Here’s a brief story from Pastor Yatta about how he started C3MSL (Christian Community Church Mission Sierra Leone) in 1998 and where it has got to today.
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[From David Sandi via WhatsApp]
Distributing trainers at school this morning, sent by my daughter Mikaya (Rose) for the poorest students. Schools close for Easter today.
[From David Sandi via WhatsApp]
After a difficult start (searching for money to buy water and refreshments), Ahkom school sports got underway Thursday, 7th March, 2024. Four houses were competing: Red, Yellow, Green and White.
At day one close of events, Red house lay in first place, Green second, White third and Yellow last.
Friday, the final day, was a colourful affair. As spectators increased in the field and the competition heated up, the PA system pumped out music along to which everyone danced and sang along – spectators , competitors even some track and field officials – the atmosphere was jubilant. See photos/video.
Red house carried the day followed by Yellow in second place, Green third and White led the rear.
Red house athletes during practise. They came out tops. One of the house masters is carrying the shoulder bag.
[From Pastor Yatta via WhatsApp]
GREETINGS from Christian community Church Mission Sierra leone to LOVE SIERRA LEONE UK and its Donors.
May the good Lord continue to bless you for the help given to our Mission towards the Christmas feeding program for Children which they look forward to every year.
The hunger in this country is too much and the poverty rate is very high. Where Parents are finding it very difficult to look after their children. Children are hungry going up and down in this country . Immediately you talk about Food they will be there.
FEEDING PROGRAM 2033…held in 2 location this year.
Freetown.. The program was held by the women of the grace Community Church on New years day 1st Jan 2024. The had good food Music and dancing. It was a joyful for them. They had a lot of fun
They also have hand – out to take home. They had 66 Children from both the church and community
Story…. A woman by the name of Mrs. Kadiatu kamara came and say thank you to one of our organisers. That they had nothing to eat that day in their home. So the feeding was a blessing to her family she sent all her 3 children. She was very grateful. She ask me to say thank you to you guys. She came in tears.
ST. ANDREWS CHURCH AND SCHOOL – MEAMA KONO. This is the first time they had such a wonderful program. We decided to take the program to the school in meama when school reopen on the 12th January 2024. This is the place the children are coming from the villages. They had to walk 3 miles to school from the neighbouring villages
This is a village setting and a very poor community. It was difficult to stop people not to come. It was organised for the church children and school.
Many of the elderly people came with pan to beg for food. It was a blessing to the children and community . They had 178 children. Many others were not in school so they miss out.
Some of the children are drinking soft drinks for the first time. Oh what a Christmas for them. The Chief and the community heads where very happy and grateful for the FEEDING. They ask us to remember them every time we have the opportunity. On behalf of the children the Churches and communities I say a big thank you for putting smiles into the faces of our children. Thank you we are grateful.
Stay Blessed
Yatta Samura
Freetown, Godrich Community
St Andrews School, Meama
[From Pastor Yatta via WhatsApp]
The convention was 4 days. 9th – 12th. November
- Day 1 – Arrival and Rivival meeting
- Day 2. Friday. Two Seminars in the morning. Evening Quizz and musical competition fo churches.
- Day 3. Saturday Jesus match in the morning. And football competition between Freetown and Kono. Kono won 2 goals to 1
- Day 4. Thanksgiving celebration service.
- All Return after after service.
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[From David Sandi]
2nd harvest from the casava garden at the Lei farm.
The heartwarming aspect of this exercise is the chance to mix with and provide impoverished villagers (both young and old, school children and non-school going children) much needed cash for their services. From rooting to totting the bags of casava out to the line where we may be lucky to hire space on a passing timber, cattle or market truck for transport to Koidu.
The first harvest totalled 9 bags. This second harvest yielded 25 bags. Not counting what we gave away. There is one, maybe two more harvests before the plot is exhausted. We planted on approximately 3 quarters of an acre of bole land. There is 25 acres of bole land in total. There’s also ample space on the upland for casava planting.
When casava is scarce it can fetch up to le500,000 a bag. That’s one whole term school fee for a disadvantaged child. Currently with plenty of on-going harvests, a full bag fetches le250,000. Down the line, with value-added processing using a portable casava grating machine, casava can be grated and dried into “garri”. A bag of garri retails at le1,500,000.
