Celebrations!!!

December is a month of celebrations. Joey's brother Junior & his wife Janice kick it off with their wedding anniversary on the 2nd, followed by Junior's birthday on the 3rd, then Joelle celebrates hers on the 4th. More to come - Michael, Joey's cousin Dean(Prof) and joey's niece Ruth celebrate theirs on 7th Dec followed by our wedding anniversary on the 11th. Done? No!!! Our wedding anniversary is then followed by Joey's junior brother Mark's birthday on the 14th. Whew!!!! Hope I have not missed anybody's - but of course the Big One is 25th, that of our Lord's which we all join in to celebrate. Not to be outdone little Janelle crowns it all in January - on the 9th, by which time everybody may be a little exhausted but for us it is very special.




Joelle's birthday banner at School


Birthday Girl




The birthday cake


Birthday girl with Junior Sis





Junior Sis Janelle - looking good



On the beach - just relaxing
















Sunset on the beach - Freetown lumley beach


















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Joelle's Birthday Cake with a slice 'gone'






Joelle enjoying birthday pizza with fellow pupils

THE END OF ANOTHER TEST..

And so the last of the project for this year is at an end and it was gruelling. Imagine doing practical examinations for 104 students (20 to 21 students per day for 5 days and then an extra day for the resit examinations for 14 unfortunates).....very long hours. In the end I was pleased to present a gift to the first 10 students with the highest grade throughout the module. It was unexpected and greatly appreciated by the students and the school management. Hopefully it would be seen as precedence for the other groups to do their best at whatever level – they never know when they will be rewarded.
Michael and the girls did well with the long days without Mummy. Joelle had a holiday not too much to her liking but she has to learn ( if she hasn’t already) that her expectations will not always be met and whatever life throws at her she needs to make the best of it – find the best of and enjoy as much as possible. For Janelle it was great just to be able to go for long walks to see the butterflies, goats, sheep and birds.....so simple (for now).



We are at the point where we can look forward to going somewhere we all like (not sure where yet), but just having the opportunity to be at that point of your life is amazing. We’ll keep you posted. However, before we are due to go on furlough I have to coordinate the project again for the next set of students early next year. It will be different because the school is due to have 2 of their workers back from their post basic midwifery training – so for the first time since we have started helping the hospital and school I’ll have some help. I will be preparing to hand over the ‘baton’ to these colleagues.... a milestone I am really looking forward to.


This journey reminds me of the first time we came to SL in 2007. The trip from Freetown to Segbwema was a long torturous 10 – 12 hours with mandatory stops at Moyaba Junction, possibly Bo and definitely Kenema before we even considered the ‘bone shaking’ session from Kenema to Segbwema. If one was very unaccustomed to this trip then an overnighter at Kenema was a definite must. We became very accustomed to this journey and could skip the’ Bo stop’ and didn’t need to overnight in Kenema. As young as Joelle was at the time she managed well with these long trips and even survived a midnight ‘break’ behind a broken down truck stuck in the mud. Now this same trip takes half the time. The roads are a relative ‘dream’ to travel on. We, of course, still have to dodge a pot hole or two on the Freetown to Kenema road but that’s paradise in comparison to what it was 4 years ago. So it is with the delivering of this module. With the first set it was a pioneering journey of discovery. The handouts were done over a shorter time and had to be at the literacy level of the students. It took a little time to work out the right level (and I’m still working at it) as the groups have been a mixture of some well read and some struggling to even read a sentence clearly.





Without this arrangement it would never have worked. This is more the reason I’m hoping the delivery of the module to the next set will even be easier as I hope the team will be enhanced by our 2 newly qualified post grad midwives. So, although I can say Set 36 is behind me, Set 37 (127 of them) awaits. I hope the report will be even better.

Revisiting Nixon Hospital

After nearly 5-6 months of preparation, Joanna taught the Obstetrics module of the nurses training programme between July and August 2011. There are 104 students in the class and presently all have been posted to various Peripheral Health Units (PHU)s - 28 in all - in the Eastern Province. They are expected to be there for 6 weeks to fulfil their practical experience, which is key to their ability to be effective Community Health Nurses. The task involved organizing and delivering the module to the standard set by the country’s SECHN syllabus and involved lectures, tutorials and practical sessions. Joanna delivered the majority of the theoretical and all the tutorials however the practical sessions required placements in the hospital ward and were facilitated by the midwife in charge.

As was done in July, the whole family will relocate again to Nixon hospital in Segbwema for the final week of the modul e in October.

