THE STRENGHT WITHIN

MRS GOBA’S STORY

“Daddy!

“Daddy, U dey yeari me? Nor loss hope yaa,u go make am. Memba me and the pikin dem especially micheala way e day far d study” (Translation: Daddy, Can you hear me? don’t lose hope, you will make it.. Think about me and the children especially Micheala who is far away studying)

At this point he turned and looked at me, I saw tears in his eyes. He tried opening his mouth to say something………..

Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!

In all my years as a nurse, I have never witnessed someone die, this was my first and it was so painful”

Related article:tribute to my dad

Born on the 25^th of May, Marian Kumba Kungbana was a miracle baby. Her mother Mattu Kungbana bore her in her old age after losing three of her other children to the cold hands of death. She was born and raised in Kono district, Sierra Leone. Her father late A.D Kungbana was one of the elders of ‘God is our light’ church. He was keen on the spiritual and academic success of all his children. At the age of 5, she started her primary level education at the RC girls from class 1 to class 7. By the time she turned 11, she had sat to the common entrance examination and gained entrance into Koidu Secondary School(KSS) where she did her form 1 to form five then sat to the GCE-O’levels exams. She later relocated to Freetown where she studied nursing at the forces nurse’s training school,34 military hospitals, Wilberforce. During the first phase of the war in Sierra-Leone, she and her family fled to Guinea Conakry where she worked under the UNHCR’s medical team and “Medicines san Frontier”(MSF). She later moved back to Freetown and continued working at the Rijanic clinic (with Dr. Forde’s). However, the war wasn’t over. As tensions rose and the numbers of casualties increased she and her family had no choice but to leave. This time their destination was The Gambia. She worked as the nurse in charge of the refugees in Basse. In 2004 the Refugee program ended and She later moved to Serre Kunda where she worked at Westfield clinic then All care drug store. Shes’s currently managing Grace drug store. She’s a very active member of the Evangel Assemblies of God where she served as the women’s ministry president for four consecutive years and a member of the open Heavens choir for eleven years. She’s the wife of late Mr. John Micheal Goba and mother of three beautiful children; David, Philip, and Micheala. Esteemed readers, meet my Mother:

Life Growing Up In Kono

“Growing up, I was always falling sick. A month won’t go by without me falling sick. It wasn’t easy for me, especially during school days, the good thing was that I had my elder sisters (Hannah and Lillian) who always looked out for me. I started school at an early age. My dad was very interested in our education, he would buy our textbooks early and would teach us himself. By the time school resumed, we were already ahead of the class. I still remember some of these books-John & Mary, Susan & Joseph, Peter & Dora, Evans primary English, etc. My sisters and I always topped the class. we were commonly called “The 3 Kungbanas“. Years later, my elder sister joined the family. I am from a very large family. My dad was a prominent man, he was a staff of Koidu government hospital where he worked as a pharmacy assistant. Through him, most of my family members came to Christ. One thing I’m grateful for is that my parents gave me something I can hold on to. They are no longer alive today but the word of God they planted in my heart is keeping me”

Challenges

“After my form five, things became difficult. It wasn’t easy for my dad because of ill health. My elder brother ( late Sahr Henry Kanjia) came back from college and couldn’t get a job. The family was constrained financially and because of that, I had to take gap years. I sat home for four years. Those four years sitting home weren’t easy. I thought immediately after high school I would go do a course but it turned otherwise. To make matters worse I was always falling sick and I wasn’t happy. My mother kept encouraging me and sooner than expected God sent help. My dad’s brother, Papa Kayanda gave me some money which is used to travel down to Freetown”

