From Karen on 4/29:
This morning the first duck was placed in the row when John's adoption was approved. Unbelievably the second duck was close behind. Our I-600A approval came in the mail this morning! (The internet said they were working on January's application and ours was filed in March.) God is good and SURPRISING! This means that Mark will be able to stop in Dakar on the way home from Sierra Leone next week and file our I-600. This is the form that initiates a field investigation. Praise the Lord! We got two steps closer to bringing John home just this morning!
Also, pray for Ashtyn as she is sick with flu-like symptoms. "Mama Christie" is taking good care of her.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
allAfrica: [Sierra Leone] Ranks Last in Child Labor
Concord Times (Freetown)
16 April 2008 Ibrahim Jaffa Condeh and Kevin Hill
Child Labor is a huge problem in Sierra Leone. Many of the JCC kids have been personally involved with it (some were even held as slaves) and to be worst among the countries surveyed--that's a huge deal!! "78% of children ages 7 to 14 in the country are engaged in child labor"--that's huge! Later in the article it cites that UNICEF that one in six children in the entire world are involved in child labor. So it's not only a Sierra Leone or Africa problem, it does affect countries around the world, just Sierra Leone is the worst of those surveyed.
An excerpt:
"According to a recently released report by UNICEF on child labour and school attendance, 78% of children between the ages of 7 and 14 in Sierra Leone are engaged in child labour. The study, which covered one quarter of the world's population, ranked Sierra Leone last among nations surveyed..."
"The achievement of universal primary education is one of the Millennium Development Goals. Child labour, which can exclude primary school aged children from accessing an education, is a major obstacle to reaching this goal The UNICEF report found that "children from poor households and from households without a formally educated household head are more likely to be engaged in child labour and less likely to attend school", a situation that shows that "poverty is the root cause of child labour." The survey considered both economic activity and household chores and tried to distinguish between acceptable work and child labour. Child labour is work done by children that should be eliminated because it violates international labour standards, harms the child, or interferes with school attendance."
16 April 2008 Ibrahim Jaffa Condeh and Kevin Hill
Child Labor is a huge problem in Sierra Leone. Many of the JCC kids have been personally involved with it (some were even held as slaves) and to be worst among the countries surveyed--that's a huge deal!! "78% of children ages 7 to 14 in the country are engaged in child labor"--that's huge! Later in the article it cites that UNICEF that one in six children in the entire world are involved in child labor. So it's not only a Sierra Leone or Africa problem, it does affect countries around the world, just Sierra Leone is the worst of those surveyed.
An excerpt:
"According to a recently released report by UNICEF on child labour and school attendance, 78% of children between the ages of 7 and 14 in Sierra Leone are engaged in child labour. The study, which covered one quarter of the world's population, ranked Sierra Leone last among nations surveyed..."
"The achievement of universal primary education is one of the Millennium Development Goals. Child labour, which can exclude primary school aged children from accessing an education, is a major obstacle to reaching this goal The UNICEF report found that "children from poor households and from households without a formally educated household head are more likely to be engaged in child labour and less likely to attend school", a situation that shows that "poverty is the root cause of child labour." The survey considered both economic activity and household chores and tried to distinguish between acceptable work and child labour. Child labour is work done by children that should be eliminated because it violates international labour standards, harms the child, or interferes with school attendance."
Blog Update
Hello!
I just wanted to fill you in on some of the changes already implemented or soon to be implemented on this blog:
1. Joshua Project Unreached People Group of the Day "banner":
I had the priviledge of meeting some Joshua Project missionaries a few years ago when I was in Mexico for the summer on a mission trip with a different organization. I've come to respect their organization a great deal. They have a huge heart for reaching everyone with the Gospel. I added a feature from their website (as listed above) on the right margin of the blog. I encourage you to take notice and pray for the specific people group described. Further, I would encourage you to visit their website (joshuaproject.net) to look around and maybe even learn about the people groups of Sierra Leone and West Africa. Just for your reference, JCC is in Bo which is predominantly Mende--one of the two larger people groups in the country. There are 16 or 17 total. There are a few other people groups represented among the kids, though most are Mende (or Krio-speaking).