We pray God will provide our old friends to take care of us (cooking and washing) and the children will adapt again to the differences in lifestyle which occur when living in a small town. When we all moved to Nixon Hospital at the end of June, soon after Joelle started her summer holidays, it also gave Michael the opportunity to get involved again with the managing of the hospital ( after an absence of nearly three years) in a different capacity rather than the business manager. It was exciting again to help (mainly in an advisory capacity) with the day to day operational issues of the hospital. He was able to get a feel of how things have changed since we left and this helped quite considerably in getting the preparations for putting together a business plan which was required for the hospital.






Joelle and Janelle








Joelle has started a new school year and is now in Kindergarten. She goes for a full day and seems to be enjoying every moment. Janelle continues to be ‘home tutored’ as much as a nearly 2 year old can. It’s a very challenging experience.








Volunteers

A piece of exciting news for the hospital is the allocation of a doctor and a nurse from the Philippines by Voluntary Services Organisation (VSO) to start in October 2011. The allocation of the doctor is especially important as it would help reduce the pressure on the only doctor currently at the hospital. The nurse would help primarily with the teaching and clinical training at the nursing school but would occasionally assist with theatre work as she has experience in that field.

Bi-Centenary Celebrations

This year marks 200 years ago when the first Missionaries from the UK set sail from Liverpool in September 1811 to arrive in Freetown on 12 Nov. 1811. Revd. George Warren, Jonathan Raynor and John Healey were the three missionaries and Thomas Hirst who was a teacher /preacher. A number of activities are planned for the celebrations including a church service scheduled for 21 Sept. commemorating the departure of the team from Liverpool for Sierra Leone. The whole celebration will climax on 12 November with a church service to mark their arrival here in Freetown.

Sky scrapers vs Mudhuts

The other night whilst preparing Joelle's lunch for the following day, I kinda of started reflecting on our lifestyle here in Freetown as compared to when we were in Segbwema two years ago. Life these days may have got a bit better; in terms of access to provisions and other material things. For instance we drove to the beach front that night so the kids could have ice cream - and for those who know our 'ice cream'stories from Segbwema, this is a very big deal. When we lived in Segbwema we usually had to make a special journey to the nearest big town with a cool box to buy ice cream. That was the extent we had to go when Joelle wanted ice
cream - which thankfully was not a regular thing - so driving out tonight
after work to get one for her was just great. Actually we could have got one
from the nearest supermarket but we preferred the ice cream bar on the sea front. I know, I digress but it brought home to me the transformation that
has taken place but then that transformation has a price tag attached to it.



A quick 'back of an envelope' calculation tells me that we are spending
nearly 5 times what we used to spend at Segbwema. Avocado pears which we
used to buy 4-5 for the equivalent of 50 cents (30p) costs nearly $1.40 (£1)
here in Freetown - so yes you guessed it - we've stopped buying them.
Thankfully I still travel out so only buys them when in the provinces.
My other disappointment is the availability (or rather unavailability) supply of electricity. I thought moving to Freetown would make the use of generators a thing of the past but my oh my - was I wrong? big time!!! I am writing this with the 'buzz' of the generator in the background. The difficulty with the electricity supply is the inconsistency and fitful supply - there is no pattern to its availability or otherwise and worse of all - no prewarnings. One has to be careful how we stock the freezer & with what. We had the unfortunate experience of throwing away some fish and mince meat because we were without electricity for a considerable number of days and eventually they went off because of the heat. Terrible waste. These days we buy only 1 small bottle of milk at a time - just in case. At least when we were in Segbwema we knew where we stood with the electricity - total dependency on the hospital's generator - available every other night- so we planned
accordingly. Life was sooooo simple then.




So would I go back to the previous lifestyle - probably not. Life is about moving on, facing new challenges and not about hankering for the past - I believe it is
making the best of the present. The Israelites hankered after their past and
even considered slavery better option - compared to their time in the desert -
though they had free meals and had no need to buy new footwear. What
happened to them - of course God's anger was roused against them. There is always comfort in the past and the tendency would be to run towarsd the familiar but what
makes life exciting and challenging for me is dealing with the now and then. Finding my way with God's help and leading, through the 'minefield of life' and coming out either victorious or otehrwise at the other end. No experience is wasted in life if
we learn from them so even our failures could be the stepping stones that lead us
to the greater victories ahead provided we learn from them.

Skyscraper or mudhouse - which one would it be - if you were to ask me I
would say both - they all have a part to play in our lives - to mold us and
build us up for greater heights. God bless u.

