6.16.13…Homeward Bound

All good things must come to an end.  Like Dr. Suess said, “Don’t cry because it’s over.  Smile because it happened.”  Yesterday was our last day in Sierra Leone.  As much as I expected to be homesick while we were there, I really wasn’t.  I forgot about my cellphone, Facebook and make-up.  I seldom thought about what I would be doing if I were at home.  I’m usually so focused on what I’m missing that sometimes I forget to enjoy where I am in the moment.  This trip was refreshingly different.

Saying goodbye was much harder than I thought it would be.  They had a farewell ceremony after breakfast on Saturday morning.  I still can’t believe how in such a short period of time you can bond and build relationships with the kids and caregivers.  Kandeh was quiet, but once we finally connected he was stuck to us like glue.  He didn’t show a lot of emotion when we were there so I was surprised to look over at him sitting on Trent’s lap during the farewell song with tears rolling down his cheeks.  Talk about ripping your heart right out of your chest.  I am guessing that this is the first time since he has been at the Raining Season that he has really connected with anyone.  I think when it was time to go Trent and I both wanted to take him and his sisters home.

Love them!

I don’t think I could love this picture any more!

Auntie Marie did all the cooking for us in the guesthouse.  My favorite was the night we had pizza and french fries!

Uncle Patrick helped us with building…

Osseh and John took us on our community outreach outings…

We spent the rest of the afternoon saying goodbye until it was time for us to leave and catch to ferry.  Throughout the week the kids were very interested in things that they noticed as different from them.  For example, Trent’s hairy arms, being able to see veins through our skin and my moles.  One of the older boys told me that if got any more “spots” I would turn into a cheetah!

Sierra Leone is a country full of beautiful people with kind hearts.  I am so thankful that God had it in His plans for us to visit.  Going into this journey was about 110% out of my comfort zone.  It was a risk that required a lot of trust and in the end, blessed me immensely.  We will have to wait and see what God has in store for us now. 

In the meantime, I am looking forward to a shower (I have not had a real one in 9 days), my own bed and sharing stories of our trip with everyone back home.  We are so very thankful for all of the love, financial support and prayers from everyone along the way.  Please continue to pray for the people of Sierra Leone and those at the Raining Season.  

You can check out The Raining Season’s website at http://www.therainingseason.org/ for more information about their organization.

Orphans won’t be orphans forever.  Psalm 10:14

{The Launes}

6.14.13…You’re the God of this City

It is hard to believe that tonight is our last night in Africa.  Tomorrow will be filled with goodbyes and the beginning of our adventure back home.  I am excited to be home and sleep in my own bed and take a hot shower, but it will be hard to leave the people.  The relationships that we have built in such a short period of time are greater than I ever could have imagined.  It will especially be hard to say goodbye to Kandeh (who we sponsor) and his sisters.  They have brought so much joy to us while we were here.

Today the kids were on a field trip to parliament for school so we really didn’t get to spend much time with them.  While there were gone, we rolled up our sleeves and got busy working on tables for each of the apartments.  Before, they were just eating on the floor.  Now they will have tables big enough for their whole apartment and create a family style dinner environment.  It included a lot of sanding and varnishing, but they look great!

Tonight we played, hung out, took pictures and attended our final group devotion.  In group devotion everyone comes together outside.  Singing is a big part of their worship.  They also have the most beautiful way of praying.  Over 100 people are praying aloud for the same thing.  Even the littlest ones have their heads bowed and eyes closed praying to Jesus.

Sierra Leone is a beautiful country with beautiful people.  It is more than the trash on the ground or it’s poverty.  I can’t help but think about Chris Tomlin’s song, God of this City.

For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City
Greater thing have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City

{The Launes}

6.13.13…Beach Day!

Today was beach day!  It is the day when teams are visiting that all the kids get out of school and everyone packs into podas (like 28 kids in one poda) and drive down the coast to the beach.

The ocean in Sierra Leone is beautiful.  The beaches were white sand with clear, warm water.  Other than us, there was hardly anyone at the beach so it felt like our own tropical island.  It was a fun day, but exhausting.  Imagine taking 100+ kids to the beach who have never had swimming lessons.  They don’t venture too far and are completely okay with being covered from head to toe with sand.

Auntie Alice…She is the sweetest lady!  She made the rug that I brought home.