2. Poll:
The theme is "how are you involved." Since it's anonymous (or should be), it's purpose is not to glorify anyone or make people feel bad because someone is not as involved as someone else. It is simply to show the diversity of "community members" (and so I know someone reads this occasionally).
3. Prayer Requests:
Yes, it has been there, but it's been formatted a little differently. No biggie.
4. Personal stories/testimonies: Coming Soon!
If you can check a box off (which you should all be able to check something) than you can definitely share your experiences with Jonathan House. Perhaps you've been there and have a story you'd like to share relating to your time there. Or perhaps you sponsor a child and/or have pen pals at JCC... how has that touched you? Maybe you've sweated and toiled in getting the store ready to open.... There are many possibilities. Email JHM.Salone@gmail.com with a story and I'll post it on here accordingly. If you have any questions, let me know.
Kim
I just wanted to fill you in on some of the changes already implemented or soon to be implemented on this blog:
1. Joshua Project Unreached People Group of the Day "banner":
I had the priviledge of meeting some Joshua Project missionaries a few years ago when I was in Mexico for the summer on a mission trip with a different organization. I've come to respect their organization a great deal. They have a huge heart for reaching everyone with the Gospel. I added a feature from their website (as listed above) on the right margin of the blog. I encourage you to take notice and pray for the specific people group described. Further, I would encourage you to visit their website (joshuaproject.net) to look around and maybe even learn about the people groups of Sierra Leone and West Africa. Just for your reference, JCC is in Bo which is predominantly Mende--one of the two larger people groups in the country. There are 16 or 17 total. There are a few other people groups represented among the kids, though most are Mende (or Krio-speaking).
2. Poll:
The theme is "how are you involved." Since it's anonymous (or should be), it's purpose is not to glorify anyone or make people feel bad because someone is not as involved as someone else. It is simply to show the diversity of "community members" (and so I know someone reads this occasionally).
3. Prayer Requests:
Yes, it has been there, but it's been formatted a little differently. No biggie.
4. Personal stories/testimonies: Coming Soon!
If you can check a box off (which you should all be able to check something) than you can definitely share your experiences with Jonathan House. Perhaps you've been there and have a story you'd like to share relating to your time there. Or perhaps you sponsor a child and/or have pen pals at JCC... how has that touched you? Maybe you've sweated and toiled in getting the store ready to open.... There are many possibilities. Email JHM.Salone@gmail.com with a story and I'll post it on here accordingly. If you have any questions, let me know.
Kim
Mary Ina is HOME!
Praise God that the Gourleys have gone and come back from Africa with a "new" member--Mary Ina. They arrived in Des Moines Saturday night (April 26th). They've been waiting for this for nearly three years!! She has since been reunited with other JCC adoptees.
Pray for their adjustment with this special little girl in their lives and home now and also for her adjustment to life in America! And even though this is incredibly joyful, pray that being separated from the woman who has raised her since she was born--Auntie Mary--will be quenched by God's love and peace.
Pray for their adjustment with this special little girl in their lives and home now and also for her adjustment to life in America! And even though this is incredibly joyful, pray that being separated from the woman who has raised her since she was born--Auntie Mary--will be quenched by God's love and peace.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Some wonderful old books....
So I was checking out Google Reader which has more than a few digital books (hundreds--if not thousands perhaps). I searched for Sierra Leone for the subjects and it came up with several books written back in the 1800s. The one I'm looking through currently is..."A Residence at Sierra Leone...Letters from Sierra Leone" written by a lady living in Sierra Leone. It is a compilation of letters she wrote to friends and family at home in England. It's pretty interesting...many things have changed a lot while other things haven't changed much at all.
Here's an excerpt:
"Next day it was beautifully clear, and on going upon deck I had my first look of the land I was so truly thankful to see. On one side of our ship, Sierra Leone, like an island, forming one chain of mountains gradually sloping upwards from the Cape to the right, but in front seeming as if they sprang perpendicularly from the sea--was pointed out to me; while, in the opposite direction, the only visible tokens of land were tall trees, appearing as if planted in the water. ...
There was no sea-breeze to carry us in: we were not near enough to discern, without the aid of a spy-glass, the houses on the shore; but I could see Freetown like a white spot at the very foot of the hills, and before it the masts of vessels rose like clustered spires. We had also a view of the Bananas--a few small green islands lying to the southward of the long low cape which stretched far out, on our right....
