At the community of the ‘Daughters of the Holy Spirit’ in Ogbomosho, a city in the southwest of NIGERIA, in the state of Oyo, we are three sisters with a postulant currently in experience. We pay particular attention to our environment: to the gifts of nature despite climate change, considering it a chance to live in a region where useful and aesthetic vegetation of fruits and flowers grows with trees that break furious winds!
Ogbomosho, on the plateau of Yoruba land, is located in an area characterized by savannah and agricultural lands. Agriculture is the economic base of people who mainly cultivate food crops such as cassava, corn, yam, cocoa … and fruit crops like mangoes, cashews, oranges… The tropical climate generally presents two distinct seasons: the wet season -that of the rains-, and the dry season, that of the heat; from October to April, (sometimes December) comes the difficult period of the harmattan: wind from the northeast, very hot during the day, colder at night, very dry and most often laden with dust. According to our experience, the growth and fruiting of certain crops vary depending on climatic conditions. The fruits are likely to reach maturity at the end of November or the beginning of December: thus in December 2024 the harmattan which blew very strongly allowed a bountiful harvest of mangoes and avocados.
In 2025, we had a very long period of precipitation until November: the biggest surprise was a rain, very rare, this December 25! We welcomed it as a blessing from God and a sign of the peace brought by the birth of Christ.
Another unexpected rain came on 30 December with a strong wind. This was also received as the blessing of God that calms the severe heat we had experienced for a few weeks and reduces the dust accumulated in our environment.
On December 31, being the last day of 2025, we undertook a special time of prayer in community, thanking God for all the blessings we have received during the year. Although not having seen the tree discoloration until that time, we recognized the blessings of God visible on some of our trees, crops and flowers with high fruiting. The beautiful vegetation of our environment has added joy to our life together as we constantly admire and appreciate the gifts of nature.
After our thanksgiving prayer on this last day of the year, we went out to rake up the dead leaves spread by the storm wind: working together as a community gives us the opportunity to admire and appreciate God’s great work in nature and tell him our gratitude for the healthier papayas, coconuts, palm trees… without forgetting the beauty of the flowers.
Therefore, we can once again witness with the Psalmist:
“The earth has brought forth her fruit, for God our God has blessed us…” (Psalm 66,6)
“And you, rains and dew, bless the Lord,
“And you, all the plants of the earth, bless the Lord.” (Daniel 3: 64-65)
Sister Patience EFFIONG DHS. Published on January 1, 2026
