Janet, Simon and Bethany are now back in the UK from their trip to Sierra Leone, where they report having an amazing time!  While Simon and Bethany were kept extremely busy preaching, encouraging and leading conferences with nearly 100 delegates, Janet spent time teaching at Foo Foo Water, where her class of 19 pupils quickly grew to 58 children! Read Janet's account of the trip below:

If I'm honest, I found the experience of teaching at Foo Foo exhilarating but also exhausting. Thankfully, the class teacher, Marian, was 'an absolute bonus’, soaking up everything that we did and demonstrating her newly found skills with clear understanding. After the children had gone home, with the help of Simon, Bethany, Marian - and anyone else who could hold a paint brush! - we gradually transformed the classroom walls to create a far more effective, learning environment. 

Meeting with the Headteachers was equally encouraging and challenging, giving them an opportunity to be honest about their situation, within the realistic constraints about how change could happen. It was a valuable time to be serious, but we also made time to have some fun!

One concern, however, that was glaringly apparent is that Foo Foo Water's school building is showing signs of collapse. The community came together to build three classrooms, but the building is not finished (I taught in the middle room). There are no ceilings, there needs to be a veranda, and the building still needs proper doors and windows. The location has plenty of land to build, so thoughts arise for prayers about building a new school for the children - as we did in Tombo.

I very much appreciated working with Simon and Bethany during our period of preparation and during the actual visit to Sierra Leone. I felt that we worked well together as a team; each of us using our different strengths and abilities. With the additional organisational skills of Magnus, and the predominately guidance of God, we were able to forge fresh links between the UK and SL.

Many discussions took place during the trip about how we could make improvements to our supportive work. One issue raised about the forthcoming shipment to Sierra Leone in September, was the need to clearly label all boxes that are contributed, and create a simple inventory to accompany them. In addition, we ask that anything sent for the health centre is labelled as HC.

On previous occasions I've mentioned that the provision of tools would be a great asset to the schools, and during the trip I tried to encourage the Headteachers to ‘roll up their sleeves’ and mend the furniture in their classrooms! To encourage this, we would be very pleased to receive any non-electric tools to add to the shipment.

Also, when we decorate the classrooms we use brightly coloured acrylic paint. This year, between the three of us, we were able to share the weight of transporting the paint to SL. But again, it would be so helpful to include acrylic paints in our shipment so the schools can continue to decorate their classrooms. We have left behind some templates particularly for this purpose.

Finally, please may I thank you for your continuing support for the Sierra Leone Mission, without which we would not be able to help our communities in SL in the way we do.

Thank you!

Janet O'Shea

 

SIERRA LEONE DONATIONS

If you would like to make a donation, to help SLM's work in Sierra Leone, just click on the Donations button, located at the top of each website page. Please also state if you would like your donation to go towards a particular project.

Alternatively donate by Bank Transfer

Barclays Bank

Sort code: 20-16-08, Account number: 30799076, Account name: Sierra Leone Mission 

(NB We are very grateful to receive anonymous donations, but when making a bank transfer donation, the donor's name is needed for auditing purposes. Please be assured this information will remain private.)

Or send a cheque to 

Sierra Leone Mission. Postal address: Janet Foord, 2 Cheyne Close, Church Milton, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 2SQ

 

Fatmata, one of our lovely university students from Bethesda Orphanage, recently fell very ill and collapsed whilst in class. Magnus was able to pay for emergency treatment, after which Fatmata thankfully regained consciousness and became able to talk, eat and walk again. The diagnosis was malaria and typhoid.

Following much prayer from our communinites in Sierra Leone and SLM, we are pleased to report that Fatmata is making a very good recovery. She is much improved and has completely recovered from the emergency situation, now receiving normal treatment for malaria and typhoid.

Fatmata has been greatly helped by her colleagues and a lady who lives in her compound and attends the same church. These friends had already spent money getting her emergency treatment before Magnus stepped in and provided more funds, which covered transport, the initial and ongoing treatment, plus medication.

