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