275 miles, or four hours and 11 minutes.

That is how far families in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, used to drive to find the produce used in traditional African cooking.   

Three years ago, farmers Darius and Wealee Nupolu decided they could find a solution. On their two-acre farm in Norway, Iowa, the couple and their family grow organic crops native to Africa, such as cassava, a small eggplant known as bitter balls, and potato greens.  

"In life, it is not all about yourself, it is what you can do for your community," Darius said.  

Darius grew up in a small Liberian village in Lofa County, where at a young age he began to farm. Darius explained how his father taught him a traditional farming practice used in Liberia, called bush fallowing.

In America, farmers stay on a stationary plot of land. However, constant farming in the same area can strip the soil of its nutrients. Darius implements practices he learned in Liberia, such as crop rotation, on his farm in Norway, Iowa, to preserve the soil and grow organic produce naturally.

Darius was not only raised as a farmer but also as a devout Christian. While living on a church compound in Liberia, he met his wife, Wealee. There, they worked together in the church. After three years, they began dating and later married on Aug.16, 2014, just before deciding to bring their family to America. 

Almost a year after their marriage, Darius, Wealee, and their son Shawn arrived in Philadelphia on June 10, 2015. Leaving their family, friends, and community in Liberia, the Nupulos were alone. "I told my husband I wanted to go back. I cried for one month. I wanted to go back. I didn't want to be in America," Wealee said, "I was missing my family." 

Darius' passion for farming led him to attend the University of Liberia, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in agriculture in 2011. "That is my passion. I hope to retire on a farm," Darius said. 

Darius' university education gave him career opportunities in his home country, and he served as a district coordinator in his county. But in Philadelphia, he worked in a factory making car parts. "Coming here, looking at someone who is not even a high school graduate supervising you, was frustrating," Darius recounted.  

But the Nupolus say their strong will and faith kept them from giving up. Darius continued his work at the factory while preparing for their next step. "My husband did research," Wealee said. "Iowa is an agriculture state, and that is how we decided to move here." 

In March 2017, the Nupolus moved from Pennsylvania to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and had their daughter Esi on December 11 of the same year. Many other significant events have transpired during their time in Cedar Rapids. In 2020, Darius received his master’s from Mount Mercy University in structural leadership, and in 2022, Darius and Wealee became U.S. citizens.

Similar to their experience in Philadelphia, the Nupolus knew few people in Iowa. They were different in what they ate, what they looked like, and where they came from. So, they turned to what they knew best: God.

The Nupolus began spending Sundays at different churches, looking for both a place to worship and a place to build relationships. That's when they found Peace Church.  

Peace Christian Reformed Church is a small, predominantly white church. Despite that, the church welcomed the Nupolus with open arms. "The pastor, the president, all the people here, they love my family," Darius said. 

One couple in particular, Chuck and Marsha Veldhuizen, befriended the new family almost instantly. 

"We met some family here [in Cedar Rapids]. They invited us to come to church," Wealee said, "The second time we came to church, Chuck and Marsha invited us to their house to have lunch... They welcomed us like [their] children." 

The following Sunday, Darius and Wealee's son, Shawn, ran to the Veldhuizens and asked if he could call them Grandma and Grandpa. They said yes. 

"It's a good feeling that people from the other side of the world would care to be so close as to call you mom and dad, and their kids call you grandma and grandpa," Chuck said.  

Over the years, their relationship continued to grow. Wealee and Darius explained the Veldhuizens always bring gifts for their family on Christmas. Darius and Wealee's daughter, Esi, loves cooking with her grandma. 

But the good deeds are not one-sided. Chuck and Marsha tell stories of winter mornings after snowstorms when they look out the window and see Darius and Wealee already outside, shoveling their driveway. 

Together, the Nupolus and Veldhuizens grew as a family, just as they did in the church.

On April 22, 2023, the Nupolu's faith was tested when they suddenly lost their son. 

After a trip back to their home country, Liberia, the Nupolus discovered that Shawn had contracted malaria, a disease commonly passed by mosquitoes. He received treatment at the Stead Family Children's Hospital, but it was too late, and Shawn soon passed. He was fourteen.  

The Nupolus waited over a month in hopes that Waelee's parents would be able to come from Liberia for the burial, but the U.S. ambassador denied their visas. On May 27, 2023, Shawn was laid to rest in Cedar Rapids.  

"My son was my hero," Wealee said. "You want your children to bury you. When you bury your child, it is very difficult... It's very painful, losing your loved one."  

"I love him, our family loves him, but God loves him best, and he knows the reason why he had to take him," Darius said, "I believe that he is in a better place, and I have to hope that I will see him." 

Even in the most challenging moments, the Nupolus' faith encourages them to move forward.  

"They work tirelessly, they are very hard-working people, and they are very open to helping others," Marsha said.  

Darius and Wealee started their business Nupolu Emerging Farms, in 2021, through the support of nonprofit Feed Iowa First. They spend  countless hours on their farm, often from sunup to sundown. Without the help of modern machinery, they perform most tasks by hand. Last year was their second harvest, during which they brought in 700 pounds of broccolini, 2,500 pounds of carrots, and 11,500 pounds of watermelons.

Many people ask Darius and Wealee how they have found success, "I tell them, it is not us; God comes first," Darius said.

The Nupolus constantly look for ways to optimize their farming practices. Recently, they installed an outdoor irrigation system that will run water to a field of cabbage. The plants are in two sections, one covered and one not. At the end of the growing season, they will compare the two cabbage yields to determine which method is most effective.

Similarly, last year, they harvested their first batch of carrots but were disappointed. The carrots grew clumped together, creating larger carrots and root competition thus a small harvest.  This year, they separated the seeds. In turn, the carrots could grow apart from each other and receive equal water, resulting in a better turnout. 

When the time comes to harvest their crops, they are not greedy. The same kindness and generosity the Nupolus show those closest to them is extended to the community around them. Much of their produce is donated. So far this year, the Nupolus have donated 700 pounds of produce to HACAP foundations, a nonprofit committed to enhancing lives of low-income families in their communities by providing resources like housing and food. 

Their agricultural and spiritual efforts do not end in Iowa. Using their profits, the Nupolus have helped over 200 single mothers in Liberia through their foundation, Future Farmers of Liberia Empowerment for Women. Through this foundation, they provide funding and financial training to help women start their own businesses. 

Darius states, "In everything we do, in our farming or other activities, God comes first."