In addition, Fatmata needs extra provisions to help to increase her energy levels - milk, Ovaltine, sugar, etc. The estimated cost of £87 for this has already been donated, for which we give thanks. 

We would be grateful for your continued prayer for Fatmata’s complete healing and recovery.

Thank you!

 

SIERRA LEONE DONATIONS

If you would like to make a donation, to help SLM's work in Sierra Leone, just click on the Donations button, located at the top of each website page. Please also state if you would like your donation to go towards a particular project.

Alternatively donate by Bank Transfer

Barclays Bank

Sort code: 20-16-08, Account number: 30799076, Account name: Sierra Leone Mission 

(NB We are very grateful to receive anonymous donations, but when making a bank transfer donation, the donor's name is needed for auditing purposes. Please be assured this information will remain private.)

Or send a cheque to 

Sierra Leone Mission. Postal address: Janet Foord, 2 Cheyne Close, Church Milton, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 2SQ

 

Every year shoe bags for our children in Sierra Leone are put together by church member volunteers from all over the UK and sent to the children at our churches, schools and Bethesda Orphanage in time for Christmas. This year the shipment will be leaving the UK in September 2024.

Each bag contains donated treats of useful and practical items, small items of clothing, books and toys. Receiving these shoe bags is one of the highlights of the year for many of our children in Sierra Leone.

We are extremely thankful for all donations towards the bags and pray that 2024 will be another a bumper shoe bag year, bringing happy smiles to even more of the poorest children in Sierra Leone!

For more information, please get in touch with one of our Connexion churches. Click on this link for a list of church locations.

 

 

Typical shoe bag items

Hygiene

2 x face cloths
2 x soaps
2 x toothpaste
2 x toothbrush

School

2 x writing pencils
2 x pens
2 x exercise books
coloured pencils
ruler
rubber
pencil sharpener

Personal

2 x toys
water bottle
either T-shirt and shorts
or pants and vest (boys)
or dress and pants (girls)

 

Janet O'Shea, Chair of SLM, has left the UK today for her annual trip to Sierra Leone with Connexion Church Ministers, Bethany Burrage and Simon Allaby.

Plans for the trip will include several days of teaching, classroom observation and interaction with children at Fu Fu Water School.

Their programme will also combine with visits to various Connexion Churches and three days spent attending St Mark's Cathedral, Waterloo for ministerial sessions of training on Evangelism and Discipleship.

I am sure you will wish to join us in prayer for a successful and fruitful trip, and we look forward to receiving updates and some pictures of our communities in Sierra Leone.

Janet, Bethany and Simon will be returning to the UK on 4 June. Below is a PDF of their planned itinerary, if you'd like to follow their activities.

Click here to see the Sierra Leone May/June Trip Itinerary

As Janet O'Shea prepares to visit Sierra Leone this month with Bethany Burrage and Simon Allaby, it is timely to conside the many challenges our schools in Sierra Leone face.

Read below Janet's first-hand account

Teaching has always traditionally been described as a vocation – ‘a strong belief that one ought to pursue a particular career’ (Oxford Dictionary). This is probably true for the majority of UK teachers but in Sierra Leone?

The Sierra Leone Mission (SLM) supports 23 schools and each month a grant is given to 90+ teachers. Many of these teachers are not trained, however some have received Teacher Training and others attend sessions after a day at school. Their day starts at 8am and concludes at 2pm, they receive a quarter of the pay paid to teachers working in Government schools.

Every child deserves a good education

Again, this is probably true for the majority of children in the UK but in Sierra Leone?

The teachers work in overcrowded classrooms, usually sharing a room with up to three other age groups. Resources are very limited with minimal aids available, often a few books and some chalk. The Government of Sierra Leone requires children to attend school. The attendance numbers vary with the seasons, a class of 80 might reduce to 30 depending on the needs of the harvest. Usually, the younger children are in the biggest classes but as the children grow older they are ‘needed’ at home. Over 5000 children attend our schools. In order to learn children need to be comfortable, well-nourished and happy.

