refugee camp is, or what is your nearest Anglican church, so if you can give her the camp address, what district it is in, and the nearest Anglican church to you, she can arrange to send it there. It has to be a recognised church, though, not just a group who meets unofficially, but one that is registered or licenced or whatever it is called as part of the Diocese.

It takes about a week to send the money, and then someone from the church will contact you and arrange the giving of it to you.

Felicity says that a photograph of yourself will have to be emailed to the vicar (or passed on through the cathedral staff if that is not possible), but I can give her one of those to send. And then you will have to provide some sort of ID as well upon collection. But it will be arranged, if possible, to be of the least inconvenience to you, even if it means the vicar coming to your camp, rather than you travelling to the church or his house.

So, what do you think? Which would be the best church to use? What district is the camp in?

Let me know as soon as possible if you can, because I will see Felicity tomorrow at home group, and the Bishop here should have released the money by now, so Felicity can get on and arrange sending it ready for next week.

Lots of love from David

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Bros,

How is she today Hope In a better Shape??? Has she returned home? remember Not to think negatively over anything, like I said earlier, Nothing, i mean absolutely nothing, is going to happen to Jenny and her Baby,she will deliver in peace,just believe in God.

I went to my branch pastor after reading your mail this morning with a print out copy of the mail you sent me, so he said that it's good idea, that is being done that way to avoid misplacement.

So he said he will give me the Anglican headquarters contact to give to you so that your Vicar or any one in charge will contact our Headquarters in Accra, and the headquarters will receive the money, and then the headquarters will send it to our branch here in BUJUMBURA CAMP, then with My Name And Photograph the money will be delivered to me in a Service.

Here is the Headquarter contacts:

International Center for pure worship.
Tel: +233-2722-33351
Email: [email protected]
Head pastor: Apostle Jonathan Aboya.

He asked me if Aunt Felicity is asking for information on how to send money through the Church. But I told him that all you ask of me is the Anglican Address, so he said its ok, and that any info she needs , she should indicate that to the Church.

Again note that my info is important for indication.PHILOMENA NELSON, BUJUMBURA CAMP ADDRESS TEA JUNCTION,BLOCK 6 ROOM 2.

Have a nice day bros and take good care of the household,
yours sister Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I don't have time to write much right now, but thank you for sending the details, I'll copy that out and give it to Felicity tonight.

Jenny will be allowed home tomorrow, she'll be brought by ambulance, and should be here by midday, and will have the community nurse vist later in the afternoon, to check that the travelling has not raised her blood pressure at all.

I know it's all in the hands of God, but I am a bit of a worrier, and I can't seem to stop it. I've always been like that!

I must go now, because I've got the British Telecom men here measuring up for telegraph poles, and I want to go and see what they are doing!

Much love, from David

Philomena wrote:

Dearest,
Hope all is well there How is Jenny? Hope she feels more better than before,Has she returned home?

I hope you are not putting all your time in worries, knowing fully well that God is there to take care of the difficult situation with Jenny and her unborn baby.

Please do remember and know you are kind of worrysome, but remember to cast you Burden unto him that is able to take them and give you rest of mind.

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Yes, Jenny is home now, though she has to remain in bed (except for going to the toilet!).
Her blood pressure and protein measures are stable, so all is so very well.
We are in God's hands and I'm beginning to relax and rest in Him.

I'm feeling very very tired, though, Jenny is not a demanding patient, or anything, but I have to keep her happy and unstressed and take her food and drinks and be company, on top of everything else. I enjoy it, I like serving her, but I am so tired!

So I haven't managed to get back to Felicity yet to ask her about the money situation.
I think I'll send her an email, she's not always very good at replying to emails, so I'll ask her to visit and talk to me instead, because she'll do that alright, she's good at visiting! (I think Jenny would add, 'Especially if she can have some free eggs!' but Jenny is cheeky like that. It must be contagious, if I'm now thinking it too!)

I hope all is well with you.

Thank you for being so caring. I'm sure you have so many problems of your own, and yet you are caring about our little situation here. You are a good sister to me.

Lots of love, David

Philomena wrote:

Hi!!? Bros,

Wow!! Thank God for Jenny’s life and health, I know there is nothing impossible for God To do,Since I set this at the Back of my heart I always hope that The Best only come from The Lord.

I thank God Too that you have beginning to relax a bit, but try and make it part of yourself not to bother much ok.

Yesterday after service I waited to see the Pastor to remind him of the money issue so he called the headquarters and asked if there is any message about me, but they said nothing yet.

he also asked me if the church account is needed for the money, but I told him that I don't know yet, it may be that Aunt Felicity or the your Church Vicar will talk to them.

So please try and communicate with Aunt Felicity to know what next. though i know you have al lot at hand now that Jenny is not too strong, but I pray that God will be your Strength.

My greetings to her.

And please take care of the household ok,
Yours Sister Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I saw Felicity yesterday and she said that that church isn't an Anglican church.

It's got to be an Anglican one, under an Anglican Bishop.

She says her geography is terrible but she'll give your Refugee camp address to the Dean of the Cathedral in Accra that she knows, and he'll be able to tell her your nearest Anglican church. And then she can arrange to have the money sent there, it will take about a week to go through, she says, and then we can arrange delivery or collection.

I can't stop to write any more right now, as the nurse is due to come soon, Jenny's blood pressure was slightly raised this morning, so the nurse is returning to take it again. I hope it has gone down, and it was only up because it was a bit hot here this morning.

Lots of love from David

Philomena wrote:

Hello Bros,

thanks for your email and your time as well, I know it wasn't easy this time.

About what you said Aunt Felicity said, I am not an Anglican and don't really know where the Anglican church is, and moreover, how will I know that this money has been sent and how to Receive it, Or Could it redirect to my Church??

What do you suggest i do to go and look for the Angelican center?

Or Do i wait for the Anglican to call me??

I am confused, please advise me on what to do, have a lovely day and always hope that the best of health comes only from God.

My greetings to Jenny.
Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Oh, please don't worry. The Anglican Church is a worldwide denomination. The Cathedrals and churches and church services are a bit like Catholic ones, but we don't follow the Pope, or revere the Virgin Mary or the Saints. There is an Anglican Cathedral in Accra, and lots of Anglican churches.

When Felicity has found the Anglican Church nearest to your Refugee camp, and arranged with the vicar (that's what we call the priests/pastors) there to receive the money, then we will sort out the details of him meeting with you and handing the money to you (in your own currency, of course).

If you don't want to go to the Anglican church and have a little event of the occasion, then the vicar will come to you (with his wife or another lady to accompany him, no one would expect a young lady to meet a man alone, not even a vicar! - and you can have your own pastor or any other friend there too, of course).

He will need to check you against your photograph, and also see whatever sort of identification you have, and check it is real (though it doesn't matter what it is), and also his lady companion will take a photo of you and him together, so it can be sent back here. Then everybody will know that everything has been done properly, and you have truly received the money. You will also, I think, have to sign a little declaration to say you have received it, and it will be witnessed by the lady companion or any friend or pastor of your own.

No, it can't be redirected to your church though, it has to be actually placed in your hand, the Church Rules prohibit anyone receiving it except you yourself. But don't be shy or worried about it, it will only take a few minutes, and it will be so well worth it, because then you will have a bright new life and a future.

Jenny's blood pressure had only dropped a bit when the nurse came back yesterday afternoon, so another nurse had to come about 10 o'clock in the evening and check it again. Thankfully, by then, it had dropped again, and this morning it is stable once more, so Jenny is still here and not in hospital. I've been rushing round today, getting things done, because I thought it was home group this evening - until just now, when Jenny said, 'But it is only Tuesday, not Wednesday!' So it's not home group tonight after all, I was so sure it was Wednesday! I must be getting old!

Like I say, don't worry about anything. I'll see Felicity tomorrow and be able to tell you which vicar she has contacted and what he's called and what he had to say.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hi Bros?

Thanks for the Update about the Money, Jenny, and everything around, I am Very grateful, and about Jennys health, I told you we have Prayed here and I was assured nothing will happen to her and her Baby.

Please about the Money, please try as much as you can to be getting the update from Aunty Felicity, I will go to the Church, but may not like to come out to the full Congregation, if the Vicar can Come to the Camp its nice, If I am to go with maybe a friend to the Church, its also nice, but definitely not to the Congregation.

But I need to know exactly when the money is transferred to the Vicar ok, and the name of the Vicar and the Church address.

And please Can you attach to me my photo which the Church Is to Use? I may like to put on the same clothes to wear, if it is the wear that I am still using.

Lots of love Bros
My greetings to Jenny,

Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Bros,

I saw my Pastor this afternoon and talked to him about the Development,He said that Anglicans are all over.

That since Aunt Felicity says her geography is terrible, that She shouldn't Stress her self if she has not gotten one yet.

He said that you should ask her if she has not gotten one, that you should let me know so that he can or ask (Mama) that is his wife, to take me to an Anglican around Casuwa, whichh is the nearest town to Bujumbura, or any other Branch around Accra Ghana.

So please ask Aunt Felicity if she has not yet gotten any, so that you should let me tell the Pastor OK. or Better Not to bother, so that i will visit a Branch here tomorrow to get their Informations for you.

Yours Sister Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Oh don't worry about clothes. You are so distinctive-looking, with such pale skin and oriental-shaped eyes (I presume that one of your Grandparents was Chinese or Japanese?) that I don't think there will be any mistaking you in a Refugee camp of pure black women!

Now, I've been talking to Felicity and she says she feels she is being quite hopeless, because she can't find any reference to Bujumbura Refugee Camp anywhere - well, not in Ghana, anyway, there's the one in Bujumbura itself, but that's in Burundi! And I've had a look on the online map of Ghana this morning and all round Accra and I can't find Casuwa! So please can you help us and either take a screenshot of a Google Map and mark where you are, or scan a paper map and show it, or at least draw a map, or something.

Felicity tried to contact her friend the Dean, but he hasn't got back in contact yet. She's full of apologies and says she feels awful about being so bad at map reading, but there are so many Anglican churches in the Accra region, according to the World Handbook, she can't possibly contact them all.

The money is sitting there in the bank, ready to come, and we do want to get on with this, so please find a way to send a map.

Jenny's nurse should be here soon, and we've got the doctor coming as well today, not for any dire reason, just for another check-up and to assess whether she is stable enough to visit the hospital next week, just as an out-patient, for another scan. Apparently they want to check how Baby Philomena is growing, because the problem with the placenta will stop full nutrients reaching her, so she will be growing slower than most babies in the womb. The hospital needs to be up-to-date with her size, in case Jenny has to be rushed in for delivery, so they can prepare the premature baby incubator at the same time, and fix up the size-related oxygen equipment and feed lines and things.

I'm hoping it is any day except Tuesday, I'm going to mention this to the doctor, because I've arranged for some church members to come in and be with Jenny (in case of emergency need, she can't exactly go next door or maybe even down the road to the payphone, if an ambulance is needed) so I can go into Norwich and get some money out of the bank and buy a few things we need. We're also expecting the telephone company to come and install our telephone lines next week, so it feels a bit like everything is happening at once!

Anyway, if you can let me have the map quickly, it will be great, because Felicity is going away this weekend, so it'd be good if she can arrange everything before she goes. What time zone are you there? Are you at GMT or GMT+1 like us at the moment?

I'd better go, I think I hear the nurse's car.
Lots of love, David

Philomena wrote:

O!! God am very sorry Bros,

Please don't mind my write-up I was writing to you with the language we use here instead of BUDUBURAM, WE CALLED IT BUJUMBURA.

please tell Aunt Felicity that the real spelling is (Buduburam)

If she went to the web Let her Search (buduburam refugee camp Ghana)

Buduburam is a refugee camp located 44 kilometers (27 miles) west of Accra, Ghana. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buduburam

See The Map (http://www.fallingrain.com/world/GH/0/Bruburam.html)

But Tell her not to bother, because our Pastor promises to Contact an Anglican CHURCH today, Though I went to his House, the Daughter says he is not in yet, but I will check on him again tonight OR first thing in the morning to get the information of the ANGLICAN Church so that she can talk better to the Church Pastor or Vicar.

Am Sorry for the Stress and inconveniences.
Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

i got this from my pastor

Re: Up-date Pastor.Did you know any Angelican Church around???
Friday, October 2, 2009 10:11 AM
From: "Pastor Jonathan Aboya" <[email protected]>
To: "Philomena Nelso" [email protected]

Hi Philo,

I command Jenny's blood pressure to normalized right now in the name of Jesus. I command her to be made perfect in health right now in the name of Jesus. I speak total healing into her life right now in the name of Jesus.

I speak peace in her life right now in Jesus name.

God bless you Philomena. I will see what I can do further to assist in this situation.

Remain bless.
Rev.Jonathan.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

How kind of your pastor to care, and to speak healing into Jenny's life. I am very touched by that, and I know that Jenny will be, when I tell her.

I’m sure you’ve told me before what your camp is really called! We have some place names we say differently to how they are spelt here too. Like a place that we call Win-dam. It is actually spelt Wymondham!

Anyway, of course our church knows Budubaram quite well, we've done lots of fund raising in the past for there, and some people have even been there.

We have ties with both St Gregory's and the AME at Budubaram, so this is going to be no problem at all. I've emailed Felicity already, though she may have left for her weekend away by now, but I'm sure she has the contact numbers for the priest of St Gregory's and the minister of the AME, so either of those will be absolutely fine to send money through.
I feel really relieved about knowing that, and I hope you do too.

There's some bad weather coming (strong winds and rain) tonight/tomorrow, so I'm really pleased that I got the rest of the potatoes up by this morning, and have sold nearly all the excess. We've just got onions and garlic left in the ground now (and still some tomatoes under cover) and I feel it has been a very successful season.

The doctor who came says that Jenny should be fine to go for a scan next week, so has booked her in for Thursday. She will be able to come straight back home if her blood pressure is stable, otherwise she will be in overnight. The BT engineers are coming to erect the telephone poles next Friday, so I shall buy two telephones while I am in Norwich on Tuesday, one for downstairs and one for the bedroom. It will be lovely for Jenny to be able to ring her parents and cousins and friends.

Well, I'm going out to feed the animals early, before the rain comes. There's a saying here which is 'Red sky at night, farmer's delight', well it was a red sky last night as the sun set, but it is not very delightful today! Very dark and so obvious that the bad weather is coming. We always get bad winds in October, October and March are the worst months for that.

I'd better go.
Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hi!!! Bros,

How is everything, hope fine, and Jennys health? am very sure she is very ok with the Baby?

Bros about the St.Gregory you said, its a Catholic Church, Please I beg you in the name of God don't send money there, please I said no no no to that, There is something you are to understand here is Africa, the way of life here and of there is not the same, though the laws may be the same.please I don't want you to send the money through a Catholic church.

Have you seen Aunt Felicity again? I visited an Anglican Church Yesterday and there I worshipped and it was fantastic.

And after the Service I talked to the priest about the money i wanted to receive from your end, though there are like lots of processes for me, but i know it is because am not a member, but it is even better then the Catholic church. the Priest complained over a lot of things. you know there was a time last year that Ghana indigenous voted against Liberians leaving the Camp, they say that the country is not gaining anything from UNHCR for Accommodating the Refugees, though the case is over now, and the UNHCR is Building More Schools and Higher Institutions now.

So the Priest says that at the time that case is on, the Church Closed their Account, Though they are Working towards reopening it again.

But My pastor has Contacted his Anglican Priest Friend and talked to him about me and The Church agrees to help me out, here is their Contacts please take it to Aunt Felicity to communicate with them on my behalf.

St.Ambrose Anglican Church,
P.O BOX AT.6 Achimota,
Accra-Ghana
Tel.+233-244-075-385,
Email: [email protected]
Rev.Fr.Samuel L.Lamptey

yours Sister Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

That's no problem, the Anglican church has close ties with both the Catholic church and the Methodist church, but of course going through another Anglican church is much better, and if St Ambose's is convenient to you, then of course that is where Felicity can send the money for you.

I've emailed the name straight to her, she'll have no problems contacting the priest, because she has one of those annual directories of every Anglican church in the whole world, with the priests and deacons all named and contact details given.

It has rained here all day today, and I hoping it stops by tomorrow because I'm wanting to go to Norwich, and have arranged for people to come in to be with Jenny while I go. It's quite a long walk from the railway station into the city centre, and I don't really want to get soaking wet. There is a bus you can catch instead of walking, but there's no shelter at the bus stop, so I'd get just as wet standing there waiting for that!

Jenny continues to be stable, though a bit bored. I'm going to buy her books tomorrow, and a nice journal and some pens, so she can keep a journal of these days, which will be interesting to look back on, and maybe make a present for Baby Philomena when she is grown. Jenny says she is kicking a lot these days, so she must be quite healthy inside there!

We pray so.

I'll see Felicity on Wednesday, so will be able to tell you if she has sent the money. It will take a week or so for the transfer, but then will finally be ready for you!

Much love, David

Philomena wrote:

Good-morning Bros,

Am very happy for Jenny health, and to hear that Baby is kicking, though it will be stress to Jenny if she is kicking, but it's the easy way to know that she is very healthy.

So how did you go? Yesterday. hope you went well and came back home to see every body rejoicing??

Please sent my greetings to Jenny .

And you take good care of the household.I will be waiting to hear from you tomorrow if Aunt Felicity has sent the Money.

There was something you ask me last about time if it's GMT or GMT Plus, I did not answer because i don't know but I've asked people it is GMT

Have a lovely Day!!!
Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Hope all is well? How is Jenny???

I hoped to have heard from you this Morning to know if Aunt Felicity Has sent me the Money Or not?

I am still waiting to read from your end.
Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Sorry I couldn't write to you earlier, I think I told you that Jenny was going for a scan yesterday? Well, all is well, Baby Philomena is a little bit small in size, but has a strong heartbeat and seems to be developing nicely. Unfortunately, Jenny's blood pressure did rise after the travelling and the scan, so the hospital kept her in overnight - she'll be able to come back home today if she has stabilised again, otherwise they'll keep her there for a few days.

We had gone to the hospital in the ambulance that was sent for us, but after Jenny was kept in, I (as a healthy person) did not qualify for any hospital transport back home again! So I had a very long walk to the railway station, and then had to catch a train, and it was quite late by the time I got back, and I still had all the animals to see to.

I went early this morning to see Duncan and Rosie, Rosie says she'll telephone the hospital later and see if Jenny is permittted to come home today, and then let me know. I've got British Telecom coming here today to erect the poles for the telephone wires, so it's a bit of a difficult day for hospital visiting if they keep Jenny in, though Jenny will completely understand if I can't get there. We're certainly not going to postpone the work for the telephone lines, after all this time and trouble we've had!

I saw Felicity on Wednesday, and she said she'd looked up St Ambrose Church in the directory, and it was a bit confusing because it listed Rev Samuel Lamptey as the 'priest in charge' but Father Ayesu as the actual priest, and it wasn't clear who the contact details were for, but they were different to the ones you had given.

So Felicity decided she'd better get in contact with the Dean, who she's worked with before, and he said that St Ambrose was no nearer to Budubaram than the Cathedral was, so there was no advantage in involving them, he could see to it all himself as usual, or, rather, the treasurer could. So that's sort of been organised, well, I should think it has by now, Felicity, when I saw her, said that the treasurer was getting in touch with her yesterday, and she expected to transfer the money to Ghana on Friday, that's today, from her London bank. So I assume that is what she is doing today, and the money therefore will be local and ready for you in a week's time.

From what I understand, the treasurer and his wife, on the Dean's behalf, will come to the camp to meet you. But Felicity hadn't yet spoken to him when I saw her, so I don't know the arrangements for that yet. It'll be straightforward though, becuase we have your address.

It's a rainy sort of day here, but at least the ground will be soft for BT to dig the holes to insert the poles into! They are supposed to arrive at 9 o'clock, and it's already ten to nine, so I hope they come on time.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

To David, Felicity wrote:

David, I spoke to the treasurer yesterday, though it was not with the greatest success. Between you, me, and the doorpost, I don't like him very much, he has a very thick accent, very difficult to understand, but instead of slowing down, saying words distinctly with pauses, helping out like the dear Dean does, he just became impatient and started shouting! So I could not make out most of what he was saying, but he kept repeating, "Too much for a refugee, too much for a refugee" - as if it was any of his business anyway!

I asked him to email me, in the hope that the rest of what he was saying would be clearer in writing, but he didn't seem to want to do that, but told me to speak again to Rev. Axxxx. I've only just managed to get through to anybody; it wasn't Rev. Axxxx, I'm not sure who it was, I couldn't catch the name, but he knew who I was, anyway, and said (again, as far as I can make out) that it is all a fraud scheme - I thought, at first, that he meant that he believed I was involved in a fraudulent scheme, but it seems that he doubts Philomena, and says that someone (Rev. Axxxx? The treaurer? I'm not clear) will need to know how we first came into contact with her. I said she was a friend of a church member's and he said 'email fraud' or something like that, and 'Send the first 3 emails to Rev Axxxx'.

This is most irregular David, and I really don't like to do something like this. I'm going to have to ask for advice I think, I'll be back on Monday, I'll consult the PCC or somebody. Apologise to dear Philomena, won't you, it is a most unnecessary delay in my opinion, and of course I don't yet have the details for the transfer, but hopefully we can sort it out on Monday. I will ask our Bishop to speak to Rev. Axxxx if necessary.

I hope all went well with Jenny's scan and you are both feeling encouraged from the check-up. Give my best wishes to Jenny, and tell her that I have bought her a little something today, I'll see her on Tuesday if I have time. Let me know by email if that is not convenient.

Felicity

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:11 am

11. The problems continue.

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Bros,

Good-morning, I hope that all is well there? Has Jenny returned from the Hospital???

How did you go yesterday with The BT, Have they started the lining?

Please send my greetings to Jenny and remember what i always say, believe that you have the best all the time, never think nor believe negative things, Always hope that Jenny and her Baby will fine, and never be thinking of wrongs.

Well about the money and Aunt felicity, some times I wonder why my things are always hard when it comes to favor,
though like i told you I always hope that one day God will surprise me with good things of life. I told you how I went to the Anglican Church here In the Camp and they told me that they will have to meet, then vote on what i have told them, and after the vote and other things, if they agree to help me, then i will have to make a promise to the church and other things.Yes I know that if a Church should render such a help that one has to Show appreciation in a big way even, but not to force word on me.infact all i am hoping now is that what belongs to me must surely come, this can only waste time, but will not be taking away from me.

The St Ambrose's I don't even know, Neither do i know the Church nor the Dean that Aunt Felicity was talking about, but I believe in St Ambrose because My pastor was the one who called the Priest and get the Information of the Church.

So now Bros if i may ask, what is the stand now, where is Aunt Felicity sending the Money, if its to her Dean can you ask her the Dean’s Church Address for Me??

I am looking on to hearing from you about which way to follow.
Yours Sister Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Well, Jenny is still in hospital, I'm afraid. Her feet and hands have swollen, which is apparently a bad sign, so they've kept her in, at the moment it doesn't look like she is going to be able to continue carrying Baby Philomena until the 30th week, and therefore giving her a good chance of survival, but we shall see. She's 27 weeks now, so there's still a chance of Philomena surviving the birth, but the odds aren't so good.

Still, there's nothing we can do but wait and see what God has in store for us.

Jenny was able to go to communion at the hospital chapel yesterday, though, a nurse took her there in a wheelchair, and I think that gave her some internal strength.

Rosie, the wife of my friend Duncan, is also expecting a baby now, so we've been praising God for that, as they have been trying for a baby since early this year, and it hadn't been happening, and now it has. So I hope all goes well for them. They already have a daughter, she's 4 now, and going to morning school.

BT have put the telegraph posts up, but haven't attached the wires yet, they are coming back this week to do that. I've bought two telephones, one for downstairs and one for upstairs, already, and I'll be glad when we are all attached. It's been very awkward at the moment, with Jenny in hospital, we're able to email each other because you can subscribe to a personal TV and Internet service in hospitals nowadays, but I can only contact her through it, not the nurses station or anything.

I've had some strange news from Felicity, I think the best thing I can do, rather than try to explain it, is to forward you the letter she sent me. I think it can easily be solved though, just by doing what the Treasurer said, I've still got all your emails, I'm one of those disorganised people who never clear up their mail inbox! Or rarely - I think I should sometimes and I make a start on getting rid of one line emails and things, but it's so boring I soon stop again! Anyway, Felicity is back in Worstead today, so I'll sort it all out with her. I don't think it's really a problem.

Lots of love, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hello Bros,

First of all how is Jennys health today? hope she is doing fine. I have always told you not to carry your Burden by yourself, cast it unto him who is able to Carry it all and give you rest.

Well Dave I will not say i am Disappointed, because I know that the Lord I serve Is not a disappointing God.

But I must say that I don't get what is really going on, Who is the treasurer that Aunt Felicity Contacted on my behalf because I don’t remember any treasurer, I only remember that this money, according to what you told me, was supposed to have reached me in the first week of September, and today we are in 3RD week of October.

You told me that the money has to be sent to me through a registered Church and I am very sure that the Church contact I give to you is my Church headquarter which is:

International Center for pure worship.
Tel: +233-2722-33351
Email: [email protected]
Head pastor: Apostle Jonathan Aboya.

After i talked to the senior Pastor, you said the money has to be sent through the Anglican Church. And with the help of my Pastor I sent this Anglican info:

St.Ambrose Anglican Church,
P.O BOX AT.6 Achimota,
Accra-Ghana
Tel.+233-244-075-385,
Email: [email protected]
Rev.Fr.Samuel L.Lamptey

I told you how I visited the Anglican branch here inside the Camp and as well, I told you all the procedure that they asked me to apply first before they will help, and I counted that i have to go through all that because i am not a member of the Church.I wonder where the treasurer comes in, in all of this?

Dave, I wish you could remember how we started. And know your self better if I have wronged you in any way. Dave, I also wish you could remember that my ears have heard lots of Bad-news,Horrorful things, disasters, disappointments, and lots of sorrowful situations have come and passed, though it will be one of those painful things in life because i have planned for it, but definitely it will not be the end of my life unless i decide to take my life by-force, because i believe that God don't want my life to end now.

The only thing I will not like its mockery,please I don't have much to say, other than to ask you now - what are you doing about me and the money?

AS FOR THE PERSON OR PRIEST CALLED Axxxx, I DON'T KNOW THEM BUT WILL ADVISE, YOU ASK THEM TO READ THE BIBLE VERY WELL, MOSTLY THE BOOK OF James3. 1-8 AND IF POSSIBLE AT ALL, TO SEE WHAT GOD SAID ABOUT THE WORDS THAT COME OUT OF THEIR MOUTH.

I pray that God will bless every one around, thanks.
Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I've had a little chat with Felicity, she's not very happy with the treasurer herself, but he's connected to the Cathedral, so it's all part of that.

St Ambrose is in the district of Dome, Felicity tells me, so no nearer to your camp, so not really any advantage.

Felicity says she's so cross about everything she is quite prepared to break the church rules and send you the money herself, but I said just calm down, all we've got to do is reassure the treasurer or whoever that everything is alright, and we can do that, I don't mind sharing emails, even if they were from the time before I'd even met Jenny!

I'm only just back home from the hospital, one of the hospital transport volunteers brought me in there car, apparently they will give me a lift home whenever I need one, no charge, but they like donations to the Friends of the hospital, so I'll do that.

Jenny is fine, no change.

I haven't even fed the animals yet, and the chickens are not shut up for the night, so I have to rush and do that, I just wanted to write a few lines to you first.

Don't worry. I can get this all sorted out.
Lots of love, from David

Philomena wrote:

See this pls

--- On Mon, 10/12/09, Pastor Jonathan Aboya <[email protected]> wrote:

From: Pastor Jonathan Aboya <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Up-date Pastor.
To: "Philomena Nelso" <[email protected]>
Date: Monday, October 12, 2009, 12:34 PM

Hi Sister Philo,

I spoke to the Rev.Father this morning and the money has not yet been sent to him. He said when he receives the money he will call me.

Please speak to your sister in England.
God bless you.
Rev.Jonathan.

Philomena wrote:

Good morning Bros,

I will take Jennys illness to the pastor again, though he told me last time to have a program with the Prayer warriors, but I didn't, but I will talk to him to see what he can say. But in all things I want you to always believe in the Positive.

Well Bros, Please I want to ask you this. Its true about the saying that a beggar has no choice, but at this time I want you to tell Aunt Felicity that I don't want to go that person called the treasurer. I thought that the treasurer was in the same Church, St.Ambrose, so i went to my Pastor with anger, though i did not see the pastor then, but i am sure the wife Has talked to him, and this morning i found that message I forwarded to you.

If she is to send my money to that treasurer of a person, please it's better she keeps the Money with her, because I will not have anything to do with a place where that treasurer of a person is. I told you something yesterday i don't know if you understand it, if you don't mind, read it again JAMES 3, 1 TO 8. and again TITUS 1, 5 - TO - 9.

And a person called him self a man of God, and then just says whatever he likes without thinking twice.

Please St,Ambrose is in Dome St john area but its only 90 pesswaers, moreover I can go with My Pastor Or his Wife I want the Money sent to St Ambrose. please am not trying to be difficult but will not go to that treasurer, God Forgive-me, they are the kind of people that will even give ultimatum, you will do this or that to God. I will not go there for any reason.

Please send my greetings to Jenny,
Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I don't understand why you are getting angry.

Try and understand this-

This is the way the Anglican church is structured-

In every area, there is a Cathedral. This is the 'Boss Church' if you like. At the Cathedral is the 'Boss Man', he is called a Bishop.

And then there are the little bosses, called the Deans, and then many other people.

ALL Anglican churches in the whole area are SERVANTS of the Cathedral and the Bishop.

The Cathedral and the Bishop is the Big Boss and the Deans are the Little Bosses, and all Anglican churches AND ALL PRIESTS have to be answerable to the Bishop and the Deans.

So if the Dean says that he wants to handle the money, whether through the treasurer or anyone else, ALL PRIESTS HAVE TO OBEY HIM.

And that includes the priest of St Ambrose.

This is the way it is.

It is the Anglican church structure throughout the entire world, and it doesn't matter what I think about that, or what you think about that, or what your pastor thinks about that, there is nothing anyone can do to change it.

So it is NO GOOD you saying 'I won't have anything to do with any place where the treasurer is' because the treasurer is part of the Cathedral and part of the Bishop's team, and EVERYTHING to do with the Anglican church HAS to go through that.

The priest at St Ambrose can't do ANYTHING if the Cathedral Clergy say No.

The priest at St Ambrose is 'part of the place where the treasurer is'. He is under OBEDIENCE to the Cathedral.

So don't be silly and rebellious. That's little-girl behaviour, and you are a mature woman.

I said I would sort this out.

Felicity is going to visit Jenny this afternoon, and then is calling by here on her way back home, and we're going to sort this out.

In the meantime, just calm down.
Lots of love, David

Philomena wrote:

Bros Good morning,

Well am sorry if you get my feelings wrong, but I wonder what that kind of person will preach to the congregations.

But If St.Ambrose is still an Anglican Church and Aunt Felicity Wants to sent Money to st Ambrose, what the Cathedral needs to do is to confirm that the money reaches st Ambrose,
because St Ambrose has another priest as treasurer,
and they are still under the same Communion.

Please sent my greetings to Jenny.
Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I don't have time to write much, I'm just home from the hospital, and I have home group tonight, but really, you are going on! Don't you know how rude you sound?

The treasurer isn't a priest, just handles the money, or the accounts, or something.

It's all in the hands of the Cathedral, it's up to them whether they deliver the money directly to you, or via St Ambrose, though why they would want to send it to St Ambrose when they can just come straight to the Camp and to you, I don't know!

You said you didn't want to attend any service, so Felicity said she'd arrange it that the money was brought to your address at the Camp.

It's not a big deal, just a man and a woman bringing you some money.

Felicity is sending the fund-raising details to the Cathedral, plus the copies of your early mails where you first told me your story. That will prove to them this isn't a sudden story, but something that has been correctly attended to over a long period of time. Once they are satisfied, the money will be transfered.

Oh, I suppose Felicity can ask then that it goes via St Ambrose, if you really have your heart set on that, the treasurer or the Dean or whoever can easily go there and give it to the priest, or hand it over at one of their Synod Meetings or whatever they are called. I think all priests have to meet at the Cathedral quite frequently, so it shouldn't be any bother to give it to Rev Lamptey or Father Ayesu while they are there at their clergy meeting.

The most important thing now, though, is to reassure the Cathedral staff that we are not just acting on a whim, but all is right and proper and correct.

They are bound by international church laws, so I suppose they've got to do everything correctly.

I must rush off and attend to the animals now.
Lots of love, David

Philomena wrote:

Thanks Bros,

Never mind my thoughts about the treasurer, Please i want to use this opportunity to apologize to all that are Concerned in this.Its never my intention to be rude to any one. You,the treasurer, the Home Group, that were trying to help out.Because you are not the cause of my problem, but just trying to help out, its just that i do Judge people according to how I react to Causes myself,.in all i am sorry. But will like Aunt Felicity to Direct the money to St. Ambrose.

Well well well,lets go back to the most important thing, which our Family,How Is Jenny when you see her at the hospital? She might be very lonely there???

And what are the positive result about her health?. Like i told you, i talked to my pastor again, he prayed with me. and asked me to write Jennys name and what i want God to Do for her, and he will hand it over to the prayer-warriors so that in all their prayers they will be putting her in prayer.

I have written that simply - what i wrote was name David Chorley-Smallwood Elsdon, Gods favor and protection, then Jenny, Health and her unborn baby, safe delivery and so on.And I think their are having their program Thursday evening which is today, and on Saturday night-vigil.

Just put your trust in God, Bros, and always hope that he, the doer of every Good, will not pass you by, just believe in positives not negatives.

Yours Philomena

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I've sent Felicity another email to say remember to ask the Dean or whoever to give the money to Rev Lamptey or Father Ayesu at St Ambrose. Like I said before, all priests in a diocese have to go to Cathedral meetings, so it will be easy for the Dean just to give it to him.

I don't know if Felicity has heard back from anyone yet, she's not always prompt in writing emails to me, she has so many to write.

Jenny isn't really that good, she's being sick a bit, but the nurses think they have everything under control. I'm not really very good at thinking positively, but I think, as far as all this is concerned, I can't keep worrying about it all, it's in God's hands, and we just have to wait and see what He is going to do.

I think really she is having a better time in hospital than at home. At home, although I spent as much time with her as I could, I do still have work to do, and so a lot of the time, she was left alone, and bored. In hospital, though, there are the Hospital Visitors, who just walk round the wards, looking for anyone who might like a chat, and the Anglican priests on rota duty always go and see her, and pray with her, and there's other women to talk to in the ward, and the nurses wheel her down to the Day Room if she wishes, so she meets both men and women there for a chat - and that's as well as having the nurses and the librarian and the other volunteers coming round. So she's got a lot of company there, and different things to chat about with people, and I think, really, it takes her mind off dwelling on the potential problems.

