Sabrina
07-20-2009, 11:47 PM
<style></style>Hello everyone,
I know It's been a while since I made any updates. But I must state immediately the GOOD NEWS, in detail, that Okili has come home, and it was a surprise to us too! There was no planning. All of a sudden, on this last Thursday, July 15, he called me urgently asking if he should sign a form stating that he would be released. It so happened I was on the other line with my attorney; she said "yes! Have him sign it! " Now he is FREE and able to fight the case from home; this is much easier on us.
Part of the reason we've not kept up with the updates is that we've been going through changing attorneys which felt like a sensitive issue and did not want to talk about that on line. Now we are working with an attorney here in CA who is very caring and concerned about his case and working very hard. We now feel confident that our case will be resolved in our favor, being as he's been released from the detention facility. The fight still continues for my husbands case, finally back by my side. I have been on an adrenalin rushed emotional rollercoaster ride of fear for his safety and of being deported.
Okili and I are both resting a bit after having been apart for the last 3 months; as a family we are just so happy to be back together! But we are also very ready to plan for a huge "continue the battle" fund raiser and welcome home party with live music, etc. just like the Free Okili event. We actually reserved a date today at the Sebastopol Community Center for August 29, 2009.
Please, we need your help again for this big welcome home event, to finish his case properly. Again, thank you to everyone's continued support from the beginning to the end. I ask that you do not give up on us, as the fight still continues on, but now it should be just a little bit easier for us all...kind of like a few heavyweights just joined our side of the tug of war rope; so don't leave our sides! The fun times are just beginning, and you don't want to miss out!
SILENT AUCTION
The Silent Auction at FREE OKILI was a success, and we think it's a good idea to have another one. Ruth Richards handled the last Auction completely and absolutely 100%, from coordinating all the items, to sitting in the auction room the entire night of the event, to finally collecting most of the money for all the sold items. I am extremely thankful to this, and I know it was a lot of work, so I'm sure she will either want more help this time, or maybe another team of auctioneers would like to take over this time?
FOOD, BEER, and WINE
Again there will be a nice dinner available and a Beer and Wine bar. We will need donations for Food and Drink. Any Donations in this area will greatly be appreciated.
At the Free Okili event we had the amazing help of Bruce Rhodes on the BBQ, and a ton of volunteers in the Kitchen, lead by Taylor Webb, chopping and prepping and cutting and slicing. At the last minute Chai Baba Chai recued us with his expert ability to cook a HUGE pot of beans and to provide his wonderful Chai. Also we got the gratefully needed cooking pans, etc, and other items for the kitchen from Shani Rifati of Voices of Roma. We will need all this type of help again, so anyone who is willing to step forward once again, or for the first time, please do.
HELP NEEDED IN ALL AREAS - if you would like to help and have expertise in an area, please let us know...drop us a line. Thanks so much! We too will keep you informed where areas of help are really needed as time progresses.
Keeping our family together,
Sabrina and Okili
I know It's been a while since I made any updates. But I must state immediately the GOOD NEWS, in detail, that Okili has come home, and it was a surprise to us too! There was no planning. All of a sudden, on this last Thursday, July 15, he called me urgently asking if he should sign a form stating that he would be released. It so happened I was on the other line with my attorney; she said "yes! Have him sign it! " Now he is FREE and able to fight the case from home; this is much easier on us.
Part of the reason we've not kept up with the updates is that we've been going through changing attorneys which felt like a sensitive issue and did not want to talk about that on line. Now we are working with an attorney here in CA who is very caring and concerned about his case and working very hard. We now feel confident that our case will be resolved in our favor, being as he's been released from the detention facility. The fight still continues for my husbands case, finally back by my side. I have been on an adrenalin rushed emotional rollercoaster ride of fear for his safety and of being deported.
Okili and I are both resting a bit after having been apart for the last 3 months; as a family we are just so happy to be back together! But we are also very ready to plan for a huge "continue the battle" fund raiser and welcome home party with live music, etc. just like the Free Okili event. We actually reserved a date today at the Sebastopol Community Center for August 29, 2009.
Please, we need your help again for this big welcome home event, to finish his case properly. Again, thank you to everyone's continued support from the beginning to the end. I ask that you do not give up on us, as the fight still continues on, but now it should be just a little bit easier for us all...kind of like a few heavyweights just joined our side of the tug of war rope; so don't leave our sides! The fun times are just beginning, and you don't want to miss out!
SILENT AUCTION
The Silent Auction at FREE OKILI was a success, and we think it's a good idea to have another one. Ruth Richards handled the last Auction completely and absolutely 100%, from coordinating all the items, to sitting in the auction room the entire night of the event, to finally collecting most of the money for all the sold items. I am extremely thankful to this, and I know it was a lot of work, so I'm sure she will either want more help this time, or maybe another team of auctioneers would like to take over this time?
FOOD, BEER, and WINE
Again there will be a nice dinner available and a Beer and Wine bar. We will need donations for Food and Drink. Any Donations in this area will greatly be appreciated.
At the Free Okili event we had the amazing help of Bruce Rhodes on the BBQ, and a ton of volunteers in the Kitchen, lead by Taylor Webb, chopping and prepping and cutting and slicing. At the last minute Chai Baba Chai recued us with his expert ability to cook a HUGE pot of beans and to provide his wonderful Chai. Also we got the gratefully needed cooking pans, etc, and other items for the kitchen from Shani Rifati of Voices of Roma. We will need all this type of help again, so anyone who is willing to step forward once again, or for the first time, please do.
HELP NEEDED IN ALL AREAS - if you would like to help and have expertise in an area, please let us know...drop us a line. Thanks so much! We too will keep you informed where areas of help are really needed as time progresses.
Keeping our family together,
Sabrina and Okili