Dearest IJ, the news of your passing hit me with such sadness. I was literally made numb within seconds. Immediately I wnt to my bedroom to grab a group picture we had taken sometime in 1998 or thereabouts, of you, your sister Nwamaka and another friend of ours - all members of the Love Fellowship in London, that wonderful Christian fellowship that we all belonged to which drew us ever colose to our Lord and Saviour and ever closer to each other as the family we became in Him Who created, loved and brought us all together. That particular Saturday afternoon, we had wanted to explore cultural London. We went to an art exhibition at the Royal Commonwealth gallery and roamed a few more sites before setlling for lunch at Wagamama's and then English tea of ice cream at McDonalds. I returned home that day a changed person - and that is why I have held on to the pictures of that day till today. For we had fellwoshipped, shared our hopes and dreams, prayed with one abother and held on to each other in love in the way that families only could. I went home knowing that my identity is not in family name, an academic title, nor any achievement. I realised that day that my identity is in Christ Jesus. Dearest IJ, someone once sad "who you are speaks so loudly, there really is no need for words". When I think of you, I know that to be true. Kind, God-fearing, resilient, strong, beautiful, faith-full, hopeful, fun-loving, ambitious.." I could go on and on. I love you so much. The last time I saw you were here in Accra. Coincidentally, you were on the same flight from Lagos as my mother and I was meeting her at the airport here. The ever dutiful daughter that you are, when you saw her, despite your trendy stilettos, designer bag, tight jeans and colourful fitted silk blouse, you knelt down to greet her right there at airport Arrivals. Whoever said that contemporary, successful young ladies are without traditional values? As I think of your passing, I am only comforted knowing that you return to Love Himself, our heavenly Father Who you loved, served and honoured this life; and that you are exactly where you have always wanted to be - in the place where the streets are paved of gold and the gates of pearls. Till we meet again, with much love, Ruka Sanusi, Accra, Ghana