Well, as I write this last blog, I am sitting in the NGO office that has become my home over the past 4 months. I am looking down over the hills that I have climbed and travelled, and the beautiful town that has surronded me, loved me, and cherished me more than I ever thought possible. I knew at the beginning of this trip that the time to say goodbye would come again...but I never imagined it would come so soon. Last year when I said goodbye, my heart was breaking because I was just getting to know these beautiful people. This year, my heart is breaking because I have to leave my family and my very best friends. Words cannot describe how much everyone here means to me...how much they have impacted me...how much their generosity has changed and impacted my life in so many ways. Tonight we are heading to our farewell party, where I will get to see and spend time with all the amazing people who have become such a huge part of my life. Monday we will leave Kabala for Freetown, and on Wednesday, our flight leaves to bring us back to Canada. I don't understand how this summer has gone so quickly...but since this is my last post in Salone, let me share some of the ups and downs of this trip..the things I will miss so much.
First of all, I have loved working with the youth. We had our final bible study on Tuesday, and it was amazing to hear young men and women -who had once thought of themselves as worthless and thought that it was not POSSIBLE to save sex till marriage- talking about their desire to stay pure, and how they know God will keep them that way until they get married. It amazes me how these youth just grabbed unto the little teaching I was able to give them and ran with it. We certainly serve a good God.
Second of all, my family here is incredible. They treat me like I am one of their own now, not a 'tubabu' (Kurunco for white man) anymore. It is amazing to be so loved, welcomed, and to have formed such incredible relationships with people who come from a totally different background and place.
Thirdly, I will miss the kids. I will miss the huge smiles on their faces when you give them something as small as a package of bubbles...I will miss them running after me anytime I walk to the office, yelling my name and asking me how I slept. I will miss their desire to learn, their love for people, their enthusiasm in church, and the way that they just look at you and LOVE you...regardless of your skin colour or anything else. They have opened my heart so wide that without them, there is certain to be a big hole left there.
Just this week, Katie and I got the chance to travel back to Yarah, a small village about 27 miles from Kabala, with one of our best friends here, Martin. I've been to Yarah 2 times before, so it was nice to be back, and really awesome to get to meet all of our friend's family and spend time with them. When we were there, we met up with Martin's sister, Kumba, and all of her kids. As soon as I saw her youngest daughter, I had to fight to keep the tears from falling (which they did anyway). Her youngest daughter is 14 months old, but looks like she is about 6 months old. In my four months here, I am not sure if I have ever seen a baby that malnourished. When I say there was nothing to her, I literally mean NOTHING...her arms and legs were just hanging off her skin. Within 5 minutes of holding her, I realized that we had to do something...God does not just put you in a situation like that so that you can walk away. Thank God for my beautiful sister Katie, who had the same thoughts going through her head as me...I am so blessed to have such a generous and kind-hearted sister here with me. I ended up asking Kumba (with Martin as a translator, since his sister doesn't speak Krio) if she knew how long the baby had been like this, what she was sick with, and if she had seen a doctor. She had no idea what was wrong - there is no doctor or even a nurse inside Yarah, even though a beautiful new health clinic has just been built - how ironic, a brand new health clinic with locked doors. Long story short, me and Katie offered to take her and the baby back with us to Kabala so that she could see a doctor, and we told the family that we would buy the medicine and also the Bennymix (which is a locally made baby food that is made especially for malnourished kids) to keep the baby alive. She could not even believe that we would do that for her...I can't describe how incredibly thankful this woman was for such a small thing for us. When we brought her to Kabala yesterday, we saw a doctor right away - and it turns out the baby is anemic, malnourished, and is suffering from malaria. We bought the medicine for her, which was about 3 different bottles of medicine, and 4 packets of tablets, all for 15,000 Leones..which translates to about 5 dollars. It is so heartbreaking that the medicine that might save this child's life (God willing) costs 5 dollars...yet her family would never have been able to afford it, or get it, in a hundred years. We bought over 2 months worth of Benny mix for her for about 10 dollars each. It is absolutely mindblowing how little it costs to quite literally save a life.
Last night we showed Martin's sister how to mix the food, and how to give the medicine to her baby. Today her and the baby travelled back to Yarah, so we can only hope that Kumba will get time to continue giving her the medicine and making the food...its not easy when you work on a rice farm 12 hours a day. But, one of my friends here likes to say that "If God brings you to it, he'll bring you through it." If God brought Katie & I into this child's life, I'm sure he will be faithful so that our small help can do something. We serve a good God..please pray for this little girl's life.
Anyways, it's time to head off to our Goodbye party now...and no doubt shed some tears for my beautiful home that I will soon be leaving. May God bless you and keep you all who have been reading till we meet again, back in Canada or wherever you are. Thank you for praying for me, loving me, and caring about me, no matter what.
Lots of love,
Krissi
Friday, August 14, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Purity & Integrity Poems
Breaking the Silence
A gentle heart and a kind character
Encompassed by a beautiful smile
It's hard to believe that someone this precious
Can feel worthless in such a short while
But she's been used and abused and taught to submit
By nearly every man who comes her way
They've taken her value and crushed her virtue
Leaving her with nothing to say
In a place where women aren't allowed to say no
And life without a man is seen as incomplete
Integrity and purity are stolen from you
And it's hard to get back on your feet
Tears run down my face as I think of the pain
My sisters have had to endure
They've been lied to and abused, decieved and hurt
And left alone, aching, without a cure
The situation seems hopeless, like it will never change
Respect has been trampled and left on the ground
Women have been told that they're not good enough
Left bleeding and bruised, yet they don't make a sound
Yet amidst this horrible silence
I hear a small voice
She's bruised and she's tattered
But she still makes a choice
She raises her voice
And she holds her head high
She finds her own value
Amidst the world's lies
She is only one person
What difference can she make?
Yet she's showing other young women
What path they can take
She's learned to say no to men
Cause she found that her real love came
A love that won't leave her pregnant
A love that won't forget her name
He's walking with her down life's busy streets
And wiping the tears from her eyes
He tells her she's precious, that she has value
He won't leave her alone when she cries
The road won't be easy, but she knows she's not alone
She has someone in whom she can confide
The lover of her soul, her very best friend
Her Saviour will never leave her side.
This poem is dedicated to all my beautiful sisters in Salone who have endured so much abuse and hardship throughout the years, being told that they are worthless and not good enough. I hope and pray that more of them will find their voices and break the silence.
WAITING ON LOVE
It’s easy to get caught up in things of the world
And get swept along in the tide
The world keeps saying she’s not good enough
That she’s incomplete without someone by her side
She vows she’ll wait for the perfect match
The one who will sweep her off her feet
But when she get impatient, it’s easy to forget
And wonder what’s wrong with all the others she meets
It seems the longer she waits, the harder it gets
The world laughs in her face, it seems
Sometimes she laughs back, but more often she cries
After all, love was always one of her dreams
The easy answer would be for her to give in
To find any man who could make her feel value and love
But deep in her heart, she knows that’s not God’s will
Cause true value’s got to come from above
She leans her ear to her heavenly father
And hears the words that he speaks
“My child, you are fearfully and wonderfully made,”
“Even though you sometimes feel alone and weak.”
“Don’t go searching for love in all the wrong places,
Because you’ll only end up broken and torn.
Turn to me for love, and I’ll fill your cup completely
I’ll walk with you through the world’s laughter and scorn.”
When she thought of love in terms of chocolate and roses
The road was a long and disappointing one
But she realized she had already received real love, God’s greatest gift
For which he had sent down his own Son.
