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.
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