SEPTEMBER
2016 UPDATE FROM SIERRA LEONE.
“For
he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom
of the son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of
sins”(col.1:13-14).
You are welcome to the first month of the ember
months in the year of our Lord 2016. We are now getting close to the end of the
year. We thank God for his grace upon our lives and for seeing us through the
past eight months of the year. Pleased
to give you more information about what the lord is doing in Sierra Leone.
SADNESS
AND JOY: At the last
few days to the end of August , ( 25th) a young Girl who was not well known in the
church except among her pears in the Sunday school class as well as her teacher,
died, she was ten years old. Her name is Ardell Kamara. Her parents are Muslims,
but because of her friends in the school and neighbors kids who were going to
the church , she decide to follow them . Her Father a Muslim and a strong
herbalist punished her several times not to go to church but she insisted.
Finally she was allowed to follow her desired.
During the school break she went to visit her uncle
who lives in Freetown, on Wednesday August 24, she complained of fever in the
night , she died. Her remains was brought to Kabala, the father said,” my
daughter had chosen to go to Church; therefore I cannot bury her as a Muslim”.
One of her friends was asked to call the pastor of the church she was
attending, {the parents do not even know the church} . We were then called upon
and informed that the girl has died. I asked the Sunday school teacher if they
knew her they affirmed her commitment. We buried her, the women and the young
and the elders of the church we went to visit and condole the family.
The Joy here
about this little child’s death is how the Lord used the death of Ardell to bring three of her siblings to the church.
On Sunday August 28, three children from the family decide to come to the
church. Their Father told us.”I have tried to stop my daughter from going to
church she refused and insisted. Now she is death and you the Christian have
shown us love, therefore three of them have decided to follow you so that when
they died, they will see their sister, please you can have them”. We thank God
these kids are now regular in coming to church every Sunday.
This
picture shows Late. Miss kamara in the middle with white and pink. Picture
right is her three siblings who have decide to become Christian .
PEACE
IN KABALA: We want to thank God and all of you for your
prayers for the peace of kabala, following the unfortunate clash between the
youth and the Police last month which left two people death. A curfew was
imposed in the town. But on Sunday September 11 , the curfew was lifted ,
people now are free to go about their duties and go to bed at their convenience
time. All is now peaceful and normal. We can have our normal church activities
without any restriction on time.
OUR
OFFICE INTERNET: After four months of going without
internet in the office, because of failure from our service provider. We are
grateful the SUM CRC IT man from Nigeria {James Kpanto} was able to work very
hard to find another one for us. This times its coming from Belgium. James was
here for two weeks to make sure that our internet in working again. Equipment
has to be sent from Belgium through DHL. Thank God it did arrive on time,
though Kpanto has to reschedule his flight to make sure that all is in place.
All is now fine, and the internet is working very well. James has now returned
to Nigeria. We say a big thank you to him and also to the CRWM office in Grand Rapids
for making things work for us here.
Mr.
James Kpanto, working to make sure that our internet is back to work.
FLOODING
IN KABALA: Kabala is a town surrounded by hills and mountains.
But there is no river that passes into the town except for creeks and swam that
can be flooded some time. Recently because of the construction work that is
going on in the town to make the road network. Most of the drainage now brings
water through the swamps. This year it was over flooded when we had heavy down
pour. Some houses were flooded with water and the roads as well. No life was
lost but properties worth millions of Leones were destroyed.
The
flooding, that happened in Kabala recently.
KABALA
MONTHLY SPIRITUAL REVIAVAL: For the spiritual growth of the
church, beside their personal devotion, prayers and Bible study at homes and
cell. The church recently introduced a monthly spiritual revival. These
activities takes place every last weekend of the Month. For the Last weekend of
August, it was tag “ True Christian worship and positive action” . Rev. Maxwell
Kanu of Makeni church was the guest speaker. Preceding that we have also considered
topics such as “Seek first the Kingdom of God, Walking with God” .Beside that ,
we have also tag the weekly mid week service as “ Hour of grace”. It sometimes
goes with prayer and fasting during the day.
In
one of the revival sessions in Kabala church, the congregation in a prayer
mode. Picture right is a mother praying and weeping for the souls of her
children. “Time to cry unto the Lord “(in one of the Wednesday’s hour of grace prayers).
BRINGING
THE MESSAGE, TO THE PEOPLE IN UNIFORM. The gospel is for all people, no matter what their profession
may be. In the training of the Boys’/Girls Brigade that is on in the Kabala
Church. We also went to the Army formation and the Police here in Kabala to
invite them to Participate. We were well received by the officers in Charge of
the Army as well as the Police. The Army is requesting that we extend same to
their Barracks so that their Children can benefit in this noble and Christ
center Organization. On October 9 there is going to be an enrolment and
ceremonial parade for the Brigade here in Kabala, we are expecting both the
Army and the Police to be in attendance.
