We had all the children for VBS in the morning, which made things quite busy, but all went well. In the afternoon, we attended the Christmas party for the residential CRC children, as they returned today. We also got to catch up with some past residential CRC children who are living now in the community.
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We had another great day of VBS "Hero Central"! The children have been wonderful, learning about the Beatitudes, blowing bubbles, making badges, and playing games. We also attended Mercy’s and CRC devotions today. We ended the night reading bedtime stories to the CRC children. 😊
Day 5: Most of the team members who sponsor children got to see them today (one was on holiday). We celebrated the MTC’s 10th Anniversary with fried chicken, French fries, popcorn, and cake. We also made final preparations for VBS as our last three days will go quickly!
The October mission team included film maker Charlie Kendall, Floris UMC associate pastor Barbara Miner, educators Minister Gloria Daniels and Minister Jackie Chaney, and Dr. Carol McIntosh, who is an Ob-Gyn and HCW Board member. The team was also joined by Allen and Patty Morell, the partner church representatives from Osterville UMC.
The team participated in medical outreach and service at Mercy Hospital; filmed a series of short videos about the CRC and Mercy; and collaborated with local schools attended by CRC students. The team members also visited the children they sponsor, and even signed up to sponsor a few more. You can view two of Charlie's videos and the team's photos below.
I am certainly not being an original thinker when I observe that the people of Sierra Leone, at least those at the Child Rescue Center and Mercy Hospital, are filled with extraordinary faith and hope. In fact, that’s probably the most common comment I’ve heard team members make. Each of their meetings begins with a devotion including song, prayer and devotional thoughts.
We’ve also attended a vespers service at the CRC and experienced a short devotion in a small village before the start of a medical outreach clinic. These events were unlike a typical US worship service in many ways, but perhaps the one that struck me the most is how democratic and participatory they are. It’s a bit like the scene in a bar in Spain my husband recalls where each patron, in turn, took the guitar being passed around and played a beautiful tune as the rest of the crowd sang along. In these worship services the microphone is passed from person to person, as one leads a song, another shares a prayer, and yet another delivers a message. Men, women and children participate fully and equally. In the beauty and joy of their singing, their faith and hope shine through. In the sincerity and assurance of their prayers, their faith and hope shine through. In the strength and depth of their thoughts, their faith and hope shine through. As a neophyte missioner, I naively thought the goal of the mission trip was to share faith and hope with the people here. Nope. I’ll stick to sharing my knowledge of teaching reading and math, because they clearly don’t need me to give them hope or teach them faith. Quite the contrary, I’ve gained far more than I have to give in those regards. The Bible tells us that “… faith comes from the hearing of the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (Romans 10:17) The people of Sierra Leone have undoubtedly heard that message! From where, then, does hope arise? And how is it that these people who have suffered greatly – and often are still experiencing significant obstacles – are so filled with hope? Shouldn’t we, who by comparison have suffered little, be able to give them hope? According to Romans 5:3-5, that’s not how it works. “And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” It makes sense, then, that I, who have had a scant thimbleful of suffering in my life, have little to offer in the way of endurance, character and hope. I guess I was right that the mission of this trip is to impart faith and hope. I just misunderstood who would be doing most of the giving and who would be doing the receiving. Blessings, Barbara Kutasz After saying our goodbyes we made it to the airport and are now checked in and waiting for our flight.
(filed by Bill Hafker) It was a shock to wake today and realize that it was already our last day working with our new friends at the CRC and Mercy. Each activity from breakfast, to our meetings through the day, and our devotions in the evening, took on special significance knowing that we were experiencing each for the last time, at least for a while. Seeing how much the folks here have done, and are doing, with such limited resources and against a backdrop of such significant need, is humbling.
While the CRC and the MTC have had consistent internet connectivity through a satellite dish on the CRC property, Mercy has been forced to rely on cell modems for their Internet connection for several years. Today the IT Team connected Mercy to the satellite system, so they no longer have to rely on the the cell modems. They worked that magic with some equipment they found in storage. The IT team also taught a small group of CRC Aunties and older children the operations of the new sound system in the Great Hall, perhaps inspiring a crop of future Sierra Leonian MC's or DJ's. Jessica, Bill B., Vicki, and Ilene joined a nutrition and prenatal care outreach to Nyandehun, a village significantly more impoverished than the one we visited when we first arrived, where they provided vitamins and Benemix (similar to Plumpy'nut) to those who most needed it. They also brought a woman who was having serious difficulty with her pregnancy, and a child suffering from what appeared to be severe malaria, back with them to Mercy. Leo also debriefed Kim on our observations from the prior outreach, which she will share with the Mercy staff. Bill H. attended the opening devotions/meetings at CRC and Mercy, and was able to thank the teams at both for their openness in allowing him to work with them and offer them some final thoughts on the good things they were already doing, and the areas where they might want to concentrate to go to the next level. He also had fun with the Mercy Manager and CRC Director doing an exercise of each drawing, and explaining, a picture of our visions of how CRC and Mercy should work together. We agreed on many elements of what that would look like, but mostly on the fact that none of us will be moonlighting as artists! Joseph Junisa, the Sponsor a Child (SAC) Coordinator at the CRC, his assistant Henry, and the guidance counselor Princess, spent an hour with several of us discussing the details of that program, and expressing the hope that we would share this information with our friends back home, in hopes that sponsors might be found for additional children. You can learn more about SAC by clicking here. We were pleased that before we left Jess was able to be with Dr. Kanneh to confirm that Abu’s burns were healing well. Tomorrow morning we say goodbye to the MTC and begin our journey back home, taking with us fond memories of meeting shared challenges and light-hearted moments, inspirational stories and images, and new friendships, that we hope we can build on ourselves, and share with our families and friends. (Filed by Bill Hafker) Today started off in typical fashion, not too hot and not too humid. Heat and humidity did come, but it was a nice morning at the MTC.
