Snapshots from Freetown, Sierra Leone

I had the privilege to spend the last week of October, 2013, with Michael Turay and his beautiful family.  Michael is the head pastor of Grace Point Bible Church, in the Regents district of Freetown.  He is also the founder of Aletheia Ministries. I met Michael at a great study on the book of Romans offered in Spokane last January/February.  Michael was one of the teachers.  During a break, I noticed him studying and taking photos of the small church that we met at; asked him about it, shared what I do - and the next thing you know I find myself halfway around the world in Freetown. 



Michael & Georgiana Turay

 

Grace Point Bible Church

 



Michaels wife, children, and mother were wonderful to spend time with - they love our Lord, are sharp, fun, and humble.  They fed me too much, included me in their family for the week.  Michael took me to their church, and to the site where they will build their new church and ministry.  This is a VERY challenging site - to say the least. In addition, I was able to share in in their daily routine of loading up the car beyond capacity (I added to this "beyond" part); dropping of his wife at her work, picking up two or three of the Aletheia Ministry team, dropping off their 13 year old at his school, and then the 4 year old at his school (and sometimes the neighbor boy as well), before heading to the Aletheia Ministry office. Just driving around in Freetown is a faith building experience - I am grateful that Michael did the driving!



Nathan, Donald, & Samone Turay

Grace Point & Aletheia focus on teaching sound doctrine (Christ alone, by grace, through faith alone); on discipling men and women in to know the gospel, and share the gospel with others.  Many of the church leaders are also part of Aletheia - and they spend most every Wednesday evangelizing in the mornings, and teaching small group Bible studies in the afternoons.  They spend much of the rest of the week studying the Word and sharpening each other; often debating in a loving way.



Following are more photos to help capture the week. Please pray that the Lord blesses this ministry in a town where the true gospel is very hard to come by, and also please pray that the Lord helps me find time to complete the drawings for these wonderful ministries.

 

typical urban housing



church members clearing the site of rocks

view of city from highest point in Freetown area

 







Miscellaneoous Photos of Guatemala

countryside

dare devil bus employees

narrow - nerve wracking roads

abandoned traditional style home

market in Quiche'

I think they can fit "one more thing"

mother and child

carrying heavy loads part 1

heavy loads part 2

road side market

some of the helpers

Uspantan home

Mission church at city center

interesting performance stage at Uspantan town square

market at Uspantan

local girl fascinated with construction work on the project

children of the corn

Cristobal busy working on the water storage building

father and son enjoying watching land being prepared for building

heavy load part 3

searching for greener pastures

heavy load part 4

Mayan hill for sacrificing children is removed, land prepared for Isaiah House - to protect and nurture children 

Joshua & Daniel

Two amazing people that I was privileged to serve with for my 10 days in Guatemala were Joshua Jarrett and Daniel Kwon.








Joshua


racing a boy in Quiche'
 

Joshua Jarrett has accompanied the Clower’s on four ministry trips to Guatemala; and Daniel Kwon nearly ten visits.  Joshua, a 30 year old former professional basketball player (not the NBA – but some international type league) has such an optimistic and enthusiastic attitude.  He worked very hard every day, alongside of Randall, Daniel, and Thali, on the water project; but also with carrying heavy loads, preparing and serving the celebration feast, and was just an all-around wonderful man to experience this trip with.



DanielDaniel Kwon heads up a ministry called “A Cup of Water International”, givetodrink.org.  Daniel is a former pastor, and an engineer who left the pulpit a few years ago to form this ministry to help provide safe, clean water in the name of our Lord all over the world; particularly in third world countries.  Daniel was continuously thinking of creative ways to pump water up this steep mountain to the site…I don’t think his mind ever stops.  At the same time; he greeted every morning with a song of praise; and will (and did) share the gospel constantly in a winsome and passionate way.  Daniel wants to build a house and missionary training center on this same five acres; and within a week of returning home, the Lord helped me provide a conceptual design for this ministry to be built alongside the Isaiah Home in Guatemala. 

Thali Clower, Daniel & Josh figuring out the water system

Thali & Randall Clower and The Ezra Project

Thali and Randall Clower, physician assistants from the Tri-Cities, Washington have been traveling to Guatemala for several years, leading small groups from their church (Richland Baptist Church) to spread the gospel to remote villages, provide medical clinics, find clean water (see “A Cup of Water” blog) and help the people of this land.  Thali was raised in Guatemala and hitchhiked out of that country into Texas in the early 1980’s, where she eventually met and married Randall Clower. 

