Harford School for Girls offers pre-school education

Vicke holds a pre-schooler and compliments the staff. 

What was once a school begun to assist the young teaching staff with the care of their children while at work is now open to the community for early childhood education. 

Vickie, our leader and state side organizer, has a heart for children and lends her voice to concerns around their care.   Saturday is not the usual day for this pre-school to be open but the children returned to the pre-school to meet "guests". Again "radical hospitality" was shared with our team.  The children  prepared a playlike presentation for us on the Christmas story, sang songs, and were thrilled with the candy canes and the story of origin (which by the way comes from a candy maker in Indiana). 

Children hold high their candy cane. 

Pre-schoolers sing a song prior to presentions. 

Vickie shared the following with us as we continue to reflect on the impact our journey had on all who traveled.   

My faithfulness to Christ will be as evident as our UMW Sisters in Sierra Leone. Abiding in the presence of Christ, the girls, the children, the women (and men) praised God in the very midst of their daily lives. They are faithful to participate in God's work and in commiting His word to heart, exuberant in their faith, totally absorbed and embracing the love of Christ. Their faithfulness, for me, is a pure joy, a pure blessing! In the moments like these, being exposed to their faithfulness, and out of my own abundance, I am called to the word 'more.' I am called to BE more, DO more, LIVE more, LOVE more, PRAY more, GIVE more, ACT more. (or maybe I should say...GROW more, ACT more, CHANGE more, HOPE more, PRACTICE more, be more OPEN and BOLD and SHARE more!)

Women's Training Center gives hope

Bondu was happy to have her photo taken.  

Meet Bondu Thomas. I first met Bondu in the weaving area of the Konomusu Women's Training Center.  In addition to her smile and exuberant personality, she's deaf.  She was an inspiration to all of the trainees and when we all gathered for contributions from the trainees, Bondu was invited to dance for us. Shyly she did so as others used the sewing machines to drum out the a rythum and give her dance a beat.  She's loved and suppported.  We were blessed to be there. 

 

While observing the weaving station of the training center, I stoped to ask Bondu a question.   Not knowing that she was unable to hear, the instructor quickly came to her aid to say that she was deaf. However, Bondu wanted very much to communicate with me. She quickly demonstrated her role in the weaving process. Verbal communication may be issue for her but she  does very well with non-verbal.  

 

Giving instructions for weaving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Konomusu Women's Training Center is giving this young woman the opportunity to one day be independent and contribute to the financial needs of her family.  We are with you Bondu.   Keep up the good work.     

Konomusu is one of three Women's Training Centers in Sierra Leone.  Through these centers, United Methodist Women is giving hope to many who are seeking to make a better life for themselves and their families.  Mission Pledge dollars support the work that is being done at all three centers in Sierra Leone.  Just know that your pledge dollars are making a difference in the lives of many.   We were blessed by meeting Bondu and all those like her who are being given the opportunity to care for self and family.    

My Ubuntu, shared by Finda Quiwa

Ready for the Day of Ubuntu



The Ubuntu- I am human because you are human - concept is one of the new mission concept that the United Methodist Women in Sierra Leone have committed themselves to do.

As a UMWO Regional Missionary, I am so happy that women are committeed to doing practical mission which is the definition I have given to the Zulu word Ubuntu. 

Wednesday 12th December 2012 was a unique day of Ubuntu for UMWO in Sierra Leone.  It was uniquie in the sense that United Methodist Women from the USA were part of the journey in Lunsar in the Northern region of Sierra Leone.  The presence of women from the USA gave a practical meaning to the Lunsar Ubuntu Journey looking at the thousands of miles  they travel to tell other women that they are all one no matter where they are from.  

The "Yellow House" departs for a nearby village.

December 12th 2012 was my first time to really know Lunsar town and to meet with the people. Ubuntu gave me the opportunity of sharing God's love to his children and letting them know that he loves them.   The used clothing, cooking items, and talking together gave women men, young people and children another opportunity of smiling and dancing to the glory of God.

My two sad moments were seeing God's children rejoicing to get basic necessities that they are supposed to get but do not have and also seeing a teenage girl being pregnant.  The teenage girl makes me remember some of the young women I worked with and reflect on their stories outlying how sad they are for being child mothers at an early age because of poverty.  The experience sharing was a touching moment seeing women sharing experiences from the four villages around Lunsar.  The women were  motivated to do more Ubuntu when they return to their differenct areas which gave me hope for the future.

Checking out the books they had been given. 



Curious about all that will be found in the blue bags.



 

Thanks Finda for sharing your Ubuntu experience with us.   Thanks Mary for the photos you took as you visited one of the nearby villages.   We all were blessed by this special day of Ubuntu.

Sorry about the spacing issues.  Photos also seem to just have a mind of their own today as does the text.  When I get time I will start all over.   It is what it is!!!

Are we among the fearful?

