We are delighted to announce that we have received a generous legacy from Ken Stone, who was a passionate supporter of our work in Sierra Leone.  Combined with donations we’ve received from churches and individuals this means we will now be able to complete the main Health Centre building in Brama, and buy essential equipment. 

We praise God and thank him for this wonderful answer to prayer! 

Magnus has begun sourcing beds and necessary equipment for the Health Centre, which will in effect be a hospital for mothers and children. Outstanding work includes the completion of a security wall, topped with barbed wire, to prevent break-ins, the purchase and fitting of solar panels and plumbing and electrical work.

 

Attempted Break-in

In June the Health Centre was subject to an attempted raid by a group of bandits. Thankfully they were detected by security guards, and the police arrived quickly, which prevented damage to the building and theft of materials. We thank God that nothing was missing and that nobody was hurt during the altercation.

The role of the Health Centre

Once completed the Health Centre and patient wards will be able to serve communities from 35 villages in the local vicinity. Trained staff will work in the clinic and also support communities in the villages, helping them to improve general hygiene and implementing vaccination programmes. They will also be able to provide post-natal health care for mothers and their babies. 

Health Facts in Sierra Leone

• The child and infant mortality rate in England and Wales in 2018 was 3.8 per 1,000. In Sierra Leone it was 78 per 1,000. 
• Between January and March 2020 in Freetown alone there were 581 maternal deaths. 
• Maternal deaths account for 36% of all deaths amongst women aged 15 - 49 years. 
• Sierra Leone is the most dangerous place in the world to be pregnant. 
• There are only 245 doctors in Sierra Leone serving 7 million people. 
• 1 in 17 women won’t survive pregnancy or delivery. 
• 60% of population live below the poverty line. 
• 1 in 3 people do not have access to clean water. 
• 3 in 5 people live in rural areas. 
• MOST deaths could be prevented! 

The majority of maternal and infant mortality in Sierra Leone is caused mainly by birth asphyxia, prematurity, sepsis and congenital deformity, which can be prevented. 

A pregnant mother-to-be living in a rural setting cannot easily access medical help. Most often there will be an elderly woman in the vicinity to 'assist' with the birth. These untrained women have been identified by the Sierra Leone Government as the primary reason for the country's maternal deaths. This type of support is now illegal, but often when problems occur it is too late to travel to a health facility and usually there is no money for transport or health care.

Funds still needed

Whilst we are delighted to be able to complete the main building work and provide the Health Centre with necessary medical equipment, further financial support will still be needed, particularly during the first few months of operation, until the centre is established and running itself. The centre will be invaluable to the local communities, helping to save the lives of children, babies and pregnant mothers.

Donate

If you would like to make a donation, to help SLM's work in Sierra Leone, just click on the Donations button, located at the top of each website page. Please also state if you would like your donation to go towards a particular project.

Alternatively donate by Bank Transfer:

Barclays Bank
Sort code: 20-16-08, Account number: 30799076, Account name: Sierra Leone Mission 

(NB We are very grateful to receive anonymous donations, but when making a bank transfer donation, the donor's name is needed for auditing purposes. Please be assured this information will remain private.)

Or send a cheque to:

Sierra Leone Mission. Postal address: Janet Foord, 2 Cheyne Close, Church Milton, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 2SQ

 Thank you!

The children at Kabala and Kamakontakay church schools in Sierra Leone are proudly wearing new uniforms, which were sent out to them by The Connexion's Sierra Leone Mission (SLM).

Kabala Church School, Peterya

The church in the village of Peterya in Kabala was established in November. Kabala is one of the main towns in Northern Sierra Leone, and has an ethnically diverse population. The community as a whole is predominantly Muslim, but there is also a substantial Christian minority. 

Their Pastor, Mark, is a keen evangelist who attended church in Bureh Town. He is leading the church in Peterya and also established the school for the village children.

Kamakontakay Church School

The church at Kamakontakay, which is constructed from mud blocks and a corrugated iron sheet roof, was largely built by members of the village community, with support and funding from the SLM. The building is used as both a church and school for the local children, which now has a regular attendance of a small fellowship of pupils. With the nearest primary school being three miles distant, the school provided a first-time opportunity for children to attend a school in their own village. 