I looked eagerly out and saw fantastically painted buildings glittering in the glorious light of a tropical sun; and beyond, the lofty mountains of Sierra Leone. Through the faint shadowy haze, their verdure appeared more soft and beautiful than that of the foliage near us, which flashed on the eye with a supernatural tint, and formed a striking contrast to the deep cornelian colour of the earth in the paths and banks of the river--the whole landscape conveying the idea of a perpetual summer. ..."
Here's an excerpt:
"Next day it was beautifully clear, and on going upon deck I had my first look of the land I was so truly thankful to see. On one side of our ship, Sierra Leone, like an island, forming one chain of mountains gradually sloping upwards from the Cape to the right, but in front seeming as if they sprang perpendicularly from the sea--was pointed out to me; while, in the opposite direction, the only visible tokens of land were tall trees, appearing as if planted in the water. ...
There was no sea-breeze to carry us in: we were not near enough to discern, without the aid of a spy-glass, the houses on the shore; but I could see Freetown like a white spot at the very foot of the hills, and before it the masts of vessels rose like clustered spires. We had also a view of the Bananas--a few small green islands lying to the southward of the long low cape which stretched far out, on our right....
I looked eagerly out and saw fantastically painted buildings glittering in the glorious light of a tropical sun; and beyond, the lofty mountains of Sierra Leone. Through the faint shadowy haze, their verdure appeared more soft and beautiful than that of the foliage near us, which flashed on the eye with a supernatural tint, and formed a striking contrast to the deep cornelian colour of the earth in the paths and banks of the river--the whole landscape conveying the idea of a perpetual summer. ..."
Mary Ina, Christie....and other news...
I apologize for not keeping this current the last week or so. Big exciting news!
- Mary Ina's adoption was approved last week!!!! Her parents left today to fly to Dakar to meet her and finish up the last bit of all the technical stuff. Pray that there will be no further hitches. PRAISE GOD for the approval!
- Christie left for Jonathan House a few days ago and should be there by now, though I haven't heard. Pray for her as she adjusts to her role and getting to know many of the kids she met two years ago and some of the new ones that have come since then. This is an exciting time for her. I remember the beginning of my 6 months--it was a bit overwhelming, I must admit, but I have the utmost confidence she'll do an amazing job.
- Mark & Ashtyn are leaving tomorrow for Sierra Leone for the court date of another child that they are in the process of adopting. They'll get to spend some time at Jonathan House, too. Pray for their time there and their time with John. Ashtyn will be assisting in the nursery class (like kindergarten here) during their time.
- Pray for the students as they are approaching the end of their school year (June).
- Some people involved with JH found an aerial photo of Jonathan House on Google Earth. G.E. hasn't had high resolution of that area previously. Those pictures will be up here soon.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Change One
Keith & Laura Padgett started an organization called "Change One" just a few years ago. They lived in Freetown for a year and a half not too long ago. They work on community development projects in different parts of Freetown, as well as working in refugee camps. In short, they have done and continue to serve the people of Sierra Leone in many ways. Laura and I met about 2 years ago and what a priviledge it has been to get to know her and Keith and their work in Freetown. While Jonathan House operates "upline" (basically referred to anything outside of Freetown), they work almost entirely within the Freetown area--which is HUGE! So if you want a good look at life in the more crowded Freetown, check their website out.
Their blog inspired this blog that you are currently reading--they've done a wonderful job with it. That link can be found in the links section in the right column.
Bumpenya
This is pretty cool. I remember opening up a "Newsweek" in late 2006 and reading a small clip about this story. Sarah Culbertson (Bumpenya) set out to meet her biological parents a few years ago. Her father, she discovered, was an influential community leader in the village of Bumpe. His brother is chief of the village--he was supposed to be but he had "resigned" to lead the school in the village. Long story short, after Sarah went to Sierra Leone for the first time and met her father and other residents of Bumpe, she has been working to raise funds and support to rebuild the school and do some other projects in the community and area.
Bumpe is "down the road" from Bo--between Bo and Mattru Jong.