Touching Base

Our sincerest apologies, it has been a while since we sent an update on our work in Sierra Leone since we returned there in October 2010. We returned to Freetown instead of Nixon Hospital in Segbwema as Joelle, who turned five last December, needed to attend a school that would enable her re-enter the education system on our return to the UK. Our move to Freetown was made possible as the Church in Sierra Leone also wanted Michael to undertake a bigger role to develop the health facilities they own and which would also include overseeing the work at Nixon Hospital.
Our first few weeks in Freetown were challenging especially with regard to accommodation for the family and work. Thankfully these issues have now been resolved as we moved to a two bedroom flat just before Christmas. In addition Michael was allocated an office at Conference Office in January – which was great!!

Joelle started her new school soon after we arrived in Freetown and has settled in quite well. She has made lots of friends from her swimming and ballet classes.
Janelle has also taken quite well to the weather in SL and even though we took her before she could completed all her immunizations she has been healthy. Thanks be to God!

Michael’s role has changed significantly and is still evolving but his responsibilities include overseeing Nixon Hospital in Segbwema and putting together a business plan with the hope of turning the hospital around. The hospital has now been renovated with funds from the government of Sierra Leone and the focus has now turned towards securing partners to secure its long-term future. We are presently in discussions with a number of international NGOs including the Voluntary Service Organisation (VSO) and Save the Children of Sierra Leone in this regard.
Please pray these discussions would prove successful and that the church would be able to identify partners to work which would secure the future of Nixon Hospital.

Joanna prepares for the teaching assignment in Segbwema in the summer. It is planned the whole family be relocated for nine weeks in the end of June to August when she is scheduled to teach 106 students the obstetrics module of the SECHN course. In addition, she has made arrangements with the Christian Health Association of Sierra Leone (CHASL) which is sponsored by the Methodist Church of Sierra Leone to help with their Mother and Child Health programmes by supporting the midwife in charge there. Joanna is also in discussion with the Aberdeen Women’s Centre (AWC) - formerly owned by Mercy Ship in Freetown. The plan would be for students at Nixon Memorial Nursing School to undertake practical training at AWC as their facilities and training programmes are believed to be at international standards.

Bi-Centenary Celebrations
This year marks 200 years since the first Methodist Ministers, led by Rev. George Warren from the UK, arrived in Freetown. MCSL is celebrating the milestone with a series of activities which would climax in a big celebration in November 2011. It is hoped, that as part of the bi-centenary celebrations Methodists in Liverpool and Freetown (cities of origin and destination) might contribute prayers of thanksgiving. These, it is hoped, may be used collectively in the different locations during the months of September to November 2011.
The celebrations were launched by Rev. Stephen Poxon when he visited Sierra Leone in February and the service was appropriately in the George Warren Memorial Church in Freetown.




Rev. Poxon launching the Bi-Centenary Celebrations at Warren Church - Freetown. With him is Rev. Peter Clarke - Chair of the Planning Committee


Please pray that these celebrations would be successful and most importantly that they will focus the church’s attention on work done by the pioneers who helped spread the Christian gospel all over the world at such great risk to themselves as we remember Rev. George Warren who sadly died six months after his arrival in Freetown.

Visitors

During the month of February we had a number of visitors specifically Nixon Hospital.
The first visitor was Dr John Cochrane on the 4th to 21st February 2011. Dr Cochrane was instrumental in the setting up of the Community Based Health programme at Nixon. Through his untiring effort, funds were raised to commence the programme and his church in the UK also sponsored the project for three years to the tune of nearly £40,000. The visit was to enable Dr Cochrane assess the impact of the Community project and its sustainability now that his church’s sponsorship has come to an end.



Dr Cochrane (m) with President of Conference Rt. Rev. Arnold Temple (r) and Rev. Musa Jambawai - Sectretary of Conference.

Dr Cochrane, in his debriefing session with the President and Secretary of Conference, expressed satisfaction at the work done by the Church and Nixon Hospital in particular, the community projects. He was pleased the work, which started over three years ago, was still ongoing and making a difference to the lives of the communities in which it operates. He cited specifically the impact of the outreach clinics to the villages and the placement of students of the Nursing School in the community for their practical training. He noted all these initiatives - in addition to the other health promotion activities - were making a difference in the villages.

The second group of visitors (12 in all), was led by Rev. Stephen Poxon, the Chair of the Lancashire District and former President of the Methodist Church of the UK. The team visited from 18th February to 4th March 2011.
During their visit the group, which included 2 doctors and 5 nurses was based at Nixon Hospital for most of the time. At Nixon the two doctors and nurses conducted Life Saving Skills training sessions for the final year students of the Nixon Memorial Nursing School. This programmes dealt with the management of obstetric emergencies. The course was deemed relevant, appropriate and timely for the students. The group also brought with them a considerable number of equipment and drugs to assist the hospital, whilst the doctors and nurses assisted with some of the clinical work at the hospital.
The group has expressed an interest in assisting the hospital in the near future since the Lancashire District is now twinned with the Kono/Kailahun District of the Methodist Church of Sierra Leone.