Kamakontakay is a Muslim dominated village to the north of Sierra Leone, 160 miles from Freetown. When the first foundations were laid for the new church building, the village Imam joined in prayer for the dedication of the land and building, bringing the whole community together in shared celebration.

The Connexion in Sierra Leone

Magnus and his team work tirelessly to serve some of the poorest communities in Sierra Leone, often in far-flung, small villages. Continuing the legacy of the Countess of Huntingdon, and her passion to spread the gospel, The Connexion now has more than 30 churches in Sierra Leone with over 3500 members.

How to Donate

If you would like to make a donation, to help SLM's work in Sierra Leone, just click on the Donations button, located at the top of each website page. Please also state if you would like your donation to go towards a particular project.

Alternatively donate by Bank Transfer:

Barclays Bank
Sort code: 20-16-08, Account number: 30799076, Account name: Sierra Leone Mission 

(NB We are very grateful to receive anonymous donations, but when making a bank transfer donation, the donor's name is needed for auditing purposes. Please be assured this information will remain private.)

Or send a cheque to:

Sierra Leone Mission. Postal address: Janet Foord, 2 Cheyne Close, Church Milton, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 2SQ

You may have read the recent article 'Roof Disaster in Makomba' and learned how God wonderfully provided through his people in the UK for Makomba School's roof to be repaired after a storm. It was an urgent need as the walls are made of mud bricks and the rains were coming. The lovely blue roof was installed just before the rains came the next day. 

Praise the Lord for His perfect timing!

 

Magnus' prayer points for June 

• Pray for the Government to be endowed with special wisdom to govern well at this time of serious increase in the cost of living in Sierra Leone. In a country where the vast majority live on under $1 a day, escalation of prices is a big trouble.
• Pray for strength and courage for our evangelists in Kabala, Mathoir, Kono and Kamakontakay - Mark, Michael, Kwame and John respectively.
• Let us continue to pray for the funds needed to complete the Health Centre. The need for a proper heath centre, particularly facing on children's health, becomes urgent as everyday there are parents losing their lovely children due to lack of access to quality health care.
• Please pray for the sick. Michael Cargo at Fufu water (hernia and foot sore), Elder Jobbie Williams at Conteh, Waterloo (diabetes & stroke), Rachael Dove at Goderich (kidney issues), Zainab Kakai at Bureh Town (stress related) and many with malaria, typhoid and cold, which is common here in this season.

 

A portion of the grant received annually from the Cheshunt Foundation has been allocated to an educational programme for new Sunday School Teachers and Lay Preachers in Sierra Leone.

The training, which is provided by the Whitefield Christian Institute, began on Saturday 21 May for six weeks. During the course, participants are required to complete various assignments and also take examinations.

The origins of the Cheshunt Foundation go back to its roots as a Training College for Independent Ministers, founded in Trevecca in 1768 by the Countess of Huntingdon. When the College moved to Cheshunt in Hertfordshire in 1792, it was renamed Cheshunt College, before moving again to Cambridge in 1905 and finally merging with Westminster College from 1967. 

It is wonderful to see the work of the Cheshunt Foundation continuing the Countess's legacy in Sierra Leone. Offering opportunities for individuals to gain the type of theological training that would ordinarily be unavailable to them.

 

A violent windstorm completely destroyed the roof of one of The Connexion’s schools in Makomba, Sierra Leone in early May. 

Magnus Bendu contacted the Sierra Leone Mission (SLM) the following day (5 May) to ask for prayer and assistance as the only option would be to replace the entire roof, measuring some 23 ft x 50ft. In the meantime, children had been asked not to attend school as they could not be safely accommodated. 

Broad Oak School was originally constructed in 1997 from mud blocks with a roof of corrugated iron sheeting on rafters. However, these had worn over time, enabling the strong winds to lift the roof right off. And with the threat of the heavy rain season imminent this posed an even more serious problem to ensure protection of the mud block building.

The SLM shared the news with members of the committee and prayer was quickly answered, with one member generously agreeing to donate funds to cover the cost of building a new roof.

