Colors of our world in Sierra Leon
We’re leaving our family of Sierra Leone today. With a mixed bag of emotions and memories, I hope you can get a taste for the awesome people here.
Many things I’ll miss. Here are a few of them.
All the children. There are kids everywhere. I’ll be starting a movement to bring back school uniforms. I can’t go anywhere without friendly followers wanting to play with my hair or give me a hug. I love watching them create something from nothing.
One day a respected friend said in all seriousness, “They have a few new private schools where the teachers must be on time and never leave the classroom. And periodically the principal comes in the class to see if the teacher is doing her job. Can you believe that? “. We just smiled and said, “Wow, that is hard to imagine.”
But we need to remember teachers don’t get paid for the first 3 years and then their salary is minimal, and irregular. It breeds a lack of seriousness from all sides. Bless their heart for coming at all.
Nurses and doctor have the same plight. They must volunteer for 3-5 years after graduating.
Sixty six kids came to primary on one of our church visits. Only one adult. When I asked that brave soul where the Primary Presidency was, she said, ”They are afraid of the kids.” The primary is usually crammed in a small room but I made the adults go to that small room and kept the children in the chapel. I’m grateful for the many years of singing time training I’ve had… It has come in handy.
You’ll find the kids carrying wood, water, or food to sell; all on their heads. Those bundles are extremely heavy. Everyone carries a heavy load here…in every aspect. Aren’t we all? That load just has different titles.
Repentance can free us from these burdens. I loved the sage advice from Sophie’s last letter. “ I want so badly to be free. Free from the thoughts of others. Free from Satan. Free from temptation. Free from doubts. Free from judgement. As I read Alma 60 it talks about obedience and repentance = a true spirit of freedom. If we follow God and what he has set for us we will be free.”
We teach a lot of classes each week. But baking stands out as most enjoyable. I use to say, if you can read, you can cook. That would be the equivalent to, if you can read you can build a space ship. I started with, “this is a stove”, the different fractions cooks need to know (1/4 cup compared to 4 cups), different foods in the world that make a myriad of yummy cuisine. All new concepts.
They have a very simple diet here of rice, kasava or potatoe leaves, small fish (the catch and release size) and every part of the chicken. We mixed that up a bit. With ingredients they can buy (some need to be brought from Freetown 4 hours away)
We made crepes with homemade chocolate and caramel syrup, lemon meringue pies, birthday and wedding cakes, cookies, pizza, pavlova, ice cream, many types of bread, and more. Below is a photo of a prize student baking my roll recipe on a fire with her pot. She sells these now and is proud that she’s paid for her sons school uniform, shoes and school fees. They do have a new oven at a chapel that is part of the Gathering Place (YSA classes and activities at the church), but that would cost money for transport and time. And why would she, her rolls are better than mine.
Other classes offered at the Gathering Place are Computers, Tailoring, Hair Dressing, How to Start Your Own Business, Institute, and Pathways.
I asked two young men who had sewn for me if they would volunteer to teach the tailoring class. These 20ish year olds work for their family sewing all day and if they get their own job, they can work at night and keep most the money. They offered to teach everyday from noon to three... didn’t even hesitate. They are not of our faith and had never even been to the Gathering Place. Who does that?? If you’ll look closely, they have headlamps on. These machines are pedaled by foot.
Eventually I started a business with them to make Barbie and American Girl clothes for me to sell when returning home. Oh, just wait, I have much to offer. Along with 2 other small business I’ve started with other tradesmen… Aprons made from their colorful lapas and hand-woven shoulder bags. It took several mishaps until I could accept their work.
Leaving our compound that’s been a beehive of activity with the guards and students doing their pathway or computer homework, and the full time missionaries stopping in for lessons and something to quench the thirst, will leave us feeling quite bored. They brought with them a spirit of hope and excitement of a better life. Both spiritual and physical. I’m confident our grandkids will fill in that role quickly.
How do I wrap my arms around a year of miracles and headaches, the literal blood, sweat (tons of that), and tears, the many times I’ve had to turn my back on the needy, the blessing of peace that only could come from my loving Father, the despair when I couldn’t feel Him, my superhero husband and best friend who is the only one that can relate, the gift of charity that God has given me for my brothers and sisters?
THE GREATEST GIFT I RECEIVED IS KNOWING GOD LOVES ME AND YOU AND THEM. Thanks for following our journey.
What we’ve held in our hands will now be held in our hearts.
Love, Mom, Mimi, Jane