Dave H. and Leo F. made a run into town for some supplies that were to be used for the speaker system. They did find what they were searching for, but unfortunately it wasn’t quite suitable for sound-quality use. Basically, there is some distortion in the speakers (buzz) due to how the power for the Great Hall building was originally put in. Works are currently underway to find a good solution and finalize the speaker delivery. Ken B., Bill B. and Ilene H. started off their day testing one of the options developed for getting reliable internet connectivity to Mercy. After Dave and Leo returned from town, they joined up and started working on another possible solution from a different location. Challenges remain for implementing the satellite-based solution to Mercy’s internet. But, a successful connection was achieved from limited locations. Expectation is that it will be able to be distributed to other points in the hospital tomorrow. Confidence is high, but this is still work to do. Around mid-day, Ilene peeled off from the IT stuff and worked with Vicki G. to finalize their work on a spreadsheet that will be used by Mercy to streamline tracking for drugs and their use. Bill H. started his day at the devotion held by Mercy staff. He then continued leadership and team building meetings with Sister Augusta and others on today’s topic, “Tools and Techniques for Interviewing.” There was lots of great feedback and ideas on how to approach upcoming interviews later this week. After lunch, the team from the medical outreach on Monday got together to work on developing some feedback and recommendations for the Mercy team on thoughts and observations. Although everyone agreed that the outreach was a success, we were happy to be asked for the feedback that could be used to improve future outreach engagements. Leo finalized arrangements to get a dead but very large tree removed from the property near the entrance to the CRC. This project is important because of the risk the tree poses to surrounding structures (and anyone in them or nearby). This tree project has been on the horizon yet incomplete for some time, so there are many who are glad to see it wrapping up. Outside of the work, another rainstorm in late afternoon cooled off the area before dinner (down to about 82!). A local artisan came by with some handcrafted wooden carvings made from beautiful wood—both the red and black ebony had wonderful wood grain. And finally, Dave and Ilene were invited to be interviewed by CRC Cares, which is a radio program sponsored by CRC. The interview lasted about an hour, and Dave and Ilene did a great job (we expect autograph seekers tomorrow, or soon after). As the day closes, we are once again thankful for the opportunity to join the CRC and Mercy in their important work. (Filed by Bill Bush) Today saw us all going in different directions.
Bill H, Ken and Bill B were able to attend the morning devotions and staff meetings at CRC. Bill H then met with Mercy staff. It was inspiring to be at an organization where each day starts unambiguously and boldly praising God and seeking His guidance for the activity of the day ahead. Bill also met with Kim, Mercy's onsite director of Medical Projects, Mercy Manager Jinnah, and the CRC Director Nabs, to begin discussions of how to strengthen the teamwork at and between the two organizations, and grow the commitment of everyone on both staffs to their vision and mission. Dave and Bill were also able to spend time with CRC staff in charge of the Microfinance Program. They have started involving 28 families who have children enrolled in the Child Support Program. Impressively, all 28 families seem poised to complete the training requirements for Phase 1 of the program. We discussed ideas for business projects and mechanisms for managing the funding and loan repayments. The IT crew, Bill B, Dave, Ken and Leo finalized the placement and testing of the four new speakers in the Great Hall. They replaced a cable from the satellite to a junction box and were able to get the Streams of Knowledge program up and running. An attempt to fix the internet connection to Mercy Hospital failed, but a new plan of action was determined and is planned for tomorrow. Vicki worked on updating the pharmacy inventory spreadsheet, hoping to streamline the entering and keeping track of medicines and supplies. She said that she had the best job because the pharmacy has air conditioning. Jessica conducted a suture training class for the nursing staff at Mercy. Ilene started her day with the IT crew, moved on to Microsoft Office training with some CRC Staff, and helped Vicki in the pharmacy. She then returned to supervise the IT crew at the hospital. Cindy Cooke went out into Largo village to teach about clean drinking water and proper hand washing methods. Satisfying wash training before the installation of toilet facilities. Overall a very productive day all around! (Filed by Ilene Hafker) Saturday was a day more devoted to learning about Bo, and meeting the residential children, than about working. Despite that, the IT guys did get the third and fourth speakers in the Great Hall working today. Most of us spent a few hours this morning being guided by Fudia through the Bo market where several folks purchased cloth to be made into traditional shirts, skirts, and pants. We also got to see the ingredients for our day’s meals materialize as Fudia bought the fixings for them at various stops on our wanderings.
Our afternoon included an opportunity to participate in CRC’s outdoor game time. It was a uniquely special day to be present. It was the first day that Abu, a young boy who has been at Mercy Hospital since suffering severe burns in December, was able to come outside in his wheelchair. We wore our team t-shirts (design courtesy of Bill B.), gave Abu one, and made him our honorary Team Captain. Sadly, our guys who joined the soccer match looked mostly like fixed poles in the soccer pitch as the young boys, many playing in bare feet or flip flops, ran circles around us. After about 30 minutes the “poles” called half time, crawled off the pitch for water, and failed to reappear for the second half. Bill B did offer a volleyball clinic after the soccer match, found a couple of naturals among both the boys and girls, and is encouraged about the prospects for the Sierra Leonean Olympic team for about 2025 to 2030. During our devotions tonight we talked about the importance of “perspective”, and how what we are experiencing here in Bo can’t help but bring focus on how much we have to be thankful for, and yet how often we let small stuff that matters little, interfere with our keeping our focus on the “big stuff” God has for us to do. (Filed by Bill Hafker) |
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