By Monday 9 May the money had been sent and work began immediately. By Wednesday 11 May the roof was completed, just in time before the rains arrived on Thursday!

We thank God for his miracles and continued generosity. Without this fast and benevolent gifting, the entire school may have been destroyed.

 Donations

If you would like to make a donation, to help SLM's work in Sierra Leone, just click on the Donations button, located at the top of each website page. Please also state if you would like your donation to go towards a particular project.

Alternatively donate by Bank Transfer:

Barclays Bank
Sort code: 20-16-08, Account number: 30799076, Account name: Sierra Leone Mission 

(NB We are very grateful to receive anonymous donations, but when making a bank transfer donation, the donor's name is needed for auditing purposes. Please be assured this information will remain private.)

Or send a cheque to:

Sierra Leone Mission. Postal address: Janet Foord, 2 Cheyne Close, Church Milton, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 2SQ

 

The origins of the Countess of Huntingdon’s missionary work in Sierra Leone date back to the 18thcentury, and go on today through the support of The Connexion and Sierra Leone Mission (SLM).

At the annual Connexion Conference, Magnus Bendu shared a selection of messages he’d gathered from a range of individuals who have benefited from this valuable partnership between the UK and Sierra Leone, which continues the Countess of Huntingdon’s legacy.

Magnus Bendu - excerpt from his Conference Report

‘The administration of The Connexion is very highly indebted to our UK partnership and friendship through the Sierra Leone Mission. Our friendship has flourished greatly over the years and they have been our major life support after God. They are always willing to help us and to unconditionally partner with the ministry in Sierra Leone. They continue to provide for the running costs of the Bethesda Orphanage, provide grants for teacher and pastor stipends and support other projects including scholarships for teacher's education and pastoral training as and when they can. They have also met the personal needs of many. They pay hospital bills, school and college fees, give stipends to poor widows, give gifts to friends and send the almighty shoe bags every year to the children – the list goes on!’ 

Abdul Mansaray, Mabang

‘I have been a teacher for over 15 years now at the school in Mabang. The Government is not paying me. The Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion has paid my fees to do a Teacher's Certificate course and has been giving me transportation to get to the class and pay a salary every month. I thank you so much. What I feel so good about is that even though the money is small, they pay us very promptly and they say it is the people from England. I thank them so much.’ 

Ambrose Junisa

‘The relationship between the Countess of Huntingdon’s Mission in Sierra Leone and that of The Connexion in UK, I personally believe has been a kind of mother and son relationship, which does not get broken. Your blessing in my life as a person remains uncountable. I trust that the good Lord will strengthen this unending friendship as ever.’ 

Nancy Sawyer, Hailsham Gospel - referring to FSL support

‘What they did for me! I have never seen this kind of goodness in my life. After my husband died, they paid me every month as if I am a worker for 12 years. That amount was what sustained me and my children until I had a stable garden.’

Alieu Kamara, Magbafty

'My house was almost falling when the roof was leaking. They covered my shame and bought the corrugated iron sheet for me. That one thing that our partners in the UK did for my family, besides many more as a Pastor, I will never forget.'

Hassam Bangura, resident of Manallo - referring to Mortimer West End's support to re-roof burned houses

‘I am a Muslim and my house was burnt down as a result of political violence, these white people did not only help their Christian brothers but also few of us who are Muslims. Since that day I know that Christians are very generous and good people. I don’t know how to thank them.’ 

Christiana Mansaray, elderly woman in Manallo

‘One good thing I will always remember about our friends in England; I don’t remember their names now, but I can see their faces, all of them, is that during the war in Sierra Leone, they supplied us rice every month and even Muslims were coming to Church and some of them never returned to the Mosque again.’

 

(The photograph shows some of the Sierra Leone children receiving their shoe bags)

 

To Donate

If you would like to make a donation, to help SLM's work in Sierra Leone, just click on the Donations button, located at the top of each website page. Please also state if you would like your donation to go towards a particular project.