And I'm so busy having to fit in hospital visiting as well as all the farmwork, that I don't have too much time to dwell on everything either.

BT were supposed to be coming today to fix up the telephone wires, but it is absolutely pouring with rain, so I don't know if they will come. The rain is supposed to stop in a few hours, so maybe they'll come then, but it's a bit frustrating, because I need to be here for them, as they need to come into the house to lay the lines inside and fix the telephone points, so I won't be able to go to the hospital to see Jenny if they don't come until afternoon.

Thank you and all your church for your prayers. Baby Philomena is 28 weeks old now, so there's only 2 weeks to go for the chance of survival.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Bros.

I was composing a mail to send you yesterday and unluckily the light went off. that was why you did not hear from me. hope you are doing well? How is Jenny, did you make time to visit her yesterday???

Hope also that the rain stopped in time yesterday, how about the BT too, did them still come in time??

Have a wonderful day and please always put the situation in hand into Gods hand,My church prayer warriors are praying already. and i know that God will not let us down for anything.

have a nice day and take care of the family please, send my greetings to Jenny.

yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

There is some improvement with Jenny, the swelling in her feet and hands has gone down, which is a good sign, though they are keeping her in hospital for the foreseeable future, because they think that if she goes downhill, she could go downhill fast, and will need an emergency caesarean. She's had a talk with the doctor and it seems that a caesarean will be the best way of premature delivery anyway, as there will be less trauma for Baby Philomena. Jenny isn't too keen on being cut open like that, because of the need for recovery and healing, but sees that it is more important to deliver Philomena safely and with the least stress to her.

Despite the weather forecast saying that the rain would clear up on Friday, it didn't, and then, by afternoon there were strong winds too, so BT weren't able to climb up poles and fix the wires, and I had a bit of a wasted day waiting around. It's been fine over the weekend, though, so Molly and I have been ploughing over a field in-between visiting Jenny (well, me visiting Jenny, I don't think the hospital would appreciate a pony coming to visit!). Today it is raining again, so I got that done just in time, and I'm spending this morning indoors, before going to the hospital this afternoon.

I saw Felicity at church yesterday, and she has sent off the emails and parish magazine copy and fund raising details and publicity things to the Cathedral, so we've just got to wait to hear back from them now, hopefully they'll be prompt, though tomorrow is more likely than today, as so many priests and whatnots have their day off on a Monday.

My friend Duncan came and had a few beers with me last night, so it was nice to have some company, I miss having people around, Jenny especially of course, but also all our volunteers and campers that we have during the summer months.

I hope you are well.
Lots of love, David

Philomena wrote:

Happy new week Bros,

I do hope that this week will mark the beginnig of Smiles in our family, yesterday the pastor prayed for Jenny again, using me as a point of contact to reach her spiritually. And it was great.

So my greetings to her and tell her we will not stop praying for her until she carries her baby with her hands.

I am happy to hear the second Good-news about Aunt Felicity and the money, so its more likely that the money will reach me this very week i think?

Please take care of the house and keep your faith in God that everything is going to be alright with Jenny and her baby ok.

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Thank you and everybody for all your prayers.

Another lady with pre-eclampsia has been brought into Jenny's ward at the hospital. She is a month or so further on with her pregnancy than Jenny is, but was very frightened by everything, so Jenny has been able to share the experience and thoughts and hope with her, and I think that has given her strength.

This other lady, Mandy, already has three children, so of course, she's also worried about how they are getting on at home without her, her husband normally works long hours, so has never spent much time with the children, and she says therefore he's not really much good with them, and she doesn't know how they'll cope, Jenny said there's nothing really she can say to this, nobody can turn back time and make Mandy's husband work less hours and have the time to get more involved with the children, but she's still glad to be there to listen to Mandy's worries.

I can't be 100 per cent certain, of course, but I imagine it will be next week before the money arrives in Accra, and then, because you want it to go to Rev Lamptey or Father Ayesu, there'll be the additional time of the Dean meeting up with one of them. It's always the same, anything that has to go through official channels, always seems to take forever. Unless somebody wants YOUR money of course, and then they expect you to practically drop everthing and run at high speed to their office and hand it over within the day. .

I hope all is well with you. It is raining again here this morning, and is very dull and grey. Our clocks go back an hour next Sunday, to become GMT again for the winter. That makes the mornings become light an hour earlier, but then it gets dark in the afternoons an hour earlier as well, which is a nuisance for me, as I'm going to the hospital in the afternoons, and then will have to come back and milk and feed and shut in the chickens (and hunt for any loose ones!) all in the dark.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hello Bros,

Hope you still visited Jenny on Tuesday? how is she, hope fine??? and about the new patient, hope she can cope too?

I didn't write before due to the power blackout and it always happens at a time one will be frustrated with it, like yesterday the light waited till i finished my mail, just to send it, the lights went off and everything was wiped. after some minutes the light comes back but i was too tired to start composing the mail again, most especially when i have no guarantee that it will not be off again.

Well I wish Jenny and Mrs mandy all the best and i do believe that everything happens so that one will learn from it, As you have seen from Mrs Mandy's Husband, I hope you learned a lesson about how important it is that the husband is with the children, and as you can see, if the children grow-up with this attitude of their father they may not be missing his presence for anything, so please make a good lesson out of that.

About the GMT and so on, lets pray that your farm grows a bit higher so you can be using machines, by so doing these changes in time, it will not be a stress to you again. have a lovely day bros.

And about the BT what is going on???

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Oh, I don't want to buy machinery for my farm! I could afford to buy it if I wanted it, but I don't want it. There is no need to waste resources like that, I don't want to fill the air with tractor fumes and burn up fuel and have endless worry about mechanical concerns. I need a tractor for some things, like haymaking, which would take far too long by hand, but then Felicity always sends along one of hers and some of her men, and I pay them back in eggs and other things. That's the better way to do it. There would be a lot less pollution and a lot less possessiveness, if only people would share things amongst themselves.

The clocks went back to GMT last night, so I have this little bit of extra time before church. I'm going to lunch with Felicity after church, so, after that, I'll be able to update you about the money. Hopefully all is well and it is on its way to Accra.

Yes, I've now got the telephone wires connected to my house, I'm just waiting now for the man to come who is going to lead them inside the house and wire them unobtrusively into the walls. And then that should be that, and we'll be all connected, so by this time next week, I should have telephones. It will be good to be able to ring the nurses' station to ask after Jenny, rather than having to wait for her to come online.

All is going well with her, it's a bit up and down sometimes, but really we're ceasing to worry about every little change now. And Baby Philomena is 29 weeks now, so we are coming to the safer time for delivery, if necessary. There's no assurance for her survival still, but there's going to be hope.

I wish you many Sunday blessings.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Bros,

How is Jenny and her baby today, hope they are fine? and your Farm, how is things going on with you there, your time at the hospital, and the service to the farm and everything. Well I talk about Machinerys because i hope that a day will come when the farm will grow to a level that you alone cannot work on it, that's my prayer.

Well I always trust God that Jenny will deliver in peace and Baby Philomena Will be healthy enough to call you Daddy in a nearest future.

Bros I can't wait to hear about the Money, Bros I think you know I have had more Patience?? though i do survive because i know it is not by power, rather by the grace of God, but i am sure you will be feeling with me by now.

Have a nice day and keep on in faith with Jenny and her Baby, my greetings to her and lots of love to my Big Bros,

yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Good-Day Bros,

How is everything there? I didn't hear from you yesterday, though i believe that your to time to attend to all you have to in a day is some how short, but just want to ask you how is everything?

Jenny and her Baby? the Farm, The Animals and all ,did you still visit the Hospital on Sunday?

And how about Aunt Felicity did you have the lunch with her Sunday??

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I'm afraid that Jenny took a turn for the worse, and the doctor believed that they were going to have to deliver our baby. There was a chance that Baby Philomena wouldn't survive, so I've been staying over in the parents' accommodation at the hospital, so I would have a chance to see and hold little Philly, hopefully while she was still alive.

As it turned out, Jenny stabilised again, and she still has our baby inside her, they didn't need to deliver her after all, so I've just come home. My cousin Shelly has been looking after the animals for me, she is so good, I don't know how I'd manage without her at times like this.

I've got some things to tell you about the money, but I'll come back later to do that, I'm just going to cook a meal for Shelly and have a wash, and relax for a bit.

Thank you for your caring and concern.
Lots of love, David

Philomena wrote:

O!!! My God

No, say she must survive and i say she must, she has to survive.

Please don't say anything about the narrow chance of loss. I dont want to hear that at all!!

Tell Jenny I said that Baby Philomena has to live and nothing will change that. Bros i always tell you not to believe the Negative, stand on the positive side and it shall come to pass Amen.

Philomena wrote:

Bros How is she today is everthing alrght???
Please my greetings to Shelly

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

All is well - I'm just back from the hospital and Jenny is now doing so well that they have said that she can even come home next week if she stays the same - they will let us know on Wednesday. So that's good news, praise God.

I need to tell you about the money, so I'll come back and do that as soon as I can - I just wanted to tell you this good news!

Lots of love, David

David wrote:

Hello again Philomena,

At last I've got some space and time to write!

Now, about the money. After Felicity sent all the evidence to Rev Axxxx, basically the Cathedral (I don't know whether it was Rev Axxxx or Rev Bxxxx or someone else) said they didn't believe this was for real, they thought it was a trick, that you were playing a trick, I mean, and they refused to touch the money or allow it to be sent through the Anglican church. Felicity was furious, absolutely furious.

However, she's come up with a plan. Now, she can't send the money herself, because she knows what she should be doing (reporting back to our Bishop, who would then divert the money to some registered charity), but she is shortly going away for a month, so she said if she gave the money to me, and I 'made a mistake' and sent it to you myself, she would escape any blame, and, so would I, because I'd just be acting in ignorance and misunderstanding. Do you understand what I am saying? It's a way round it all.

There's only two little problems in this, but we can manage them. One is that our church will expect, by December, a photograph of you apparently receiving the money (or news of the money, the money itself doesn't have to be there!) from someone who looks like he could be an Anglican priest. He doesn't have to be all dressed up or anything, just a middle aged man in a jacket. He can have his back to the camera. Would it be possible for you to provide that? A photo of you smiling at a man in a jacket. That'll reassure the church here.

The second thing is to do with our church accounting. It's a bit complicated, but basically, our financial year runs from April to April, and we send in a financial report at six months. That's due for Monday (2nd November), but, Felicity says, is likely not to be processed until the 16th November. The money we raised for you will go onto this financial report. The accountant is liable to ask whether the money has been received by the Cathedral in Accra, and if we say 'yes', he will contact them for confirmation. So we can't say yes, we've got to say 'no'. That way he'll ignore it.

THEN, if I send the money straight after that, by the time we get to the next six month report, next April, quite honestly, the accountant will have forgotten about the receipt for this, because it will be on his old filed report, and not in front of him. And, actually, Felicity says that even if he does remember, he won't ask for a comfirmation from the Cathedral by then, because it will be too long ago, and Cathedral staff might have changed, or anything. So we'll be safe. Nobody will realise that this wasn't done in the proper manner.

So, what we are going to do is this - Felicity is transferring the money to my bank account (she might have already done this, actually, I haven't checked my account to see), and then I'm sending it to you direct, after the 16th November. I'm not really happy about using Moneygram again, obviously, but any safer way you'd like me to send it, I will. It's got to be discreet, that's all.

It is breaking church rules, but I'm pretending that I'm doing this in ignorance of the rules. We're pretending that Felicity just gave me the money to send because she is going away (which she is), and I got muddled and sent it the wrong way. Nobody will find out any different, I don't think, not if we avoid the accountant's report, and provide a photograph to put on the noticeboard at church in December.

This is probably better for you anyway, because you don't have to have all the fuss of strange priests coming to shake your hand!

So all is well.

It's raining here today, but I'm getting up the rest of my root vegetables this morning (I'm just taking a coffee break right now). And then I'm going over to visit Jenny at the hospital as usual this afternoon.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

alleluia that's good news for real, am Happy to hear that. I've read what you said about the money well i will get back to you about that.
my time is off, moreover i am a bit confused about everything, and will get back when my head cools.

i thank god for all he has being doing in Jennys life and i know he will do it to the end.

Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hello Bros,

How are you today and family, hope Jenny is doing very well today, more than yesterday and other days. I testify with the prayer group that things are a bit better than ever. And they were very happy and assure me not to rest until she delivered her baby in peace not in pieces, so Bro don’t bother yourself over that, I have been fighting the Spiritual. Just believe God that everything is turning round for your own Good.

Well Bros, I have not been myself since yesterday after reading from you, because I have been waiting to hear from the Church here that the money is here, which I would have not wasted a minute to go and get, so as to start up my preparation to freedom.

Since yesterday I have been thinking of how to convince my pastor to tell the Anglican Church Priest that I have received the money, and now you want me to take a snap of a photo with him, to present to your Group over there, but it is very very hard for me to say such to him or his Wife, so I couldn't.

But I later Confided with my friend, the one I wanted you to send Money to for me last, through Her Brother In-laws name. though we did not know what to do till she went and talk to another friend, who told her that it will be easier for us not to tell our Pastor, because he will only advise to wait until its being done according to the Church rule. But if I want to get such a snap of photo for Proof, then I can take some pictures with the Rev from Anglican church, with the sense that I will Book A thanksgiving because I got A help from an Anglican Church overseas and will like to do thanksgiving in an Anglican here.So with that Idea, I will Snap pictures with Priests. So I think the Idea Is very Good,fine and easier.

But I will like to Plead something with you Bros, You know that while December approaches like this, the cost of things in the market goes higher and higher. And you know that I need to get my residing Documents first, which will take some Couple of days, before i look for a Shop and i need to get this before I start the process of the registration even before I could start working.which will really take lots of days. Please Bros I will like to plead with you, Since the money is with you, make it possible for me to get the money here before this new week runs out, please Bros, I beg you this with the Name of God.

It will help me to go through all this Process and be able to work at least days before the season runs out, and it will help me during the Idle days of the beginning of the year, because any one whose hair i do now, those people rush for hair dressing once its nice, and will always come and even direct others to me during those dry days.

Please Bros, 16th is already a rushing hour and will delay even the Ministries for those Documentations i need. Please I beg you.And you know that I have been surviving from people and even the money for hours I use in writing. I am tired of telling people that I will pay you back next month, and from next month to another, please. How I wish that you can see me now or feel how I feel, though I know the problem you are passing through Bros, I’ve no body to turn to now please.

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Oh no, you don't need have your photo taken with a REAL Anglican priest, nor with any pastor. Just with any man (preferably wearing a jacket, because in this country we associate jackets with Christian men), and he can have his back to the camera, anyway. It will then be the sort of photo that the church member expect, and they will ask no questions about it!

I do understand your anxiety about getting the money as quickly as possible so you can feel independent again, and not be in debt to people, but I've got to wait until after the accountant has finished before I can send it, otherwise Felicity will have to tell lies to him. She is prepared to do this little breaking of the rules that we are doing, because she says that she believes that God's commands about providing for orphans is much more important than obeying a Bishop, but we both know that liars do not inherit the Kingdom of God, so we can't put her in the position of losing eternal life by asking her to lie to the accountant. She has got to be able to tell the truth and say to him No, the money has not been sent yet. After the 16th, he'll then ignore the subject for another six months, and even if he still remembers it then, he won't, at that time, go chasing after a written reciept.
We need to do this safely, without detection, so I really can't do anything until the time that Felicity said.

It's only another two weeks, it's not long.

We had some dreadful weather here on Sunday, much wind and absolutely terrible rain. Jenny emailed me and said don't risk coming to the hospital to see her, in case places get flooded and I couldn't get back home again, so I didn't go, which was probably the most sensible thing to do. There weren't any lasting floodwaters round here, though, but some parts of the country have got floods waist-deep in their homes, which is awful for them. It was sunny yesterday, raining again today, but only normal rain, not torrential.

It still looks good for Jenny being allowed back home, either tomorrow or Thursday. She'll still have to have the community nurse come in every day to check her, but it will be lovely to have her here.

BT are coming on Friday, weather permitting, to run the phone lines into the house. They currently stop at the roof! They need continue them into the inside of the house, and then to where we want the telephone points. I'm hoping that they will also do the concealing work on the wires, but I have the feeling that they will just leave some slack in the wires, and leave it to me to remove the skirting boards and hide them inside! They need to climb up to the roof level to begin, though, so I've been warned that if the weather is like last Sunday, they will postpone it. So I'm praying for reasonable weather, I do want a telephone here with Jenny being at home again, just in case.

We are now at the aimed-for 30 weeks of pregnancy, so Baby Philomena has the chance of survival, even if she is born now. Another week in the womb, however, and her survival chances become Likely. They're letting Jenny home, so all should be well for at least another week. This is all suddenly changing from being worrying to being probably OK. But I still want that 'lifeline' of a telephone to be able to easily ring for an ambulance if necessary!

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hello!!

Bros How is your household?? i hope Jenny is now in the House.I went for night Vigil with The Church prayer Group on Tuesday night so yesterday I take day for night, so I couldn't write.

Bros what type of jacket do you mean?

What about the Bt people, did you confirm theyre still coming as promised?

Please sent my greetings to Jenny and tell her that God is with her, nothing will happen to her Baby and she will have all cause to say God i thank you after her delivery ok

take care of yourself and please tell me which way you would prefer sending me the money, with MoneyGram or what way.

I mean the one that will be ok by you and please remember that After all this time you will not send it through Bank transfer which will be more week late. no it has to be fast transfer!!!

Am waiting for you and this time have you gotten your driving license, or are you asking some one to assist you in sending it??? Because Jenny is not there.

Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hi Bros,

Still no news on how Jenny is doing, did she come back home Wednesday???
And the BT have their connected the line?? How is everything there?

Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

It's been a bit of a week of disappointments.

Wednesday was awful because the doctor was supposed to see Jenny at eleven o'clock and give her the all-clear to come home, and then the ambulance was bringing her at twelve. But the doctor didn't even turn up until until nearly 3 o'clock! He'd been dealing with some emergency, so I suppose that's understandable, but he never sent word to Jenny about the delay, and she didn't even eat any lunch, because she thought she was going to be able to have it at home. And, of course, I'm at home waiting and waiting too.
And then when the doctor eventually turned up, he went and said no, she wasn't out of danger, she still could require immediate delivery, and he didn't feel at all confident about releasing her, but wanted her to stay at the hospital.

It was nearly 4 o'clock before Jenny could email me and let me know, and I'd been just waiting around all day, and it was now too late to go and visit her, honestly, I could have just stood there and cried like a little child, I so much wanted her home.

I know it's for the best that she's there if there is any danger to herself or Philomena, but it is such a disappointment.

I went to visit her on Thursday, though it wasn't a very nice day for travelling at all, she's still in good spirits, though, it's just me who got so devastated.

Then yesterday BT came to put the telephone lines into the house, and I must say they did a very neat job, and were very efficient, didn't even want to stop for a coffee break, and I attached the phones on, and I thought that was it, I'd be able to telephone Jenny now, and then one of the men went and told me that the line has to be 'activated' first. They have to do something somewhere to activate the line. In my opinion, that must be as simple as switching a switch, so surely could be done quickly, but the man said, no, it takes about 10 days,and then I have to have a BT engineer back out to activate it at this end, he has to press in a code and certain numbers, and then it comes back with my phone number.

So now I've got telephone points in the walls, with phones plugged in, and I still can't use them, I've got to wait for it to be activated. So that's another disappointment.

Meanwhile, Tara, one of my Border Collies, has managed to slice open her paw or something, she did it in the dark last night, I've got it bound up in bandages right now, but I think it needs a couple of stitches in, so I've got the vet coming about midday today to take a look at that and stitch it up. It's not a good time of year to have foot injuries, because everywhere is so muddy, there's going to be a risk of infection, I'm sure. Once the vet has been, I'm off to visit Jenny, so I hope the rain holds off for a bit.

I intended to learn to drive this autumn, but with Jenny in hospital, I really haven't had the time, so that's going to have to wait until the Spring. I'm not too comfortable with sending the money by Moneygram, yes I can find someone to actually do it for me, I'm sure, because of the need of a driving licence or passport to send it, but it's so insecure, I don't know if I want to risk it again, if it hadnt been for their laxity, you would have had the money long ago. I still think that a bank transfer would be best, I know it takes a few days, but at least it is safe and goes direct to the intended recipient. Maybe your pastor would be prepared to help?

Oh, what I said about a photograph in a man in a jacket, that was Felicity's idea really, because that's the sort of photo we usually get after we've sent money to someone. It seems that male Anglicans all over the world like to put on a jacket for their photographs! Here, men usually wear one to church, even when it is hot, I suppose it's sort of respectful. But if men in Ghana don't usually have jackets, it doesn't really matter, it's just the best idea, not the only one. I’ll attach some photos of the type of jacket we mean, but in any colour, including white or even bright colours.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Bros,

Happy new week,How is Jenny today, hope she's fine?? this week will be of blessing and no more disappointments.

How is Tara, hope the cut is healed by now? Yes about the Jacket it all the same everywhere but people here wears Black in color more than other colors, I hope black is ok???

And Bros Please I ask you this in the name of God You know that time is Going, moreover the Moneygram, like you said about last money you sent, it wasn't much of their problem, because you sent the money to wrong person, and sent the information to the wrong Email address too, so money gram have not done anything there.

And like you are going through process now with BT, I will go through process from UN to Ministry,get the needed Documents First before talking about looking for shop and get things set up there, bros its not easy!!! please you make a good point about Aunt Felicity, but it is getting late because of the Xmas. Please try and get some one to send it through money gram, and this time I will not even take a risk of going to that little Moneygram agent who promised to release the money to me without International Passport or Driving License So I have told My Friends Brother In law, who has every Document he needs, to get the money for me from any bank. Remember his name is (Philip C Ekwunife.) please write it down!!! I don't want any mistake this time, once you send it, make sure you send the information to no other email than this my mail ID.

Sent my greetings to Jenny and i hope you had a reasonable weather there today,
yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

The vet GLUED the edges of Tara's cut together! I thought she was going to stitch it, but she said this was the better way, it was on top of the foot and would heal fine like this, and she wouldn't have to come back to take out the stitches. Tara still has a bandage on, and isn't going outside except for a quick toilet trip, but she seems just fine.

Yes, a black jacket is fine, most men here where black or dark blue or grey ones to church, it's only a few who like to be different and wear different colours, often younger men.

I was mistrusting Moneygram because they shouldn't have given out the money to anyone who didn't have the correct identification, they are so fussy when it is being sent, you'd think they would be even more careful when it is being collected. It worried me that anyone could walk in and say 'I want to collect so-and-so's money' and they'd just give it to them. But I suppose that if we are very careful not to let anyone else know about it, that simply can't happen.

I'll need to get someone else to actually pay it to Moneygram though, because I don't have the passport or driving licence that they want to see before they'll receive the money. I've been thinking about that, and I can't really ask anyone from church, because they mustn't know we're doing it this way, but my cousin Shelly might do it for me, she doesn't even go to any church, or maybe one of the farm workers from Felicity's farm, I know them quite well, and they don't go to church either, so won't know anything about the fund raising, so that should be alright.

I'm going up to the farm today, so I'll make a few discreet enquiries.

Jenny's parents are visiting her this afternoon, so I'm not going to the hospital, she can't have lots of visitors at once, only a couple. Her blood test yesterday showed signs of the beginning of some liver problems, which isn't good, but they're going to do another blood test today to see whether the result is the same. She seems much tireder, but that could just be the progression of pregnancy in itself, I suppose.

Duncan came to visit me last night, which was nice, I do miss company in the house, I'll be so glad when Jenny gets back home.

I need to think about mating my goats at the end of this month, so they have their babies in April: both my boys are virgins, of course, so I hope they get the hang of it quickly! They'll be keen enough, it's just a matter of them getting their aim right. I'll let them mate the experienced females first, so at least the women will know what to do! It's going to be so exciting having my own second-generation babies, though I need to pray for not too many boy babies, I was fortunate last time gettting just the right amount, I really don't want to get too many and them having to end up as dog food.

Well, I'd better get some breakfast. It's been pleasant weather the last few days, very misty and damp, just like this time of the year should be, it's nice. Gets dark early, though, it's dark by soon after 4 o'clock.

Hope you are well.
Much love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Bros,

Good-Morning,Thanks for your pleasant long mail, I think this is thirty two weeks,of Jennys Pregnancy?? Like I always say to you, God Loves you, and all you have to do for him is to show him that you trust him. we are still praying and I hope to give some thanksgiving here in my Church if Jenny Delivers in peace, I have promised God that I know he will do that which I ask him, so don't bother yourself, all these symptoms are all the signs of Pregnancy, Because bodies are different,so just take it that this time of illness is her own signs.

I know you will be feeling for Tara this time too? its all well, just as we all hope that very soon Jenny will return back, it will all be fine soon.

About the money Bros I do believe that it was a mistake that made me lose the last money, so all we need on this is carefulness,I hope you have seen the name I give you - don't use any other name except that (Philip C Ekwunife).

Once you send it and send the Information to my Email, I will visit the Bank together with him. Remember I don't have any other Email ID!!!.

So please coming Monday is the 16th, are you going to send me the money on the Monday or Tuesday? because I want to be very careful over this, when are you planning to send it? I hope within that two days you will send it.

And how are Jennys parents, how are they doing??? hope fine?

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Jenny's second blood test yesterday showed further liver problems, which can't be allowed to develop, or she could die, so she is currently being prepared for delivery by caesarean section tomorrow, she is on a drip of Magnesium Sulphate, which she'll continue to have until tomorrow morning.

I've got my cousin Shelly staying here for the weekend to look after the farm, and I'm off to the hospital this afternoon and am staying in the parents' accommodation over the weekend, to be with Jenny for the delivery, and to be with her and Baby Philomena for the first few days. I'm expecting to be back on Monday, so I'll get the money sorted for the sending to you on the Tuesday, the Farm Manager says certainly one of the farm workers can go and send it for me.

Please continue to pray for us all, especially tomorrow and the delivery of Philomena, I do hope she is alright, and is able to live. She'll go straight to the premature baby unit and be put in an incubator and on a drip for feeding and everything monitored - yes, Jenny is 32 weeks now, so we're in for a very good chance of Philomena's survival - the 'magic number' was 30 weeks, and we've got past that and added some more.

But all prayers appreciated.

Lots of love from David

Philomena wrote:

Bros,

Really I don't have much to say now, i’m believing God that it is well.Psalm 121 says that i look to the mountains and say were will my help come from? But thank God for his wisdom and knowledge that comes upon him and he replies, my help will come from the Lord who made heaven and Earth,SO I AM STANDING IN THE WORD OF GOD AND PROCLAIM IT TO YOU AND FAMILY THAT THE LORD WE SERVE WILL NEVER LET YOUR EXPECTATION BE CUT OFF.
Jenny,after this period of stress and pain, will have every cause to answer to mother and David to Father.AMEN.

I went right away to see my pastor's wife,yesterday after i read your mail, to ask her to call pastor for me, to tell him what is at hand, though she says to me that pregnancy is such a work that the pay for it is life, and a healthy & Strong child, for that reason she say you have every right to answer to father and Jenny to mother.

After that, she said to wait for pastor, that he is on his way home, so i waited and told him everything. yesterday was all night for the prayer group so i joined them and all i am to say now is it is well.

Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

O!!! My God Bros,

Why I thought you could have had a little chance to share the Goodnews with me from the Hopital.
Please I can't wait to hear that you have beholden your baby.
Please am waiting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Bros,

Is everything alright???
You have kept me worrying, how is Jenny????

How is baby Philomena???
Please let me hear from you soonest.

Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hello Bros,

What is happening??? please i will like to hear from you because you are putting so many fears in me,which i don't like, please it no more funny since Thursday you wrote me last and you wrote some thing very important, which at least i deserve to hear a news about it, success, yes success i hope to hear, and now you are making me confused, lots of people from the Church asking me to hear the news and the outcome of the delivery,

Please it not funny what ever the case is, ease my fears and tell me what it is pleasessssssssssss

Philomena.

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:13 am

12. Premature birth – and a MoneyGram transfer.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I told you that I was staying at the hospital for the weekend. I didn't get back until last night.

Philomena was born last Friday, the 13th, by caesarean section. I was there at the birth, but she had to be rushed off to be put straight onto oxygen, to help her little lungs breathe.

She wasn't at all a bad weight for one so young, just over 1.5 kg, though she's very very tiny!

She's in the premature baby unit, in an incubator, on oxygen, and a drip for fluid and nutrition, wires and heart and temperature monitors everywhere, little hat on her head and her eyes covered from the light.

She became jaundiced by the next day, but the nurses said that's not unusual for premature babies, apart from that, though, and some temperature fluctuation on Monday, she's not too bad. We've been told that she may have a few problems, she could be deaf or blind, or have cerebral palsy, just due to being premature like this, but we'll have to wait and see before we know.

Jenny has been in quite a lot of pain from her operation, and so they've given her strong painkillers, which make her sleepy and a bit confused, she's getting better though. The nurses have wheeled her down to see Philomena, but we can't hold her yet, though we've been able to touch her arms and cheek in the incubator.

Jenny is in a different ward now, and she's been too out of it to bother with hiring a media centre there, so, of course, we've had no access to the internet at the hospital. She'll be in the ward until the end of this week, and will then move into the parents' accommodation, so she can visit Philomena easily, she's not allowed to drive for six weeks, and she can't walk to and from the railway station, so it'll be better for her to be close at hand. Her mother is going to stay with her when I can't - I can't keep Shelly here full-time, and so I need to be at home to look after the animals.

I'm sorry, but I've been unable to get to the bank, I stayed a day longer than expected at the hosptial due to Philly's temperature problems on Monday, I've got to get a few things done today, including laundry and organising some clothes for Jenny to wear as she recovers from the caesarean, but I'll be able to get the money out to send you tomorrow, and then I can see to getting one of the farm hands to send it for me.

Please continue to pray for Philomena and Jenny.

Lots of love from David

Philomena wrote:

The Lord I serve is a living God, yes I know my Redeemer liveth, OOO!!!!!!!! praise the Lord,

Now I can relax and know that there is safety,though I always believed God there was. but now i can jump to the Prayer Group and share the Testimony first.

I will be hoping to hear from you soonest, am going to the Church!!!!!!!!!!!

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I've packed a bag of clothes and things to take to Jenny at the hospital today, I wanted to take her her own shampoos and soaps, though she's got so many different kinds, I didn't really know which ones were best, but I've made a guess, I hope I've got it right.

It's another wet and windy day, but I think the trains will be alright, I don't think we've got flood warnings on this side of the country.

I was half-inclined to stay away from home group last night, I was tired and didn't really feel like being with other people, but I did go in the end, and I'm glad I did, because everybody was so kind, and surrounded me with much prayer. I couldn't really concentrate on the Bible study, but it was just nice to be in a God-orientated atmsophere, makes a change from the clinical atmosphere of the hospital, they try to make it nice, there, but it's always efficient, of course, and sometimes you feel as if you are just getting in the way.

Even sitting with Philomena, I have to keep moving out of the way, while they check her tubes and the monitors. If something isn't right, if she misses a breath or something, an alarm will go off. The alarm went off on one of the other babies in the unit, and then all the nurses ran over and started doing things, it seems so scary, I sit there all the while pleading with God that the alarm won't go off on my baby.

I'll get the money out of the bank today, and then I can take it up to the Farm Manager tomorrow, and he can get one of his men to send it for me. Or it might be better to arrange that I go with him, actually, so I can check he fills in that form properly, and then I can bring it home with me and copy all the information off that you need. I think that's probably best.

Thank you for celebrating with me about the safe delivery of our baby. She's not out of danger yet, and there's still the question of whether she'll be able to see and hear and walk properly, but, so far, all is as well as can be expected. And Jenny will be fine now, she just needs to heal where her womb was cut open. She's still on painkillers at the moment.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Bros,

How are you doing today hope fine??How was Jenny health today? hope she is doing well too.I couldn't write again yesterday, I went straight to the Church to share testimony with the people around, and for joy I over stayed, though my pastors wife was washing so i helped her to feed her Daughter, Favour, before I could come back, it was already late.

Bros, this is the Lords doing, Its not our work, its the lords work, so all we need to do is to keep on praying to him in heaven that he shall see his handiwork through to the best for his creatures.

Baby Philly will be a pretty queen of her age, nothing will be an obstacle in her way, Amen.

And I know that the Lord will be Jennys Strength. she will recover in due time, so Bros, how long do we expect Baby Philomena to be in the Incubator??? Because i have promised to do thanksgiving with my Church once she is out of the incubator and into her fathers house.

I have seen the Group leader and some others and the Pastor, so i fully believe that God will do his work to perfection.

And about the Money I will like to say thanks for everything you are doing to help me out,i will be waiting for you tomorrow, like you said too, if you will have the time to go with the person that will help in sending the money it will be nice, so as to avoid any mistakes. please remember the person that will help me to get the money is (Philip c Ekwunife) And please remember the person that will send the money, to send to me his name with the security information from the bank.

I wish you all the best of life Bros, please send my greetings to Jenny.

Yours Big Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I don't have time to write much right now, because I am running late to get to the hospital. My market buyer was late arriving today, and then he wanted to talk for ages. I kept saying, 'Well, I must be getting on, now,' but then he would start saying something else, and expecting me to listen to him. It was mostly about the weather, and he went on and on forever!

Little Philomena is expected to be in the incubator for about another five weeks! Which is a very long time. We should be able to hold her for short periods in another week or two, though. She might be able come home just after Christmas, or she might have to stay in the hospital until the New Year and around about the time she should have been born. She won't be home for Christmas though.

If Jenny is fine today, she should be able to move from the ward into the parents' accommodation, though she's got to have someone there with her, to make sure she doesn't try to do too much and harm her wound where her tummy and womb were cut open to deliver Philomena safely. So her mother is also going to the hospital today, to stay with her if necessary, because I need to come back home today, and then I'll stay over Saturday to Monday, while Shelly looks after things here, and then Jenny's mother will take over again.

I couldn't get all the money out of the bank at once, so I need to get the rest of it out today, then it will be ready to send to you. Don't worry, I've already written down the name of Philip, to make sure that it is sent to the right name. I won't make a mistake, don't worry!

I'd better rush now, I'm catching the train to Norwich, so I need to be off.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hello Big Bros,

How are you?? I know that this time is a most tough time for you, running from farm to hospital and other places, so How are you feeling, hope you are not over stressed?

Yesterday being Friday was another power tempted day here in Accra, it was terrible the light comes and goes off just like baby toys. so couldn't write, not even to say hi!!!.So how was the business time with your market Buyers, hope successful.

And about Jenny how is she?? hope she is regaining her strength by now? Will she be in the hospital till Baby Philly is ready to come back home???? O!!! I am feeling for you the loneliness and the stress that is your head at this time.But please just put God First, for he has reason for everything that had happened.or that which will happen.