Some people think that you shouldn’t wait
That love is only a temporary thing
But because of her Father’s perfect love she realized
That love’s about much more than a diamond ring
She’ll still wait for her prince for years and years
But now will always trust that God will provide
Her bond with the Creator is stronger than any romance
Cause she’s found someone who will never leave her side
A gentle heart and a kind character
Encompassed by a beautiful smile
It's hard to believe that someone this precious
Can feel worthless in such a short while
But she's been used and abused and taught to submit
By nearly every man who comes her way
They've taken her value and crushed her virtue
Leaving her with nothing to say
In a place where women aren't allowed to say no
And life without a man is seen as incomplete
Integrity and purity are stolen from you
And it's hard to get back on your feet
Tears run down my face as I think of the pain
My sisters have had to endure
They've been lied to and abused, decieved and hurt
And left alone, aching, without a cure
The situation seems hopeless, like it will never change
Respect has been trampled and left on the ground
Women have been told that they're not good enough
Left bleeding and bruised, yet they don't make a sound
Yet amidst this horrible silence
I hear a small voice
She's bruised and she's tattered
But she still makes a choice
She raises her voice
And she holds her head high
She finds her own value
Amidst the world's lies
She is only one person
What difference can she make?
Yet she's showing other young women
What path they can take
She's learned to say no to men
Cause she found that her real love came
A love that won't leave her pregnant
A love that won't forget her name
He's walking with her down life's busy streets
And wiping the tears from her eyes
He tells her she's precious, that she has value
He won't leave her alone when she cries
The road won't be easy, but she knows she's not alone
She has someone in whom she can confide
The lover of her soul, her very best friend
Her Saviour will never leave her side.
This poem is dedicated to all my beautiful sisters in Salone who have endured so much abuse and hardship throughout the years, being told that they are worthless and not good enough. I hope and pray that more of them will find their voices and break the silence.
WAITING ON LOVE
It’s easy to get caught up in things of the world
And get swept along in the tide
The world keeps saying she’s not good enough
That she’s incomplete without someone by her side
She vows she’ll wait for the perfect match
The one who will sweep her off her feet
But when she get impatient, it’s easy to forget
And wonder what’s wrong with all the others she meets
It seems the longer she waits, the harder it gets
The world laughs in her face, it seems
Sometimes she laughs back, but more often she cries
After all, love was always one of her dreams
The easy answer would be for her to give in
To find any man who could make her feel value and love
But deep in her heart, she knows that’s not God’s will
Cause true value’s got to come from above
She leans her ear to her heavenly father
And hears the words that he speaks
“My child, you are fearfully and wonderfully made,”
“Even though you sometimes feel alone and weak.”
“Don’t go searching for love in all the wrong places,
Because you’ll only end up broken and torn.
Turn to me for love, and I’ll fill your cup completely
I’ll walk with you through the world’s laughter and scorn.”
When she thought of love in terms of chocolate and roses
The road was a long and disappointing one
But she realized she had already received real love, God’s greatest gift
For which he had sent down his own Son.
Some people think that you shouldn’t wait
That love is only a temporary thing
But because of her Father’s perfect love she realized
That love’s about much more than a diamond ring
She’ll still wait for her prince for years and years
But now will always trust that God will provide
Her bond with the Creator is stronger than any romance
Cause she’s found someone who will never leave her side
A long & winding road...
As usual, time is flying by here...it's hard to believe that all that's left of my four months in Kabala is three short weeks. Although I will be glad to see my family & friends back in Canada, words can't describe how much I will miss this beautiful town...how much I will miss my friends here...how much I will miss my family here. The bonds that I had with this country have deepened so immensely over the past 3 months...which is a constant reminder of how BIG our God is. No matter where you are, you can find family...despite differences in culture, colour, and language.
Lately, I have been busy (surprise surprise) with work all over Kabala. My friend from Canada got here to join me in the missionary work about 2 weeks ago, and it has been such a blessing to spend time with her and also have a sister to partner with me in all the work I am doing. We have continued to go to the prison and minister nearly every morning, which has been inspiring...it's amazing the hope that these prisoners have, despite the fact that they are behind bars. They always sing and dance for God with all their heart, and welcome us warmly...whether they are Muslims or Christians. They always ask me to pray that God will bring them out of the prison, but they never fail to believe that he will. I think the hardest thing about the prison ministry is the realization of how different this prison is from one in Canada...in Canada, you would have wash facilities and food accessible every day, whereas that is just not the case here. The hardest thing is the fact that none of these prisoners are even sentenced yet...unlike in Canada, where if you commit a crime, you face a trial and then go to jail, these prisoners have not faced a trial yet. The prison is just where they wait until they go to court...and court here consists of all 28 prisoners going to a small court room once every 2 weeks to see if the judge will sentance them or let them free.
I am continuing in my work with CES, helping them set up new technology, writing reports, and traveling to villages to help them whenever neccessary. This weekend I will hopefully be making a trip to Yarah, a village I visited last year when I was here. It isn't a work trip, mainly just to visit my friend's family and show Katie (my Canadian friend working with me) a little bit of village life. It will be nice to have a few days out in the bush...and this time I'll make sure I bring PLENTY of mosquito repellent.
I genuinely think the most fufilling work (and the work I will miss the MOST) is the bible study I have been leading for the youth. Not only is it encouraging to be able to talk to youth about purity and integrity, something we all struggle with, but it is absolutely amazing to just see how their opinions about themselves are changing. It's amazing to see beautiful young women finally REALIZING that they are just that - beautiful, no matter how men have let them down or abused them in the past. And it's also amazing to see young men becoming committed to finishing their education and respecting their future wives, because they are starting to realize that women are a gift from God. It's impossible to put into words how much this ministry has touched my heart...I certainly believe that God could do amazing things through these youth, and through this country, if the youth in Salone really took this to heart. I really feel like God is going to do something big through this, and I feel like he has big plans for this purity and integrity ministry...he's really laid it on my heart, and I'm excited to see where He leads me with it. Imagine the possibilities if there was a group that encouraged young men and women to stay pure, assisted them with pursuing high levels of education, and more than anything, supported them when things went wrong - helping them to know that despite their past, they are beautiful and unique and DESERVE to be respected. It's a big dream, but our God is big...and I think he can make it happen.
In the above post I've added two poems which I wrote after starting the purity and integrity ministry in Kabala.
Stay blessed,
Krissi
Lately, I have been busy (surprise surprise) with work all over Kabala. My friend from Canada got here to join me in the missionary work about 2 weeks ago, and it has been such a blessing to spend time with her and also have a sister to partner with me in all the work I am doing. We have continued to go to the prison and minister nearly every morning, which has been inspiring...it's amazing the hope that these prisoners have, despite the fact that they are behind bars. They always sing and dance for God with all their heart, and welcome us warmly...whether they are Muslims or Christians. They always ask me to pray that God will bring them out of the prison, but they never fail to believe that he will. I think the hardest thing about the prison ministry is the realization of how different this prison is from one in Canada...in Canada, you would have wash facilities and food accessible every day, whereas that is just not the case here. The hardest thing is the fact that none of these prisoners are even sentenced yet...unlike in Canada, where if you commit a crime, you face a trial and then go to jail, these prisoners have not faced a trial yet. The prison is just where they wait until they go to court...and court here consists of all 28 prisoners going to a small court room once every 2 weeks to see if the judge will sentance them or let them free.
I am continuing in my work with CES, helping them set up new technology, writing reports, and traveling to villages to help them whenever neccessary. This weekend I will hopefully be making a trip to Yarah, a village I visited last year when I was here. It isn't a work trip, mainly just to visit my friend's family and show Katie (my Canadian friend working with me) a little bit of village life. It will be nice to have a few days out in the bush...and this time I'll make sure I bring PLENTY of mosquito repellent.
