Pawpaw and Other Delights...



Here's today's quiz:  Name this fruit in English.



Travis enjoying some pawpaw.

Sunsets happen so suddenly near the equator and dusk is so short, compared to midsummer Terrace ...

For Ella's dad.  I don't have the Latin names nor the kingdom/class/phylum ...



The truck in the morning, filled to capacity usually with CRC school-bound children.

Maria's flip-flops:  One of many knock-off brands ...

CES/CRC SL 'fleet'.

The smoky, hazy environment is usually due to brush fires, intentionally set.

Naomi.

Jacob.

Maria.



A taste of beach volleyball (which I miss), with the Junior Secondary School Assembly in the background.

I can't resist sunsets.

Timothy Leadership Training in Foria



The TLT participants from the CRC SL - if you're wondering, I'm in the back row, about 5th from the left.  The "tubabu" (whiteman).

I spent this week in the village of Foria, helping facilitate some Timothy Leadership Training with pastors and lay leaders.  We completed a module on Stewardship, continued a module on Biblical Preaching and began a module on Serving God in Work and Worship. 


Along with Revs. Ezekiel Sudu and John Phiri, I facilitated material designed to help pastors discover Biblical teaching on these subjects for themselves through discussion, Scripture reading and intentional application to ministry. 

Rev. Ezekiel (facing away from camera) speaks with the pastors from Freetown, Waterloo and Bo areas (l to r: David, Victor, Elisha, Gabriel).

There was good participation, a keen hunger to learn and grow, and enthusiasm to ensure that 'Action Plans' would help each person put what they learned into practice.

Pastors formulating an action plan outside the Foria CRC.

I had various responsibilities, including driving a 4X4 pick-up truck the two hours down a dirt road, which seriously rivalled any in BC for off-roading impressiveness.  Very few folks here drive a 'motocar' and, selfishly, it was also a good way to ensure I got a seat with legroom.Ella, Maria, Jacob and Naomi remained in Kabala and fended for themselves quite well while I spent time in the village.  We were happily reunited yesterday (Friday).   

I can't remember if this was worship or an 'energizer' time - there is (thankfully) some wonderful overlap between the two in the CRC SL.

When it was my turn to offer some closing remarks on Friday, I shared the following illustration:  Before I went to the village of Foria, I was a bit concerned about the water, so Zach Adams (CRWM volunteer from Denver) loaned me his ultra violet sterilization pen. He gave some instructions on how to correctly handle the pen to ensure I would drink rich draughts of clean water. I brushed off the instructions, sure that I could figure it out on my own. On Monday, I began using the sterilization pen, thinking I was cleaning water for Rev. Ezekiel Sudu and myself. On Thursday, when Zach arrived for the last couple days of the conference, he watched as I 'cleaned' some water. "Have you been doing it that way all week?" he asked. "Uh huh." "That's not how you do it. You haven't been cleaning the water. You've been drinking 'dirty' water all week!" Thankfully, Ezekiel and I did not suffer from too many ill effects (that we know of - time may tell otherwise ...), but my failure to 'correctly handle' this tool put both me and anyone under my care in serious peril. (Can you see where this is going?) Preaching involves 'correctly handling God's Word of truth'. It is both a joy-filled privilege and a serious business. Brushing aside instruction on how to 'correctly handle' God's Word puts yourself and those in our care in serious peril.

 I am thankful to God for his grace ... in my preaching failures and water-purifaction ones!

Vision.

Vision:  I can see clearly now ...

 This week, February 13-17, representatives from the CRC in SL met in Kabala for Strategic Planning, under the able direction of David Tyokighir of Nigeria (who also facilitated last April's first-ever strategic planning). This group gathered at length each day - from 9 AM to 6 PM - to establish goals, strategies and objectives for participating in God's advancing Kingdom in Sierra Leone. Joined by observing stakeholders from CRWM and CRWRC, the church worked to establish a framework for the healthy, interdependent emergence of the denomination. 

Group work designed to give structure to CES within CRC SL.

The meeting room on the ground floor of the CES/CRC SL offices.  Approximately 35 participants gathered each day.

Each day began with devotions and I had the opportunity to lead devotions on Wednesday morning. In Canada, it might be called preaching ... (we spent at least 45 minutes each day). The large group was regularly broken down into various smaller groups in order to allow the formation of tangible plans, which were then presented to the larger group. Vision and Mission statements for CRC SL and CES were presented, editted, rejected, refined and, eventually, adopted.

The group also broke bread (ate rice) together, including morning tea.



Nigerian facilitator David Tyokighir, CRC SL pastor Gabriel Mattia from Bo and CRC Kabala Junior Senior Secondary School teacher Mark Marah.

