January 2011, we've arrived!!

“ma’hi a’usie”, or “Greetings to the Chief and everybody!” in the Mende language which is the tribal language of Mokanji and the area where we will be primarily working.

TIA – This is Africa!  Thank you Lord for bringing us here safely!

Yesterday, after a two day trip and three airport stops, we had a warm welcome in Freetown, Sierra Leone.  This morning after breakfast Charles and I walked through Freetown on an orientation tour.  The culture and market atmosphere – the smiles, the chaos, the noise, the honking of cars, the smells, the colours – everything contributes to reminders of Guatemala, a feeling of warm familiarity.

The next few days we will spend in the capital acclimatizing to the change in temperature from -25C/-5F a week ago when we left Cranbrook to 28C/82F here in Freetown.   After that, Lord willing, we will move to Mokanji, our new community.

Petra and I, along with Joseph, the Global representative here in Sierra Leone, have been visiting many stores in Freetown to arrange for the materials to repair our house, to set up a home and to furnish the house as well as materials for the teams when they come.

Yesterday we made the 6 hour, 150 mile drive to the Mokanji area with our supplies to set up.  Tomorrow we start to work.

 Yes, Lord, thank you for bringing us here safely.  This is Sierra Leone, Africa, our new “home”.

Charles “Jibao” and Petra “Jilo”