We Saw What We Saw and We Won't Forget It

It's been a couple months, but as we prepare to make some presentations, I thought we'd share this video of some of the lasting images of people that have left a mark.  The pictures are accompanied by Sara Groves' "I Saw What I Saw."

Click Here For "I Saw What I Saw" Video

Closing Exercises ...

That's Ella, Maria, Naomi and Jacob Ringma holding up Hawkair's Northern Routes magazine in front of the Sweet Salone sign in Kabala, Sierra Leone, West Africa.

So we're down to some of the last things.  It feels surreal that we'll be travelling back to Canada in two days (via Greece for a couple weeks).  Despite having been here for this long, we still have a very North American list of things we're busy trying to complete.  We have difficult questions to answer like, "When will you be back?"  We have mixed feelings.  But we are also sure that it is time to go home.  I don't know if you'll hear from us again on the blog - but we may have some reflections/observations/videos to share once we find some faster internet in Canada.  Thanks for joining us on the journey.  Here are a few final snaps ...

Ringmas and Sudus sharing a farewell meal.

Jacob and Emmanuel.

Presenting footballs to CRC School, on behalf of a friend.

That's Rev. Sudu holding the baptismal font, Rev. and Mrs. Ben Koroma (holding little James) on the right, and Rev. M.B. Jalloh in the middle, baptizing in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  The first infant baptism in the Kabala CRC on our last Sunday here.

Kabala CRC holding hands up in blessing.

Jacob and Sullaman at the market, where Sullaman grinds Kasava leaf.

The sun is officially setting on our time in Kabala.  We pray that God's face would continue to shine on this land, its people and the church.  We have felt His warmth through them all.

Last Village Church Visit: Kondembaia CRC

View from inside the Kondembaia CRC looking back at the road we DROVE on to get to the church.  I still feel badly about driving over someone's freshly-planted crops.

Getting the building set up and ready for the worship service.  This is one of the churches that received support (zinc roofing) from BC CRCs for their building project. 

Church bell, rung at about 8:00 AM.
Church began close to 9:00.
We worshiped until past noon.

Even though the former pastor, John Kalli, is at least as tall as I am, the doorway
is suitable for the average Sierra Leonean.  I have felt quite tall for the past 1/2 year.
(That's Rev. Edison's daughter beside me)

As part of his Timothy Leadership Training Action Plan for Stewardship, Rev. Edison wanted a guest preacher to speak about tithing.   I was the guest speaker.  That's Rev. Benjamin translating into Kuranko.

After the service we delivered medicine and prayed over this boy
who has been having epileptic seizures.  (Rev. Edison in the burgundy, Rev. Ben obscured by me, the boy's mother in  yellow, Rev. Ezekiel and a prayer leader from the church.)

Terrace Homework Assignment: Compare and Contrast

When we left Terrace, our home church commissioned us and gave us some homework to complete while in Sierra Leone.  The homework came in the form of a small photo album.  Each page included what something looked like in Terrace and the facing page was blank, with the expectation that we would fill it with a comparable picture from Sierra Leone.  Eager to have our homework finished on time, here is a sneak peak at our work (a collaborative effort - hopefully that won't affect our grade):

One of many places of worship we've visited in Sierra Leone (Seduya).

Our rutted 'street' in Sierra Leone (Cemetery Road).

Looking further down the road.

Our home in Sierra Leone.

Our neighbours in Sierra Leone.

Our walk (drive) to school in Kabala.

Some of our friends in Sierra Leone.

Pharmacy in Kabala - sells butta (margarine).

Bakery (bread guys by Okada park).

Butcher.

"Good store".

Cream-for-fun cookies are a favourite snack in Sierra Leone.

One vehicle we use in Sierra Leone.

Our 'everyday' vehicle in Kabala.

High jump fun in Kabala.

Campfire fun at River #2.

Jumping-into-sand-pile fun in Kabala.

A birthday celebration in Kabala.

A higher resolution shot of our Terrace Church Family.
This is my computer background picture and I get plenty of comments!

Our church family in Kabala - actually at Musaia for some Easter baptisms.

A blessing from Kondembaia, Sierra Leone.