An immigrant family that fled strife in Sierra Leone to embrace Prince Edward Island as their new home is leaving the province after years of failing to find desired work in the field of ministry.
Rev. Kenneth Oppon was a minister for more than 20 years in Africa.
He reunited with his family in Charlottetown in June, 2004, 18 months after his wife Regina and three of the couple's four children arrived here.
Rebels intent on seeking vengeance for the minister's public anti-rebel stance snatched Kenneth from his family in Sierra Leone one early morning in 1999. He later escaped his captors and possible death.
Regina and her children Brenda, Sophia and Kenny were granted conventional refugee status in January 2003 and selected to come to Canada.
Kenneth says life in general has been very good on Prince Edward Island. The family has developed many strong friendships. Working in construction, though, was not Kenneth's chosen vocation, but a job he did while hoping to return to ministry.
"One of the few things I learned about life when I was here (on P.E.I.) is don't sit idle and wait for something to come,'' he said.
"You've got to go and do something.''
In 2007, both Kenneth and Regina were given the collective role of pastor of international ministries at the Calvary Temple in Charlottetown, a church the family has belonged to since 2003.
The role, however, did not offer the full-time immersion into ministry that the couple was seeking. The Oppons are going west for that door to open.
Kenneth and Regina are both ready to begin pastor positions with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Fort McMurray. Kenneth will be pastor for international missions at the large church with a congregation of more than 800 people from diverse cultures. Regina, who was ordained last September in Chicago, will be pastor for administration.
Regina, who has been working as an administrative assistant with the Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning, says she will bring many fond memories of the Island with her to start a new chapter in Alberta in mid-January.
"I'll miss lots of friendships that I've made here,'' she said.
"People are warm…people have been really nice. There are some families that we can call on them at any time.''
Two daughters are already in Calgary: Brenda, 24, working as an office administrator; Sophia, 20, studying political science at the University of Calgary.
Son Kenneth, who is in Grade 10, will make the trip to Fort McMurray with Regina and Kenneth.
"We will miss P.E.I. but I'm sure we will come back some day to this beautiful Island,'' said Regina.
