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
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