Water is essential and a well is deemed a priority by the government. However many wells are broken and no one knows how to mend them. Most of our children are malnourished and hungry; quite often they fall asleep in class.

School buildings in the UK are mostly safe, well maintained, decorated, furnished and inviting. However, in Sierra Leone?

The teachers and children work in classrooms that have poor ventilation, dusty atmospheres, broken furniture and crumbling structure.

SLM Programme

In 2023, the SLM started a programme addressing the state of the school buildings.

Tombo School was so unsafe that it collapsed – thankfully after SLM had been able to provide funding for a new school.

The school children at Fogbo had been meeting in the Church building but a government official would not allow this practice to continue so the village started to build a new school. The SLM helped to fund the roof, windows and doors.

The villages at Kabala and Kamakonthakay did not have schools, so again the villagers built them and the SLM funded the roofs, doors and windows.

However, real problems still exist in some of the schools. Foo Foo Water desperately needs a new build as the school shows signs of collapse.The flooring in many of the schools is a hazard and the ceilings are often non-existent. In addition five of our schools, have a problem that can more easily be solved… termites!

This is the situation.

Continuing in 2024 

Now in 2024 the SLM has already addressed the grant that the teachers receive, increasing it marginally. The SLM would like to continue to improve the schools in Sierra Leone. God has blessed this work in the past and we are confident that what He has started He will complete.

If you have been challenged by this ongoing work, please prayerfully consider helping us to improve the lives of the children and teachers in Sierra Leone.

 

SIERRA LEONE DONATIONS

If you would like to make a donation, to help SLM's work in Sierra Leone, just click on the Donations button, located at the top of each website page. Please also state if you would like your donation to go towards a particular project.

Alternatively donate by Bank Transfer

Barclays Bank

Sort code: 20-16-08, Account number: 30799076, Account name: Sierra Leone Mission 

(NB We are very grateful to receive anonymous donations, but when making a bank transfer donation, the donor's name is needed for auditing purposes. Please be assured this information will remain private.)

Or send a cheque to 

Sierra Leone Mission. Postal address: Janet Foord, 2 Cheyne Close, Church Milton, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 2SQ

 

Please join Rev Amidu Koroma in prayer for the following requests for Sierra Leone.

We thank God for His sufficient grace and blessings over us to meet each day.

Please pray that God continues to establish our relationship with the UK.

We also pray for the leadership of the Connexion in Sierra Leone. We thank God for Bishop Magnus Bendu and ask God for rich blessings over his life.

Please pray too that God will continue to bless our pastors and teachers in Sierra Leone for the services they render in the Connexion.

We join in prayer for God to continue to give peace and love over country Sierra Leone.

Please pray for our leadership in the UK.  May God continue to bless 'Aunty' Janet O’Shea and her family, and all of the Connexion churches in the UK. 

We pray that God will continue to help us to extend and spread the Gospel to other regions in Sierra Leone.

And we ask the Lord to continue to give us grace to serve him faithfully.

'Lord you promise us that when we ask it shall be given, seek and we shall find, and when we knock the door shall be open to us' (Matthew 7:7). In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.

The new Connexion church and school in Kamakontakay Village were officially opened at the end of April.

The project has been a remarkable answer to prayer, as Kamakontakay was previously a totally Muslim village.

The change began when Magnus offered the village school two teachers, both of whom were Christian. Next, by God's grace, the Muslim villagers came together to build Christian church, which is now thriving. Following which they supplied materials and labour for the construction of a new school building, with SLM providing money for its roof.

Many lives have been changed, since work began on the new church and school, and during Janet O'Shea's visit to the village last year, she witnessed 42 baptisms!

SIERRA LEONE DONATIONS

If you would like to make a donation, to help SLM's work in Sierra Leone, just click on the Donations button, located at the top of each website page. Please also state if you would like your donation to go towards a particular project.

Alternatively donate by Bank Transfer

Barclays Bank

Sort code: 20-16-08, Account number: 30799076, Account name: Sierra Leone Mission 

(NB We are very grateful to receive anonymous donations, but when making a bank transfer donation, the donor's name is needed for auditing purposes. Please be assured this information will remain private.)

