The SIERRA LEONE MISSION

Video footage from the 2013 visit to Sierra Leone

Ben Quant — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 11:42:12 +0000

Here are some of the highlights of the 2013 visit as captured by James Hamilton and Esther Allaby

By James Hamilton

By Esther Allaby

Friday and last day

Pastor Gordon — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 11:43:33 +0000

We packed up and left the hotel around 9.15am and headed to Lady Selina Chapel. The roads were quieter due to be being a public holiday for the President’s inauguration and we arrived at the church at 10am, where we welcomed by Angel Alamin. The youth introduced each other as did we, then the SL youth sang a worship song, and we responded with ‘ God so loved the world, that he gave’.
Then Jamestina took us to see the work they had done on the manse, telling us they still need further assistance.
We were then given Red Snapper, chips and cuscus and a bottle of water.
James Davies, Sallu Korama and Magnus Bendu joined us before it was time to head off to the ferry.
The ferry was packed, as usual, and we were at the airport by 3.15pm, Sallu, Sylvanus, Sylvester and the drivers left us at 4pm, after Sylvanus had prayed for travelling mercies for us. We then had a three hour wait until we can check in, it is hot!
We had a good chat on the ferry with a guy, Justin Walley, a journalist from Latvia, who also joined us for a meal at the airport, and a silly game of cards. Every blessing for the future Justin.
We final check in at 7pm, flight leaves at 12.50am and arrives a Gatwick one minute past 7am… Snow flurries! Brrrrrr

Friday

Pastor Gordon — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 11:32:53 +0000

The final full day is over, and what a day. It began as half of us went to Mr Fawaz to get some more money while the others headed to the Milton Margi school for the blind. What a fabulous place. We were able to see not only where they were taught but also where they slept and the kitchens. Milton Margi has certainly left a legacy. We were also shown the beds which were given by S.L.M. Some years ago.
It was then off to Jerusalem Avenue, another school packed with several hundred pupils. We worked with one class of about over 100 pupils, not ideal conditions but we pray we got the message across to them. It was then time to meet with the whole school, they sang to us and we sang to them.
Afterwards we looked at outside of the school and it was good to see they have built a small nursery school right next to the school.
Ebenezer Church, Lumley was our last stop of the day. We were welcomed by Rev Theophilus Nicol and shown the church, which is now almost finished. They are trying to raise Le6m for new pews before the official opening of the new building. We were given lunch of fish and chips, plus a bottle of coke. At which point a lady brought an African dress in for Janet (when Janet tried it on later it looked fine and I’m sure the fellowship at Zion, St Ives will see it at some point).
It was then back to the hotel for a swim, the final shop in the African craft market just around the corner and a meal together before our final devotion together where we shared just some of the blessings we had received.
Our prayer is that we will have made a difference in a few people’s lives here in West Africa.
Friday we will visit Lady Selina’s Capel in Freetown before heading off to the ferry and the long wait at Lungi for our overnight flight back to Gatwick.
This will be our last posting, but can I take this opportunity to hank everyone who has helped to make tis trip, the trip of a lifetime for each of us. Your prayers have meant so much to us.
I am sure our families will hea a lot more about th trip over the coming days, weeks an months, but we will not apologies for our enthusiasm but hope you understand that Sierra Leone has got under of skin.
Thank you and God bless.

Pastor Gordon — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 07:21:45 +0000

The final full day is over, and what a day. It began as half of us went to Mr Fawaz to get some more money while the others headed to the Milton Margi school for the blind. What a fabulous place. We were able to see not only where they were taught but also where they slept and the kitchens. Milton Margi has certainly left a legacy. We were also shown the beds which were given by S.L.M. Some years ago.
It was then off to Jerusalem Avenue, another school packed with several hundred pupils. We worked with one class of about 70 pupils, not ideal conditions but we pray we got the message across to them. It was then time to meet with the whole school, they sang to us and we sang to them.
Afterwards we looked at outside of the school and it was good to see they have built a small nursery school right next to the school.
Ebenezer Church, Lumley was our last stop of the day. We were welcomed by Rev Theophilus Nicol and shown the church, which is now almost finished. They are trying to raise Le6m for new pews before the official opening of the new building. We were given lunch of fish and chips, plus a bottle of coke. At which point a lady brought an African dress in for Janet (when Janet tried it on later it looked fine and I’m sure the fellowship at Zion, St Ives will see it at some point).
It was then back to the hotel for a swim, the final shop in the African craft market just around the corner and a meal together before our final devotion together where we shared just some of the blessings we had received.
Our prayer is that we will have made a difference in a few people’s lives here in West Africa.
Friday we will visit Lady Selina’s Capel in Freetown before heading off to the ferry and the long wait at Lungi for our overnight flight back to Gatwick.
This will be our last posting, but can I take this opportunity to hank everyone who has helped to make tis trip, the trip of a lifetime for each of us. Your prayers have meant so much to us.
I am sure our families will hea a lot more about th trip over the coming days, weeks an months, but we will not apologies for our enthusiasm but hope you understand that Sierra Leone has got under of skin.
Thank you and God bless.

