Interviews – Being Phenomenal

Healed In Victory (Interview with KoHsin Illingworth)

Nelia Gyemfi — Sat, 25 Feb 2023 13:49:44 +0000

For many, the acronym HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) may be a death sentence, and rightly so. But for KoHsin Illingworth, it has taken a new meaning, which will unfold as you continue to walk with us in this story.

Kohsin tell us about your childhood. How was it like growing up?

I grew up in a financially stable home, alongside my brother. As kids we were competitive. As every young girl, I had my ambitions, plans and dreams for her future. My parents were bankers who paid keen attention to the physical, academic, and financial pieces of my life. However as with most parents, that was at the cost of being emotionally available for their daughter. Interesting, I found Jesus on my own even though I was born into a Buddhist home. I got baptized, which was a public confession of my faith. I had my insecurities growing up. These insecurities and the vacuum left by the emotional and mental neglect of my parents fueled her insecurities and motivated me to seek solace elsewhere.

When did you relocate to the UK and for what?

After my undergraduate degree in Taiwan, I eventually relocated from the Uk to pursue a Master’s in commerce at the

How was life in the UK for you as a newcomer?

I thought I had found this new level of freedom. I would be hopping from party to party, engaging in one-night stands etc. I was at a party one night where I was raped. I was drunk but I still remember that experience and how my body was violated that night. A few years later, I met and married my lovely husband. Everything was going on well, for a young couple. Until I started falling ill and the doctors couldn’t diagnose what was wrong with my body. I was committed even to the mental institutions because she was diagnosed with clinical depression and maniac episodes. One fateful night, I lost consciousness, collapsed, and had to be transported to the hospital in an ambulance. The doctors at the point, at their wits end decided to test for HIV/AIDS. The tests came out positive. The Doctors mentioned this was contracted about 6 or 7 years ago, and had develop into a full-blown AIDS, which was gradually killing me.

At this point Kohsin, finding out that you have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, from rape, if you could go back in time to speak to your younger self then, what would you tell her?

I would say to her be careful about your association. If you find yourself in the wrong crowd, it is easier to land in darkness. Be wise, especially as a woman. Having one-night stands wasn’t wise of me. Don’t be careless and take care of yourself.

What was your initial reaction after being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS?

Prior to the diagnosis, I did not have any HIV/AIDS awareness but only knew the diagnosis was fatal. Especially when the nurses would constantly remind me “Mrs. Illingworth, we are doing our possible best to save your life.” I also observed my husband howling and crying, and that was also an indication of how bad it was. I would eventually contemplate suicide by overdosing on her medication.

How did this impact your marriage and family?

It impacted my husband a lot. He had a front row seat to my illness. He was also eventually diagnosed with HIV. Imagine a young couple who married in their early 30’s and a year later, I am dying with Aids and my husband is diagnosed with HIV. He may have been in a better situation than me, but it was still bad. My husband would still visit me in the hospital daily even though he was going through his own trials at the time.

Let’s talk about the healing process. We have talked so much about the painful past and how you came to realize your diagnosis let’s get into the good stuff.

When I was in the hospital even though I was physically weak I found some inner strength and I believe it was the power of God that came over me. I started praying just in the little way that I could. Prior to being diagnosed or even prior to marrying my husband I had completely left the place of fellowship with God. It wasn’t until one day when I had left the hospital, I heard God’s voice clearly speak to me saying that KoHsin am waiting for you to come home. I looked around trying to see if there was anyone next to me who had spoken those words to me but there was no one around me. I was alone and I heard the voice clearly speak to me that I’m waiting for you to come home.

After I heard that that voice I jumped into a taxi, and I went straight to a Baptist Church. Once I got into the church, I narrated my whole experience to the people, and they were kind and loving enough to welcome me into fellowship into their community and just show me the love of God. And this is how my healing process began because I went back to my father’s house and the warmth, the love, the embrace, that I experienced from the people but most importantly from God was word started my healing journey.

I also had to learn to forgive myself for the mistakes of my past. I had to forgive myself because I had constantly blamed myself thinking that if I hadn’t attended that party that evening I would not have been raped and I would not have contracted the HIV/AIDS. But I came to the place where I knew that to accept God’s forgiveness for me, I had to forgive the man that raped me, I had to forgive myself and I had to accept the forgiveness that I know was in God.

Additionally, I also sought counselling with the Christian Counsellors and that really helped put my marriage with my wonderful husband back on track.

At what point did you find out that you were in the process of getting physically healed from HIV/AIDS?

I was put on HIV antiretroviral medication. These medications were very effective to the extent that my HIV virus count dropped within a very short period from 25,000 to 0. While I believe in the efficiency of the medication, I also believe in the healing power of Jesus Christ and while I was even on medication, I would constantly pray asking God for my HIV virus counts to reduce drastically. It came to me as no shock when I found out after some months of being on the HIV medication that my stats had moved from thousands to zero, which is non detectable.

Let’s talk about the lives this story has touched. Then we’ll talk a bit about your ministry because I know that it was through this healing that you started your ministry healed in victory so we can also talk about that a bit.

I started having courage as I continued to pray to God praying to put something in me. I remember I went on a mission trip and that’s when I was told during coaching that Kohsin, you have a lot of emotional baggage, but you need to pray to God’s will to be done.

I continued to seek the face of God, even to allow me to conceive a baby. During Christmas at 2015, I gave birth to my daughter, Hannah. It was a difficult pregnancy as I was still HIV positive. I was under specialist care. I gave birth to a miracle child, Hannah, who was born without any trace of HIV in her body. That was the second miracle I experienced in this period of my life.

So, at this point, I knew I had to open and share my testimony with the world. At every given opportunity, every platform, every stage. God opened the door for me to go to go back to Taiwan, my home country where I was the first Taiwanese woman to go on live TV to share my story, from HIV to Christ. It was broadcast on Taiwan’s Christian channel, and it blessed so many lives. I received positive feedback and then that’s when I realized God is using my testimony to break the shame and stigma around HIV/AIDS.

The Taiwanese TV station was the first step to use to attend that healed in victory ministry is that correct

Yes, when I started to share my testimony the first one was broadcast from Taiwanese gospel channel and then from that I shared in Thailand. I also shared on so many channels, including BBC Radio. The platforms and opportunities to share are innumerable. Every opportunity I am presented with, I share to the end that many will believe in the healing power of God. To the world, HIV is a terminal disease with stigma, but in God, HIV means Healed in Victory.

I’m not ashamed to tell people that I was HIV. It took like 10 years through the restoration process to get healed. As such, we need to encourage people not to give up in believing that God can still heal.

Even as I hear you talk about healed in victory and you talking about your journey from HIV and everything, I believe that God did not only heal you from the physical debilitating effects of HIV. I feel like there was a real mental healing as well. Someone might think that I don’t have HIV, so this is not for me, or I don’t have a physical illness, so I don’t need God. But I believe that your story is such a wholesome healing experience. You got healed from many things like insecurity, mental illness and the trauma of rape.

