The Calling To Serve in The horn of Africa

Since the age of 5 years old I started to have spiritual experiences in visions. This age Iremember for sure because I was eagerly awaiting my next birthday of six years and I had yet another vision of starting to learn how to ride a bike. I remember as I was being taught to ride a bike I kept looking at my left arm. I did not understand why or relate to why my arm was so important as I was being trainedto ride my first bike. Less than a week later Ifell from a high kitchen table reaching for a bottle of syrup for pancakes and broke my left arm. This was my first occurrence of "seeing" visioning experience. In my early teenageyears I would learn that my beloved Grandmother Sayidah Arietta whom I adored dearly,was a big celebrity of wisdom receiving the gift of prophesy. Mymother and grandmother represented to me early on to become a role model for women someday.

As time went on I had many visions of a far away place that I was being drawn to. My mother purchased a world global map for I and my sisters to help us with our school education and she placed it on top of a tablein the Living room in ourhouse in Mobile, Alabama. I thought it to be colorful and interesting as it showed nice illustrations of the world and I loved spinning it. As I viewed it over and over I was drawn to the Continent of Africa.At such a early age of six years old I had noidea of a Continent nor the name ofcountries in which I was learning about. On the global map in particular there were a location to the far left in west Africa. Now there are many countries that would fit into that occupied space so as I grew up and my mother headed north after finalizing a divorce from my father we left to Massachusetts where my mother had a brother whom had migrated some earlier years there and welcomed my mother to make a new life for us even though my father would send for us every summer faithfully for many years as to not have us loose touchwith our roots.

In my high school years Ioften learned as much as possible about Africa it's diversity of people, cultures and cuisinebut my mind and heart was West Africa. I loved to read and I adored books so the Library became my Mecca for knowledge to learn about Africa. Of all the countries in West Africa and there are quite a bit I was fascinated about Senegal and it's people,culture, food and Ilearned that it was a predominately Muslim nation which was also a interest of mine but most of all the hospitable welcoming way it was described as it resonated with my roots of Louisiana and Alabama.I was lucky to check out some great books with nice beautiful pictures.This learning increased my vision experiences. It awakened me to dream and think outside the box and thus Ibegan to meet many people in Massachussettes from different parts of Africa. As time went on Istarted to take notes on what countries they were from as this research would maybe would give me clues,anything to help me claim my past.In time over the years I knew I had to travel to the Motherland of Africa to know my people, period!

Later in my twentiesI married and raised a family and had a opportunityto live and workin New York citywhere women were from all parts of the world.I learned much about theirway of life and cultures. The diversity of Africa is vast in New York and that too expanded my education to begin to explore more and more about my roots and dreamthe opportunity to visit Africa which came many years later. Some time later we relocated to Washington DC.

Unfortunately after several years of marriage my marriageended and I struggled to raise five children on my own. I knew I had to further my education to give them a better life and with the help of resources from friends Ikept in contact with over the years and seeking the advice of family whom were residing in different parts of the country I enrolled in 1996 inStrayer University College in Washington DC. It was hard work but Iwas determined to not miss one class in four years, never to take a break from any semester.I graduated 1999, receivingmy BSBA and yet still holding on the dreamto visit Africa. But how? Even though I had met many people from Africa over the years including Senegal no one ever seriously invited me to come and if so it was not sincere orconcrete enough to make it a reality.

I was fortunate to obtainwork in my degree field of study and the pay was decent I wasleft feeling unfulfilled but grateful to Godto be able to give my children a good life and being a part of a spiritual network community instilled faith that ALL good is possible if in right alignment with your purposeon this beautiful planet which it really is!

A sister friend from my community mentioned ascholar whom would be visiting our region soon in 2003.I received the name and all necessary information to follow up on this person.I indeed met (the late) Imam Shaykh Assane A Cisse from Senegal, West Africa and that meeting opened the door for me to step onto the Continent before he verbally invited me. Honestly he told me my mission in Africa was like his- to help women and children, to inspire and teach them amongst many other revelations over time involving humanitarian activities.This initial meeting changed my life thanks be to God.

Today,Queen Sheba Village, Aiding humanityis a USA Nonprofit operating in Senegal thriving to improve the education of Women and girls in remote rural areas.Empowering and instilling hope to women continues to be both a challenge and a fulfillment but also a rewarding task. I hope to encourage Women tobelieve in themselves and keep faith to dream withBIG actions no matter age,situation or circumstance you are facing because obstacles are opportunities for growth internally and externally. I hope this story gives millions of women strength to persevere because our children need inspiration to change the world to a world of positive power of economic growth and equality of all citizens sharing the earth for future generations.