HARD TO BELIEVE......THAT IT HAS BEEN A MONTH SINCE WE CAME BACK FROM SIERRA LEONE. I FELT MY HEART NEEDED TIME TO BE VERY STILL WITH THE COMINGS AND GOINGS OF THAT GREAT LAND. EVEN WRITING IN MY JOURNAL HAS PROVEN MORE OF A CHALLENGE TO PEN WHAT MY THOUGHTS HAVE ENCIRCLED THEMSELVES ABOUT. AS I STEP BACK, IT COMES IN WAVES OF THE KINDNESS OF THE PEOPLE, THE DEDICATION TO THEIR LORD AND SAVIOR, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH THAT THEY LIVE, THE EXERCISE OF GRACE THAT THEY PRAY FOR AND THE TIME THE LAND WILL BE EBOLA FREE WHEREBY THE MISSIONARIES WILL BE AMONG THEM ONCE AGAIN. OUT OF ALL THE COUNTRIES I HAVE HAD THE BLESSING TO PLACE MY FOOTSTEPS UPON, I CHERISH THE GENTLENESS OF THE PEOPLE OF SIERRA LEONE THE MOST. IT HAS PROVEN TO ME THAT DURING THE HARSHNESS OF TIMES THAT THE MOST GENTLE FAITH FILLED SAINTS CAN EMERGE.
THE BLESSING OF MEETING OUR PRECIOUS FRIENDS THE HEZSELTINE'S WHO HAD A LAYOVER AS THE FIRST ASSIGNED SENIOR MISSIONARY COUPLE TO RETURN TO LIBERIA. THEY HAVE SERVED THERE BEFORE, AND ARE RETURNING FOR 4 OR 5 MONTHS TO HELP SET THE MISSION UP BESIDE THE MISSION PRESIDENT. THE LORD SMILES ON US AS MISSIONARIES, BECAUSE THEIR LAYOVER AND OUR LEAVING FOR SIERRA LEONE MATCHED FOR A REUNION IN ACRRA AIRPORT. NOW THAT IS A TENDER MERCY!
WHEN YOU COME TO SIERRA LEONE, YOU LEAVE THE AIRPORT AND TAKE TRANSPORT TO COME TO THE WATER'S EDGE TO GET IN A BOAT FOR THE CROSSING TO FREETOWN. THANKFUL THAT ELDER TERRY SNAPPED THIS PICTURE OF MY HEART'S RETURN.
READY FOR THE JOURNEY!
BRANCH PRESIDENT AND WIFE THAT WE HAD THE PLEASURE TO MET. THE SAYING ON HER SHIRT SAYS IT ALL FOR 365 DAYS OF THE YEAR. I WILL LONG REMEMBER THE WONDERFUL CONVERSATION THAT I HAD WHERE THE STORIES OF EBOLA AND WAR POURED FORTH ON THE PORCH OUTSIDE THIS BRANCH BUILDING. AT THE END OF A LONG AFTERNOON, IT WAS WITH GREAT LOVE THAT I LEFT WITH AN UNDERSTANDING GAINED THROUGH THEIR OBEDIENCE TO WHAT THEY KNOW TO BE TRUE....LOVE AND FAITH COMBINED! WE HAVE NO IDEA THE GREAT SACRIFICES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THEIR LIVES.
JUST OUTSIDE MY WINDOW AS I LOOK UPON VOLUMES TO LEARN MAN'S HUMANITY TO MANKIND!
THEN A RAINBOW UPON THE LAND APPEARED AS IF A PROMISE THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN FORGOTTEN!
THE HOPE OF THIS LITTLE GIRL LOOKING UPON ANOTHER DAY!
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