Also send my greetings to Shelly, she is being a wonderful sister to you, please take care of everything, and take things easy with yourself OK.

Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Bros Good-Morning,

How are you and the other Family??? Jenny and baby Philomena? How is Jennys Cut, hope its healing,how was the pain last when you were with her?

I just want to say hi! and as well inform you that my pastor and the Church prayer group never forget you and family so i am hoping the Thanksgiving day will be as soon as Baby Philly goes home from the hospital.I promised God to do a Thanksgiving for her.

Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Dearest Dave,

Brotheraaaaaaaaaaaaa, What is going on??? How is everybody Jenny,baby Philomena, and Shelly who is looking after farm in your absence?

When you keep silent like this, it worries me. hope that all is fine, you said you were going to the hospital to return on Monday, and up till now i have not heard anything from you, not even Hi!!!,or to hear how the baby and mom is doing, which is the most important.

Even the money you promised to send, you said you've gotten it out too, but you are still yet to send it, and you know the schedule for the money, the process i have to go through. I told you this earlier, and today as you know is the 25th.though I feel the stress that you are going through, but at least let me know what is going on please.

Bros what is the matter???
Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I had to stay an extra day at the hospital, because Jenny's mother couldn't get there on Monday, due to a bit of flooding, and Jenny couldn't be left alone. We did consider her coming home with me, but the doctor said that if she did that, she'd then have to rest two days, and not get back to see Philomena until Thursday, so in the end we thought it better that I stayed an extra night there. So I didn't get home until yesterday evening, and then I was too tired to do any letter writing.

All is well, though, and we're hoping to be able to hold Philomena (for the first time!) next weekend. She'll still be connected to all the tubes and monitors, but she should be able to maintain her body temperature for a few moments out of the incubator. So that's something to look forward to.

I'm getting more relaxed about the premature baby unit and the beeping and monitoring now, it's becoming like normal, so I'm not so tense and on edge all the time. Jenny is doing well, too, though still has to be very careful in her movements.

Oh yes, I've got the money with me, and I'm going up to see the Farm Manager in about half an hour to give it to him to take to Moneygram. It's quite a nice day here today, a bit windy, but sunny, and it will be nice cycle ride to see him.

Then, after I've seen to the animals, I've got home group tonight.

I'm sorry you've been worried. Now we're in the parents accommodation, we don't have any way to hire internet access at the hospital, that's only available to patients in the wards, and I don't think they'd believe that baby Philomena needs to hire one!

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Wow wow wow!!!!

yes now at least I can relax, thank God. am happy to hear that everything is fine, that Jenny is doing well and the Baby too.

So will you go to hospital today? if you go, please sent my greetings to Jenny Ok. And you said you are to give the money to the farm manager yesterday have you done that??? if yes when will he send it?

Have a lovely day Bros, now I can rest knowing fully well that all is fine. and I will try to Check mail again before work closing time to see if you have finally sent the money.

take care of all.
yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I expected the farm manager to send someone with me to Moneygram yesterday afternoon, but the farm workers were too busy harvesting sprouts to go. My own sprouts aren't anything like ready yet, so I was quite surprised by that. They do use chemicals, mind you, including possibly growth promoting ones, whereas I'm totally organic. I didn't really want to get in a discussion about it!

Anyway, it looks like nobody is going to be free until tomorrow, which is a bit awkward for me, because I need to be at home in the morning, because that's when the market buyers come, not that I've got much for them this week, and then I'll be at the hospital in the afternoon. I suggested that I was picked up about 1 o'clock, so I could still catch the train at 2.00, but that's no good, because the post office is shut between 1.00 and 2.00.
So the choice seemed to come down to either trusting someone to do it on their own, or leaving it until Monday, so I can go too, and check that everything is done properly.
Really, I'd feel happier about being there, I don't know half the farm workers, or what sort of people they are, there's casual labour too at the moment, and a few immigrant workers, I don't mean to be mistrustful, but maybe they're not accustomed to the forms, and I don't want to risk errors, I'd rather look over it myself.

I wanted to leave the money with the farm manager, just in case something happens at the hospital, then I'd have to let someone go to Moneygram without me, but he said he was only insured for £500 cash, and he really didn't want the responsibility, so I've still got the money here at the moment. Not that I'm expecting any problems, I was just trying to cover all possibilities.

So that's what we've arranged- I'm expecting to get back home by midday on Monday, and someone is going to drive down and pick me up in the afternoon, and we'll go to Moneygram then. So I'll have all the details for you by evening, I'll bring the form back with me to copy it all off.

Jenny is having a cousin stay with her next week, as she'll be needing less personal care by then, and it will give her mother a bit of a break too.

I've been trying to arrange to have the telephone activated for tomorrow, but the engineer can't come out until next Friday. But then, at last, I'll be on the phone! I won't be able to phone Jenny, as there's only a pay phone in the parents accommodation, and I don't think that receives incoming calls, but she will be able to ring me, which will be lovely. I feel very out of touch with her at the moment, now she doesn't have internet access any more.

Well, I'd better get on. I want to leave early for the hospital this afternoon, because I want to call in a couple of shops in Norwich on the way.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Bros?

Hope you are fine today?How is Jenny and the Baby, hope they are doing well too? Well thanks for all your efforts so far, I'd grown to a stage where the bitterness of life was becoming unendurable. because I have seen lots of that which makes one even think that living is of no use.

So i thank God for everything, though I have met several agents regarding a house, Shop, and i’ve been to the embassy, it has been every-day the same story,to the Ministry also, all these places I have been. I will, I will that this is fastly going to an end.

I only hope that at last the BrotherHood I found in you, Dave, will be a thing of praise to the Lord.

I hope that those people who now see me as one who has been controlled by frustration, will also one day see that my stories have changed to reality.Take care of yourself and family.

yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I am sorry that you have been frustrated, but it will all work out well very soon, and you'll be able to get on with your new life and have hope for the future.

I've just sold some eggs and lots of onions to my market buyer. Usually I pickle onions at this time of year, but with Jenny and Philomena at the hospital, I just haven't had the time. Duncan visited last night, but he didn't stay late, I was too tired. It was nice to see him though, his wife Rosie is doing well in her pregnancy. I hope it continues well for her.

A new baby came into the premature baby unit yesterday, but he's not very well at all, and it seems likely that he's not going to survive, it's so sad, the poor parents, he's their first child as well, and they are only young. The mother just went into labour far too early.

I'm staying at the parents accommodation again for the weekend, then I'll be back home by midday on Monday, then going to Moneygram in the afternoon. So I'll write to you in the evening with the details, then you'll be able to collect the money first thing on Tuesday morning.

Please stay positive, I know you have been so eager to get on with things, but you will be able to do so very soon.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

O!!!! My God,

Please who are the parents of the New baby what are there names??? I will tell the prayer group so that they can pray for the survival.this is just their work and Hobby, I can always say to pray for people needs.

How is Jenny, hope doing well with Baby Philomena,Its goodnews to hear that you sold some eggs and lots of onions to the market buyer,that is what every every one that works hard hopes for.

Please sent my greetings to Jenny and once more thanks for all your efforts towards my new life step.i will be waiting to have the information that leads to change for good.

yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Sorry I couldn't get to write to you earlier, I had to see to the animals first of course, and then one of the chickens was egg-bound, so I had to do some steaming and oiling of her, and that made everything late.

Anyway, one of the farm workers, Ernie, who's been here before, doing some hay cutting, he came to help me with the Moneygram transfer, and drove us to the post office, but when we got there, we found it closed due to illness. So that was a bit of a nuisance, because we didn't really have time to go anywhere else, Ernie had to be back to get some things done before dark, and it's getting dark by 4 o'clock now, this time of year.

But, he's got to go to the seed merchant's tomorrow, and he says that it will be no trouble at all to call in a MoneyGram while he's about it. He's taking the truck, and another farm hand, so there's no room for me, but I can trust old Ernie,so I just gave him the money and said go ahead.

He's going first thing in the morning, so says he should be back by noon, and can give me the payment slip to send the details to you before I go to the hospital. So the delay should only be a few hours, instead of going to pick it up at 9.30 or whenever these places open where you are, you'll still be able to get it by 12 or 12.30.

Philomena is continuing to do beautifully well, Jenny and I held her for the first time yesterday. It wasn't for long, and she was still attached to tubes and wires, so we couldn't cuddle her properly, but it was still wonderful, she is so tiny, so delicate, and it is so unbelievable that we made this little tiny human being. It will be so amazing when she can come home.

The new little baby in the unit sadly died within a day. We never got to know the parents.
Meanwhile, another baby who has been there since before Philomena, he has gone home now, looking very well. That's the way of hospitals, I suppose - such a mixture of life and healing, and death and sorrow.

Anyway, I'd better go and get something to eat. I'll write to you with the transfer details before I go to the hospital tomorrow afternoon.

Lots of love from David

Philomena wrote:

Good-Morning Bros,

It's Painful to hear of the loss of the New baby,May God Console the Couple.

I look forward to having the Information as soon as Ernie returns, thanks very much, i am hoping to hear from you.

Please sent my greetings to Jenny, so also I hope very soon Baby Philomena will go home just like the Other Baby has gone.

Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hi!!!

Bros I come round to see if you've sent me mail but found none.Just want to let you know I will be back again.
Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I've just put my laptop on. I'll copy the Moneygram details for you right now!

Love David

David wrote:

Hello again,

Here we are-

Sent by – Ernest Williamson
His address - 2 Arnold House, Honing Row, Worstead, Norfolk. NR28 9RH
Transfer Number - 95862751
Question - How many fingers?
Answer- Five

I'm sorry about the silly question and answer, Ernie said he didn't know what to put.

Ernie and Morris (he's the other farm hand who went to the seed merchant's) got here an hour or so ago, but I thought I'd better offer them a cup of coffee and some toast after they'd gone out of their way to help me. I'm running a bit late now, I need to get to the station to go to the hospital!

Oh, and it's definitely been sent to the name of Philip Ekwunife, like you said!

The amount is £3,250 - I rounded it up a bit.

Make sure you are safe with it and don't get robbed!

Have a lovely afternoon.

Lots of love to my sister from David

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:15 am

13. A second dollar-chop.

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Bros,

Hope you are doing fine together with the family? How is Jennys Health, hope fine.and baby Philomena hope she is doing great too.

Bros I thank you very much for all you have been doing for me BUT THERE IS A PROBLEM, i couldn't check mail again yesterday so this morning i found the information you sent me and at once went to the bank with my friends brother inlaw that is to help me get the money.

But the bank officer said that the reference number is wrong.

PLEASE GET TO MR.ERNIE AND VERIFY THE MTCN NUMBER BECAUSE IT FREEZES. WE CHECK TO ANOTHER LITTLE AGENT AND THE NUMBER IS FREEZING.

PLEASE KINDLY DO THIS TODAY I CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE THE MONEY TODAY!!!!!!!!!.

please the control number and the Country of Receiver

I am hoping to hear from you very soon.
Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I've just read your letter. I've got the payment slip thing here, and it definitely says that number. So I wonder if the person doing the Moneygram payment hit the wrong keys when she was putting it in, or something. Ernie said she was really slow and didn't seem to know what she was doing.

Anyway, I'm not going to the hospital today, it being Wednesday and home group later, so what I'll do is go up to the farm and get hold of Ernie, and hopefully we can go back to Moneygram and check.

The Transfer number defintely is 95863751, I'm sure that's correct, the only possibility is that the last 1 could have been entered as a 7, because we write them both like that, how I've just typed them, here, so it's possible to get them muddled, but I wouldn't have thought so. Still, we'll check that as well. I'll just have a bit of lunch and then go to the farm. If it's a bit late, Ernie can go on his own, I expect, he's sharp enough to get things sorted.

I'm leading the Bible study at home group tonight, so I can't be late for that, or everyone will be sitting there waiting. So it might be late tonight, or even tomorrow morning before I can get back to you again. But hopefully it'll be sorted out by late afternoon anyway.

I'm sorry. I get so frustrated at how inept employees can be sometimes. They say that if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys to work for you, and I think that's the root of the problem. Nobody wants to pay anyone a decent wage, so the only staff they get are people who just aren't really capable of doing a good day's work.

I'll tell Ernie to check and double-check what the woman is doing.

Lots of love from David.

Philomena wrote:

Bros,
I know this is causing inconveniences but I believe God That together we will overcome whatever the problem is that makes things go wrong each time favor is coming my way, because I hope that God did not leave me here on earth alone to be like this for the rest of my life, no.

Please bear with me and review the number you sent me for i don't want to look stupid going to the Bank again with wrong info, at first you wrote 95862751 and now you wrote 95863751, please bear with me and verify this and the country Ghana.

please i beg you in the name of God.
Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hello bros,

after i read from you I went back to Mr ekwunife with the new number you give me, and now we have visited 2 banks, and again they are still saying the same thing that the number is wrong.

pls if there is no changes from the moneygram, then kindly withdraw the money back immediately because i will not like to hear anything lost on this.here is the first info you give me:

Sender name Ernest Williamson
MTCN 95862751
Amount 3250
T Q how many fingers
Ans five
then new MTCN is 95863751 it is not working at all.

please if there is no change, please take the money back so that whenever you have time you send it again by yourself.

yours philomena.

NB
I don't know what is happening to me, that whenever you want to send me money there is a problem, but this one won’t be lost, be quick so no body can pick it up.please try all you can to see the safety of this money thanks.

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Bros,

How is your day? hope fine? And the home group yesterday, how was the meeting yesterday? I hope you shared inspirational words with the members?

Dear, am sorry about the inconveniences I have been causing you each time you send money, I really don't know why things are working that way.

But I only pray that God will liberate us from whatsoever it is that causes the problem.

I know also that Mr Ernie will not be happy with that, but bear with me it really is some thing I can not explain.

Hope you visited Jenny and Baby Philomena today? pls sent my greetings to them and as well let me know the outcome from the Moneygram ok.

Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hello Bros,

How are you? and everybody Jenny and the Baby hope all is well??
I have not heard from you, is everything alright?

Yours

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I'm sorry I couldn't email you earlier, the train I caught coming back the hospital broke down (only they never say that trains 'break down', they always say, 'this train has failed') and we got stuck in the middle of nowhere forever, until another train came along to rescue us. I was really worried, because I had the animals to see to, though they were alright, of course, and I don't suppose they'd even noticed how late home I was.

Anyway, I've only just eaten, and I need to go to bed soon, but I wanted to write to you first.

I received an email back from Ernie last night, he wasn't able to go back to the MoneyGram place, because he couldn't get away from work, so he telephoned them, but, unfortunately they won't tell him a thing over the phone, they said they needed to see identification of the sender before they can discuss a transfer. Which is fair enough, I suppose.

Anyway, he said he'd make every effort to go over the weekend, because he's not working at all this weekend, so we'll see if they can spot the mistake.

All is well at the hospital, Jenny has made friends with another mother in the parents’ accommodation, she has a little boy in the hospital receiving treatment for leukemia, so that's a bit of company for her, someone else to talk with. She's been told also that she is now able to stay on her own, if she wishes to, so that's less arranging of a carer for her that we have to do. I'm still staying over with her Saturday and Sunday though, so we can go to the chapel together on Sunday, and I haven't got to worry about Sunday transport.

Philomena is continuing to do very well, she's not wearing an eye mask anymore, so we can see a bit more of her litle face, which is nice. Her temperature is stable, no infections, God is taking very good care of her.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hello Bros,

It's nice hearing from you once again. you know it has been a custom that each time you sent money to me it became a most stressful time for you, I and anybody involved. But I hope that this time we will bring those problems to an end.

It is nice to hear of all the Good News around, Jenny doing very well and Baby Philomena fine too,So Bros tell me who does she resemble, you or Jenny??? since you can see her face, I believe you can be able to know. Though I want her to resemble me!!!!!.

Please sent my greetings to Mr.Ernie and please, plead with him not to be angry Ok.
And who is looking after the farm and the Animals for the Weekend?

Have a lovely weekend,
yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Bros,

How are you today together with the entire family?? I hope that Jenny is very strong by now?? How is Baby Philomena doing hope she's growing?

am sure you've returned from the Hospital today and wish to ask when will Jenny be Coming home?? is it till baby is ready to come home?

Have you had any news from Mr Ernie??

I am hoping to hear from you, have a nice day and please sent my greetings to Jenny.

yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Bros,

I come across Mr.Philip to day and he asked me what the problem is, I tell him because he is willing to help any-time any-day. so i Show him the photocopy of your mail, the information of the money, and he says that i should tell you to put it in his name (Philip C Ekwunife), then after that he viewed your mail which says Oh, and it's definitely been sent to the name of Philip Ekwunife, like you said!

Though if the number mistake has been corrected you shouldn't worry ok.because the first and the Last name is there already.

Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hello Bros,

How are you? hope fine,how is your family, Jenny and baby Philomena.Hope that all is well?

I've not heard anything from you, is everything alright????

Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hello David,
You are scaring me, what is happening, i don't feel comfortable with your silence, is everything alright???

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

No need to be uncomfortable or scared, I thought I'd told you that I was spending the weekend at the hospital with Jenny? I got back home yesterday, but Shelly (who had already seen to all the animals) said I must come back to her house for supper, so I went with her, and ended up sleeping there, and she brought me back early this morning.
Then Ernie arrived and said he'd arranged some time off so we could go back together to the MoneyGram place.

Ernie had been there on Saturday, but there was only the Saturday girl on, and he didn't get much sense out of her. She did say, though, that if we wanted to recall the money and then send it again, we'd have to pay a new transfer fee, we wouldn't get the old one back, so there wasn't anything Ernie could do on Saturday, as he didn't have the necessary money with him.

So he took me to the bank today, and then we went on to see to the transfer - and then found out that you and Philip had got it at last! The man said it had been picked up! So obviously it all got sorted out anyway, I'm so so glad!

I'm glad you worked out too, what the correct transfer number was. The first one was right of course, the difference in the second one was just a typing mistake, caused by my big fat fingers!

Anyway, Jenny is not legally allowed to drive for six weeks, I think it is, after her caesarean, and she certainly can't go all the way through Norwich from the rail station to the hospital (which is on the other side of the city) after the operation, so that's why she's staying in the parents accommodation, yes, she will be there until Philomena comes home.

We're hoping that Philly will be able to come home just after Christmas, but there's a chance that they might keep her in until the date she should have been born in January. She is doing really well, though, avoiding infections, and keeping a stable temperature, so I think she might be allowed home this month. I do hope so.

We're allowed to hold her every day now, and I love it so much and love her so much.

I'm sure Jenny would tell me off for saying so, but at the moment Philomena more resembles a wrinkley little monkey than either of us! She's a good size for a premature baby, though, so maybe she'll take after her dad! She's got a bit of wide nose, like me.

Well, I haven't even eaten yet this evening, I was a bit late getting home tonight, but I've got some minced beef cooking and some potatoes, so I think I'll go and see if that is ready yet.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

don't tell me that again, David, never try that kind of joke, am i a magician to get the money with a wrong number?

If you are saying the money has been picked, Dave, i suggest you go back to that money gram or what ever and get the information of where and who picked the money

Could it be you are just messing me round???

I don't want to hear that, not never again, until you tell me if you are joking, but that can never be…

Philomena wrote:

I am worried all this time because some one who sent such amount of money has to follow it up and see if is going through or not

excuse me Dave, i have beginning to sense it is what my friend said, that you are just stressing me,

But I trusted you with all my heart, a brother David, how could you do this to me?? is it not better you tell me you will not help. so that I will only hope to God.

I don't want to believe this all the while and to avoid stories. i told you earlier to go and hold on this money if it is with you and you don't send it to me, that would be better for me than this type of emotional problem you are causing me, Dave why??

You better go to the so called money gram and see if there is any way to know where the money is picked from, i told you this earlier, go and take the money if the officer can not do anything about it fast. now look at me, Dave, why??

Philomena wrote:

David,
If you are sure that the money has been picked, please go back to them and let them search where it been picked from, if it was in Ghana, tell them it was to the wrong person for that, let them prove to you the exact center where it was picked from. Mr. Philip is Prepared to go to any lengths to make sure he cut whoever that has done that.

Yes i have enquired from here, but the center where the money is sent from will search and give you the station where the money was picked from.

Never thank God for anything, I did not receive nor pick any money, how could I??

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Are you serious? Are you seriously saying that Philip didn't collect the money? Are you SURE? Are you sure that he hasn't just got it and kept it?

I was shown on the screen that it was picked up.

I don't know if there ever were wrong numbers put in, it was just a suggestion of what could have happened.

Are they trustworthy at your end, the people who handle MoneyGram transfers, I mean?
You are absolutely sure they were telling you the truth?

If this money is lost, I'm going to get in such trouble, you know that I was breaking the church rules to send it.

I'm going to have to go back with Ernie, aren't I, and ask them to search where it was picked up from, and by whom.

I’ll go up to the farm in a while and talk to Ernie, I'm not at the hospital today, because of the church home group.

Lots of love, David

Philomena wrote:

David, Money gram here is always attached with a BANK, the workers are well paid, what could they ever do with the money I am hoping to make living out of,

This was the reason why I become worried because it has overstayed there. Please go to the moneygram and tell them that it has been more than seven days since the money has been sent, i overheard that the information goes off after 7 days, but don't really know if that is after it is picked up or even before picking.

I can't even talk about Mr Philip doing this, he is a Lawyer, a human rights practitioner, for Gods sake he can not do such a thing.

Please I don't think I will live to hear these stories again, Please run to the money gram now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Well, I can't exactly run to that MoneyGram, it is 20 miles away!

However, I'm just back from seeing Ernie, and he's managed to arrange it so he can come with me on Friday, though he'll have to do it as an extended lunch hour.

Maybe they made a mistake when we were in there before, so it could be that. We'll see what we can find out, anyway, that's all we can do.

I am really worried about it, I don't know what Felicity is going to say when she gets back from Malta or wherever she is.

We NEED to get it sorted by then, I don't want Ernie losing his job, that would be dreadful, he's got a family and everything.

I've got to get on now, I've still got the animals to see to before home group, and it's already getting a bit late.

We can just hope for a good outcome on Friday.
Lots of love from David

Philomena wrote:

Bros please I beg you in the name Of God, I am worried over this because i don't want you to be in trouble with anybody because of me. and will not in any way be happy about this money if it is finally lost.
this is the main reason I was worried immediately i found out that the number was wrong.

I don't know if you understand this, this money is my life, my everything, i hope you know that, but just look at me now, you are to face problems with Aunt Felicity, the home Group,and etc just because of me, while I did not even have the help i needed from you and them.

And I heard that after seven days moneygram info went off, what if it is off before Friday what will you think I will live for???? am just believing God that all is still well.

Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Bros how are you?

Hope you are doing, fine? How is Jenny feeling, together with Baby Philomena? Hope you see them today???

I waited all day to hear from you over this money issue to no avail. Though I am sorry if I have said a word that hurts you or anything but please, I am eagerly waiting to know the way about the money. I am sorry if I said anything hurtful,

Hoping to hear from you,
Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Oh, it's tomorrow that Ernie and I are going back to the MoneyGram place, it wasn't today. Today, after I'd seen to the animals, including giving the dogs a good run around, I went straight off to the hospital to spend time with Jenny and Philomena - I didn't see them at all yesterday, and Jenny and I can't even email each other anymore, now she's in the Parents Accommodation.

I got back, attended to the animals again, and have only just come online, while I'm waiting for some pieces of chicken to cook.

I'm feeling a bit more optimistic today, thinking that surely we can get this sorted, it must just be some error from the girls doing the MoneyGram transfers. We'll find out tomorrow. Ernie and I are going there about 12.30, and then he's kindly driving me up to the hospital, but I'll be home in the evening, I'm not staying over the hospital this weekend, because Shelly isn't free to look after the farm for me this week.

So I'll be able to let you know tomorrow evening what's happening, but PLEASE don't worry if I'm late writing, because I do need to see to the animals first, and you can't predict animals, sometimes everything goes smoothly and quickly, but sometimes a goat is awkward about milking, and needs to relax first, and sometimes a chicken goes missing and I need to find where she is in order to shut her in for the night, and sometimes a dog wanders off instead of just going to the toilet and coming back indoors, it is so easy to end up running late, and what should take one hour ends up taking more like two or three hours!

Jenny always said it was because I don't have enough authority, but I disagree with that! I think that animals, even domesticated animals, will just be animals at times!

Little Philomena is beginning to look more like a person and less like a wrinkled monkey! Her little face is taking shape. When she comes home, Jenny is going to buy a digital camera, she says, so we can take lots of photos of her. She says she wants to send them regularly to her parents. I want to show her to you. You will be her Godmother, won't you? In our church, we baptise babies, and put them into the spiritual care and prayers of Godparents. A Godmother is a special person who remembers the baby/child in their prayers until the child is mature enough to understand all about God for themselves. The Godparents are named at the baptism- for a girl child, she has two Godmothers and one Godfather. We are asking my friends Duncan and Rosie if they will be the other Godparents.

And even when a child is old enough to not really need Godparents anymore, they usually stay close to them forever, and they are like the 'second most important people' after their own parents. Because the Godparents prayed for them always when they were young. Their parents gave them physical birth, and their Godparents gave them spiritual birth.

And Jenny and I would like you to be important forever to Philomena like that.

Maybe God has a plan for her, a future helping refugees, or something like that.
I pray it is so.

She will be baptised into the church family on the first Sunday that she is home from hospital.

Lots of love to my sister, and, hopefully, the Godmother of my daughter, from David

Philomena wrote:

Wow!!! Dave,

It's my pleasure to be recognised as God-mother to little Philly, what a honor. it is a surprise to hear that, but I went to ask someone if it is possible to be Godmother while I am afar from my Baby on the Baptism day? and the sister says it possible. Am grateful and promise you that as long as I live, the Family's joy is my Joy and i will do all that is within my power to see that the family’s spiritual growth is in the right direction, though i know it's not by power, neither by might, but by his grace i promised.

Bros its not as if i don't understand the situation and stress of the Animals, i mean your time to see to them, but the issue with me is that i need to know that the money is with you, than to hear it is been taken by someone else again. that is my worry.please if the money is picked up, try and get the information where it was picked, because Mr Philip is ready to fish out whoever it is.

Well please take care of everything, send my greeting to Jenny and Baby Philomena ok.

I will be waiting to hear the outcome of your visit to moneygram.
yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Oh yes, it is possible to be a Godparent without being there in the church for the baptism, I've seen it done before, someone makes the promises (to guide in the Christian faith) on the absent Godparent's behalf.

Ernie and I went back to the MoneyGram place today and it was a bit of a struggle getting any information out of them, we saw a young man this time and he was a bit sulky and didn't want to go to any effort or bother, I think, but I insisted, and eventually, with a lot of sighing and blowing, he looked up the transaction and told us it had been picked up at the Standard Chartered Bank in Accra. And he said it was picked up by Philip Ekwunife, but I think he was just saying that because that is whose name the transfer was payable to, but he insisted that it had to be picked up by the person it was made out to, so it must have been.

So I really don't know what to think now. You say that Mr Ekwunife is totally honest, but how do I know that? What if he has got the money, and is keeping it? It's a lot of money, I don't really know what it would buy in Ghana, but I imagine it would be well worth having and telling lies about.

Can you just check with him once more?

I'm just too tired to worry about this anymore tonight, but I am VERY VERY worried, really.

I don't know what's going to happen regarding myself (and Felicity) if the money has been kept by Mr Ekwunife or by anyone else. The church members went to a lot of effort to raise that money, and are going to be furious about what Felicity and I have done.
And the money is for YOU anyway. Not for anyone else.

Though I'm thinking now as I write this, that if it has gone missing, then the only thing I can do is send it again out of my own money. I've got some savings, I can replace it, and send it again.

But PLEASE just have a word with Mr Ekwunife first.

We'll sort this out all, don't worry.

I need to eat, then I'm going early to bed tonight.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hi Bros,

How is everything, hope fine??? your family and all around, this is just to inform you that i have visited the said bank today and there is nothing they could do about the money,

I will get back to you details but it will not be now because i have been overworked, and cannot even sit to write.

Yours philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Have you spoke to Mr Ekwunife? That's probably the most important thing to do.
Felicity is back home next weekend, and I really badly want to get this sorted out before she arrives back, and asks me anything about it. Really, the less she knows, the better, but I don't want to outright lie to her. I could be vague, I'm sure her mind is going to be full of Christmas thoughts anyway, but I'd like to feel that we've got this somehow settled.

I've spoken to Jenny and she says that if Mr Ekwunife has stolen the money, then we should help again.

She thinks that I should confide in Felicity, but I disagree, it would put Felicity in too much of an awkward position, she has to deal with the accountant and the vicar and so forth.

Anyway, that aside, it still looks good for little Philly to come home just after Christmas, she's gaining weight and doing really well.

I'm going to wait for Jenny to be home before I mate the goats, I want us to do this together, and a month later won't really make much difference.

I didn't stay over the hospital last weekend, so I actually got to go to our own church, which was nice, but I missed Jenny. I'm so looking forward to her and our daughter being home. I'm beginning to count the days.

It's been freezing at nights the last couple of days, not much, just a frosting on the grass, it's quite invigorating in the early mornings, really. I quite like this time of year.
Does it ever get cold enough in Africa for you to see your own breath, like mist or steam? When I was a child, we used to pretend we were dragons in winter, blowing smoke from our fiery breath. I confess that I still go outside and deliberately blow air out of my mouth, to watch it come out like a cloud of steam. And when the animals run around and get hot, you can see steam rising from their backs as the warmth from their bodies hit the cold air around them.

Let me know as soon as you've found out anything.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! It nice hearing from you,

I happy to hear that Jenny is doing well, and Baby Philly in full health and growth.Bros i like to listen to your confession about weather and the blowing smoke from our fiery breath. when you were child, even from your confession you've not stopped looking the fiery breath, neither have you stopped blowing it out to see it! am teasing but really my heart is burning so i will like to listen to it some other time, yes Africa here also is cold but not to compare with your side of the world.

Bros i have talked to Mr.Ekwunife, even the last mail you sent, i printed it so that through the mail i will create the chance to talk to him, Dave, but from all indication this money was not picked by him, even without being told, anybody who knows him will not even ask him a question before believing he is not a thief, but due to the condition i found my self in, i talked to him straight to his face and he told me he can not do such. though it was painful to his wife that even with the closeness and assistance from them so far, that I will not know what any of them is capable of doing,Mr Ekwunife though got angry with me at first but could not hold it for long, because he knows I am just about going insane. but he later says that whatever might have happened, that he never expected that for any reason that i ever think such things.

Bros I really don't know what is happening to me, but from all indication Mr ekwunife is innocent.I regret that I even asked him such a thing after all, but thank God he forgives me.

Well we've been to Standard chartered yesterday and they are unable to locate the information of the branch where the money was picked from, we were directed to the Agricultural Development Bank saying they are the sole agent of money gram in Ghana and that they will be able to display the info and give us the actual branch where it was picked from, but still when we went there, they can not or will not tell. Mr ekwunife had a suggestion that we should tell the sender to visit the money gram where the money is sent from, to tell them to give the exact branch, because the transfer is more than 7 days and because of that they can not trace it here, it will only display from the senders end.then if they display it, let them send to the senders agent the ID of him that received the money, and in that way we will know if it was a bank Officer from one of those banks we went to, and whether they could have done such a harm, the woman promised to help Nail the person if we could get the exact informations.

So bros i am just tired of everything, don't even know where to start,

my greeting to Jenny,
yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Oh dear, it seems rather complicated. Are you saying that the Standard Chartered Bank isn't an exact branch, but there's more than one of them in Accra? And if we found out which one it was, then you might be able to find out more what happened? You are thinking that one of the bank staff probably took it themselves?

If that's correct, then Ernie and I do need to go back to the MoneyGram place. I'm sorry, I assumed that there would be only the one bank of that name, I didn't know there would be others, otherwise I would have asked if they could have given me the address as well. But we can go and find out. I'll get in touch with Ernie.

It's been snowing quite heavily here this morning, the fields all covered in snow, very pretty - and very cold! I must admit I was quite glad that I wasn't going to the hospital today, I've got no idea whether the trains are running properly or not. I don't think the snow will last, though, it wouldn't surprise me if it turns to rain later.

I've been looking through my wood store this morning, thinking about what sellable items I can make this winter, but my heart is not really in it right now. I feel as if I need Jenny and Philomena home before anything can be normal. I've picked up wood and put it down again, and thought I could do this and I could do that, and yet I can't really get into it. I think I'll have to wait.

Jenny and I haven't really yet made up our minds what to do about Christmas. It will be six weeks since the caesarean by then, so Jenny could come home for Christmas day, get hospital transport home on Christmas Eve, and spend the day here with me. Which will be nice for us, because no way can I stay over at the hospital over Christmas. But then that means that Philomena will spend her first Christmas without us. Not that she will know, but it would be nice when she is older, to tell her instead that her Mummy spent her first Christmas sat with her.

Though then I'll be on my own. Well, I'd probably go and spend much of the day with my friends Duncan and Rosie, but I'd be without Jenny anyway.

So we're not sure what to do.

We're still hoping that Philly will be allowed home on the 27th or the 28th.

Thank you so much for all your prayers over the past few weeks.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Bros thanks for your mail,

Its nice reading about the family and I will respond to it later.

about the money, if you get the information I will try and see the outcome, get the actual Branch and then the whole of the receivers info, and the ID for identification of who picks the money, ask moneygram to first get The whole info and ID from the receiver, then we will use it to go after the money. i will be happier you do this fast before the week runs out thanks.

my greetings to every body, have a good day.
Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Standard Chartered Bank is Over 20 Branches in accra

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Over 20 branches in Accra? I never imagined that, I thought it would be like my own bank, there's only ONE branch of it in the entire city. But, thinking about it, I suppose Accra is more like London than Norwich, Norwich is quite a small city really.

Well, I'm going up to the farm today to see Ernie and see what we can arrange, Felicity is back on Monday, so we ideally need to get it sorted out before then.

My market buyers are coming early today, within the next hour, to pick up some sprouts and eggs, so I shall be free after that. The snow has melted, there's more forecast over the next couple of days, but it's just raining now. It's very wet on the ground, but it will be alright to cycle, I think.

I'll let you know later what we can sort out.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Dear I really appreciate all you been doing for me and will never forget it easily, hope that by the grace of God one Day my eye bone will behold the most wonderful brother i ever have.

i hope the family is doing well, Jenny and baby Philly??? yes I know they are by the grace of God.

