Introduction and Day 1

Introduction:

David Musa (Executive Director from Milwaukee), Brian Bowen (Board President from Pristina Kosovo), Don Miller (Board VP), Larry Moran (Board Treasurer), Bob Collins (representing Zionsville Fellowship Church) – the latter three from the Indianapolis area – all embarked for a special visit to Sierra Leone on February 28, 2010.  The general purposes of the trip were to meet and strategize with our ministry partners, visit our adopted village (Kenema Vagboi), and generally to better familiarize ourselves with the conditions on the ground.  This represents the culmination of a 10-year desire of David Musa to have the Executive Committee travel to Sierra Leone.

While internet access (and electricity for that matter) may be difficult to come by, we hope to post periodic updates and pictures to this website.  We appreciate your prayers, and your support and we endeavor to better minister the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a holistic way to the people of Sierra Leone.  So check back often for updates, and did we mention prayer!  To God be the glory!

Day 1

Well we arrived about an hour late at Freetown due to a relatively strong wind against us.  We got off the plan at 8:00.  To make a long story short, we got to our room at 3:00 in the morning.  Instead of a 15 minute trip to the ferry and a 45 minute ferry ride in the nice breeze, the ferry was full, and that was the last one of the night.   David thought it was about  a 2 hour trip around the water to get there, but that turned into a 5-hour ride on the worst, bounciest, dustiest, craziest roads we’ve likely every experienced.  Really several things could have been worse yet, so we were actually thankful for the LORD not allowing us to break down or run out of gas – both of which appeared possible if not likely at various points.

But we did get to our destination, and when the compound gates were opened and we turned off the road (showing very little other than squalor), we saw an attractive multi-story home.  We walked in the front door, and again saw a beautiful entryway.  Then we were taken to our rooms that were nicer than any of our recent hotel rooms.  Dr. Marcus-Jones, our 82 year old host actually woke up and sat up with us until 4 am when we finally crashed – getting up at 8:00 this morning.  We had breakfast of omelette, bacon, sausage, toast, and such with Marcus and with Francis Williams of SLEFES, one of our partners, and it was enjoyable and insightful.  We then left around 1:00 to drive to this amazing city of squalor and beauty and go the offices of another partner, EFSL, where we had a spicy lunch, and toured their offices.  They were warm, welcoming and helpful.  We then traveled to the offices of World Hope – Sierra Leone, where we talked with their representative (Saidu Kanu) about our well, and had a very helpful time.  The Lord indeed has blessed that endeavor.  Despite the fact they drilled two holes unsuccessfully, they are still digging a new hand-dug well (with proper cap and pump), AND renovating the old well – cleaning, adding a hand pump (instead of the old bucket on a rope).  So we’re really getting two wells in the village for the price of one.  God is so faithful!

We then dragged ourselves home at 5:00 to rest for an hour, going to a dinner at  the home of Modupe Taylor-Pierce where all our partners and their spouses would attend, and indeed many other friends of the ministry as well.  The food, fellowship, and education were all fabulous!  We arrived home after 11 for a well-needed night’s rest.  God is so good!!

« From Bloodbath to Blood Saved | Home | Day 2 »