SEPTEMBER 2014 UPDATE.
“GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, FOR THIS IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOU IN
CHRIST JESUS” (1Thess. 5:18).
Sometimes we find it very
difficult to appreciate God and thank him for certain situation we find
ourselves. People and sometimes turn to blame God for bad things that happen to
them. As Christian, the Bible teaches us to give thanks to God in ALL circumstances.
Because there are always lessons that we learned from such difficult situation
especially in experiences the grace of God. Therefore it’s good to note that in
life challenges, which we may find as difficult moments in life, God’s grace is
always there to see us overcome those challenges.
HIS GRACE IN MALAFORIA: In the midst of the Ebola challenge, which
we are facing in Sierra Leone, God extends his grace and opened our eyes to see
a neighborhood that needed to know the salvation of the Lord. Malaforia is a
small community not too far from Kabala about a Mile and Half. A Christian
school [ by the UMC] is closed by , but there is no Church there. Until When
Rev. Edison Kamara, one of the People we sent to be train as the Evangelism
coordinator of the Church mobilized some youth in the Kabala Church to go out
for Evangelism. In the process, a fellowship was started in the village, with
about twenty people in attendance. They have now started meeting every Sunday
for worship in a classroom in the village. Yes indeed in the midst of Ebola,
souls are won to Christ.
EDUCATING LEADERS ON EBOLA VIRUS: The Ebola deadly Virus that is
spreading and killing people in West Africa has no known cure yet. But
Prevention is the greatest medicine. We are Fortunate to have the Manual
Prepared by the Timothy Leadership Training. [TLT] title “OVERCOMING THE EBOLA
EPIDEMIC”. We decided to invite sixty four [64] Church leaders including those
that are not CRCSL members, trained them on how to use the Manual in their
Churches to educate their members and their community on How to prevent oneself
from been infected by the Virus. The manual is divided into four lessons,
beginning with the value of Human life as being created by God. Church Leaders
were encouraged to teach it to their members especially during Sunday school
classes. Ebola has killed more than 2500 people in West Africa, and in Sierra
Leone, it has killed nearly 600 people, these are beside unknown persons in the
villages that do not report to the Hospital and may have died of the virus.
CHRISTIAN TURN TO GOD TO FIGHT EBOLA: Besides the training of
leaders on how to prevent and react, when Ebola affects our communities.
Christian in Kabala , across denomination decided to declare a three Days
Prayer and fasting on September 15-17 , to pray that God will be merciful and
wipe out the virus in Sierra Leone , West Africa, and especially Kabala which
is the Only District that has no registered confirmed case of Ebola in Sierra
Leone. The prayer program was held at the CRC Church here in Kabala. Every
morning at 7-8am they will all come together to pray and repeat same in the evening
at 5-6pm, for the three days. This program was applauded by the Leadership of
the Local Council [Government].
CES SENSITIZE PEOPLE ABOUT EBOLA: The Christian extension services,
has embarked on a sensitization campaign to various communities with the
message on Ebola. CES is the development arm of the CRCSL and is sponsor by
World Renew. They are giving the messages in the local Languages of the people
for them to understand, especially in the rural areas where the krio or the
English Language is difficult to Understand. Besides the teaching, they are
also providing wash hand basin, sanitizer, soap and Dettol, they are targeting
five Chiefdoms especially those that are bordering the Hot spots of the virus
in the Country. Koinadugu is sharing border with the Republic of Guinea,
Bombali, Kono, and Tonkolili Districts which are hot spots.
THREE DAYS LOCKDOWN: In an effort to curb the spread of the deadly
virus, a three days Lockdown was declared by the Government of Sierra Leone,
which started on Friday 19th Sept. to Sunday 21st. On
Sunday we could not go to Church to worship. In view of that we decided to have
a home fellowship. My Family and Sudu, our security Guard and one of our
neighbors, [totaling 16] we worship at the porch in our compound. The same
happened in many Christian Homes across the Nation. We received Phone calls
from some of our church members informing us on how they have prayed together
on Sunday in their various homes, and also other days of the Lockdown. The outcome
of this exercise is amazing has many suspected cases were found in some homes
including deaths. Presently as a result of the house to house sensitization, a
highly suspected case in Kabala of someone who sneak in from Lunsar. The
patient was immediately returned to Lunsar and the house in which he stayed is
presently quarantine for twenty one days. Result from Lunsar indicates that the
person is an Ebola patient who has escaped. So we are in a very high risk in
Kabala. The people of Kabala [Koinadugu] will know their fate in the next weeks
to come, especially People who had come in contact with that person.