Bros that was the reason it was frustrating, Accra is very large and it has taken more time, but I just wish there was something I can do, because it's very painful to assume that this money is lost, its about 7000 plus!!! Ghana cedis.

but try and see the best you can do, today, so that I will go and check it over again, but if eventually its finally lost i will not want you to sent next money with Mr ekwunife name, not that I supect him, no, but maybe since there is no way of tracing the Robbers, they can still rob whenever they find that name online again, i am seriously suspecting one of the banks we visited for the money, but the difference is that they have taken it from a different bank name.

please i will be waiting to hear from you soon.
Philomena

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I saw Ernie yesterday, I hoped we'd be able to go to the MoneyGram place today, because I don't have my market buyers this morning (they came yesterday instead), but he said we'd have to go on Saturday, as he isn't free until then. Mind you, it's just as well, because it has snowed a lot in the night, and it'd be far too dangerous to try and drive anywhere today. I'm not even going to risk trying for a train to Norwich to see Jenny and Philly, they might not be running anyway, it says on the news website that trains are being cancelled, but even if they are, they could stop later, and I can't risk getting stuck in Norwich and not being able to get back for the animals.

So I'm staying at home today.

There's not much ice under the snow, though, so hopefully it has stopped now, and will melt, so Ernie and I can go as planned tomorrow.

I suppose that if some bank worker has taken the money for themselves, then it is truly lost. Unless it can be proved WHO took it, then I don't suppose even the police can do much.

I keep thinking all sorts of things, including suspecting the youngsters in the shop here. Maybe they never transferred it, maybe they just put the money in their pockets. Young people are paid so little in wages, if they get wages at all, sometimes they just call it 'training' and give them a training allowance, which is barely enough to live on, I can see the temptation to steal. It's a pity there wasn't an independent way of verifying that it had truly be sent - I've only got their word for it, no certain proof.

I don't want to be judgemental, I do understand the temptations, especially this time of year, when people want money for Christmas spending, but, at the same time, it does also feel a bit like an evil world these days. Lying and stealing is never right, even when sorely tempted, or thinking that life is unfair.

I am upset about it all. One way or another, we'll get it sorted out, but I'm still upset.

I've kept the goats shut in for now, it is so cold outside, I'll let them out about midday if only for a short while.

It's quite cold indoors as well, it's a bit of a draughty house, and icy air seems to be getting in everywhere. I've put some heating on, but I'm still typing this wearing fingerless gloves on my hands.

It's very pretty outside, though. Well, except in the yard, where I and the dogs have churned up the snow with our feet into a wet grey mess.

I wish I had a camera so I could take some photographs to show you. We're going to get one in the New Year, though, so we can take photos of Philomena.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

This is just a little note to let you know that it just kept on snowing here, so we still haven't been able to go back to the MoneyGram place (and I haven't been able to go and visit Jenny and Philomena either), though the reports on the News website says that places around Norwich have been without electricity for four days now, so it might be shut at the moment anyway, if they don't have any power.

The weather forecast says that the snow will start to melt tomorrow, though, and it should be clear for travelling on Tuesday or Wednesday. Felicity is supposed to be coming back tomorrow, but I don't expect she'll risk the drive up from London, I imagine she'll wait until later in the week when it is safer.

I must go and eat now!
Lots of love to my sister, from David

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

We had a bit more snow, but then last night, it began to melt. According to the weather forecast, the temperature will stay above freezing for a few days now, so it should continue to melt today and through the night, and the roads be clear by tomorrow.

I've been up to the farm, and Ernie is agreeable to drive us to the MoneyGram place tomorrow, providing the predictions of a thaw are correct. He is on his Christmas holidays from after today, so that's really good of him.

Then, after that, he's going to take me to the hospital, it will be so good to see Jenny and Philly again, it has been awful, being out of touch with Jenny like this.

So, it looks like it is all good news for tomorrow.
I'll let you know what we've managed to find out as soon as I get home (well, after seeing to the animals, of course).

Lots of love to my sister, from David

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I'm worried, I haven't heard from you for about a week. Are you alright?

The temperature finally rose last night, and it rained, and most of the roads here are clear. Dear Ernie is happy to drive us to Norwich and to the MoneyGram place, he should be back to pick me up in about half an hour.

Then he is taking me on to the hospital to finally see Jenny and little Philomena once again. I feel all excited about that!

I'll let you know what we're told at MoneyGram when I get back this evening.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hi Bros i was sick, that was the reason you have not heard from me,

hope everybody is fine??
How are you spending the xmas, with Jenny at home I hope?

God will do it please, i will write you after maybe tomorrow or next, I am not too fine but because you have no phone I just want to let you know I come back from the Hospital yesterday.

I will write you again in details.
Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Oh no, I'm so sorry to read that you have been sick, and in hospital too. Are you alright? What was wrong?

Anyway, I got to Norwich today. Ernie drove me and we went to the little shop where we sent the MoneyGram transfer from, only to find it had shut at noon, because it's Christmas Eve. So we're going to have to go back yet again! It's quite frustrating, I want to get this sorted, Felicity might have come home today, now the roads are clearer, and I want to know whether or not that money can be retrieved, or whether I need to send you the same amount of money again.

Good news - Jenny decided to come home for Christmas. It means that we won't be able to see Philomena (who seems to have grown so much in this last week, she looks more like a normal newborn baby now, not so much like a tiny thing that should still be in the womb) tomorrow, because Jenny isn't legally allowed to drive until the 26th, but we'll go on Boxing Day. Jenny will be staying at home now, and we can drive in to see Philomena, they are keeping her in until the New Year, because of the cold weather, they think she should stay in the heated incubator until then.

It is wonderful to have Jenny back, it is like being newly married all over again! We are going to the midnight service at church tonight. It's going to freeze again, apparently, but as long as we're careful, we should be alright walking, we've got each other to hold onto (not that Jenny could hold me upright if I slipped and fell! I'm too big to hold up!).

I hope you have a peaceful and blessed Christmas, however you spend it. We shall think of you and pray for you.

Thank you for all your prayers and emotional support through the last six weeks. You are the best sister a man could have.

Lots of love, from David

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:16 am

14. The baby comes home

Philomena wrote:

Hi!!, Bros,

                 It’s very nice to hear that you are doing well, I am so happy to hear that you have once again have your companion with you.OHH it is a good news to share, I am now hoping that God will keep me alive to see that de day that Baby Philly will come home to her parents home, as well pray that I will have enough to fulfill all that I promised God.

Please send my greeting, a very huge greeting to Jenny and tell that I say that God will always be with her and this will be the first and the last experience of an operation while delivering in her life. so tell her not to be afraid when the time for next ……… comes.

Bros my illness started when I went to fetch water, that was on 18th and after that day I found myself in the hospital, I was told that I sat down and after some time just collapsed. The Doctor later said it was BP.

The prayer Group has been so good to me and they visited me yesterday in fact, it was nice because I forget a lot of bother and stress while being with them.

Bros, from all indication the money has over stayed and there is no hope of getting it back, because the receivers side of the moneygram lasts for only seven days, which their law says, so from our inquires so far I was advised that its gone.

Really I don’t know what to do or say but only have to tell you that fact. Yes I know that money is not that easy to get and your efforts so far is a touching one to my heart. But the truth always has to be, there is no hope of regaining that money back.
And while I was talking with Mr. Philip I knew that he is angry but he did not Show it all that openly. I told him that you may send the money again and he said that he is not ready to undergo the stress of moneygram and suspicions behind it all again, so he wants to help and let the money be paid into his account.   that is the only way he will help, if not I should look elsewhere.

So bros if you are going to the moneygram again, the time has been so long and from all indication there is no hope, but if it later works - glory be to God.

Below is Mr Philips Account information he said that if you take this information complete that it will only take 72hours.

The first in the foreign corresponding account then the money been directed the Ghana through the correspondence.see it below:

            SWIFT TRANSFER INFORMATION.
CITIBANK,N.A
399PARK AVENUE,NEW YORK,
NY10043, USA.
SWIFT CODE: CITICUS33
ACCOUNT NUMER: 3******
For the Account of Intercontinental Bank Ghana LTD.
SWIFT CODE: INHHGHAGC
A/C NAME: PHILIP CHUKWUMA EKWUNIFE
37/7C TESANO EAST ACCRA GHANA
ACCOUNT NUMBER:1171760000972
Tel: 002324630482.

I still hope that the liberation I hope for will be my portion, yes though I know its painful but I hope you will try.

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I hope that by now you are feeling much better. I don't know what BP is, but it must be bad if you collapsed and were taken to hospital.

I hope also that your Christmas was pleasant and peaceful. Jenny and I have been having a lovely time just being together, it is wonderful to have her home, and it was our first Christmas together too, not that we ever expected to spend it like this, with our baby in the hospital, but Philly is doing well, no problems, she's still not maintaining her body temperature too well on her own, but we've been told that is nothing to worry about, that should right itself when she gets to her due date, and once it does, she will be able to come home. We are hoping that will be next week.

Another lovely thing is that I don't have to do all that travelling by train and the long walk through Norwich every day, there are no set visiting hours in the premature baby unit, so we can go anytime, which is what we are doing, just staying for an hour or so, talking to Philly and giving her a cuddle.

Of course this also means that I'm not walking past the bank every day like I used to do, so I'm going to have to make a special trip to send the money through Mr Philip's bank account. I'll do that after the New Year though, I don't think there's much point me going in before then, because nothing keeps regular hours between Christmas and New Year because most people take two week's holiday at this time.

At least this is a safe way of sending money, as long as you are 100% sure you trust Mr Philip.

I wish you all the best for 2010. It will be your year of liberation, the year you will always remember.

Lots of love to my sister, from David (and Jenny)

Philomena wrote:

Good-day Bros!!,

I hope you are doing well today by his grace ? Hope Jenny too, please sent my greeting to her and baby Philly as well, its great hearing that you now count the days to having baby phiily at home. Its a goodnews, I am happy you are now a father because baby Philomena is more a human now hopefully.

About Mr, Philip, he is a man you will so much like even if you just see him because he is an easy going man, having no problems with anybody, slow to be hurt and fast in forgiveness, a man that people around confess of his kindness and good omen , I trust him to say he will not hurt me.All the loss we have experienced I could say I blame myself for, because it is out of my curosity and wanting everything to be so I could forget that I have been for long with out the help , Please I apologise for the loss, because if I was in agreement with bank payment all this would have not have happened. I am so sorry.

Here the offices opens on 4th so if you make it to Norwich before the new year it will be nice, so that I can start whatever processing of documents before the officess will be more busy. The BP, I don’t really know what it is, but I think is a kind of sickness caused by too much thinking, (if one is more worried, it makes the person lose strength and focus) it is very shameful because I do advise people not to be carried away with their problems and that happened to me, though that Money that was lost was such a huge amount of money, it warrents for one to be worried over it lost.

So when are you matting the goats. Or have you???once again bros, I am proud to have you as a brother, may God Bless you and hs Aunt Felicity returned???

Yours philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hi!!!! Bros,

By the corner It comes again, the Day of decision and plan for the whole of the 356 days ahead of it.

NEW YEAR IS A TIME TO REFLECT ON THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PAST YR.IT IS A TIME TO PLAN ON BUILDING ON THE SUCCESSES OF THE PREVIOUS YRS, IT IS A TIME TO PUT BEHIND ALL UR FAILURES AND FORGE AHEAD TO EMBRACE THE "GOLDEN" FUTURE. IT BRINGS NEW HOPE, NEW PLAN, NEW THOUGHTS &NEW ASPIRATIONS TO YOU. THAT IS WHY BEFORE THE BELLS TOLL TO DRAW DOWN THE CURTAINS ON 2009 AND CHIME TO USHER IN 2010, I AM ONCE AGAIN ON HAND TO WISH U A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!!!!

FROM YOURS PHILOMENA.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Happy New Year!

New Year here was a time to have Jenny's parents to stay! They have only just left.

We're off to see our daughter in a minute, but I just wanted to wish you all the best in life for 2010.

Lots of love to my wonderful sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hello!!!!! Family

                 Hope all is well??? And you’ve left to see baby Philly? hope she is coming back home with you?

Oh!! My God I wonder how I will make up all the promises I have made to God, though there is time, because it not the exact day she comes home I promised, but as she returns then I will plan for it. How I wish my salon is ready.

Well well well, how is Jenny hope she is doing beautifully too.

Have a lovely day bros, all the whole of the Family.
Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hi!!,
Bros Is everything alright?? How is Baby Philomena, hope she is doing well? and Jenny how is she?

I hope to have read something from you this morning but yet to hear anything so it is some how scaring, hope everything is ok.

I hope to hear from you soon
Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Jenny and I have been so busy that I think that we are both quite exhausted!

The doctors have said that Philly can come home on Friday, so we need to get everything ready for her, we've bought a crib and bedding and nappies (diapers) and a buggy and all manner of supplies, it's unbelievable all the stuff you can get for babies, and how, when standing in the shops, you almost start to believe you need it all. I said to Jenny, surely she can sleep in a cardboard box and be carrried in arms and really doesn't need her own special cloths and towels and baby wipes and talcum powders and creams and boxes to keep everything in, but apparently I'm all wrong and she does need all this dedicated equipment! It's been quite fun shopping for her, really, but very tiring, there's so much choice, so many decisions to make.

And, on top of that, Philomena has now completed her newborn hearing screening, and we've got the news that she is profoundly deaf. They did warn us, along with a whole list of other possibilities, these things can happen to premature babies they said, though I think we rather focused on the possibility of her being mentally handicapped or just educationally slow (and those things we don't know about yet, only time will tell), and we rather forgot about the possibility of deafness.

So she is having ear moulds taken and will be fitted with hearing aids in a day or two, hearing aids will never give her proper hearing, but she should be able to learn to speak because of them, though maybe not well. She's got to have new ear moulds taken every two weeks.

Once she is home, we're having a teacher of the deaf allocated to us, to come and give advice on how to live with deafness in the family, and how to aid Philomena to listen and speak, and we've also been told that we should join the Deaf Children's Pre-School which they can attend from newborns, and as well as giving her the chance to feel part of a normal world of other deaf people, they will also teach Jenny and I sign language, so we will be able to communicate in sign language with Philly as she grows up.

It is likely that sign language will be her 'first language' and speech only her 'second/foreign language.'

So all that is rather a lot to take in, and really it still feels a bit scary at the moment, though God must have His purposes in that.

The banks opened again yesterday after the New Year, so I will be able to make the transfer soon. I couldn't do it yesterday because after picking up the buggy, we had to go and see the audiologist. But I'll get that done.

Most of the country is under snow today, I was reading on the news that airports are closed, roads are closed, schools are closed, and there have been dozens of serious car accidents where people have attempted to drive somewhere, despite the snow. Here, however, although there's a bit of ice on the fields at the edges of the lanes, basically the roads are dry and clear, and the sun has been shining! We must be the only area that the snow has missed!

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Dearest Brother,

I thank God that baby Philly Is doing well of health, But I reject that story of Deafness, I reject it in Jesus name. look, let me tell you that If you really believe that God answers Prayer, my own daughter will not and never talk with signs, no, and I mean capital no. though all I want you to do for me is do all you can to get all that the Doctors has prescribd,e but try and give words to your baby as soon as she is home.
Talk to her and believe you me, she will speak and hear clearly when the due time comes, another thing you will do for me is try let me have that money so that I will do my thanksgiving in her name and, as well, present my wish to God to let the children of God talk to him in unison, however many humans say that she will not.

Though the doctors are working, the life we live is of God, not of human.he that is in heaven has the final say over anyones life , and I know he is on our side, but lets Show some appreciation first to God.

My regards to everybody Jenny, Baby Philomena, and the neighborhood.Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

You may be right, after all when the Lord Jesus walked on earth, He cured the deaf, so that must be God's will.

You are inspiring.

We are having to stay at home today because the snow has started to come down here, and it might end up the same as the rest of the country. Which is in a right mess, roads closed everywhere, and the army trying to rescue drivers who have been trapped in their cars for more than 12 hours, stuck in the snow.

I hope it doesn't get as bad as that here, because I want Philomena home on Friday.
It says on the news that nurses and doctors are having to sleep in the hospitals because they can't get home through the snow.

I'll get the money sent to you as soon as I'm able, don't worry. Home group starts again tonight after the Christmas break, and I'm really hoping that Felicity can't get there because of the snow (she usually drives down), because I really don't want to see her until I've replaced that money. I'm still hoping that Ernie can find out what happened to the other money, he's back at work now, but he'll probably have to do a Norwich trip once the weather has improved, and he'll let me know.

Lots of love to my sister, from David.

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Bros,

How is the family today, hope they are all doing fine? Jenny, Baby Philomena, And the Father of the house. I wish you all the best of the day.

Yes, I am not saying it is my power or anything, but I believe God that It is all formalities, and will not be a mark of Blame nor anything. The lord we serve answers prayer, yes I so much believe in him, if I didn’t, I am not sure I would be found within the living. Because lots have come and gone in my life experiences.

So my Pastor said that I should tell you not to believe so much in prophetic medical words. That you should just know that Heaven helps those who help them self. Do what the Doctor says, but as well do talk to your Child as well as you would have done to her if there was no idea of said deformity of that nature ok. She will surely hear and speak at the right time, Amen. He said so.

Take care bros,How was the Snow today???
From Philomena Senior.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Thank you to you and your pastor for the positive and faith-building words and advice.

The audiologist said that Philomena was born too early for her ears to finish forming, but, you are right, there is no reason that God cannot finish the forming of them now. He is the Creator.

The frustrating thing at the moment is that there is no way we can get her home. This is what it is like here -
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/norfolk/8445045.stm

The main roads are supposed to be treacherous, and the minor roads here are more like impassable.

So we've got to be patient for a bit longer. A lot of houses haven't had electricity since yesterday, which is no joke when it is so very cold, because it means they have no heating. Our electricity supply is alright at the moment though, and all would be well if it wasn't for us being stuck here and Philly being stuck in Norwich.

My friend Duncan walked up yesterday, he can't get to work of course, and he tells me that he is thinking of moving house. He wants to go and live back in a city, I think more than anything, he is frustrated by the church here, which isn't like what he was accustomed to when he lived in London, and also the fact that he can't get involved in youth projects or helping the homeless or anything like that here either, because, basically, there's nothing going on like that. We're mostly farmers or retired people round here, and, I suppose, a bit inward looking.

Duncan and his wife are expecting their second child, and I think they want a new start and somewhere more dynamic for their children to grow up in. I'll miss him though, he's my only real friend (apart from Jenny, of course!) round here.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

David wrote:

Hello Philomena Senior,

I've only just noticed how you signed your email!
I like it very much.
And that my daughter is Philomena Junior.

Lots of love, David

Philomena wrote:

Hi!!
Hope you are fine today? Bros is there any means you can talk to the Hospital officials to know how Philly is doing, since there is no means of transportation.

Oh!!! My God!! Well well well life must go on I don’t think of was because your area there is too bad to live in, maybe Duncan wants to live somewhere else because they are accustomed to living in London, You said all that could be the reason.

So how the Snow is today, is there hope for movement?? Please Have a nice day I hope to hear from you soon.
Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello again Philomena,

I could walk down to the telephone box to ring the hospital, but all they'll ever say is 'She is doing well.' You just get to talk to a receptionist, not a nurse.

She'll be fine.
I just want her home!

It's still snowing.
It's pretty.
And VERY frustrating.

Lots of love, David

Philomena wrote:

Wow!!!! so you've not been accustomed to it all the while I have been using that word? It it not true she is Junior while I am Senior?

David wrote:

You are very right.
I like it very much.

Jenny is saying can't we mate some goats today.
I'm not sure the ground is firm enough for inexperienced males, they might fall over.
And it is so cold, would they be as fertile as they should be?
Or will their sperm be too cold to be strong?

Jenny says I must be the only man in the world who underestimates the drive to mate.
I think she is trying to embarrass me!

Lots of love, David

Philomena wrote:

Hi Bros!!,

How is the family? hope fine and doing well in all? I have not heard from you since Friday and you know this time we need to know, hear and interact, in order to let the spirit work together. have you got Philomena back???

How is Jenny Hope she is waxing strong?

And brother, i hope that the Snow is gone by now, and wish to ask you have you seen AUNT Felicity??

And do you know if she will be at the meeting on Wednesday?? What do you intend us to do about the money and what will you tell her if you see her before sending me the Money?? though the only means she can get to me is through Email, I need to know the Idea you are putting up just in-case.

My greetings to Jenny and please do inform me about Baby Philly.I need to know everything that is happening ok,

Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Dearest I happens to remember something now, I wanted to ask if you have arrived home with Baby philomena. Then I remember that you are saying the local roads are not yet cleared, so how far it now? Did she come home today???

And about the goats mating is it not better in the cold weather??? At least the Goats will need Company of each other, that’s my suggestion!!!! But you know better for you have been in it for so long.

Bros, if I may ask, how long have you kept Goats???

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I'll write properly to you tomorrow, but I just wanted to tell you that the snow had melted enough off the roads today to be able to go and get Philomena Junior and bring her home.

She's home, she's really truly home!

This is the most wonderful day!

More letter later, it is half past midnight, and I'm really tired, I just wanted to let you know.

Lots of love to my sister, from happy David

Philomena wrote:

Wow!!!

That’s wonderful, so how is she, hope fine? Did she still have the ear band or whatever it is called? so tell me how are you feeling with her at home??

And Jenny, how does she feel having her baby right there with her? Hope she has started breast feeding her???

Well bros, send my greetings to everybody, and I will wait till you write again, meanwhile we are praying for the best.

Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hello Bros,

How are your family today, hope fine??? Baby Philomena at home, how are you coping with her??
Mostly Jenny, how is she doing with the experience??

Did you go to home meeting today??

Have you heard from Aunt Felicity since?

Yesterday you promised to write me about everything in detail but i haven’t heard anything from you all today.

And how far have you gone with BT about getting the Line fixed?

Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hello Bros!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What is happening ??? You’ve not been the same for some time now and you keep saying I will write you in detail - what exactly is happening???

How is it that you don’t want to share it with me. Am surprised!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please, I have told you from time to time that I like clarity, if tell me You will take one week to write me, it will be understandable to me, and better than keeping on waiting with disappointment.

Really I say its again you are surprising me, thank you. You know that most of the time I ask people for availability, hours to write, and yet each time you makes it unhappy each time I come to check mail.

Send my greetings Jenny and to Baby Philomena .
Philomena senior.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Well, it certainly takes some adjusting to having a new born baby in the house!

It's exciting and scary at the same time, and very very exhausting, Philomena Junior seems to think that the night time is the right time to be awake and cry, and I feel as if I haven't had enough sleep for days.

Jenny was never able to breast feed, because Philly had to be tube fed when she was first born. The nurses suggested at first that Jenny expelled her milk by hand (or rather by this little device they gave her), so she could breast feed later, but she was hardly producing any milk, anyway (probably due to Philly being so premature), so, in the end, Jenny just gave up and let her milk dry up.

So Philomena is being bottle fed on a powdered formula that we make up. She seems to be doing alright, anyway.

The health visitor should be here to weigh her and chat with us tomorrow, it is raining today and the rain is melting all the snow.

I'm sorry I haven't been very good at writing letters lately, it is all so lovely to have Jenny and Philomena back with me, but so time-consuming too, it is like we are having to re-create all our lives and routines, and nothing seems very simple anymore.

I'm not complaining of course!

It is just a bit stressful and exhausting at the moment.

Especially with all the snow we've been having, making life so difficult too.

I know that you are still waiting for the money, and I am being a bit stressed about that, too. Don't worry, we will get back to some sort of normality, get into some sort of calm routine soon, the snow will melt, Philly will settle in, we'll get accustomed to having a little baby in the house.

Yes, she's got her hearing aids, we have to take her back to the hospital next week to have them replaced, she's got to have them changed every two weeks or so while she is growing.

No, I haven't seen Felicity at all, I didn't go to home group last night, I was simply far far too tired.

I'm sorry I'm being so stressed and useless at the moment.

I do think about you, I never forget about the money, please understand and forgive.

I'm just not very good at this big change in our lives.

I'm sorry, my sister.

You are on my mind, believe me.

Lots of love from your rather useless brother, David

Philomena wrote:

Ohh!!!!!!! God,

I was battling with my heart all yesterday to check my mail, but really don’t want to check it if it makes me unhappy, am so sorry. Bros you can’t imagine how happy I used to be each time I say to my friend let me go and check my mail to see how my Brother and family is doing, I mean, it is a thing of Joy, that which I have not for so long, it makes me very happy, so each time I went to hear nothing from you it becomes a burden.

Bros I don’t ever have a useless brother,, and never will I have one ok, you are valuable to me, if not for anything else, the feelings of that brotherhood is a very big value to my being today, I love you bros, and all around you is very very valuable to me - your wife, your daughter, anybody close to you that makes you happy equally gives me joy, though that in time of hardship like the one I am in most of time, its very hard for ones feelings to be made known.

So tell me now that Jenny breasts could not produce any Milk, but if they had fluid surely Baby Philly could have still sucked from them later???

You made a mistake that time that the breasts produced a small amount, while Baby Philomena was still in the Incubator, you should have been Sucking it for her at least once a day. Even if you don’t want to swallow it, you just suck it out, its natural.

Hope that Baby and mummy of the house are doing very well, hope you are listening to Philly, I mean looking at her closely and always making words of sound like I said.

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Oh yes, we're talking to Philomena, we've been told to do that anyway. We've only had the health visitor out so far, we're supposed to have a teacher for deaf children come tomorrow, and then on Wednesday we have to go back to the hospital to see the audiologist again.

I'm still feeling quite stressed, actually, because there always seems so much to do and arrange, we're supposed to be getting a booking for a baby clinic as well, and I've got to arrange Philly's baptism too, it was going to be next Sunday, but Duncan (who is going to be the godfather) is away, so that's no good, though I also wonder if I've made a mistake in asking him (and his wife as the second godmother) because they are moving out of Worstead, and Philomena will end up with no local godparents at all. Jenny said it doesn't matter, but I did want at least one person who is a member of our church, but I can't really tell Duncan and Rosie I've changed my mind.

I'm feeling generally depressed about Duncan leaving anyway, my old friend George died last year, and now Duncan's leaving, and I won't have any male friends left at all. All the other men at the church are a bit stuffy and businesslike and I don't think they have much time for farmers, but only for other people who go to work in the city, and don't get muddy and have goat and dog hairs stuck to their trousers.

Anyway, I thought I'd go to the bank on Thursday, and get that money sent to you. I'll go on the train, which is really much easier than going by car and trying to find somewhere to park.

I can't say I ever thought of keeping Jenny's milk flowing myself! That option was never suggested! Still, at least I can feed Philly from a bottle myself too, though I don't think I'm very good at it, she doesn't take as much when I'm feeding her as when Jenny is feeding her. Jenny says that's because I've got a beard, and Philly thinks she is being fed by a bush, but I think that's just a joke.

We've had lots of rain and that's washed away the snow, and it's a bit warmer now too. Though the ground can't take all the water, and everywhere is full of puddles and like a marsh.

I hope you are well.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Bros,

How is my baby today, hope she is doing well again today, though I know she will always do by the special grace of God. And very soon that which seems to be a thing of worry will be washed away for her to lead a normal life in the midst of lovely & caring parentsthat God has given her.

Baptism on Sunday is nice but have you really talked to Duncan and he definitely says he will not return before that baptism day???

Well about your friends all being away from you, its nothing though, you are to feel them just as you are now, but you can always make new friends, Look bros there is a difference between liking and professions. One who is A LAWYER, it does not mean he / she will not have a Farmer as a friend, after- all it helps in case of changing in professions, you don’t know, maybe any of those that you think are all business men, they may be having interest in farming - but it may be the way you live, as if you don’t want relationships with any of these people, and maybe by your looks you are scaring the person away from coming close to you. Who knows that which you called muddy, may be lovely to someone else. So try and make friends, you need it, at least someone to chat with.

Wow bros, I will be very grateful if you send the money, at least I will give some thanks-giving with the Church, and prepare some foods with the Prayer group one day, at the close of their fasting amd prayer, it will be great, and that will give me more freedom of approach to them. Not that I am not praying with them or give them prayer points, but the promise I have made is too much, at least let me fulfil some of the promises, so that they all will be happy, you know the kind of reception that you give someone even in his or her private time of prayers, he or she will remember you. That is what I want to do to them.

But bros, will philomena still suck the breasts again???

Because they said that if breasts is not sucked for a day, it becomes tasteless for Babys and dangerous to their health too. Please sent my greetings to Jenny ok.

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Well, Philomena Junior seems perfectly happy, and Jenny is happy too, and it's only me that's not, I'm just getting more and more stressed by everything. That teacher for the deaf came yesterday and the list of classes we are supposed to go to is incredible, a baby and toddler group for Philly, sign language classes for us, a communications course, and that's on top of the hospital visits, the clinic visits. And now we've got a letter that we've got to attend another hosptial department for some other sort of assessment, I don't even know what it is, it's called a developmental assessment, I think it is something to do with the possibility of Philly being mentally retarded too, I don't know.

And there's some sort of social worker supposed to be calling too, and Jenny takes all this in her stride, and is merrily singing her way round the house, but I don't like it, it seems that all it ever is is Philly, Philly, Philly, let's all live around Philly, and never mind anything else. I almost wish I went out to work in an office or something, so I could get away from all this. Here at home, there never seems time to do anything, I lost a load of winter vegetables through neglect, and the goats still aren't mated, and nothing ever seems to get done, as soon as I mention doing anything, Jenny is going on about something else we should be doing for Philomena, and it all feels like too much baby, baby, baby all the time, and all I can think is that this is going to go on for years and years.

I'm glad it's home group tonight, so I can just get out for a while, though I might not go to home group, because everyone will just go on about Philly there as well. I might go to the pub instead, at least there there should be no talk of babies.

Jenny says I'm stressed and over-wrought, and she's right. She says I ought to see a doctor, but it's not sickness, it's just wishing I could have my old life back.

And that's the way it is at the moment.

Lots of love, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Bros,

How are you today? hope you are doing well together with the family.Yes My dear ,Love isn't always an easy road to traverse, that is the reason you see our lord Jesus Christ pass through all that he went through, simply because He loves us.

So hope you are doing great. Bros you promise to send me the money on Thursday did you? so that i will know its right to meet Mr. Ekwunife.

Hoping to hear from you!!!!

please my greetings your family.
yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

BROS,
HOW ARE YOU? HOPE YOU ARE NOT TAKING THIS TIME OF TRIALS HARD ON YOURSELF?????

I TOLD YOU THAT NO ONE CAN EVER CHEAT NATURE, IT MUST TAKE IT PLACE IN EVERYTHING.

HOW S JENNY AND BABY PHILLY?

I AM EAGERLY WAITING TO HEAR IF YOU SENT THE MONEY SO AS TO MEET MR. EKWUNIFE AT THE RIGHT TIME. BECAUSE I HAVE NO PHONE FOR HIM TO CALL ME, I AM HOPEFULLY TO START WORKING TOWARDS MY SURVIVAL THIS YEAR FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

NB:
BROS OUR CHURCH WILL BE HAVING ITS CRUSADE, PLEASE I DON'T KNOW THE TIME YET, BUT I HOPE YOU WILL GET THE MONEY TO ME BEFORE THEN SO THAT I WILL MAKE SOME ARRANGEMENTS.

THEY ARE PRAYING FOR YOU AND FAMILY, BUT YOU KNOW THAT A CRUSADE IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

HAVE A NICE AND EASY DAY!!!
PHILOMENA SENIOR.

Philomena wrote:

Hello!!!!!!!!!

Big Bros, you know what, I wish mom or dad is there to tell you how stressful it was in your own baby days, please is not that I try to remind you of the past, but please, I just want to give some life examples.

Please don't say you wish to go back to your old life, because in life nothing is meant to permanent, its from time to time life styles change, so take it easy on your self and believe you me, soonest it will all be past stories.

This is the time for you to be stressed, and time shall come when you will only hear the children's stress, and thier mom’s, while the woman is shouting, but you will be stress free. I know that right in your heart now you may be thinking not to have another baby after Philly. but it is not like that, there is time for everything, just take it easy on yourself and your family, because this is that which makes you a family man ok.time shall come when you as the father will be free, it is like this because of the conditions of the delivery and baby philly’s Health status, moreover it is the first experience.

Though I know that the stress was added due to the premature delivery, but it shall be well. Just hoping that you will make out time tomorrow to send the money to me. so that the first thing will be first, and spear be called spear. I hope so, because what makes the stress more is this problem of proposed deafness from the Doctors, but don't worry brother, God will take his glory in all this, so don't worry.

Please and please try as much as you can not to make yourself so depressed ok.
such is life,

your Philomena.

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:18 am

15. Jenny takes over

Jenny wrote:

Hello Philomena!

I hope you are still at this same email address!

I've got a little bit of news for you, and it's not really that good: David has had a bit of a nervous breakdown, and the doctor has ordered him to go away for a little rest at the clinic.

I think that what has happened is this:

All that time that I was in hospital, he was back and forth to Norwich to spend time with me, worrying himself silly in case I suddenly dropped dead; and then Little Philly was born, and it all got worse for him, instead of better, he had so much to do, so much to worry over, he was just running on adrenalin, totally over-doing it, totally over-stressed.

And other things too: he's been so worried about sending money to you, and worried about his friend (who is moving away), and worried about falling behind with farmwork (as if I few rotten vegetables really matter!), and worried about Philly being diagnosed as deaf too. And quite honestly, I think he has also had too many people calling by, too much to arrange, he was just becoming so tense and peculiar, and there was a limit to how much support I could give him, really - I had my hands full and so much to re-organise with the house as well: David had let so much slip while I had been away.

And he ended up just collapsing and crying and saying he couldn't cope with anything anymore - I don't know whether you know, but it's not the first time he has ended up like this: once before he ended up drinking himself silly; and another time he even made a suicide attempt. That was before I knew him, mind you, and I rather thought that I could be a cure-all for all his bouts of depression, but obviously not - or, at least, not when I could not give him full-time attention.

So: he's staying at the clinic now, as I say. They will help him there. I've 'borrowed' a farm hand from a nearby farm to run the smallholding until I can arrange my own temp worker from the agency. Everything is under control!

But he is still worrying about the money that he promised to send to you. Is this something that I can handle? If so, let me know the details.

I hope you are well. Please don't worry about David - he is in good hands!

Lots of love, Jenny

To Jenny,Philomena wrote:

Ohh!!! My God,

What is all this?? I told Dave not to carry his problems in a basket, every human has a very big problem within him or her, but people do help themselves, why is Dave doing this to himself? Ok you are worrying and lonely now, but God has blessed you with people round you, oh why didn’t he learn how to adapt with new ideas and multiple functions? How does he expect life to remain the same as when he was alone. My God it can’t be, for god sake.

Well sweetheart, am sorry, please I am happy to hear from you again, at least once in a while to say hi directly to you, though I know that when I send my greetings through Dave, they must reach you, but all the same, its good to talk to you sometimes. So tell me, how is your health?? What of Baby Philly, how is she?? I told Dave something about you talking to her as well as you would have been doing if the medical experts do not say anything like she’s being Deaf, though I so much believe God that my baby will not experience any form of deformity. It is a promise and I know god will do it for me.

