Jesus said to his disciples: “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. It is like a man traveling abroad. He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his own work, and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch. Watch, therefore; you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning. May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”
The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you lord Jesus Christ
Àbòŋnǝ̀ Yesu Kristò ma Marǝcùs Ŋwà’anǝ̀ â ŋwa’arǝ. 13:33-37
Mәkwu’utәnә̀ dzwi a mbwo wwò, o Nfò wìi.
Yesù a swiŋǝ a mbwo ngàŋǝ-kù jwi ngǝ: “A bù zhì’itǝ! A bù lɛrǝ nnu! Buu bikàkǝ aghǝ̀mǝ̀ zu ma fǝ̀’ǝ̀ bǝ kù’ù zhi. A dzwi ma ŋù ma a fɛ̌ yi ndzenǝ̀ nkyî, nliŋǝ ngàŋǝ fà’à jwi ngǝ bwo linǝ̀ abì’i zhi za’a mboŋǝ fu, nfya afà’à ŋu ntsǝ̀mǝ̀, nkǝ swiŋǝ ambwo ǹlìnǝ̀ abu’u ndyâ ngǝ a nyesǝ nzhì’itǝ.
Lya bǝ ngǝ, a bù zhì’itǝ mbǝ’ǝma bù bikàkǝ aghǝ̀mǝ̀ zu ma ǝtaa ndyâ bǝ bǔ zhi, ngǝ kǝ̀ a li bǝ kwi bǝ nkwifò kǝ ntǝ̌tu’u kǝ̀ fǝ’ǝ̀ njwe kǝ̌ mbà’ambà’à. A kǝ ghǝ bǝ bǔ zǝ wwu ma nǝ lye. À nyù zu ma mǝ swiŋǝ a mbwo bù, mǝ nswiŋǝ a mbwo ŋù ntsǝ̀mǝ̀. Zhì’ìtǝ nǝ̀!
Corn Fufu and Njyama-njyama is a typical African dish, so rich in the various food nutrients. This traditional dish has become so popular that it is now eaten in many countries of the world because of its richness. The main ingredients used to prepare a tasty corn fufu and njyama-njyama dish are as listed below.
Harvest the huckleberry (Njyama-njyama) from the farm or buy from the market. The quantity depends on how much fufu and njyama-njyama you want to prepare.Pick the njyama-njyama by removing the hard stems.Wash thoroughly and boil the njyama-njyama for about 20 to 30 minutes, then remove and slice.
Slice the tomatoes and onion and fry using the vegetable oil and fry about two to three minutes.
Add salt and magi, and allow to fry for about two or three more minutes depending on the quantity. Pepper can also be added at this stage for those who like it.
Add the sliced njyama-njyama and stir well. When it is well mixed with the tomato and onion paste, allow it for one or two minutes, then stir and remove from the gas cooker or fireside.
Trash dry yellow or red corn and grin it at a grinding mill. You may buy already prepared corn flour from a store.
Put enough water in a sizable pot, depending on your quantity. Allow the water to bubble. Mixed corn flour with water and put in the bubbling water, then stir continuously for about three to four minutes till the dough is thick and tough.
Add warm water and using a pestle or a wooden spoon , open the dough and let the water go in between the dough down to the bottom of the pot. Then cover and let it cook for about two to three minutes. open and stir till the fufu is smoother, tougher and looks shinny.
Use the banana leaves to tie. Where there are no banana leaves, you can use film rolls.
The search for recipes has become top of the day, as we see in many search engines. Many people have turned to domestic cooking than ever before because of the quarantine. This attitude, of course, has helped to reduce their family expenses drastically. On my part, in addition to the realization of my backyard garden, I have also discovered that my home skills just got better thanks to the quarantine. I have been able to come out with some typical pastries before I thought only experts could do them well. I also had time to prepare some of my traditional dishes. Here are samples of my homemade stuff during this period of quarantine. My grandchildren have attributed all to grandma, hahaha! Take a look!
