Update on the School

Go Primary School- The school building

A few weeks back Pastor Nat told me to pray because some of the teachers at the school were threatening to leave if he was unable to give them some allowance. With much prayer, Pastor Nat was able to go into his savings and pay some of the teachers. We must still continue to pray for a way to be able to pay a salary to the teachers who so willingly give of themselves.

 The day before I left Sierra Leone, I went to visit the school again. The needs are still there, but God is doing a great work there. The landlord has offered the second building in the compound to the school providing that they are able to afford it. This is an answer to prayer, as the landlord had wanted to sell both buildings.

The second building- currently housing

 The children were taking exams that day, but once done they were just as lively as ever.

After their exams, they sang a few songs and then we had a prayer time together. It was very nice. I will miss those children so much.

While they were taking their exams, Pastor Nat and I were talking. He was telling me about some of the needs the school still has and we were talking about one child in particular, who was once a patient on the ship. Alie, a 6 year old boy, who I believe I've blogged on, lives in this community and attends the school. He however comes from a poor family and his mother is unable to afford his uniform and he thus has not been able to attend school. We also talked about other ministry opportunities he wants to start by the grace of God. Because he now has plans to purchase the second building on the compound, Pastor Nat has the thought of starting a program in that building called New Life.

The New Life program will be designed to help teenage mothers. In Sierra Leone, there are many young mothers and as a result the girls leave school and very rarly have the opportunity to continue their education. Some even become prostitutes or have more children. The purpose of the program would be to help the girls go back to school and/or help them learn a trade such as tailoring or baking and selling. Nothing has yet been started on this project. Its all preliminary ideas at this point. Please pray for the development of this project.

Pastor Nat has also felt called to help the boys of Savage Square. This was a personal answer to prayer because I felt as if I was leaving them without some sort of guidance or direction. On the last Sunday I was in Sierra Leone, three of the boys came with me to church at Pastor Nat's and after the service Pastor Nat met with all of us and told me how he and the other assistant pastors felt that they were to continue working with the boys of Savage Square. He met with them and gave them his contact info and told them that he will visit the community once a week and plans to start a bible study with the boys there. He encouraged them to try to come to church at his church on Sundays and the church will pay for the transportation one way. He also set up a relationship with a church closer to the Savage Square community so that the boys can attend there for the weekday services. I was soo happy and thankful that God had intervened. I hadn't talked to Pastor Nat about how I felt at all and God used him to continue ministering to these boys. God is good!

There are alot of needs in Sierra Leone and alot of work that needs to be done. The US dollar can go a long way in Sierra Leone. My prayer is that the Lord shows me how I can help from here in the States. I have some ideas, but am praying for clear direction. I haven't been called back to Sierra Leone yet, even though that is where my heart is. God will make all things clear.

After visiting the school, I went over to Alie's house. His mother, Kadiatu, is the same lady I helped learn to write a few month ago. I spent about an hour at their house and I encouraged Kadiatu to try to attend church and explained how important that was to her walk with God. She shared some struggles with me including how Alie wasn't in school. We visited for a while and when it was time for me to go, she gave me some kanya, a snack made from beat rice, groundnut and sugar. It was soo good and she gave me the rest to bring home. I was very greatful for the gift. We shed tears and I left, promising never to forget her and her family and the kindness she has shown to me. I will miss Kadiatu, Alie, and David. Please pray for them.

AbuBakaar, David, and Bobo

Me and Alie :)

The family and some other neighbor boys