Now that Dave has landed himself to the Clinic bed, I should have sent this mail to him but I will not, has the goats been mated????? He is worried about classes , sending money to me, has all of this been done now that he is in his sick bed???

Those friends of his he worried about, that George is dead, Duncan is moving out, now are they back to be with him in the Clinic?? All these things are getting upsetting and confusing. Why would Dave do himself harm like this.

I said this time to that time that things don’t seem the same again, things don’t seem the same again, try and learn the new age of life that you've grown to meet, one day it will be adorable. One does not pray to go back in life, but to move forward, why will you prefer past life rather than blessed futures??

My dear, now that he is down, how are you coping with the whole load around you, how are you surviving in all this? The baby is there, the farm, as well your health, your Operation - has it healed?

Yours Philomena,
U know am now Philomena senior, not just Philomena alone, take care of yourself sweety and my baby too.

To David,Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Bros,

      I learned you are sick, am so sorry,
                                                 MAY GOD BE YOUR STRENGTH. BY THE SPECIAL GRACE OF GOD - HE SAYS THAT HE HAS GIVEN US POWER TO COMMAND, TO CLAIM, AND TO PROPHESY.

And once this is done with the authority in the name Jesus Christ, he will grant our wish.
                WITH THIS AUTHORITY I DIRECT MY HAND TOWARDS YOU NOW
                 AND PRAY THAT HEALING WILL BE THY PORTION IN
                        JESUS NAME     ................ AMEN.

stand up there and go home in joy and in happiness, i decree that from now onwards you will not see your own cross as a burden, but will be directed by the words of our lord Jesus.

take care of yourself and may the joy of the lord be yours strength.
Yours Philomena.

To Jenny,Philomena wrote:

Dearest Jenny,

Once again I write just to make it open that I can't really help the condition i am in, and the crusade i told David about is close at coming, at which I wanted to sow some seeds for Baby philly’s condition. and you know my own condition all this while.

But I wonder how possible it will be for you to take care of the baby at her age, look after all other things around, and still make out time to send the money to me?

And because of the problems i have – in fact we all have - gone through for the sake of my liberation, Mr Ekwunife says he don't want to go through the western union problem again, and gave his account to me already, i have sent it to Dave.

He says that if he take the information like this to the bank, they know what to do, the first is the foreign corespondent and the down one, its the final destination. i really don't know if you can help the situation.

Foreign remittance instruction.

SWIFT TRANSFER INFORMATION.
CITIBANK,N.A
399PARK AVENUE,NEW YORK,
NY10043, USA.
SWIFT CODE: CITICUS33
ACCOUNT NUMER: 3******
For the Account of Intercontinental Bank Ghana LTD.
A/C NAME: PHILIP CHUKWUMA EKWUNIFE
ACCOUNT NUMBER:1171760000972
SWIFT CODE: INHHGHAGC
BRANCH: OKAISHIE WORKING OFFICE.
A/C Holders Address:37/7C TESANO EAST ACCRA GHANA
Tel: 002324630482.

Jenny wrote:

Hi Philomena!

Thank you for all your caring words! Don't worry about me, though, I'm really practical and on top of everything! I've got a temporary labourer of my own employed for the smallholding now, and he's experienced with goats, and we're going to start mating them at the end of the week.

I've got a baby carrier for the car, so I can just pop Philly into the back and off we go; it's no problem!

So, of course I can get to the bank!

David will be fine, he just needs a bit of counselling and a bit of a rest, and a bit of help to get his mind back in order. He's suffered from depression for years, I knew that when I took him on! Very Happy

He worries too much!

I don't really care whether Philly is deaf or hearing, it's not much of a impairment here, because everything is quite geared up for deaf people, they even have special microphones in churches which feeds into deaf peoples' hearing aids! And her aids will give her some hearing anyway, and she'll learn to listen, and learn to speak - and if God our Healer wants to do more than that, then that will be a blessing. But if not, I praise Him for her anyway! She's gorgeous! And in good health! And yes, I'm all mended from where I was cut open. It's an easy old way to give birth, I can tell you, just lay there and they lift the baby out - though I wouldn't want to go through that pre-eclampsia thing again!

I don't know how much I'm supposed to be sending you - do you know? There must be a record somewhere, but David's filing system mostly consists of stuffing papers into plastic carrier bags, and it's going to take some hunting to find anything.

I'm not visiting him at the moment, because the doctor said he should have complete rest for two weeks, and then I can visit him after that.

So let me know if you know how much I should be sending. I don't really want to have to go and ask Felicity - she doesn't seem to like me very much! My own fault, really, she makes me giggle every time she speaks!

I'm so glad you're going to be Philly's Godmother! I'm postponing the baptism until David is back home, but we can let you know when it is! My mother is going to come with her camera, so we can send you a photo then of your little Goddaughter and namesake! She's going to wear the same baptism robe as the one I wore when I was a baby - my mother has kept it specially for her first granddaughter - though I think she'd half given up hope that one would ever come!

Hope to hear from you again soon! All is well!

Jenny

To Jenny,Philomena wrote:

Hello Sweet-Heart,

How are you today? Hope you are coping, how is Baby Philly? Hope she’s doing great too. Oh!! Yes I even forgot the Baptism issue while writing you yesterday, but now I hear the Update, its ok.

And when you are to send the Picture to me? take another picture with the ear microphones I will like to see how it looks like, but Jenny, hope you do remove it from her sometimes at least to have a trial of natural hearing??

So, if I may ask, how is Dave doing in the Hospital since you are not allowed to Visit, how does he eat, or in case he is in need of anything, how is he going to get it??. Well may God be his strength.

About the money It is 3,236, Pounds.

Please take care of the house and everything there in it. Dave will be very happy if the Goats have been mated before he returns because that is one of the things he is worried of. He always says nothing seems to be the same again, oh!!! My God Jenny please do all you can to get him back from his way of reasoning though, I know you are trying but please do more ok.

My Prayer for you is that God will give you the strength you need to carry on.

I claimed it for you - now at the same time I claim good health of body and soul for David.

God has more than a thousand ways to provide
for his people, that we know nothing about.

Here is your health & financial blessing!

It's a simple prayer, you got 30 Seconds? Before sleeping say this; God may your wish in my life overcome all of my enemies wishes Amen.

Don't sleep on this...Someone recently
Read this for the first time and
Received favor from God in all areas of life.
Heavenly Father, most Gracious and Loving
God, I pray to you that you Abundantly bless
My family and me.

I know that you recognize, that a Family
Is more than just a mother, father, sister, brother, cousin,
Husband and wife, but all who believe and trust in You.

Dear GOD, I send up a prayer request may it be granted. Amen.
Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hello Dearest Jenny,

How are you doing today, hope great?? How Is baby Philly? hope she's beautiful? Did you by any means hear from the Hospital on how Dave is doing?

I just come around to hear from you but yet to, though I know time is not your friend with the responsibilities surrounding you alone now. But I hope you are coping?

And the farm employee, how is he doing too?

Have a nice and blessed day!!!
Yours philomena.

Jenny wrote:

Hi Philomena!

Do you know, I checked my mail yesterday morning about five minutes before you wrote - and therefore just missed your letter! But thank you for it, and for all your prayers and good wishes!

I have no doubt that David is doing just fine at the clinic: they provide for all his needs, and will feed him well, too! He will be having counsellors and therapists to talk to, to try and help him get his head sorted out - though I think really that most of all he just needs a good rest, away from all his worries. He does worry far too much, the silly man!!!!!

I'll wait until Monday to go to the bank, if that is alright with you - it will be impossible to park the car there tomorrow: I'd have to use the Park & Ride, and I don't want to do that with a baby in tow!!!! The Park & Ride is a special big car park miles out of the city, and you have to leave your car there and catch a bus - but on Monday, I'll be able to drive more or less straight to the bank - much better!

Everything is going well, the farm worker I got from the agency is an older man, and I think he is enjoying himself poking around and keeping everything going (and singing to the animals as he deals with them!). I'm starting the parent/deaf pre-schooler group next week, and rather looking forward to getting out and meeting some other mums! I took Philly with me to home group last night, though - she was as good as gold, everyone was delighted to see her, and then she fell fast asleep in her little carry-cot. The folks from church are being wonderfully supportive too, I had a couple call to see me this morning and bring me some home-made cakes!

The audiologist wants Philly to wear her hearing aids all the time, so she learns to listen well from the start, and hopefully learns to speak at a fairly normal age. She doesn't bother about them at this age, though I've been warned that when she's a bit older, she might keep removing them! We'll cross that bridge when we come to it!!!

Well, I'd better get on with a few things while she is still asleep! She's still waking at night, but I'm in a nice little routine with her, and not too tired or anything!

Jenny

Philomena wrote:

Wow! wow!! wow!!!,

My dear you got perfect in caring for a baby so easily. It is amazing that you don't seem to have stress with anything, I repeat this words i used to say to Dave - that He has just emerged with a God gifted wife. Yes i do tell him such all the time, Because if you should have been little bit worrisome like him, there would be a lot of shakings and problems within the marriage, thank you for your understanding and please please and please keep it on.

So when will you go to the Hospital yourself? though like you said they will take care of him very well, but still you know that the Counsellors will not be with him all the time for the days he has to be there, so i think he needs you at least to come around and tell him just a little Goodnews that everything is under control.or don't you think as such???

OH!!! my dear I love this word you use here about Philly's hearing band, You Said (when we come to the bridge We will cross it.) This is the very spirit that keeps me going up till date, because sometimes it will all seem to be that all hope is gone, but when i think and think i will say to myself that God has plans for u, so carry on till the time comes.

Have you started the Goat mating???

And how is my Golden baby today??

Have a lovely day,About the money, Monday is OK.

Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hi Jenny,

I have not hear from you for days, hope all is fine?? How is Baby Philomena, Hope she's doing well?

And Dave, how is he???

Please I await to hear from you soonest.
yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hello Jenny,
Is everthing alright????????

Jenny wrote:

Hello Philomena Senior!

Oh yes, everything is alright! Well, I've had a bit of a stressful weekend, because I've had my parents to stay, and they are hard work! Not least because they will keep going on and on and on about how David should be here, and what kind of man is it that shirks his responsibilities and collapses when faced with a little responsibility, and all that kind of talk!

They exhaust me!

I can see where they are coming from, but I think that you can't judge a man until you've walked in his shoes, and who is to say that if I had spent months travelling back and forth to the hospital and trying to run the rest of life as well, that I would not be in the same position? OK, actually I believe I wouldn't be! But then I don't worry so much as poor David!

I went to the bank yesterday as promised, and discovered that there isn't much money in the current account - so I'm needing to move some across from the savings account before I can make the transfer. That takes two days to clear, so I'll go back on Thursday and make the transfer, God willing.

Philly is a bit unhappy today, I don't know why, but she's not settling. I feel a bit inexperienced at the moment! My baby information books just suggest colic, but I don't think it's that. If she doesn't improve by tomorrow, I might just run her along to the doctor's and have him take a look at her.

Yes, the goats are being mated this week. We had some more snow at the weekend, but it didn't last, so the ground is quite nice for them. It's nice having a farm worker here - he's actually a lot more efficient that David, and gets everything done without so much huffing and puffing and making a mountain out of every little task!

Jenny

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Jenny,

Wow it good reading from you. I must comment that you are a strong woman. I pray my Baby will be as Strong as you are. Able and caring as well. You said you have stressful weekend, am sorry, hope you are ok. And how is the new week, stressful as well???

You had your parents around how are they?

And Baby Philly, about her being unhappy, what have you done about that? Is she ok now? have you taken her to the Hospital,for check up???what exactly is be problem with her??

Well I know that God is under control of everything, nothing will happen to her, she will be growing from strength to strength. So did you hear from Dave???

He must be very happy if he gets to know that the Goats have been mated.

Dear take care of yourself and everything, may God renew your strength.

Yours Philomena.

Jenny wrote:

Hello Philomena!

I took Philly to the doctor's: he says she just has a little infection, nothing to worry about, just to give her plenty of fluids, keep her warm and at a stable temperature (and that's easier said than done in this draughty old house!), and keep her indoors until next Monday.

I'm relieved there is nothing serious wrong, but it's so frustrating! I'd planned to go and make the bank transfer today, and, on Sunday, to go and visit David. And now I'm stuck here instead!

Actually, I'm thinking of getting my mother to drive up after church on Sunday, so she can stay here with Philly while I go to visit David on my own. It won't please my mother, who thinks that Sundays are sacred and a time to stay in your own home (except when it pleases her otherwise, I might add!!!), but I really need, inside myself, to see how David is getting along. And I'll have to wait until Monday to do the bank transfer - maybe that is more sensible anyway, I'm just assuming the moving of the money from the other account would have been cleared today. It could have been a wasted trip.

It is said that God refines our characters through trials and frustrations. All I can say is: I wish He would hurry up and be satisfied with mine, so that I can have an easier time of everything for a change! Thank you for your kind words about strength - I think I have the strength to always carry out my responsibilities and duties, at least. There is a hurting part of me inside though: there's been quite a bit of loneliness due to the circumstances of the past few months.

It will pass, I tell myself, by God's grace, all things will pass.

To which I add: Please God, make it pass soon!

Jenny

Philomena wrote:

OH!!!!! My poor baby!

Hope she’s faring well today?? This might have been the result of exposure, trying to get things around and do another and another thing, well it shall be well.

I must say I commend your carriage, believing God who says he feeds the birds of the air, how much more about us, that he created with his own image.

So have you contacted your Mom over your view of her coming to take care of Baby Philly? While you visit Dave at the hospital?

Hope the farm is doing well too??? Take care of yourself and baby, we are having a night vigil, so I have to sleep now, remember I always add all the little prayers I can, together with the prayer groups. and it is sure that God hears the cry of people, may the love of God’s love abide with you .

Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Jenny,

How are you today? hope cool? am sure you followed the doctors direction concerning Philomena’s health??? How is she?

Did your mum still come to help out yesterday?

did you see David??

How is he?

Oh!!! dear i know it will be stressful, but i had to ask. hope the farm is doing well too. sorry for asking so many questions, it's just that i want to know how things are with you over there, take care of yourself and family. i hope to hear from you.

Yours Philomena.

Jenny wrote:

Hello Philomena!

Sorry I couldn't write to you earlier! I ended up going back with my parents' to their house on Sunday evening, and staying over for a day, so I only got to go to Norwich today - but, the good news! - I'm happy to tell you that I've made the bank transfer!!!

In reterospect, I should have asked how long it would take!! But I forgot, and I've got no idea, so I think all I can say is that it will get there when it gets there! Sorry to be so unprecise!

David, I'm afraid, is in a bit of a bad way, saying that he has changed his mind, and he doesn't want a baby anymore. I don't really know what to say to him! He's being defeatist. Yes, of course, everything is busy busy busy with her at the moment, but it won't always be this way! And he doesn't have to worry about it anyway, I'm the car driver, I'm the one who has to take her places (audiologist, deaf pre-schoolers, clinic), not him. He could just practically ignore her and get on with his contemplation of plants if he wanted to!

I spoke to one of the doctor's at his clinic though, and he says that this is normal, it is the stress coming out, and he needs to express the emotions that he has kept bottled up for so long. And it is only once he has expressed them that he can begin to heal and become rational once more. Whatever!

Philly is quite well now, and is most content. We've had some sunshine, so she's been able to be outside and get some fresh air. She's a very placid baby! Must take after me - certainly not after David!!!

Jenny

Philomena wrote:

Dear Jenny,

First I want to thank you for the way and manner you treat David’s Issues. I read your mail very early this morning and though you have the great news for me that you have sent me the Money, still the depression comes with the Good news.

What on earth will make David say what he has said?? Yes there is stress but he is not carrying it all alone. I went short of words so I couldn’t write then, I went back and after I saw my pastor and talked to him, he said the same thing you said the Doctor told you, and he requested if there is any means of Communication so that he will be able to talk to him with prayers and some words of Counselling.

My dear, please don’t take that word to be a thing of pain in your heart, please I beg you this with the name of God please.

Take care of my Baby and believe you me, I am still saying this - nothing will go wrong with her, all these development stories will soon be past. Please if there is a means of contact with David, since he can not read his mails now, can you make it available so that the pastor can pray with him and always talk to him as well??

Yours Philomena.

Jenny wrote:

Hello Philomena!

There is an internet room at the clinic, but they're not permitting David to use it yet, in case he just feeds himself with more worries!

The chaplain there is seeing him, though, as well as the psychiatric team, so he's in good hands.

We've had a fresh fall of snow, and it is ICY cold outside!!!! Horrendous weather!!!! We're nice and warm inside though, and Philly is back in good health. She'll be three months old tomorrow!!! She doesn't really look that age, of course, because she was born premature - I'm told she should catch up in size over the next year, though. She's the cutest little thing, very placid.

I think I should have about half a dozen more - but I shan't suggest that to David for quite a long long time!!!!

I think he is doing alright. I think he'll be home soon. I'll cheer him up!!!

All good wishes to you!

Jenny

Philomena wrote:

Hello Darling,

You are a very Funny Woman, Your husband is exhausted with one, but you are requesting half a dozen. Isn't that quite funny to hear? though I love that because people know you not for what you say, but for what you do. I hope that My brother dozen’t faint if you tell him that. though I believe you are caring and will tell him the words he will understand at the right time.

Do I have to say it, you know what’s right more than I do. I have been to the Church this Morning, just on my way I checked my mail and found your wonderful message.

Jenny, that will be very fine!!! at least days will come when he gets used to it, those who knows what is happening now, will then use it for fun, meanwhile you can even use it in writing, maybe Books or a Movie to share your past and teach other too.

Honestly, I love one thing about you. You are a courageous woman. And that makes the Family suitable, because you have already known that he has been depressed for quite a long time, and will not just get out of it in just a moment,but it will take time for him to adapt with those things that seem new to him.

So how is the Farm doing, still have the helper around??

My greetings to baby Philly.
Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Happy birthday to you!!, Happy birthday to you!!!! Happy birthday Baby Philly, happy birth day to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

How old are you now? How old are you now? How old are you Philly? How old are you Now??

You are three months old now! You are three months old now! you are three month old Philly!! You are three months old now!

Growing by Gods Grace!!!.

HAPPY BIRTH DAY SWEETY.
Dear, forever shine as the light of the family, Amen. your spiritual mother.

Jenny wrote:

Hi Philomena!!!

Thank you for Philly's three-month birthday greetings!!

Yes, I'm still employing a farm worker - but it may not be for much longer!

I saw David yesterday and we had a good talk, and we've come to quite a radical decision.

For all his ideas and ideals, he really isn't a natural farmer, and the pressures of production for commercial sale are just adding too much pressure to him. And he thinks this was made much worse after Philly came home, because his nights were getting disturbed, and as he had to get up so early, he wasn't getting enough sleep - which distorts the mind, anyway, but he was blaming Philly for his stress, when really it was the farming that was at the root of the problem.

So we've decided to sell the farm. David's dream had always been to build it up into a self-sufficient operation, and then just give it away to some young people who longed to live independently. But it is not self-sufficient at the moment, far from it - one needs an additional income (which we had from his investments - his father left him businesses, which he sold and invested the money from). Without that, it would just drag someone into debt. So we decided that we couldn't give the prospect of debt to someone - it needs to be sold, with its licencing, as primarily a family home, where someone can also farm as a hobby or as a second income.

So that's what we are going to do. The goats will be sold (and they will sell well, with the females already mated), and the chickens will be sold, Molly and Thomas will probably retire with David's cousin Shelly - the ducks could stay here, we haven't decided that yet. We'll keep the dogs and cats of course! They are pets. And we'll put the house and land up for sale, and then move to a nice cottage, with just a garden, and just be Mummy and Daddy, and David won't have anything else to worry about!

So that's our plans.

He will hopefully be back home this week, and we can get on with a gentler life.

Jenny

Philomena wrote:

Wow!!!
What shall I say it a very Good idea if it will work out just as you said. So now if i may ask, do you think you will have enough money from selling the property?. The money that will be able to start up a better business and get another home for the Family? Or to go into another house for renting??. Will you recover enough to buy a house?

Well thank God that he is well and good reasoning now, now if that is ok to both of you, but Jenny, its important that one goes into Business, do you or David have Ideas of any other Business?

I went to Mr. Ekwunife's Office today during break, so we visited the bank here, though the money is not yet here, the bank officer called their Correspondence bank (CITI-BANK)to find out about the transfer, that is to find out when it will be ready, and the Contact person says that I should get ( SWIFT ADVICE SLIP) from the sender to enable them to find out the transfer informations, Please Can you send the slip to me?

Please send my greetings to David. I hope that will not increase his stress.

Yours Philomena.

Jenny wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Oh gosh, what's a Swift Advice Slip? Do I need to go back to the bank for one? I never thought to ask for anything special, they just gave me a little receipt thing, and I didn't think any more about it. I'm so sorry if I've overlooked something essential!

Oh yes, the amount of money we will get from this house will buy another six houses, I should think! I don't know what it is worth until we get the valuer out, but farmland fetches a high price on this little island of Great Britain - and the house is big too. Mind you, I daresay that David has enough money sitting around in banks to buy a new house without even selling this one - the money from this will just keep us nicely for years.

David's father had businesses and they did rather well, so David made a lot of money from them after his father died. David doesn't like spending money on things, but I should think he could afford anything he wants - he certainly doesn't need to work to earn a living. Which is rather nice.

I think all will work out well for our lives. There's always a way round an obstacle, isn't there? God finds a way. I'm quite excited about the thought of moving somewhere a little less large and draughty. And it will be like 'a home of our own' - this one has never felt quite like 'mine', because it used to be David's father's house, and then David lived here with another woman (!), and then on his own ..... and I've come to it rather late! Get rid of the thing and get a house of our own! That will be better. And, like I said, David was never really cut out to be a farmer! He'll be happier just growing a few flowers .... and children!!!!

Wink

Jenny

Philomena wrote:

Hello Darling,

I can see and feel the excitement from here. And am equally happy to see my baby grow in a more civilized area than what David himself said this present home looks like, at least to mix with people, get used to things, share other experiences, in order not to be somehow depressed just like my big bros was.honestly my worry before was what to do and earn a living but since it ok, who am I??

And As soon as you are out from there now, you will see a different man in Dave, I hope so, he will change for more better, not that he is not ok now!!! But I mean something different will come in.

Jenny please, the receipt you said you got from the bank can you send it to me?? Probably there will be an information that the bank will use to get to their correspondence bank and get the transfer faster.

How is Philly today?? When will Dave come home??

Greetings to everybody,
Yours Philomena.

Jenny wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I've been to see David today, and, yes, he is coming home tomorrow!

He's fine, it's like a giant weight has lifted off his shoulders now we've made the decision to sell the farm. Really, it's not just the hard work, or all the getting up early, or being tied to the animals (especially the goats!), but also all the endless paperwork he had to do - he's not very good at paperwork!

And: I think I've sold the goats! I called in at the Feed Merchant's to put an advertisement on the board there, and the owner said he would like first refusal! So he's coming to see them on Saturday, he wants the boys too, he says. It's a little bit sad, because we helped birth the babies last year, and are rather fond of them, but it's going to work out for the best long-term.

The receipt I got from the bank was just like a little till reciept you get from a shop, nothing to explain the transfer, just some numbers - I threw it away, we didn't need it for tax purposes, and I always throw away little receipts like that. But: I'll tell you what I can do, I can drive back to bank on Monday and ask them for a proper detailed printout, and then I can get that scanned somewhere, and send it to you, and that will be more use, anyway. I want to call in a couple of estate agents' near there, anyway, to see about putting the farm on the market. So I can do everything at once, and have a nice little morning out!

Philly is well, she came with me to see her Daddy today, and we went for a little walk around the clinic grounds so she could enjoy some fresh air: it's still a bit cold today, but there's some weak sunshine too, and it's quite pleasant out. We spotted some first flowers of this year growing too!

Jenny

Philomena wrote:

Wow!!,
Thank God for everything, Its a good-news that Big bros is coming back home, it will really look as if the marriage is just starting, please do share the new life experience and idea with me!!!!

Am sorry for getting to you late, I was in a church program which will take three days so i get tired and feel sleeping after the all night. it will end tonight.

It will be nice if you make it to the bank on Monday, even today we visit the bank again, still the money has not come, though the bank officer says is not yet late, but it will do us more good if i have the swift Advice slip.

Please sent my greeting to big bros, my baby and everybody around, i will write long mails when am free ok,

yours Philomena.

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:21 am

16. Changes.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

This is just a note to let you know that I've returned home from hospital. Jenny says that she's been keeping you informed, and has sent the money to you, but needs to go back and collect some paperwork for you. We've come to the decision to sell the farm, as I expect she has told you. I guess I'm no farmer, really, maybe you have to be born to it to accept the ways of nature.

Anyway, we're going to buy a little cottage and just grow some tomatoes and onions for ourselves, and take life easy.

I'll write more soon!

Lots of love to my wonderful sister, David

To David, Philomena wrote:

Praise!!!!! “””the Lord,
Brother Its nice to hear from you again after long time Break,So how do you feel now? Hope you feel more lively?

Wow!! You are welcome,

In fact Jenny has been wonderful, Bros I told you are have just gotten your right rib in her, she such a woman that your friends must envy you for that.

You are welcome Brother, am grateful you are fine now, Jenny has told me all about the selling of the farm and plans ahead, I pray that God will see you true.

I will stop here for now, even Jenny’s strength amazes me sometimes, she has sent the money though I have not received it yet, but hope very soon it will be here.

Take care and please plan well!!!!!
Yours Philomena.

To Jenny, Philomena wrote:

Hello!! Jenny,

Congratulations, you once again have complete and happy home,

How did you feel having you husband back home? Am sure you are happy and well pleased with that.

How is my baby hope she is doing well too?????

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Yes, everything is fine! I had a man come to look at my goats on Saturday, and he has bought them all. He was supposed to be sending a truck to collect them today, but it has been snowing heavily all night, so it's been postponed, he didn't want the truck driver to get stuck somewhere in the snow, with a whole load of goats on board!

Yes, Jenny said she needed to go back to the bank and collect some paperwork to send to you, she intended to go today, well, we were both going, and also going to the estate agent's to put the farm up for sale, but we're having to leave that now until the snow melts again. Jenny's car is alright in a bit of snow, but we're concerned that it will get deeper while we are out, and then we'll get stranded, so it's more sensible to wait.

Yes, I think that Jenny is a real Proverbs 31 woman. As it says, she is worth more than jewels.

I don't think her parents think much of me at the moment, really, but she says I shouldn't worry about that, parents never think any man is good enough for their daughter! Maybe that's true, but I do feel I've let her down a bit. She says no, I've just been misdirected, and needed putting back on the right road.

I am feeling better without the farm worries. We have an agency worker come in every day and see to everything.

Thank you for caring.
Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

That is wonderful Bros,

I feel more relaxed, now that you are home. and with Jenny efforts so far. hope my Baby is doing well? and when do we hope her Baptism is?

My greetings to Jenny, don’t worry about what Your In-laws say nor do to you, it is natural, it will get to normal with time, and if you will think back, and even ask Jenny herself, you will find out she is not as close as she was with the parents now that she has gotten her own home. So that gap in the sight of the parents will take sometime to close up.

So my advice is that you are to do what you know is right to your In-laws, and then look after your wife, and then the time will come when your in-laws will come to appreciate you and your family, once you are nice to them ok.

Take care bros, my greetings to everybody.
Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I hope that you are right about Jenny's parents, and that they think better of me one day. I suppose all I can do now is try and do what is right.

We went to the estate agent's today and have made arrangements for someone to come out and value the farm and then put it up for sale. And we've got appointments to go and view two cottages we are interested in. They are on the website too, but the links to them are so long I can't really paste them in an email, so I've saved a photograph from the web site of each of them, so you can see what we are going to look at.

We also called in the bank to get the paperwork you needed, but when we asked about it, the clerk said there was a problem with the transfer. I don't know really how to say this politely, but the problem isn't with the New York bank as you expected, but that Mr Ekwunife's account is flagged as 'suspicious activity', and my bank won't release money to a bank that's flagged like that. I suppose that 'suspicious activity' could mean anything, especially when it's a bank in another country to this, so it is probably nothing for Mr Ekwinife to worry about, it could just be that it's very busy, or maybe he buys things in America or something, because they watch now about things like that, I was reading something about it on a website a little while ago.

Do you have another friend or church member who could help? Maybe someone who hasn't been buying things from the UK or America? Everything does seem to be getting so strict these days.

I was upset about it, to tell you the truth, but Jenny insists that when God closes a door, he immediately opens a window, so I'm putting my faith in Him to get this sorted out as soon as possible.

We can even go back on Thursday if we have somewhere better to send the money. The truck is coming for the goats tomorrow, and then we've got house group. It is still snowing on and off, but the previous snow is nearly all melted.

I hope you will have good news for me.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hello Bros,

How are you today hope you are doing well how is Jenny and Baby Philomena, hope all fine. I asked Jenny last time when will Philly’s Baptism take place but she has not written since then.

Bros it amazes me that I can pray for some one and he or she will be gain healing. or for so many intentions, it comes to pass, but for years now I have been asking God to give me total freedom, yet it seems hard.

Ok, it’s true that you and your entire family are there for me, but just look at this - after two good weeks heading to here, it is said that the bank or Mr. Ekwunife’s account in suspicious, well I know that the power I fight against is not fiscal but spiritual, why won’t people let me be? why is it that I will not have peace? Well I know that one day the story will turn to my own good, it will never be forever.

We went to the bank with the letter you send to me yesterday, the receptionist was surprised to hear the story so he directed us to another senior staff, and he said that maybe that could be an excuse from the sender in order not to send money, but I told him it’s not, that you can’t do such, so he suggested that maybe the bank which you send the money from does not have a banking relationship with African banks. For that he suggested you pick the money and pay it into any of these banks that is their correspondence in UK.

Foreign remittance instruction. No,1

B/NAME: GHANA INTERCONTINATAL BANK (GIB)
ADDRESS: 69 CHEAPSIDE P.O.BOX 77, LONDON EC2P 2BB UNITED KINGDOM.
ACCOUNT NUMBER: (GBP) xxxxxxxx
SWIFT CODE: GHIBGB2L
SORT CODE: 609263
For the Account of Intercontinental Bank Ghana LTD.
A/C NAME: PHILIP CHUKWUMA EKWUNIFE
ACCOUNT NUMBER:1171760000972
SWIFT CODE: INHHGHAGC
BRANCH: OKAISHIE WORKING OFFICE.
Tel:.+233) 21222777.

Foreign remittance instruction No,2.

BANK / NAME: FBN BANK (UK) LTD
ADDRESS: 28 FINSBURY, LONDON EC2M 7 DT
ACCOUNT NUMBER: (GBP) xxxxxxxx
SWIFT CODE: FBNIGB2L
For the Account of Intercontinental Bank Ghana LTD.
A/C NAME: PHILIP CHUKWUMA EKWUNIFE
ACCOUNT NUMBER:1171760000972
SWIFT CODE: INHHGHAGC
BRANCH: OKAISHIE WORKING OFFICE.
Tel:.+21222777.

Foreign remittance instruction No,3.

BANK NAME: CITIBANK, N.A
ADDRESS: CITIBANK, N.A CANADA SQUARE, CANARYWHARF, LONDON E14 5LB
ACCOUNT NUMBER: xxxxxxxx
SWIFT CODE: CITIBGEL
For the Account of Intercontinental Bank Ghana LTD.
A/C NAME: PHILIP CHUKWUMA EKWUNIFE
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 1171760000972
SWIFT CODE: INHHGHAGC
BRANCH: OKAISHIE WORKING OFFICE.
Tel:.+(233)21222777

I just hope that will be the case, because they said that nothing is wrong with Mr Ekwunife’s account, he has not even send out or received from outside the country, with this very account the operations have all been within the country.

I hope you will be able to pay it in direct because the pastor is not in town and I will not like to use public church account for it.

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Do you know, you could be right! I bank with the xxxxx bank, because of its ethical stance and policies, and that's a bit different to other banks.

I do know that its ethical code means it refuses to deal with some countries, I wouldn't think for one minute that includes America or Ghana, but, again, if Mr Ekwunife has had any dealings with certain countries that are thought unethical, just buying or selling something, that could be the problem. 'Suspicious activity' could be as simple as having bought something from a country that the xxxxx bank thinks oppresses its people. It used to refuse to have anything to do with South Africa, once, for example, when apatheid was still in place, though it does deal with them nowadays.

I never knew I could pay the money direct into a bank in this country like you are telling me - that's a really good idea. I don't understand how I do it though, I see that the different banks have different account numbers I'd need to pay the money into - but whose bank accounts are they? Wouldn't I also need the names of the account holders?

Or am I just misunderstanding how it is done? I'm sorry to be so ignorant, or both of us, rather, because I've asked Jenny if she can understand it, and she says she doesn't know either.

We've decided to postpone Philomena Junior's baptism until after we have moved, because we'll belong to a different church then, and it will nice to have her baptised into the church there. We've decided that a couple of Jenny's relatives can be the other Godparents (as well as yourself), because I think we're going to lose touch with Duncan and Rosie after they move.

The goats have gone now (and all the horrible paperwork with them, though I've still got to keep my old records in case they are needed) and, guess what, the chickens have gone with them. The man we sold the goats to asked if they were for sale and took them too. There was no need for Jenny to do a dance round the kitchen singing 'No more eggs for breakfast, hurrah! hurrah!', I'm sure. It's only been a day, but actually I think I miss the chickens more than the goats. They were never any trouble (well, except when they wouldn't go in at night in the summer), and they were rather sweet, scratching around and making their little chicken noises.

One of the cottages that we are going to look at has got stables and a little field attached, so if we got that one, we could keep Molly and Thomas the donkey. Shelly said she'd take them, but it would be rather nice if they could stay, they're not much trouble, really, and will be company for Jenny's horse, if she does buy one later, which she says she'd like to do. And Philly could learn to ride on both Molly and Thomas when she's bigger.

Tell me more about how to pay directly into a bank like you said. I'm suddenly quite free now the goats have gone, because I don't have to turn up for milking!

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Wow!!

Bros, you will really miss the presence of the Animals am sure. So what is Jenny doing now about eggs for breakfast, you should have reserved some??!!!
Brother According to the bank officer she saud that those bank are their curespondience in UK. So each of them have an account defferent. For example if you are to pay it in through FBN BANK (UK) LTD.
You have to take this very information,
BANK / NAME: FBN BANK (UK) LTD
ADDRESS: 28 FINSBURY, LONDON EC2M 7 DT
ACCOUNT NUMBER: (GBP) xxxxxxxx
SWIFT CODE: FBNIGB2L
For the Account of Intercontinental Bank Ghana LTD.
A/C NAME: PHILIP CHUKWUMA EKWUNIFE
ACCOUNT NUMBER:1171760000972
SWIFT CODE: INHHGHAGC
BRANCH: OKAISHIE WORKING OFFICE.
Tel:.+21222777.