Bumpe is "down the road" from Bo--between Bo and Mattru Jong.
BBC: The Dangers of Herbal Remedies (Kroo Bay)
The BBC has a series on their website with a diary written by a medic in Sierra Leone, specifically Kroo Bay. One of the first websites posted on this blog was one for Save the Children's work in Kroo Bay. If you haven't checked it out--you totally should. So there might be more of her articles on here at some point--it's a great section.
This specific article is this medic, Adama Gondor, talking about how herbal remedies are affecting health. It's one thing if they're topical medicines (applied to the skin), but a little more serious when they are internal medicines. Babies are especially vulnerable. Here in America, hospitals do treat most illnesses. There are a few non-mainstream providers out there, but even those seem to be regulated. In places like Sierra Leone (mainly rural areas in developing countries), there is not as much access to clinics and doctors or nurses as urban areas and especially here in America. If there are clinics or hospitals, the likelihood that a family could afford treatment at a center is slim. Though what there seem to be plenty of are traditional healers. While I'm hoping not in every instance, treatments tend to focus around superstitions and religious ceremonies (typically not Christian). In all of my anthropology classes (and especially two focused squarely on African religions and religion and witchcraft), I've heard of some really bizarre things that take place in our world. That's another blog altogether. :-) While it would be great to keep some aspects of each culture in tact, some are simply dangerous. Miss Gondor speaks well on this topic, but now that you have a broader background, hopefully it will help you understand her more.
"A severely malnourished child was brought to the clinic on Monday.
Eight-month-old babies should weigh about 9kg. The baby was eight months old, but she only weighed 4.5kg. If we assume she had the average weight of 3.3kg when she was born she should have been getting close to 9kg by now. The baby was very thin, with bad skin and looked more like an old man - it's awful to see a baby in such a condition. She also looked very hungry. We immediately referred the baby to the hospital quite far away in the east of Freetown where there is a therapeutic feeding centre. The mother took her straight there and she was admitted - the programme is free. ..."
To read the entire article, click the title.
To read and learn more about Kroo Bay and Save the Children's there, check out the special links section in the right column.
This specific article is this medic, Adama Gondor, talking about how herbal remedies are affecting health. It's one thing if they're topical medicines (applied to the skin), but a little more serious when they are internal medicines. Babies are especially vulnerable. Here in America, hospitals do treat most illnesses. There are a few non-mainstream providers out there, but even those seem to be regulated. In places like Sierra Leone (mainly rural areas in developing countries), there is not as much access to clinics and doctors or nurses as urban areas and especially here in America. If there are clinics or hospitals, the likelihood that a family could afford treatment at a center is slim. Though what there seem to be plenty of are traditional healers. While I'm hoping not in every instance, treatments tend to focus around superstitions and religious ceremonies (typically not Christian). In all of my anthropology classes (and especially two focused squarely on African religions and religion and witchcraft), I've heard of some really bizarre things that take place in our world. That's another blog altogether. :-) While it would be great to keep some aspects of each culture in tact, some are simply dangerous. Miss Gondor speaks well on this topic, but now that you have a broader background, hopefully it will help you understand her more.
"A severely malnourished child was brought to the clinic on Monday.
Eight-month-old babies should weigh about 9kg. The baby was eight months old, but she only weighed 4.5kg. If we assume she had the average weight of 3.3kg when she was born she should have been getting close to 9kg by now. The baby was very thin, with bad skin and looked more like an old man - it's awful to see a baby in such a condition. She also looked very hungry. We immediately referred the baby to the hospital quite far away in the east of Freetown where there is a therapeutic feeding centre. The mother took her straight there and she was admitted - the programme is free. ..."
To read the entire article, click the title.
To read and learn more about Kroo Bay and Save the Children's there, check out the special links section in the right column.
Friday, April 4, 2008
FT.com: Rice Jumps as Africa Joins Race for Supplies
Rice is THE staple food in Sierra Leone. Especially outside of Freetown, rice is part of or the entire meal for Sierra Leoneans. There are different types of sauces to cover the rice including two that contain cassava and potato leaves, respectively. Another with groundnuts (peanuts). Then there's the yummy Jollof rice. Take rice away from Sierra Leonean and you will hear about it. :-) I jest, but in reality this has the potential to affect the country and JH considerably.
