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By Emily Wierenga
 | Bisi and Akin Peluola in their new Saskatoon store, which sells ethnic food hard to obtain in Canada. Bisi also runs three pharmacies. Photo by Glen Bergs. |
THEY'D NEVER heard of Saskatoon in their native Nigeria, but 49-year-old Bisi Peluola and her husband Akin felt peace about moving there.
"Our friends thought we were crazy," says Bisi. "They thought we'd be living in igloos."
Nevertheless, in 1998 Bisi and Akin -- then living in England -- resigned their jobs and moved to Saskatchewan's capital, trusting God would provide for them.
Today Akin, who was a certified psychiatrist in England, works with mentally disordered offenders at the Regional Psychiatric Centre. Bisi, meanwhile, runs three pharmacies. She has also just opened a new store specializing in ethnic foods.
Both consider their jobs to be more than a source of income. Says Akin, who works with sex offenders, schizophrenics and severely violent personalities, "I pray with them and make them see there is hope."
In the same way, Bisi views her drugstores as 'miracles.' With all three of her pharmacies located on 20th Street -- Saskatoon's 'hood' -- Bisi spends her days ministering to drug addicts and prostitutes who are drawn to her for the hope she gives them.
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"I go in there every day and see people languishing and perishing," says the mother of three. "When you have the heart of God, you want to help."
Bisi's ministry is successful because she refuses to preach. Instead, she does what few others dare to: "No one wants a drug addict to work for them, but I give them those chances." She pays them for doing manual tasks like cleaning or stacking.
"When you show them that you care, then they're willing to believe what you want to tell them," she says.
A former cocaine addict is one of many who feel indebted to Bisi for believing in them. "He keeps coming into my store and thanking me for giving him the opportunity to change, to believe in God. He says, 'Now I have a peace that I never thought I'd have.'"
While some might think owning three pharmacies is more than enough, Bisi does not. Hence, the new store, which offers affordable ethnic foods.
"I see every store opportunity as an opportunity to minister, to show the light of God," she says.
"It cost God his only begotten Son. It may cost us money, or our time, but if you want to see the work of God being done, you need to do what he wants you to do."
February 13/2008
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