Thursday

Pastor Gordon — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 16:18:54 +0000

Well today was our last full day. Four of us went to see Mr Fawaz to get some more money before joining the others at Milton Margi school for the blind. It is an amazing place. They sang to us and we sang to them. It was then to Jerusalem Avenue to work with about 300 children in a very confined area.
They gave us drinks, oranges and bananas before we left them to head to Ebenezer, Lumley. They have done a fantastic job in rebuilding the church. Another meal of fish and chips before we leave for our hotel and time to consider what we have done on this trip.
Oh yes, Esther Korama gave Janet an African dress, looks great.
Tomorrow it is time to pack and get ready for the visit to Lady Selina chapel before heading for the ferry and the airport. We get the impression it is cooler in the UK, it is 33 degrees here, maybe similar numbers in the UK but no t Celsius!

Wednesday

Pastor Gordon — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 07:39:12 +0000

What a day, great time at Fufu Water, although 320 children is a bit more than one class to work with. We split into 6 groups, some doing crafts others playing game, seeing 50 African children doing the ‘Hokey kokey’ is a novelty, especially in the sun at 37 degrees!
On the way to St Mark’s we were stopped by the police, for the second time, it cost the driver a second bribe!
Good welcome at St Mark’s with fish and chips again, plus fruit salad.
Toby feeling a bit under the weather, so sat in the front seat as we travelled home to the hotel.
We had a short break at the hotel to refresh ourselves in the pool, Janet and Toby decided not to swim and Toby decided to stay at home rather than go to Mongeba for the evening of Revival. Sadly we arrived after it had started. A young woman was ‘preaching’ African style. The evening was put on especially for us, there were about 70 there, at their monthly revival meetings it is not unusual for 200 – 300 to be the. The drive home through Freetown was an experience not to be missed. Freetown at night is a cacophony of noise, smell, colour and taste. Similar could be said of Freetown during the day as well.
What a day! Arrived back at the hotel 10.30pm

Tuesday

Pastor Gordon — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 07:41:05 +0000

Another good day! Met Mr Fawaz and withdrew some money. Then it was off to Magbafti to teach at the school. 34 children in the craft group, brilliant work by our youth, Janet and I had to play with the other 70+ other youngsters. The singing was good as well, both by our youth and the school.
Then it was off to Cole Town to meet with the church fellowship. We were welcomed with singing led by a young lady aged 8 who led the singing with Afrian gusto.
Then we met with the youth conference at Hastings before returning through Freetown to our hotel. The police stopped us at one point for going through an area reserved for private cars, I think a bribe was paid to enable us to continue to the hotel.
Then it was to the craft market so everyone could spend their money on gifts to take home.
A few then went for a swim before going for a meal.
Another very positive and profitable day.
Just to say that we are all well and disappointed we are in the latter days of this trip.
Tomorrow we have our longest day and may not get around to posting, we leave at 8.30am and don’t expect to get back until 9.30pm.
Thank you for all your prayers

Tuesday 20th February

Pastor Gordon — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 19:36:01 +0000

Worship at Hastings

Pastor Gordon — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 09:04:23 +0000

We had a great day at Christchurch, Hastings, Sylvanus was with us, the African worship was as vibrant as ever, our youth led a good time of UK worship as well. Esther and Toby did a great sketch and I spoke on Eagles Wings and challenged them about evangelism.
Janet, Esther, Suzi and I went to Bureh Town, to see the land we have been offered, and Esther presented the church with a scrapbook from her church, Bolney. We then were given Red Snapper, chips and Breadfruit, delicious!
The others left Hastings, after a meeting with the youth and headed for a visit to Hastings beach, a two and a half hour drive, to spend an hour on the beach. It was then back to the hotel for all of us, a swimming the pool and a devotion led by Matt, on Philippians 4:9.

Painting Goderich

Pastor Gordon — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 07:15:33 +0000

Hello all!! Today has been really awesome as we painted the entire outside of St. John’s church Goderich! (For those of you who have been before, you will be astonished at the quality of the road there, it’s so smooth!) we were momentarily worried when we first turned up and thought we had no paint! We then came back to the hotel and had a lovely swim in the pool, then had a browse in the market and collectively spent over 1,000,000 leones!! Beautiful evening stroll down the beach and yummy dinner, now off to bed! Looking forward to church in the morning!! From Emily and Team xx