During the months of sheltering in place due to Covid restrictions in 2020, I spent extra time surfing the internet. (As many of us did!) One morning in November, I was reading an inspiring post on Facebook by a well-known author, and I casually scrolled down, reading the responses.

One of the names, Tosin Iyawo Ogaga, jumped out at me. That sounds like it might be Yoruba, the language of the people group my family lived with.

My heart rate sped up, and I replied to her comment. “By any chance, are you from Nigeria? My parents taught at Titcombe College in Egbe for thirteen years.”

Tosin’s reply shocked me to my toes. “I know Egbe. I don’t believe it! My stepdad went to Titcombe College.”

The author, Liz Curtis Higgs, read our exchange and chimed in. “I’m blessed to see this connection on my Facebook page!”

Tosin and I began to chat privately, and she shared important pieces of her life with me. “My dad worked for an oil company, and so did his best friend. My dad passed away after a car accident on his way back from church, the night I returned to boarding school for my final exams. Since then, his friend, Wumi Iledare stepped in and has been Dad to my brothers and me.”

My new friend emailed Wumi, and he replied immediately. “Yes, I recognize the name! I attended Titcombe College from 1971-73, and I knew her parents, the Jones, very well. I related with them well, especially Mr. Jones as my Maths teacher.”

Then he added, “The Jones family lived in Egbe for many years. In fact, I have prayed for them for years. A great Christian missionary couple who added values to us in TC as young lads! Glory to God!”

More Surprises

Tosin and I continued chatting, and she said, “Since leaving Nigeria, I have lived in Ghana for university, Malaysia for work, and now I am in Aberdeen, Scotland, with my husband and two kids.”

“You live in Scotland? My husband was born near Glasgow,” I said. “Chris immigrated to the U.S. with his family when he was five. He has dreams of retiring to Scotland, and we’re planning a trip for next March. I’d love to visit you and your family.”

Tosin replied, “It was a God-moment. There were no odds that on a post I would not normally have commented on, we met! I’m grateful for every such moment and can’t wait to meet you.”

Unfortunately, our trip in March 2021 had to be postponed because Covid restrictions were still in place.

Finally, the meet-up day arrived. On April 3, 2022, Chris and I drove from our rental cottage in Stirling through the beautiful Scottish countryside–rendered even more picturesque through the rain on our windshield–to her home in Aberdeen. As we stepped across the threshold, Tosin and Ogaga enveloped us in warm hugs, and the children welcomed us as long-lost grandparents.

During a leisurely lunch, our hostess served fried chicken, Joloff rice, and fried plantain, all my favorites. Our hearts grew closer as we talked about the paths our lives have taken.

The children now call me their California Grandma, and I’m thrilled to have Tega and Brume as my grandkids!

Tosin, a talented photographer, has a studio in her home, and while we were visiting, she gifted Chris and me with a portrait session. At the end of the day, I was sad to part, but we left with promises to meet again. And we have these wonderful photos as mementos. Attached are my favorites.

Thoughts of Home

Now that I’m back home in California, I realize Tosin and I connected on another level. Together with our families, we are a blend of immigrants and Third Culture Kids (TCKs).

Immigrants are people who move to a new country with the intention of staying. TCKs are those who spend part of their childhood in a country that isn’t their “passport” country. They may travel to several countries and each one becomes home while they’re there.

The term TCK includes not only MKs but all children who travel overseas for their parents’ work. Examples are families in the military, government, international business, medicine, or humanitarian aid.

Both parents and kids in these mobile families often have a hard time knowing where home really is. Yet, many begin to feel at home wherever they find friends.

In general, these experiences foster a global perspective with acceptance and appreciation of other cultures.

Everyone on some level has a longing for their true home. Our inner beings yearn to be understood and accepted by those around us. When we’re with others who’ve had similar experiences, we discover a sense of camaraderie and security.

Link it to Your Life

Did you know that those who live in the same area all their lives are referred to as monocultural? Would you say you are a TCK, immigrant, monocultural, or something else entirely? Perhaps you reject all labels and prefer not to be squeezed into a box.

How has your upbringing and your life journey affected your view of the world? What do you say when someone asks you where home is?

Just for fun, if you want to try to make your own miraculous connection, here’s the link to Liz Curtis Higgs’ Facebook page!

Digging Deeper

For Believers, we find our home with other Christ-followers because we share a spiritual bond.  This creates an additional feeling of fellowship with our brothers and sisters in the Faith. As members of the family of God, we eagerly anticipate Heaven, our forever home.

My chance meet-up with Tosin was incredible. There are no odds that she and I would have found each other on social media, commenting on a post by a famous author. It is comforting to know God loves to give surprise gifts to his children.