One of the things we miss most about living in America is the availability of fast food.  Stopping by Jack in the Box for a spicy chicken sandwich with curly fries and a chocolate shake is just not an option here. In fact, it is not even in the remotest of possibilities.  Often when I am … Continue reading Fast Food

In the government district of Kenema, there are 739 schools.  42 pre-primary (kindergarten), 605 primaries (elementary), 73 junior secondary schools (junior high or middle schools) and 19 senior secondary (high school).  The district is much larger than the city, with a population of almost half a million (the city is just over 200k).  In asking … Continue reading Literacy and Education

This week, two of the polio victims that are part of the Hope Ministries group and the Opportunity Training Center (OTC) for the disabled that we spoke with on August 23, 2018 and wrote about in our blog post that week titled Kritters of Kenema, were baptized into our church. Keifala Kamara and Ibrahim Kamara … Continue reading Eku Scotland

On Saturday morning we drove to Tongo.  It is a "diamond mining town" about 45 km east of Kenema.  You may recall that I mentioned the people who came to District conference from Tongo in our blog titled "Generosity and “Limegirl”.    That day, three weeks ago, we promised the people who came that we … Continue reading Tongo

Without a doubt the most difficult part of our mission thus far has been the pain of the poverty around us. There are so many wonderful people here who are trying their very best to feed their families, get an education and improve their standing.  The problem is that all of these things cost money and … Continue reading The Pain of Poverty

It has been fun for us as we have gone on walks around Kenema to come across t-shirts from familiar places.  For example, one day we met a young man wearing a tank top from Idaho Falls Parks and Recreation.  This of course from Idaho Falls, Idaho not far from where both LaDawn and I … Continue reading T-Shirt Wisdom

From time to time we get questions from people back home about what it is that we eat on a regular basis.  First let me start with the food many eat here in Kenema, and most of Sierra Leone. As many of you already know, rice is a staple here. Inexpensive, easy to find and buy, … Continue reading Food, Glorious Food!

In an earlier post we mentioned that there are many dwelling places in Kenema which are partially completed and then abandoned because of a lack of funding.  This is primarily due to a lack of home mortgage availability.  When someone sets out to build a home, it may take as many as 10 years to … Continue reading Unfinished Business

When resources are scarce, creativity rules.  It reminds me of the old adage, “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.”  That is certainly the case here.  There is little that is not used multiple times before it is trash.  For example, Sierra juice plastic bottles are cleaned and then sold … Continue reading Kreativity in Kenema