News 2007 - June
Friends
I thought I should share some recently received news from Pastor Yatta in Sierra Leone – it was apposite to receive his enthusiastic take on Mr Blair’s visit to Sierra Leone before I read today’s Times (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/) from which I have obtained some short extracts below.
Sierra Leone holds several world records — all of them negative. For seven of the past ten years it has been ranked the world’s poorest country, only recently nudged out of bottom place by Bangladesh.
The United Nations’ Human Development Index says that its life expectancy, at 37 and falling, is the lowest in the world. Deaths in childbirth are the highest in the world, made worse by widespread female genital mutilation. Nearly a third of children do not survive beyond the age of 5. Unemployment runs at more than 70 per cent and about the same percentage of the five million population live below the poverty line of 52p a day. ………
the large number of limbless beggars hints that this country was until recently the setting for one of postindependence Africa’s most brutal civil wars.
In what has been described as the most complete case ever of total social implosion and breakdown, some 500,000 people — one tenth of the population — were murdered, maimed or raped. More at: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article1862684.ece
Meanwhile Tony Blair was yesterday crowned chief for life of an impoverished village in West Africa. Under the span of a giant cotton tree, he was presented with a heavy brown ceremonial robe and declared honorary Paramount Chief of Mahera, a settlement of 6,000 people near Lungi, in Sierra Leone.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article1862682.ece
Yatta’s email below is unedited, it is very raw and yet it is an accurate reflection of the feelings of many. His enthusiasm for Tony Blair’s visit is clear despite the burden of comforting the widow, children and mother of one of his Pastors who was killed in a freak accident just days ago. Moreover in recent emails he has mentioned the horror story of child abduction and sacrifice as the elections approach (read more). I pray the media will stay in the country to investigate and report further once Tony Blair leaves.
BIG VISITOR
WE had the opportunity to recieved your priminister Toni Blair and his Wife.
He choose to visit three Africa Countries before he hand over power.
Sierra Leone has been one of them. What a joy and a blessing to our Nation
He was crown Paramount Chief in Lungi. The whole country was excited to have him. He visited Libya, Sierra Leone and has gone to South Africa. This is the second time coming. His Father was working here at the university. So he has love for this Country.
The Funeral Service for Sarh Augustine Sourie is on Sunday 3rd June. Pastor Sarh has been one of our faithful volunteer. On Friday before he died on Saturday they are presently doing clinics in schools before the children start their final examination for the year. On Monday and Tuesday they are to go to two other schools. Sarh was hit by the Thunder with the other in the field, all of them fall to the ground three where badly damage, they where taken to the hospital, Sahr Sourie died, the two has discharge and are doing well. He has two girls 10yrs nad 12yrs respectively. His mother is still not able to come to term with it. She needs a lot of prayers and grace to see her through.
Stay Blessed
Yatta Samura
As many of you will be aware I am one of a number of friends based in and around Oxford who are supporters of Pastor Yatta’s work in Sierra Leone. Some of my friends have previously been made Paramount Chiefs for their support including helping to set up a school in Kono. Kono is the diamond rich area ravaged by the rebel soldiers and made famous by the film Blood Diamond (http://blooddiamondmovie.warnerbros.com/).
We have good links with locals on the ground, we can ensure funds are spent wisely avoiding corruption and would like to find donors or agencies willing to support and fund further educational and community projects. More info is at www.c3m.info - please contact us if you would like to be put in contact with our friends in Siera Leone or would like to help in some other way.
As Sierra Leone remains in the News spotlight you may feel encouraged to forward this email to friends and contacts. It seems that the frightening story that was seemingly ignored by the media for so long is at last coming to the attention of the world and for that we have to thank film producers and politicians alike.
Sincerely
Richard Bayfield