It starts with the corresponding account, when you take it to the bank this way, tell them you are sending the money to Ghana, they know that the final destination is to mr.Ekwunife’s account.

If you want to go CITIBANK, N.A. you pick the City banks information like this,

BANK NAME: CITIBANK, N.A
ADDRESS: CITIBANK, N.A CANADA SQUARE, CANARYWHARF, LONDON E14 5LB
ACCOUNT NUMBER: xxxxxxxx
SWIFT CODE: CITIBGEL
For the Account of Intercontinental Bank Ghana LTD.
A/C NAME: PHILIP CHUKWUMA EKWUNIFE
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 1171760000972
SWIFT CODE: INHHGHAGC
BRANCH: OKAISHIE WORKING OFFICE.
Tel:.+(233)21222777

just tell them the money is going to the below account, they know what to do, this is the Instruction from the bank officer - That you are paying the money to their foreign remmitance account directly to the account number in Ghana.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

The estate agent is coming out here this afternoon, to value this house, and see how much they advise selling it for. It should be quite a high value, because it has the agricultural licences to permit farming, and they are not easy to get these days.
I think I understand about the banks, that they are just correspondent banks like the American one was. I've just noticed that they are in London, though, so I'm going to have to think about how to organise that. It's about 4 hours to London from here, so if I add an hour on for banking business as well, the trip will take a total of 9 hours, which is rather a long time, especially at this time of year, when it gets icy once darkness falls. Felicity spends a lot of time in London, of course, she's got an apartment there as well as her house here.

I'll see what I can do.

I'd better go and have some lunch now, so I'm ready for when the estate agent arrives.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Good-Morning Bros,

Dearest, let me start by thanking you for your efforts so far, thank Jenny too for her contribution to see me through to the present where I am. Actually you all have tried your best, better than I expected. I talk to God in my own personal time and say, God, If this is your wish that I will live like this for the rest of my life, so be it, but if it’s not your wish to me, let your anger raise upon any force that is behind my predicaments.

I was with My pastor’s wife yesterday, she is my namesake too, she says that if wasn’t that she is nursing a baby, she could have suggested that the money was sent with her name because these events have taken time, and then she would know what exactly to believe about all these stories of sending money that never comes, though the time it went to the wrong hands we know is true.

She suggested you send the money by western union again,Instead of traveling a whole 9 hours just to get money sent while there are other means of sending it. But this morning I went to Mr Ekwunife and he said that he did not want to go through that western union thing again, moreover he said that he is sure that the last western union money is lost and there is no way we can get to the root of it here. He Is afraid that those who take the money must be within those banks we visited, he is suspecting that it most be from one of those bank officers, maybe after the money is been there for long he/She just pick it.

So he said that he is afraid that if money is sent again by his name, the person who took the first one without trouble, again will steal the money. If they come across the money in his name again, they might steal it again. So he suggests that if you are to send it western union, definitely he will advise we look for another persons Name that may be unconnected to his name.

Though Church Mama (MY PASTORS WIFE), after I went to explain to her, said that Mr Ekwunife don’t like anything that will trouble him or brings bad minds of people against him, running for trouble has never been his life style. But I have to confer with you first if you will like to use western union, then let her talk to any of the Church members who will help this time. But if it is possible, you tell me the day you are going to send it so that very day I will be with whoever you are to send it to, I will tell the person to be around or I will be with the person, then once you send it, we will at once take it and if there is any problem you make sure you will go and get back your money the next day, so not to allow it to waste more time online.

I just don’t know what to say, but I think western will be less stress for you. But if you wish to travel 9 hours to the bank, its ok too.just that I am also looking at this busy time of yours, trying to resettle elsewhere. To make out the time for 9h trip is hard to my viewing.

Please send my greeting to your family.did the agents come yesterday?? And did you still go to Norwich today??

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I'm so sorry for not writing to you quicker than this, but we've had such problems with the computer. We thought that we ought to install security on the laptop, you know programmes that check everything for viruses and trojans and anything nasty, because we suspected that someone was accessing Jenny's Hotmail account. There were emails in there which she hadn't read, but they were already marked as read, and then one day she logged in to her account and there were two emails not read, and then, right in front of her eyes, one of them changed to read. Somebody else must have been logged in there and reading them.

And we wondered if we'd got something nasty on our computer that was sending information to someone else.

So we got this security suite and installed it all, and then we couldn't do anything, we couldn't read emails, and we couldn't even open most webpages.

We got a computer engineer out today though, and he said it was something called a Firewall, apparently you've got to have all the settings right, and we hadn't, and it was blocking everything.

He also helped check all the laptop for anything nasty, and there were some supspicious things on it, so he says that we should change our email addresses.
I tried to set up another Gmail one, but it seems that nowadays you need it verified by giving them a mobile phone number (and then they text you, I think), but of course mobile phones don't work where we live, so we can't do that, so what I'm going to do is see if I can set up a Yahoo account, the computer engineer said we should be able to do that alright, and if so, I'll email you from that and give you that address, and then I'll answer your letter properly from that, because I'm not really sure how secure this email account is anymore.

So look out for my Yahoo email.

Lots of love from David

Philomena wrote:

Thanks Bros,

So how is the Family? hope cool?? It been some time neither you nor Jenny tell me how my baby Is doing.

I have heard your explanation, but please Kindly see to it so we don’t have problems when the money is sent because I don't really want to hear any sort of stories again.
Ok let me stop here till you get yourself sorted.

so has the agent valued the house??? Bros, if not for the Stress and the time I would have prefer you go to London to send the money because a bank Account is less risky. but the 9 hours trip because of me is too much!!!

Anywell, make your Decision but instead of more time wasted, well you try western again.

my greetings to Jenny and tell my baby I feel her. hoping that one day we will meet.

yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

This is the new email address that we have set up, and a lot of effort that took as well. My fault really, because there was a little pop up box on my taskbar saying that the Windows firewall was switched off, so I turned it on again, and I shouldn't have done that apparently, because it conflicts with the security suite firewall, and we couldn't open yahoo. We got online in the end with the computer engineer, and he told us what to do, and says now just don't touch any settings!

I can't say I'm very keen on using Western Union again, all this money transfer stuff seems as insecure as the BBC News is always saying. We're not the only ones who have lost money this way, far from it. I was reading something where it says that if you don't give out the mtcn or provide a question and answer, ONLY the person who it is meant for and has the ID can pick it up, so I suppose I could try it that way, if that's the secure way to do it.

Or I could go down to London, as you suggested. It's no point trying to drive down there because you can't actually get into London without paying a congestion charge or having a permit or something, so you end up having to stop before you get there and then get a train, so I could take a train all the way, it's not as if I have to be back to milk the goats anymore. Or I could ask Felicity to do it, as she has an apartment in London anyway. I'd rather do it myself though.

Yes, Philomena Junior is absolutely fine! It's been sunny the past two days so she's been out in the fresh air. She's very trouble-free! She hardly cries and always seems very content. And is in good health. We're still going back to the audiologist every couple of weeks, but that's just become routine.

We went to see that house last weekend, but it's not really what we're looking for. The stables and paddock is nice, but the neighbours are too close, the house is joined to next door and the walls are not soundproof, we don't fancy that after living in a detached house, so we need to keep looking.

This place has been valued at £830,000, though the estate agent advised that we should accept any offer over £800,000. There's been no enquiries yet, but its early days!

I want to get on with everything! We're going to look online for more places for sale this afternoon.

Hope you are well.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hi Bros,

It nice hearing from you today again.

It also nice to hear that Philly is doing just fine,i wish her the best.

The house is worth quite a lot, though I was expecting it. ok bros, now if you are to get the type of home you are wanting, i hope the money will be enough to buy it??

well i don’t really know what to believe about sending money, but only hoped you know the best to do, so if I may ask which of these means do you prefer, and when are you hoping to send it?

Have a wonderful time together with your Family, send my greetings to Jenny.

yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Bros,
Are you ok??
Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

We've been busy the last couple of days helping our friends Duncan and Rosie move house, they've moved to Norwich. They didn't want to hire a proper removal lorry, so they got a self-drive hire van and did it all themselves. Well, with our help, it's been hard work, but quite fun really, and Philly seemed to enjoy her day out, and wasn't at all unsettled. She's fast asleep now though.

Now, about the money, and this is Jenny's suggestion really, we thought that we could try Moneygram again, but this time, rather than risk writing you an email with the details in, we could take the form to somewhere and have it scanned, and then send you a copy of the scan, and call it something like 'Photo of me' in the Subject line, so it looks very innocent, and then even if the worst happened, and there were any hackers or anything, they probably wouldn't even want to look at that email, because they'd think it was just an uninteresting letter with a snapshot attached. What do you think of that idea? Also, Jenny says, if you've got the scan of the form itself, if there's any problem, you can take it to your Moneygram place and show them, and that would be better.

I'm not sure right now where I'd go to get it scanned, but Duncan says that libraries should do it, and they usually have a PC there that you can send a scan from right away, though I think it might be better to take a disk in with us and then bring it home to send.

We expect to spend about £400,000 on our new house, so we should make over £400,000 profit. Though we'll need to tithe on that, so it will work out 10% less.

Well, I'd better go and see if our meal is ready, we haven't eaten yet, though we have fed the dogs and cats.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Bros,

Wonderful i think! yes it a good Idea brother, even will sending the mail you don't have to write anything about money on the Email you are to type, you don't even need to talk about money on it - i hope that God will surely make a way and i hope it now.

But another thing is because of the Problem I had last time, you sent Money gram, the one Jenny sent that i was not able to pick, you know the Big Banks here are not taking Any other ID.except Drivers License or International Passport which I do not have.So I do go instead to a small agent and I guess that their machines are not as good as those banks. i think that was the reason money laid in the system while she said it had been processed. I just hope Mr. Ekwunife will agree, though mama says that if he did not, she will talk to some one else. but I suggest again that you have to let me know ahead of sending that you will send it on so and so day, so that i will check my mail on time, and in case there is any problems, you have to go back and retake you money quickly to avoid stories again. tell me when you may send it, maybe if it's to be Monday or Tuesday you tell me before then, even though tomorrow is Sunday, i will sort out the person who will help me get it, either Mr Ekwunife or some one else.

Another great news you are going to have lots of profits after selling the property.

So the house to relocate to, have you gotten one???

And has any buyer wanted the farm??

Greetings to mama Jenny and Baby Philomena from Philomena Senior.

Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Bros,
How are you? hope you are dong well with the family, I briefly want to let you know that I have talked to Mr.Ekunife through pastor’s wife about the new idea you bring, and he agrees to it, so you have to use his name PHILIP CHUKWUMA EKWUNIFE the destination of the Money is GHANA.

i hope to hear from you soon please send my greeting to Jenny ok.and i hope Philly is doing just well too.

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

OK, we have to go to Norwich tomorrow, for Philomena Junior's appointment with the audiologist, that won't take long, so we could go to a Western Union there, and then straight to the city library and get the form scanned and send it to you. I'll do that, Western Union will be OK, will it? Instead of Moneygram? I'll check my mail before we go tomorrow, in case you say it isn't, I think that'll be easier in Norwich though, there's the one in the Castle Mall.

We've been to North Walsham this morning, making an appointment to see another house. This one is a bit more expensive, but it has some lovely gardens with trees, and also a detached bungalow with it, which can be used to rent out to people for holidays, and I'd like to do that very much.

There's been no one interested in buying the farm yet, but it's still a bit too cold here for most people to think of moving house. Another month, and that's the time most people think about looking at properties for sale.

I will be so relieved to get that money to you at last.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:22 am

17. A missing MTCN.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Here’s the picture I promised.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Bros,

I got your mail and the picture but it does not open here, I wonder what is happening either network or anything but please can you resend it???

With pdf or pgred??

I hope to hear from you will write more tomorrow.

Philomena wrote:

Bros
Once again if it will be hard to get to the library just sent the Information by writing I don't want it to be more than 8 to 9 tomorrow I hope to get it with the info instead of wasting time please.

Philomena

Philomena wrote:

Bros please i am waiting to hear from you soonest because the attachment you sent to me could not open.

Please i am around the Cafe to see that i get the information and get everything settled today, can you re-attach it or better send the security info and the sender’s name fast, i don't want it to stay for days please.

i hope it was sent with Jenny’s name.

Am waiting for you please
Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

O!! God Bros,

Why this delay? I told you that you have to be on the alert once you send it, so that if anything went wrong, you will know what to do in time.the attachment could not open and i told you to open it there and reattach it, or better write the info and you know we agreed on M-Gram - but you went and used western again, please i will not bear to hear stories again, send the info in a mail soonest.delay is dangerous as you know, please hurry up.i will check again and again.

yours Philomena

Philomena wrote:

Brother why have you decide to lure me into HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, why are you doing this?

i pleaded with you before this transfer that you should often check your mail once you send it, in order to avoid delay, if there is any mistake.

now another day is fastly passing by, what do you what me to do now? or does it give you joy to always hear stories whenever i hope to step in to a new life???
Please send the info if you can not reattach the receipt.

yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I hope you are still online.
I've only just put the laptop on.
I'll write more in a minute.

Love from David

David wrote:

I'm sorry, we went to Jenny's parents house after we left Norwich yesterday, we had to give them the new email address, and there was no point emailing them because they won't open mails from strange email addresses.
And we've just been cleaning and things this morning. I didn't realise there was any problem.

I've just looked in my Sent folder and there's certainly something wrong with what I sent, I can’t open it either.

If you're online, and can take the info straight away, then I can give it to you in an email, do you think? That's safe isn't it? I haven't got the form right here, because it was in with a bag of shopping we'd bought from the market, but I can get it.

I thought I'd told you that we were going to use Western Union, one in the Castle Mall, it seemed much more convenient seeing we were in Norwich.

Let me know if you're still online, and I'll go and get the form.

Love David

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

You're obviously not still online.
I'll see what I can do with the scan.

Love from David

Philomena wrote:

please I don't want to wait a for the scan, can you send the number in a mail now, due to time i don't want delay any more.

Philomena wrote:

please since you have sorted the issue with your computer, please send the info in mail, i am eagerly waiting to have it now

Philomena wrote:

Hello Bros,

Am so sorry for the multiple mails without even thanking you for making out time to do the transfer. It was just that the loss in the past has destroyed much. and it painful to lose a little, not to talk of a much as we have experienced in the past.

I hope that this is the time, please extend my greeting to Jenny as well,please bros i will like to appeal to you, though I know we agreed on Scanning the Receipt and sending that, but instead of it wasting time which will lead to the money being delayed, please lets use an alternative, i hope this time there will be no loss by the grace of God.

But will plead with you to please check your mails often tomorrow so that i will report to you on how i go. once I receive it, I will inform you, and please do forgive my ignorance at first, i hope to hear from you with either the Scan receipt or the Full Information through email thanks.

Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Good-Morning Bros,

Hope all is well? I am online now please if you come, kindly let me kno,w I will sign in messenger so that when you come you alert me. I have to wait online because leaving the transfer on air is not advised at all.

instead of taking more time please alert me so that I will take the information immediately please, my messenger is the same [email protected]

Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Bros,
am leaving for breakfast, please leave the information, i will be back soon.
Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Bros,
I am back and yet to hear anything from you. It's frustrating!!! I know you might have much more than this but it pains me when ever there is a loss, and i know it pains you too, because nobody i hope will be happy over a loss. please if the attachment is the reason you are delaying this, please give the information, I check my mail often since that yesterday.

you just hang me on air, i don't know what to or not to say, please if i have said any thing hurtful, please take it that its one of the things frustrations causes sometimes, please i am tired and yet will not rest with money on air, please help me out. I do hope, in fact i know, you are doing something about it, but please with the Info on mail, I can still take it, since i am checking it often.

Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Please i am most concerned, this delay it keeps me restless.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I must have signed out and just missed you yesterday. I did intend to write again later, but then I couldn't get an internet connection in the evening, it was very frustrating.

I think I did tell you that we were going to view that cottage we were interested in today, so that's where we've been, and it's very nice, I really want it, we're going to North Walsham tomorrow to put in an offer on it.

Anyway, I’ve got the scan image opening now, so I’ll send you that, and then hopefully you can go and collect the money tomorrow. I suppose it will be too late tonight.

I'm sorry for causing you any stress, I really didn't mean to.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Brother,

I thank you very much for your Effort but please I beg you in the name of God this delay is getting too much for me, I wonder if there is a particular demon of delay that always sets in each time you send me money, just to cause havoc at the end of the delay.

But this time, the Devil has lost the battle, please if you really want my happiness, once you see this mail write out those information for me to be able to get that money, i re-forwarded the attachment to you just for you to understand what i mean, this cannot open for me to see the letter on it, please stop this delay by writing out those information as soon as possible, i will check my mail often today again, thanks,

its nice you found a House you like. Please sent my greeting to your family.

Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

I hope you will correct this soonest, today is the fourth day you know, and people are working on daily transactions and you cannot tell who is who, please save me from this tension.

If you are sending it by attachment, if that is what you decide to do, please try and check that it can be opened.

I just don't know what to say again.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Sorry I wasn't online earlier, we had to go to North Walsham to put in an offer on that cottage. The estate agent teleponed the sellers, and they have accepted the offer - so the cottage will be ours! We now have to see a conveyancing solicitor to handle the legal side of buying a house.

Anyway, we went for a little pub meal to celebrate, and haven't been home very long now.

I see what you mean about the attachment, I should have checked before I sent it, it looks like I attached a thumbnail of the image. I imagine that the real (full size) image is still sat on the library computer in Norwich.

I'm not sure where we put the form, but I'll just go and have a look, and then I'll type it into the email. You know our address anyway, don't you? It's The Reddings, Station Lane, Worstead, Norfolk, NR28 9RV. Sender was Jenny. Oh, and the question and answer she put was Question - What for? Answer- Freedom. She thought it would make you smile.

Back very soon.
Lots of love, David

David wrote:

Hello again Philomena,

We can't find it at the moment. I know we put it in the bag with some vegetables we bought at the market, because it ended up down the bottom when we got to the library, and we had to move vegetables to get it out, and then after I'd scanned it, I said to Jenny, put it down the side this time, otherwise it's going to get torn. But I can't remember what we did with it after that. We went back to the market, and then we drove out to Jenny's parents house and took them some vegetables and some wool and stuff, and then came home and took our things into the kitchen, then fed the animals, I think. It must have got unpacked in there, but the kitchen is a bit untidy. I'll carry on looking, I should come across it somewhere, Do you actually need the number, though, to collect the money? You've got all the other information and I'm sure that I've read somewhere, on one of their leaflets or posters, that you don't actually need the number to collect the money. Maybe I should check.

I'll still give it to you once I locate the form, though.

From David

David wrote:

Hello again Philomena,

Jenny thinks we may have left the form in the other shopping bag, the one that we gave to her parents with the vegetables and things in. That's no problem, we can easily drive down there and get it tomorrow. Though, like I was saying before, maybe you don't need the number anyway. But it doesn't matter if you do, we'll go and get it for you.

Lots of love from David

Philomena wrote:

Dearest,
Am grateful reading from you, all i hope now is that the time for freedom has come, its just by the side, Bros, that number and the senders name is the most important thing the bank needs. they will only ask the control number and the sender, and again the receiver.so please I will appreciate it if you can get it to me early tomorrow, the banks here work for 6 hours Saturdays from 9am to 2pm.

i am hoping to hear from you.
yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Bros,
Once again, please is it only Jenny as the Sender?? or Jenny Chorley-Smallwood Elsdon? And I hope the receiver Is Philip chukwuma ekwunife??

Please I have your Address and the questions and answer what i need now is the Number,receivers name, and if the sender is only Jenny. Oh please i hope this will end tomorrow.

Am glad House owner have finally accept your Proposal, and if i may ask how long will the legal process take before you can pack in there?

I hope Philly is celebrating with you??

Have a wonderful and nice evening,after your celebration i hope by the end of tomorrow i will be celebrating with you.

yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hi Bros,

How are you today? together with the Family? I hope all is well and that you had a wonderful weekend,additionally i want to ask if you have recovered the transfer form? as well want to also suggest, in case you've not seen, it could still be with the library where you do the Scanning. It has been whole week of anxiety, hope upon hopes that the anxiety is now over, and it will be at the most the next hour, but i hope that the time has come this very week and no other day than today.

Bros I want you to help me in prayers too, because this kind of thing is getting too surprisingly suspicious and confusing, that each time i hope for liberation, one thing or another comes in to stand as a stumbling block before it. i have prayed and hope you will help me with prayers too, and also add more force to see that this comes to an end. Am not like saying you have not been trying, but just asking for more.

My regards to your family,
yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Bros,
Are you ok??
Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I'm so sorry I haven't been able to be in touch, my computer mouse went wrong and wouldn't work, and I've had to buy a new one. It was so frustrating, you should be able to use a computer with keyboard alone, but I just couldn't find the way to do most things, and I couldn't get to my mail at all.

Still we got a new mouse yesterday and I'm back in action now.

Yes, Jenny's name was in full as the sender- Jenny Chorley-Smallwood Elsdon
Receiver - Philip Chukwuma Ekwunife
Question - What for?
Answer- Freedom

We're pretty sure that the form was in the bag that we gave to Jenny's parents, they've been away for the weekend, but would have come back yesterday, so we're going to drive down there later and get it. Then you can have the number as well, no problem.

We saw the paedetrician yesterday about Philomena Junior's development, she (the paedetrician) said that she is behind in development, but often premature babies are slow, so it's too early yet to say for sure whether or not she is mentally disabled, but she might be. We've got to go back again next month.

I'm a bit worried about what the future might hold for Philly if she's learning disabled, but I'm trying to just trust in God's wisdom, and be positive like Jenny, who says well if she is mentally disabled, we'll just call her our Garden of Eden child, and enjoy her remaining in innocence.

I still haven't sold my ducks, at this rate I'll be digging a new duck pond at the new house, and taking them with us!

I don't really know how long it will take to complete the purchase on the new house, I've never bought a house before because I inherited this one from my dad, and when Jenny was previously married, they lived in a house belonging to her husband's parents, so she hasn't done it either. I think it normally takes three months or so, but we're not having to borrow money to buy it (I'm buying it out of some of the money I got from selling my dad's companies), so it should be a shorter time than that, maybe one to two months, I don't know. There's lots of legal things to check, the solicitor does all that, but it takes time. Once it's done, we'll be given a date for signing the papers, and then it's ours.

We've got someone coming to look at the farm at the weekend, to see if they are interested in buying it. I hope it doesn't rain, everywhere looks better when the sun is shining!

I'll write again later with the number when we get back from Jenny's parents' house.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hi Bros,

Well it my pleasure hearing from you once again, it has been so frustrating and worrisome. But I thank God nothing is wrong, neither with you nor any of your family members. well for Philomena junior, I always say to you that you have to be focused and trust in the Power and miracles that God Can do.

Bros it is well with Philly, just believe that.I have her name with my pastor and the prayer Groups, just that I feel reluctant to confront them these days, though it does not mean they are not praying, they are praying, knowing that they do the work for God not for us humans, but I was just a kind of shy coming to say please do this or that for my baby. but I will by his grace settle some of my promises once I get the Money and i promise you it is well.

So is it you don't want to sell the Ducks or you don't have a buyer yet, but if there is no buyer, do you have to start a pond?? will the people allow you to dig a pond while the purchase is yet to be completed?

Thanks once again for the information and hope to have the Control number soonest. actually i as a person is simply tired and frustrated because of the delay, but i hope you will act faster because the delay is really getting out of hand, like i said earlier, do pray for me too, because it is a very bad experience it has been all this while, each time you send money to help me, pray that this time the freedom Jenny proclaims shall be for real.

My greetings to Jenny and baby Philly and believe you me that Philly is alright.

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

This is just a quick note, because we have the church home group tonight, and need to get ready for that.

We went to Jenny's parents house, to get the form, but they weren't really sure where to locate it, and think they might have thrown it away with a few other things in the recycling bin. They said they'd have a look through it, but couldn't do it tonight because it was already getting dark, but they'll have a look tomorrow and email us with the number.

I'll write more tomorrow too.

Lots of love, from David

Philomena wrote:

Bros,
it's good reading from you, I think of something like this when you said you are sure you left the Form with the bag in your in-laws house, because even if they see it, they will not think it still valid.

But all the same you can still get the form information from the Library. I am suggesting this because we are not sure of recovering the form from Jenny’s parents place as it has taken some time. Or better still, visiting the bank where you did the transfer is another option, if you go there with the other information and explain what happened to them, they will surely research and re-give you the info again.

I am just hoping that all these stories will end tomorrow and even end with freedom as you and Jenny have proclaimed with the question and answer. why i suggest this is for us not to wait only for Jenny’s parents to get the form, while we are not sure it will be seen from them again.

hoping to hear from you.
Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

It is nearly 4 o'clock in the morning here, and we are only just home from the hospital - Philly got rushed in having seizures, they are doing some tests, but think she has epilepsy. We need to get some sleep before going back again.

Yes, you're right, there's many ways to get the number you want, it's not a problem. We'll get back to you with that.

Sorry this is short, I'm just so tired. I just wanted to let you know about Philly.

Lots of love, from David

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Just to let you know, we've got Philly back home, and she's on medication to stop the seizures. It seems there's no danger about her having them, it's just something else we've all got to live with. There seems a high chance that she is brain damaged and mentally disabled though, but we won't know the extent of that for quite some time.

We're going to drive down to Jenny's parents' house tomorrow hopefully, and get the form.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Bros,

Glory be to God she has returned home. am sorry to hear that Philly is sick to an extent of rushing to Hospital, but thanks God all seems well with her. I too was ill, My BP got high again, i was in the hospital Friday that was 12.15pm. when it got much and I was sent to the Church and after some words of prayer i was taken to Hospital, just returned yesterday night.

its really painful that sometimes at the door of hope of freedom lots of stories come up - always taking me to thinking and thinking stage, which always affects me.

but it is well by the grace of God. i hope you have gotten the number now, please do let me have it.

how is Jenny Coping with the young Philly's Health condition, i hope she is not down with worries???

please tell her and you too, you have to believe God for the Best, we always pray for Philly, Jenny and you, everyday, every minute and will always do.

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Oh dear, I'm so sorry to hear that you've been in hospital too, I think we have all seen too much of hospitals this past year.

I hope you are much better now.

We went to Jenny's parents house on Sunday to collect the transfer form, but they couldn't find it in their recycling bin, so what we're going to do now is what you suggested, and go back to the library where it will be saved as a scan. I won't try and send it again from there, though, I think their computers are too difficult for me to work out properly, it seems to be a very old operating system they've got, not like what I'm used to anyway. So what I'll do is just write down the number, and then send it to you when I get back home.

THEN all will be well!

We had go and see the solicitor yesterday morning, just signing some paperwork about buying the house, and then we had visitors in the afternoon, and then, today, the people came who are interested in buying the farm. So it's all been quite hectic and exhausting, really. I'm looking forward to a relaxing evening.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Bros,

It nice reading from you once again, so tell me how is Philomena doing???

And Jenny how is she doing??
I hope she is not down??

When will the new house legal process will be completed? because i hope you have a phone as soon as you leave to the new area so that in some issue like this we can talk on phone?

Yours Philomena.

NB
Please try to see the library as soon as you can, this money has wasted more time with the western union ok.
i wouldn't like it to exceed today and tomorrow.

Philomena wrote:

Hi Bros,

I hope that everything is ok?? how is Philly's Health today??? And Jenny? hope she is coping with the situations.

I waited to hear from you to no avail and it always keeps me at the stage of wondering, please let me hear from you.

I want you to try the best you can, remember that the transfer you make is not an account transfer but a fast transfer, ands it not a Small money - though i don't know if it is to you, but to me its what will change my life.

Though I know you are facing hard times, but make delivery of this money to me more active, i hope i will receive it soon. so go and sort whatever the case is now,thanks.

and God bless you as you do so.

yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

What is Going On Brother???

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

What's been going on is that Yahoo has been preventing me from sending mails!

I've been using the Yahoo email account for corresponding with the estate agents and things, and I don't know if all those letters mentioning 'money' and 'sale' triggered the Spam thing, but then all of a sudden when I tried to send an email, I got this message saying that the sending of emails had been suspended because of 'suspicious activity'.
It has been so frustrating, and I've felt quite angry too, since when has selling a farm been a suspicious activity!??

Anyway, I haven't been idle.

We went back to the library, though we had a bit of trouble there because of course other people were hiring the computers, and they were booked up all day, and the library staff wouldn't turn anybody off the computers just so I could look at one. I suppose it's fair enough, I mean they've paid for their time, but it was frustrating.
So then we went to the Western Union place, and they said they couldn't just tell us the number, not even if we had ID, because we could be anyone trying to steal the money, apparently you don't even have to collect it in the place (or even the country) that it's been sent to, if you have the right information, and a clerk who is willing to do this, you can collect it anywhere.

Once the woman (who I think was a senior employee) went away, though, the young man who remained was actually quite helpful, and says there is a way round it, not really allowed, but if we go back on Monday or Tuesday and give him £20 for his trouble, he'll sort it out for us. That doesn't sound quite right to me, but I don't think we've got much choice, so, may God forgive me, that's what we're going to do.

So, don't worry, we've still got everything under control, and there are no real problems, just a sort of hiccup in the system, so to speak.

All is otherwise well.

Oh, yes, there's a phone at the house we are buying. It will take a few days to change it from the seller's name to our name - unless the sellers move out in advance of the day when we move in, then it will be ready for us from the moment we move in. And yes, I'll telephone you. I'm really not very good on phones, but it would be lovely anyway. And Jenny would like to speak to you too. And she is chatty on phones, I understand!

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Bros,

Wow its quite frustrating, but at least am relieved now. how is little Philly? is doing hard seeing that you went back to hospital again? you know all this, but thank God that everything is fine,please my regards to Jenny and greeting to Philomena Junior.

Please brother, i want you to sort this money issue out unfailingly on Monday as you can see to yourself the stress you are putting me through, I really don't know what the situation here will look like, due to the long time it has wasted there, so please do all you can to sort it out on Monday, i beg of you please!!!!

I can't wait to see when you will move into the new house because many differences will be within the old and the new area.

i wish you all a happy Sunday and pleasant weekend.

hoping to have the information early enough on Monday.

if not because of the transfer charges, I would have said you pick it out and resend it again there immediately, if that is going to work, i don't mind if you pay the charge from the money, just to avoid problems. though i believe God that the right time has come.

yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hi Bros,

How was your weekend, hope great? hope Jenny is doing good too, and baby Philly.

How did you go today, did you visit the bank?

I hope to read your mail soonest.
yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Bros,
Hope all is well??? Is it your yahoo mail again?? please if the yahoo is giving you stress, please use your Gmail. and just change the password.

I ask this because your absence gives me so much worries.

my greetings to Jenny and Philly.
yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hello,

Bro’ Dave, How are your family today? I hope all is well. please can you tell Jenny that I want to tell her something???

This is holy Saturday and please send my lovely regards to Philomena Junior.

Bye
Philomena.

To Jenny, Philomena wrote:

Hi Jenny,

How is baby, hope she is Doing fine?

Please Jenny, Please can we talK???

Yours Philomena.

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:24 am

18. Troubled Times

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I hope you haven't been too worried.

Yes, after stopping me sending mail for 24 or 48 hours or whatever it was, Yahoo then totally suspended my account for a week. I've got no idea why, I did write a couple of letters to their Customer Support department, but I wasn't getting any help back, just automated replies, I think.

I'm not sure I can still get into my old Gmail account, I might have to open a new one. But I'm not happy with this Yahoo one.

I'm unwell at the moment, I don't even think I can get to church tomorrow, which is disappointing.

I'll write more when I'm feeling a bit better. I just wanted to wish you a very happy and blessed Easter.

Lots of love from David

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I hope you had a beautiful Easter.

We have very nearly sold the farm, and not yet finalised the purchase for the new house, so right now we are preparing to move into a caravan for a temporary home, I've bought a very large one (secondhand!) and we're having it delivered to one of my cousin Shelly's fields.

I'm a bit worried about how the cats are going to adapt to this, but apart from that it seems rather exciting to me!

We're going to have to put a lot of furniture and stuff into storage, though, there is so much to arrange!

What did you want to say to Jenny?

I don't think she is using her old email address anymore, not since she thinks it got hacked, but I'm not sure whether or not she's set up a new one of her own. She usually uses this one.

So you could write to her here, she'll get it.

I'll see about sending the money to you this week.

In between all the other million things I have to do!

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hi Bros,

How is the family? i hope all is well? ok!!! i got your mail and read it properly,
I pray that whatever the distractions, they soon will pass by.

Your health also will be restored by the grace of God.

Please my regards to everybody Jenny and Philly.
yours Philomena.

To Jenny, Philomena wrote:

Hi Jenny!!

Its me, Philomena, How are you? hope all is well with you and family. Its been so long since we talked, so I just wanted to say hi, as well to know how Baby Philly’s hearing is now??

Please is there any wrong in her hearing?? Though shes still young for us to conclude any thing, but I just want to know.

Yours Philomena.

To David, Philomena wrote:

Wow bros,

That is interesting, how come the movement of the Farm is faster than of buying the new home?? It good-news,

So what is Jenny saying about the caravan? you said you are excited, yet what of her?? I don’t think cats have problems with the relocation, rather you will think of Dogs instead of cats, cats can hang on anywhere.

So how far is the finalization going to be? I mean the farm selling conclusions.

My greetings to everybody,
Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

We are so busy! There is no way that we are going to be able to purchase the new house yet, because the lawyer needs to get a piece of land back from the farmer who has 'borrowed' it (tried to rob it, actually!). So we're going to have to move into the caravan.

I was worried that the cats would try to find their way back here, and get lost on the way, but now I've decided to build an enclosure for them, so they can still go outside in the fresh air, but only into like a cage, so they can't wander off.

Jenny thinks that caravan-living will be quite an adventure, I'm not so sure now, but it won't be for long anyway, I hope.

We expect the farm to be sold within a couple of weeks, so we're having to arrange for lots of our furniture to go into storage, and to pack up everything else, and sort out the caravan ready to move into. There is so much to do! There's so much in this house, so many possessions, including some things left from when my dad was still alive. We've ordered a big container to put all the rubbish in to be taken away.

Jenny is working so hard organising everything. She's taking a day off today, though, of course, and has gone out for a little walk with Philomena Junior.

I'll let her know she has a letter from you.

I'll get the money to you as soon as I can, it's just chaotic here at the moment.

I'm so sorry about that, but we've got to get this moving out organised.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hello Bros,

It is all well that everybody is doing fine, So what kind of work has Jenny taking of late??

Well the cats as well will experience the adventure, just as Jenny defined the new Idea of moving into caravan.

Bros Please my utmost worry is that I don't want to hear stories about money lost again. so i want to know have you withdrawed the money from the western-Union???