The group also attend the graduation ceremony of the first group of students (12 in all) to graduate from the Red Rose Partnership Skills centre in Kailahun on 23rd February. The Skill centre is supported by the Lancashire District





Graduands of the Red Rose Partnership skills Training Centre - Kailahun







Prayer Points
1. Please pray that the Bi-centenary celebrations would draw people’s heart to God and would be an occasion to evangelise to spread the good news
2. Thank god for the blessing of accommodation for us.
3. Please pray to thank God for the work of all our partners – both here in Sierra Leone and abroad who work with us on diverse projects to bring the gospel to life in the lives of the disadvantaged and marginalised communities.





Prepared by Joanna & Michael Tettey serving as mission Partners with the Methodist Church of Sierra Leone with support from Joelle & Janelle

We are still here

We apologize for our very long delay in sharing but we try to be as positive as possible even when things seem bleak around us. We, anyway, have decided to update our progress as follows;

The Elles (Jo and Jan)
We feel blessed in abundance. Just imagine them at their happiest ever, doing what kids should do – playing, making friends, exploring their environment and just loving every moment. This realization forces us to see the blessing in every situation as all our needs are met and Joelle seems to have just the right amount of friends to keep her happy. It’s even more amazing to know that before every change in accommodation we are always concerned because of the friendships she inevitably leaves behind, but God always provides. It makes us thank God for all His provisions even though it’s not yet revealed. She’s so happy in school and that makes her even happier for her sister to be around. Janelle is now on two legs- officially a toddler- and keeping us running. They are really a joy.

Michael
Remains challenged in his task of creating a department that envisions the change of direction for the church’s health service (Nixon hospital and clinics) as more efficient and manageable. It means brainstorming, creating workable solutions, preparing and going to meetings,traveling, sourcing other organizations for funding and hoping it all comes together. His job is HARD and SLOW, but with God’s help it will yield some fruit which will be long lasting, appreciated and used by the people who really need it.

Joanna
Remains very busy. In the day she’s on Kiddies’ duty and generally working with dear Mama S and her helper to maintain a smooth running of the house for the ever so happy, busy bunch of Tetteys. You need to remember that things taken for granted in the developed world – like 24/7 light and water – are not as easy and accessible. As I write we haven’t had electricity supply from our service provider for the last 14 days. So we get our electricity for a few hours every day from our generator which seems to need an overhaul (as do we all). Water is caught in the days (and sometimes very early in the morning – if it decides to come then) and stored in our very large containers which (we pray) will never run dry. Mama S and or helper have been instrumental in keeping us fed and watered and generally happy and we feel very blessed to have them. So the very busy Kiddies’ duty gives way to preparation for the delivery of the upcoming midwifery module at night. This DEPENDS on electricity since working by lamp/ candle light was never her strongest point and with the lack of this resource there has been very little preparation. She, however, plods on as she cannot imagine standing before Jesus on the day to say ‘I was unable to do the task because I had no electricity and the day duty of motherhood and house keeping was too much…..’ Yeah right!

So as we ask the prayer warriors to continue to remember us, please also thank God for revealing Himself as the parent God that He most definitely is to all of us, whether we want to accept Him or not.

New Year – Perseverance

Happy New year to all who read this blog!!!!!!!!!!!! It’s been interesting so far, with Janelle’s first birthday, new accommodation, new schedules and a new dose of perseverance needed to survive this mission. It is down right hard now.

We are happy to report we are now in our new accommodation, although it is temporary. It feels heavenly. At least we can unpack and arrange things to our liking. Even though the kids have been well and truly settled from the beginning, the adults are only just getting in that frame of mind. In addition to our accommodation being temporarily sorted, our nanny from Segbwema, Mama Sombo, has joined us and the effect is amazing. Not only can we go to Joelle’s school activities and other business meetings without having to take Janelle with us, or one of us missing the event, we can finally relax a little more than before as she is single handily in charge of cooking and running the household. We need to get an additional person to help, but at least we can do this in a less rushed manner.