Tell us about your book, Real Mums, Real Jesus.

As a new mother, and with my HIV status, I couldn’t breastfeed my daughter Hannah. Additionally, having her through caesarean session made me feel alienated to her. I didn’t have the instant maternal bond I thought I would have. Other struggles reared their head, and as I began to speak with other mothers, they related with my struggle. So, the book is a collection of experiences, written for mothers by mothers, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. I said to God I said all those real moms’ stories if I didn’t put “Real Jesus” on the front it will probably reach to more audience because I want to use this book to help myself and help women and moms around the world. That was my initial initiative and my vision, but God really said to be put the real Jesus on the front cover and then put the word of God alongside them.

This book has been translated in Urdu for our community in Pakistan and, Swahili for our folks in Kenya. Pakistan, India, and Taiwan. We continue to receive tremendous testimonies on the book.

You can purchase a copy of the book by clicking this link.

Thanks for reading. Let Kohsin know how her story has inspired and ignited hope in you by leaving a comment.

SHELMAY!

Nelia Gyemfi — Sun, 24 Sep 2017 15:23:02 +0000

This has been my most interesting interview ever. Here’s why; this conversation cum interview you’re about to read was originally a mere informal conversation between myself and Sherrlie. I realised this is all I needed for an interview. So I told her, Sherrlie you know what, this conversation just became an interview session. She then said “Nelia you’ve breached our contract???????”. I said “I am sorry but thank you for taking the headache off me!” So I asked some follow up questions after well, a very, very, very, very, lengthy, detailed, and incredible self pitch I have ever come across. So what it means is that today, Sherrlie does majority of the talking! My dear Phenomenal Women, SHERRLIE MAISON!

Shirley: My name is Shirley Esther Maison. But I love to be called SHELMAY?. I am the second to the first and the last of the two ??. I had my crèche at Jack and Jill and then went to Seven Great Princess Academy from nursery to JHS 1 second term where I had to painfully change schools because we(my family) were relocating to our permanent house at Kasoa. I continued my JHS education at West End International School where I completed and wrote my BECE. Now let me chip in to say that during this stage of my life it was a battle because that was my first major change and it disoriented my thinking and greatly affected my social skills. I had to learn how to make new friends and associates. I was greatly familiar with my former church, school and community. This was a tough one but I braced it.
I gained admission to Wesley Girls high school where I read Home Economics. Truth is I loved “geyhey” before I got there because my big sister was there as well as my aunties and literally every other woman around me was a geyhey noisemaker ???? so I pretty much had no option because as they say “if u can’t beat them join them” . During my stay there I was member of the red cross society and it was during my red cross days that I learnt how to go out to help the kakumdo community to dress their sores and other basic first aid knowledge was acquired as well. If there is any other lesson I learnt from this experience, it was how I could get out of my comfort zone and help others.

In addition to my contributions to the Red Cross Society, I was part of a club called FORUM FOR AFRICAN WOMEN EDUCATIONIST. It was a forum where issues about women and empowerment were discussed as well as the development of skills. We included basic etiquette such as eating, walking and essentially anything about being a lady. In the course of it, I became the vice president and then later we merged with another ladies group and became one club called GENDA AGENDER still clinging on to the position of a VICE PRESIDENT.
Along the line I became a member of the chapel committee and also a bible study leader where we prepared for service and led bible studies. I completed my senior high school education not with just an academic accomplishment, but with some knowledge about the world, the Word and also about volunteerism.
I proceeded to the University of Ghana where I read Linguistics, French and Spanish. During my second semester in first year I joined a ministry on campus called MASS THEATRE; a Christian theatre ministry that taught the biblical and spiritual reasoning for all the acts and dance and recitals we take on stage. What the world calls performance , we call a ministration. ?? . I Was in this ministry my whole four years in the university. It was a great privilege because I grew spiritually and also to understand some basic principles we overlook. I cannot use this platform to throw more light but just to say the least, I will always go back to mass theatre if I were a fresher in university again. Aside my ministry I was introduced to an NGO by a friend. At that time the ngo was called INSPYA GHANA. We visited far and near communities to spend a couple of days with them and mentored the kids, donated materials and also had some other ngos on board to help with health screenings and discussions. We had time for the parents and teachers as well. Infact we blended so well with the communities we visited such that leaving them was always heartbreaking.
During my last year in the university, I was made the PROJECT DIRECTOR of the NGO and I am still in the position. My responsibilities cut across working hand in hand with my assistant and together with the organizing director and also with the marketing director at times in terms of working on projects and evaluating communities that may need our help. I am also incharge of assigning roles and involving volunteers, members and our partners in all our projects and events.
I must say this exposure has been one of a kind. One thing I have learnt and still learning is that you do not need to get to where you want to be before you pull others along. Pull them along as you move. The world will be a far more better place if we could see through the struggles of others and help them.

Nelia:Whewww! That was some introduction right there! Moving on, if you were a book what would be your title and why.

Shirley: Hahaha a book????. Umm hmm. The Secret UNKNOWN. why? Because I believe there’s still more to know than you know now????. Well but essentially there’s more to unravel and there’s more to explore about myself.
Nelia: How about if you were a colour, what would you be and why?
Shirley: Colour? .BLUE??? . Blue because it is the color of the sky and sea. It is often associated with depth and stability. It symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth, and above all heaven. Blue has been considered to be beneficial to the mind and body. ??
Nelia: You’ve worked with a lot of ngos for women. What would you say is our biggest problem, especially black women and how do you suggest we can overcome it.

Shirley: Our biggest problem hmm we don’t believe we could be who we really want to be and so we close ourselves to many opportunities . If we all fully utilise our potentials as the GIVER expects, we would do more than we are doing.
Nelia: How would you define success?
Shirley: Success is relative and fairly subjective. However, I believe it should be measured by how far you have come with what you have aimed to achieve.

Nelia: How has volunteerism added value to the person you are now.
Shirley: Volunteerism has unveiled the me I didn’t even know existed. Hahaha.

Nelia:This interview wouldn’t be complete without this question, who is a phenomenal woman in your opinion?

Shirley: Well I believe a phenomenal woman is one who still focuses on her *passion* and *purpose* despite her past and her imperfections. A phenomenal woman is one who is true to her self to the end.

Nelia: Before we let go of you Shirley, any nuggets of advice to your fellow young women.

Shirley: My advise to everyone including myself is never be discouraged about the things you desire to achieve. We are surrounded by forces of different shades and all but hey build bridges with it and walk on it to get to where you are going. Allow yourself to unleash the hidden you. We have been created for far more than we are doing now. Lastly, never forget your source of life which is God.
Oh and finally [ I promise : • )]Build networks. Strong bonds. One that will build u up physically, socially, morally, and above all spiritually.

Here’s where the têtê-à-têtê with miss incredible SHELMAY ends today. It was fun, didactic and insightful. Let’s know you passed by. Drop your comments???

