Monday, March 28, 2011

Not a common culture but on a common Savior

"Christ brought us together through his death on the cross. The Cross got us to embrace, and that was the end of hostility." Ephesians 2:14-16

Christianity and my Western views sometimes seem like they blur together. I likely have erred in some discussions because my "Western beliefs" would not tolerate "things like that". Though I have to be careful to note that things are different, accept those differences, at times embrace them, learn from them, experience their culture in its uniqueness. Culture is beautiful, there is much in the Church's that are unique and beautiful. We come into a different type of community, one that is common in Christ. The music, the dance, a culture that is often vibrant and intimate. 

The culture is quite relaxed in certain areas when it comes to Christianity. Here you can claim to be both Islamic and Christian. While Islam believes Christ existed and that he was even a prophet it certainly disclaims he was a Savior while Christians believe in Christ as our personal Savior. It is also accepted in some churches that you can participate in Shaman practices, rituals, and secret societies.

This can be seen around the world in different elements as well. Here the culture is full of rich stories and tales that branch from Century old beliefs. I pray that the culture here and around the world can add beauty to our relationship with Christ and not hinder it. 


I had the privileged of gaining some cultural experience of cooking groundnut soup with Aunty Baby and Mrs. Kamara. We laughed together, Aunty Baby shook her head at my attempts to gut fish, the kids looked on with funny faces. We enjoyed the beautiful afternoon together in community. I enjoyed this time very much and look forward to more cultural experiences with Aunty Baby and the families in the community if they are willing to put up with my amazing cooking skills! 

"Now all who believed were together" Acts 2:44

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Feeding the Soul

I was starting to become anxious about needing to do more here. Then God spoke through many avenues to give me a peace about just being present. I am learning to feed hearts, loving on people can feed the soul and thus last past the temporary. Matthew 6:25, 33 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well."

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Reaching Inward to Reach Out

It is hard to be discerning, to know when to give. To know how to give, and give joyfully! You have to check yourself, be prayerful, and be seeking God's word. Whether you have time, the money, or the talents as each of us has been given gifts (1 Peter 4:10) and are we going to bury what God has so graciously given us to have as stewards or will God say to us, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!" Matthew 25: 14-30 is the parable of the talents, where Jesus tells of two men who went out and used what they had been given and multiplied their master's talents and the one man who hid his talent in the ground. 
There is a great need here in Sierra Leone, many are impoverished, they live in a cycle of corruption, there is abuse in the schools, the homes, and the streets. I pray that this country and individuals will see Christians rise above to a state of giving. Giving of their gifts: time, money, talents. Whether a Christian Sierra Leonean chooses to be an example to her neighbors by showing compassion instead of rising up in defensiveness, or an American chooses to give up a meal once a week to give $5 or so dollars to a village in Africa that Love will be an Irresistible Revolution that will have Christians reaching out more because God first reached out to us! 
Blessing & Love,
Jaimie
Please check out my sista Bethany's blog as she has taken the initiative to reach out to a village here in Sierra Leone! I will be able to see this movement in action as I visit the village that will benefit from these seeds!
http://jbeo.blogspot.com/

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Embody God's Love

I am so close to having met all the children in the program! Just a handful left to see! The path to finding all these kids has proven difficult at times. Some of these kids live far into the Bush, some families do not have a phone, and others have not wanted to be found.
The Hope for Children program benefits over 350 kids in Sierra Leone (not including HANCI which is another division of the program). The kids that are in this sponsorship program are directly provided with school supplies, school fees, clothing, food, and health care. It was not a surprise then when we discovered that the children who did not want to be found where kids in jeopardy of being kicked out of the program because of not attending school along with various other reasons.
 It is incredible that God is in touch with each and every one of us. It doesn’t matter where we live, an American City or out in the African Bush, there is always an open line to speak directly to Him through Christ, and even if we do not want to know Him or don’t want Him to be a part of our everyday life, He is. 
It certainly can be reassuring to know that God is always with us and that He offers grace when we fall short of His standards. That if we are Children of God we are no longer in jeopardy. We have no reason to hide from our God.
What a blessed assurance! God is there for all and never will He turn us away. Jesus came with this radical message that the Pharisees were wrong in being all about rules and turning their backs to those who did not follow their “Righteous Rules”. Jesus has a Kingdom for everyone that comes to him that is not about rules but about Love. Our call is to Love God and Love people. What else do we need to start changing this broken world?! The female mutilation, the physical abuse, the corruption, the hunger in Sierra Leone would be a thing of the past if everyone knew how to Love as Jesus loved. God is at work here, He is near to everyone in Sierra Leone. I pray that I can let the people I encounter know that this is true by displaying His love by loving them!
Sierra Leone is a Country that is battling a huge spiritual war. Everywhere you can see it but here with the disparity people seek things that are very much evil.  It has such a stronghold that even the Christians hold onto some of these beliefs instead of clinging to the truth in the Bible. I hear women telling me that their husband/boyfriend does not love them unless he beats them. The women truly believe that the man has to show that he is the head of the home using beating as discipline. Many people seek traditional medicine and take part in traditional rituals. They practice in witchcraft, ritual human sacrifice, and coming of age ceremonies in which young men are beaten and left in the Bush to fend for themselves for a month, and women undergo genital mutilation as well as other rituals. Please be praying that God will be working in the lives of the Sierra Leoneans. That they can know that God offers freedom from Traditions and a Love that knows the Truth, a Love that will overcome the traditions that continue to harm this Country and its people.
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

Be praying specifically for a young boy who was a recent victim in horrific rituals. I do not even know all the details and will not go into details but what he witnessed was another boy being offered as limb sacrifices.  It is incredible difficult to understand how this is happening in our world, we seem to think we are a developed people but the Devil very much has a foothold.
God is definitely in control though! I love spending time with my neighbors and the Hope for Children kids. I was outside a few days ago with Mammay Sallay and this lady has a heart of gold. She has taken in several kids, some her grandchildren while others I do not believe are related to her. None the less she loves on them. When Rahim came home from school she sat with him asking him all about his day, totally investing her time and interest in his life. Something many neglect in their everyday rush of chores. Many parents come to our meetings we hold at the house every other Sunday where they are taught biblical parenting ways. They take ownership by discussing the topics and asking many questions and developing tools to help one another. There is many eager to learn how to please God, many just need someone to take the time to disciple them. God is moving in this neighborhood and using the Hope for Children program to offer hope through God’s people to these sponsored families.
Be praying that as God is pouring out His love into everyone on all the earth we are convicted that we are Christ’s body and the ones who need to be the physical embodiment of His Love. That we as Christ’s body rise up in prayer for the spiritual warfare happening in Sierra Leone and all over the World and we use the gifts given to us to do our part.
Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.