I genuinely think the most fufilling work (and the work I will miss the MOST) is the bible study I have been leading for the youth. Not only is it encouraging to be able to talk to youth about purity and integrity, something we all struggle with, but it is absolutely amazing to just see how their opinions about themselves are changing. It's amazing to see beautiful young women finally REALIZING that they are just that - beautiful, no matter how men have let them down or abused them in the past. And it's also amazing to see young men becoming committed to finishing their education and respecting their future wives, because they are starting to realize that women are a gift from God. It's impossible to put into words how much this ministry has touched my heart...I certainly believe that God could do amazing things through these youth, and through this country, if the youth in Salone really took this to heart. I really feel like God is going to do something big through this, and I feel like he has big plans for this purity and integrity ministry...he's really laid it on my heart, and I'm excited to see where He leads me with it. Imagine the possibilities if there was a group that encouraged young men and women to stay pure, assisted them with pursuing high levels of education, and more than anything, supported them when things went wrong - helping them to know that despite their past, they are beautiful and unique and DESERVE to be respected. It's a big dream, but our God is big...and I think he can make it happen.
In the above post I've added two poems which I wrote after starting the purity and integrity ministry in Kabala.
Stay blessed,
Krissi
Thursday, July 9, 2009
A picture's worth a thousand words...
Well, since I've rambled on for many more than a thousand words, I thought I would add some pictures from my life here in Salone. Enjoy =)
My friends Joe and Adrienne with their new daughter, Mariama.
The small hut I stayed in during my last trip to the village...one room in all!
Purity & integrity talks with the youth - this is only less than HALF of the youth group that came that day...I couldn't fit them all inside the picture!
Martin, Mr. Marah, J.T., and Rev. John finishing the first cement block for the new church.
Me and with Ruth & Mariama, my students at CRC Primary school.
My friends Joe and Adrienne with their new daughter, Mariama.
The small hut I stayed in during my last trip to the village...one room in all!
Purity & integrity talks with the youth - this is only less than HALF of the youth group that came that day...I couldn't fit them all inside the picture!
Martin, Mr. Marah, J.T., and Rev. John finishing the first cement block for the new church.
Me and with Ruth & Mariama, my students at CRC Primary school.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Building blocks & Stepping Stones
It amazes me how the things that seem so small are always the ones which impact me the most. Friday, I led another bible study about purity and integrity with the Kabala youth group. At first I was a little worried, because I hadn't prepared as well as the other 2...this one I just started talking from my heart and saw which bible verses God led me to. But of course, our God is good...and he managed to make it our most meaningful and incredible session yet. I started talking with the youth and emphasizing once again how we need to respect and value ourselves, and not involve ourselves in ANY kind of sexual immorality...cause not only does it hurt those around us, it can so quickly destroy our own future. After a while, Rev. John gave some input and started talking to the youth AGAIN about how valuable they are, and emphasizing that they are too precious to let anyone take advantage of them. Since I arrived in Salone, my heart has been breaking for the thousands of young women who have been abused and hurt, all because of power relationships: they've been told that they're not smart enough or they don't have enough money to become educated, and because of that they NEED a man. Unfortunately, where power is in play, abuse often comes too...when a man knows that his woman relies solely on him, he won't hesitate to beat her, abuse her, mistreat her, or cheat on her. Why? He knows she has nowhere else to go, he knows that no matter how bad he treats her, she still needs to eat. My heart has had a huge ache for this situation, but I have been overwhelmed about how to deal with it. Thankfully, on Friday, we were able to get the message across to over 30 youth...which may seem small, but you need a stepping stone before you can make a footpath. I discussed with these youth the incredible oppurtunities they have, and how they should all pursue their education...whether male or female, they can be INDEPENDANT, not dependant...and God has some amazing plans for them! By the end of the discussion, I was nearly in tears. Maybe it was because I had finally recognized the pain in my sisters' faces as told stories of abuse and relationships gone wrong...stories that could all too easily be their own. Maybe it was because I realized that this was the first time these youth has been told that they were precious, and that they could do anything they set their mind to. Maybe it was because I saw the glimmers of tears in their own eyes, but tears that were overcoming sadness and entering into hope... my precious brothers and sisters finally believed me when I said they could accomplish ANYTHING, believed me when I said they were unique and valuable. It was so amazing to see that something so small could actually have an impact on these youth.
Saturday, I went to CRC school with the entire church to help them build cement blocks for the new church building. Although I wasn't feeling 100% (I had stomach flu of some sort), it was such an amazing thing to see children, youth, and women and men of all ages come together to join hands and work! It was so incredible to once again witness the sense of community and love that is embodied here, such a huge part of why I love this country so much. It was awesome to get the chance to help lift cement blocks, carry sand, and just be a part of something that these church members will be so proud of in years to come. I hope that when I return in 2 or so years, their new church will be built, and I will be able to meet with them in a place we started together.
Although there has been a lot of encouragement lately, the road is not always easy. Right now my Canadian friends who are staying in Kabala, Joe and Adrienne Melissen, are going through a lot of trials. They are not sure if they will be able to take the one year old baby they successfully adopted a month ago into Canada with them. Unfortunately, the Canadian adoption rules say that you must complete a 3 month home study in Canada before you can bring a baby inside the country...which is quite hard to do when you are with your child halfway across the world. As you can imagine, they don't want to leave their new family member here without them...and they certainly don't want to go back without her. Please pray for favour for them as they continue to beg with the Canadian embassy, and for God to make a way when there seems to be no way!
As for me, I am continuing work with the youth groups, the school, the prison ministry, helping type reports at CES, travelling to villages, and of course, visiting the many friends I have in Kabala on a daily basis. It's tiring, but I am trusting in God to give me strength. On Friday I will be taking a one week holiday to go to Kono and then down to Freetown to pick up my Canadian friend, Katie, who will be serving as a missionary with me in Salone for my remaining month here.
Continue to be blessed and be a blessing.
Love you and miss you all so much,
Krissi
Saturday, I went to CRC school with the entire church to help them build cement blocks for the new church building. Although I wasn't feeling 100% (I had stomach flu of some sort), it was such an amazing thing to see children, youth, and women and men of all ages come together to join hands and work! It was so incredible to once again witness the sense of community and love that is embodied here, such a huge part of why I love this country so much. It was awesome to get the chance to help lift cement blocks, carry sand, and just be a part of something that these church members will be so proud of in years to come. I hope that when I return in 2 or so years, their new church will be built, and I will be able to meet with them in a place we started together.
Although there has been a lot of encouragement lately, the road is not always easy. Right now my Canadian friends who are staying in Kabala, Joe and Adrienne Melissen, are going through a lot of trials. They are not sure if they will be able to take the one year old baby they successfully adopted a month ago into Canada with them. Unfortunately, the Canadian adoption rules say that you must complete a 3 month home study in Canada before you can bring a baby inside the country...which is quite hard to do when you are with your child halfway across the world. As you can imagine, they don't want to leave their new family member here without them...and they certainly don't want to go back without her. Please pray for favour for them as they continue to beg with the Canadian embassy, and for God to make a way when there seems to be no way!
As for me, I am continuing work with the youth groups, the school, the prison ministry, helping type reports at CES, travelling to villages, and of course, visiting the many friends I have in Kabala on a daily basis. It's tiring, but I am trusting in God to give me strength. On Friday I will be taking a one week holiday to go to Kono and then down to Freetown to pick up my Canadian friend, Katie, who will be serving as a missionary with me in Salone for my remaining month here.
Continue to be blessed and be a blessing.
Love you and miss you all so much,
Krissi
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Village roads & Stolen dreams
Well, as usual, a lot has happened since the last time I wrote. Whenever I come to write a blog, I am amazed by just how busy I am here...hence the reason why I write these long blogs so sparingly! The amazing thing is, although I get tired, I always wake up rejuvenated and ready to go again...and I never regret any of the work that I did which MADE me tired, even if it is just walking 6 miles a day to go visit all the friends I have in Kabala. So since it's been a long time since I last wrote, I'd better start at the beginning.