Presently the Government has isolated
additional Districts because of the rapid spread of the Virus in those areas.
These are Bombali [the Headquarters of the Northern Province]; Port Loko, some
places in Freetown and Waterloo, Moyamba, and one Chiefdom in Kambia District.
OUR SITUATION IN KABALA: As I did said on the Lockdown, the situation
in Kabala is more of fear, anxiety, uncertainty, as we await the result on
those Quarantined, in the next couples of weeks. Presently, prices of food
items have gone high. Though the Local
task force on Ebola in Kabala do allow certain numbers of trucks to come in a
week to bring foods, but they are inadequate, that has made the prices to go up.
Secondly, due to the nature in which Ebola
patient was secretly brought into the town a week ago by an Okada rider, [The
motorbike commercial riders] the Task force has temporary ban the use of Okada
in Kabala until further notice. That too has affected many people, in terms of
transportation within the town and to the villages around.
Just as I said in my August report, fellowship
with one another has been reduced, no hand shake, visitation to neighbors’
homes has reduced, and life is indeed very difficult. But in all, we give
thanks to God that we are alive and well. Should the result come out and some
people found Positive, I do not know how the mode of the town will be.
In view of this, we decided to close our
offices temporary pending the outcome of the result. I have asked staff to stay
at home except if it’s necessary that we come to check our mails or sent. In
other word, we are observing a self lockdown [or quarantine] But I can go to
the market to find some bread for the family.MMM that reminds me of a situation
on the eve of the national lockdown, myself and Sudu went to the town to buy
bread that we can use for the periods of days that we will be at home. , To my
surprise we could not find any even the vendors that use to call us to come buy
bread where nowhere to be found. We were told there is no bread in Town.
APPRECIATION: Beloved in Christ, we are very much aware that
Thousands of Christian are praying for us in West Africa. The Situation is
indeed worrisome, but we want to say a big thank you to all. We have Faith that
one day this virus will go away and life will resume normal. Yes as human,
there is that fear that may be we will not see our family again should we be
infected. But we have Faith that God will protect us and we shall live to
testify of his goodness in our lives. Brethren, Pray for us.
PRAYER REQUEST:
1. Please
continue to pray for the situation here, that God will remove this virus.
2. Pray
that in all the Ebola Challenges, we will remain strong and Faithful to the
Lord.
3. Pray for my Daughter Judith, because of this
virus, we could not travel; hence that is affecting her studies.
4. Pray
for the Church in Sierra Leone, that the Brethren will stand firm in their
Faith.
5. Pray for the workers in all the Ebola
Isolation centers, their lives are at risk that God will protect them. Many
have died; some have left the work because of fear.
6. Pray
for the Family of Pastor David Bull in Freetown. Pastor Bull was a pastor of
the Wellington Branch of our Church. He passed away last week in Freetown. We
are not sure if he died of Ebola. But pray for his wife and kids that God will
comfort them.
7. Pray
for us and the Sudu’s family .that God will protect us against Ebola.
8. Pray
for Pastor Morris Sonnie in Bo as he is using the TLT manual on Ebola, that God
will protect him and the pastors as they sensitized the People on Ebola.
9. Pray
for CES staffs that are out in the villages doing sensitization Campaign to
various Koranko Communities, in Koinadugu and Tonkolili Districts.
10. Pray
that as the pastors who were trained to us the TLT manual on Ebola, as they
teach, let the people have the mindset of the Good Samaritan.
SUBMITTEED BY:
REV. ISTIFANUS
B.BAHAGO
CRCLS/CRWM.
LEADERSHIP CONSULTANT.
+23278264240
+23277668139
Email. ibbahago@gmail.com
www.apostlebahago.blogspot.com
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