 While the meetings were long, I was thankful for them and the opportunity to start and grow relationships with many leaders in the CRC SL.  Maybe the greatest growth was in the area of goal/strategy/objective writing by the various groups from the beginning of the week to the end.  I couldn't help but think that if churches in North America would engage similar planning we would be better for it.  In fact, some of the greatest benefit of strategic planning might be the ability to make plans, set goals and learn how to measure whether or not one is moving towards them. 


CRWM's Ron Geerlings lends a listening ear to CRCSL's Rev. John Phiri.

In our meetings, there was significant encouragement to ensure that this strategic plan becomes living word in the church - not a dry, dusty document, which is left on a shelf somewhere.
Thank God for the Living Word who gives life to His church - and we pray that he continues to breath life into the Body.


Front Row:  John Phiri, Maibok Marah, Benjamin Koroma, Lansana Jawara, Lamin Kamara , Morris Sonie, Sheku Marah, David Tyokighir
Middle Row:  MB Jalloh, Andrew Karah, Elisha Gomeh, Kumba Sesay, Musu Marah, Mariama Charlie, Joseph Jawara, Edison Kamara, Ezekiel Sudu, Sheku Jalloh, Mark Marah,
Back Row:  Daniel Sawanie, Zach Adams, John Mansaray, Ron Geerlings, Foray Marah,  Daniel Koroma, Gabriel Mattia, Jonah Lisa, Joel Hogan, Joel Ringma, John Karifa Jalloh, Alhasan Bangura, Rosetta Sesay, Wyva Hasselblad, Amarah Fefegura
(My apologies for any misspellings)

Our "Walka" Adventure

    
This past Saturday, Zach Adams, Martin Koroma, Marvelous Sudu, and the Ringmas went on a hike over the hills and through the bush (yes, the "going on a lion hunt" song went through my mind:).  The day began with delicious pancakes, jam and tea at our house, then a short drive to the Sudu/Phiri compound, our starting point.  Our plan was to just follow the trails and see where they led.  We started out along the same trail we hike a couple weeks ago, but soon headed off in a different direction.  We met several people along the way who were collecting firewood and working their farms.  After some time, we had to grin when, feeling like we were deep in the bush, we heard, "Naomi! Jacob! Maria!"

     After walking over a few hills we saw a bouldered mountain top "calling out" to us.  So, Martin, our fearless machete-weilding leader hacked our way to the top.  The vista was beautiful, and so was the breeze.  But I couldn't help but wonder how much more beautiful it would be if the forests were not all burnt down. The boulders were fun to play on, and provided entertainment Colorado style.

     From the top we saw a road that led back into town, so we decided, that after a little snack break we would bush-whack our way down to it to make it even more of an adventure.  The going was good and we were feeling like safari exlorers when all of a sudden Maria and Marvelous burst out crying and scratching their bodies.  The rest of us quickly followed suit (with the scratching at least).  Our bush whacking had released the spores or pollen of a dried up plants here that causes painful stinging and severe itching.  The more you contact, the worse it is.  Maria and Marvelous got it bad.  It is called Qurenn (coon-YEN-yah).  Unfortunately there is nothing you can do, you just have to wait it out.  Rubbing dirt on it will help a little though, which we did.  So on we went, the sooner out of the bush the better, with crying kids and grabbing handfuls of dirt along the way.  We made it to the road and after about 15 min the stinging subsided to just itchiness, and a while later that was gone too...but not the memory. 

     What a sight we were, ash and dirt covered whitemen and peekins.  We provided much entertainment on our return trip through the town.  When we finally made it home, and downed a couple water bags, one of us commented, "Well, you never know what an adventure is going to bring, and that was one we won't forget."  To which Jacob replied, "Was?  We're still on the adventure!"  Amen, I tell God tank ee.

-Ella

Maria's "Journey" Assignment for Grade 6 at CCS

Hi guys,

I miss you all lots, but right now I am going to tell you about my Journey.  So here is how it started:  I woke up on Sunday, January 1^st, 2012.  After getting dressed I ran upstairs to help bring all 10, yes 10, suitcases outside. 

We ate some food (chop, as they call it here), and went to the Struyks to pick up Anita.  When we got to the airport we brought in all of our bags and waited.  When we were waiting, Al Peck showed up and so did Clarence Braam. 

My dad (otherwise known as ‘Mister Joel’) tried to take a battery pack on the plane but he wasn’t allowed so we gave it to Al to take home to his house.

When we got to Vancouver my Uncle John, Uncle Henk, and Aunty Charlene came to pick us up from the airport.  We stayed in the Vancouver area for about 5 days, then we went back to the airport to get on the flight to go to London.  We took the night flight so we were supposed to sleep on the plane, but that was hard.  When we got to London, it was light out and we flew right over top of the London Bridge.  We were going to be late for our flight to Freetown but when we got the to the BMI (British Midland International) ticket desk the flight was delayed by 2 hours. 