About 2 weeks ago I got the oppurtunity to go to a small village called Momorimariya (say that three times fast) to help with a community leadership workshop CES was putting on there. Despite the fact that I was destroyed by mosquito bites, it was a really amazing experience. The village had a population of less than 1000, one small, badly kept primary school, and nothing besides that. In most of the small villages around Kabala, Krio (the main langauge that most people in Sierra Leone speak) is not spoken at all. Only the tribal languages exist in the village, usually because the elders and the adults never went to school or went far out of the village, so they don't have much use for Krio. This was an interesting obstacle for me, since I had just adjusted to understanding all that goes on around me, now that I can hear and speak Krio - but Koronco, the native language in this village, I only speak about three words in. So nevertheless, I wasn't able to have incredibly deep conversations with the people in the village. However, I found the workshop incredible...Foray, one of the CES workers, explained to me in Krio what was happening (since the workshop was held in Koronco) and I really was amazed at how much I could observe about what was going on just from the body language and the tone the people spoke in. One really amazing moment in the workshop was when the people were asked about the bad things in their community they wanted to get rid of, the good things in their community they liked, and the things they wanted to see in their community in 5 years. It was so encouraging to hear Foray explain to me that the people wanted to see better education, less teenage pregnancies, more respect, and a better future for their children. Those are the answers every NGO hopes to promote, but it's amazing to hear those answers coming directly from the people.
Once I got back to Kabala, I continued with my prison ministry and my youth ministry, which have both remained a constant encouragement to me. It's so amazing to realize that something so small can make such a big difference. This whole week, I have also been doing testing at CRC, to see what the kid's reading and writing levels are. It's been really encouraging to see the majority of them doing well - and I can assume it will only be more encouraging after I go to other schools where the class sizes are past 100 kids in one room. The results are a reminder not only of the good work this school is doing, but also the work that still needs to be done - after all, if there are still kids in a class of 25 who don't know how to read or write, imagine what it would be like in a class of 100, with a teacher who isn't qualified. More than anything, I want to see the kids of this town succeed, and I want to see them BELIEVE in themselves. So many kids feel like they aren't clever enough, like they aren't good enough...which really breaks my heart. A circumstance where this was really apparent this week was about 2 days ago, when I was teaching my little brother how to read. He's been in school for an entire year now, yet he still has no idea how to read, or even what the letters sound like. I started tutoring him recently to try and help him out, but he is a very emotional kid (as most 6 year olds are). We got through the alphabet okay, but once we came to trying to say a word, he got frustrated because he couldn't do it. Add on top of that the teasing of his older siblings, and we had an emotional breakdown on our hands. Now, my little brother cries nearly every day for one reason or another, so this wasn't a huge deal when he burst into tears. I followed him out on the balcony and tried to console him, telling him "Osh ya" (Sorry in Krio) and that he was clever, he could learn, and it was always hard at the start. Once his tears had resided a little, he said something that brought tears to my own eyes. I told him not to listen to what his siblings were saying, but he shook his head and said,
'Ah no clever. Ah no get sense. Ah no able fo learn...'
Which basically means...I'm stupid...I can't learn...I'm not smart enough. It was so heartbreaking to hear those words come out of a child's mouth...especially my dear little brothers. Realistically, sure, it was a 6 year old tantrum...the next morning he was all smiles and laughs again. But for me, that really hit home, not just for him, but for so many kids in this country. They've been told they're not good enough, they've been put in situations where it's nearly impossible to learn, and then when they don't succeed, they feel like they're stupid. This breaks my heart so completely...every child is SO precious, is SO talented, and has such a contribution to bring to the world...regardless of their reading level. This situation with my brother was really a reminder that QUALITY education is what this country needs, more than anything. And really, we need to believe in each other...to support each other. We need to make everyone feel like they are valuable and have something to offer. After all, if we can't do that, we're really forgetting God's most important command...'Love your neighbour as yourself'. It doesn't matter if your neighbour is black, white, 6 years old, or 100 years old...they deserve to be treated with love and respect, and encouraged so that they realize they not only CAN make a difference in this world, but they ARE the difference the world needs.
With love from Kabala town,
Krissi
About 2 weeks ago I got the oppurtunity to go to a small village called Momorimariya (say that three times fast) to help with a community leadership workshop CES was putting on there. Despite the fact that I was destroyed by mosquito bites, it was a really amazing experience. The village had a population of less than 1000, one small, badly kept primary school, and nothing besides that. In most of the small villages around Kabala, Krio (the main langauge that most people in Sierra Leone speak) is not spoken at all. Only the tribal languages exist in the village, usually because the elders and the adults never went to school or went far out of the village, so they don't have much use for Krio. This was an interesting obstacle for me, since I had just adjusted to understanding all that goes on around me, now that I can hear and speak Krio - but Koronco, the native language in this village, I only speak about three words in. So nevertheless, I wasn't able to have incredibly deep conversations with the people in the village. However, I found the workshop incredible...Foray, one of the CES workers, explained to me in Krio what was happening (since the workshop was held in Koronco) and I really was amazed at how much I could observe about what was going on just from the body language and the tone the people spoke in. One really amazing moment in the workshop was when the people were asked about the bad things in their community they wanted to get rid of, the good things in their community they liked, and the things they wanted to see in their community in 5 years. It was so encouraging to hear Foray explain to me that the people wanted to see better education, less teenage pregnancies, more respect, and a better future for their children. Those are the answers every NGO hopes to promote, but it's amazing to hear those answers coming directly from the people.
Once I got back to Kabala, I continued with my prison ministry and my youth ministry, which have both remained a constant encouragement to me. It's so amazing to realize that something so small can make such a big difference. This whole week, I have also been doing testing at CRC, to see what the kid's reading and writing levels are. It's been really encouraging to see the majority of them doing well - and I can assume it will only be more encouraging after I go to other schools where the class sizes are past 100 kids in one room. The results are a reminder not only of the good work this school is doing, but also the work that still needs to be done - after all, if there are still kids in a class of 25 who don't know how to read or write, imagine what it would be like in a class of 100, with a teacher who isn't qualified. More than anything, I want to see the kids of this town succeed, and I want to see them BELIEVE in themselves. So many kids feel like they aren't clever enough, like they aren't good enough...which really breaks my heart. A circumstance where this was really apparent this week was about 2 days ago, when I was teaching my little brother how to read. He's been in school for an entire year now, yet he still has no idea how to read, or even what the letters sound like. I started tutoring him recently to try and help him out, but he is a very emotional kid (as most 6 year olds are). We got through the alphabet okay, but once we came to trying to say a word, he got frustrated because he couldn't do it. Add on top of that the teasing of his older siblings, and we had an emotional breakdown on our hands. Now, my little brother cries nearly every day for one reason or another, so this wasn't a huge deal when he burst into tears. I followed him out on the balcony and tried to console him, telling him "Osh ya" (Sorry in Krio) and that he was clever, he could learn, and it was always hard at the start. Once his tears had resided a little, he said something that brought tears to my own eyes. I told him not to listen to what his siblings were saying, but he shook his head and said,
'Ah no clever. Ah no get sense. Ah no able fo learn...'
Which basically means...I'm stupid...I can't learn...I'm not smart enough. It was so heartbreaking to hear those words come out of a child's mouth...especially my dear little brothers. Realistically, sure, it was a 6 year old tantrum...the next morning he was all smiles and laughs again. But for me, that really hit home, not just for him, but for so many kids in this country. They've been told they're not good enough, they've been put in situations where it's nearly impossible to learn, and then when they don't succeed, they feel like they're stupid. This breaks my heart so completely...every child is SO precious, is SO talented, and has such a contribution to bring to the world...regardless of their reading level. This situation with my brother was really a reminder that QUALITY education is what this country needs, more than anything. And really, we need to believe in each other...to support each other. We need to make everyone feel like they are valuable and have something to offer. After all, if we can't do that, we're really forgetting God's most important command...'Love your neighbour as yourself'. It doesn't matter if your neighbour is black, white, 6 years old, or 100 years old...they deserve to be treated with love and respect, and encouraged so that they realize they not only CAN make a difference in this world, but they ARE the difference the world needs.
