Freetown, Sierra Leone
Enable the Children has had an action packed month;
here is a quick summary of the main events:
March 17th: Our annual beach outing,
which all the children and families we visit were invited to – a fun chance for them to meet other families facing similar challenges to them (Around 50 of our children came and the above group picture should give you a bit of a flavour of the party atmosphere of the day).
We started the morning facilitating playing in the sand and the water....
SORRY ALL OTHER PHOTOS WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL WE CAN GET THEM OUT OF SL.... or I can email you the newsletter in it's original PDF if you email me at info@enablethechildren.org
Photos:
Above Left – Mohamed, recently diagnosed with spinal Tuberculosis kept
that big smile throughout the morning as he played ball and paddled in
the sea.
Above Centre a group of our children sitting together playing with water balloons
Above Right –Sandra (ETC board member & Children's Doctor) playing with Michael Bangura, who has cerebral palsy affecting his arms and legs.
Above Right –Sandra (ETC board member & Children's Doctor) playing with Michael Bangura, who has cerebral palsy affecting his arms and legs.
~~
Below Left – Ambrose & Prince (a little boy with bowed legs) playingwith beach ball.
Below Centre – Groups of mums with their children and myself gathered at the waters edge paddling and chatting.
Below Right – Katy (Physio for ETC) paddling with Festos, one of the little boys we see at an orphanage on the east of Freetown.
~~
….we finished the outing with a time of singing, praying, dancing and
eating. I was very encouraged by the stories some of the parent's
shared, as they challenged false cultural beliefs about disability,
talked about their coping strategies and promoted the benefits of
therapy input.
Last
year we rented a room in the flat I was living for our office. For a
while now we have been looking to move somewhere that can store our
equipment, host training and meetings and accommodate Abu, our project
lead who has been part of the program for many years now. We found and
are now renting a beautiful 2nd
floor brand new flat in a peaceful part of Freetown. A week after moving
in we were able to have running water (pumped up from a tank that is
manually filled using water from the local community tap) but the
electricity has yet to be connected and it could be another few weeks
before that happens. We were delighted to have our first team meeting
there this week.
For electricity for the office (and Abu's home) to come quickly without needing to
bribe anyone; I'm told the officials delay the delivery of electricity metres in the hope a bribe will be paid to speed its arrival.
March 12th: Moving office
Last
year we rented a room in the flat I was living for our office. For a
while now we have been looking to move somewhere that can store our
equipment, host training and meetings and accommodate Abu, our project
lead who has been part of the program for many years now. We found and
are now renting a beautiful 2nd
Sunday 18th: Arrival of new car
After
years of serving Enable the Children faithfully it is time to say our
goodbyes to the Landrover we have used since my arrival and hello to a
Toyota Hilux Surf– such an answer to prayers! It is easy to drive, has
air conditioning and a lovely quiet engine, but most of all I'm just
grateful it starts (we have needed to jump start the Landrover at times
over the last few weeks, once rather heart stoppingly when I was driving
on a steep, precarious hill).
Photos: Above left – Abu in the newly shipped, but slightly dusty car.
Above right our new driver, Mr Mohali with a slightly shinier car.
Your continued prayers are much appreciated...
I'm
now on countdown for my final return to the UK. As I approach my last
couple of months here I would really love if you could pray with me for:
For this period of handing over and to finish well.
For this period of handing over and to finish well.
There
is currently a little uncertainty about whether Katy will be able to
stay for the year as planned, due to her husbands work.
Please pray it will be possible for them to stay.
For electricity for the office (and Abu's home) to come quickly without needing to
bribe anyone; I'm told the officials delay the delivery of electricity metres in the hope a bribe will be paid to speed its arrival.