In
a group photograph, with the commanding officer of the Army Lt. col. Jeff, on
my left. Picture on the right is with the Local commanding officer of the
Police in Kabala Mr. Conteh {middle with neck tie} far right is the chaplain of
the Army Rev. Thomson who is now an active member of the Boys Brigade.
SCHOOLS
RE-OPENED: Following the summer break for schools in Sierra
Leone, September 13 saw the reopening of schools for the new academic sessions.
This session now will mark the beginning of the returned of the normal three
terms system which was disrupted because of the Ebola outbreak. Many weeks of
studies were lost during those periods. At the CRC , Kabala Christian school ,
the story was the same, many kids and
teachers were there to kick start the new school year. The Governing Board also
met during the first weekend of the school year to deliberate and take vital
decision for the smooth running of the school. Same is also in Foria , and
Nanfayie school
Nanfayie community recently lost their village chief
a very strong and mobilizer for the school. It’s a great lost to the community
especially the school. Please do pray for his family as well as the school.
That God will raise another leader who will be committed as him
The newly
established CRC nursery school in Kondembaia village was also up to beginning
the task. The kids school was favor by some friends of the community who saw
the zeal of the pastor [ Rev. Alpha Moses Kargbo] in beginning the school,
decided to provide some funding to feed the kids, for breakfast and Lunch. That
has attracted parents to send the little ones to begin their early kindergarten
education at the Christian school.
Kids
of CRC nursery school Kondembaia, praying during morning assembly. Picture
right, a cross section of the Board members of Kabala Christian School [ CRC]
deliberating in their meeting after the
reopening of the school for this academic year.
THE
MULTIPURPOSE BUILDING: The work in the multipurpose
Church and office building is still on. The people locally raised additional,
5000,000 Leones { about $800 } in which we moulds 2,500 blocks , getting ready
to commence building on the second phase. Recently Ron Geerlings visited the
site, during his recent visit to work on the 2017/2018 FY. We are still trusting God for more funding to
complete the Building. Prayers and financial support will surely go a long way
in actualizing our dreams.
Is
this strong enough to continue the building,
May this is what Mr. Geerlings is saying? Yes its strong, you can go ahead with
the building”. Well whatsoever may be in his mind , the joy is we are pleased
with the visit and the work will soon continue, at least with the 2,500 blocks
, it will surely raise the wall to a considerable height, as soon as we get
more funds to buy cements, sand and pay the workers. One day we will be there.
AMEN!!!
APPRECIATION:
Thank you all for your continue prayers and support for us. Our prayers is that
the Lord continue to bless you and your family as you pray and give for the
furtherance of God‘s kingdom in this part of the globe. Please keep on sending,
praying, and giving.
PRAYER
REQUEST:
1. Thank
God for the health of My son Johncalvin, the Doctor thinks, the hepatitis is
not that active , because of the anti body he had prior to our coming to Sierra
Leone. That has reduced our worries.
2. Please
continue to pray for Johncalvin, for his studies in Makeni .
3. God willing on September 23, Jemimah and I
will be on the road to Liberia, to visit Morris Sonie in Tieni as well as
conduct a TLT training in Monrovia. Hope to be back in Kabala On October 2.
4. Pray
for our Home service. On Oct.15 we will be travelling to Nigeria for home
service, it’s also a time to meet with our family members more especially our
daughters Joyce and Judith.
5. Pray
for wisdom and God’s leading as the nationals will do the work even in our
three Months absent, the Holy Spirit will inspired them to work as a team.
6. Thank
God for the return of peace in Kabala. Pray for the new Police officers that
are posted in Kabala that they will have a good working relationship with the people.
7. Pray
for the Women of kabala CRC who are planning for their annual thanksgiving
comes October 30, that the women will experience God’s blessing and a new
commitment to serve God.
8. The Boys’ Brigade will be having their
enrolment service on October 9. Pray that God will help our young to grow in
the knowledge and fear of God. Pray too for Mr. Bawa who came from Nigeria to
help our young ones that God will bless his work among the young people in
Kabala.
SUBMITTED
BY:
REV.
ISTIFANUS B. BAHAGO
LEADERSHIP CONSULTANT
CRC-SL/ CRWM
Phone: +23278264240, +23277668139
Blog:www.apostlebahago.blogspot.com
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