The Connexion pastors in Sierra Leone were able to gather together from their villages - at a safe distance - to take part in their annual retreat. 

The event was very different from previous years, but everyone was thankful for an opportunity to join in reflection, discussion, worship and prayer.

Sierra Leone has, to date, registered 2518 cases of Coronavirus and 75 deaths. The borders were closed as soon as the first cases were detected, which seems to have had a positive impact. We pray that this will continue. 

Prayer

Magnus Bendu sends his thanks to The Connexion community for their prayers and support for the churches and communities in Sierra Leone. He also asks for continued prayer for the necessary funds needed to complete the new Health Centre, which will be invaluable to so many people in need of this facility.

Donations

At the end of November, Magnus appealed to members of The Connexion, of all ages, to make a personal contribution, if they were able. To his amazement and the glory of God Le 38 M was raised (equal to £3167). Magnus said: 'We are so grateful to those who contributed and to God. It may seem like a small amount to some, but in Sierra Leone such an amount is very very huge. We still have a long way to go with the clinic but I can see the hand of God in it all.'

To Donate

If you would like to contribute towards the important work of The Connexion both in the UK and in Sierra Leone, please click on Donations at the top of the web page. All donations, no matter how small, are of huge value to enable us to continue the legacy of the Countess of Huntingdon.

The container dispatched from the UK to Sierra Leone at the end of October, has now arrived in Bethesda! 

When opened it was evident the container had been tampered with and a few boxes were torn, likely with missing items.

This is very common in Sierra Leone, but thankfully most of the goods have arrived intact.

Magnus and Daniel send huge thanks to all of our churches and donors of items, who have generously helped to make this possible, particularly during this year of the Covid pandemic. 

Inside the container

• Childrens’ book and reading schemes for the schools
• Study books and donated boxes of books from Christian Books Worldwide for the pastors
• Clothes for children and adults, school uniforms and baby items
• Toys, especially cuddly toys. These are gratefully received as most children in Sierra Leone have no toys
• Knitted items, childrens’ hats, blankets, cardigans and jumpers
• Health Clinic items: sheets, blankets, surplus from surgeries eg donated bandages, pads, saline, sample bottles, wound dressing kits and masks (at least 500 handmade masks are included) 
• Additional: bedding, school items and Christmas presents!

The shipment is being held at Bethesda, which is a home for children in need. The goods and shoe bags containing mixed items will be distributed from there to the Connexion Churches by Magnus and Daniel, who make absolutely sure that the children receive their shoe bags!

In addition, when Magnus travels to remote villages he takes items, such as clothes and toys for the villagers, brought to them with the love of Jesus. This forms a valuable part of his Christian outreach and the folk are extremely grateful. Magnus also supervises the distribution of items to ensure they are divided fairly and equally - there have been occasions where a few skirmishes have broken out over who gets what!

On announcement of the container’s arrival, Magnus reports that “Bethesda was turned upside down with excitement!”

We look forward to receiving some pictures when the shoe bags are distributed, and we praise and thank the Lord for the safe delivery of these goods to our communities in Sierra Leone!

The image shows children in Songo Loko receiving their shoe bags following dispatch of items from the UK last year

Work has temporarily halted on the construction and fitting of the new Health Centre in Sierra Leone, which will serve the urgent need for communities in Brama and Bethesda.

Two generous donations enabled the purchase of land for the Centre as well as the brick structure and roof. We give thanks for this fantastic answer to prayer and God's wonderful ability in prompting blessed people to contribute. 

Completion of the project, however, will require further funding, estimated in the region of £30,000. Windows have already been purchased, but they cannot be installed until money is raised to buy doors. The next stages would be to carry out works on the interior of the building: plastering, tiling, electrics and plumbing, followed by painting and decorating, and the installation of furniture and equipment.

An application has been made to Difid for a grant to cover the costs of the first two year's operation, including salaries for midwives, setting up visits to schools and villages, inoculations and general hygiene education.