Love, Nelia.phenomenalwoman

Interview-Excellencial.

Nelia Gyemfi — Sun, 27 Aug 2017 21:10:01 +0000

Miss Excellencial Betty Boatemaa

With the spate of unemployment, especially for young university graduates in our country, it takes bravery, innovation and positivity to decide to be an entrepreneur. Finding an opportunity in what seems to be a competitive world is worth celebrating. Today, our guest, a twenty-four-year-old graduate of KNUST decision against all odds to stand a business; a unique and pretty interesting one at that. Ladies and Gentlemen, meet Excellencial Betty Boatemaa

Nelia: Hi Betty, kindly tell us about yourself and your business most especially.
Betty: Having started Excel Sobolo while at the University, I gained experience in marketing as the General Manager. I had the opportunity to improve my communication skills, interpersonal skills and decision making skills. Juggling academic work and business at school produced effective time management skills in me. The joy of starting an initiative and working towards its success continued after University. Currently I am the Founder of Kubenut. Kubenut is a partnership type of business which is responsible for production of packaged tender coconut water and the coconut pulp. Kubenut aims to deliver nutritious, thirst quenching, refreshing, energizing and high quality tender coconut water and its pulp to its customers. Kubenut places a great deal is on safety, hygienic, healthy and attractive packaging. Customer satisfaction is our hallmark. It is a part time work at the moment and wish to expand it in future. I have a goal of reading International Business Management as my second degree programme to boost my business development and management skills. In future, I want to be Business Developer and Marketing Manager for a global brand company in the industry of food and beverages.

Nelia: Goals! You will surely achieve what you’ve set out to achieve. How growing up like for you?

Betty: Growing up having a teacher as a mother, you got to learn hard and excel. My childhood was more about books. So I guess my childhood was pretty normal then.
Nelia: What motivates you in life.
Betty: Successful stories of people who have made it in life. People who have made in against all of life’s circumstances. I feel like I have no excuse to fail at all.
Nelia: Any particular unfortunate experiences that you’ve encountered in life? (Any story you can share that will inspire and encourage someone reading it.)
Betty: I didn’t grow up to see a male figure in my house, my mother has played both roles and she is a fighter. She is now on pension but was a Diploma Teacher. By grace, she has seen all of us through the university. I am the last born. It hasn’t been easy financially, but God has been good. She is my number one role model.
Nelia:I’m sorry about not having a male figure in your life. But all things work together for our good. How did you rise above it?

Betty: The excellence mindset.
Nelia: The excellence spirit indeed. I’m pretty convinced this is what incited you to start your own business right after leaving school. As a startup entrepreneur, what influenced your decision to start KUBENUT?

Betty: The fact that any fruit can be taken in the office except coconut because of the nature of the fruit. So then I figured if it cold be packaged neatly and made convenient, people, especially those in the corporate sector will patronise it.
Nelia: Exactly. Find a problem in society, find a way to fix it. People will pay for it. Howbeit I suppose it hasn’t been a smooth ride. What are some of the risks you had to take as a startup? What has kept you going?

Betty: Financial risks and what keeps me going is knowing that a customer is satisfied with your product and services. It gives you some unexplainable joy.
Nelia: Where do you envision KUBENUT to be in the next 5 years?
Betty: In 5 years’ time, I see Kubenut obtain Food and Drugs Authorization number, have had more hands on board and have captured the whole of Greater Accra and another region.
Nelia: How would you define success?
Betty: Having positive influence and impact on your society.

Nelia: Growing up, who’s been your mentor and why?
Betty: Joyce Meyer. She had fought the good fight of faith and she is where she is now.
Nelia: If you were a book, what would be your title and why?
Betty: How Grace Works. Because my life is grace influenced.
Nelia: We all are indeed grace bound! If you were a colour, which one would you be and why?

Betty: Red, signifying the blood of Jesus, so precious to me.
Nelia: THE BLOOD! What does it mean to be a Phenomenal Woman for you?
Betty: A Phenomenal Woman is a woman who is influencing her society positive and having impact on them.
Nelia: Finally, an advice to your fellow sisters out there.
Betty: Seeth thou a man diligent in his ways, he shall stand before kings. Be diligent in what you do, you will be at the top.

Nelia: See you at the top darling. Thank you!

This interview was made possible by Arbie Marfoa Marfo, Team Member of the Phenomenal Woman Blog and a great friend of Miss Betty.
Don’t forget to let me know you passed by!
Love, Nelia

Sena Wogormebu

Nelia Gyemfi — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 17:02:37 +0000

Sena Wogormebu

Ladies and well gentlemen today’s interview features a lovely young woman with the things of God at heart, a talented and skilled footballer or soccer player amongst many others. She’s a person with a set focus in life and goals to achieve. Sit back, pick notes, enjoy!

Nelia: Hi Sena, kindly tell us about yourself.
Sena: I am a young person, 20 years of age. At this point in life I am working on two things: the inside of my heart and the inside of my pockets. I like the idea of grinding in your 20s, building in your 30s and chilling in your 40s. If I should describe myself using one word, the word is vivacious (full of life and good spirits… happy and lively in a way that is attractive). I like fashion, football and photography. I’m a big fan of goals, I love black excellence, and most importantly I love God.
I’m currently in my second year at university studying Marketing with Digital Communications.

Nelia: How was growing up like for you?
Sena: Growing up for me has been great. I’m from a family of six: three sisters, myself, my mum and dad. My sisters and I are close in age and we share a very strong bond. For this reason, I am big on family and girl power!

Nelia: Girl Power she says. On that note what motivates you in life?
Sena:What motivates me in life is my vision of the future. I have put plans together which makes me look forward to what is to come and knowing that God has even bigger plans for me makes it ten times more exciting.

Nelia: Why soccer? Which position do you play?
Sena: Growing up, I was a bit of a tomboy. All my friends were boys and hanging out with them included getting involved in most of the things they were into, which included soccer. After a while I got really deep into it, even when my friends stopped pursuing it, I continued. I play as a striker.
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Nelia: What are some lessons or experiences that you’ve had with playing soccer, especially as a young woman. Any stereotypes or the sort?
Sena: Growing up, soccer wasn’t popular amongst girls so I always found myself playing soccer with boys. I was always the only girl amongst a group of about 20+ boys. A lot of the time boys used to look at me thinking ‘she’s just a girl, she doesn’t know how to play football’ until I touched the ball and shocked them. I gained a lot of respect through this and so many times I have been told by boys ‘I’ve never known a girl that is able to play soccer the way that you do’ or ‘I didn’t know that girls could play soccer’.

Nelia: Hahaha they didn’t know girls could play soccer huh? This journey wouldn’t have been easy. What sacrifices have you had to make to be at the point you are right now in soccer?
Sena: A big sacrifice I made for soccer was leaving my family behind in the U.K. as I went to play ball in the States. I sacrificed a comfortable life in pursuit of my dreams. It was at this stage of my life where I discovered that outside of your comfort zone is where you grow and really experience life for what it is. I explored so many new things and went through so many challenges. Through this I learned so much. I definitely feel that the sacrifice was worth it.