With love from Kabala town,
Krissi
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Walk & not grow weary, run & not faint...
Whenever I go to Freetown, I feel like time is passing by at an incredible rate...maybe because everything is so hectic in Freetown, maybe because the journey back to Kabala is so long, or maybe because I always feel so at home when I'm with my friends in Freetown that I never want to leave. Last week Wednesday, I travelled down to Freetown with Adrienne (A Canadian who has been working in Kabala as a nurse for the past 10 months) and her soon-to be daughter Mariama. Just to give you a little background on that story, Adrienne is the wife of my former high school teacher, Joe Melissen, and they have both been working in Kabala since July of last year. About 3 months ago, they made the decision to try and adopt a baby girl from here named Mariama Conteh. This girl's mom died when she was about 2 months old, and Adrienne helped nurse her back to health and became really close to her and to her existing family. Long story short, Adrienne and Joe have been working really hard the last 3 months to try and get papers, lawyers, court dates, and everything else in place so that they can adopt Mariama.
Adrienne and I went down to Freetown on the bus with Mariama Wednesday morning -and believe me, being on the bus with a 11 month old baby is quite interesting here, between the chickens pecking at your feet and the bumpy roads that nearly bounce the baby off your lap- to try and meet with her lawyer. Needless to say, their lawyer is not the most friendly person in the world...he made us wait for 2 hours before telling us that the papers 'weren't ready to be signed. Come back tomorrow.' Long story short, that same thing happened about three or four times, before the lawyer FINALLY showed up on Monday and they went to court...so Mariama is now legally theirs in Salone at least, but the Canada paperwork still needs to get all sorted out. The whole situation was a real reminder that patience is so neccessary here...things you expect to finish quickly rarely ever do. Please pray for favor for Joe and Adrienne in this adoption, so that everything could get finished quickly in time for them to head back to Canada.
I returned back to Kabala late on Monday night, and started my work again here on Tuesday morning. This whole week has been a real blessing...I find the more I do God's work, the more physically tired I get...but the more my heart and my spirit become rejuvenated. That's why I chose to title my blog with this verse in Isaiah, Isaiah 40:31. "Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." What an encouragement when you find yourself growing tired! God has promised he will restore our strength...all we have to do is put our faith and our hope in him.
I've had a cold almost all week, and so my voice has been 'small-small' as they say in krio...meaning that it's hard to talk (combine a sore throat with teaching at a primary school everyday, and you'll understand why my voice was lost!). However, it's coming back slowly but surely, which is a wonderful thing. I've been continuing to do my prison ministry this week, going there almost every day to greet the prisoners, pray with them, and do a short bible study. This is some of the most encouraging and fulfilling work I've done here yet. I've never encountered people who have been so grateful for so small a sacrifice...it's really quite humbling, especially when these prisoners are able to encourage me! So many times we've been having a bible study and they will speak up with an insight or a hopeful word that I never would have thought of. It's a continuous reminder that God's family is wider than we will ever know.
I also got the amazing oppurtunity to meet with Dr. Joanna Kuyvenhoven this week, a professor who is teaching at Calvin College in Grand Rapids. I've heard a lot about her involvement in Salone (helping start up CRC, helping start up CES, she lived here for 5 years as a missionary) through my friends here and through my old school back in Canada, but never had the oppurtunity to meet her. She is such an amazing woman of God, and truly an inspiration for where I want to be in about 30 years from now. She feels the same way I do about teaching...it's really her passion and her calling, and it's so amazing to see what God has done through her. Despite all the incredible things she has done for this country, what is the most amazing about her is how genuine and real she is...she wants these kids in Kabala to succeed more than anything in the world, and she really believes in the power of education. She's got me doing some testing for the CRC school which will start next week...trying to determine the kid's learning levels compared with other schools in Kabala. This week has been an encouragement for me in terms of the hope education is bringing to this country. They like to say here that if you give a man a fish, you feed him for one day...but if you teach a man to fish, you feed him for his lifetime. Education is really the only way out of poverty, and truly the only way for this country to rebuild.
The last amazing experience I had this week was with the Kabala youth group. I started leading a bible study for them about purity and integrity, and we had our first meeting yesterday. It was really incredible...I preached on Galatians 5:16-21, and really encouraged the youth to not only be pure and practice abstinence, but to recognize how VALUABLE they are as children of God...and not let anyone spoil the plans God has for them. It was so encouraging to see the youth discussing this and really listening. Since I got here, God has really put a call on my heart for the youth of this town. Like everywhere in the world, Kabala is a town that is filled with infidelity and sexual immorality...but unfortunately this is especially true among the youth. Girls are having sex when they are as young as 12 or 13 because a man 'promises' that he will marry them...and then leaves them as soon as they get pregnant. And imagine trying to learn in a classroom of 100 people, in 40 degree weather, with a 3 week old baby on your back...it's nearly impossible. I really believe that if even one youth group in this town lived out lives full of integrity and purity, they could change their future, their town's future, their country's future. It breaks my heart to see beautiful young men and women giving themselves away because they think they aren't good enough. These youth are sons and daughters of the KING, our LORD...they are MORE than good enough! Imagine the difference it would make if youth respected themselves and valued themselves enough to WAIT until God brought them their husband or wife...imagine the difference it would make if youth walked through this town KNOWING that they deserved ALL the promises in God's word, so they didn't compromise for anyone. I can't even begin to describe how much my heart is yearning for that to happen for the youth of this country.
Here's a little bit of what I said yesterday.
If someone tells you you're not good enough unless you sleep with them, or you're nothing when you're alone, here's what you tell them. I am NOT alone. I am walking with my best friend, the lover of my soul, my confidant, and my encourager. He will never leave me nor forsake me. He won't get me pregnant and then run off to the villiage. He won't forget my name. He knew me before I was born...so unless you're willing to get by him first, you certainly aren't getting through to me. His name is Jesus Christ, and he's my everything.
Let's pray for the youth of Salone to value themselves, to respect themselves, and to wait for God's promises to be fufilled in their life. If the youth of this country pursued a high standard of integrity, they could turn this whole country around.
Lots of love from Kabala,
Krissi
Adrienne and I went down to Freetown on the bus with Mariama Wednesday morning -and believe me, being on the bus with a 11 month old baby is quite interesting here, between the chickens pecking at your feet and the bumpy roads that nearly bounce the baby off your lap- to try and meet with her lawyer. Needless to say, their lawyer is not the most friendly person in the world...he made us wait for 2 hours before telling us that the papers 'weren't ready to be signed. Come back tomorrow.' Long story short, that same thing happened about three or four times, before the lawyer FINALLY showed up on Monday and they went to court...so Mariama is now legally theirs in Salone at least, but the Canada paperwork still needs to get all sorted out. The whole situation was a real reminder that patience is so neccessary here...things you expect to finish quickly rarely ever do. Please pray for favor for Joe and Adrienne in this adoption, so that everything could get finished quickly in time for them to head back to Canada.
I returned back to Kabala late on Monday night, and started my work again here on Tuesday morning. This whole week has been a real blessing...I find the more I do God's work, the more physically tired I get...but the more my heart and my spirit become rejuvenated. That's why I chose to title my blog with this verse in Isaiah, Isaiah 40:31. "Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." What an encouragement when you find yourself growing tired! God has promised he will restore our strength...all we have to do is put our faith and our hope in him.
I've had a cold almost all week, and so my voice has been 'small-small' as they say in krio...meaning that it's hard to talk (combine a sore throat with teaching at a primary school everyday, and you'll understand why my voice was lost!). However, it's coming back slowly but surely, which is a wonderful thing. I've been continuing to do my prison ministry this week, going there almost every day to greet the prisoners, pray with them, and do a short bible study. This is some of the most encouraging and fulfilling work I've done here yet. I've never encountered people who have been so grateful for so small a sacrifice...it's really quite humbling, especially when these prisoners are able to encourage me! So many times we've been having a bible study and they will speak up with an insight or a hopeful word that I never would have thought of. It's a continuous reminder that God's family is wider than we will ever know.