Alternatively donate by Bank Transfer:

Barclays Bank
Sort code: 20-16-08, Account number: 30799076, Account name: Sierra Leone Mission 

(NB We are very grateful to receive anonymous donations, but when making a bank transfer donation, the donor's name is needed for auditing purposes. Please be assured this information will remain private.)

Or send a cheque to:

Sierra Leone Mission. Postal address: Janet Foord, 2 Cheyne Close, Church Milton, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 2SQ

 

 

Bethesda Orphanage in Brama, Sierra Leone was originally founded in 2013 to provide a place for children to come for food. But on one particularly rainy night in September 2013 the visiting children asked to stay, thus beginning the future of Bethesda as a full-time home and sanctuary. 

Today Bethesda accommodates 19 children, who now live in a purpose built home that was constructed in 2016, following a miraculous answer to prayer.

The house is run by Magnus Bendu, assisted by Marie the ‘House Mum’ who takes care of the home, meals and the children’s general needs and James, the ‘House Dad’, who gives the children extra tuition and is responsible for the maintenance of the building. The Orphanage also has a security man who lives on site.

The aim of Bethesda is to rescue abandoned or ‘lost’ children from the streets and give them a secure and loving Christian environment in which they can grow and thrive.

Many of the children are unaware of their exact age, but roughly they range from 8 to 18 years. Two of the older children, Abdul and Mariatu, are leaving to start University, but Bethesda will still remain their home.

Funding the Orphanage relies entirely on charitable donations, much of which comes through the Sierra Leone Mission; as does the raising of additional money to keep the children healthy and enable them to reach their potential.

Sponsoring a child is invaluable in helping to achieve this. The sum of £27 per month gives enough to cover the cost of food, clothes, health care and education for one child.

If you, or your church, would like to sponsor one of the children, please get in touch with Janet O’Shea: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Janet will then send you details of the child you are helping and set up a standing order. Your sponsorship has the power change a child’s life completely, so please do consider.

Thank you!

 

(The photo shows the children of Bethesda Orphanage, pictured with Magnus Bendu on Christmas Day 2021)

Following the generous support for Abdul's and Mariatu's progression to university, the two students from Bethesda Orphanage in Sierra Leone, would like to express their gratitude.

Thanks from Abdul

Our destiny is not created by the shoes we wear but by the steps we take. This is to express my gratitude and how thankful and happy I am with what is happening to me. Words are not enough to express my happiness and gratefulness to all of you. It is with vast pleasure that I send this special thanks from me, Abdul Mansaray, to all of you who conferred as a body to support me and my educational career in order to see me become a renowned person in the world at large. As Christians, we must always welcome the lost and receive people of all kind with Christ's love to support the weak and needy.  

Let me take this opportunity to thank you all for the support you are giving me. This support has a great impact in my life, thinking back where Bethesda took me from. If I was not taken from my past life as a small boy 12 years ago, by now I would have been hopeless or in prison or dead. 

Today I am talking about University. As I go to College I am going with a rest heart as you have given me a computer and a phone which will make learning easy for me. I really appreciate them and may God bless you. I promise to make you proud and to assure you that I will do my best to fulfil my aspirations. Please continue to pray for us, for God's direction and protection.  

Thanks from Mariatu

On behalf of all of the children at Bethesda at Brama Town in Sierra Leone West Africa, I would like to thank you all for your generous support to the orphanage. I am happy to tell you that your generous and selfless support made me achieve more than I ever imagined. 

Everything that has happened to me is just like a dream. Through your unimaginable support, you have made us achieve personal happiness, social life and academic success. We have gradually progressed from one stage to the other, just because of your support. If it were not for you, we would not have come this far. Besides academic achievement, our ways of life have been transformed morally and we have also influenced our peers to something good. As a member of Bethesda, you have made me understand the importance of helping the poor and needy. Your investment in my life will never go in vain because when my life fully succeeds, I will try very hard to replicate your generosity and kindness to hopeless children wherever they are, in the street, at homes or the villages. This is closest to my heart. 

Kindly note that my achievement this far couldn't be done without your intervention in my life. Therefore, I deeply appreciate your willingness and determination to come in and sponsor us. We hope and wish that our association and relationship will be maintained even in the future. Together we can always change the world to become a better place. Thank you.

