In God's Hands
"When I think of Adekami, I think of joy. I see a mom that is trying to do the best she can for her kids. I see perseverance.”
Lt. Robyn Hubbard has gotten to know Adekami well since the mother of three fled Nigeria in 2017. After violence in her home country took the life of her husband of fifteen years, Adekami was determined to find a safe place to raise her young sons.
Adekami found The Salvation Army through the Angel Tree program, which provided Christmas gifts for her children. Afterwards she and her boys were welcomed into The Salvation Army family with open arms and open hearts, attending summer camp and participating in youth sports programs.
“Part of Adekami’s story is that she is a widow,” shared Lt. Joshua Hubbard, who leads the team at The Salvation Army Eagle Creek Corps. “She no longer has her husband, and she is raising three boys all by herself. The Salvation Army and the church often steps in to play that father role.” As a result, the boys have adapted well to their new lives in the U.S., making friends and feeling safe and secure for the first time in many years.
As soon as the U.S. government granted Adekami permission to work in 2019, she immediately found multiple jobs and by the spring of 2020 had moved into a new home close to The Salvation Army. The Eagle Creek Corps also welcomed Adekami and her boys to attend Sunday worship and enjoy fellowship with other members of the community. They have become integral members of the church and helped The Salvation Army connect with other members of the Nigerian community in Indianapolis.
“They’ve helped me a lot because during that time I didn’t have a job," Adekami explained. "My immigration status did not allow me to work, but The Salvation Army was there for me. They are the ones that didn’t allow me and my kids to stay outside. I can’t express the love that I have for them because they are so awesome. They are good people. They have really helped me a lot.”
Today Adekami is working full time in a senior care facility after completing a Certified Nursing Assistant program last April. She is building a life for her family that is filled with faith, friendship, and plans for a future in their new country. While Adekami is still awaiting a final decision on her request for asylum, she is hopeful and knows that Lts. Joshua and Robyn Hubbard will stay beside her every step of the way, praying for a positive outcome.
“We put everything in God’s hands.”