Or send a cheque to 

Sierra Leone Mission. Postal address: Janet Foord, 2 Cheyne Close, Church Milton, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 2SQ

 

 

 

Bishop Magnus Bendu has faithfully led the Sierra Leone Connexion since 2019 and has recently been re-elected for a further term. Please pray for this man of God to continuously be filled and led by the Spirit.

Rev Amidu Korma thanks God for his blessings every day and requests particular prayer for the following:

May the grace of God continue to bless us all in Jesus’ mighty name.

We thank God for Magnus Bendu’s re-dedication on Sunday 7 April, 2024, which was a spirit filled service. 

Please pray for all of our pastors and teachers in the Sierra Leone Connexion. We ask for God’s richest blessings to be poured over their lives. 

Please also pray for our churches in Sierra Leone and those in the UK. May God continue to expand them with spiritual growth. 

We ask for prayer for our Connexion leadership in the UK and the Sierra Leone Mission, chaired by Janet O’Shea. We ask for God to continue to establish you all.

We pray for peace and love to continue in the UK.

Finally we ask you to join us in prayer for our President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr Julius Maada Bio, and for God’s divine direction over our country and all our cabinet ministers.

We thank God for answering our prayers in Jesus' mighty name. Amen.

The Health Centre in Sierra Leone was officially opened in December 2022. The building stands opposite The Connexion’s Bethesda Orphanage, and is named the Ralph O’Shea Memorial Medical Centre, in honour of Ralph’s friendship and support

Magnus Bendu now brings us an update of this life-changing project for our communities in Sierra Leone:

Since its official opening, the Health Centre has been undergoing the process of registration with state authorities, which is now well advanced. It is almost normal in Sierra Leone that registration of such facilities take approximately six to eighteen months. However, within the process, we are allowed to operate fully while they monitor and guide. Quite a few of the monitoring agencies have showed up and have all given the Health Centre a clean bill of health with the exception of concerns around sustainable power supply and sufficient number of staff to cover all required departments and units of a clinic/medical Health Centre.

It must be noted that solar was paid for and installed before the beginning of operations, but as all the diagnostic machines start working, it became clear that more wattage is required to ensure regular supply of electricity. In the area of staffing, the Health Centre at the moment cannot employ practitioners in all departments as the overwhelming majority of its patients are from very poor communities where patients cannot be charged for profit making when even cost recovery is a huge challenge. Thus, just basic consultation, laboratory, nursing (Paediatric, maternity and general), security and sanitary staff are being employed for now.

The maternity building is very near completion, thanks to support from the UK, which has enabled us to do as much. We are currently using part of the staff quarter for maternity purposes until the building is completed. We have been advised by medical supervisors to do a separate solar installation for the maternity building as the one currently used has been struggling to upkeep the medical Health Centre day and night. Solar is generally expensive at installation but a very safe source of electricity when properly installed. Many Hospitals around the country use both solar for the day and some parts of the night and then generator plants further in the night towards dawn and also for situations when high power consuming machines are used for certain tests and operations.

The hospital has been a big blessing to many. Patients come from far and wide, and many from very remote areas. They mainly use motor bikes to access the Health Centre. Pregnant women and children face several challenges sometimes with the motor bikes. We pray for the day when we will have ambulance services to salvage some of these risky situations. We have been seeking help from government ambulances when we have critical referrals but have proven most ineffective in our district.

The Health Centre mainly offers the following services: general outpatient consultation of both medical and surgical care, in patients with both male and female wards, laboratory facilities, full maternity services with antenatal deliveries and post-natal care and eye care services. The total number of patients between January and December 2023 according to the administrator, not counting follow up patients and eye care patients, is 1468. Eye care patients are by far more than 500. I have tried to present some statistics here of the 1468 in and out patients that are registered.