Nelia: “Outside of your comfort zone is where you grow and really experience life for what it is”. What are your short term and long term goals with regards to career, sports, and life in general.
Sena:My career goals are as follows:
– Graduate
– Work in digital marketing
– Work in the film industry
– Start my own businesses
– Charity work, missionary work, ministry
As far as life goals I want to travel, have a husband and kids, be financially stable, be genuinely happy and fulfil destiny.

Nelia: How would you define success?
Sena: Success for me means accomplishing a plan, goal, dream or even an idea that you bring to fruition. It can be as simple learning how to tie your own shoelace or as big as becoming a billionaire.

Nelia: As simple as tieing your shoelace or as big as becoming a billionaire. In other words, success is defined by yourself. Moving forward, do you think young Christian women are finding it difficult to identify and align themselves with the purpose of God for us?
Sena: If there is any difficulty in young Christian women being able to align themselves with God’s purpose for their lives, I believe it is due to distraction from either the opposite sex or society or fear or lack of understanding. Distraction from the opposite sex by maybe getting into relationships, being head over heels for their partner or focusing so much on their appearance in order to draw that kind of attention. Girls can get wild when it comes to boys and love. I say distraction from society in the sense that society makes you focus on things of the world such as beauty and money, whereas Christianity is more concerned with the things above – hence the scripture seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteous. I mentioned fear because when it comes to God, often times you can be left not knowing how and when things will happen, which is why faith is a key ingredient. And finally lack of understanding. The bible says ‘my people perish due to lack of understanding’ – understanding scripture, understanding the plan of God for your life and understanding that heaven and hell is real.

Nelia: Preach on sister! Indeed for lack of knowledge of who we are we perish in this world trying to be something we are not. Is there any one woman you look up to and say when I grow up one day, I want to be like this woman?
Sena:Definitely Rev Mrs. Awo Antwi, my head pastor’s wife at the church I attend – Kharis Ministries London. I don’t often open up to anyone but the one time I spoke to Pastor Awo, the wisdom she spoke was mind blowing. She is my spiritual mother. I think she is beautiful inside and out. She is a living Proverbs 31 woman and an example and inspiration of what a Christian woman, wife and mother should be like.

Nelia: Rev. Mrs Awo Antwi God bless you. Besides soccer, any other hobbies?
Sena: Absolutely! My hobbies include singing, dancing, cooking, designing, shopping, driving, watching movies, basketball, football, hanging out with friends and family.

Nelia: I can tell you do a lot evangelism from your pictures and all. Can you give an advice or tip on how other young women can go all out for Christ on the streets like you do.
Sena: I evangelise because God commanded me to do so. He said ‘Go out into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.’ Heaven rejoices when a soul is added to the kingdom and being able to make God happy is everything. Also it is a great feeling to be used by God and knowing you have helped to save someone from the hell they were destined for is selfless because it is the same thing that was done for us.

Nelia: A commandment indeed. Please no ‘libi-laba’ when it comes to evangelism. Do it as though you were asking someone on a movie date! How you will convince them to go see the movie with you, use that same skill, convince them to go to Heaven with you.
Okay so lets say you were a book, what would be your title and why?
Sena: If I were a book, my title would be ‘Purple Diamond.’ I looked up the symbolic meaning of the colour purple and also the crystal meaning of a diamond… Purple is associated with royalty. It symbolizes power, nobility, luxury, and ambition. It conveys wealth and extravagance. Purple is associated with wisdom, dignity, independence, creativity, mystery, and magic. Diamond is a stone that is used to bring energies of longevity, balance, clarity, intensity, success, and abundance. It also brings eternity, purity, and high frequency energy. It also is a stone of amplification, including thoughts, strengths, and weaknesses.
This is not who I am right now but I believe I will be in the future. Right now I am in the processing stage. I am being worked on – pressured, cut/shaped and then polished.

Nelia: Oh my, the processing stage, a stage everyone needs to go through to be who they see in their minds’ eye. Thank you for the reminder. Also if you were a colour, which one would you be and why?
Sena: If I was a colour I would be gold because I am a child of God made in his image.

Nelia: Gold it is! This is the Phenomenal Woman Blog. It would be an error if I dont ask what does it mean to be a Phenomenal Woman in your opinion?
Sena: For me, being a phenomenal woman means making a difference. Being a phenomenal woman means finding the gift God has given you and using it to its full potential to bear fruit. It means being remarkable and exceptional in all that you do and in all the roles that you play as a female (mother, wife, sister, friend, activist, professional, student, teacher for example).
‘Being a phenomenal woman means being a woman phenomenally’ – Maya Angelou

Nelia: Being remarkable and exceptional in all that you do! Finally, an advice to your fellow sisters out there.
Sena: To my fellow Christian sisters out there, my advice to you is Matthew 5:14–16 … never be afraid to shine. God said that we are the light of the world. The light of this world is the sun. The sun doesn’t care if it blinds you. Be fearless in the things of God and I pray that you receive grace and boldness to do so.
Stay blessed.

Nelia: Stay Blessed too.
If you enjoyed this piece and you were impacted, don’t be stingy with your data. Share the link. Oh and don’t forget to comment
Nelia

DR ADAMS.

Nelia Gyemfi — Sun, 25 Jun 2017 05:59:19 +0000

When I was in primary school I asked my mum which profession was “higher” : a nurse or a doctor . She answered : a doctor. Pleaseoooooooo my mum is a nurse wai, dont start argueing. So I told her that, then I’ll be a doctor. I got a lady-bird dictonary gift from a family friend when I was in sunday school after 1 of my numerous little sermons. Whiles flipping through, I found the word “pediatrician”. Ooooooo so my big head on a small body decided to be a pediatrician and I was still in primary school. 1 of my primary school teachers started calling me “mpanie” (hehhe..forgive my twi). In JSS, I started writing on alllllllllll of my books “DR.ADAMS”(Abigail Doduwah Abena Maame Sackey)and some teachers started calling me that and most importantly my mum and the rest of my family members joined in. Parents , speak “life” into the lives of your children.
My name is DR.ADAMS. ..if you want to honor my family aaa then call me Dr.Sackey(and no, I’m not a ga. I’m from Enyan denkyira….and no my fante sucks). …if u ask me aaa then me dier please just call me A MIRACLE

And that is how we begin today’s interview with Dr. Ewurabena Adams( well we’ll find out pretty shortly whether the ADAMS is an acronym or not)

So this was the first post of her I read. Immediately after reading it, I inboxed her. I honestly didn’t think she was going to reply, well for obvious reasons( lol) but she did, and pretty quickly too. Oh wait, I sent her a friend request first. Yes, then she accepted almost immediately, then I inboxed her. Anyway, so I had this admiration for her right from when I read her post. The PHENOMENAL WOMAN BLOG hadn’t even commenced yet. In fact, during that period, I was busily wasting my energy on a campaign when God had it all figured out just like that. He watched me do it all to the end. Then He said, abi you’re done chasing what wasn’t the real deal. Well now that I have your attention, let’s work! Wheeww I feel like I’m taking the attention of today’s interview (well, you can’t blame me, I have looked forward to this interview even before Phenomenal Woman was born so allow).
My dear Phenomenal Woman, I present to you the exclusive interview with DR EWURABENA ADAMS!
Nelia: Who’s Dr Ewurabena Adams?