I also got the amazing oppurtunity to meet with Dr. Joanna Kuyvenhoven this week, a professor who is teaching at Calvin College in Grand Rapids. I've heard a lot about her involvement in Salone (helping start up CRC, helping start up CES, she lived here for 5 years as a missionary) through my friends here and through my old school back in Canada, but never had the oppurtunity to meet her. She is such an amazing woman of God, and truly an inspiration for where I want to be in about 30 years from now. She feels the same way I do about teaching...it's really her passion and her calling, and it's so amazing to see what God has done through her. Despite all the incredible things she has done for this country, what is the most amazing about her is how genuine and real she is...she wants these kids in Kabala to succeed more than anything in the world, and she really believes in the power of education. She's got me doing some testing for the CRC school which will start next week...trying to determine the kid's learning levels compared with other schools in Kabala. This week has been an encouragement for me in terms of the hope education is bringing to this country. They like to say here that if you give a man a fish, you feed him for one day...but if you teach a man to fish, you feed him for his lifetime. Education is really the only way out of poverty, and truly the only way for this country to rebuild.
The last amazing experience I had this week was with the Kabala youth group. I started leading a bible study for them about purity and integrity, and we had our first meeting yesterday. It was really incredible...I preached on Galatians 5:16-21, and really encouraged the youth to not only be pure and practice abstinence, but to recognize how VALUABLE they are as children of God...and not let anyone spoil the plans God has for them. It was so encouraging to see the youth discussing this and really listening. Since I got here, God has really put a call on my heart for the youth of this town. Like everywhere in the world, Kabala is a town that is filled with infidelity and sexual immorality...but unfortunately this is especially true among the youth. Girls are having sex when they are as young as 12 or 13 because a man 'promises' that he will marry them...and then leaves them as soon as they get pregnant. And imagine trying to learn in a classroom of 100 people, in 40 degree weather, with a 3 week old baby on your back...it's nearly impossible. I really believe that if even one youth group in this town lived out lives full of integrity and purity, they could change their future, their town's future, their country's future. It breaks my heart to see beautiful young men and women giving themselves away because they think they aren't good enough. These youth are sons and daughters of the KING, our LORD...they are MORE than good enough! Imagine the difference it would make if youth respected themselves and valued themselves enough to WAIT until God brought them their husband or wife...imagine the difference it would make if youth walked through this town KNOWING that they deserved ALL the promises in God's word, so they didn't compromise for anyone. I can't even begin to describe how much my heart is yearning for that to happen for the youth of this country.
Here's a little bit of what I said yesterday.
If someone tells you you're not good enough unless you sleep with them, or you're nothing when you're alone, here's what you tell them. I am NOT alone. I am walking with my best friend, the lover of my soul, my confidant, and my encourager. He will never leave me nor forsake me. He won't get me pregnant and then run off to the villiage. He won't forget my name. He knew me before I was born...so unless you're willing to get by him first, you certainly aren't getting through to me. His name is Jesus Christ, and he's my everything.
Let's pray for the youth of Salone to value themselves, to respect themselves, and to wait for God's promises to be fufilled in their life. If the youth of this country pursued a high standard of integrity, they could turn this whole country around.
Lots of love from Kabala,
Krissi
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Fighting the Good Fight
Wow, hard to believe it's already June! Time has really been flying by way too fast since I arrived in Salone...which explains why my blog posts are so few and far between. So I will do by best to try and explain the last couple weeks, which have been...well, interesting, to say the least.
I travelled down to Freetown again last week and took part in some really amazing evangelism while I was there. My friends in Freetown are so welcoming, caring, and more than anything, dedicated to God's word - which is so incredible to see and really inspiring for the future of this country. I feel like these 5 new brothers I've aquired in Freetown are family members that I've known my whole life, not for just a month. Anyways, while we were in Freetown I helped one of my friends who volunteers to give out Polio treatment do his daily rounds - which consisted of a 4 hour walk around Aberdeen, giving pills to kids under the age of 5 and hearing them scream for hours on end because they thought we were coming with injections. The white woman card was 50/50 that day...some kids were so amazed by my blue eyes and blinding colour that they didn't realize they were taking a pill till it was in their stomach, but other kids thought I was one of the scary white doctors who come around with big needles to try to stab them. Anyways, that day really taught me about the amazing commitment of some people in Salone - they walk around in the blazing heat and volunteer their time in order to try and save some of the kids who could grow up to be future leaders of this country, and the only reward they get in return is the hope that some of these kids won't get sick (at least from Polio).
My week in Freetown was very relaxing, but went too fast - I'm amazed at the new love I am developing for Freetown. It's amazing how much we attach our feelings about a place to our feelings about the people there - because I have such close friends in Freetown, I don't worry nearly as much when I come into the city, and I really enjoy being down there - although it's not as peaceful as my little Kabala hometown.
Since I have been back in Kabala, I have been starting to really do some serious evangelism and ministry, and have been so encouraged by hoe good God is. About 2 weeks ago, I went to visit the Kabala prison for the first time - there is 23 prisoners in total, 22 male and 1 female - a place that has been seriously forgotten by visitors and Kabala residents alike. I was amazed not only by how welcoming and friendly the prisoners were (really not the terrifying image you might have in your mind of 'inmates'), but even more, by how grateful they were that I came to see them. Since my first visit, God really laid it on my heart that I needed to go back, and on Monday this week, I conducted the first of hopefully many bible studies I will be leading for them. I was so blown away by God's goodness - first of all, I was somehow able to preach in Krio, and they were able to understand me, which is a miracle in itself. Second of all, they didn't see the difference in skin colour or the difference in situation - they were just glad to hear God's word and even more glad to have someone who seemed to care about their situation. I hope to continue going back to the prison 2-3 times a week to encourage the prisoners, talk with them, and lead bible studies. The one female prisoner, Porre, has been such an encouragemnt to me - she never attended primary school, so does not know how to read or write, but her willingness to learn is amazing. Although she was a Muslim, she has now accepted Christ, and I have started giving her writing lessons - meaning, teaching her the ABC's. It's a very humbling experience to be teaching a full grown woman something I was blessed enough to learn when I was just a child.
Despite the encouragement I recieve from my evangelism, there has certainly been some serious strongholds. Although I realized this a little bit last year, it is becoming even more clear now that Kabala is a town that is heavily involved in spiritual warfare. The same day I started bible studies and began doing evangelism in town, Satan began throwing distractions and strongholds at me from the left and the right. Not 3 hours after I preached, I had too many men to count coming up to me and proposing to me, telling me they loved me, and they needed to spend time with me - including a couple of my friends I really respect and trust. It's crazy how Satan tries to distract us, and how worried he gets once he knows we are doing God's work! However, I rest in the sssurance that He who is within me is GREATER than he who is in the world - including all the men in Kabala. Despite the struggles, I will continue to perservere and do God's work. Please continue to pray for strength and protection for me, and pray that ANY weapon the enemy forms against me shall not prosper...including marriage proposals!
With love from Kabala town,
Krissi
I travelled down to Freetown again last week and took part in some really amazing evangelism while I was there. My friends in Freetown are so welcoming, caring, and more than anything, dedicated to God's word - which is so incredible to see and really inspiring for the future of this country. I feel like these 5 new brothers I've aquired in Freetown are family members that I've known my whole life, not for just a month. Anyways, while we were in Freetown I helped one of my friends who volunteers to give out Polio treatment do his daily rounds - which consisted of a 4 hour walk around Aberdeen, giving pills to kids under the age of 5 and hearing them scream for hours on end because they thought we were coming with injections. The white woman card was 50/50 that day...some kids were so amazed by my blue eyes and blinding colour that they didn't realize they were taking a pill till it was in their stomach, but other kids thought I was one of the scary white doctors who come around with big needles to try to stab them. Anyways, that day really taught me about the amazing commitment of some people in Salone - they walk around in the blazing heat and volunteer their time in order to try and save some of the kids who could grow up to be future leaders of this country, and the only reward they get in return is the hope that some of these kids won't get sick (at least from Polio).