By Javier Blas in Nairobi and Roel Landingin in Manila
Published: April 4 2008 15:23
Rice prices rose more than 10 per cent on Friday to a fresh all-time high as African countries joined south-east Asian importers in the race to head off social unrest by securing supplies from the handful of exporters still selling the grain in the international market.
The rise in prices – 50 per cent in two weeks – threatens upheaval and has resulted in riots and soldiers overseeing supplies in some emerging countries, where the grain is a staple food for about 3bn people.
Click on the title to read the entire article.
By Javier Blas in Nairobi and Roel Landingin in Manila
Published: April 4 2008 15:23
Rice prices rose more than 10 per cent on Friday to a fresh all-time high as African countries joined south-east Asian importers in the race to head off social unrest by securing supplies from the handful of exporters still selling the grain in the international market.
The rise in prices – 50 per cent in two weeks – threatens upheaval and has resulted in riots and soldiers overseeing supplies in some emerging countries, where the grain is a staple food for about 3bn people.
Click on the title to read the entire article.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Network World: New Services Spur Sierra Leone Mobile Sector
The telecom sector of Sierra Leone is just constantly improving. While I was at JH for 6 months, I had a "mobile" to use which came in handy more than a few times. I sometimes joke that Sierra Leone has better mobile coverage than Iowa...which actually might not be that far off, in my opinion anyway. :-)
Though mobile phone services were once deemed too expensive for ordinary citizens in Sierra Leone, they are on the rise, thanks to creative efforts on the part of service providers.
Attitudes toward mobile services started changing two to three years ago, though mobile operator Celtel first entered the country’s small market in early 2000, followed by Millicom (now tiGo).
Telecom is the most thriving sector, after mining, in Sierra Leone, according to a report by Maxwell Massaquoi, an expert in telecom business support and operation support systems. Mobile phone use in Sierra Leone grew by 18 percent from 2006 to 2007, reaching 110,000 users, the report said.
Click on the title to read the full article.
Though mobile phone services were once deemed too expensive for ordinary citizens in Sierra Leone, they are on the rise, thanks to creative efforts on the part of service providers.
Attitudes toward mobile services started changing two to three years ago, though mobile operator Celtel first entered the country’s small market in early 2000, followed by Millicom (now tiGo).
Telecom is the most thriving sector, after mining, in Sierra Leone, according to a report by Maxwell Massaquoi, an expert in telecom business support and operation support systems. Mobile phone use in Sierra Leone grew by 18 percent from 2006 to 2007, reaching 110,000 users, the report said.
Click on the title to read the full article.
The Economist: The Southern Star
Here's an interesting article about Botswana--a nation bordering South Africa and Zimbabwe (among others). As the article points out, the country is very unique as far as African nations go. It's the world's leading diamond producer. While it's good to learn a lot about Sierra Leone, it's also good to get a look at the context and "success" stories even though Botswana definitely isn't perfect. I'd recommend that you look into the country more because it has done some amazing things that other countries in Africa especially haven't even attempted!
Mar 27th 2008 GABORONE
From The Economist print edition
Botswana is a rare African success story but not without a few headaches.
An African president stepping down of his own accord is still depressingly rare. Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe has been clinging to power since 1980. But next door, in Botswana, a respected president, Festus Mogae, is graciously retiring this month after ten years in office.
Botswana rarely features in the news abroad. With only 1.8m people and the world's largest output of diamonds, it has been a model of stability, avoiding the violence, corruption and boom-and-bust cycles that have plagued so many mineral-rich countries. Yet it had little going for it at independence in 1966. It had only 13km (eight miles) of tarred road. Most of its people, often drought-afflicted, scraped a living rearing cattle.
Largely covered with sand, it had little agriculture—and few white settlers: it never experienced the bitterness of land dispossession and the ensuing disharmony that poisoned race relations in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya. Mr Mogae's anointed successor, Ian Khama, is half-white, but few people in Botswana think his colour matters.
