Nigerian Pastor keeps updated on ebola situation

The Rev. Abraham Adejoh, pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Harrisburg, is a native Nigerian and has family in that west African country. When reports of the Ebola outbreak raging in neighboring Liberia first surfaced there were no Nigerian cases reported.

Then things changed, the media jumped on the story after a man named Patrick Sawyer brought Ebola to Nigeria when he collapsed at Lagos Airport after traveling from Liberia where the Ebola outbreak is severe. He was infected and flew into Lagos, Nigeria, a city of over 5 million people.

"People think there is an an Ebola outbreak in Nigeria resulting from Sawyer. But it has been controlled," said Adejoh.

"In Liberia it is still a major crisis.

"According to the World Health Organization no new cases have been reported at this time."

Adejoh was born in Nigeria and has family there. His father and mother still live in Nigeria on the outskirts of Lagos. He has three brothers and four sisters.

"I really have two homes," Adejoh said. "Nigeria and Southern Illinois."

"I am close to my family and we communicate by phone and Skype. I love my parishoners and I love where I am. I am very happy."

Adejoh received his primary education in Liberia and then entered the seminary at age 17. He was ordained in 2010 in Belleville. He studied at Sacred Heart Seminary near Milwaukee, Wis.

"Americans know little about the continent of Africa and its people. It is a beautiful continent and not all jungle," he said.

"There are many beautiful cultures and traditions. It is very modern in many places. The media tends to reinforce old ideas about Africa. I saw my first elephant at the St. Louis Zoo."

African cuisine is not easily available in Southern Illinois.

"I miss the food most of all," he said. "Especially fufu, a food made from corn that looks like mashed potatoes. Also cassava, made from yams."

Meats are are similar to western diets. Nigerians eat chicken, goat, beef and lots of fish both fresh and dried.

"There is a lot of diversity in Africa. The people love school. There are public schools up to and including university level in Nigeria. I had a public school education," he said.