My week in Freetown was very relaxing, but went too fast - I'm amazed at the new love I am developing for Freetown. It's amazing how much we attach our feelings about a place to our feelings about the people there - because I have such close friends in Freetown, I don't worry nearly as much when I come into the city, and I really enjoy being down there - although it's not as peaceful as my little Kabala hometown.
Since I have been back in Kabala, I have been starting to really do some serious evangelism and ministry, and have been so encouraged by hoe good God is. About 2 weeks ago, I went to visit the Kabala prison for the first time - there is 23 prisoners in total, 22 male and 1 female - a place that has been seriously forgotten by visitors and Kabala residents alike. I was amazed not only by how welcoming and friendly the prisoners were (really not the terrifying image you might have in your mind of 'inmates'), but even more, by how grateful they were that I came to see them. Since my first visit, God really laid it on my heart that I needed to go back, and on Monday this week, I conducted the first of hopefully many bible studies I will be leading for them. I was so blown away by God's goodness - first of all, I was somehow able to preach in Krio, and they were able to understand me, which is a miracle in itself. Second of all, they didn't see the difference in skin colour or the difference in situation - they were just glad to hear God's word and even more glad to have someone who seemed to care about their situation. I hope to continue going back to the prison 2-3 times a week to encourage the prisoners, talk with them, and lead bible studies. The one female prisoner, Porre, has been such an encouragemnt to me - she never attended primary school, so does not know how to read or write, but her willingness to learn is amazing. Although she was a Muslim, she has now accepted Christ, and I have started giving her writing lessons - meaning, teaching her the ABC's. It's a very humbling experience to be teaching a full grown woman something I was blessed enough to learn when I was just a child.
Despite the encouragement I recieve from my evangelism, there has certainly been some serious strongholds. Although I realized this a little bit last year, it is becoming even more clear now that Kabala is a town that is heavily involved in spiritual warfare. The same day I started bible studies and began doing evangelism in town, Satan began throwing distractions and strongholds at me from the left and the right. Not 3 hours after I preached, I had too many men to count coming up to me and proposing to me, telling me they loved me, and they needed to spend time with me - including a couple of my friends I really respect and trust. It's crazy how Satan tries to distract us, and how worried he gets once he knows we are doing God's work! However, I rest in the sssurance that He who is within me is GREATER than he who is in the world - including all the men in Kabala. Despite the struggles, I will continue to perservere and do God's work. Please continue to pray for strength and protection for me, and pray that ANY weapon the enemy forms against me shall not prosper...including marriage proposals!
With love from Kabala town,
Krissi
Monday, May 25, 2009
Days of Your Youth
The beautiful beach at Aberdeen.
My Freetown friends and I in Kabala (ps. can you find me? haha)
From left to right... Makieu, Abraham, Dennis, me, Charles, and Moses J.
Very sorry for the long silence! I have had a few
really busy, and really wonderful weeks in Salone.
Around 3 weeks ago I was able to actually start my field work with CES, which has been amazing so far. My first job here is the Assistant Youth Ministry Director...meaning that I work with the youth in and around Kabala, encourage them, provide them with new ideas, and help them plan events. This job involves going on a lot of day trips to villages to meet with the youth and talk to them, which has been sweet. It is so encouraging to see young people all over this country who are dedicated to serving God, and also incredibly responsible and hard working. I've been working with Pastor Maxwell, the Youth pastor for CES, and it's been an amazing experience! The first villiage we travelled to was Dankowalie, which is about 18 miles out of Kabala...or about an hour on the motorbike. The village has about 1000 people in in, and 2 schools...a primary school and a high school. Which is a very good step, but for a village of 1000, there is only about 25% of the school aged children actually attending school. However, the purpose of this newfounded youth ministry is not only to bring youth together to serve God, but to encourage them to continue their studies and education. If the youth in Sierra Leone can have the realization that they are amazing, unique people with value and worth, than imagine the good that realization could do for this beauitful country...these are talented, smart youth who not only serve God with all they have, but are able to mentor their peers on the dangers of HIV/AIDS, the importance of education, and responsiblity. What an incredible change this generation will make in the lives of people all over Salone...I am so excited to be a part of it, and to come back and see how far these youth have gone!
So during my first week of fieldwork, I travelled to 3 different villages close to Kabala. It never fails to amaze me how welcoming people are in these villages...the kids follow me everywhere, and I was nearly brought to tears at every youth meeting because the pastors were so grateful that I had come to see them - so grateful for so little sacrifice.
2 weeks ago, I was able to work with an amazing group of youth from Freetown, who are all part of a group called Youth Alliance. Their president, Moses Jawara, got the vision for Youth Alliance and made it a reality in 2008. Essentially the group exists to bring youth all over Salone (and hopefully one day the continent, and the rest of the world) together in unity to encourage and build each other up, all while carrying out evangelism and community service events. I have never met such a dedicated group of youth with so much integrity before! During the week I worked with these 5 guys, we visited schools early every morning to do a devotion for them, and from there went to do evangelism in the town until the afternoon. After evangelism, we ate and prepared for our nightly cell group meetings -bible studies which were held outside in different locations throughout the town. God was really on the move that week in Kabala. Although Kabala is a Muslim dominated town, when we did evangelism we were welcomed into the homes of Muslims and Christians alike. All of the Muslims were incredibly welcoming and friendly to us, and it was a constant reminder of how amazing our God is - he was able to open the doors and let us come through! It was such an encouraging and inspiring week.
Last week, I was able to go down to Freetown for a few days to stay with my newfound Youth Alliance Friends and visit with the families of my Sierra Leonean friends in Canada. It was a really relaxing time, and I feel a lot safer in Freetown now - it's handy to have an 'entourage', as my friends call themselves, taking you around everywhere. And I really got a chance to see even more of the amazing character my friends have - when we went to the beach, we'd sit on the sand and pray together, and they were constantly talking to other people about how good God is and offering to pray with them - right on the Aberdeen beach! As my friends like to say, when you're a pastor, you're ALWAYS a pastor, no matter where you are.
So during my first week of fieldwork, I travelled to 3 different villages close to Kabala. It never fails to amaze me how welcoming people are in these villages...the kids follow me everywhere, and I was nearly brought to tears at every youth meeting because the pastors were so grateful that I had come to see them - so grateful for so little sacrifice.
2 weeks ago, I was able to work with an amazing group of youth from Freetown, who are all part of a group called Youth Alliance. Their president, Moses Jawara, got the vision for Youth Alliance and made it a reality in 2008. Essentially the group exists to bring youth all over Salone (and hopefully one day the continent, and the rest of the world) together in unity to encourage and build each other up, all while carrying out evangelism and community service events. I have never met such a dedicated group of youth with so much integrity before! During the week I worked with these 5 guys, we visited schools early every morning to do a devotion for them, and from there went to do evangelism in the town until the afternoon. After evangelism, we ate and prepared for our nightly cell group meetings -bible studies which were held outside in different locations throughout the town. God was really on the move that week in Kabala. Although Kabala is a Muslim dominated town, when we did evangelism we were welcomed into the homes of Muslims and Christians alike. All of the Muslims were incredibly welcoming and friendly to us, and it was a constant reminder of how amazing our God is - he was able to open the doors and let us come through! It was such an encouraging and inspiring week.