We are reminded of the experience of the fishermen who have to get their boats off the land and into the ocean before they can even throw out their nets. The effort it takes just to reach the first laps of the waves takes sometimes 12 to 13 men pushing the boat over sticks in the sand. And even when they get the boat off the sand and onto the first waves, these same waves which will eventually help the boat out initially are the ones to push the boat back onto the sands. It takes the continued effort of the 12 or 13 men pushing the boat over these first waves before the boat is fully in the water and the waves start to help it out to sea. Jesus used the analogy of being fishers of men for a reason; this profession is one of the hardest, especially when the catch is nothing to show in relation to the effort needed. We are reassured though that the hardest and darkest time is just before the breakthrough or the dawn and we persevere on to the goal that God has made for us. Sometimes we lose sight of this goal and forget why we came, but God is here and at the forefront of our hearts and minds as He reminds us exactly why we’re here – so that in all things His name will be glorified, not ours and not the hospital’s. We’re here because He sent us and He will keep us.

Please pray for our health and to keep the reason of our mission in full focus, also that this tour will yield the desired fruits.

Christmas Greetings from sunny Salone

Christmas has come around fast and furious, especially in our family where the partying starts as soon as its December, with birthdays, wedding anniversaries and school Christmas concerts following close on the heels of Christmas day. Thank God we’re not in London where the commercialized frenzy is hard to ignore. We may be able to get away with the odd present, but definitely couldn’t get away from Joelle’s birthday bash. And what a bash it was. There were two parties, the first at a kiddies play venue for the new school friends on December 3rd and the day after for our new friends on the guest house compound. It was lovely and short, just about four hours, with the hassle of cooking and cleaning left to caterers. Perfect, although we felt a distinct light weightiness of pocket at the end. It was nevertheless memorable.



And so, as we stumble from one celebration to the next, we remember the joy of the angels, shepherds, wise men and the parents of Jesus in this season. We can truly embrace these emotions as we celebrate our children’s birthdays and our own wedding anniversary. It has been challenging as we also have no place to call our own but unlike Jesus and his parents, the kindness of strangers have sustained us in these tough times. These strangers are more like family now. We continue to count our blessings as we embrace the challenges of the last few months. Our search continues for appropriate accommodation as it seems we might not be properly settled until the middle of next year, as we plan to move into temporary accommodation by the end of the month ( hopefully before Christmas). This is not unique to Freetown, we’re told, and so we live in hope.


So wherever you are, in what ever circumstance or weather, we wish God’s grace, mercy and blessing on you and your family as we remember the gift we were given at Christmas. Jesus Christ left His majestic home to be born in a smelly stable, to a teenage mother and a very reluctant father. Members of the lowest rated profession were one of the first to welcome Him. What a scene…but the fact is He came, He lived, He died, He rose again, He advocates and He will come again for us. Alleluia. Merry Christmas all.

The World of Agents and the Middle man

Since our arrival in Sierra Leone one of our major challenges has been to secure suitable accommodation and this search has introduced us to another world – that of agents!! Note – I did not say Estate agents – even though that would constitute the bulk of their ‘work’. The influx of international bodies and non-governmental agencies have put a premium on housing accommodation in the capital and as the rules of economics dictate, increase in demand without the matching supply obviously creates a market where the middleman flourishes. This is what is happening in SL.

Most of the agents I have come in contact with genuinely want to help and do not necessarily want to make a quick buck. However, they operate purely by word of mouth and one is likely to be shown the same property by more than one agent who may happen to know that the said property was ‘available’ for renting. Since we started looking I have ‘viewed’ close to 15 properties having been assured before each visit that the properties were in highly desirable areas and perfect for a family with two very young children – only to find that most of these properties are about a mile from the ‘desirable’ location and generally requiring some renovations.

Of course the possibility of earning a 10% commission (as charged by most agents) on the year’s rental – incidentally quoted in US dollars - means most agents would try to convince you that even though the property may not suit your requirements – but of course with a few adjustments (paid by you of course!) then presto! you have your ‘dream’ home – though it may be way out of the locality you initially were promised.

Despite the obvious inconvenience, I see all this as a true demonstration of the entrepreneurial spirit among the youth of Freetown. Here, they have spotted an opportunity and they have set themselves up to take advantage of it. Surely this is what capitalism is all about – having an entrepreneurial spirit? Good luck to them.
What worries me however is the fact that most of these guys operate by word of mouth and via their mobile phones, even though I have come across a couple of agents with offices and trained staff who offer a very decent service provided you are prepared to pay a registration fee before they show you around.

The lack of permanent accommodation is not however unique to us. We take consolation from the fact that our Lord himself at one stage ‘had no where to lay His head’ (Luke 9:58) unlike foxes and birds who have holes and nests. There is nothing that we endure that He hasn’t gone through before us and Paul reassures us that there is no trial that we cannot endure and that whatever tests we face God is faithful ‘and He will make a way’ .. to (strengthen) us so that ‘we would be able to bear them’.(1Cor. 9:13)

Despite all that we are grateful to God for His abundant grace and mercy for protecting us, reassuring us and giving us good health to enjoy His goodness. We know He is working something good on our behalf and as someone said – the fact that we cannot see the engine working does not mean it is idle. He will come through in His own time on schedule, but I must confess the waiting, the stress and the inconveniences …….are not easy.