Dr. Adams: My name is Abigail Doduwah Abena Maame Sackey (A.D.A.M.S). I’m the 3rd and last born of my parents. I’m a practicing medical doctor.

Nelia: oh so the Adams is indeed an acronym as I suspected. How was growing up like for you?

Dr. Adams: I grew up in a middle class family in a couple of compound houses in Accra. I enjoyed my childhood as a tomboy, I followed my brothers everywhere and I have scars to prove them.. Hehe

Nelia: What were some of the life’s lessons you’ve grown up to understand and appreciate more.

Dr. Adams: Life lessons : give and give and give….. Smile a lot… Be determined and follow your dreams wisely….love others and be at peace with everyone, or at least try. Most importantly love God (if you love Him, you’ll obey his commandments)

Nelia: Give, give and give! Why did you choose to be a doctor?( I mean I get that question a lot so why not throw the bomb at some one if it’s in my possession now)

Dr. Adams: well, its all in the except of the post I wrote last year. But to summarise matters, lets say i saw mum loving what she did as a nurse and she was good at it. I decided to follow her footsteps but a little “higher”. I wanted to continue where my mum had stopped and by God’s grace, this is where we are now.

Nelia: I read your testimony about how you got into med school and all in order to accomplish your dreams. (Which by the way, is this very post up here. I really entreat everyone to go on to her fb wall and read the whole story) but in the meantime, be generous by giving us a gist of it.

Dr. Adams: Hmmm, this is a whole book. But in summary God made a way for me to study medicine in Russia through a scholarship when I was rejected by the universities in Ghana. And by His grace I came out with flying colors. Hallelujah!

Nelia: Amen. I always say, that a disappointment is really an appointment in disguise! Now lets talk about being a woman shall we? Do you think young Christian woman are finding it difficult to identify and align themselves with the purpose of God for us?

Dr Adams: Sadly and rightly so my dear. Most christian young women are trying to be “accepted ” in this world and the means doesn’t matter to them which is sad.

Nelia: Who’s your mentor?

Dr. Adams: I have a couple of mentors depending on which aspect of life I want to polish.

I’ll name just one here, my mother – Mrs Lucy Sackey. She is the strongest woman I know, her generosity always baffles me even when she doesn’t have. Her prayer life is something I want for myself and her dedication and love for God is enviable. She is the best gift in person God has given me ever!

Nelia: Life can indeed be bleak at times… what keeps you going during such difficult periods?

Dr. Adams: I think of three things.

Past – where God brought me from.

Present – what God is doing in my life

Future – what God will do in my life

I look to Him, the author and finisher of my faith and that He is really the I AM THAT I AM. Hallelujah!

Nelia: Apart being a Dr, what do you enjoy doing? Something fun and exciting.

Dr. Adams: Cooking – I love to try new recipes, eating – trying out new foods and loving it. Travelling seeing new places and having a change of environment. And I loooooooveeee teaching Sunday school. Suffer not the children to come to me…

Nelia: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen sister! What does it mean to be a Phenomenal Woman in your opinion?

Being a phenomenal woman doesn’t mean you don’t make mistakes, don’t break down sometimes, don’t get sick, don’t wanna give up sometimes, don’t get disappointed in yourself and the things around you, don’t feel insignificant, don’t feel little and I can go on about all the negatives feelings… but being a phenomenal woman means knowing and accepting that you are imperfect yet still trying to brighten the corner you find yourself in and making sure you work on that source of light to make it brighter, brighter and BRIGHTER!! and ooo if you have CHRIST then you become BRIGHTEST!!!

Dear woman, you have generations inside you, every step you take now will affect those generations. Whatever you are going through now some other people might have gone through it – group A failed and group B passed. Which group do you belong to or want to belong to

..it doesn’t matter where you currently are because GOD always allows a U-turn!

Look, search, ask and you’ll get there someday. Don’t let anyone deceive you, women are special beings in the eyes of God and a woman who prays is a powerful woman (my grandmother and mother are living testimonies )

It might be difficult but please and please and please strive to be part of group B : where there is a WILL, there is always a WAY!!!

Anyone can be a phenomenal woman but a phenomenal woman who loves God is a unique phenomenal woman!

God loves you more than you know or you’ll ever understand and He wants the best for you!

Nelia: wow, that answers my final question, an advice to your fellow sisters out there. But it is all in there!
It’s been a great interview. My take home quote, anyone can be a Phenomenal Woman, but a Phenomenal Woman who loves God is a unique Phenomenal Woman. Which kind of a Phenomenal Woman are you!
Ps: She graduated with a first class in Medicine! I think God deserves some praise.
One last Ps: Don’t forget to follow her on FB @ Ewurabena Adams

love, Nelia.phenomenalwoman

Emmanuella Esinam Awunyo.

Nelia Gyemfi — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 15:58:05 +0000

So during the summer break I decided to intern at one of the most prestigious Business Law firms in Africa, little did I know I was going to meet a family, a family of young, intelligent and smart women, one of which is my guest today. She’s full of so much energy. She’s smart, articulate and she’s just herself. I remember our first day on the job, when we were ordering for lunch, she goes like me I want local dishes OK, rice rice is not my thing. I was like yaaaayy I have my match. It was amazing working with her, and today she decided to spend sometime with us…
Ladies and Gentlemen, she is Miss Tourism 2012, that’s all I will say for now.. want to find out more about this personality, just scroll down.

Nel: Who is Miss Tourism 2012?

Esi: Well that will be me. She is a lady who shares the same birthday with Ghana’s First President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, hence don’t be surprised if she becomes the first female president of Ghana. She is currently a final year student undertaking her postgraduate degree in law under the University of London International Programmes. She was crowned Miss Tourism Ghana 2012 and loves to cook, act, research and spend quality time with her family. Esinam is a lover of the entertainment industry and hopes to feature in a Hollywood blockbuster movie in the near future. Her philosophy of life revolves around the British Statesman, Sir Winston Churchill’s saying that “we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give”.

Nel: You really do know you! Alright tell us about your journey in the world of beauty pageants and competitions.

Esi:Well, my journey in the world of pageantry started when i was a little girl growing up in Osu who was always glued to the television set watching Miss Ghana back in the late 90’s. I knew that whatever i wanted to achieve in my adult life was supposed to be a source of inspiration to both the young and the old.My debut in pageantry was during my high school days in Keta Senior Secondary School and during my undergraduate studies at the University of Ghana, I auditioned to be part of Face of Legon, and made it to the grand finale but didn’t make it to the top five finalists.