Last week, I was able to go down to Freetown for a few days to stay with my newfound Youth Alliance Friends and visit with the families of my Sierra Leonean friends in Canada. It was a really relaxing time, and I feel a lot safer in Freetown now - it's handy to have an 'entourage', as my friends call themselves, taking you around everywhere. And I really got a chance to see even more of the amazing character my friends have - when we went to the beach, we'd sit on the sand and pray together, and they were constantly talking to other people about how good God is and offering to pray with them - right on the Aberdeen beach! As my friends like to say, when you're a pastor, you're ALWAYS a pastor, no matter where you are.
Essentially, these past 3 weeks have really encouraged me to be a missionary wherever I am, all the time. Even when I don't feel like I'm making a difference, I need to maintain the heart of a servant, keep my humility, and always put others before myself. After all, we are called to preach the gospel at all times - and when neccessary, to use words. The greatest gospel is the one your life preaches. I love and miss you all very much, thank you so much for your prayers and support.
God Bless from Kabala,
Krissi
Monday, May 4, 2009
Unspoken Bonds
This weekend was certainly a lesson in humility. By Friday morning I was absolutely convinced that I was fully adjusted to Salone life...it seemed like I could handle the heat, I knew more of the songs we sang at school (thanks to Calvary...we must sing at least 5 of the songs they sing here all the time), I'd seen all my old friends again, and I was even starting to grasp a little Krio. Of course, when you think you've got it all covered, that's when God reminds you that on your own...you really don't. By Friday late afternoon, I was feeling really sick...and by Friday night, my stomach felt like someone was squeezing the life out of it. I have a very unnatural fear of actually getting the flu...I would rather have a cold for 2 months than have to deal with throwing up. But, once again, God keeps us humble...so you can imagine which of the two options I was rewarded. Not only was I sick nearly all night, it happened to be the night the whole town was over watching a movie in our house...ah what a sense of humour God has! However, I became so incredibly thankful for my Salone mama & sisi...they were in my room within seconds of my coughing, rubbing my back and murmuring 'sorry' in Koronco until I finally stopped coughing. What a reminder of how universal love is...you don't need to understand the language perfectly to know how much someone cares about you. Saturday I still felt pretty awful, but didn't get sick...yet somehow managed to sleep all day (I do mean all day...from9 - 9, short breaks of ten minutes, and then slept till the next morning). Sunday left me feeling much better...and I was even well enough to go to church, which made me incredibly happy and homesick at the same time. Church here is so much like Calvary...we sang a lot of the same songs, and the message reminded me so much of home. Amazing how things can be so similar on different corners of the world. Today we have a meeting with the CES staff...so hopefully I will have my job tasks outlined more and we will discuss plans for the summer. This weekend was a good reminder that this summer won't be easy...it will certainly be hard work at times, and undoubtedly painful too...but with God's grace, I will get through it. After all, suffering produces perserverence, and perserverence brings faith...and what better place to learn about faith and hope than in a little village in West Africa, one that has been through so much heartache & loss? If they can still have faith, I think it's not something that's out of reach for anyone.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Back home in Kabala!
I have arrived at my home away from home, and it is SO good to be back...who would have thought that I would miss this little village so much? It has been amazing reuniting with friends & adopted family, a constant reminder of how good God is...somehow he got me back here safely...and kept me from getting too lost in the Heathrow Airport. Being in Salone for the 2nd time has a lot less shock value than the 1st...I now expect the 'white man' calls and feeling my arms being pulled off by 20 of the cutest kids you could ever imagine...all at the same time! I expect my eyes to start running whenever I eat any sort of food...and I totally ravish my walks through the red dirt of the town. Still, the one thing I can never get over is the amazing love and selflessness that is embodied by everyone here...seeing the smiles on their faces when they all saw me again was one of the most meaningful & priceless things in the world. I haven't started my work with CES (the NGO I am volunteering with) yet, but yesterday I did get a chance to go back to the CRC school. Talk about a homecoming welcome! As soon as I walked onto the field, the kids ambushed me with 'miss Krissi' and immediately started singing Kumbaya. I can't even begin to describe how much that meant to me. I think that's the amazing part about Salone. No matter how much my friends & the kids here say 'tenke' (thank-you) for what I am doing, for coming back to volunteer, I will always be more thankful to them...'cause they're constantly showing me what life is about. They open their homes to me, they provide me with all the food I could ever want or need, and they constantly tell me they're so glad I'm back. The love that my friends & family here have for each other, and for me, is no doubt the most incredible thing I've ever experienced. They could care less about my resume, my accomplishments, or even my skin colour...all they see is that we're family, and that's the most precious gift I could ever ask for. How incredible is it that I now have 2 families...one in Canada, and one in a little country in West Africa? It seems impossible, but that's our God for ya.
Much love.
Krissi
Much love.
Krissi
Friday, April 24, 2009
Pre-Journey Thoughts
I haven't got to Africa yet, but thought I would provide a little background for those of you who are confused about who I am and what I am doing...
I graduated from Fraser Valley Christian High School in 2008, and through that school, recieved the oppurtunity to volunteer in Sierra Leone, West Africa. When I signed up for the trip, I expected heat waves, spicy food, & poverty...but I never could have prepared for how my life would be changed through this trip. Before I first traveled to Sierra Leone in March of 2008, I knew this country was devestatingly poor, filled with injustice, and had just been through one of the most brutal civil wars in this century. I knew nothing of the incredible hope that lay in this country, and the unimaginable happiness people found in relationships with God & each other. I was totally and completely captured by the incredible love that was shown to me by each and every member of the community I stayed in - they welcomed me into their homes, and their families, with arms more open than I would have ever dreamed possible. The school I was helping at in Sierra Leone was one that Fraser Valley Christian had fundraised to build in 2007, and I was able to help teach there the first year it opened. This school truly awakened me to the possibility of a hope and a future for this tiny country in West Africa, a country that had been through so much - yet still had so much hope. Kids at the school would tell me they dreamed of becoming doctors, politicians, or teachers - all so they could help their country become a better place. From the moment I heard these heartfelt dreams, I knew God was calling me to be a part of making those dreams a reality. This year, I will be working with a non-governmental organization in Sierra Leone, CES, helping them plan for further development work in schools throughout the Koinadugu district of Sierra Leone. I will also be helping out at the school & with the kids whenever I can, as well as at the local church in Kabala. I will be arriving in Kabala on Monday, April 27...so keep checking in, as I will be writing about my experiences mid-next week. Thank you so much for reading.
I graduated from Fraser Valley Christian High School in 2008, and through that school, recieved the oppurtunity to volunteer in Sierra Leone, West Africa. When I signed up for the trip, I expected heat waves, spicy food, & poverty...but I never could have prepared for how my life would be changed through this trip. Before I first traveled to Sierra Leone in March of 2008, I knew this country was devestatingly poor, filled with injustice, and had just been through one of the most brutal civil wars in this century. I knew nothing of the incredible hope that lay in this country, and the unimaginable happiness people found in relationships with God & each other. I was totally and completely captured by the incredible love that was shown to me by each and every member of the community I stayed in - they welcomed me into their homes, and their families, with arms more open than I would have ever dreamed possible. The school I was helping at in Sierra Leone was one that Fraser Valley Christian had fundraised to build in 2007, and I was able to help teach there the first year it opened. This school truly awakened me to the possibility of a hope and a future for this tiny country in West Africa, a country that had been through so much - yet still had so much hope. Kids at the school would tell me they dreamed of becoming doctors, politicians, or teachers - all so they could help their country become a better place. From the moment I heard these heartfelt dreams, I knew God was calling me to be a part of making those dreams a reality. This year, I will be working with a non-governmental organization in Sierra Leone, CES, helping them plan for further development work in schools throughout the Koinadugu district of Sierra Leone. I will also be helping out at the school & with the kids whenever I can, as well as at the local church in Kabala. I will be arriving in Kabala on Monday, April 27...so keep checking in, as I will be writing about my experiences mid-next week. Thank you so much for reading.
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