Grandma’s yummy bread
Grandma’s yummy cookies
Grandma’s yummy biscuits
Grandma’s yummy banana cake
Grandma’s yummy pancakes
Grandma’s yummy beans and pof pof (Mǝku nǝ̀ ǝkarǝ̀)
In every disappointment, there is a blessing. Dear friends, endeavor to make the most out of every stressful situation like the one we are experiencing. If you don’t have what you cherish, cherish what you have. We have found ourselves in a case whether we appreciate it or not, we have to live with it so long as we have not got a solution. Step by step, day by day, until God‘s plan, is fully revealed. Let us embrace and fight it positively.
When I look at the whole world as it was some months ago and in the present, I see a promising future where hopes shall be restored, fears disappear, social and public life curbed, businesses well managed, international relations well supervised, world health secured and good home discipline not left out of the great transformation that probably will sprout out of the situation we are living now. With great combat on COVID-19 presently, the future seems promising. Surely these advantages will come to realize if we continue to cooperate in the fight against COVID-19. Up till now, everyone is so conscious and so vigilant of every bit of thing happening around them; however, some people are still to realize the necessity of continuous combat on this virus. So, in seven ways, I have examined this beautiful dream.
When I look at the whole world as it was some months ago and in the present, I see a promising future where hopes shall be restored, fears disappear, social and public life curbed, businesses well managed, international relations well supervised, world health secured and good home discipline not left out of the great transformation that probably will sprout out of the situation we are living now. With great combat on COVID-19 presently, the future seems promising. Surely these advantages will come to realize if we continue to cooperate in the fight against COVID-19. Up till now, everyone is so conscious and so vigilant of every bit of thing happening around them; however, some people are still to realize the necessity of continuous combat on this virus. So, in seven ways, I have examined this beautiful dream.
It is but right that what we have all seen and passed through months ago and are still in it now has affected many of us negatively and left many without hope of a better future. There’s no need to be hopeless; in any disappointment, there is a blessing. Looking at how things are unfolding, like the continuous combat on the corona virus, opening up to normality being carefully initiated with everyone involved, the poor and the rich, the old and the young, the governments and lay institutions, we can say there is great hope for the future. If everyone continues to be involved in the fight against this virus, then the advantage is that hopes shall be highly restored and the future brighter.
2. A future with no fears but confidence in the ways things are done.
Fear still lingers in the hearts of many as a result of the present situation. Those who are sick, those who have lost dear ones or have relatives and friends who are suffering, feel hurt. Those working on the front lines and their families, the government, and private business owners, in a nutshell, nearly every one of us carries along a degree of fear in heart because of this situation we find ourselves. Due to the fear, we turn to do one thing or another with a lot of vigilance and care. Thus, when all these daily routines become a habit, a new way of life will surely emanate. When the new way of life is mastered, and new societal norms formed, our fears shall all disappear since we shall be like new people living in a changing society. We shall then leave our homes in confidence to go to a clean, well-organized store, supermarket, orchestra, Church worship, school, wedding ceremony, and what have you. The leverage here maybe that man shall overcome fear, develop more vigilance and confidence in his relationship with neighbors and others, and do simple things well.
3. A future with a new approach to social and public life.
Social life has been so vast and varied that many good and ought things have also happened within making its definition so tricky. It seems gone are those days when human beings had to move too close to one another in many different ways such as friendships, love relationships, infatuations, marriages, lesbianism, homosexuality, public worship, public games, school life, and what have you. These relationships and places brought humans too close to one another, but now a lot of care is being taken thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. With social distancing, face covering, hand washing, and other measures put in place due to this situation, in the future, people might turn to go very close mostly towards those they highly trust, thereby ensuring respect and care for others.
Public worship presently is experiencing some transformation, an indication that worship procedures shall never be the same again. There is a lot of vigilance and ethical rules put in place that may be maintained when things come to normality. Many people now use social media to worship and praise God. This act may bring about a wider Spread of the Gospel in the future.