Life in Freetown

“I got to Freetown with the aim to do nursing but I didn’t know how to go about it. One Sunday after church, a lady walked up to me and said, “sister me sef na kono but ar nor sabi talk kono. Na me name Finda, (translated as “sister, I am also a Kono(a tribe in Sierre Leone) but I can’t speak the language. My name is Finda Ngegba”). We got talking and I told her of my desire to study nursing. She took me to Dr. Forde’s of Rijanic Clinic where I started learning some basic nursing skills and worked as a nurse’s aid. I later sent in my application to the forces training nursing school and I gained admission and started my course. upon completing my course, I continued working at the Rijanic clinic. At Rijanic clinic the sister in-charge (sister Leigh) was of great help to me. She taught me to check vital signs. When she’s going to administer medication she would take me along. Dr. Forde’s (RIP) was a great teacher, he taught me a lot of medical procedures. He helped me become more social and taught me work ethics. I am grateful to God for the people He placed around him”

How I met my husband

“February 14^th, 1993 on my way to church I met with this particular young man. We exchanged greetings and got talking. After introducing ourselves he invited me to a school sports day. I went home and told my aunt and she agreed. I went for the event and he told me that he liked me and wanted something serious. I told him to come and meet my aunt which he did. From there we started courting and later got married. He was the best thing that happened to me. He was supportive, showed interest in the things I liked and he encouraged me to be the best version of myself. Losing him hurts but I know he is in a better place. He was the best husband and father anyone would ask for. Continue resting in peace Daddy.”

Surviving The War

When the rebels attacked Freetown, I fled to Kono my hometown. A few months later they attacked Kono so we had to run for our lives. We walked from Sierra Leone to Guinea Conakry on foot. It was awful! The journey to Guinea wasn’t smooth. The rebels were everywhere killing people. They took all we had, at one point I was caught by a rebel, I can still remember his name. This particular rebel had me under gunpoint. He said he was going to kill me. I was numb. I stood still and closed my eyes. Out of nowhere he hit me with the gun and said, “ Ar dey kam kill u, nor sleep” (translated as “I am going to kill you don’t you dare sleep”). At this point, I had no strength left in me. I was pregnant with Micheala, I pleaded with him not to kill me and he asked “watin make ar nor for kill you” (translate as “why should I not kill you?”)  I replied, “ leff me for God” (translate as “leave me in the hands of God”). He looked at me and said,” U if ar kill you, God go vex pan me. You too fine for dey na bush. Ar go leff you for God” (translate as “if I kill you now, God would be angry with me. You are very pretty to be in the bush. I will leave you in the hands of God”)He later asked me to run but I couldn’t. Fear gripped me. What if I move and he shoots me? When he saw me still standing, he yelled at me to run. I summed up courage and ran with the little strength left in me. We finally got to Guinea where I got a job with the UNHCR. I worked at the health post of the Nyaedou post de la Sante camp, Gueckedou Prefetorale. After a while, we had news that the war was over. We returned to Freetown and in November I gave birth to my baby girl. A very cute baby with sparkling eyes!! The rebels attacked again. Shooting everywhere! We had to hide my baby under the bed because the rebels were taking young babies away from their mothers. Luckily for us, she didn’t cry but whenever she heard the gun sounds, she would open her eyes wide in terror. It was a difficult time but thanks to God we survived the process. In April 2000, we arrived in the Gambia”

Life in Gambia

The refugee camp in the Gambia was way better than those in Guinea. God’s hand of power was upon me. In 2001, I got a job with UNHCR again. I was the nurse in charge of the refugees in Basse. Prior to that, I worked at a pharmacy owned by Mr. Furu Gomez. We lived in Basse until the refugee program ended in 2004 then we moved down to Serrekunda. I took two jobs, one at Westfield clinic and the other at All Care Drug Store. Along the line I had to leave one job due to the health of my parents and my children were young. I continued working at the All Care drug store until 2017 when I resigned. I am currently managing Grace Drug Store owned by Mr. Henry Amonoo.”

Some of my Achievements

• In 2003, World Refugee Day, I was awarded a certificate as the best nurse of the refugee program.
• In 2015 I was awarded a certificate by the Sierra Leonean embassy in the Gambia for my humanitarian assistant to sierra Leoneans.
• In 2014, I graduated from the Banjul Bible Training Center(BBTC)
• In 2018, I started another Bible course with the Assemblies Of God Bible School.