They felt bad so they gave us a voucher to go buy something to eat.  We got pizza and cold milk.  It was so good (that is the last time I’ve had pizza in a long time)  When the two hours was up we went back to the ticket desk and they told us the flight had been delayed another two hours.

When we finally got to Freetown, Zach and Belali were waiting for us.  We had to take a ferry to get to the actual city of Freetown.  When it was time to get off it was quite interesting.  There was honking and beeping as everyone on the ferry tried to get off.  You had to turn you vehicle all the way around because there is only one entrance to get in and to get out.

The next day was sooooooooooo very much super hot. We went to the supermarket to get some groceries and the store was air conditioned!  But that turned out to be a bad thing for Naomi and I.  We got heat stroke and when we went into the cool air we started puking.  A lady that worked at the store ran out after us with two water bottles, one for me and one for Naomi.  That helped a lot!

When we were on the road there was so much to see and do and eat!  We stopped at a home for the disabled so that Zach could get his two shirts that he had left there.  And when he returned he brought with him oranges!  They eat the best way ever here!  You either bite or cut the top off the orange, then you suck out all the juice.  when a pit (seed) gets in your mouth, you just simply spit it out of the window.

If you are wondering what it looks like, there are palm trees all over.  It is very dusty and hot.  There are fires burning all the time so it is very, very smoky.  There is garbage all over the place: left, right, up, down.  It’s just everywhere.

School here is quite different from school there.  I am in JSS I (grade 7), Naomi is in class 2 (grade 2), Jacob is in class 5 (grade 5). 

We have lots of neighbour kids that are like always at our house.

Well, good-bye for now.  See you in June!

Maria Grace Ringma

Jacob's Recent Letter to Grade 4/5 at CCS

Dear:  Class (and Mr. Buxton and Mrs. MacDonald)

I hope you guys are having fun!  The school here (that we are attending) goes to J.S.S. 2 (grade 8). 

First day of school.

After school most days me and my neighbourhood friends go out looking for lizards in houses that are getting built or not lived in.  We catch and release at least one lizard.

There is peanut butter here but you have to get it in Makeni or Freetown.  Most likely Makeni because it is about a two hour drive.  But Freetown is maybe six-seven hours long. 

We did not bring his shirt from 'cocky' Canada ...

Not as many people come to our house anymore.  But still about five people are here when someone is here.  Well, except for one little kid named Travis.  He comes pretty much the second we come home, and he announces is arrival “ello!  ello!  ELLO!,” its really funny.

Travis.

From: Jacob
P.S. (mostly for Benjamin Mantel)  we see two monkeys twice a day.
P.P.S. I am on page 124 in Jump Math on Feb. 1. How far are you?

Food Security.

We took a short drive to Malaforia, a village about 3 or 4 kilometers north of Kabala.  The road was horrendous - Ella even covered her eyes at one point - about as bad as some of the decommissioned logging roads near Terrace.  Daniel K. Koroma, director of CES (Christian Extension Services), had some bananas given to him, which he wanted to pass along to us.  The chief of Malaforia, wielding a machete, made quick work of the string of bananas, which is now hanging in our house (in a big long string, so as to slow the ripening and give us plenty-plenty bananas for a while).

With the Chief of Malaforia, a villager and Daniel K. Koroma.

Maria with the top part of the bananas, which broke off from the rest.

Food security (bananas and otherwise) is a real, pressing issue in the Koinadugu district of Sierra Leone.  CRWRC has been working in various areas to promote sustainable agriculture.  One innovative approach has been their introduction of oxen to plow fields.  As strange as it may sound to our ears, having beasts of burden pull a plow is a pretty  novel concept here.

Daniel K. Koroma, our banana source and, more importantly, head of CES (Christian Extension Services) reports:

CES participated in all NGOs showcase in food security late November at Kabala Community Centre and it may interest you to know that CES got the highest recognition by other NGOs and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.


Mongo Bendugu oxen farmers in action.

We displayed pictures of our oxen, ploughs and grain stores with our farmers in the farms. We were invited to the Koinadugu Agro Cultural Show held at Kabala from Thursday 1st December to Saturday 3rd December 2011. 

Training of oxen in Karawani.

It may also interest you to know we were recognized and awarded a certificate of merit as the only NGO recognized on work oxen and seed bank projects in the Koinadugu District.



Oxen farmers with a bumper harvest in Mongo Bendugu.

Here is a scanned copy of the certificate. We know this award is because of your support to the Agricultural Program.

Thanks, Daniel and CES Team.