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.

Back to the Lion Mountains

On 8th Oct we finally returned to Sierra Leone after a year in UK. We were originally meant to stay for 3 months – which would have been the duration of our furlough - but a combination of family issues had us prolong our stay in the UK. All is now sorted enough for us to return and we are grateful once again to all who held us up in prayers and helped during our stay in the UK.

Before we left the UK we wrote to BMI to request extra weight allowance for our luggages and I am sure those of you who have travelled with infants and children may understand. This request was graciously granted by BMI and we were given even more weight concessions, so on that front we were very grateful to the airline. Soon after that things started to go ‘pear shaped’. We were informed, after the flight had been called, that there would be a delay of about an hour & half due to technical problems – so instead of 1300 boarding we boarded at 1430. The flight then had to make a refuelling stop (about 45 mins.) at Malaga before finally arriving in Freetown at about 2145 local time – which meant we had been travelling for nearly 14hrs having set off from home at about 0930 UK summer time. Of course this was not the end of our journey. We had a ferry crossing to ‘enjoy’ and this did not set off till past midnight to arrive at the mainland at about 0100 hrs. The good thing was the ferry was not full, so loading and off-loading was pretty quick and even then we still did not get to our guest house till nearly 0230 hrs. This is where we must say a big ‘thank you’ to the Church in Sierra Leone for organising transport to pick us up from the airport to the mainland. Without the help of the Church we don’t know how we would have coped with two very tired and irritable children plus the carting of our considerable number of suitcases.

Despite all the challenges we faced with the flight we arrived to a warm welcome and of course a very hot Freetown – and considering that the weather was beginning to turn in the UK, this was very welcome albeit a bit too warm for us considering we were all tired and wanted to hit the sack.

Since arriving we have met with the President of Conference of the Church in SL together with the Accountant of Nixon Hospital and of course Peter and Janice Clarke, Mission Partners working at the Theological Hall. As mentioned above, we are at the moment housed temporarily in a guest house and the plan is for us to view a selection of houses that the Church thinks may be suitable accommodation for us.
We have also visited Joelle’s new school and hope to complete the necessary paperwork for her to start school as soon as possible. Finding answers to ‘I am bored’; ‘I want to go to the beach’ or ‘I want to go to school’ are now becoming very challenging. But God has provided playmates in the children who live at the guest house and best mate F is a regular playmate (mostly on the weekend). Joelle is coping.

Janelle started crawling properly the day after we arrived and we are blessed to have sole use of a very large airy veranda. She has also started pulling herself up on the furniture and she seems relatively happy moving around and being the attention of all the adults. So far, so good.

We thank God for travelling mercies and for a relatively comfortable ‘kotch’ at this guest house. We` pray for appropriate accommodation as soon as possible and maintenance of health. We thank God.

PRAYER POINTS:
1. We thank God for safe arrival in the country and please pray for God's protection in the country.
2.Please pray that our stay in the country is a useful and successful one.
3. Pray for a quick resolution of the accommodation issue and that we find a decent place to stay very quickly.
Thank you.

UP and About

It’s been a roller coaster of a time for us. Since the last posting we have had confirmation that Joey’s condition is not as serious as we were initially made to believe by the doctors and we are really grateful to God for this assessment. In addition, we have had the opportunity to meet and discuss the needs of Nixon Hospital with many people who have the desire and means to help with the rebuilding of Nixon.

Joey with a group of Nursing Students

One of our objective is to set up a scholarship to assist nursing students at Nixon Nursing School. We believe this will help build the capacity of health personnel in Sierra Leone and also to encourage them to stay in the villages where there is the greatest need for health personnel. A number of churches and individuals have caught our vision and pledged to support this programme. We hope to set a procedure soon to ensure how best to administer this programme.

Whilst in the UK, and with the help of friends and the Methodist Church, we have been able to put together a video depicting the challenges we face at Nixon. (Click on link to view. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebr4lVvDmn0). This video has been widely viewed and has generated many positive results. We are working on these leads which will hopefully yield some very fruitful projects in support of Nixon. We will update.

