Onye Oche

By Pastor Steve Nute

 

“You will hear people saying “Onye Ocha” everywhere,” Ephraim told us. “It means simply, “White man.”

After a long interesting yet uneventful ride, we turned off the paved interstate, and onto the Main street of Awka. There is no way to effectively describe the emotion, smells, sights and sounds of this township. It was an area composed of many “villages” totaling a population of 90,000 souls. 89,994 of those souls were Igbo; including us the other six were Caucasian Americans.

We pulled across a side walk, parked and entered the ” Doris Inn ” a local eatery. We sat in low chairs and coffee table height dinettes and although we were not hungry, ate rice and beef (2 small chunks) and drank the most delicious soda pop I ever tasted. I could have omitted the food at that time, but as usual managed to rise to the occasion and was pleasantly surprised at the good flavor

Ephraim ate pounded yam with his fingers. He formed it into an oblong and dipped it into his “stew” made of okra and a tiny portion of meat and quite neatly disposed of it, as well as my mothers childhood warnings, “Don’t eat with your fingers.”

Tummies full, thirst quenched and spirits good we loaded up in the taxi and went the scant few miles to Ephraim’s home, the Missionary Embassy.

We pulled off the main street onto what I now knew was a road, but I first thought it might be some sort of four wheel drive challenge course. Sandy dirt roads added to copious rainfall parts of the year equal poor traveling conditions in most places.

This rutted section soon gave way to a long straight white gray sandy stretch, but before we got to that we turned off and entered the gate of Ephraim’s family compound.
Ephraim being the eldest son of his father inherited the family property. This will pass to his eldest son, “Thank God” after Ephraim dies.

The Ndife compound consisted of Ephraim’s step mother’s house, his junior sister’s house and his four apartment complex. There was also one building under construction which would house another brother when completed.
One whole apartment consisting of a kitchen, dining room, sitting room, bath and two bedrooms has been dedicated to the comfort and keeping of missionary visitors. The bathroom, a pleasant surprise, contains a real live flushable potty and wonder of wonders, a shower.

Doc and I were both pleasantly surprised at this turn of events and even more joyful at the sight of ceiling fans gently pushing their breeze down on the comfortable beds. That isn’t all, the dining area was spacious and had(when power was on) a freezer.

Not only did we find our living area a pleasant surprise, but also the manner in which we were treated. I could get used to the idea of the sort of service that was rendered to us during our stay there.

It was a far cry from the airport, this Missionary embassy. The Ndife children soon attached themselves to us like old friends.

The rest of Ephraim’s relatives were soon to see “Onye Ocha on parade.”