The worst part about the trip was the drive.  I have never been so scared in a car.  Freetown driving is crazy, but this was a new extreme.  We were on dirt and gravel roads like washboards.  They were bumpy and we were driving too fast and swerving.  I was debating between whether I should just trust that God would take care of me or if I was being stupid not to say something.  I decided that God was in control, but I was still going to say something.  We drove home slower (not much, but a little).

Tonight everyone was exhausted.  We played a little, but it was off to bed early for the little ones.  Tomorrow was suppose to be our last day here, but since we were delayed a day getting here, we are going to be able to stay an extra day.  One extra day to love on the kids!

{The Launes}

6.12.13…4 Years

If you had asked me four years ago where I would be today, I can guarantee you I would not have said Africa.  It’s funny how God’s plans often look nothing like our own, yet they are so very wonderful.  You see, four years ago today Trent and I were married.  Unlike four years ago, today wasn’t about us.  It was about the people of Sierra Leone.

Today we participated in community outreach.  We walked from the orphanage into the nearby community.  We visited two private schools bringing them books for their school and sweets for the kids while Pastor Daniel preached the gospel.  My idea of what the schools would be like was very different from what I witnessed.  I was expecting them to be more developed, when in reality, they were meeting in an unfinished building.  They want to provide a better education here, but it is difficult to do without any supplies.  One thing that was evident is the love the people have for these children.  They make the most of what they have.

We also stopped and visited with some people along the way.  We delivered rice, lotion and soap to some of the people. The pushing and shoving over the bags of rice as they were being distributed shows how desperate and in need these people are.  The things we were able to provide them with does not even make a dent in their poverty.  The real goal of this community outreach was to share the gospel and tell them about worship at the center.  Trent pointed out that no matter what we do, we will not eliminate poverty.  John 12:8 says, “You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”  Through a belief in Jesus, even the most poverty stricken people will prosper.  I continue to pray that even in poverty they are able to see the blessings bestowed upon them and become Kingdom laborers. 

This afternoon Osseh took us up the mountain.  On the way we got to see the U.S. Embassy. There were also piles of rock along the road with people working to crush the rock.  The crushed rock is used to make cement blocks for building.  When we got to our stopping point the clouds were so thick we couldn’t see anything, but within a few minutes, Freetown and the Atlantic ocean were visible.  The shape of Sierra Leone makes Freetown look like it is surrounded by ocean on three sides.  It was absolutely beautiful!

A mango tree…

Celebrating 4 years…

Tonight we hung out with the kids and had whole group devotion outside.  The hearts for Jesus in this center is amazing.  These children have been through some of the worst, most unimaginable things, yet through Christ they have found healing.  Jesus is real to them and it is powerful.  Listening to the children pray simultaneously makes the most beautiful sound. 

{The Launes}

6.11.13

The moon and stars govern the night, for his love endures forever.

Psalm 136:9

Without air conditioning it is always a nice treat to sit on the balcony before bed.  There is a nice ocean breeze that helps you to cool off after a long, hot day.  Tonight I was noticing how in this city of over 2 million people, you can see the stars in the sky at night.  That is nearly impossible in Omaha, let alone a city at least five times its size. 

This was our first day here that there was no rain.  It rained a lot during the night, but none today.  One of the most refreshing things is a shower in the rain.  It is clean water and if you stand under the downspout it is just like a shower.  The only alternative is a bucket bath, which does about as good as no bath at all.  We have decided tonight that we will hold out hope for rain.

Today we spent all of our time at the center.  I got to observe in the different classrooms here at the center.  I was really excited to see what school was like here and how it is the same and different as back home.  I spent most of the time in a prep 4 and prep 5 classroom.  One of the teachers had called in sick so the class had no teacher.  An older student was working to instruct the students.  Some of the students were doing a really good job, but there were definitely some little boys in the class.  I was most excited when the other class was reviewing science for their big exam that’s coming up.  They were studying the four seasons and the teacher asked me to share about what the four seasons, especially winter, look like in Nebraska.  I asked them who would like to see snow someday and every hand went up.  They were trying to convince me to bring them some snow in a freezer!

We spent the rest of the afternoon working on building bunk beds.  It was a slow process with one power saw and what Trent considered to be one and a half hammers.  We got a lot of the wood cut and need to start sanding and constructing tomorrow.  It will be a chance for me to finally put my carpentry skills to good use.

