Sierra Leone

Well, I told you in an earlier post that I would tell you more about Sierra Leone. So, I wanted to start doing that now; it will definitely be an ongoing process. We started this blog, so we could keep our family and friends informed of the status of our adoption, especially while we are in Ethiopia. As we talked more about it we knew that the blog had to also keep you updated on the sweet children in Sierra Leone that have become such a significant part of our lives. We truly have a family in Africa, and we are anxiously awaiting the time that we get to bring our sweet child home from Africa, so we felt the appropriate title for the blog would be "Our African Family." We just love those sweet faces and smiles that you see above in the picture.

Sierra Leone is listed as the second poorest country in the world and noted by the UN as one of the most difficult places to live due to human suffering. When you think about those two things alone, then this is definitely not a place that you would probably jump at the chance to go and visit. However, we will never be the same after visiting Sierra Leone. Words could never express what it is like to be around these children. The Lord is using them in amazing ways to impact their country and the mission teams that go to Sierra Leone from the US. We just have to tell others about their amazing testimonies. My friend, Jen C., put it best when she titled the CD with the children singing, "The World Should Know." You should definitely check out their website at the bottom of the blog page. As I mentioned in my first post, I was able to go to the Wellington Orphanage in Sierra Leone in the fall of 2006 with 4Him to do some trauma counseling with the children. I met the president of 4Him, Steve, at a friend's going away party, and our friends got Steve's wife and I together because we had missions in common. Well, here we are heading back to Sierra Leone in November. We are very excited about this opportunity. After our trip in March, we knew that we needed to go back when we could, and with our adoption coming up later next year this seemed to be the right time. We are ready to go back and spend time with the kids.

So, I wanted to tell you more about the orphanage. Seventy-eight children live there at this time due to a twelve-year civil war that began in the early 90s. The war was started by the President of Liberia over the diamonds in Sierra Leone. Many innocent people were killed as control over the diamonds was sought. Families and countrymen were forced to turn against each other, and the country's economy and infrastructure was completely destroyed. The children at the Wellington Orphanage lost their parents during this war and many of them witnessed their parents' brutal murders. So, Hassan Manssary felt God calling him to take in the orphaned children throughout the war, and he, his family and fellow believers continue to love and care for them today. The children are housed in a building that was built by a bank in Sierra Leone a few years ago. It provided them much needed shelter because they had a very difficult time finding a place to live. These are the most amazing group of children I have ever met. God has used 4Him mission teams to bring them to know Him. When you see them smile, hear them laugh and sing, watch them play and dance, you know that they have truly experienced complete healing from the Lord. When we are around them, we see the joy of the Lord. When you hear them speak of forgiveness, you hear and understand like never before the true meaning of the gospel. When you worship with them, then you truly get to experience worshipping in spirit and in truth. We love these children, and we are so thankful that the Lord has allowed us to have the opportunity to know them and learn from them. Please visit the websites below to read more about the children and 4Him ministries. 4Him stands for His Healing Helping Hands International Ministry. We strongly believe in this mission organization and what they are doing around the world. 4Him currently has a lot of amazing projects going on in Sierra Leone from building churches and schools, to assisting with individual businesses starting up and continual support of the children at the orphanage, just to name a few. 4Him operates completely on donations, and it is a great way to make an impact around the world! Their link is at the bottom of the blog page.