Still Active

Yes, I am still alive and plan to keep the blog active. So much as happened. In January we (7 Child Development Program Facilitators) had a teacher's workshop for teachers of 7 schools. We have adopted 6 schools where we mentor teachers. My school's name is Slipway Elementary. It is a public school. The principal is Joseph Julius and the staff members signed an agreement of understanding and participation. One teacher who claims Christianity encouraged me to not talk too much about Christianity, but I reminded him that it was clearly stated in the contract that we are a Christian organization and will share Christ.

Sierra Leone,
February 17-March 3

Travel
In faith that I will be able to go to Sierra Leone a few times in 365 days time I bought the $150 more expensive, multiple entry visa. World Food Program provided a free round trip airplane ride. Prince who served with Child Development Program (CDP) for 3 years met me at the airport and escorted me on the speed boat across the river to Freetown the capital city of Sierra Leone.



For 5 days I stayed at the Mercy Ships, New Steps Team House. Six, international Mercy Ships staff rent and stay in a nice big house. They hospitably open the house for many traveling Mercy Ships' guest like myself.
Saturday was a wonderful needed relaxing, fellowship day at the beach.
Sunday morning I was blessed with the opportunity to share at, King of Glory Ministries my Sierra Leone church. In the afternoon celebrated the 8th anniversary of Covenant Evangelical Church lead by Pastor John Bona, a former Mercy Ship translator. At the church I was able to visit with two patients I had adopted while the ship was in port. I learned that 9 year old Alajih's, but he has developed another hernia since, his operation. The local doctor has recommended waiting till he is older before he has the surgery to fix it.
Monday was a meeting with staff from the Ministry of Education to finalize coordination details for the teachers seminar.
Tuesday Joseph in the Education department of Mercy Ships' New Steps allowed me to follow him to schools that accomodate some of the 170 sponsored students with polio.
In the evening I taught 50 Church Children's Workers about tranforming their church to be an environment were the children are loved like Christ loved
Wednesday was my opportunity to learn the incredable activities happening at the Aberdeen VVF Clinic and to speek with the Mercy Ship's country director about the possibilities of working in Sierra Leone. Also on this day two my CDP team members joined me and we moved to the "Kamara Hotel. " (Emma Kamara a friend of mine directs an organization called, Children's Learning Services)
Thursday was an opportunity for me to visit the American School of Sierra Leone, introduce the team to the Ministry of Education staff, shop for the seminar, see the property that the Kamara's purchased to expand Children's Learning Services and finally to visit my friend Kai who is a political science major at the University.
Friday I got to visit 6 of the 8 CDP partner schools. The two Muslim schools were closed. They have school on Sunday instead. Our fourth and final CDP team member joined us from Liberia, and we prepared for the seminar.
Saturday 8:30am-6:00pm was our CDP, Transformation and Creative Education Seminar with 50 participants.
The seminar goals were to provide the teachers the opportunity to
1) evaluate the role of the teacher in the transformation process through education.
2) learn by experience creative teaching methods to adapt to their their classrooms.
We were introducted by the Deputy Director of Inspectors, Inspectors, and the Primary Education Director of the Ministry of Education. Our message of tranforming their classrooms to be an environment were the children are loved like Christ loved, participating in the learning process and using creatively using affordable local munipulatives.
In the evening we celebrated with our national at a restraunt with national team members
Sunday again I was able to share at King of Glory Ministries. Currently the church meets in a school in a Muslim community. By December they will no longer be allowed to meet in the school. Our dream is for them to be able to build a Christian school/church on the $2,000 plot of land pictured below. (The whole plot is about the size of a Football field.)

Then I relaxed at the beach with Sierra Leonean and Mercy Ship staff friends.


Monday morning I had a meeting with Mercy Ship's New Steps staff about the possibility of me working together in the future. Then our team enjoyed beautiful Charlotte Waterfalls. In the evening 12 of my local friends gathered for dinner, felloship, unification and
encouragement through a time of song, prayer and sharing scriptures.
Tuesday was a wonderful follow meeting with the Ministry of Education staff. They requested that we develope a program that will extend to more schools.

Please pray for the following:
1) Teachers as they are being challenged to love and encourage the children as Jesus demonstrated.
2) Christ Kingdom and that His will be done through my life