Hosetta Part two!

We played games with the kids and helped in one class. They were tracing circles and coloring them yellow. We helped them. 

I had a lot of fun playing with the kids, it made my heart happy. They were really excited about their new name tags! 

-Gideon 

Auntie Edna kissed me on my cheek and said "I LOVE you!" 

I rolled tires back and forth with one girl and she was so, so so happy! 

Their classroom is almost like Ms. Lisa's class, they have colors, numbers and letters but no lights or e-tricity. The kids there are special because God made them special!

-Isabel 

We went to a school for special kids. The teachers all hugged and kissed me, I usually wipe kisses off! Some of the kids know sign language and some of them can talk. We played and visited their class. 

Mom's friend Edna helps take care of the kids there. She lives in this house and a few of the kids stay with her, it looks smaller than my bedroom at home in Missouri. She was very nice and happy to meet us. 

-Zeke

Hosetta. Part one!

Today we went to Hosetta, the school for special needs children we have worked with every year since we started missions work here in Sierra Leone. These children, teachers & caretakers are hold special places in our hearts. Our kids played with the students during their rec & recess time. Justin is working there today with Tom & his crew.

This is sweet Enda with my babies! Enda lives in the back of this school and loves & takes care of these wonderful children.

A few of the children who live too far to travel daily for school stay with Enda. She is beautiful inside & out and Oh! how I love her. 

 This is Bel & Gid playing in front of her home- she was crazy excited to show me that our friend Tom just had tarps placed over her roof. Dancing would be more of an actuate description :)

Rain was pouring in on them and rainy season is almost here. It's hard to explain the rains here but (constant waterfalls!!) 

I am so thankful her roof is now fixed!!! 

She tried over & over to get Jedi to let her hold him- she just kept smiling & laughing saying "JJ, why you don't love me?" 

Ha!!! Oh he will one day :) but not today! Ha ha!! 

With a heart full of smiles :)

Chris 

...Look for part two from the kids! 

One Life Camp

We were crazy blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of Youth Leadership Camp this week. Twenty- seven youth from all around Sierra Leone were chosen by their pastors to attend this camp which just happens to have been at the same place we are living. The camp theme for this week was One Life- emphasizing on team leadership, purity, integrity, and leading through service. It has been several years since we have been involved with a camp like this or even with youth in general. Well, let me tell you, we have been refreshed and encouraged!!! The kids, if you can call them that, were excited to be here and ready to learn and receive the teachings of scriptural leadership. It was such a joy to watch as they lead each other in worship through song and prayer. This year each family group also had Sierra Leonian leaders, many of whom have come to the camp in past years! It is such an energizing and motivating experience to be a part of something when the fruit of that very thing is right in front of you! These kids are the future and current leaders of their churches, communities, and country, and it has been an honor to work with and get to know them this week. 

Chris & I lead recreation this week. These kids are fierce competitors! Like if you think of the most aggressive competitor you know, now imagine 27 of that person split into four teams playing games against each other, that was rec time. So much FUN!! We had scripture that went with the games for meditation and conversation. This group is so passionate in all they do whether it is play or pray or talk or live or learn or share or love.   The camp was so well organized that honestly Chris & I just showed up and played with the kids. Thanks to Gabe & Sada for their love for The Lord & these youth. 

It was a joy to watch our children grow to love some of these youth and our co-leaders but Jedi became especially fond of our friends Chuck & Chase- even immediately jumping out of our arms to be held by either of them (I'm rather fond of them myself but I'm certain Chuck wouldn't want to carry me around).

We finished our week with a service project Friday. The teams each went to a  near by schools to speak & share. They also cleaned up the grounds around the school. 

These kids decided to help Gid pick up trash. 

Being a part of this camp has shown us yet another way God is working and moving in the lives of the people around us.

Refreshed & Exhausted, (not as young as I once was)

Justin