[From Pastor Yatta Samura via WhatsApp]
Our Theme for this year going to our 25 year celebration is TEAMWORK. Philippians 2 : 1 – 5. It means to work together with others and express unity in Christ in all of our Relationship. We all need to be on one Team not just the team we play. But together in God’s Team. We need to equip, encourage and empower one another. We need to be arm-in-arm with each other. Looking up together to accomplish God’s purpose. There should be no Lone Ranger. JOIN THE TEAM.
To my family in England Oxford I bring you greetings from Freetown Sierra Leone. To update you as to what God is using us to do in our beloved nation Sierra Leone.
Praises…………
Jog 4 Jesus. After 2 years because of corona virus , no jog of Jesus was allowed. Every activities was on hold. But this December 2022 we were able to do it again. The date was change from April to December to make room for those coming on holiday from oversees. The turn out was fantastic. We pray for world peace, for the Evangelization of our land. The closing ceremony was challenging.
Sports Camp. We put together a Youth Camp that was very Challenging and encouraging. 12 schools in the Peninsula community sent in student. This are new schools we started working with. 84 students attended. It was a One day camp. The children want to stay more. There was not enough funds. 16 student gave their lives to Christ. The camp took place on the 18th. February 2023 at Hamilton.
Baptism. After going through 6 weeks discipleship training in the church we baptised 8. 12 more on the way. Finishing soon.
Visit to Kono.. Since the death of pastor McCarthy I am doing my best to go to Kono every other month. They need Encouragement and supervision and to meet with the leadership team.
In November coming we are planning to celebrate our 25th year of existing as a mission. We are meeting again to put the plan together. We shall update you on the plan. I will appreciate if you guys can plan to come for that celebration.
Kono Church. The Kono Churches are doing well. In my last visit I visited 3 congregation. I look forward to meet the others again. They are far far apart from Koidu town. Thank God for the vehicle it has really be helpfully. Sometimes we have to use bikes because of the road conditions.
Land for Freetown Church
We have finally seen somebody who has a private land for sale. After searching for so long. He has over one acre for sale – which is about 10 town lots.We are interested between 4 – 6 town lot. He is asking for 4 thousand pounds for one town lot. But because he know me and because it is for church purpose he is ready to give it to us for two thousand five hundred pounds. This will be the best thing that will happened to us as a MINISTRY.
We have been able to raise 2 thousand dollars for him to know we are serious and interested.
Working on my Visa Working on my Visa to UK Oxford hopefully in August. There is Presidential and Parliamentary elections taking place on the 24th June 2023. Too much fighting and killing going on. Too much tension going on. I am part of reconciliation team for a free fear and transparent election. I am hopping to come in August to see all of you again eye boll to eye boll and not suffer the cold. I will let you know when I received the visa.
Prayers
We are planning a sports MINISTRY training for coaches. For God’sprovision and a successful program.
Follow up program for those who receive Christ a the camp. For deeper commitment to follow Jesus..
For us to make more disciples and to follow Jesus example to be baptised
Too many accidents on the up country road. As we go to Kono – For Gods guidance and protection on the road.
For the preparation of our 25th Years celebration- The churches in Freetown will all be making it to Kono, for wisdom and provision.
For the coaching programs going on in School weekly.
For us to be able to get the Land for the church and school for Freetown. That’s our heart beat 8.Sierra Leone is going to Election. We pray for peaceful and quiet election. Too much tension is building.
For wisdom as I serve in the reconciliation committee.
For my traveling plans to go through in August to meet with my Family in Oxford.
Stay Blessed Faithfully submitted
Yatta Samura
Jog 4 Jesus
Group bible study at Youth Camp
Baptisms
Ordinations
Each year we try and send some money to Pastor Yatta for him to provide an XMAS meal for children. Here is his response (sent via WhatsApp)
We express our sincere thanks and appreciation to God for your goodness to us.
When we are hungry you feed us and when we are naked you clothe us. This is something we look forward to every year. We are really grateful to God for the provision you are making.
This Time I divided the money into 4 parts…. Other Churches have not been benefiting.
1st. Part went to Kono Church.. I was waiting for their Report and pictures. They did a big cook brought the children to church and feed them. Many Children from the neighborhood came around but they have to restrict to the children in the church. They feed 63 children.
Part 2 went to the Central Church in free town. This is something they have not done for many years.
They did a whole day treat for the children at the beach. They had good entertainment for their Sunday school Children.
Part 3 Went to Sports Life Ministry. We did a big cook for them after their usual Training. They ate so much that they don’t want to go home. We had 68. I also gave them small money each to take to their parent to help with the next day’s feeding which will be Christmas day.