These are the mattresses and mosquito nets we purchased with some of the money we raised…

The rest of the day was spent hanging and playing with the kids.  Kandeh is warming up to me and his sisters, Zainab and Isha are as well.  We gave him some bubbles. crayons and a coloring book.  He loved them!  He was so thrilled with such a simple gift.  I am really looking forward to getting to know him more the rest of the week.

They also really carry things on their heads.  Trent even gave it a try.  A quote from Trent: “This is really hard!”

Trent’s heart for the people here continues to inspire me.  The children at the orphanage are very blessed and fortunate all things considered.  We exchanged some money when we got here and just split it up evenly between the two of us.  Throughout the day yesterday, he gave it all away to people in the community.  This is the same guy, who as a little boy was very disappointed to find out he would have to spend his souvenir money on vacation to buy underwear because he had neglected to pack any.  He has also been giving some of his snacks he packed for our trip to a little boy who lives in a tin shack right outside of the center’s gates.  I wouldn’t be surprised if Trent were to give the shirt off his back to someone before we leave.  I am so thankful to have married a man with a heart for the Lord and compassion for others.

{The Launes}

6.10.13…Visiting Day

Today was our first day outside of the center.  We started the morning at devotion before their school day began. 

Leaving the center was our first opportunity to experience Freetown traffic.  It is seriously organized mass chaos.  It is a city of 2.4 million people and there are no stoplights and maybe five stop signs. There are literally cars and motorcycles and people everywhere.  Honking is the driver’s way of saying, “I’m coming so look out because I’m not stopping!”  I think I spent half of the ride with one eye shut hoping we wouldn’t hit a motorcycle or car.  It did amaze me how this method of driving really did seem to work for them.

Our first stop was at the Children’s Hospital.  We were able to visit two wards when we were at the hospital.  I was a little nervous going in because I wasn’t sure what it would be like or what I would see.   I was praying that I would have the opportunity to connect with the people and comfort them.  We visited the malnutrition ward first.  These kiddos were tiny and frail.  Most of the mothers were with their children.  Many of them had a difficult time understanding English, but it is amazing how a gentle touch or smile are universal.  I sat down with one mother and her baby, Mary.  The pain and worry in her face is still a clear image in my mind.  She was holding her sick baby and there was nothing she could do.  They had just checked into the hospital and she was feeling hopeless.  As we visited and I oohed and ahhed over Mary’s beautiful brown eyes she began to feel more comforted.  Trent came over and joined us and Mary enjoyed stroking his arm hair!  When it was time to go, Trent was able to give her a little money.  As I watched from a distance, I could see her face light up into the biggest, brightest smile.  I’m really not sure what the money meant to her, but I am hoping it was something that would help her focus on little Mary and not worry about other things.

After visiting ward 1, we made our way to ward 3.  The children in this ward had illnesses such as pneumonia, malaria and typhoid fever.  My heart ached so terribly for a little boy, maybe about 8, with typhoid fever.  He did not look like he felt well, but then the nurse gave him medicine through his iv.  He screamed in agony and could not be consoled.  It breaks my heart to think about how many of the diseases and illnesses they are dealing with here could be easily treated or prevented in America.

After the hospital, we headed to Grafton to visit another orphanage.  Auntie Margaret, the lady who runs the orphanage, began it after the war.  Her husband was killed in the war and she really felt God call her to help the children who had also been affected by the war.  It began with funding from an organization in Canada, but they have since pulled funding and she is left with nothing.  Compared to the Raining Season, this orphanage was barely surviving.  Auntie Margaret has an incredible heart for the Lord and these children and is completely trusting God to provide and help her. 

There were twenty four children in this orphanage, but it was difficult to distinguish those kids from the other kids in the community.  They all swarmed us (we had sweets).  The kids also all wanted us to “snap them” (take their picture) so they could see it.  One thing I noticed is that when I would go to take their picture they would be walking toward me and holding their hands up to the camera.  I have a lot of pictures of little hands or close ups of faces.

We spent the evening back at the center playing with the kids.   Kadija and Mohamed have been spending a lot of time with me.  These kids are so desperate for one on one attention and are willing to fight for it.  Living here is also like having 111 brothers and sisters, so of course you are not going to get along all of the time.  We finally settled on them sitting on my lap while we read some  books.

We finally got to look in our checked bags and see the name of the boy we sponsor.  (It was not Kevin, but Kandeh)  So far he is loving on Trent!  I am looking forward to spending some time with him tomorrow now that we actually know who he is!

{The Launes}