Diamonds have changed the country's fortunes. Its per capita income of $5,900 is four times the regional average and higher than Malaysia's. The diamond wealth has been spent on roads, sanitation, schools and clinics, not on palaces or Swiss bank accounts. AIDS has hit the country hard, but almost 95,000 patients—86% of those who need it—get anti-retroviral treatment.
Click on title to read entire article.
Mar 27th 2008 GABORONE
From The Economist print edition
Botswana is a rare African success story but not without a few headaches.
An African president stepping down of his own accord is still depressingly rare. Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe has been clinging to power since 1980. But next door, in Botswana, a respected president, Festus Mogae, is graciously retiring this month after ten years in office.
Botswana rarely features in the news abroad. With only 1.8m people and the world's largest output of diamonds, it has been a model of stability, avoiding the violence, corruption and boom-and-bust cycles that have plagued so many mineral-rich countries. Yet it had little going for it at independence in 1966. It had only 13km (eight miles) of tarred road. Most of its people, often drought-afflicted, scraped a living rearing cattle.
Largely covered with sand, it had little agriculture—and few white settlers: it never experienced the bitterness of land dispossession and the ensuing disharmony that poisoned race relations in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya. Mr Mogae's anointed successor, Ian Khama, is half-white, but few people in Botswana think his colour matters.
Diamonds have changed the country's fortunes. Its per capita income of $5,900 is four times the regional average and higher than Malaysia's. The diamond wealth has been spent on roads, sanitation, schools and clinics, not on palaces or Swiss bank accounts. AIDS has hit the country hard, but almost 95,000 patients—86% of those who need it—get anti-retroviral treatment.
Click on title to read entire article.
Pray for Mary Ina (& some other requests)
April 3rd: Prayer & Praise (per Karen)
Pray for Mary Ina's and her family as they wait for a man with the US Embassy in Dakar to approve her visa so that she can finally come home!!! Mary Ina is in the bottom picture--how sweet is she?!
Pray for Rachel (in the top photo holding Solomon, Jan. '07) as she will have surgery to remove one of her kidneys on Sun. (April 6th). Pray for peace for her as she waits and for her twin sister Leah. Pray for the surgeon's skill and a sterile environment to prevent infection, a successful procedure and a quick recovery. Pray that she'll be able to make up any school work she might miss. She is in Grade 8 at the high school. She and Leah just turned 14 in March.
Pray for the people getting ready to go to Jonathan House:
* Christie--She'll be leaving in another week or so and will spend 6 months at JH serving as a house mother at the children's home. Pray for her health and good travel and quick adjustment to a new lifestyle at the home.
* Mark & Ashtyn--They'll be heading over end of April for a court date in the family's process to adopt one of the boys at the home--John Tarawallie. (What a great kid!)
* Roger, Kayla and several others who will make up two teams in May/June--some for 3 weeks and some for 5 weeks.
Pray for the staff as they deal with changes in the government and among staff. A new president and essentially a new government was put into office last fall which is a huge blessing. The election was peaceful which in itself is a huge praise! The new president is a Temne man and is a Christian! While it can be hard to keep up with some of the changes and requirements, hopefully these changes will create a better Sierra Leone in the future (hopefully sooner than later).
Praise God for a buyer for the old vehicle. A new vehicle was provided just a short time ago. (Praise!)
Pray for the fundraising campaign to build a new school on the grounds at Jonathan House. This is one of those new requirements of the new government. We are asking that people would donate $10 for a "brick" (or more!). And we are even going to encourage you to personalize that brick (or bricks) and they will form a collage at the home in the shape of the new building! More will be posted on this soon enough. Email JHM.Salone@gmail.com for any questions or how you can participate.
Praise God for the newest church plant in the village of Gbomboma! They just celebrated the finishing of their building with an official event. There were between 100 and 150 people in attendance at the Gbomboma church Easter Sunday. The church plant only started a year or so ago. Praise God for a successful outreach at the church in November with a medical clinic and handouts of food that were donated and sent over on the container. Pray for the pastor and leadership in the church that they will continue to trust God and be strong witnesses for others in Gbomboma and surrounding villages. The pastor--Randolph--also serves as the Class 4 teacher at the Jonathan House primary school. Another teacher and house father at Jonathan House is also the pastor at Torwama church--another JH church plant. Pray for these men and their families.
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