Another area of keen interest to us is to establish health links with health institutions in the UK and other parts of Africa. Such a health link we hope, would lead to capacity building and exchange of personnel and ideas between these organisations. We are presently in discussion with a medical school in the UK and are hoping this will lead to a fully fledged health link. There are plans in place to host four students from this school who are scheduled to undertake their medical electives at Nixon. Part of their programme would include a need assessment with proposals for moving the health link forward.

Last but not least, we have been in Jamaica for the past 5 weeks and even though it was meant to be a time of rest, this did not happen. We, however, have been to the beach far more times than we were able to in the past 12 months. Being in Jamaica has enabled us to attend the internment of the remains of Joey's dad who died last September. We were unable to attend the funeral, so this was an opportunity for closure for us. Thank you to all who sympathised and prayed for us during that period.

At the internment ceremony

Also, whilst in Jamaica we took the opportunity to baptise and dedicate Janelle to God. She never cried throughout the ceremony and the Officiating Minister commented on her being the most gentle baby he has dedicated. We are thankful for her gentle, quiet, pleasant spirit.

We thank all for their support in phone calls and prayers. Please continue to pray for the Lord's direction as we await arrangements to be made for our return to Sierra Leone. Also, we need prayers for healing without surgical intervention for Joey's condition and that this will not hinder her return to Sierra Leone. Also, for the children to remain healthy during our stay in the UK.

Man plans but God.....................

The recent events of the volcanic ash’s effect on airline travel have reminded us that, contrary to popular belief, we are NOT in control of our lives. This ‘act of God’ has made it clear that God is not asleep and He can change the picture in a twinkling of an eye. This fact was also evident in the events which unfolded in our own lives.

We have been back in the UK on furlough since October 2009, with plans for Michael to return to Sierra Leone by April 2010 and rest of us later in June 2010. In that time we had hoped to welcome a new member of the family; sort out any outstanding business here in the UK; go to Jamaica to visit family and attend to the internment of my father’s remains. Well, these plans were just that - plans. Our beautiful second daughter Janelle, came 5 weeks early after an eventful third trimester. I was admitted in hospital with ‘severe’ symptoms of Preeclampsia and she was delivered by emergency caesarean section after my waters broke prematurely. She was (and still is) healthy and beautiful and I eventually weaned myself off the medication for high blood pressure after making changes to my diet. We are still amazed at God’s mercy and grace (hence Janelle which means gracious), when we look on her and also witness the bonding that takes place between sisters. Joelle has become the big sister we always knew she was, and it’s beautiful to behold. God knows how to give beautiful gifts.

After settling into life with two daughters -one who is always on the move- the plans were to go to Jamaica whist Michael goes back to work in Sierra Leone. God decided it was best to stop, listen and reassess. That is when God stepped in. I received a very bad report from the head and neck team at Guy’s hospital which not only stopped us dead in our tracks but also forced us onto our knees. We held on to God with ‘one hand in His Omnipotence and the other on His Wisdom’. Our faith and total dependence on Him grew as we seriously questioned whether going back to the mission field was what He wanted us to do. I had to question whether teaching was the career path to take as the suggested ‘treatment’ would have changed all of this. We were forced to postpone our trip to Jamaica, start a watch and wait management with the doctors, pray and listen to God, all this to be done as calmly as possible for the girls’ sake. So far, we tentatively plan to return to the mission field later in the year.

And so dealing with the event that overtook us in March, the death of my father, has fallen down the list but still cries out for attention as, at the rate that things have been going, it seems the first anniversary of his death will come before we get to Jamaica. Whatever the case, we all need to come face to face with the loss. It’s still a work in progress.

As we continue to walk in the journey with our God we pray to remain open to His leading knowing He will ‘never leave us nor forsake us’ and ‘never give us more than we can bear’. We have learnt to make short term plans with the openness of mind to whatever changes which may arise. Our insurance is knowing our God is in control and that this will never change. We have also learned that friends and family are precious assets as we were strengthened by the support of many with prayers and words of encouragement and were reminded that family is not necessarily blood bound. We are a part of a greater spiritual family which gives a higher, purer gift of love.

Our blogging has reduced considerably but we hope you realise it is not intentional. The mission field that is Sierra Leone is very much on our hearts and we hope that God will see it wise to keep it in our plans. We remain His instruments and are open to the direction He wants us to go. He is our Shepherd.

WalesOnline - News - Cardiff News - Missionary visits Assembly to put spotlight on Sierra Leone

WalesOnline - News - Cardiff News - Missionary visits Assembly to put spotlight on Sierra Leone

Rehabilitation of Nurses Quarters at Nixon Hospital

One of the last pieces of work we did before we left for our furlough was to rehabilitate the old Medical Superintendent's residence for use as a hostel by the Nursing students. This was very crucial because whilst the student population was increasing we had only limited accommodation for the students. With the help and financial donations received from friends and family we were able to rehabilitate the building for use by the students.