 

 

Watching the figures closely, I really felt bad about the figure on malnutrition. And I am very sure that the figures on diarrhoea are also linked to the problem of malnutrition. Poverty may be the crowning factor of most of these. We know people lack the physical food that is why we think we should give them more spiritual food because man cannot live by bread alone. Giving them the Matthew 4:4 food will give people strength, knowledge and wisdom to acquire the rice, the potato, the cassava and the yam, whose lack could be part of the reason for malnutrition. It is also important to know that malaria also thrives in the arena of malnutrition and diarrhoea.

I must finally note here that we have not done any official marketing of the Health Centre for fear of not being able to chew what we bite. Once we are able to complete the maternity building, fix up the electricity problems and employ the required staff, we will properly take from the ground and proclaim Jesus even more loudly through the healing ministry. Please continue to pray for the staff and administrators and for God’s provision towards the electricity, staffing and maternity building.

Magnus Bendu

 

SIERRA LEONE DONATIONS

If you would like to make a donation, to help SLM's work in Sierra Leone, just click on the Donations button, located at the top of each website page. Please also state if you would like your donation to go towards a particular project.

Alternatively donate by Bank Transfer

Barclays Bank

Sort code: 20-16-08, Account number: 30799076, Account name: Sierra Leone Mission 

(NB We are very grateful to receive anonymous donations, but when making a bank transfer donation, the donor's name is needed for auditing purposes. Please be assured this information will remain private.)

Or send a cheque to 

Sierra Leone Mission. Postal address: Janet Foord, 2 Cheyne Close, Church Milton, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 2SQ

The SLM committee were delighted to welcome Magnus – via zoom – to their monthly ‘catch up’ meeting last week, and hear directly from him about the work that SLM supports in Sierra Leone.

Street children

Magnus has a heartfelt concern for the thousands of street children in Sierra Leone, who he visits regularly with food, drinks and medical items. Over the past couple of years there has been a massive rise in drug taking among the children and in particular the drug ‘kush.’

Below is a YouTube clip explaining the real dangers of this drug, which is mixed with human bones. It is so addictive, users can become hooked after a single hit, then find themselves quickly trapped in a cycle of self-destruction

Magnus says that working with these children has become more dangerous as they are desperate for food.

Janet O’Shea, Chair of SLM, also witnessed this: ‘I have had the privilege of joining Magnus several times on previous visits to minister to the children and offer them food and drink. Sometimes the children are so hungry they can get boisterous; these children see no future for themselves, they have no hope.

'We praise and thank God for giving Magnus the vision for Bethesda Orphanage, a sanctuary for street children, which has enabled him to rescue many helpless boys and girls and provide a safe and loving environment, where they can thrive.

'We also offer thanks for the generosity of people who continue to support this amazing outreach. When God guides, God provides'.

Schools

During the meeting, Magnus also provided an update on the structural condition of several of our Connexion schools in Sierra Leone. SLM has been able to send money this month to treat five schools that were infested with termites.

The nursery at Mongeba is also expanding, but the building where the children meet is unsafe. Magnus is currently liaising with the villagers to encourage them to build better construction for the nursery.

At the end of our meeting Magnus was joined by the children of Bethesda. They had just finished their nightly devotions and sang to us a song about the greatness of Jehovah, Yahweh. Janet said, ‘It was a wonderful testament to hear these children singing, and a strong reminder of why we are part of the Sierra Leone Mission’.

 Click on the YouTube recording below for a report about the drug 'kush'.

 

SIERRA LEONE DONATIONS

If you would like to make a donation, to help SLM's work in Sierra Leone, just click on the Donations button, located at the top of each website page. Please also state if you would like your donation to go towards a particular project.

Alternatively donate by Bank Transfer

Barclays Bank

Sort code: 20-16-08, Account number: 30799076, Account name: Sierra Leone Mission 

(NB We are very grateful to receive anonymous donations, but when making a bank transfer donation, the donor's name is needed for auditing purposes. Please be assured this information will remain private.)

Or send a cheque to 

Sierra Leone Mission. Postal address: Janet Foord, 2 Cheyne Close, Church Milton, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 2SQ