Please it is a huge sum to someone here - in case you look at it as a little change.

My greetings to everybody and please don't wait until i die before you will make the money available.

I wish you the best and may God Bless you all!!!.

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

That is so strange, your email was sent on Tuesday, but it only arrived here yesterday. I was a bit worried about not hearing from you, but we've been so busy, I didn't get to writing.

Oh, Jenny has been so busy packing up everything and arranging everything for the move. She's much more efficient than me, and we've managed to get quite organised.
We're moving into the caravan on Thursday.

No, I never got the money back from Western Union, though, quite honestly, we've been so busy, that hasn't been at the forefront of my mind. It doesn't really matter right now, we can cover it.

We're going to transfer the money to you on Monday, everything is more or less sorted here, apart from last-minute things, and we've got the storage company coming on Tuesday to take the excess furniture and belongings away to the storage unit until we move to the new house. We're seeing the solicitor on Monday, that's why we'll be in Norwich anyway, so hopefully he'll have good news for us about the house purchase.

Jenny sends her apologies for not finding time to write.

I'll let you know Monday evening that we've sent the money. There won't be any problem.

Lots of love to my sister from your Busy Brother David

Philomena wrote:

Hello Bros,

How are you today? With the family, hope that all is well? It being all round good news this time, getting everything sorted out from the old home and now ready to move to the Caravan, hoping to hear from the solicitors too, hopefully will definitely be a good news, hoping to have the money sent too.

Thanks to God.

So how is every-other thing within the household, the dogs, the cats, and everything other, are they all arranged too??

Well about the delay from the email, It might be network error, I don't really know, some body was saying one day the number of mails that yahoo serves is being so heavy, for that she says she can't have a new yahoo mail.

I hope it was because your mail is still new, just hope that with time it will balance.

I wish you all the best, please sent my greeting to the mama of the house and baby Philly as well,

Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hello Bros,
Good morning on Wednesday morning, How is everybody hope all doing well??? I listened to hear from you yesterday as you promised to write after your Monday activities, but yet to hear anything, so how did you go with the Solicitors and the bank??
I hope you are ready to move by Thursday as you said earlier?
Just want to inform you that I did not read anything from your mail, should it be the case that there is still the yahoo delay you talked about last time.
I am just short of words because each time you said you are to send the money, one issue or the other comes up to stand as a stumbling block I am just hoping that you will add more force to see that the money gets to me sooner as the issue of sending the money has become terror to my health.
If you can see, these days I slow down on the money discussion, not that I have nothing to say, but just to save my self from heart problems, Dave, in the name of God, This has cost me much and I wish you can feel the wound and try more to see that I am out from this trouble thanks.
Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I've got some sad news, Jenny's father died on Monday.

It was totally unexpected, he seemed in very good health, but he had a heart attack. We were with him at the hospital when he died.

Jenny and her mother are both very much in a state of shock, and I'm trying to help as much as I can, because I know about all the things you have to do after a death, having dealt with that after my own father died.

We're still moving to the caravan tomorrow, of course, though it is very difficult to get organised about that at the moment, we spent most of yesterday with Jenny's mother, and we're driving back down there in a little while today.

Of course I'll get the money sent to you, please don't doubt that, but I think it's going to have to wait until after the funeral now, I'm sure you understand. We couldn't leave the hospital and go to the bank on Monday, we didn't get to the solicitor's either.
Please pray for Jenny and her mother, they are really so shocked over this.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

To Jenny, Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Jenny,

This short note is to express my deep Remorse after i got the Shocking news that Mommy is now a widow, its really painful to lose loved one, but it is the Lords doing which we can not question, please take heart so that you can be able to console mum to the best of your ability, though I believe God, that he alone builds the best relations, and will surely help Mommy to Endure the loss.

I should have been writing all along but there is power failure since Friday. I also booked for Special prayer yesterday for Jenny and her mom.

I will write you again since the power is not reliable yet.I have tried to write more than 8 to 10 times but the power always went off and cleans everything, i am so sorry for the loss please accept my condolence.

yours Philomena.

To David, Philomena wrote:

Hello Brother,

Am so sorry i couldn't write earlier it was due to power failure here.Though I have done some things I feel are necessary, which is to pray for both Jenny and her Mother,You as well. I even booked special prayer in the Church which took place yesterday.

So how is Jenny feeling with the loss now??? Because if she feels terrible it means the mother must be in deep confusion, but if she can control things a bit at least, she will help to get her mother to a manageable health. I pray to God Always because I know its Only him will console everybody that is involved.

I will write again because the power is going up and down.

And please how is the burial arrangement going???

Did you and family still make it to pack in the middle of the whole Confusion???

I hope that Jenny didnt cry so much as to affect baby Philly??

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Oh, what a time we've been having. We moved at the end of last week, as planned, of course, and there has been so much to do regarding the death of Jenny's father. Because his death was so sudden, and he hadn't been seeing a doctor before this, they had to do an autopsy, which is distressing for everyone, and they wouldn't release the death certificate until after that was done.

And there's so much to sort out, all his finances, all the things that were in his name (most things, insurance, utility bills, council tax, cars), and the funeral itself of course, with the flowers, and caterers, and letting everybody know, and we've been back and forth to the solicitors, honestly seeing to everything has taken all day every day since he died.

The funeral is tomorrow, so at least that will mark an end to everything, though I think that Jenny's mother is going to require some special care after that, she really is devastated.

Jenny is bearing up alright, she was very shocked and upset at first, but is calmer now, and saying that death, like life, is in the hands of God.

Little Philly, of course, is oblivious to everything, and hasn't even been unsettled by all the running around we are doing.

My friend Duncan has been marvellous, he has even taken some time off this week so he could come to help sort out some things at Jenny's mother's house, helping clearing out her father's old clothes and moving out his big wardrobes and chests of drawers that her mother doesn't want to keep (she never liked them!).

Thank you for all your care and prayers. We'll be spending much of the weekend with Jenny's mother, but after that, she says she'll just pop down there on her own and I can get back to a more normal life. Which will include sending your money next week.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

This is just a little note to let you know that the funeral went well.

Jenny has gone with her mother to church this morning, and I'm at home, having a bit of a rest, I'll probably go to church tonight.

We've still got a few bits of sorting out to do, but the worst time is probably over, though Jenny's mother now has to fully adjust to living without her husband, of course. She's bearing up alright, though, and I think she'll be OK.

I'll see to sending the money next week.

It will be so nice to get back to some semblance of normality, though we still feel a bit in limbo because of waiting for the house purchase, of course.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hello bros,

Good-morning in the name of the lord, please dear, I am so sorry for not communicating even at this very time of loss, though I hope and always believe God that he is the best consoler.
But whatever the case is, I am very very sorry, especially to Jenny because this was the only father she has and will not lose him twice. The reason of my absence was that the Church prayer-Group together with other bodys of the Church went for 3 days prayer and I decided to go, because God is the only reason why I am living I believe. So we left for mountain on Thursday and returned Saturday night, so yesterday I was very tired after service that I can’t check mail, though I prayed for everybody and I know that God is in control. I thank him also for peaceful burial. I keep praying for Jennys Mom too.
Please Send my regards to Jenny Ok,I love you all!!!!
Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Bros,

So how is life in the caravan???
And when are you returning home??
Will you return with the whole family?
Is there anybody that will be with big mommy when you and family leave??

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Oh, we're hoping that the purchase of our new house will happen soon, so we can leave the caravan and properly settle again. We're alright here, but it's not like a real home, it feels more like camping.

Jenny's mother is having a friend come to stay with her from tomorrow until the weekend. I expect that will be helpful for her. It's Bank Holiday today, and we're driving down to see her this afternoon. I think she's doing alright, and Jenny is fine now.

We've got to take Philomena Junior to the hospital tomorrow for her usual refitting of hearing aids, but hopefully we'll get into the bank on Wednesday. I need to see the solicitor as well, about the house purchase, I don't know whether he thinks I don't have any internet connection since leaving the farm, but he (or his secretary) hasn't emailed me at all this last week, so I need to go and find out what's happening.
It's wet and windy today which is going to ruin a lot of Bank Holiday Events, but that's quite usual. It always seems to rain for May Bank Holiday.

Some lambs have been born in a nearby field, which made me a bit sad, remembering all the excitement of the baby goat births last year. I suppose, if I'm honest, I don't miss the hard work and the staying up all night, though!

Thank you for all your prayers.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

We saw the solicitor yesterday about the purchase of the house, and it looks like all is going well now, and we should be able to sign the contract by the end of the month. So that's good news!

Not such good news is about the bank. It's my own foolishness, really. When we make a transfer or something, we have to provide a bit of identity proof, nothing much, just a utility bill or something with our name and address on. So I took along a letter, and of course, the address on it is here, at the caravan - but the bank still has the old farm address. So the clerk said we've got to change our address first, and they've got to confirm it by sending us a document to our new address, which we then sign and return.

So we've got to wait for that to be done, before we can do the transfer.

I don't know why I didn't think of changing our address with the bank, it's obvious really, I suppose it was just with all the stress and upset of Jenny's dad dying, it just slipped my mind.

Still, on a positive note, it's nothing complicated, it'll just be done by next week I'm sure, and then we can go ahead.

In the meantime, you can just call me Brainless!

Lots of love to my sister, from your Brainless Brother David

Philomena wrote:

Hello Bros,

Happy Sunday Bros, bless you!!! and the Family, So how are you all doing? hopefully you are all well, both Baby Philly's ear aids check-up and everything thing around, how does Jennys Mother feel at the moment, hope that she is getting rid of the shock of the great loss???

By the grace of God, my bros is not brainless, its just forces agaist success, but this time they are tired, i just hope you help to stop their operations against this money transfer. I AM very sorry for not writing, please I have being using this time to be with God, talk to him as Father and daughter, because the things that is happening is just confusing, you know i used to say it, but its really getting on my neck, so i have to raise up and claim what is my spiritual right.
As we are made to understand that things take place spiritually before fiscal manifestation. I undergo 7 days prayer and fasting, that is 6-6 fasting and prayer all the days.

Because I have decided that I will not rest until i posses my possessions this time, i do remember all of you in my prayers and will still continue, but this time it will not be in the House of God so i can have time to communicate with you.

So tell me have you done the changing of the address???
And How Long will Jenny Mothers Friend stay with her??

I also Hope that Jenny is doing well? bros tell me what is the difference with the caravan and a home, as you said its not all that conducive, is it the vacancy??
So as the lawyer said, if you are to get the house document this month end and pack, how long, i mean how many days, will it be that you family lived in the caravan???

Well well well, all this distraction is that reason why i have decided be in the presence of God all these days, but as well please try and help me, so that the will of God will come through, because I believe God will only do his Miracle through humans - which is you now in this position, please try to avoid anything that will bring setbacks to this, and God will be your strength as you do so,
As well, i will like to suggest you change to another western branch if the address alone is the reason you have not sent the money.

Please sent my greetings to Jenny and please take care of the Family ok.
yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Oh dear, you've got me confused now! I thought I was supposed to be sending this money through a bank transfer. Did you want me to risk Western Union again, instead? I think that the only way I would be prepared to do that would be to send it a little bit at a time, despite the transfer fees.

I AM brainless, forgetting to change my address at the bank. Our solicitor has moved past the problems with the 'borrowed' land at the new house now, so it's just the ordinary legal things that have to be done, I don't really understand it all, they have to consult with the council about something called 'land charges' which doesn't mean 'charges' as in 'payments' but as in 'rules and regulations' - like the tree preservation order I had at the farm. And there's a little stream that has to be checked, to see whether or not it belongs to the house or not. Which could matter if a child fell in it and drowned, or it grew bigger and flooded somewhere - the owner of it would be liable, so it needs to be ascertained whether it will belong to me and Jenny, or the neighbouring farmer, or to nobody. But those things are just the normal things that are checked when you buy a house, so shouldn't take more than two or three weeks more. Then we can arrange to get everything back out of storage, and to move into our new home!

It now feels as if we've been in the caravan for a long time, but it's actually only been a couple of weeks, I think, maybe three weeks. I'm not sure, Jenny's father dying seemed to muddle everything up in my mind. Yes, her mother's friend has gone home now, we went down to see her mother yesterday, she seems to be OK, a bit quieter perhaps, but bearing up ok.

We dont' really do fasting at our church, some people do on Ash Wednesday I think, but not apart from that. My friend Duncan (who's moved to Norwich now), his church does, but only for a day at a time, I believe.

Don't worry about things, though, there's not any problems.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hello Bros,

How are you doing together with the family? how is baby Philly? hope she is growing with days. And her Mom, hope she is fine as well.

So when exactly will the new house be ready for you to park - in? how are you all coping with the stay in the caravan?

Bros, I think I told you last time that I set in on programs, just for my future life and all of you that cares for me. the program i am into does not give me much time, though its not all day fasting, but its just commiting most of my time in praying.

Well brother I really feel that I am stressing you and have been a kind of load, a thing like that, but to me its better to live on free expectation than to live on hope that never comes. just think about it - from november 2008 till today being 13th may 2010, still nothing to rest on, honestly sometimes i think of asking you this question (Bros, quo vadis?)

Please bros, if really you want to send me money, try an alternative and make the money available, i think i told you sometimes, most of the time even, if i don't have money, i am forced to having debts here and there, and the hope that money will come is to no avail.

ok just think about things - when the money was handed over to you we all hoped that before easter my saloon will be in service, but look at it, its close to 2 months after that period and still no hope.

ok. you are talking about the bank, which bank? the one you sent from last time that says it’s a suspicious account???

bros am sorry to say this, just send that money western union, and if this time a story comes in again, I will forget about it thanks.

my greetings to your family,
yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I'm fully aware of the delay in getting you the money, and I'm not happy about it, I can assure you. Everything is my fault, I know. I've sent the change of address thing back to the bank now, but if you want me to send it instead by Western Union, I'll do that, my friend at church, Bob, was telling me the other day that there's a secure service as well, it costs a good bit more, I think, but he sent some money abroad using it and he thoroughly recommends it because nobody (including any bank staff or anything) can intercept it and steal it.

I'm going to Norwich this afternoon to visit Duncan and Rosie (they've been on holiday, visiting friends in London, but had to come back early because their host got ill), and I'll call in the Western Union place on the way and ask about this.
I just want to get this money to you, honestly I do.

I am so sorry about everything. It's been an awful few months here, really, what with me having a nervous breakdown, and all the problems with Philly, and selling the farm (and the livestock), and Jenny's father dying. I wish I was made of stronger stuff and could be more organised. I know it's all my fault for finding everything so difficult to mentally cope with, and I am so sorry. I want to make it right, and I really will do my best.

From David

Philomena wrote:

Hi Bros!!

How are your family? Jenny and Philly? Jennys mom and others around, I hope that all is well, Brother, well I will like to say am sorry if i have spoke to hurt you in any way, but its just that some time when i think about this money and the pains & heartbreaks it has cost me, it becomes unbearable, but all this i wrote you was out of anger, and as well i am saying i am sorry from the bottom of my heart, its not as if i don't recognize the hard time you are passing through from Philly's birth and all you've made mention, but its just that when the going get tough, the tough keep going, and when a chance of sending the money comes, there will be one mistake or another, just to create more delay, its more painful to a person, which is me, that is in that need.

So how is the situation of the house??
Have you gotten the exact time the documents will be ready???

And please that secure service type of transfer, i don't know about them and am not sure i have heard it before, so any transfer you may like to use, please first of all ask about the receiving requirements so as not to go into more different stories. i prefer you to use ordinary Western OR M-gram.

Please send regards to Jenny, take care of your family, Bros I love you all.
Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hi!!
Bros how is everything, hope you all are doing well?

Its been some time i didn't hear from you, how is everything, and the new house issue, how far have you gone with the lawyer over the legal processes?

My greeting to Jenny and please tell her to write me mail so that i can hear from her too since she did not want to create her own ID.

take care yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I've been so worried not being able to write to you before, but we've had such problems with our internet connection.

Initially, there was a problem stretching across part of the country, I knew about that, but even after that got fixed, we still couldn't get a connection. I began to think that the modem must have got damaged when we moved house. But then last night Jenny tried to go online, and it worked, I was too tired to write to you just then, but it's still working today.

Meanwhile, we've had a bit of bad news about the house we were going to buy, there's an underground stream running under it, which means that its not structurally sound, and we won't be able to get structural insurance for it, which means that if it burns down in a fire, we won't get any money to buy a new house. I know that a fire like that is unlikely, or an aeroplane crashing into the house, or anything else, but there's also the danger of a wall collapsing if the stream's banks crumble or something, so basically it means that we don't want to buy the house now, and are going to have to start all over again with looking for one.

I feel a bit depressed about that really.

It's a bit cramped in this caravan, and most of our stuff is in storage.

On top of that, it looks very much like Jenny is pregnant again, she's missed her menstrual period. Quite honestly, this isn't very good timing, and that's another worry, though I'm not saying that to her.

I'll ask Jenny to write to you.

Actually, she even said the other day that one day when she's at her mother's house, she could phone you. I think she misses chatting to people on the phone, when we go to her mother's house, she telephones several of her friends and relatives!

She goes down there to keep an eye on her mother quite a bit.

Would that be possible? I don't think we have your phone number, of course.

I know that I need to do something about the money. I just get so worried about everything. I'm sorry for being useless, I am being useless, I know. I'll get myself together and sort it all out, honestly.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I hope you are alright, and well, I hoped to see an email from you today.

I hope that you are not impatient with me because I seemed a little depressed in my last letter. I'm sorry, if so, it's just that it feels like one thing after another lately, all my plans seem to go wrong.

I think Jenny is a bit fed up with me, too, she's gone to stay with a friend for a few days.

Please let me know that you are not feeling negative about me.

From David

Philomena wrote:

Hello Brother,

how are you doing??? You said that Jenny went and stay with a friend, but i don't really get it, right is it that the caravan is too congested? or maybe she just feels like that, or is it that you have done things, what is it that makes her stay away? or is it because of the new occurrence???

Well I will try to write you again soonest because i want to know exactly what is happening, even before that remember that you are the head of the family and you have to plan the family in such away that your family members will be happy with the family plans. remember that you are now two in one body and you are to let the two bodies help each other, fiscal, sociologically etc,you don't have to be living exactly the way you were living when you were all alone, there must be changes in order to suit the two person that have come together as one, I will like to hear from you before i talk to Jenny, and please do that fast before things go out of hand.

About me being disappointed or not is not really the issue now, the issue is does David really want to send me money, even when the money the prayer group raised is with him, do he really want to send it???

I will not stand here now to tell you i have confidence that you will or not, but all i know is that I pray to God always that the family I got, which is only you and your family, is always mine. in any condition i see things.

Because the pain this very money has cost me is a kind of unbearable one, ok,
take a look at it, here at the Internet where I always come to write you a letter even though i don’t have the money to buy the time, they now see me as a liar, month after month i will be telling them i am expecting money from my brother, but now the debt has become so much they now use my name as an example of un-honest Sisters in The Church, using Gods name to rob people, in fact if i began to think about this money i feel so bad.

So I don't want to talk about it, i am now looking unto God only, I just take it that I have you as a brother but will not get help from you unless you change from the present David you are now, because if really you wanted to, you would have found alternative all this while.

Now the house, after you were hoping to settle the documentation in few days, now it has turned around to start afresh - and you will tell me to wait another one month, isn't that it?

well to God be the glory bros, I want you to please visit where ever Jenny is now and tell her I want to talk to her, though I don't have phone now, but let her send me a mail or tell me the days she will visit her mom so that i will ask a close person if i can use his or her Phone to receive her call ok. I have my set but its faulty. so i can fix my Sim in someone’s phone to be able to talk to her ok.

but go to her and ask her what the problem is, and if it is really from you my dear, you put up some amendment, look am not saying shes right and you are wrong, no, but you are the head you have to carry your family along ok.

yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I've been unwell this past week, I had flu, and I've been in bed right up until yesterday.

I'm still quite weak, but I wanted to see if you'd written.

Yes, you're right, there are a few problems here, I feel bad by saying this, like I'm disloyal, but Jenny has been seeing another man. And I probably shouldn't say such things to my sister, but, quite honestly, since my little breakdown earlier this year, when I had to go into hospital, I just simply haven't felt like performing all the marital duties that a husband should give to his wife. And I'm sorry to say that Jenny has sought that comfort and affirmation elsewhere.

It has become further complicated now, because she has missed her menstrual period, and if she is pregnant, then I know that I am not the father.

So you can see what little problems we are facing.

Of course I want to send you the money, it is not my money to keep, it is money that the congregation of the church raised for you. I know I've been hopeless about it. Maybe now you understand a little bit.

I will get it all sorted out as soon as I am recovered from flu, honestly I will, I promise.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I just thought I'd say hello to you while I can, we've been having such bad weather lately, so much heavy rain and so many storms, it's been quite wild and like a tropical or Carribean place sometimes!

Nonetheless, Jenny has left early this morning to go to her mother's house, they have an appointment with the financial advisor regarding some investments that her late father made.

I feel a bit trapped inside the caravan myself, because it is so awful and so wet and windy out there. It's dark too, I don't know what's happened to the weather, it shouldn't be like this at this time of year.

Anyway, I hope you are well and that I'll hear from you again soon.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Good-day Bros,

Well well well, I am happy reading your mail, which gives an account of your wife and so on and so forth. I thank God because it gave me whole lot of stress within my inner mind since the day you said Jenny was out of the house to sleep in a friends house. But since I have nothing else to offer, I went on my knees and started talking to God. Though now I have not known yet what your conclusion is, or rather even have not confirmed the situation, I beg you in the name of God to Control the situation around you please!!.

Again am sorry I did not write sooner. Because I have to go far to the place I use in sending you mails now, since my name has been made so bad here at base- they say that I pretend to be a born again, but I’m a liar in order to use the Internet because I say I hope to have some money from my brother and I will pay as soon as the money comes though. They said theyre told that I don’t have any brother anywhere, and I became offended and ashamed of myself, and I had no chance to express myself before the lady raised her voice against me publicly, all this, it is because I hope that God will level all the mountains one day.

So now tell me, how are you sorting the issues in the family now???

The house issue, the family one? Jenny, and the money you are to send to me??

Hoping to hear from you soon. My regards to Jenny. And how is my baby Philomena Junior, it just like we all talk about ourselves and forget Philly, how is she doing??

Yours sister Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Well, I'm not really sure I'm taking control of the situation here. Jenny is definitely pregnant again, but it is not my baby, the father is a man called Bob. I'm not really sure what is happening, but I don't think I can bring up another man's baby, so it seems most likely that we will go our separate ways, and I will divorce Jenny for adultery.

It's a sad business, and probably partly my fault, but it is too late to undo it now.

Philly is fine, she is growing well physically, but doesn't seem to change mentally, she doesn't really respond to anything, she is too brain damaged for that, I suppose. At least she won't notice any changes that are made, and won't notice whether I'm around or not.

I'm going to Norwich later this week to have a good chat with my friend Duncan. I ought to talk with our priest, really, but I don't want to, I'd rather talk with Duncan.
I have been hunting and hunting for the email where you gave me the payment details, so I can get that money to you, and I can't find it, so could you tell me again. I'm sorry for being so disorganised.

I'm sorry you feel I've let you down and embarrassed you. I do want to put everything right.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:26 am

19. A marital mess and a MoneyGram mess.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I went to Norwich today, and I could have sorted out sending the money to you, but you didn't write back with the details I need, and I can't find the emails with it in.

Are you alright?

I'm worried, because I was so sure that you would write and tell me about sending the money.

Please let me know about it, I should be back in Norwich next week.

Everything has got much worse with Jenny and I'm leaving her, and then filing for divorce. It's awful, but there is nothing else I can do.

I'm going to rent a house for a time, and then, once the divorce has gone through, buy somewhere.

I'm leaning very much on our Heavenly Father at this time.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Bros??

It Good reading from you once again, hope you are doing well,brother have you ever thought about why you got married late in life?? And why is it that your mom is not there for you??

It pains me because its trying to happen again, can you remember your own feelings of the past?? Well how I wish I can talk to Jenny soonest.

I want you to understand that the Devil is not a joke any time, any moment,that is the reason I have taking most of my time praying, how I wish there could be a way to turn this very wish of divorce from you brother, I am not talking about Jenny here, but about little Philly, and the psychological dramas she will pass through if you divorce your wife, can I send to you a mail that you will print out for Jenny????

Bros I am thinking, how possible it will be for you to get me a laptop out of the money you want to sent, I really need it, if you can do it.

The Names are: PHILIP CHUKWUMA EKWUNIFE. If you will get me the laptop you can send it also with the name through FEDEX of DHL. And remember Accra Ghana.
Thank you, I hope to hear from you soon and please try and see your pastor too, he really can not change you if you are unchangeable, but spiritual advice is very important, hoping to hear from you.

Yours Sister Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I am so glad to hear from you, I was worried about you.

I've done nothing wrong in my marriage, well apart from losing interest in the physical side after my nervous breakdown earlier this year. It is Jenny who has been playing around with other men (I've now learnt that it is more than one man she has been seeing and sleeping with). And she is pregnant to one of them, and there's no way I can stay with her after all this behaviour.

I don't think it will affect Philly, she is too unaware of her surroundings to notice, and Jenny's mother is going to help look after her, so she will be fine.

I've been to Norwich today, trying to sort out somewhere to move to.

I need to go back there again on Wednesday, so I'll send the money then. I'm sorry I lost the payment details, I can't imagine I deleted those mails, but I must have, because I couldn't find them.

Still, I've got it now.

I can't really get you a laptop out of that money, because that's the money that the church raised, but I've just had a windfall of money come to me, so I'd be happy to get you a laptop as well, just as a gift. Or would you rather I sent the money for that too, and you buy it yourself?

If you'd rather I got you one and sent it by a courier company, then of course I can do that, but you'll have to tell what sort to buy, because I don't really know anything about laptops, and what's good and what isn't, or anything like that. I wouldn't want to get the wrong thing.

Yes, I will pass on anything you would like to say to Jenny (though I can't print it out, because I haven't got a printer, she'd have to come and read it), though I'm not sure it would do much good, she is stubbornly set in her ways and justifies herself, even before God, though I don't know how she can pretend to herself that what she's doing is understood by Him.

I'm trying to be positive about moving forwards in life right now.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I hoped to hear from you by today about the laptop, I'm not sure whether or not to send the extra money for one. I'll leave it for now, and just send the money from the church this afternoon.

Jenny has now walked out on me, taking Philly with her, of course.

But I've already found a house to rent, I've just got to sort out the payment for it. It's at Briggate, 2 or 3 miles from Worstead.

I'll write later with the details of the money transfer.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hello Bros,

Hope you are doing fine today, well am glad to hear from you too, I have Not been able to read mail just for the reason I told you before, about the area i used on my side here, so I have to go to elsewhere before I can read or write a mail.

Well am happy to hear that all is well with Philly, and please bros if i may ask, what was Jenny mother's reaction to this issue?? what did she say??

You said you will just pass my message to Jenny, that is very fine, but I will have to hold on first since both of you works-apart from each other now. i think the best to do now is prayer, let the will of God be done, if really both of you were made for each other it might be, but if not, its better if you find your right part.

About the laptop, first i have to thank you for the promise, like i always say, may God reward you, but brother i would like the laptop, unless the price is the same here and there - please can you give me the estimate for buying it there and sending it, so that I will check if the price is the same. as for the the product i will like DELL, HP or SONY.

And you said you are sending the money from the church this afternoon.Please i wait to have the information soonest OK, please don't let any delay to sit on the information, as you have to learnt from our past disappointment, this time is the appointmed gateway to forward-ever, may the Lord be with you.

yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Once again Bros,

For the sake of the money I will check my mail again today and please up-date me with the information needed to pick it here soon ok

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I'm awake really early this morning, just like when I had the farm, though I don't really have anything to do these days. It will be light enough in half an hour though to take the dogs out. I've still got Jenny's dog here, though I think she'll want to collect her soon.

I didn't have time to get to the MoneyGram place on Wednesday, because I was so long with the estate agent, and then Shelly (who was driving me) needed to get back home. I couldn't get a lift anywhere yesterday, but a couple from the church are collecting me today, and we'll go to MoneyGram then. I should be back home by mid-afternoon, and I'll get the details sent to you right away.

I'll just send the money from the church for now, like you said. Laptops here range from about £400 to £3,000, it depends what you need. I think that most people who want a good one for all the usual things would spend about £1,000 on one, the more expensive ones are more for people who need professional graphics programmes or are playing the latest fast-moving driving or simulation games. Why not have a look online and see what sort you think you need. Dell is supposed to be a good make, isn't it? Though HP are probably easier to buy. But whatever you think.

I really don't know what Jenny's mother thinks of the whole situation, I haven't seen her. She's never really liked me very much, though, so she probably thinks it is all my fault.

Did I tell you that I'm going to get my bike out of storage when I move to the rented place? That will mean that I can get about without having to rely on other people again, because I'll be able to cycle to the railway station.

I'll be back this afternoon.
Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hello Bros,

How are you today? And your weekend, hope all is well? I come around hoping to hear some good news from you, but here are we are, still with the same old, whenever I am to hope some thing positive from you, the spirit of delay and disaster sets in,.

What is it that has happened again this time? Are you ok???

Well I just want to say hi!! As well to tell you that I would prefer you buy me the laptop over there and sent it through either Courier service as you said, or DHL. With The same name, MR. Philip Chukwuma Ekwunife, and to Accra Ghana. That will be better because neither do I have much idea of Laptops, but all I need is to send mails with, it that is all, so any one you can afford will be appreciated.

And please, what is going on with the promise you made about sending the money???

Have you heard from Jenny all this while??

Hoping to hear from you soon
Yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hello Dearest Brother,

Hope you are doing fine today?? Is everything ok? I just hope you swim in ocean of Good-health.

Well today again I have walked up to Aboadze just to hear from you, but there was nothing for me to read from you.I just hope you are fine, together with your Family as well.

please kindly update me with your programs because i take this track everyday, just to make sure that there are no mistakes from my side, please let me hear from you and your programs so as to save me some stress please,

yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I haven't been able to write to you because I can't get my Yahoo mail to work.
I've written to them about it, so hopefully it will get sorted out soon.

Don't write back to this mail account, though, because I'm not sure it is a safe one, I think it might have got hacked before.

I couldn't get the money sent at the end of last week because of a problem with identification (again). I'm moving to the house I've rented at Briggate, the other side of Worstead on Friday, but I hope I'll be able to get it sent before then, it's a bit difficult at the moment because it's so hot and stormy that people don't want to travel far.

I'll let you know as soon as Yahoo sort out my mail account.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

David wrote:

Hello again Philomena,

I've managed to get the money sent, a couple from church took me to Norwich today. I've added a little bit extra on, just because I had the cash in the house. It's not meant to be the money for the laptop, I'll still send that later,

I'm a little bit worried about sending you the money details through this email account, but I've just checked and I still can't get into my Yahoo one, and I'm moving to Briggate tomorrow, and it might be next week before I can write again, so I'm going to send the details anyway, and hopefully you and Mr Ekwunife can collect the money if not tonight, then tomorrow morning.

So here's the information you need-

Paid to - Philip Ekwunife
Address - Accra, Ghana
Paid by – Robert Harper
Address - 2 May Cottage, Westwick Road, Worstead, Norfolk NR28 9SE, England
Question- The weather?
answer - Too hot
Amount- £3,800
Reference number –10319927

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hello Brother David,

I know you are fine by the grace of God.

Please and please once again, I want to plead with you this afternoon to please tell me exactly what you are, were you sent to destroy me??

Once again it has happened – for two years, you have attempted sending money for about 7-times, and all the seven times it’s all story, tell me, will you believe this if you are in my shoes? will you be so comfortable with the person and believe all to be true.? Ok tell me how you are to explain this to convince me you are telling nothing but the truth – I am listening, so convince me.

That you have an extra 550GBP to add to the church’s Contribution but you don’t want to buy a cell phone to hear my voice, David why are you doing this to me? why? What do you have to tell me now? This money has caused problems to Me, Mr. Ekwunife, and everybody. I could have been suspecting that either he or the bank officials have robbed me again, and tell me what I am to tell the agents again? I went to renew my proposal with all hope that very early Monday I will get the money.

To avoid suspicions and to even save us the stress of running round, the bank officer went deep-down with the information only to find out that no money has been sent to Mr. Ekwunife. So to who was it sent? Are you now to deny that this is not a plan between Robert Harper and you, or did he lie to you, and you did not look at the information on the form to see if it was true? I guess that someone is playing games here, either you Dave, your friend or both of you are in on this game together.

I have to write this mail for just one reason, which is that if you had done the transfer yourself and I knew that you were to blame, I should have taken my desertion from this life. If there is not a chance for something else, I will take away this useless, hopeless and helpless life, and face whatever the other side gives.

David, if really you are for real I want to hear your voice on phone, if you can not buy a phone, call me from a phone booth with this number +233272705080

thank you very much for increasing my sorrow.
Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hello Dave, it has started again, you are not yet available to tell me what the facts are over the so called money you said you sent.

Please, I want to really find out if this is just a mistake that Robert Harper made. Or maybe the so called friends of yours are just playing games with you.

Its better that you be available now before it will be too late, thanks
Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hello Bros,
What is happening? why is it that each time you send money for my freedom, it will be multiplication to my stress and depressions???

Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I only saw your email last night after I came back from home group, and quite frankly, I was horrified at what you wrote.

I don't know what is going on any more than you do.

I never saw the receipt, I just took the information that Robert gave me.

I can't believe that he would cheat you, or cheat me, or cheat the church, he's a Christian man.

But something has clearly happened.

I went to his house this morning, but he wasn't there, he was at work, and his wife couldn't tell me anything about it. I'll get hold of him at the weekend.

I'm sorry I can't just ring you like that, we did offer to ring you from Jenny's mother's house a little while ago, but you said no, you didn't have a phone.

Cell phones don't work in this area, we don't have phone masts for them here, they don't put them in the countryside, but only in areas where there are large towns and cities. Jenny's mother has a landline, but I don't have one here because it is a rented house. I don't really know what you mean by phone booths, in this country we do have public telephone boxes, but you can't make international calls from them, and you need a special phone card, anyway, unless you are ringing for the police or an ambulance.

If you've now got a phone, though, I'll write down your number, and next time I see my friend Duncan in Norwich (where they have phone masts), I'll see if he will lend me his mobile phone to ring you from there.

At the moment I feel as if I am shock from what you have told me.

If Robert has robbed me, then I'm going to be so angry.

I'll get back to you after I've seen him.

Don't worry, I'll get this sorted out.

I'm so sorry.

Lots of love and apologies to my sister, from David

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

This is just a little note to let you know that I've seen Robert, and he is denying that there was anything wrong with the transfer.

There's nothing he can do today, but he says he will go back to the MoneyGram place and see what they have to say, and sort this out.

