Special Events: Rebuilding Hope in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone, in the heart of West Africa, is awakening after 10 years of civil and rebel wars. The hopeless devastation portrayed in Blood Diamonds, Howdy Body and A Long Way Gone—Memoirs of a Boy Soldier is being replaced by feelings of hope. In place of destroyed and looted buildings and villages comes a rebuilding based on hope for the future. During the Lenten Season, St. Luke’s will focus on learning about the culture, the people and the needs of Sierra Leone.

Your donations will help to provide UMC General Hospital at Kissy the infrastructure to house an X-ray and blood analyzer machine that is critical in diagnosing illnesses, broken bones and internal problems.

Kissy started as a small outpatient maternity clinic to which was added an eye hospital. Looted during the war, the hospital survived and began to prosper under the leadership of Dr. Dennis Marke, a Sierra Leonian physician, who began as a volunteer medical officer during the wars. In January 2006, it officially expanded into a “general hospital” with the addition of a surgery and post-surgery unit. It now is a campus of African-style buildings, most without windows or screens. Water and electricity is provided by generators that run only a portion of the day. Kissy serves approximately 100 inpatients in male and female wards, a children’s unit, pre- and post-natal units and post-surgery unit. It has large outpatient programs in prenatal, malnutrition and HIV/AIDS. Kissy is the only facility in the eastern third of Freetown and one of three inpatient hospitals in this a city of over 1 million people.

Your donations will also help Taiama Secondary School which was damaged and looted by rebels. Four hours from Freetown,Taiama is a poor village of 18,000 people with 640 students. They are working hard to survive and prosper. All water sources in the community are polluted by illness causing pathogens. A well that is deep, safe and sealed is needed for clean water. The school needs to be rebuilt, the library expanded and classroom supplies shipped.

Your donations will also help rebuild a community clinic that was badly damaged in the war.

There will be many opportunities to learn more about the people of Sierra Leone during Lent and our 90 Minutes in 90 Days theme of Our Health, Our World, Our People. See other opportunities listed elsewhere in this issue of Offerings, as noted. The following are some very special events you won’t want to miss.

Sierra Leone Cultural Exchange
Sunday, Feb. 10, 10:30AM and 12:15PM, Great Hall

Join Tegloma International Federation (Indiana Chapter of Sierra Leoneons who live in Indiana), World Missions and the Inclusiveness Team on a journey into Sierra Leone. This cultural exchange will give you the opportunity to taste foods from Africa, see village life after the Rebel Wars, hear sounds of native music and sights of this African culture.

Sneaker Sunday
Sunday March 2

Participate in the collection of sneakers “gently used or new” to be sent to Sierra Leone. Make this a family project for your 90/90. Wash, polish, replace shoe laces or catch a sale so the sneakers are in top shape.All sizes are needed, especially for children. Your sneakers will save a life. How? When people, especially children, walk and run barefoot to work, school or the through the village, many times their feet get cut. Infections usually result from the cut which can spread through the body and the person dies because health care is not available. Bring sneakers to church and deposit in the containers around the church and in the West Passage World Mission’s area. Thank you for helping to save a life.

Hunger Banquet
March 9, Great Hall
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Jim Morris, retired Executive Director of World Hunger with the United Nations
TICKETS: $10, (on sale in West Passage and church office four weeks prior to the event)
Childcare will be available.

Learn about and experience what World Hunger is all about.What is the food distribution of the world? Learn firsthand about the “Developed Nations, Level 1” who have the luxury of 10% of the world’s food; see how the “Developed Nations, Level 2” consume 30% of the world’s food; experience and see the 60% of “Undeveloped Nations” who struggle each day for something to eat. Watch for flyers, bulletin announcements and the Communion to learn more about World Hunger. Money will go to support the “Nutrition Program” at UMC General Hospital at Kissy, Freetown, Sierra Leone and to “Feed a Family” in Taiama, Sierra Leone. You will not want to miss this banquet!!