A midwife is on 'stand-by' in readiness to go to Sierra Leone to implement everything needed to make the Health Centre available to the communities, but she is unable to take on this role until the building works are completed.

Prayer

We thank God for His amazing power to answer our prayers and ask that He will find a way for the necessary funds to be raised to complete this vital project, which has the potential to change so many lives within our Sierra Leone community.

Donate

If you would like to contribute towards the important work of The Connexion both in the UK and in Sierra Leone, please click on Donations. All contributions, no matter how small, are of huge value to enable us to continue the legacy of the Countess of Huntingdon.

Background to the need for a Health Centre

During their November visit to Sierra Leone, Janet O’Shea with Bethany and Esther Green were introduced to a church service congregation, where they noticed a young boy. Sitting next to his mother, he was in pain, whimpering quietly to himself, and it soon became obvious that there was something seriously wrong. His mother explained that two weeks earlier her son had been playing football when he fell and broke his leg - in two places. She could not afford medical help and could not raise the money for transport to reach a clinic where he could be treated.

At Mabang, the team met a young man with his two small children. He had just buried his wife because she had not been able to reach the hospital quickly enough.

In addition, at Brama School during a two-week visit in the summer, at least six children were taken ill with malaria, while at Bethesda two children needed treatment for malaria and one for typhoid.  

Help was given to those mentioned, but it left no doubt of a great need for improved health care facilities. 

Excellent progress is being made to the repairs of Jerusalem Avenue School, Sierra Leone, with the installation of a new roof.

The Sierra Leone Mission express deep gratitude to our UK Connexion churches for helping to raise funds to carry out this work. 

The building became unsafe a few years ago with the roof leaking badly and causing extensive damage to the interior of the school, particularly during the rainy seasons.

The Sierra Leone Mission has been working to raise necessary funds to cover this restoration project for two years now. With the contributions they have received, work has now begun on the installation of a second floor to the building. This will significantly increase the size of the school and make the entire building watertight with the completion of a new roof.

Huge thanks are conveyed to the Connexion Community for their generosity in making this possible.

We look forward to seeing more photographs as the work progresses!

Donate

If you would like to contribute towards the important work of The Connexion in Sierra Leone and the UK, please click on Donations. All contributions, no matter how small, are of huge value to enable us to continue the legacy of the Countess of Huntingdon.

The Sierra Leone Mission thank our UK Connexion churches for helping to raise funds for the repair of Jerusalem Avenue School, Sierra Leone.

The building became unsafe a few years ago with a badly leaking roof, which has caused extensive damage to the interior of the school during the rainy seasons.

The Sierra Leone Mission has been working to raise necessary funds to cover this restoration project for two years now. With the contributions they have received, work has now begun on the installation of a second floor to the building. This will significantly increase the size of the school and make the entire building watertight with the completion of a new roof.

Huge thanks are conveyed to the Connexion Community for their generosity in making this possible.

We look forward to seeing more photographs as the work progresses!

Donate

If you would like to contribute towards the important work of The Connexion in Sierra Leone and the UK, please click on Donations. All contributions, no matter how small, are of huge value to enable us to continue the legacy of the Countess of Huntingdon.

More of the shoe bags sent to our communities in Sierra Leone have been happily distributed to children from local schools and churches.

Magnus and Daniel send their grateful thanks to all of the Connexion church members and volunteers who have made the shoe bags possible with donated items - and quite a bit of hard work putting everything together. 

The shoe bags contain practical items, clothing, books and a selection of toys.

Below is a snippet of some of the children in receipt of their goodie bags!

 Donate

If you would like to contribute towards the important work of The Connexion both in the UK and in Sierra Leone, please click on Donations. All contributions, no matter how small, are of huge value to enable us to continue the legacy of the Countess of Huntingdon.

We thank God for the completion of the badly needed new block at Makomba School (illustrated in the photograph) which has been made possible through the generous support of Save the Children.

We pray for the right conditions to complete the building project for another of our schools at Jerusalem Avenue. 

Conference

Last week our Sierra Leone churches were able to come together, within Covid-19 safety guidelines, for their half-yearly conference.  