Dealing With The Death Of Loved Ones

“It is appointed for a man to die once, after that come judgment. This is the truth we all know but somehow it comes when we least expect it. On January 26, 2009, I lost my mum. This was the woman that sacrificed so much for me. So many things I wanted to do for her that I couldn’t do. So Sad! My elder brother (late Sahr Henry Kanjia) and I couldn’t believe that she died in our absence. It was painful. We kept encouraging ourselves. On December 27, 2009, my elder brother also died. This was a shock! My two favorite people left me in this world. I was down. Just when I was back on my feet, death came knocking again. In January  2012, I lost my dad too. With no mother, father, and brother I felt so weak. The devil used it to attack my health. It was a struggle. But my God came through. His grace and mercies kept me. My husband was there to support. It took me years to heal and get over their death. Life was finally getting back to normal when tragedy struck again. October 11, 2019, the bone of my bone, the man who had now became my father, mother and brother all together left. Death snitched him away from us. It was God that kept me. I was weak, no strength of my own was left in me. In my weakness, I cried out to Him and He responded. “My grace is sufficient for you for my strength is made perfect in your weakness”. This strength was from above, it gave me the ability to read a tribute for my husband without breaking down in tears. I was able to sing the song he sang while on the sick bed “ Praise Him, Praise Him, praise Him in the morning, praise Him in the noontime, praise Him when the sun goes down”. This was sacrificial praise offering to God and it was a means to encourage myself in the Lord daily. I know a day will come when I am going to see them again but for now, I have to be strong in order to continue the race”

Throwback picture with the Late Mr& Mrs. Kungbana(my parents), My husband, and my elder brother.

Things That Keep me Going

• The word of God
• Praise and worship
• Dancing to the glory of God(Psalm 149vs3)
• Testifying the goodness of God
• ministering to others

” I was able to change my narrative through the help of the Holy Spirit. Apart from Him, the Lord sent my late husband who I believe was my destiny helper. He was a vessel God used to help shape my life”

People That Impacted My Life

1. My parents for bringing me up in the way of the Lord
2. My husband for being a great support and my encourager
3. Pastor Mathias Mbayo and wife ( they were the pastors in charge of Agape Assemblies of God in Basse when we came newly)
4. Rev and Rev Mrs. Adjorlolo (they were the pastors in charge of the Evangel Assemblies of God Kanifing when we moved from Basse to Serrekunda)
5. Rev Paul Ampofoo Williams ( the current Pastor in charge of the Evangel Assemblies of God Church Kanifing)

Appreciation

• To God almighty for being my strength.
• To all of the men and women of God who stood for me in the place of prayer.
• To my late husband for loving me and being there for me.
• To my Children for fulfilling the wish of my husband by organizing a surprise birthday for me.
• Family, relatives, and friends both near and far.
• To the Goba family, both home and abroad, for all their supports, love, and encouragement from when I got married their brother up to his death.
• To my maternal uncle Rev MK Gbundema and Mrs. Grace Gbundema, late P.C SGM Fania and family, the Ngegba family especially Mama Ruth Ngegba, The Kanjia family, Bindi family, The Davis Family, Abie Moiwa, Mrs. Zainab Koroma(grandma), Mr. Sunny Duru &family, and Papa Kayanda. Thank you for all the love, care, and support you have shown me.
• To all members of God is Our Light Church, Thank you for the “daemeseh samuneh”(prayer for children). I benefited a lot from those prayers. May God bless you all and the souls of the faithfully departed.
• To my little Princess for taking her time to listen to my story and writing it down.
• Group 46 members for all the support from school days to date.
• To you lovely readers for reading.

Final Words

With all I have been through, the hurt and pain, I still see God working things out for my good. I envisioned myself sharing my experiences with others, preaching the gospel of Christ, helping the sick and needy through my career as a nurse, ministering in songs, living a life of faith, and more. There is a God that cares for His children. If you are reading this be encouraged. No condition is permanent. Times and seasons are in His hands. He will do all things possible in His time. Keep trusting in the Lord. Don’t depend on humans, they will fail. When discouragement comes your way, Encourage yourself in the Lord!!!