As you might imagine, there is a special place in her heart for the Guatemalan people, particularly those in the more rural, mountainous towns and villages.   During these repeated visits, they found that in one mountainous town prostitutes and other women who cannot afford to have a baby, throw their newborns in the latrines and garbage dumps to die. This touched their hearts, and the hearts of those who traveled with them.

In November, 2011 the Ezra Project was formed to provide a home for these women and their babies (Ezra-project.org).  The new home will be called “The Isaiah 58 Home”, from Isaiah 58:7 “Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him…” God has done amazing things in a very short period of time as He moves this project forward.



the land for the Isaiah 58 building

·         Approximately 5 acres of land acquired from Christian man named Francisco.  The land in in a semi-rural town of Guatemala.

·         After 20 years of attempts by local residents to build a road, this milestone was achieved once local government learned of the home’s purpose.

·         A road to the land was built in 24 days with the help of the Mayor (who is a Christian)

·         During our August visit, the beginning of the rainy season, the road became impassable, so the Mayor donated about $10,000 worth of gravel and services to allow this road to be accessible year round.

·         With a lot of inspiration from our Lord, conceptual floor plans have been prepared for the building, which is designed to be constructed in four phases.

·         Detailed drawings for Phase 1 were prepared during the August visit, and the land was leveled to prepare for construction of this building.  As part of leveling a spot of the house, an overgrown mound, which in time past was used to sacrifice children during the Mayan years.  Now, instead of being used for human sacrifice, this land will be used for protecting lives.  Phase 1 will house a boy’s and girl’s dorm, plus a water purification and office area, and a multipurpose room for meals, worship, instruction, and indoor recreation.

construction of water tank storage building underway

·         Much of the time during the August visit was centered around building a safe water system on the property; a work still in progress. As part of this process a small building to house water holding tanks was designed on sketch pad and construction well underway by the time I left on August 17.

Check out the Ezra Project website for more information about this project, and this ministry, and how you can help. 

Some very special people from rural Guatemala

Francisco
During one visit to Guatemala, Thali and Randall needed some items from a local pharmacy while serving in rural and semi-rural parts of this country.  It was at this pharmacy where they met Francisco, the owner.  As Thali shared their vision with Francisco, a loving follower of our Lord, he knew “just” where the Isaiah House could be built…on some land near some old Mayan ruins.  Francisco was such a tremendous help during our visit; he introduced us to his mother who provided some wonderful meals; took off work for a week to accompany us every day to the site; helped when we were stuck in the mud; connected us with concrete suppliers (who donated many supplies – which he shared was unheard of); and introduced us to a very capable construction superintendent, Abelino.

 










Abelino
Abelino was able (with translation help from Thali and Francisco) to take a very rough sketch from a notepad and figure out exactly how much material, and what crew members he would need to build the water storage tank building; which became the priority project so that tanks and equipment would be secured from theft.  Abelino was a very hard worker; he is paid $12/day as supervisor; and has the respect of his crew.  He and I were able to review the working drawings for the Phase 1 building before I had to fly home and I had full confidence that he will have the foundation laid once the rain letup.  Abelino’s “right hand man”, Cristobal.




Cristobal
Cristobal is one of the land donors that made building the road possible.  He was sent a vision from God in his dreams.  God told him exactly where to scour the land to find a viable water source to pipe into the Ezra Project home.  He awoke with a vision…He directed his son: “Gather something to eat – we are going to the land.” Cristobal walked to the exact spot that he dreamt of; which he was astonished to find.  He had Abelino’s full confidence when it came to construction, and was willing to sleep at the site once valuable materials arrived to prevent them from being stolen; even in the torrential downpour – such a wonderful servant of our Lord.

Local Landowners

In order to build a road to the Isaiah 58 home local land owners had to be convinced to donate a portion of their lands for the road.  These land owners signed an agreement for construction of the road during a previous visit, and were present at the site to provide a wonderful meal and greeting for us when we arrived on site. These men and women hiked down a very steep mountain to investigate the water supply source; and many of these folks participated in the water project, as well as the shelter construction project over the ensuing days.  We were able to honor them with a feast on our last day during this visit, and the rain held out long enough for these wonderful days of celebration.