The rehabilitation work obviously had its challenges but by God's grace all went very well.

This is to say a big thank you to all the donors who contributed both financially and through prayers towards the success of the rehabilitation work.

Unfortunately we left before the students moved into the building but we hope to update when we return, with pictures showing how the building is being used.

Joelle and Janelle

The break & What we've been up to??

I cannot believe our last posting was in June 2009!!! Time has truly flown. Since the posting a lot has happened. As most of you would know (well definitely friends and family) - we have been back in the UK since October 2009, had a series of talks and meetings with a number of churches and organisations to raise Nixon's profile, met a number of interesting people and friends; being to a few interesting places and had a second daughter - Janelle. So much has happened since June; and much more is happening. See pictures



When we left Nixon in October 2009, the plan was to spend Christmas and New Year here in the UK to await the birth of Janelle.



From the day we arrived in the UK we started a series of meetings with interest groups including 'Friends of Nixon'. That was a fantastic meeting as it gave us the opportunity to meet most of the people who support Nixon through prayers and generous financial contributions.We were really strengthened by the encouragement we received from the group and it was really great to meet Nixon 'legends' like 'Mama Gibson', Rev. Frank Himsworth (recently deceased), Dr John Cochrane and a whole host of others.





Dr Cochrane in conversation with yours truly



The late Rev. Himsworth - engaging as ever




We thank God for the friends of Nixon and the work they do to make a small corner of the world a better place for the disadvantaged.

BLESSINGS OVERFLOWING

The last few weeks have been interesting, challenging and very educative. Since the beginning of

May we have had visits from various people including 2 Community Health Students from the local University in Sierra Leone; two Medical students from a University in England (undertaking their electives); a Doctor in the UK who wanted to upgrade her tropical medicine skills; and a friend of Nixon helping to put together proposals to raise funds for hospital projects. We have learnt a lot from the feedback received from the Community Health students and are in

the process of getting feedback from the medical students. Our experience from these visits confirms that despite its current state, the good reputation of Nixon Hospital is world wide.

It also reassures us that we must be doing something right, for despite all the challenges we presently face, national and international students continue to visit and consequently help to

identify aspects of the daily management of the hospital which can be improved. This fresh insight into the way things are done at Nixon is needed as we tend to forget what the normal standard is, and the evaluations of our visitors have helped us to identify aspects that need very necessary and immediate change.

The rains have started with full force. Thunderous nights with flashes of lightening make one marvel at the wonders of the Almighty. The onset of the rains means the agricultural work is in full swing and everybody has got involved. Both Joey & Little J have their groundnut patch in front of the house whilst, not wanting to be left out, I have my cassava & maize patch at the back. Oh I guess you would want to know whether I am a good farmer – well we’ll see. The crops are doing very well and we are expecting a bumper harvest

Joey has finished teaching her Obstetrics class and is currently taking a well deserved break – though she still has fifty-two exam scripts to mark. Then the students are scheduled to go to the villages ( 20 in all) for 6 weeks of their practical placement. It’s still a busy time and we are trying to combine winding up many of the projects with the daily routine of the management of the hospital and the school. God has been good and He has sustained us through some very, very difficult days...but we are blessed and continue with what we believe is the will of God.

Little J is growing in leaps and bounds and (although still a handful) and she has been blessed with the company of many friends and loved ones. Mentally and socially
(evidenced by the increase in vocabulary – a real talker!!) she has been blessed with friends of all ages – Little E her Salone ‘brother’ and his older female relatives ( her Salone sisters) have provided a combination of experience of age and exposure to the Salone languages. Consequently her Krio has increased (we need translators at times) and her Mende is slowly improving (it’s a difficult language). We look at her and see the blessings in abundance, because her welfare was one of our many concerns when we were preparing to come to Sierra Leone but God has provided so many people looking out for her. Our dear Ma S, A and L (helpers only in the job title) have filled the shoes as her Salone Grandma, Uncle and Aunty. They look out for Little J even more than we do. God has truly blessed us.

Prayer warriors please continue to pray for strength, direction and provision as we come to the end of our contract and prepare to return to the UK. We need the Patience of Job and the Wisdom of Solomon to get through the rest of this time in addition to the presence of mind and heart to identify and grab opportunities - a juggling act which can prove tiring as the combination of dealing with complex personalities on a daily basis only serves to pepper the experience. However, we have seen and know that God is Greater than all these circumstances and we continue to work in His name. Only He alone can bring to fruition this work.