Deciding to tidy away Christmas cards in the bookshop at the weekend, Jan Foord found an envelope on the doorstep addressed to her, containing £1000 for the Health Centre in Sierra Leone from an anonymous donor. 

This wonderful gift will be added to a generous donation received before Christmas of £500 and funds generated from a December stall outside Zion Community Church, which totalled a further £500. 

And minutes after receiving Jan’s email, sharing the news of the ‘bookshop’ donation, to her surprise, Janet O’Shea received another donation of £1200 to put towards university fees for Abdul and Mariatu.

Praise God!

Abdul and Mariatu

Abdul and Mariatu are the two oldest children at Bethesda. At a very young age they were rescued from the streets of Freetown by Magnus Bendu and brought to live at Bethesda orphanage. He gave them a home, new brothers and sisters, and ensured that they had a good education and studied hard. Now their time at Bethesda is coming to an end and they are moving on to further education - something they could never have dreamed of doing living on the streets. 

When Janet visited Bethesda in 2018 with Bethany and Esther Green, they spoke to the children about their career aspirations and received many answers: Pastor, Doctor, Lawyer, Nurse, and even Prime Minister! 

Abdul and Mariatu have continued to apply themselves to their studies. Abdul has been appointed Head Boy and Mariatu is Student Chaplain. Both are working towards their final exams, and depending on the results, they will be eligble to go to university. Abdul hopes to study law and Mariatu hopes 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 their dreams and go on to serve their communities. The estimated cost of Abdul’s four-year course is £542 and Mariatu’s seven-year course is estimated at £620. We thank God for his answer in prayer of bringing such a generous donation to the SLM to help these deserving young people gain access to opportunities that will change their lives! 

With the creation of the new Health Centre, it would be equally amazing if Mariatu will one day be able to work there.

Health Centre

The completion of the Health Centre will make a vital difference to people’s lives, as Magnus describes:

‘The healing ministry in Sierra Leone is a huge need. This is an even greater need for children whose health care facilities in Sierra Leone is one of the poorest in the world. For many years now, we have always been among the worst countries in terms of maternal, infant and child mortality rates. Beyond the statistics, I see this practically every now and then. Many children die of illnesses and diseases that could have been prevented with access to health care facilities. In the location where the new clinic is being built for instance, there is no specialized clinic or hospital for children in over 50 miles radius with very bad roads to add to the problem. The only hospital focused on children which is 28 miles away serves the entire city of Freetown and its environs, which means those from the rural areas will sometimes return with their children dead without going beyond the queue.’

Magnus adds:

‘The new clinic, which has been named the Ralph O’Shea Memorial Children’s Clinic will initially focus on providing primary health care for children and also treat other patients generally. The structural part of the building is at a very advanced stage. This is thanks to the SLM for supporting the initiative and to the late Morgan Pearce of the UK who mainly funded over 95% of the work done so far, yet preferred to be anonymous until his departure to be with the Lord on the day we started roofing. His legacy in Sierra Leone will never die.’

Thanks

The Connexion and the Sierra Leone Mission express huge thanks to all those who have so kindly and generously contributed to these life changing causes. We also give thanks to God for his amazing answer to prayer and need.

How to give to the Sierra Leone Mission 

Click on the Donations button at the top of the website page. This will take you through to the SLM donations account.

You can give by Bank Transfer to: 

Barclays
Sort code: 20-16-08 

Account number: 30799076 

Account name: Sierra Leone Mission 

If you would prefer, please send a cheque to: 

Janet Foord, 2 Cheyne Close, Church Milton Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 2SQ 

Every pound given, goes to support our brothers and sisters in Sierra Leone. 

 

We are delighted to receive some photos of the Bethesda children celebrating their Christmas in Sierra Leone!

The children were clearly very happy to receive their Christmas gift shoe bags, which contain treats and toys donated and packed by members of our Connexion churches in the UK. After which, they were able to enjoy an outdoor lunch and a cooling swim in the sea!

     

 

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.