Alikalia.

We had a wonderful opportunity to visit the Alikalia CRC this past Sunday.  We left early in the morning and enjoyed the scenic countryside, small villages and big sky.  

With the start of the rains, everything is becoming overwhelmingly lush and green.

It is hard to appreciate the steepness of some of these roads through the pictures.  Suffice it to say this okada couldn't make it to the top with all his 'batas' (5 gallon jugs)...

We also enjoyed worshiping in one of the oldest and largest CRCs in Sierra Leone.  I had the privilege of worshiping here back in 2009 and it was good to return.

Receiving lunch following the worship service.

The view from the inside of the church looking out towards Alikalia.

Perhaps most humbling was that Pastor Sawaneh asked me to preach on giving and tithing.  This was part of his Timothy Leadership Training action plan (which I taught him in February) and he was hoping to have a guest preach on the topic.  I reluctantly agreed ... and he was delighted.  A sermon on giving in this context is certainly one I need to preach to myself before preaching to others.

Karifa Jalloh's son is named after Dennis deGroot.

Upon our request, this man was commissioned by Pastor Daniel Sawaneh to weave us some  'rafia' Alikalia bags, which we had already received.  It was interesting to witness where they were made ... and by whom.

On the way to Alikalia the LandCruiser hit and killed this bird.  We saved the 'beef' (all meat is beef) and gave it to this boy when we entered the village.  They had beef for supper.  Bird beef.

On the road.

No privacy for Jacob.

I am off to Freetown/Waterloo later this week for our last training session and will return Sunday evening (by God in power).  Ella gave the CRC teachers a workshop on reading yesterday.  Even the kids are getting a bit squirrely on the home school front.  There seem to be lots of things to do over the final three weeks.  We are all starting to turn our eyes and hearts towards the homeward journey.  Your continued prayers are appreciated as we aim to finish well here!