With this beneficial tool of social distancing and if this degree of sanity and respect for others is maintained continuously, then shall social and public life curbed positively. Achieving this can help us become creatures of high integrity in the years to come when we must have gotten rid of the situation at hand.
4. A future with well managed businesses and discoveries.
Even though people physically distance themselves, they are using technology in a new way to connect with others. This phenomenon has given rise to the discovery of different techniques of doing things that are good and may continuously improve for a better future. Managers and business operators during this era of COVID-19 have developed very high standards and techniques for handling their businesses. The hygiene and sanitation nature, entrance and exit norms, more online sales, and delivery methods are signs of a better future. Considering the advantage of this change no one may want to go back to old ways. All these are indications that business life seemingly shall never be the same again but improve.
Working from home has been seen to be even more productive and stress-free than before. This experience has also helped to reduce the cost of depreciation and maintenance of office equipment, ensuring a better future for businesses. The cost of these types of equipment may also decrease in the future due to the reduction in their uses. This experience might influence both employers and employees to love and schedule more work from home in the future than now. Some people may also gain online jobs thereby fostering development and employment. In the line of education, the advantage is that there are hopes of more online teaching/learning, and more techniques and discoveries in doing this in the future than ever before. School staffs have also discovered different ways and techniques in meeting their kids online, even down to kids 1 – 12, a discovery that might have come to stay for a better future. Online classes and zoom meetings have been the order of the day and seen to be comfortable and productive. Connecting with the world online in any form of business is more accessible than ever before, as at-home media consumption has increased dramatically, influencing all aspects of life. More students may turn to take online courses effectively in the future rather than going into the classrooms.
5.A future with well supervised and improved international relations.
The movement now from one country to another is well supervised than ever before, thanks to COVID-19. These measures might only continue to improve because of the hard lessons governments have learned from this ugly situation. Screening and checks at the airports and seaports, if continuously intensified, shall be able to control better, further outbreaks of viruses that may spread this wild. More help is now directed to developing countries, thus ensuring more world health and peace. The vast world powers shall tend to think “world,” not just states or continents for COVID-19, in its manner of spread, has taught the global world that one man’s problem is everyone’s problem.
6. A future where home security and discipline will be more focused on.
Parents have developed more delight in tendering their children at home than before. Parents who sometimes feel relieved and rested when their kids are out to school have now with joy preferred to keep them at home and follow them up as long as it is safe without complaining. Family members are seen doing more household crafts like baking and cooking than before. They understand that health comes first for health is life. This mentality ensures less restaurant expenditures, more unity, love, creativity, and understanding within the family now and can be more in the future.
Christian life shall surely experience a boom because children are now learning a lot of sound Christian doctrine and practices right in their homes since home prayer life has intensified with the use of social media. With the experience of COVID-19 in mind, a second thought might be given to the construction of houses where a quarantine section shall be considered necessary for other health issues, not necessarily COVID-19. Such an achievement might help to control the spread of infections at family level thus ensuring good family and societal health in the future.
7. A future with a well secured world health.
As routines and schedules change to meet the demands of isolation, many people have turned to workout programs and indoor games. Some now focus on taking care of their own physical and psychological needs and those of friends and loved ones. Many seek ways to cope with stress and to keep themselves busy when bored. All these guarantee a better world health in the future.
We shall all realize and enjoy all these advantages if only we continue to combat COVID-19 using all possible means for its complete eradication. Let us all cooperate in quarantine, face covering, hand washing, ethical business norms, care, and respect for one another to secure a future full of hopes, confidence, integrity, good health, well organized businesses, discipline, more discoveries and employment.
As early as 5:30 AM that morning, I got up, hurried with my morning chores and got myself ready because I never wanted to miss any bit of the Mass. This quarantine style of Mass with my Bishop on Pentecost 2020 was first of its kind in my life as a Christian and as compared to the past when I will follow a one week Pentecost Week program which usually ends with a big Pentecost Mass. My Bishop on TV with a multitude of Christians watching all over the world, tells me, “With God everything is possible”. I preferred the screen at the basement because it was the largest in our home and as usual I started following the Mass deeply as though I was in Church with no knowledge that my daughter was observing me and taking some snap shots with her cell phone.