My next shot at a beauty pageant after series of grooming sessions was in 2011 when I was selected to be part of the sixteen girls who made it to the Miss Malaika Ghana house and during the grand finale, I was in the top five and went home with three awards, Miss Talent, Best Evening Gown and Miss Catwalk.

In 2012, I auditioned for Miss Tourism Ghana, which is by far one of the best pageants in Ghana because it deals with a vital area of the Ghanaian economy that helps generate revenue for the country. I was crowned Miss Tourism Ghana 2012 and ended up swooping more than half of the awards that were up for grabs on the night, which included, Miss Eloquence, Miss Talent, Miss Photogenic, and Best Specific Tourism segment. This has been my journey in the world of pageantry.

Nel: How did the competition help groom you into who you are now.

Esi: Miss Tourism Ghana has moulded me into the confident, outspoken lady speaking to you today. It also gave me the platform to network with eminent personalities both locally and internationally which has afforded me with the needed exposure that has had a profound impact on my view of the world in which we live.

Nel: Growing up as a young lady, I have on several accounts heard people, both male and female dicuss the issue of pageantry and morality. Actually, my eldest sister was once Miss Obaasima (which will now be Miss CUC) during her days as student in Central University College. I know she would have loved to pursue that dream but for this unfavourable misconception that is gaining grounds about beauty Queens and morality. What’s your take on it?

Esi: I believe its all about perception. As human beings we come across various temptations especially when you are a beautiful young lady who either has the dream to be a beauty queen or has in fact won a pageant. You tend to receive a lot of favors and attention from men especially but at the end of the day it boils down to you the individual, your values, principles, and what they stand for in your life.

Nel: Principles. Thats one thing no person can shove it down your throat. You make them yourself and be sure not to compromise. Let the world say and do what the may. Stand for something else you fall for anything. Within my few months of knowing you I can tell are full of so much energy. What’s your secrert young lady besides God ofcourse.

Esi: My dad.He is my sole inspiration and the reason I keep striving to achieve my goals in life. He was my driving force when i was competing for the various pageants I found myself in and he still is as i aspire to be a lawyer in the near future.

Nel: Daddy Daddy. We the Akans will say Dada Ba. Moving on, any particular women , you look up to as mentors and role models in your chosen path of life and why?

Esi: Definitely. Her name is Etta Mensah and she was my Common Law Reasoning and Institutions lecturer during my first year on the University of London International Programme. She is a young industrious woman in her 30’s.I admire her sense of perseverance, commitment and dedication to achieving her goals. In a short space of time she has achieved so much in her life as a young woman and she never ceases to amaze me.

Nel: Yuhp I remember you mention her to me and the other ladies one time during our internship programme when we stole time to chat a while. Well done Ma’am.

Alright soo if you had the opportunity to be a young 10 year child again, with all the knowledge and expertise in life now, what would you change about your life as a young woman?

Esi: Mmm….now that’s a difficult one. To be honest i will change nothing about my life as a young woman. I love the woman I am now with all my perfections and imperfections. I have grown to embrace all aspects of my life for they have actually molded me into the woman I am today.

Nel: What is your advice to the young woman out there who is scared and afraid to go all out for herself because of society?

Esi: According to Stephanie Melish ‘Fear is an idea-crippling, experience-crushing, success-stalling inhibitor inflicted by yourself’. Sweetheart, if you are out there reading this don’t be scared to go all out for yourself for you owe it to yourself to be happy. Forget about what society thinks, and do what makes you happy and feel fulfilled because at the end of the day whether you go all out or not society will still be around. You are special and have a role to play and you must play it to the best of your ability.

Nel: What top 5 pieces of advice would you give to young girls and why?

Esi: Well here you go!!

Be yourself because everyone else is taken.

Humility is the key to your altitude in life.

Always lend a helping hand when you can because we all need help in one way or the other.

Do what you love because it won’t seem like work and you would do it with joy.

Never ever compromise on your values as an individual for that is what makes you who you really are.

Nel: Finally finally, What does the future hold for you in pageantry

Esi: Well, pageants have shaped me into the fine young woman i am today. I work with the Miss Tourism Ghana Organization every year to groom the contestants as well as help organize the main event.
However, In the near future i hope to run a pageant of my own to give other young ladies the opportunity I was given to better themselves and the lives of people around them.

Nel: Esinam thanks soo much for your time. I know I have had to be on you just a little for this piece but am very grateful dear. And I hope we get to work again with all the other ladies so we can continue our coffee treats every morning.

Esi: lol. Sure thing Nelia. Thank you for the opportunity as well to tell my story. I’m honoured.

Well there you have it. Very insightful and mind boggling lessons. Hope you enjoyed it and it was helpful. Let’s get talking. Be sure to leave a comment right here??.
Love, Nelia ??

Be your selfie (II) I Am What You Cannot See.

Nelia Gyemfi — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 20:20:14 +0000

Heya…well well well…remember Micaela? Anyways so I came across a poem she wrote, sometime back. Probably way before our paths crossed but then I was like wow…she’s got to do a piece on the #BE YOUR SELFIE SERIES. I kind of just dropped the bombshell on her a few days ago. I text her and am like “CAELA YOU ARE DOING THE NEXT POST” She says Nelia what?! Are you sure? And I say Absolutely! !
And she stuns me when I receive the piece! And I know this piece will wow you from here to the moon and back. She addresses the issues at stake from a whole different point of view which I whole heartedly believe will relate well with some of us. It’s true what the Phenomenal Maya Angelo said.. that in diversity, there is beauty and there is strength.
In the diversity Micaela inputs in this work, there is indeed beauty and strength.
Ladies and (gentlemen),
Micaela presents I AM WHAT YOU CANNOT SEE.