I'm really having suspicions that he has done something wrong, and was trying to cheat me (and you), and that he'll just pretend to go the MoneyGram, and then say, 'they gave me the money back', when really he has taken it out of his own bank account.

But, quite honestly, as long as I get that money back from him, I don't really care.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

It is all sorted out.
The clerk made an error and gave Robert an incorrect reference number.

Anyway, it had already come up as an Alert on the system, and the clerk was going to contact Robert today about it anyway.

We were given the money back, plus the transfer fee.

So the money is still safe.

We were offered a second transfer, free of charge, but I really don't trust them at that place, I think it would be better to go to a different one. Oh, I know that anyone can make a mistake, but it does destroy trust when things like that happen, it could have been far worse and we could have lost the money.

But, looking on the good side, I have your money right here, and I'll go along to a different MoneyGram place as soon as I can, and get that finally sent.

I'm sorry you've been so worried about it.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Good-day bros,

I thank God that all is still safe and that you have the money with you. because it could have being very hard for me to believe the story that either Robert or anyone has taken away the money.

But since you are having the cash with you there, please i need it as soon as possible, because the Agent which I went back to, to renew the Contract of getting the shop and other things involved, as you already know has threatened to take me to court for having not been able to pay their bill for 18months.

Though i have explained the issue to one of the Church elders who has been so good to me with his Family, mama Linda and daughter Mary, and he promised to talk to the Agent, but to me all that settles the issue better now is that if you send the money, i pay off their bills and the devil will be in shame.

I am really tired and confused of all. please Accompany anybody you are Giving the money to, to make sure that before this week runs out you get this money issue sorted.

i will drop here and remember - Philip Chukwuma Ekwunife, and the money is coming to Accra Ghana. please for once try to help me out of all this shame and disgrace, as well as Mr.EKwunife who has taken insult and humiliation just because of me. Dave, Prove to me and others that you are serious with your words, all the same I thank you for your own efforts too.we will talk more next time.

yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hello bros,

Hope you are doing well and fine, I come around to hear from you, but there was nothing to read from you.

i hope you are fine and that all is well with you.

Please permit me to say this because i am confused about the friends you are having, and the situations surrounding the money you want to send to me.

this time was a problem with the number, and you made me to understand that the bank are sorry for their act and returned the money to you, and even offered to re-send it - but you refused, then i wonder why this is taking more time again, in the mix of all the harassment around me that I have told you, please do something now before its too late.

i just hope you are doing well, please i am in an uncomfortable situation now, but still have to ask how are Jenny, Baby Philly, Jennys mother and you, and about your marriage what is the situation now???

Yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Sorry I couldn't write earlier, the electricity has been off quite a bit because of bad weather.

Please don't think badly of Robert, it was very kind of him to try and send the money for me, and it wasn’t his fault that there was a mistake.

Maybe it'd be better for me to just be honest, and to take the money back to the church and explain that it didn't get sent before, and let the church send it through the usual way by bank transfer to the Anglican church in Ghana.

I can take the blame, instead of Felicity, and then I wouldn't have to worry about it anymore, the church always gets its donations to the intended recipients, I know that, because we always get thank you letters back.

And that would stop you getting angry with me, too.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

PS I've started divorce proceedings against Jenny.

Philomena wrote:

Hello Dave,

Well, am sure you are fine and doing well?? As for me here, the conditions are getting hotter and hotter, Dave I don’t know if you have known the value of the mess you have put me into, because I believed you, I always hoped that all you say to me is the truth,but i have reasoned how long this money has been and the troubles I have gone through because of it, and now as I talk to you, I have been told from the Police that I have to appear in Court any time.

David, tell me how to prove to these people that I have adopted brother who is in England without a Cell phone? Or will I tell the Court to send you an email??? Come off it, were you not the same person who told me in your last mail that the moneygram people offered to resend the money, but you refused, and now you are telling me to turn around and back to the same old stories we have come across before. Have you forgetten that the Church procedures were the first step with this same money???

Look Dave, don’t ever tell me about that church method of sending the money again. If you want to keep that money to yourself, its ok. Why would you tell me to go back to the same old story after about a year? Look, the truth is that I am not an Anglican, and it will not be sent through the Anglican church, because I am not prepared to talk to the house of God and tell them your stories.

If you want to send that money Dave, just do it now!!!! before you drag me to an early grave. What is all this, are you and I the only people to have money sent and received through moneygram???? From England to Ghana, is that so hard???? Ok, if money-gram is not ok to you anymore, send it with western union.

And do it before this week gets to Thursday, because I don’t really know what the agents plan will be next, if you really love and care for your only sister David, send that money now.

Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hello, Please another thing I will like you to do is to see if you can divide the money into two, send the half and once I receive it, you send the other ,because Mr. Ekwunife is suggesting that maybe its because of the volume of the money that makes your people stop the transfer, so please see if you will send it half and half, thank you.

Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I know that you are worried, and I am truly sorry about that.

Yes, if the court needs to communicate with me, they can send me an email in the first instance. I would then pass that on to my lawyer to deal with, as that's the way we do it here, we have lawyers to represent us on all legal matters. It wouldn't be a problem.

Of course I don't want to keep the money for myself! What would I want or need it for? I sold my farm for hundreds of thousands of pounds, and that's just added to the pile of inheritance that I received from my father. I don't need to have any more money than what I've got, ever.

In fact, I'm hoping to donate my tithe of £30-thousand to some organic farming initiative for young people, helping the young in this way has always been my dream.

Of course I don't have a cell phone, there are no phone masts here to transmit the signal, so cell phones don't work. This is a farming area, and it's not worth the phone company's costs in providing masts. The cows and the sheep are never going to be able to use phones! And old farmers certainly don't want to mess around with things like that.

Look, you can read about this here-

[Link now dead]

the article is about how doctors and midwives can't get a mobile phone signal in so many areas. Here's some of it-

"Doctors have raised concerns over the poor mobile phone and broadband coverage in Norfolk and Suffolk, warning black holes in reception can make it impossible to contact staff and lead to patients suffering.

Another woman, whose terminally-ill husband needed care, told the council: “Throughout the whole six-month period the poor mobile phone coverage had a considerable impact.

Dr Ian Hume, chairman of the Norfolk and Waveney Local Medical Committee and a GP at Parish Fields Practice in Diss, said: There's also a specialist nursing home which I look after and while I am there I'm not contactable on my mobile phone, so I have to make sure they know where I am.

Last year NHS Yarmouth and Waveney changed its mobile phone provider, but found district nurses and health visitors had trouble making calls from patients' homes because there was no signal in some areas.

District authorities are responsible for planning decisions including the location of mobile phone masts and Mrs Steward these and other issues such as digital and satellite broadband provision all needed to be looked at."

And yes MoneyGram did offer to resend the money, but that still doesn't mean that they are reliable.

I'll send it by Western Union if you like, and in two parts if you like, but I can't promise to do it by Thursday, because I'm waiting for a new modem to be delivered, and I need to be at home to receive that and sign for it, because this one is playing up and being unreliable about manintaining an internet connection.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hello Bros i saw ur mail, pls u can send it in money gram or western union today.

THANKS.

Philomena wrote:

Hello bros,

Hope you are fine?? i waited to hear from you to no avail. well am here again to tell you that God always makes a way for his people when it seems to be no way.

Our pastor returned Wednesday and the situation was explained to him even before he came back by his wife, the Church mama, and he invited the agents director before their appointment with the Police, and talked to the two partys, even the Police officer in charge of my case was with them, but he is not happy to postpone it, so the agents are going to sent their bills to the police on Tuesday, so i need to tell them when the money will be ready. so please tell me what to do as soon as possible.

yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I'm so sorry I haven't been able to contact you, I can't even remember if I told you that I was having trouble with my modem? Anyway, it totally stopped working in the end, so I couldn't get an internet connection, and it has taken so long for a new modem to be delivered, I eventually got back online last night.

You must have been so worried, and I'm sorry. I couldn't go to Norwich and use the library computer to contact you, because I've also had a cold, and it would have been inconsiderate to go and spread my germs around at this time of year. I'm much better now, I've just got a cough, but I thought it was better not to go to church today, because I'd disrupt the service so much if I kept coughing through it.

So what's happening with the police and everything?
Does anyone need a statement from me?
Do I need to involve my lawyer?

I'll sort out the money next week, maybe Wednesday, I'll check the weather forecast.
I really hope you haven't worried too much.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hello Bros,

Well well,well, there is a saying that says when the going get tough, only the tough keep going. everything has been cool since the pastor cames back from his trip, he went and talked to the agents again, and after talking to them, he went to the police as well, and after all that on Sunday, which was a week yesterday, he made it open to Church for free WILL donations for me, and a man Called OHENE, that means KING, who visited the Church for a first time, gave (365) Ghana cedis to sort out the agent, so that problem now is a bygone. well bros, i am a kind of relieved somehow, though the bad name has been around, you know it quite difficult to wash away the insult, but all the same i am fine.

I was worried for not hearing from you but have no money to even write a mail, so i planned it ahead, only to come in now to see a mail from you so i thank God and pray that soon I will have something done so as to sort the other commitments around.Fortunately you don't need to write any statement and I am not going to Court again, for now I am a bit relieved.

So how are you, Philly, and the Mom??? Hope you see them??

what is the situation on ground, and your health, hope you are much better now???

I will try and get to you soonest, maybe i will plait one of my church sisters hair tomorrow, if i do that means I will write you on Thursday.

have a nice day and i wish you all the best.
yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

And about the Money remember PHILIP CHUKWUMAM EKWUNIFE. to Ghana. and you can use Money-Gram if that is easier for you.

Philomena

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Well, I'm so glad that your church, and Ohene in particular, have managed to save you from going to court. That's what a church family should be like, isn't it, helping each other when they can.

Yes, I'll go to Moneygram like you say, when I can, I think that's probably the best thing to do. I'm getting nicely better now, and I'm intending to cycle into Worstead for home group tonight. It's been pouring with rain today, but I think it is stopped now. There's big puddles everywhere, but I don't think there will be any flooding, because the ground has been very dry, and it should absorb the surface water quite well.

I was talking to a neighbour this morning, and he says that it's been a bad year for his crops. It's strange to be sort of 'outside' that situation now, and not to know first-hand how things are growing. Still, once I buy my permanent home, I shall grow a few things for myself. Not a lot, not a lot of work, just what I need and a little bit more to give away at church and to my neighbours.

I don't really get to see Jenny, though she should be at home group tonight. We're not avoiding each other, it's just that we don't make any effort to see each other, either. I think that little Philly is doing fine.

I am so relieved that you won't be taken to court, I really am.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hello Big Bros,

Its quite a relief, any-well, So tell me how is your health now, hope you are much more better today?/ i pray that God will renew your strength soonest. Well Bros, as a father of the house, I think you should make more effort than Jenny, she is just a lady, and naturally women are made to be so feeling that men are not interested, while mostly they are.

At least for your babys sake you should try more to see them ok. Back to me, you, and money - it is a relief that the agents case is down now, but you have to know that there are much more to things as well as the agent, there are other commitment that may lead to public insult just like the internet one i told you last. I am just hoping that you make it up soon.

as a human, if you look back from when this issue was raised, you have to agree with me that there is a lot to settle around so that i can have full freedom of movement and more. I hope to hear from you soon, and tell me when you think you will be ready to sort this out.

Hope you attended the home group yesterday, did you see Jenny???
Yours Philomena

Philomena wrote:

Hello bros,

I hope you are fine?? Please you do scare me with your silence, this I the reason why a Phone is very important, I hope its not your health problem again?? At least if you agreed with me and got a cell phone, then on occasions like it would be easier to educate one what the case is, please can you try even if you are seriously ill, so that I will know what to do soonest ok.

Yours Sweet Sister Philomena,

Please note that I care for you no matter what.
Take care of yourself and try to reach me soon.

I also hope the family is doing well?? Baby Philly and the Mum, Jenny.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I'm sorry you have been so worried about me, I'm fine, I've just had such problems with my internet connection since I moved to this house. I've had two replacement modems, but that didn't seem to help the problem, so now I've got a 'signal booster' and that seems better, though I've also been looking into changing ISPs or whatever they are called.

The good news is that I've got the cash in the house to send to you, and Jenny has agreed to send it for me (because of the ID problem I have). I saw her at home group on Wednesday, and she says she'll be happy to do it next week, and maybe she could phone you with all the details afterwards to make sure you get it straight away?
I'll get this off to you immediately, because I don't want you to worry any longer.
With lots of my love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hello Bros, I thank God you are fine and doing well, Well i have been worried over a lot of things since it was after your mail that you are not feeling too fine,when the silent time came.

I was worried maybe you are sick and might be at the Hospital while no one is there to look after you.

Again i also think maybe you have got into problems with Janice over the divorce thing, But Bros, please forgive me for asking this but if really Janice is pregnant, by now it would be open, so is it true???

And please are you still forwarding the divorce case??? How is little Philly doing ,hope she is fine?

Well about the money thing, please do the best you can to make it available. But am still thinking that giving it to Janice will not be the best idea, since both of you are not seeing each other always, as you know i have passed through a lot because of this very money, please i would have prefer you accompany anyone you are to give the money to this time around, so that whatever, you will be there to pass the massage to me as quick as possible.

that is just a suggestion, you think over it and do the best.

hoping to read your mail soon,
yours Philomena.

Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:28 am

20. New relationships.

David didn’t reply to Philomena’s last email. One month later:

Philomena wrote:

Hello bros,
happy day to you from your lovely sister philomena, I Just come around to say hi!!

As well to ask is everything ok????
Philomena.

David had never told Philomena anything about a ‘lady from Nigeria’, but I decided to pretend that he had:

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I was surprised to hear from you, you never wrote again after I told you about the lady from Nigeria that I met online, and how I hoped to bring her to this country, and I thought that you didn't approve, or were jealous or something, and that's why you didn't write.

Anyway, all is still going well with Joy, and I'm hoping to meet her next month once we've got her travelling documents sorted out.

Actually, I was telling her about how I never managed to send the money from the church to you, and she suggested that I sent it to her (by bank transfer to her brother, because I've already sent her a little bit of money that way, and there were no problems whatsover), and then she could send it on to you.

What do you think?

It does still bother me very much that you haven't received the money.

Love to my sister, from David.

Philomena wrote:

OH!! great news David, You now found a new lover and probably they might have told you not to mind that useless girl that is on your neck - after-all, she is not your blood sister - and you truly enjoyed the idea, and choose to turn me down. Ok send money, because you have a lot and do not know what to do with money. i Promise you that a day will come when you will come to tell me the stories – and maybe i might be dead or be in a situation where i will not need the money, contributed by a CHURCH and handed over to you on my behalf. Well maybe when the time comes, you will try to send it to the Grave and then it will be too late. for the grave may not have the receivers information,

I still love you, you are the brother i never had, and i cherish you much. think about me and if you are lying to me all this while, may it be a broad way for you to...............

For if am not mistaken, i read your mail last month, and within the gap you sent money to Nigeria and there was no problem - think and think again if you really reason. I pray God be for you, but i promise you that God will never forsake me, Even if you think you have,

be blessed
from yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

That email didn't sound like you.
Had you been drinking?
Or did someone else write it?
It seemed sarcastic somehow.

From David

Philomena wrote:

Hello Dearest Brother David,

Good morning. Bros I really want to use this E-mail to ask for your forgiveness, I know that it’s painful for one to hear maybe a word he/she did not expect from such person.

I have sat down and rethought over and over about the mail I sent you last after I read from you the response which asked me are you the one who sent the mail or another person, etc.

I concluded that I am wrong, please I am asking you in the name of God to please and please pardon my bad manner, Dave look at me as your baby sister that I am and forgive my bad manners, I assure you that i will not do anything like that again,

I promise not to do anything similar to that again, for I have come to meditate on a particular verse of BIBLE that says if your hand is to cost you heaven, cut it off and enter Heaven with one hand, instead of going to hell with two hands.

I promise you that something like that will not happen again, not even situations similar to that in the future.Because I have come to think and reason, back from the life I live in the past and the life I live since the day you started an attempt of sending me money for a better living. I have gone into the mathematics, add & minus. I say sorry - though I don’t know if you think the delay in my apology is too much, but whatsoever it may be, please forgive me and let whatever you wish be done.

I am really disturbed when I look at the issues, that I am the one that offends you or anybody around.

I will like to hear from you if my apology is accepted.

Yours little Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hello Bros,

How are you? hope all is well? you wrote me last on the 6th of this month asking some questions which i found maybe offensive, though the fault could be on either side, i can't really mention now - but i apologise to you brother for peace to reign.

I cannot tell if you are still angry with me. I don't know, but i beg of you Dave, whatsoever the case might be, please may I hear from you as soon as possible.

In the name of the Lord i wish you all the best of life and hoping to communicate with my brother as usual.

thanks,
yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

HELLO BROS,

I HOPE YOU ARE OK???

PLEASE DAVE, CAN YOU PLEASE SHARE WITH ME WHATEVER THE PROBLEM IS, I KNOW THAT THE ENEMIES AT THE DOOR OF BREAK-THROUGH ARE AT WORK BUT I PRAY YOU WILL NOT GIVE THEM ANY CHANCE FOR THEM TO USE YOU AS AN INSTRUMENT, PLEASE DON'T BE TAKING THIS TIME OF TRIAL HARD ON YOURSELF!!!

HOW IS YOUR FAMILY???

I AM EAGERLY WAITING YOUR MAIL TO KNOW HOW FAR.

SEND MY GREETINGS TO JENNY AND PHILLY.
FROM PHILOMENA SENIOR.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I keep forgetting to check this email account, I don't really use it anymore.

It's OK, I'm not angry with you, I was just a bit puzzled at the way you wrote.

All is fine here, we're expecting the first snow of winter at the weekend, but with just the dogs and cats nowadays, I don't have anything to worry about, as long as the trains are running when Joy arrives.

We're having a bit of stress with that, as she needs to open a bank account of her own before she can get her visa, and it feels as if time is running out, I really want her here for Christmas, but, of course, that doesn't leave much time to get the visa, though she is more confident than me that it can be obtained quickly.

I don't usually see Jenny at all these days, but I assume she is well. And Philly.

I hope that all is well with you too.

Love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Bros,

Good-day from your kid sister, How are you today, hope all is well? Thank you very much for forgiving me for the way and manner i talked to you last time, once again i say i am sorry.I only pray that you will forgive and forget whatsoever pain the letter might have caused you.

Bros how is everything? the Dog, Cat,and the winter snow start? How is the new area you are now? how are you enjoying the atmosphere around there? Have you started the little Gardening around? Infact i miss you Bros, your mail and words of encouragement, everything.

How is Joy doing, hope you hear from her? when are you expecting her? hope she updates you about the situation at hand. I am happy that i read from you today and will sleep well. bros take care of yourself and may God be with you.

Bros you said you are not using this Email any more can you please give the email address that you use more often, please i really want to be hearing from you ok,

Yours kid sister,
Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Bros, Few Years back when is seemed like i had lost all hope of living, Brother you gave me reasons to live again. Oh!! God I pray father that whatsoever that has come in between I and my brother David - my poor manner of approach to him - God i pray you give him the heart of forgiveness for if there is no sin there will not be forgiveness, but since there is Sin, OH!! let your light of family care, love, sharing, togetherness and fruitfulness of your love reign in us once more,,Amen.

Bros, Since You come into my life, you make everything shine,Not money, not anything material,but you're one of those rare and splendid jewels who makes the whole world bright.

When I was sad, you made me smile.When I was alone and depressed,you were there for me, and you made me feel strong enough to accomplish anything.though its been often that my belief in you has also been a source of depression also, but to me, i finally take it as one of those Crosses we are made to carry on earth,in the mix of all,Still I appreciatethe many things you do,Efforts and so on, more than words could Even explain nor say,

Please Bros, whatever someone might have told you against me, can you kindly tell me, for me to express myself as well???

Please if you are not going through this emails as you said can you kindly give me your current Email?

Brother remember that we are now family for the 3rd year and family and relationships have the right to share with each other both the joy and griefs of life. i hope that you will make time out of no time to say hi to your kid sister

Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

It's alright, I am checking this mail account again now.

I'm having a very worrying time, though, I can't get hold of Joy at all. She is supposed to be coming here next week, but she isn't answering her emails anymore. I don't have a phone number for her, of course, and I don't have any other way of contacting her. I've got her brother's name, but I don't know his email address either, it's so worrying, I don't know what to do. I'm guessing that she is ill, and she'll be back in touch when she is well enough to go to the internet café she uses (she doesn't have a laptop of her own), but in the meantime all I can do is wait and worry, and I don't even know whether or not she has got all the travel documents she needs yet, it seems very complicated.

So I'm not having a good time, all I keep doing is checking my mail and walking about, I can't concentrate on anything.

Apart from that, though, yes everything is well, the snow has melted now except for a few piles against the walls and fences, though it remains very cold and icy. The cats don't want to go outside at all, and the dogs aren't very keen either!

I'm feeling a bit low and lonely, to be honest. I didn't get to home group on Wednesday because I was still hoping to hear from Joy. If something has gone wrong and she doesn't write to me, then I've just got no way of ever knowing what has happened.

I keep asking God to send her back to me, but it feels like He isn't listening either.
Hopefully I'll hear from her this weekend.

Sorry to be so uncheerful.

Lots of love to my sister anyway, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hello bros,

How are you are doing? Hope you are fine? How is everything around, the Atmosphere, I mean the Snow over there, hope it has dried by now.
LAST I HEAR FROM YOU WERE SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT THE CAT AND the DOG How are they?

Brother last time you promised me that you are now checking your Gmail and since then i have not read any mail from you so i am wondering if all is well with you.

How far have you gone with Joy? have you heard from her? is she there already? I hope so and at the same time i wish you both Merry Xmas and prosperous new year in advance. Have a nice day and remember that someone cares for you, who is no other but your kid Sis, Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I've been having an awful time. I can't contact Joy at all, my emails to her are returned undelivered. I went to Norwich and borrowed Duncan's phone, and phoned her brother's bank, in the hope that they could give me his contact address or telephone number, but they won't give out any details like that. I even rang the police and tried to get help there, but they won't do anything either, and even said that it might be that Joy wasn't genuine, but was a scammer, who deliberately disappeared after receiving money from me. It is difficult to believe that she'd do something like that, though, it really is.

I've been very sad and worried about everything, as you can imagine, and I haven't really felt like writing letters, not even to you. Though I do thank you for yours.

It is so strange and so frustrating to think that I might never know what happened to Joy, she could have died or anything. But unless someone writes and tells me about this, I'll spend my whole life not knowing.

This isn't really going to be a good Christmas time for me, but I hope it is better for you, and that it brings you hope and peace in your heart.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

PS The animals are fine. The weather continued snowy and icy.[

Philomena wrote:

Hello Bros,

I really don't know what to say about this situation but all the same where there is life there is hope, I really sympathise with you. But still to me, I believe that if it is that Joy asked you for money after money, then i am convinced that it was a Scam, but not if it was just like someone you talk with this minute and then the next minute did not hear from her nor see her anymore.

But all I can say for now is please take care of yourself. And let’s wait until this month of December is finished.

Then if you do not hear from her, well, i will tell the Church prayer leader to hear what he has to say too, after this very Xmas.

If nothing positive comes out, Then I will have No other option but to look for A wife for you here, and irrespective of color, tribe and culture, i hope that any lady I could get here. you will like her. because I am a girl too, and know what is good for my brother ,Though you are to decide if the idea is ok, then let me start from now to search for a caring and understanding woman that will be of joy to your life and not of disappointment and pains.

I wish you the best this Christmas period.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.

From yours
Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

I hope you have had a blessed Christmas.

You are a good sister to me, the way you want to make everything right for me. I'm not really looking for a new wife, though. It is too soon after my divorce, I think. I didn't intend to get involved with Joy, it just all happened so fast, and I suppose I was flattered, and didn't stop to think.

Yes, I did send her money, more than once, though it was just to help with the cost of her travel documents so she could come here and visit me.

I don't know if it was a scam or not. It could just be that when she told her family about me, her mother and father said it wasn't appropriate for her to visit a man alone, especially not a man older than her - or something like that. Maybe they forbade her to write to me again.

Maybe it wouldn't have worked out anyway. She was younger than me and from a different country and culture. And I'm sure she would have found it difficult to cope with the cold, too.

We had a couple of days of slightly higher temperatures, but it is now freezing again, and very unpleasant outside, even for someone accustomed to winter weather and being outdoors, like myself.

I had Christmas Day lunch with Patrick and Vanessa, a couple from church. They have a teenage daughter called Dolores who knits lovely items, so I bought a nice woollen hat from her. It was a pleasant enough day, under the circumstances.

Yesterday I went to church as usual in the morning, though there weren't many people present, and then I was invited to lunch by another couple. I accepted, though we don't really know each other very well, so it was a bit stiff and formal, and I didn't stay long after lunch.

Today I'm going out for a walk with the dogs, and then have a few beers later.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Trouble arrives in measures, and we stack it up real high, until we're convinced. Please I still plead that anyone you will fall in love with, either through letter or phone, or even the person you can see, shall be first of all accessed in spirit, which is only through prayers ok.

Once again Bros one has no reason not to try. You may feel defeated, but I still believe it’s not all that early to find a true love now because it wasn't that you lost your wife to death but through Divorce, so i believe that if getting a new wife will make you happy, this is still the right time to find one, and you could never lose for long because God is always helping, and you are never alone. I know you are Sore, but please sow bravely towards your goal.
Let nothing darken the way.You can change your tomorrow, you know that?? if you seek your dream today.

Be blessed in the name of the Lord as we approach the new year 2011.

Yours Kid Sister Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Yes, you are right, especially about the importance of praying to God.

I do feel as if I've had everything go wrong this past year, and I shall be glad when it is over. I hope that 2011 will be a different kind of year, though I don't really know what I want. Maybe I should take up some kind of voluntary work, it would get me out of the house and mixing with other people, and also do some good for others. At the moment I'm just sat here in my own world, and do good to nobody. I don't really know what I could do, but I could ask at church, or maybe ask my friend Duncan, and see what organisations are looking for helpers at this time.

I've got to do something to change my life, because no one else is going to do it for me, and I don't want to end up in that psychiatric hospital again, so depressed and hopeless, and I think I could end up there again, if I'm not careful, I'm so alone here with all my thoughts, and most of the time they are not positive thoughts.

I wish I was like you, I admire your spirit and attitude, you are always so sensible, and you don't get dragged down into despair by life's problems, but you look for a way out or a way round them. And you've had everything so much harder than me, too.

I just wish I knew how to begin changing my thoughts and attitudes, and how to keep away from despair. Do you think that someone can change, or is it dependent upon the sort of temperament and character you are born with?

I pray that you will be blessed in 2011.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

One and Only Bros,

You're more beautiful than a satiny pink rose. You know what?? I have a friend here called Bekki. We work in the Church together but she is a Ghanaian. Some times she walked me to the Internet and mostly when last time i had a police case with the internet Workers, at our usual Internet center were i normally sent you mails, Behold Bros, Do you know that After the Assault and other things that happened that very Day, though Bekki was with me, she fights on my behalf, her parents also were wrestling until the case was settled. But Brother, do you know that after everything is settled, that Bekki turned against me, saying that she just tried all she can to help me just because of God, but that she don't even believe me that I have a brother who is about to send money or anything from anywhere, but just that she is not comfortable to forget me in the mix of the Problem.

There is nothing within my power that i did not do to show that I appreciated all she did and to prove to her that you are not my biological Brother but we meet out of circumstance.

But behold, On the 1st Of this month Bekki called and apologised that she has not been a good friend, for not believing me and turning back on me all this while. Brother it’s like a film to me , I jumped on her in a hug and i was very happy, not for any other thing but just that i have resumed the year with a long time friend that problemx want to demarcate from me.

In fact bros, I hope that God has already blessed this year for his people, more beautiful than a starlit sky, more beautiful than a magenta sunset, more beautiful than the early morning rays of the sun, more beautiful than a haunting romantic song.

I love nothing more than being in the House of the Lord, for i know he will do everything to show favor to me from his store room.

I would stare into Gods eyes,enthralled by all that God is to me, by a beauty that's incomparable Mercy.There's no one like God.

And Bros, I don't know if you understand me, the way I take you to my life Brother, you're my one and only Brother in this whole earth.Oh!!!!. that is why sometimes when you promise me and did not do it, it wears down my spirit. at-least for all my hopes to start a new life with my own saloon. And up till now I have not had any positive act towards it. Though I believe that You will do something to it soonest, if only you think of my well being.

Brother, i want to ask you for a favor which i hope you will do me: Number-one please, I want you to always read and reply my mails.

Number-two, I want you to give me the permission to find you a wife, myself, A black Girl that will show you true love, irrespective of the tribes, Though it will not be so soon because i have to first pray over it.

I hope to hear from you soon bros,once again I wish you the best this new year,

yours Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Thank you for your lovely letter.

I was at church yesterday for Ephiphany, and it was quite a moving service, concentrating on the gifts we bring to God through our giving to others.

I feel determined to change my attitude this year, and stop being so self-centred and concerned mainly for my own life and feelings, and to think more about other people and what they might need.

I'm looking for some voluntary work to get involved in, I can get some character references from church, I just need to decide what to do. I find it a bit difficult to get motivated this time of year, really, when it is so dark and cold, but I'm trying to stir myself up into action.

I'm not really sure that I have a lot to offer any lady looking for a husband. I have money to support her and buy her everything she might like to have, but I'm nearly 43 years old and I've been married and divorced and I've even had a nervous breakdown and been in a psychiatric hospital. And I don't think I'm totally over all that yet, I'm still trying to sort out my life and create a more positive attitude. I'm afraid I'd be a disappointment to any decent lady.

I'm glad that you have reconciled with Bekki. Friends are so very important. I wish I had a real friend around here. The other church members are friendly towards me, but are not really friends. I miss Duncan, my old friend who moved to Norwich. Maybe when I start voluntary work I'll meet some nice new people.

I'm glad I have you to write to. You are always there for me.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hi Bros,

Thanks for your mail, it’s nice reading from you and I appreciate your reasoning for the future, living a content live and doing voluntarily work also.

But I will like you to think about it proper bros, because I don't want you to get into a breakdown such as you got before, and moreover I insist that you give me the go ahead to search for a wife for you, I really hope I can get someone very nice, caring, understanding and more.

please I really want you to be with someone that will share words, fun, and so on, please!!.

Look, let me tell you. saying you are about 43yrs does not mean anything to a girl that really wants to have a husband she can call her own.

And about the voluntarily- work, brother, Let me put it this way, please do the work, it helps, i really like it, but do it in a separated way because you don't have the heart to withstand people’s problems, you will think so much and that will lead to another breakdown. Just look at my own life, the stress it causes you to send me the money that has not even been sent. and it is not that I have something to live on now, no, but because I don't want you to be thinking so much, i am keeping most of the stress to myself, and all those you may see while doing the work may not have the patience like me.

I hope to hear from you soon,
yours Kid Sister,
Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Sorry I haven't written to you quicker than this, I've been having such an interesting week.

While looking into voluntary work, I got in touch with an old acquaintance called Joe, and we've been spending rather a lot of time together. He's a good tonic for me, so rational and reasonable and encouraging.

We had a few beers together in Norwich, and then a couple of nights ago, he came over here, and stayed overnight, I think that God has sent me the male friend that I prayed for. He's a marvellous person, he really is.

I think that you make a very good point about voluntary work and the possibility of me getting too emotionally involved. And I do appreciate what you are saying about me remarrying, let's give it a month or two, let me sort myself out a bit more here first. I wouldn't want to burden anyone else with all my muddled thoughts at times! Though, since spending time with Joe, I do feel so much more positive. He's a good man.

We've had lots and lots of rain lately, and many of the roads around here are flooded. The fields just can't take the water, and are draining out onto the lanes. I can still cycle to the railway station though, and I'm going to catch a train to Norwich later and meet Joe from work (he leaves off early today) and then we're going for a meal at a restaurant.

So, life is looking a bit better to me at the moment.

Thank you for all your encouragement and support.
Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Thanks Bros,

A Sister/Brother is someone
who listens and cares,
a Sister/Brother is someone
who's always there.
A Sister/Brother brings happiness
that can warm and mend life.

I'm glad that I can call you
a Brother, which I never had.
A lot of people have entered
people's lives and brightened their days,
but one thing remains true in all things - put God first.
who has touched Lots of lives and
changed them for good forever.

I hope and pray that Joe will
turn those negative sides of life
back to real positive , the way God
made it to be. So that You will have yourself
and time to think of settling me

Thank you for being a good brother.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Thank you for your lovely words.

I've had a really good time the past couple of days, I stayed over Joe's house, and he took me to the Cathedral (which is where he worships) and we went to the Castle Museum - I've been both these places before, of course, but Joe made them come alive. He has so much enthusiasm for life, I love being around him.

I'm going to church here this morning, and then I'll take the dogs for a bit of a run, and then Joe is coming to pick me up in his car and we are going out for the afternoon.

I feel as if years have fallen from me.
God is good to me.

I wish you a blessed Sunday too.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

I've been thinking and praying 4 you.
And I know I don't say it often enough,
but I appreciate you as brother.
I've never had anyone
as giving as you all my life.
You always go that extra mile
to inspire and encourage me.

in these days of trouble, though i am not settled yet, but i hope it will be soon,
You make me want to try harder.

And i know you make me succeed.
You've made me
believe in me through God.
For this and so much more to
come from you ,
I'm sending good wishes
to your door, And your newly
found friend Joe.

yours Sis Philomena.

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Thank you for your lovely encouraging email.

All is very well here, though I do feel a bit guilty. I think I'm falling in love with Joe in a way that a Christian man should not feel. I can't help it though. I don't want to be apart from him.

Please pray for me.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

Philomena wrote:

Hi!! Bros,

thanks for your mail, I have heard you and will do just as you said, Moreover you’re your letter you, it seem that you are getting to a stage that you don't like to forward, but you did not mention what you want from him and that which you don't like.

Please, that will help us while praying - what do you what from him, since you don't want to do away with him and what is it that you don't want?

Have a nice day bros just trust and obey,
God is in control.

yours Philomena.

Philomena wrote:

Hi Bros,

Are you Ok???

I ask this because is been a long time i hear from you.
please do write if you are fine.

Philomena

David wrote:

Hello Philomena,

Yes, I'm fine. Well, actually it is strange, I'm so happy, and yet I feel a bit guilty too.
I am in love with Joe. I mean properly in love, like a man normally loves a woman. And I want to be physical with him too. Close to him. Make love with him.

Actually, I've already done that.

He doesn't see any problem. He says he has been gay all his life, and that God made him this way and blesses him and has sent me to him. But it is all a bit new to me, and I don't know what my father would say, if he was still alive.

I feel as if I've never been so happy.
But I don't want to mention this at church yet.

Something so right can't be wrong.
But I don't know if other people will see it that way.

Lots of love to my sister, from David

And with this, David shall slowly slip away……