After the Penitential Rite and the proclamation of the word, came the invocation of the Holy Spirit in a song by the singing minister. As I kneel listening keenly and reflecting on the lyrics of the song, I could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit right in me. Then I prayed asking the Holy Spirit to also touch my family, friends and Christians all over the world who are having the same quarantine experience as I do and bring a powerful solution to the crisis brought upon human beings by the Corona Virus.
The Bishop proceeds with a very lively sermon filled with the spirit of Pentecost. He invites everyone to be open and receive the sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit as of the first Pentecost for the renewal of the whole world. I was filled with awe as I sat listening to his heart searching sermon.
The beautiful ending of the Bishop’s sermon, “COME HOLY SPIRIT! COME HOLY SPIRIT! COME HOLY SPIRIT!”, was another spirit filled and touching moment that was like the Bishop just pulled the Holy Spirit out from heaven to earth and I felt His powerful presence in the room.
Kneeling before the altar; as I see through the TV, at Consecration, I surrendered myself, my family and the whole world to the Holy Spirit. As I followed the Eucharistic Prayer, I was touched that much was being said about the Holy Spirit that I understood more than before.
Then Came the moment of Spiritual Communion when I recited the prayer with passion, opening the door to let Him enter, “Behold I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come into him and will dine with him, and he with me”. Rev 3:20
During Announcements I decided to celebrate Pentecost with my Bishop in this way. His announcements were full of good news on how gradually the Churches are going to open their doors again for Christian worship as a community. Remember, one definition of the Church is “A Community of Christians” and not individual Christians in their homes.
Even Though Christians were not in Church physically, they were Spiritually as you can see our Bishop blessing us as he exits the physically empty Church. There’s a song that says, “One thing I ask of the Lord, one thing I long, to live in the house of God everyday of my life”. Yes, this longing eats up every true Christians at this moment of the Coronavirus pandemic when the Church’s doors are physically closed.
So long as the Spirit lives and moves and renews the face of the earth, so will Mother Earth continue to produce her fruits and take care of her up springs, even though she mourns and groans waiting for the right moment that she will open her mouth and swallow the ugly Corona virus, leaving no trace of it, “The earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon spewed out of his mouth”. (Rev. 12:16) As you can see, Seeds have sprouted on my quarantine backyard garden. They are growing and flourishing assurance of life and continuity.
Come to think of it, why have we to go through all this quarantine thing? The blame is all on the devilish COVID-19 pandemic. But, remember, “Nothing can separate us from the love of God”, not even the ugly Corona-virus for “… in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us”(Rom. 8:35-37). Let’s keep trusting God.
Adding Numbers In Columns will help the Slow Learner to develop mental skills and excel well in Mathematics. Buy and download a copy for yourself following the link below. E-book only.
Life is a dream! It begins then you are in it and you don’t know when you will awake as you are way still dreaming.
To God be the glory!
Alleluia! God the Almighty reigns. To Him be all the glory and praise forever! We witnessed it. HAPPY BAPTISM TO OUR GRANDCHILDREN! Congratulations Sweeties. And, happy Feast day of St. Therese of the Child Jesus to all my friends.
Tǝkò’ò mǝyà a mbwo Nywe Ətaa ma à dzwi nǝ̀ mǝ̀tenǝ̀ mǝtsǝ̀mǝ̀.
My grand-daughter in 4k (Nursery 2) can already do the four rules; Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division so well as she follows lessons in this website and on its youtube channel. After viewing the youtube video above, pay and download a copy of Long Division With and Without Remainder from the link below. E-book only.
Food crop cultivation is the background of the economy of the Nkwen people. Its importance cannot be overemphasized as it has increased the living standard of the inhabitants of this community. There are very many different types found, and here are some of them.