When I wrote this poem, I was in a very bad place. A place I have never been before emotionally, spiritually and mentally. I was trying to understand what I wanted out of life, I was scared of the future and I wanted as much as possible to please everybody and do what everybody says. I was confused, yet enlightened. I was yearning for something, yet I felt a pseudo-feeling of fulfilment. I was always in mixed emotions. Whether it was to do with love, work, academia and friends. All in all, I was in a pit left to fight a battle against myself, with myself and everybody else. So when our girl Cornelia came to me one evening and said (mind you not in so many words, but in many emoji’s haha), ‘Micaela you have to write about this!’ I immediately thought, wow really? Is she sure? There is so much history in between those lines and within the words – it’s simply bringing up the difficult side of the past. But then, after I looked at it again closely, after a year, I realised, this is indeed an empowering piece. How did I miss this? After acknowledging this, I thought, ok, yes, now, I need to look for some awesome, cool, Bible scriptures that extremely reiterate the morals of this poem, something that will relate to us as women and also, most importantly be able to blow our minds with excitement! Whilst frantically flying through bible quotes, I just stopped and for some reason, I went on ahead and started writing.
Therefore my African Queens, what you are about to read, is simply a brief snippet of unfiltered, raw thought processes – some of which you may agree with and have experienced. Some of which you may not agree with. And that is ok Life is a learning process and we are all entitled to our own opinions! Now, (assuming that I haven’t lost you just yet – hold on!) let us embark on thinking about what it means to be your extra-ordinary self!
There is something that I have always admired about us African women. Besides the fact that we are strong, independently and collectively, we are aware of who we are, what we can do and what we want. We shouldn’t see our nubian, melanin skin as a setback. It is where we draw our strength… (after we have sought to find ourselves from the image from which we were made- CHRIST). It seems that this is an instinct, it feels like it is common knowledge. Perhaps it is a common language. It is beautiful and inspiring that we speak in these secret codes. We may not explicitly use words at times to augment this, but there seems to be some form of awareness. For me, whenever I find myself looking my skin (probably when my mind is wandering off), I don’t just see my flesh and veins. I see beyond that. I see history. I see a lineage of many kingdoms and empires ingrained in my DNA. I see a woman who has found herself, not per the standards of society, nor by the expectations of family, neither is it by the pressures from comrades and mates. (What do you see in yours? Comment below!).
We all know that we come from one or more than one nation in Africa. For instance, I am Ghanaian. However, if we think back to roughly the 12th Century, the ‘Ghana Empire’ itself consisted of many smaller regions and kingdoms going beyond the current territorial borders. It spanned across what we now know today as Mauritania and Mali. This shows that maybe I have a little Mauritanian and Malian in me! Queen, what I would like you to draw from here in my case is that as I am a melting pot of different centuries’ old ethnic kinships, and perhaps maybe due to this I may have inherited certain characteristics in personality or appearance, I AM STILL UNIQUE; AND SO ARE YOU. You have your own unique talents, strengths and weaknesses, vision, passion, thus, your own great personality. You have been purposefully fashioned to not be a copy of someone else. Yes, you may look like your brother or sister or your mum, but within, there is certainly no one like you. If we think back to the concept of sisterhood, we can see that it is based on a community of women coming together for a good cause. Mostly for the purpose of empowerment. The key thing to note here, is that as we do come together, we are bringing all of our talents to the table. We are walking into this community with our uncommon differences. DISTINCTIVENESS AS AN ININDIVIDUAL IS WHAT MAKES YOU GREAT.
Once again, going into why I wrote this poem, I think I wrote it in retaliation. In retaliation to what was said and thought about me. I have always known that there is something special inside of me, something that no one else can see or envision. You have that special thing inside of you too. Only you can feel it and see what it looks like. Sometimes it is pretty hazy to see, I admit. The beauty of this is going on another journey to see it and understand it again. It is what motivates you and encourages you to aspire to various heights.
Queen, let this week be a reflection of what that thing is to you. Please understand that this makes you extra-ordinary. This makes you what you are that others cannot see.
Peace, love and blessings,
Micaela x.
Thanks for reading, sharing and liking the post. Much love, from Nelia??
I am what you cannot see

Sincerely Samuella!

Nelia Gyemfi — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 16:52:04 +0000

Heya! So today we have Samuella Takyi Buachie with the brand name @Sincerely Samuella. She is a Ghanaian Us based young lady who has got the strength and tenacity like that of Michelle Obama or Hilary Clinton. She studies at Drexel University and was an intern at Google in recent times. She describes herself as a part-time blogger and a full time food lover (love the sound of that). She makes food come alive trust me. Well, I will leave her to do all the talking while we take some notes.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the ever glamorous, sensational, lovely Samuella.

Nelia: In a few words, who is Samuella?

SS: I was born and raised in Ghana, West Africa and moved to the US for more educational opportunities. I am now a Junior at Drexel University studying Finance and Marketing with minors in International Economics and International Area Studies.

NELIA: What drives you as a young Christian woman?

SS: One trait that I developed and I think has really shaped me into who I am today is the fact that I am selfmotivated. Due to my personal background and interests, I am extremely selfmotivated and I am always thinking about what else I can get involved in. I cannot sit idle, at all.

NELIA: She can’t sit idle. Its not enough to just sit around and look pretty as a woman. Remember the proverbs 31 woman?
Anyway so what’s your opinion on the purpose of womanhood?

SS: I have had a lot of time to think about the purpose of womanhood and I always go back to this quote as it sums it up perfectly: “It’s definitely difficult being a woman and growing up a girl. When you’re graceful, people say you lack personality; when you’re serene, people say you’re boring; when you’re confident, people say you’re arrogant; when you’re feminine, people say you’re too girly; and when you climb trees, people say you’re too much of a tomboy! As a woman, you really need to develop a very strong sense of self and the earlier you can do that,the better! You have to be all the things that you are, without allowing other people’s ignorance change you! I realized that they don’t know what grace is, they can’t identify serenity, they have inferiority complexes, they are incapable of being feminine, and they don’t know how to climb trees!” ― C. JoyBell C.

NELIA: Too much to take in from that quote. Thank you.
On that note, Would you think of Womanhood as a Vulnerability?

SS: No, I do not. A lot of people think that women are vulnerable creatures just walking around but I actually think otherwise. Anyone can be vulnerable at the end of the day it is solely up to the person if they would like to be vulnerable. We always have a choice. Always.

NELIA: We always have a choice! Is there any woman who in your opinion has got it right and whom you look up to?

SS: I have a few women I look up to in no particular order, of course: Rachel Maddow, Michelle Obama, Shirley Frimpong Manso, Lucy Quist, Priscilla Chan, Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche. To me, all of these women have one thing in common: Grit.

NELIA: And now to the question of the century, who is a phenomenal woman in your opinion?

SS: All of the women I listed above are phenomenal women and they are doing great work in their respective communities, irrespective of obstacles.

NELIA: Any advise to the young christian woman out there?

SS: I have a couple of Bible verses that really speak to me and I believe every young Christian woman should be aware of these verses:
James 1:27 (NIV):
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds,
3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking
anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without
finding fault, and it will be given to you.
6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a
wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
Proverbs 4:23 (NIV):
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
Psalm 37:311 (NIV):
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy peace and prosperity.

NELIA : Wow. It’s a long read but it’s worth it. Thank you soo much Samuella. We sure look forward to having you here again.

SS: My Pleasure.

You may follow her on her website
@ www.sincerelysamuella.com
Or
Instagram: @ Sincerely Samuella.
As always and forever, with love from Nelia!

The Cry That Birthed Nelia Gyemfi!