 

Musa & Mileta Youth Ministry

 

Last March we were privileged to be visited by evangelist Musa Njagamba of Singida, Tanzania.  Our oldest son, Cliff, met Musa when teaching at a secondary school in northern Tanzania a few years ago.  Musa's visit was such a wonderful blessing to our family and our local church...it came right on the heals of Sally and me returning from Mexico and being overwhelmed by God's presence through the wonderful people he put us in contact with on that journey.  The Lord has laid a vision for a youth and music ministry on Musa's heart, which is described below:

MELITA YOUTH MINISTRY FOR EVERY ONE!

“God has made us what we are, and in our Union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do” Ephesians 2:10.

Melita Youth Ministry Briefing:

Ø  Melita Youth Ministry is a non-denominational Christian Ministry based on Youth Empowerment and strengthening in the church. It focuses on Youth especially from Rural/Remote areas and some of the Urban areas.

-          Melita Youth Ministry aim is to Restore Youth Ministry in the church and maintain Church Identity through Music, Word of God (Truth) and Entrepreneurship skills.

Melita Youth Ministry Vision:

“Multiply God’s Kingdom through the Youth’s Music, Talents and Entrepreneurship”

 

Melita Youth Ministry Mission:

“Orient Youth towards God’s principles on music and Entrepreneurship through learning, training and practicing properly”

Melita Youth Ministry Slogan; Start Small Simple (S.S.S.)

Melita Youth Ministry Purpose statement:

“Restoration of Youth Ministry’s Identity in the Church through Music, Talents and Entrepreneurship with Biblical Principles”

Melita Youth Ministry Objectives;

1.      To return the Identity of Church Music by teaching singers to sing in spirit and truth as Jesus taught in John 4:23, whereby youth learn how to compose and present songs with powerful messages from the Bible.

2.      To inspire and train youth to learn music skills, whereby they should understand how to write and read music and how to play different musical instruments.

3.      To sharpen different Youth gifts, abilities, and talents so that they can use or utilize them in building God’s Kingdom and helping their families, churches and communities as whole.

4.      To open Youth Minds through training on self-employment whereby they will be taught Entrepreneurship skills which will help them use all opportunities and surrounding resources like land, livestocks, human resources, etc. (Start Small Simple-will be applied).

5.      To build a Youth Music Centre with full Music Systems where there will be a Ministry Band of 6 people who are skilled in Music. The Hall in the centre will be used to train Youth on Music. It will also be used for life guidance with pre-marriage counseling, economics training etc.

6.      To train youth for and send them on MISSION, After sending them, Melita Youth Ministry will continue to mentor them and follow–up on their performances.

                For More Information Contact to;

Ev Musa Njagamba

Tel: +255 758 122 610

Email: mnjagamba@yahoo.com

In order for Melita to be recognized by the country it is required to be tied to physical property...a financial obstacle.  However, Musa has recently linked up with LEA, an established Tanzanian ministry to street children and very poor children in Tanzania; Melita will be a branch to reach.  A post on LEA is coming next.  Following are some recent photos of crusades Musa has been a speaker at - God is working through this man.

 

Aletheia Ministries

Michael Turay is the director of Aletheia Ministries and pastor-in-charge at Grace Center Bible Church in Freetown, Sierra Leone.  Michael and I met at a conference this past January in Spokane.  He was a speaker.  During a breakout session he shared about the desire his church has for a building for worship, as well as a discipleship training center and pastor training center on some on land they have in Freetown. The property is very steep and rocky as the photos on this page demonstrate.  The church members are working hard to clear this site. Next they need plans:)

Following are some further descriptions Michael has shared about this new facility:

"We are requesting that HIM help us with a building plan that would enhance the effectiveness in our reaching out to the lost in our nation, and to disciple them with God's infallible Word...We need an auditorium that would hold about 300 people, as we are presently using the community center of the village, which others are also using.  we need it also to provide training for pastors, and education for our illiterate community."

and in another note he wrote:

"I am so thankful to God to have met you at our DM2 conference in Washington.  God knows how to connect people together to further His work in nations all over the world.  I hope our coming together to do God's work will be a blessing to many, and more specifically to our peoples in our land of Sierra Leone."

As Michael points out - it is God who orchestrated our coming together on a cold January weekend in Spokane...God is so amazing.  Please pray that He gives me the right ideas as design of this facility gets underway.