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Hi Yatta, hope you and yours are safe and well. I have recently taken some more freight up to London to send out to Freetown. One large box, one small box. It includes some school books, clothes etc including stuff left behind by our students when they left because of Covid e.g. an electric hot plate, electric slow cooker. It should arrive in SL later this month, or in early October. I have included some bags specifically for Blacker, and will send you photos of these later. With all best wishes, Stay blessed, Ian

[From Yatta via WhatsApp]

MINISTRY UPDATE

God Almighty sees and know what every one of us are going through in life and will work it out for our good. The pandemic in the world will surely comes to an end in Jesus Name. Let us all continue to trust him smile through the storms and challenges of life. I know it is not easy but he is still in control.
Our Theme for this year is ….EXPECT THE BEST ISA.43:18 – 19

Praises….. Covid 19 came and gradually going none of my family members and church members has been affected. Even though I lost some close friends.

Churches were close down for over 6 months but thank God they are open again Even though with restriction and conditions.

I was really happy and grateful to God for the money I received from you to help and serve our peopl and communities by helping with food stuff and helping with covid protection gears. It went a loooonnngg way

The kono churches are gradually settling down after the death of pastor Marcarthy. In raising up strong and committed leaders.

God has open new doors for sports life with Bible Society and Scripture Union to start partnering with is to do ministry.

We are grateful to God for the open doors he has given us to start a new church at Mambo in the pennuselar area. A school hall has already been secure. We shall give you more update as it progresses

I was sick but thank God I am up again. Wrong time to get malaria it could be mistaken for covid

PRAYERS………..

Sierra Leone is standing on a time boom…..Too much political tension. A lot of killing is taking place…..at here was a prison break and over 100 inmates died…. for peace. Sierra Leone has gone through a lot already

A friend came from the state with a Toyota 4 Runner he is selling to us for $3500. We have been able to raise $1500. As I need to do frequent trips now to kono. I will also not want you to go on public transport when you come visit again. Pray that the good Lord provides the remaining $2000.

Our president is sick and presently out of the country for medical. For speedy recovery

We are grateful to God for prayersand support. What are wonderful family we have. May the good Lord bless you all.

For Covid 19 to stop. Most of our programs are on hold…..more with the schools. We need to start again.

Pray for Kono that the leadership will work together for the growth and stability of the ministry.

For the church planting in Mambo.for the payment of the school hall and we also need musical Equipments.. for the growth of the church

STAY BLESSED
Yours Faithfully
Yatta Samura

We were saddened to hear of the death of Pastor MacCarthy on 11th June. Richard wrote these words which were read at his funeral. Pastor MacCarthy leaves behind Sarah his wife and his children Emmanuel James 32, Gabriel Tamba 27, Nicanor 26 and Diana Kumba 11.

Those of us who met Pastor James Maccarthy have fond memories. He was a “gentle and outstanding Christian”. He was a humble man who exerted wide influence through his servant leadership. His faith was there for all to see. He helped pioneer the construction of the “St Andrews” junior school at Maima village in the aftermath of the brutal Civil war that took place 20 years ago.

I remember meeting James in November 2004 at the opening of the St Andrews school in Maima, Kono district. He told me that he was delighted to be back in Kono having been forced out of his home during the Civil War. Kono was the setting of the film “Blood Diamond”, which highlighted the war over conflict diamonds and the army of “drugged child soldiers”. The film accurately depicted the brutality and horror of the war.

James led a group of evacuees as they walked through jungle paths between Kono and Freetown. When he recalled the story, he was almost diffident about the risks of ambush by the rebel army as well as the natural hazards of the jungle. The zig-zag nature of the retreat meant they probably walked 2 or 3 times the straight-line distance of 200km between Kono and Freetown. In truth the family bore the scars of their 40 days in the wilderness as they lost one child along the way and they were not the only family to lose loved ones.

Despite the family loss Pastor James recalled how he thanked God for guiding them through the dangers. James’ faith gave hope to all on that eventful journey.  When food ran out and illness began to hit many in their party, it was James who encouraged everyone to keep going. It was an epic escape story of biblical proportions yet recounted with the modesty and understatement that was the essence of the man. 

He will be sorely missed by many in the UK and in Sierra Leone alike.

Richard Bayfield 15^th June 2020

Greetings from Sierra Leone,

A lot has happened in Sierra Leone and in the World in just 3 months.
In January I said a big thank you, on behalf of the children, for providing Christmas meals and gifts. I wrote that you were putting smiles in the face of the children. Many of them were coming from Muslim homes and are struggling to survive. This Christmas feeding program is a big blessing to them. They look forward to it every year.
In March I wrote that our world is going through challenging times right now. Challenges makes life interesting but overcoming them is what makes lives more meaningful. We in Sierra Leone are grateful at the moment with no Coronavirus cases yet. We are praying Psalm 91 for you all, our friends, brothers, and partners. We met yesterday to pray for the outbreak in the World especially, Oxford. May the good Lord continue to protect you guys and the Oxford church family.

Now in April Pastor Yatta writes that everybody is in fear because the Ebola crises is still first in our minds. We have had our first cases of Coronavirus and so we are now in a lockdown. However, more people will die of hunger than the virus. I value and thank you very much for prayers and concern. This small virus has brought everybody to their knees strong or weak nations alike. we are in a state of emergency and under a curfew order. Every day we are reading and having a quiet time to think and pray.

In Freetown we live closely together which makes it difficult to stop the virus spreading. We are working now to buy buckets to encourage hand washing and some sanitiser to help stop the spread of the virus, so we can come out of it quickly. Please help us to buy these items. Thank you very much.
Stay bless and please read Psalm 91. Let it be your prayer.

Pastor Yatta Samura

We sent some money to Pastor Yatta to provide an XMAS meal for the children he works with in Freetown.

[From Yatta via WhatsApp]

FEEDING THE CHILDREN: I say on behalf of the children I say a big thank you for providing the resources for the feeding . I want you to know that you are putting smiles in the face of the children. We change the method this year we took them to the beach which they like and enjoyed so much. They had the opportunity to play, swim and eat….
Many of them are coming from a Muslim home and a struggling home to survive. This feeding program is a big blessing to them. Which they look forward to every year. See photos… We went to the beach at 9am and return at 6pm, they ate three [meals] that day. They really enjoyed it . Thank you Thank you Thank you….

[message from David Sandi] Many thanks for your support. Around 300 kids from all sectors of the school were there. They enjoyed music, performances, games and music. God bless.