The day began rather early as Roland had a meeting with the World Bank in Freetown requiring us to be in the road by 7AM.  

After dropping him off, his driver, Eddie took us to the Family Kingdom hotel which has a variety of smaller wildlife including deer, cats, some kind of bird, and frogs.  There is a nice playground for kids and beautiful pool.  Nabs met us there and gave us a dress and a shirt the bishop’s wife had made for Alaina and Dave, respectively.  We went to the UMC house where we got to meet with the bishop and thanked him for the gifts and all he is doing for the church and the people of Sierra Leone.  We said our goodbyes after Rev. Fallah prayed as we circled together and held hands.  Nabs got to give some training there.  

Eddie picked us up took us to the #2 River beach where we got to relax a bit and got some swimming in before heading back to the hotel to get cleaned up before dinner at the Lagunda restaurant overlooking the Man o’ War bay.  It was a wonderful evening!

The next day, Roland and Eddie picked us up and we had breakfast at the Crown bakery.  Unfortunately, they did not have any coconut macarons!  Roland had picked up a couple gifts for us to deliver for some folks Stateside which we packed while getting things ready at the Seacoach speedboat launch.  

We met a couple in the Lungi airport who are long term missionaries in Sierra Leone that have parents who were born in Michigan but became missionaries in Sierra Leone in the ‘70’s and stayed.  Small world!

Looking forward to getting back home and sharing the story!

Your Brother in Christ, 
Dave Brewster

Before the day began there was a change of plans.  One of Roland’s colleagues in the animal science department had passed early in the morning after a long battle with a back injury, requiring him to go to Freetown.  Roland’s driver took us to a farm owned by Roland, where he has approximately 300 head of cattle.  We discovered from the workers who are building a barn and fence for the cattle that the man who was hired to keep track of the cattle had quit.  We got more African massage before heading back to the university and having a tour of the campus.  Highlights included seeing the school of agriculture, animal health buildings, and the central and West African Virus Epidemiology Centre, a program funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  This place is doing research about viruses affecting different kinds of plants and how to change up the DNA to build resistance.  We also got to see a piggery and the site of new construction for the animal science department including research facilities. 

Your Brother in Christ,
Dave Brewster

We got to go to one of the churches started by Roland today.  Lots of music, singing, and children!  The music included drums and the gourds surrounded by either small shells or beads on strings - very loud!  It was quite different from the services we are accustomed to with several testimonies, prayers, and lessons preached in a Pentecostal style of worship.  We stopped by a roadside stand on the way back and got some pineapples.  Before having lunch and spending the afternoon recovering and resting.

Your Brother in Christ, 
​Dave Brewster

On our way to Njala, we stopped by Senehun, home to at least 5 UMC officials including at least one bishop.  We met the village chief and invited her to church in the next village the next day.  We arrived at the guest house on Njala University to discover each room has A/C and a hot water heater.  The catch is that there is no water, and the power is only on for several hours a day, so Alaina is getting to experience the art of Sierra Leonean cup dipping showers. 

Your Brother in Christ, 
Dave Brewster

The morning was spent gathering the remaining items needed for and preparing lunch for some friends Dave met many trips ago.  Augustine Pierce (one of the CRC’s first bus drivers) and his wife Tennah, and Patrick Gibrilla, the remaining limb fitting engineer.  Patrick’s wife Margaret was in Freetown celebrating her granddaughter’s graduation from primary school.  We had French fries, chicken, and…popcorn!  Dave also has a new favorite drink: ginger “beer”!  It was so good to catch up and introduce Alaina to friends she has heard about for most of her life.  One special member Dave has spent a lot of time working with was Lappia Amara, the primary limb fitting engineer who passed away about two years ago after falling through his ceiling and striking his head on a table while trying to figure out how a robber was passing from one side of the house into the other.  We reminisced and talked about our memories together before calling it a day.

​Your Brother in Christ, 
Dave Brewster

Kym, Randy, and Brent started back for Freetown in a steady rain.  Before Dave and Alaina went to stay with Fudia in Bo, they got to see the transfer of Mercy Hospital’s newest piece of equipment, an anesthesia machine donated by Healey International.  This one has a really nice feature: it keeps going when the power goes off!  

Your Brother in Christ, 
Dave Brewster

Today we went fpr another mobile medical clinic.  We saw about 60 children and many adults.  Screening for malaria, worms, cholera, and respiratory problems was done.  It is remarkable how orderly the whole process goes - attendees were mostly women and their young children.  We were advised most mothers have had at least 3 children by age 20.  

Upon return to the MTC, we had lunch and began getting our things together.  We all are leaving the MTC tomorrow with three of the remaining five going to start the trip back to Freetown and two staying with a friend in Bo before meeting with another friend who will take them to other villages he has been to teach agricultural and animal husbandry skills.  He has also helped at least seven churches to form throughout the country.

Your Brother in Christ, 
​Dave

Today we traveled to Sammie, the home of one of the original 40 CRC children.  Even though it is only about 52 miles away, it took over an hour and a half to get there.  We had pavement for the first 6-7 miles but we were truly 4-wheeling the rest of the way.  There were several places that if we did not have four wheel drive we would not have been able to get any further.  We saw a lot of beautiful scenery along the way and even some mountains.  

We got to see the house where one of the original boys lived before the war.  There are two families living in the village that are participating in the family support program.  We met the village chief and got to see cocoa drying.  From there, we went to the primary school where about 400 children attend.  The school headmaster is a gentleman who began teaching 30 years ago.  There are 10 teachers, three of whom are volunteers.

Today we visited three families who have participated in the family assistance program.  The first stop was at a shop where the mother has been able to manage money to buy a variety of items ranging from soap to other household items and sell them for a profit.  She then uses her profits to purchase more inventory.  This allows her to provide for her family and has hopes of growing her business to be able to offer more variety and expand.  The second stop was close to the Bo market.  This woman sells palm oil, a staple in Sierra Leone kitchens.  She is able to support herself and her family.  The third stop was at a home where the youngest son spent many months at the CRC before being able to return back to his family.  His mother could not afford to feed him much less pay for his school fees.  Through the CRC family assistance program, she has learned skills that have enabled her to find work in a shop that earns her enough to support herself and her two remaining children.  The boy who has been reunified with his family and his older brother are determined to become lawyers.  

Your Brother in Christ, 
Dave

Today we helped celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Child Reintegration Centre.  The Bishop of the Sierra Leonean UMC conference and members of the cabinet, the Bishop Florida UMC conference Tom Berlin (CRC co-founder), past and present members of the CRC staff, and CRC alumni, a local government representative, and representative of another international NGO attended.  Reverend John Yambasu (CRC co-founder), staff members, and children were remembered candle lighting.  The ceremony finished with a special cake cutting.

Your Brother in Christ, 
​Dave