Letters from Teresa/Ozioma

"WHAT WE DO IN LIFE ECHOES IN ETERNITY" - From the movie Gladiator

Dear Family and Friends,

I am writing this newsletter in loving memory of my dear friend Christine M. McMahon, who passed away on August 15th of this year. Christine is not only dear to my heart, she is also dear to the mission of Ozioma Hope for Wellness. You may remember hearing about her in 2011, when she volunteered to join my efforts for thirty days in the villages of Nigeria. It was there that her spirit shown – her gentleness, humbleness, compassion, and self-sacrificing ways in the face of deep suffering and sorrow. She brought hope, healing love and joy to the people, especially the children. In many ways her time and work with me in Nigeria felt dedicated to her son, who had tragically passed only eight months before our journey together. And it was amazing to see the ripples of joy that the people she cared for brought into her life.

There is a quote by Mother Teresa that I feel speaks to my time with Christine, it reads:

“I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only love.”

I saw this deep love in each aspect of Christine’s life - in times of peace, joy and unfathomable pain. To continue this love, and honor the memory of Christine and her son Andrew, it is the hope and plan of Ozioma Hope for Wellness and Christine’s family to bring life giving water through a solar well to one of the villages of Nzerem in Ehime Mbano L.G. A. Imo State. This town is where Christine joined me during part of her mission. The communities of Nzerem are in desperate need of water and the villages are separated by hills which makes fetching the water more challenging.

And so, I ask you to support this life saving gift and join me in honoring the life of Christine and Andrew. Our goal is to raise enough funds to install both a solar well and to pipe the water into its neighboring villages. The previous solar well we installed cost $35,000. The area of Nzerem has a much deeper water level so the proposal will most likely be higher.

Thank you in advance.

Please continue to pray for us and be assured you are all in my daily prayers. Christmas and Hanukkah blessings of Peace and Joy to you and your families.