Travel Report September 2022

As the setting sun casts its last rays over Sierra Leone, we land safely in Freetown. From the plane we can see that the water in the river is high. It is the middle of the rainy season and it has rained a great deal this year.

Joyful schoolchildren

The children at the school are very happy to see us again. And the feeling is mutual. Recently we were able to arrange for the water the children drink to be filtered. There is now a water filter in every classroom. Above the water filters hang posters with information about the need for clean drinking water and instructions on how to keep the filter sets clean. There is also a Bible text alongside, about the conversation between the Lord Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well.

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst. — John 4:14

A filter installation has also been fitted to the tap of the water tank next to the church. It was quite a task to get everything in order with primitive means, but we succeeded. That a filter was needed became clear after only a few days, when we saw the first green residue forming in the filter.

Bible distribution

During this visit too we visited various villages and handed out God's Word to people who wanted a Bible. It is always a moving moment to be able to share such a rich message amid the impoverished circumstances in which the people live.

This time we also had the opportunity to hand out Bibles at a primary school. The Bibles were donated by the Gereformeerde Bijbelstichting.

The church is currently being renovated because, after two years, it has already become too small. For this reason, church services are temporarily being held under the veranda of the school.

Sunday school visit

The children have the opportunity to take part in the Sunday school program. First, the teacher reads a story from the children's Bible by H. van Dam. Afterwards the related questions are discussed and the children learn a Bible verse by heart. To finish, they make a coloring page.

The school year begins

On 19 September the new school year was officially opened, with various important people from the villages and the parents present. The daily opening is always a special moment in these villages: every morning the children come to the square between the school and the church, where they sing together, pray, and read and discuss a passage from the Bible.

Every school day, 45 minutes are spent on Bible and religious education. For this lesson, in the two oldest groups we distributed volumes of the Groot Bijbelsdagboek (B.J. van Wijk), donated by the Bunyan Foundation. In the younger groups we distributed a Bible reading booklet about the life of Moses, donated by the GBS.

Opening of the Limba clinic

It was a festive moment when the ribbon was cut and the clinic was officially opened. The onlookers were briefly pointed to Psalm 103, which speaks of sickness being healed, and were told about the one Physician who grants healing to those who are spiritually sick.

At the clinic, eye tests were carried out for all the pupils of the school and residents of various villages; some people walked 3 hours to reach the clinic. Where necessary, glasses were fitted. These glasses are prepared in the Netherlands and brought along and distributed on a following visit.

Commissioning of the Rehoboth well

Meanwhile the second well is also finished and in use. This well was realized in Kwadima. During the official handover of the well to the village chief, we presented a sign bearing the name of the well: 'Rehoboth'. This well is used mainly by the pupils of a small school located nearby.

Beautiful moments

It was a journey full of beautiful moments, encouragements and also trials. The latter often cannot be captured in photos. There is much material and spiritual need. It is our hope and prayer that the work evangelist Daniel is allowed to do, and the Word that is sown daily, may bear rich fruit for eternity. To God's glory!

God's faithfulness

Shortly before our landing back at Schiphol, a beautiful rainbow appeared in the clouds. We sent a photo of it to Daniel. That same day he sent a photo back showing the rainbow over the church and school. That gives courage, for God is faithful!