Facebook has some interesting posts especially with the political wrangling that goes on all the time.  Someone posted a wonderful article written by a retired United Methodist pastor for the Argus Leader in South Dakota.   For me it puts words to what I'm feeling and thinking these days... let me share a bit.   

 Back in the 1960s, First United Methodist Church of Sioux Falls had built a high school building at the American Institute (in Bolivia), and the bishop was there to celebrate all of the contributions the graduates of that school had made to their country.  One of them asked the bishop: “I have noted how worshippers in the churches down here always seem so happy and full of joy when they sing and dance and worship. Most of them are so poor, I don’t understand what they have to be so happy about. Why do you think that is?”

The bishop smiled and said: “I think it must be because you in the richest nations live with a fear that you might lose what you have, while we in the poorest nations have little or nothing, but we live in the hope that God is gracious and good and will give us all that we need to live. We are just very thankful for food and a place to be sheltered from the cold or the rain.”

I thought of the bishop’s words when I read a Dec. 30 headline in the Argus Leader, “Market drop is first ‘cliff’ fear.” Followed was the news that “Anxious South Dakotans race to shield assets against tax hits.” It is interesting that our courthouses were being mobbed by wealthy citizens afraid of losing what they have rather than by people on food stamps who might not know where their next meal will come from. Many of the poor already have fallen over the fiscal cliff and are just glad to be alive.

 Here's a link to the full article in the Argus Leader.   

 



Celebrating the opening of the United Methodist Women Organization convention. 

 
To say that we didn't all envy the joy and spirit we experienced each time we were with the women of Sierra Leone would probably be an understatement. We loved each and every worship time...and some were impromtu. The singing and dancing will long be remembered.   Are we fearful of losing what we have?  Or are we open to the sheer joy of being one in Christ?  

Preparing young women to be family and community leaders at Harford School for Girls

 

Students gather for evening sharing in the open area in front of senior dorm. 

For more than 100 years Harford School for Girls, Moyamba, Sierra Leone has prepared girls to be whatever it is they envision for themselves. One of the greatest aspects about being part of United Methodist Women is in knowing that when 800,000 women put their hands together (and make a Mission Pledge), women and children are lifted.  Even though our time in there was short with the late Friday afternoon arrival, it was well worth the ride on the bone shaker road just to visit one of the girl's schools that has historically been supported by United Methodist Women.  What a  treat it was just to be on campus.
With limited time there and being a bit of a night owl, Bonnie and Cindy shared a craft activity that had been an activity for the preschool.   We  decided to teach the Senior girls who had been assigned to stay with us and make sure we were safe the story of the candy cane and to make a candy cane Christmas ornament.   These girls loved the activity and interchange (the camera card that has that set of pictures "got lost" so we do not have record of our fun evening).  We ended our evening with taking photos and printing them out in various sizes for sharing with family and friends.  That too was a big hit.  The photo shoot was squeezed in before the generator ran out of petro. 
Saturday morning brought all the girls out to gather the water and prepare for laundry day. A beautiful sunny day guaranteed the clothes and bedding would be dry in no time.

When we woke, girls were already at work gathering water.

Clothes are laid out on the lawn to dry by the sun. 

   

Ironing???  A teenager???  Humm....

And before noon Princess finishes the job with doing a bit of ironing on the front porch of our guest house.  
One project that we hope will soon be accomplished at Harford is to acquire a large generator so that the office computers can run without interuption.   We are hoping that UMW will be able to use some of our pledge dollars to fund this request.  
Valparaiso 1st UMW has just sent through the UMW channels $1,000 to be used however needed by the Harford School staff.  The UMW resale shop (with nearly 100 volunteers) had a huge year and in addition to $13,500 for 2012 Mission Pledge they had extra funds to share with many ministries at the end of the year.   Blessings all around. 

Please refer to the June 2011 issue of Response magazine for more information about Harford and the girls who become family through living and studying there.   

  

UMW Regional Missionary...Meet Finda

Finda Quiwa participated in the UMWO Convention,
she was part of the "yellow" house.  

As we traveled via the ferry to arrive in Freetown on the evening of our arrival in Sierra Leone, Finda greeted our team as she was on the ferry that evening as well. We were introduced to her as a Regional Missionary with special attention to young women's programs in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Finda and 5 other women are working in various areas of the world as Regional Missionaries.   Women in each of the regions establish the kinds of programs that need assistance based on the needs of the area.  Regional missionaries acquaint local women with the resources that are available to assist them with their particular project or goal.   Missionaries help organize workshops, training sessions, networking opportunities, and strategic planning for action.

Finda Quiwa is serving in her home country of Sierra Leone.   She guides the Global Justice Volunteer program for Africa as well as the development and implementation of programs/training for young Africa women.   What a pleasure it was to meet this young mother of three who is capable and excited about being in ministry. If you would like learn more about Finda, please check this link. 

Our UMW mission giving supports the Regional Missionary program.  Just one more way we are making a difference in the world.        

***The 2013 Prayer Calender opens with an offering from Finda.  If you don't have a copy, order yours today.