News 2005 - Dec.(Vicky)
FIVE GO TO SIERRA LEONE – NOVEMBER 2005
A link between our church and Pastor Yatta Samura’s sports and church planting ministry in Sierra Leone has been growing stronger over recent years. In November Andrew Wingfield Digby, Vicky Rowe, Alex Johnstone ( AJ) and Norm Robbins, with Steve Miles from Christians in Sport, went to Sierra Leone for a life changing trip. Here we bring a few highlights of their experiences.
ARRIVING
Vicky’s Diary, Monday 14th November
We had a safe journey to the airport with one car and a minibus stacked high with equipment for Yatta’s sports ministry. After anxious moments we managed to check in all the baggage we brought (25 bags in total!)…I am feeling apprehensive but excited at the same time. I hope that I may serve Jesus Christ with my whole heart whilst in Sierra Leone…I wonder what adventures lie ahead for us all.
As we stepped off the plane the heat and humidity hit us…and the atmosphere of Africa with its hustle and bustle and noise. Yatta welcomed us warmly. He and two of his Sports-Life colleagues got busy loading up a huge Toyota Land Cruiser with all the baggage… We set off along unlit, bumpy roads lined by shack-like buildings with dogs lying curled up asleep at the side of the roads… No white people on the ferry [from airport to Freetown] except us! There was a man with no legs begging for money… at the stadium hostel [where the team lodged in Freetown] the electricity was off…candles were lit in our rooms which were large, clean and with en-suite – flushing loo and shower – great!
Tuesday 15th November: Freetown
Just met Yatta and five of his team to go over the programme for the week. We have just sung together and committed the day to the Lord. All the men sang in harmony:
When I think of the goodness of Jesus
And all he has done for me,
My heart wants to sing alleluia,
Praise God for saving me!
We managed to get some sleep last night but it was so noisy with dogs barking and people shouting…Yatta said it was a good day as there was electricity until 11 pm. Sometimes there is none for days.
SPORTS MINISTRY
Vicky’s diary, Friday 18 November: Koidu
We had a great 40 minutes playing ‘Take the Flag’ with the children. We started a game and dozens of children appeared. This was also an opportunity to teach the Sports-Life guys all the different games that can be played with minimal equipment. It can be quite frustrating as a lot of the Sierra Leoneans see money and equipment as a solution to all the problems. It has been a struggle and wearing for me as most conversations include their need for money or sponsorship of some kind. Perhaps if we just hand out money they do not take the steps to help themselves… I pray that God will give me grace and wisdom as I continue to meet and interact with these people so different from me. I don’t want to fail to see what God is doing and saying to me in this situation.
Saturday 19 November: Sawollah village near Koidu
The morning seminar went well. The pastors enjoyed all the games we set up and joined in – some of them got really competitive! We are trying to emphasise that we can come alongside them but they have the zeal, manpower and ability to get their sports ministry off the ground.
Tuesday 22 November: back in Freetown
There was a bit of a low point with the games session. A lot of people did not join in …I’ve never seen so many adults cheating, bending the rules, squabbling over a cricket bat. These guys have a lot to learn about team work!
WELCOMES
Vicky’s diary, Saturday 19 November: near Koidu
We had a very special day today with a wonderful welcome at Sawollah village. When we arrived the girls were singing and dancing towards us. They were dressed in their best…one of the men accompanied them on a drum. It was very moving. We had a short gathering in the church where Andrew spoke and encouraged the church …AJ and I gave our testimonies. Afterwards we were served fantastic food and the whole village sat round to watch us. Then the men ate and lastly the women and children…For the journey back one of the boys had collected fresh coconuts from the forest. These were prepared so we could drink straight from the coconut- absolutely delicious. It was really worth the drive (1½ hours to go 14 miles).
PEOPLE
Vicky’s Diary, several dates
We visited various Christian leaders in Freetown…They are very in touch with the plight of their people, wanting to spread the gospel of Jesus but also to take practical action to help re-build their country. We had a wonderful Bible study which consisted of singing and dancing with only drums for accompaniment.
Pastor McCarthy (Koidu)…such a gracious smiling man, who lost his 18 month old daughter during a long trek across country to Freetown during the war … Abu, met on the beach at Freetown, a 10 year old boy who had his left arm amputated above the elbow when he was one year old…Aiah (‘third son’) aged 17, who works at the guest house in Koidu to help pay his school fees…Margaret, who has founded an action group Women in Need in Koidu with other women from the church. They have built and started a school and want to improve the literacy of young women and provide training in skills.
COMMUNITY
Vicky’s diary
This community is so alive with faith in Jesus. Even though there is so much poverty they are rich in relationships. We have so much materially here yet so much loneliness and loss of community. They have so little in SL and other countries of Africa yet they have a zest for life a joy and love for the Lord Jesus. They have much to teach us and we have much to learn.