Nelia Gyemfi — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 05:59:32 +0000

Isaiah 66:8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

It’s very okay not to be okay sometimes, it does not mean you are a weakling, it only ascertains the fact that you are human, and this is life! It acceptable to let it all out, even if it means you have to wail, than bottle it all up, in the name of being strong. The person of strength is not the one who intentionally and deliberately ignores the hurt, failure, disappointment or rejection. It is that person who accepts what has gone wrong and is not defined by it but is rather redefined.
There is always success in failure, it’s up to you to be vigilant and discerning. Every disappointment is an appointment in disguise; uncover the puzzle and mystery.
On that fateful evening of 21st May, 2016…Having done everything humanly possible and fulfilling all other spiritual obligations, I was nothing short of confident that I will be the next Women’s Commissioner of my uni. The words my mum spoke to me a few minutes before the results were announced suggested to me that God says this is not for you. She said in her sweet calming voice,”Nana Nyarko, we have done everything we have to do. You campaigned as much as you could, and we have also been praying for you. If God says No, this is not for you, let it go!”
I was like ahhh why will this woman tell me this kind of thing at this hour. I mean you said it yourself, everything had been done, what reason did God have to say no then.
But then, it so happened that God said no. No matter how hard I tried to keep it in, like the woman in labour, I had to let it out, right there on the school car park. Yes, on the school car park. I was in labour and I had to deliver. I had been pregnant with a whole lot of vision and work, and I had to birth them. I travailed and wailed like the woman carrying triplets in the maternity ward who has refused an operation so is pushing all three babies out.
People looked at me and were like Cornelia stop this please, you are embarrassing yourself. You are making your enemies happy with this attitude. But then my dear, can you stop a woman in labour from giving birth? Will you tell her she’s embarrassing herself so she should not push? I and only I knew and could understand what was happening in me, in my spirit and soul. I couldn’t keep calm. Something in me needed to be come forth, something needed to manifest. The question then is, if so, God then why did you say no?

I looked at this poster, and I didn’t see failure. I saw a woman of strength, small in physique but mighty in Christ and I said to her, that one day, just one very fateful day, you will proudly stand in front of thousands of people, and tell of the tale behind this. And people will know, and understand, and accept, that sometimes, when God says No, it is not because you are not qualified for that. But because He’s called you for a greater purpose and vision, and He needs to rid you of every form of distraction and interruption.
Is it not amazing that the very first post on this blog was just a day after the famous cry and I say this with all happiness and pride. I started knowing but also not knowing how this will work. But I did it anyway and i have not an iota of doubt that God is in my mist.I sometimes wonder, what would I be doing now if I didn’t weep like I did? Would I be most definitely looking back with regret and looking at God like why?
That cry birthed confidence, it rekindled passion and set ablaze zeal. That cry birthed NELIA GYEMFI and brought forth the PHENOMENAL WOMEN’S BLOG (which by the way is just the beginning of greater exploits)!!!

Psalm 46:5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

Thank you for reading and I hope that you cry that cry that will birth the new you and the inner you.
Love, Nelia Gyemfi.

Kafui Praise

Nelia Gyemfi — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 20:00:26 +0000

I met her at the ACCRA YOUTH SUMMIT. She made a statement that has stuck with me all this time. That when she intended to pursue her passion for photography, her mum was not very amused with her decision but then she said, I will not be a photographer who rides a bicycle. One very big lesson I picked into my memory is to do whatever you love to do. For then you will do it very well and attain the success and height you anticipate. In other words, do what you love, love what you do, do it with all the love you can amass and you will love the success and height you reach.

She’s been named one of the best female Photographers in Ghana. She also won the Arts, Culture and Tourism Startup of the year award at the Ghana Startup Awards 2016.
There’s no doubt that this is a woman of God, who understands what it is to find yourself in God, and walk the path He’s designed for you. When I started this work, I knew I had to get her on board.
Ladies and Gentlemen, KAFUI PRAISE!

Nelia: Hello KP, and thank you sooo much for making time for this.

KP: Thank you too for having me dear.

Nelia : Alright then, Let’s get started.In a few words, who is KP besides the awesomeness of photography abilities?

KP: Well, my actual name is Matilda Dogbatsey oh and Kafui Praise is my brand name.I am 27 years old and my parents are Mabel Adjorlolo and the late Michael Dogbatsey.

Nelia : How did Photography begin with you?

KP :Photography for me started by wanting to be a model, but then again I didn’t want to compromise to be one. l remember quite well that I was turned down by a photographer because I refused to wear a bikini for a shoot, this is not to say I have anything against those who do it but for me as a worship minister and a Sunday School Teacher then , l know people looked up to me and needed to live what I preached. So I decided to be my own model , l would go to fotostore take pictures of myself dressed how I’m comfortable with and use those pics for absolutely nothing . Pictures boasted my self confidence. I just loved being infront of the camera and I guess the camera loved me too. So that went on for a while till I started taking pictures with my phone in 2014. The phone pics caught people’s attention and I got my first wedding booking from Norway through that so I had to quickly get a professional camera and learn my way around it quickly because I did not want to disappoint the client who soo much believed in me.

Nelia : You sure have not disappointed any of your clients by God’s grace. On that note, what drives your purpose as a young Christian woman?

KP : God! To live each second knowing that He’s got it all worked out is just fulfilling and awesome.

Nelia : In your opinion, what is the purpose for which the woman was created?

KP : First God created the woman from Adam to be a help meet to him. That generally tells us that as women we’ve been created to be help meets to our generation. We’ve been created to impact our world and anyone that comes around us.

Nelia : Capturing moments with passion in deed. How does it feel to work in an industry dominated predominantly by men and how have you achieved and maintained the height you have reached?

KP :In the industry I find myself women have to work extra hard to rub shoulders with men. In Africa or Ghana to be specific for a woman to earn respect or to be recognised in her field of work, life or passion she will have to prove herself and let her works speak for itself. It’s a challenge but Grace is Sufficient.

Nelia : Your works have indeed spoken for you. But then, besides God, what or who else spurs you on?

KP: My Mentor, Pastor, Coach, Spiritual Father and friend is Rev.Tom Bright-Davies.It was through his counsel, Prayers, guidance and teachings that I’m here today. Since 2013 to date.

Nelia : Who will you describe as a phenomenal woman?

KP: A phenomenal woman is a woman who knows and understands her worth and has discovered her purpose and is living it not forgetting her creator and aligning herself with Him. A woman who even through her hurt and brokenness will wake up, dress up and show up giving everything she does her very best.

Nelia : Wow! Wake up, dress up and show up! We sure can’t have enough of you. Any advise to the young woman out

KP: My Advice to Young women out there, please discover or let God reveal your purpose to you and live it only then can you impact your world. And to know your purpose, you have to know God, your knowledge of Him will reveal yourself and purpose to you. You can only see yourself clearly in Him not in any human. Love yourself enough to walk away from anything that’s not adding value to your life. Don’t just Exist, LIVE!

Nelia : Don’t just Exist, LIVE! Thank you sooo much KP for these life filled words. I hope to model for you soon. Lol.

KP: Hahaha sure. Thank you too for having me.

You may follow her on the following social media accounts to get more of her amazing works.
-Kafui Praise Photography on Facebook
Instagram
-Kafui Praise Photography
-Kpphotography_weddings
-Kpphotography_documentaries
Love, Nelia Gyemfi.