A serious fire broke out in the early hours of 21 February at the Milton Margai School for the Blind in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

The fire ignited at the centre of the school building, which cut off a means of escape for the 30 resident girls who were asleep in their dormitory. Matron raised the alarm and she, with members of the local community, bravely ran through the flames to rescue the pupils. 

Thankfully, there were no fatalities and none of the girls are badly hurt, but they are receiving counselling to help them to deal with the effects of trauma.

Sierra Leone Mission has donated £1000 to help with the initial rebuilding costs, and any further donations would be greatly welcomed to assist the school.

To Donate

If you would like to make a donation, please click on the Donations button, located at the top of each website page. Please state if you would like your donation to go towards a particular project.

Alternatively donate by Bank Transfer:

Barclays Bank
Sort code: 20-16-08, Account number: 30799076, Account name: Sierra Leone Mission 

(NB We are very grateful to receive anonymous donations, but when making a bank transfer donation, the donor's name is needed for auditing purposes. Please be assured this information will remain private.)

Or send a cheque to:

Sierra Leone Mission. Postal address: Janet Foord, 2 Cheyne Close, Church Milton, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 2SQ

You may recall an article we posted on the website this time last year about Abdul and Mariatu. They are the two oldest children at Bethesda Orphanage, having been rescued at a very young age from the streets of Freetown by Magnus Bendu. They were brought to live at Bethesda, which gave them a home, new brothers and sisters, and ensured that they had a good education with opportunities to study hard.

With their time at Bethesda coming to an end Abdul and Mariatu were making plans to move on to further education - something they could never have dreamed of doing living on the streets. 

They continued to apply themselves to their studies throughout their time at Bethesda. Abdul was appointed Head Boy and Mariatu was elected Student Chaplain. Having worked hard for their final exams, they hoped for results that would make them eligible to gain a place at University. Abdul to study law and Mariatu to study medicine.

An appeal was made at the end of 2020 by the Sierra Leone Mission for financial contribution towards the cost of enabling these bright, hardworking teenagers to achieve the next stage of their education. The estimated cost of Abdul’s four-year course was £542 and Mariatu’s seven-year course was then estimated at £620. Thanks be to God for his answer to prayer in bringing a generous donation to the SLM to enable them the possibility of going to University. 

We are now delighted to inform you that both Abdul and Mariatu received good exam grades and as a result have been able to apply for University courses. Abdul had at one time considered studying Law, but decided to apply for a BSc course in Computer Science, as an alternative, at the Canadian University of Modern Technology. During his application interview, however, he was advised to switch to Mass Communication. This option  reduces the need for a strong background in science (which has been limited for Abdul) and also offers a path to study Law as further study. Mariatu continues to seek a career in medicine and has successfully gained a place on a BSc course in nursing at Njala University. 

We are hugely thankful to the sponsors who came forward with money to cover Abdul's and Mariatu's University tuition fees (which have since doubled). However there are still additional costs that have not yet been funded...  

Both Abdul and Mariatu will need a personal computer and mobile phone. The computers are estimated at £368 each and the phones are £103 each. In addition, the costs that will be incurred for their food is estimated at £23 per month.

Prayer is a marvellous thing and every time help is needed, God prompts the right people to come forward. Our prayer today is that God will again prompt 'someone out there' who may consider making a contribution, or perhaps a one-off payment, to cover these additional costs. And in doing so they will enable a hugely exciting and beneficial adventure for two street children.

Thanks be to God!

 

Donate

If you would like to make a donation, please click on the Donations button, located at the top of each website page. Please state if you would like your donation to go towards a particular project (eg Abdul and Mariatu).

Alternatively donate by Bank Transfer:

Barclays Bank
Sort code: 20-16-08, Account number: 30799076, Account name: Sierra Leone Mission 

(NB We are very grateful to receive anonymous donations. When making a bank transfer donation, the donor's name is needed for auditing purposes, but this information will remain private.)

Or send a cheque to:

Sierra Leone Mission. Postal address: Janet Foord, 2 Cheyne Close, Church Milton, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 2SQ