Commenting on the event, Magnus Bendu said: “It was great to be together again, albeit in the Covid-19 way. There is so much enthusiasm now for helping each other, with the stronger churches keen to support those who are weaker. The new health centre is also at the heart of the people. It was a hugely positive meeting. Everyone was happy and grateful.”

Prayers for the communities

We thank God for the blessing of Magnus, Daniel and the Sierra Leone leadership team, and for the care and support our churches wish to provide for each other.

We pray for continued development of the new Health Centre, which will provide a dramatic improvement for the poorer communities in Bethesda and surrounding areas. We also pray for protection over their health and wellbeing, not just from Covid-19, but also malaria and typhoid.

Covid-19 numbers for Sierra Leone (as of 4 August) are 1855 cases and 67 total deaths.

Donate 

If you would like to contribute towards the important work of The Connexion both in the UK and in Sierra Leone, please click on Donations. All contributions, no matter how small, are of huge value to enable us to continue the legacy of the Countess of Huntingdon. 

Children attending the church at Fabaina, Sierra Leone, were treated to a surprise arrival of shoe bags containing a host of goodies!

The church was able to reopen with restrictions, following four months of closure due to the coronavirus crisis.

Releasing the containers

During this time, considerable effort was being made to release two containers from the docks at Freeport, having been held there since their arrival on 5 December.

As well as the shoe bags, the containers held a whole range of items eagerly awaited by Bethesda Orphanage, schools and the local community.

• Sleeping bags, blankets, sheets, towels, curtains 
• Table cloths, crockery and cutlery
• Clothes and shoes for adults and children
• At least 60 boxes of new school uniforms
• 100s of school text books - children's story books, adult Christian books, and some new books that have been donated for the Evangelical library
• Assorted toys, as well as balls for football and netting for goals
• Furniture, bunk beds, cots, settees, and desks for Magnus and Daniel
• Sewing machines and manual typewriter for blind folk

The shoe bags were collated and donated by church members at Zion Community Church, St.Ives, Cradley Chapel, Ebley Chapel and Woodmancote Church.

Many thanks

On behalf of The Connexion and Sierra Leone Mission, please may we thank everybody for their prayers for the safe delivery of these invaluable items. Praise God!

Donate

If you would like to contribute towards the important work of The Connexion both in the UK and in Sierra Leone, please click on Donations. All contributions, no matter how small, are of huge value to enable us to continue the legacy of the Countess of Huntingdon.

Be inspired by Christians in Sierra Leone, who have come together 'remotely' in worship to sing a blessing over their country during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Click on the link below to view the You Tube recording.

Thank you for your prayers for Adama, who has been suffering from symptoms that resemble epilepsy.

Last week, Magnus accompanied Adama to the Cottage Children’s Hospital in Freetown. She received a consultation with a Doctor who recommended a series of clinical tests, including a blood count to detect any present disorders, such as malaria and typhoid, and a brain scan. 

Adama was given a referral to Cannaught Hospital, which is the largest hospital in Sierra Leone, and Magnus again took her for the next consultation. It was explained that the further tests and scan, which can help to ascertain whether the condition is suspected epilepsy, cannot be carried out yet due to the current Covid-19 situation. 

We will keep you posted about Adama’s progress and thank you for your continuing prayers for her tests, treatment and full recovery. In the meantime, we give thanks that her condition has not worsened and she is continuing to take medication that has been recommended whilst awaiting further investigation. 

The cost of treatment Adama has received so far of 380,000 Leone (approximately £32) has been covered, but in addition to the health costs, Magnus has needed to take two days out from work in order to take Adama to the hospital appointments in Freetown. 

As Magnus reaffirmed: “It will be such a blessing when the new health centre at Brama is completed”.

Donations

If you would like to contribute towards the completion of the new health centre in Brama, and/or important work of The Connexion in Sierra Leone and the UK, please click on Donations. All contributions, no matter how small, are of huge value to enable us to continue the legacy of the Countess of Huntingdon.