First Challenge

It’s been a week since we arrived and already it has been very eventful. On the Sunday after our arrival the church family lost the Chairman of the Kailahun Circuit – Rev. Peter Lebbie - through illness. I worked with Peter during our first tour of duty in my role as Business Manager of Nixon Hospital – as he was on the Board of Governors of the hospital. He was a very enthusiastic person with a very good sense of humour. He had a vision to help transform the hospital into something nearer to its former glory. We pray his soul may rest in peace.

Then there was the search for accommodation. This meant dealing with estate agents and middle men trying to earn a living from the large number of ex pats working in the country. There is a dire shortage of decent houses especially at the lower end of the rental market (the bit we are able to operate within). Houses rent within US$4 – 5k per year - which on its own sounds manageable - until you realise they require rental payment in advance and sometimes for two years. There are houses to rent for a year but in areas that are very questionable, especially for someone who may not know their way about town. Presently, none of the 6 houses we’ve seen are suitable and so we are working with the church on a solution – to be housed for six months in a temporary accommodation until early next year when hopefully one of the church’s property would become available. In so doing, the rental money could be used in repairing this church property which we believe would be a better proposition rather than paying a very high rental on the open market.

Joelle came down with a serious bout of malaria on Friday night. She was running temperatures between 38 and 39.8°C, making it a very difficult night for us. As it happened we had made contact with a friend who is a doctor and who works at the Military hospital in Freetown the day before. A quick text, followed by a phone call found us at the hospital on Saturday morning around 10.30 am. After blood tests malaria was diagnosed. This is exactly a week after our arrival and despite religiously taking her malaria preventive tablets. She however, was not properly protected as she played with her friends outside after sun set, and we think this exposure increased the parasitic load, hence her getting ill. Saturday night was also challenging, but the fever was not as high or as persistent as the previous night.

We really saw God’s hand move in our circumstances especially with this situation. It was by God’s grace that made us contact our friend the doctor, on that Friday afternoon after we ‘accidentally’ came across her number. We know God does not do ‘accidents’ – he decrees and His promises are fulfilled. His promise that ‘He would never leave us nor forsake us’ was truly manifested on this occasion and our thanks and Praise goes first and foremost to God almighty.

PRAYER POINTS.
Please pray for:
1. Speedy and lasting recovery for Joelle and thank God for her health and protection for all of us - especially the little one - Janelle against any future health issues.

2. Pray for our accommodation to be resolved - still living at the guest house and despite the help of the church in this regard we really need a permanent base.