Nigeria is calling my name!

Yay! I am finally leaving!

Before I start, I just want to thank everyone for helping me. As I posted last month, my computer decided to go and keel over. I was very sad, but thanks to some very good friends, I was able to get a new computer! I just wanted to thank Paul and Nacy Moran, who read my blog and helped me to pay for a 'new' used computer, which works very well by the way! And I also wanted to thank Steve Shapiro, who was amazing and found me a good, used computer, negotiated the price, made sure it was up-to-date, and sent it to me. With out the help of you three, I might still be sitting with out a computer! So Thank you, also thanks to Randy and Therese Olson, my wonderful aunt and uncle who recently donated to Notre Dame! If anyone else had donated recently, thank you so much, and you will be hearing from me soon!

The time has come for me to finally leave the country. I leave for Nigeria on Feb. 12th at 6:00 pm. The only reason I feel comfortable saying this is because I got the plane ticket! It is physically in my hand, and now I am going! It has been a bit of a roller coaster for me over the last month, staying in Baltimore and having such an uncertain future. And now, even though what I am doing is not crystal clear, I am excited to finally be moving towards helping in Africa, which is all I ever wanted to do.

One of the projects I will be working on in Nigeria is called the 'photovoltaic project'. This project was started by the Sisters of Notre Dame and has been taken to Nigeria and the Congo. In this project, The Sisters of Notre Dame created a 25 system grid of photovoltaic power panels that purify water for homes, schools and health care centers all across Nigeria and the Congo. The sisters have estimated that in these two countries; 7,000 people will be helped by this project. I am excited to work among the people in this project. If you are interested in learning more about the project, please visit this website: http://sndden.org/sisters-of-notre-dame-de-namur-pvproject.html

I appreciate all the wonderful things people have done for me, and the support that people have shown me over the last few months. It is undeniable how lucky I am to be supported by all of you. As I head out on this adventure, I hope I can get continued support from you through supporting the Notre Dame Mission Volunteer Program. Anyone who wants to continue their support and donate again is so very welcome to do so! There are a couple of ways to donate. You can donate online at http://ndmva.org/Donate/index.htm

You can also donate by sending any money (made out to NDMV) to:

Notre Dame Mission Volunteer Program
Emily Van Oeveren
403 Markland Ave
Baltimore MD 21212

and make sure you are donating on behalf of Malika Heiller!

Also, my address (for mailing me lovelies) is this:

Malika Heiller
Sisters of Notre Dame
14 John Nwodo Close G.R.A
PO Box 3777
Enugu
NIGERIA

As far as I know the best way to send things is in small padded envelopes. And everything gets checked by customs officials (possibly corrupt ones) so don't send anything that could be seen as valuable. When I was supposed to be serving in Kenya they gave us a tip (and it may or may not be universal). The volunteers said that when you are filling out the customs part at the post office, write 'first aid'. Legally, Customs officials are not allowed to take first aid materials from packages...

I am thrilled to finally be leaving. I am going to do my best to keep my blog updated for all who are interested in staying in touch and hearing about my time abroad.

Many thanks to all of you, and I hope you hear from me soon!

peace,
Malika