Their backgrounds are oceans apart. He's black. She's white. He's a Catholic priest. She's a Lutheran minister.
But, says Father Vincent Bulus, "We click as a team." He says, "We are two human beings who have one thing in common -- and that is working to be the best we can be."
Today, Bulus plans to be at Calvary Lutheran Church of Grand Forks where Sarah Raymond is a pastor. He will be dressed in the colorful garb he wears when he is back in Nigeria. Together, they will be seeking help to build a well to bring water to villages near Fadia, Nigeria.
The local church will dedicate its "noisy offerings" to help bring clean water to people half way around the world. That has been on Raymond's mind since she met Bulus during the past year in a clinical pastoral education class at Altru Hospital. When she was ordained this summer, she asked for no gifts -- please. Instead she asked for donations to the cause of clean water for the people in Nigeria.
So far, the fund to send help to Nigeria has reached $3,200. The goal is $5,000.
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Bulus is leaving Grand Forks -- at least for now. He was scheduled to receive his doctorate from UND Friday. Last month, Raymond graduated from Luther Seminary in St. Paul and was ordained as a pastor at Calvary Lutheran Church.
She was charged, among other things, to "witness faithfully in word and deed to all people."
Bulus is a man on a mission to help youth of Nigeria to a better future. He has strong desire to bring equality to women and girls. He says he made that promise to his mother on her death bed.
Raymond is a woman with quiet determination. She has worked steadily to reach her goal as a minister.
Bulus is walking away from UND with a doctorate -- empowerment to help his people. It's a major stop in his goal to help. Both he and Raymond are in their 40s and branching out in their ability to serve and empower people.
While he was growing up in Nigeria, Raymond was finishing her school years as the daughter of a Lutheran minister, Rev. Bill Paepke in South Dakota. She came to Grand Forks by way of Devils Lake. Her husband, Jay Raymond, works for Nodak Electric.
She is the mother of three children and her family opens its home to foster children. She takes life in her stride.
Like Bulus, she is stepping out to help people.
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He has invited her to some day visit the Fadaya Yamuga area of Nigeria. And she says it is a dream.
The two agree that with all of their differences, they have more in common.
Reach Hagerty at mhagerty@gra.midco.net or (701) 772-1055.