Part 4.. Goes to Grace Community Church Mambo. The newest church in the Mission. They bought Toys and used clothing to share with the Children and members. The church lives in a very poor community 58 people benefited.
This year we are happy we were able to divide it like we did.
Kono Church
Sports Life
Central Church in Freetown
Grace Community Church Mambo
[From David Sandi via email]
Greetings once more to everyone. Wish to share the latest Ahkom updates with you. On the whole it’s been positive with only two snags.
1. THE BRIGHT SIDE
a. WE LOVE OUR SUPPORTERS
Continued love and kisses to our few but committed supporters who, by now, any time they hear of David’s Ahkom updates probably sigh “Oh here he goes again. He needs more money!”
A big hand to Nick and Vicky for the determined assistance they’ve given Ami and Esther. Ami’s been bullying, academically, all her elders in the engineering department at Milton Margai University. To the point they made her their year rep. Esther’s Public Health results just came out – straight A’s and although she’s currently on the Higher National Diploma programme, she also topped all those on the degree programme doing the same modules. She’s now been invited to transfer, asap, to complete her course on the degree programme.
b. NO FRENCH, MONSIEUR, BUT ENGLISH
We’ve reviewed our RTR training brochure, to good effect, to reflect our wider community remit. Mr Sessie, our technical man, was in Freetown training the new English language teachers at El-Bethal. A new crop of schools in Freetown is anticipated. Jaiama, CKC, SLMB, Iamtech will be retrained before the close of school for Christmas on 17th December. Ahkom, as is to be expected, is up to date.
c. EDUCATION IS THE KEY
In the national exams Ahkom achieved 100% passes in the primary NPSE examinations; 100% passes in the Junior secondary school BECE examinations and 99% in the senior secondary WASSCE examinations. The five who failed the wassce did so because they failed to turn
up to sit.
d. THE STOMACH NEVER LIES
We took a Government surveyor from the Ministry of lands to survey the extension of the school farm at Lei chiefdom. It came to 76 acres. Around 30 hectares. We were charged a discounted amount of £2,000 for the exercise which includes charting on the national GPS data base, drawing up of the plan, signatory by the relevant chiefs and director of lands. We’re still on our knees begging for more discount.
Of the 1,000 cashew trees planted around 800 are doing well. We’d already factored in potential losses. An additional 1000 will be planted next year. Doing well too are the initial crop of Avocado, Coconut, mango, guava, orange, yams, cassava and sweet potato. The bole land (semi swamp) is about 15 acres. We’ve commissioned it to be brushed to meet up the rice planting season.
We’ve also nursed pepper. The English beans started with a flourish, as did the cabbage, carrot and lettuce. But the climate has changed and the unseasonably relentless rainfall caused them to rot. But all was not lost: my seasoned agriculturist in Nimikoro chiefdom, David had, from the word go, been sceptical of the climate and decided to hang on to his seeds. Now with the overly wet weather behind us, his nursed seeds are showing a great potential for growth and survival.
We’ve demarcated the areas for the farmstead, animal husbandry and wildlife.
e. NEW CONNECTIONS
It was a real pleasure to establish contact with a fairly new orphanage in Koidu – CARE for Children. I was bowled over by the commitment of the proprietress.
f. ON A GAME FRONT
We’ve started our giant killing again in the schools football league. Ahkom trounced SDA 3 – 0 in the opening game that took place two days ago. You may recall that not long ago we won the teachers football league.
2. THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON
a. Once again the primary, Junior and senior secondary were all overlooked for teacher recruitment onto the government voucher. All my school heads and most of the senior staff are either pastors or lay preachers. The chap heading the teachers service Commission in Kono (who is known for selling of the employment forms and bears an uncanny resemblance to offsprings of belzebub) has been quoted as saying the Ahkom proprietor and his heads are refusing to play ball. Namely, refusing to pay a bribe for what is rightfully theirs. But if bribery is the only way we’re going to get teachers on voucher, then they’ll stay as volunteers. Anyway, I’ve made up my mind its in our best interest to revert back to private school status. At least then we can charge fees and pay our teachers.
b. Despite the hard work by Richard to secure us funding from Frempoma’s organisation, our fingers remain crossed that something will come out of all that admirable effort.
Pictures including
- Orphans at CARE for Children orphanage in Koidu
- Me reviewing RTR booklet. El-Bethal, Freetown – RTR Jss1
- Making heaps to plant cassava and sweet potatoes in Lei chiefdom
- Ami. Unfortunately Esther lost her phone and her pictures.
Love Sierra Leone 