A Girl's life in Sierra Leone

The Bible says in James 4:4, “For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”  My time in Sierra Leone is quite quickly vanishing away!

   There are things I would like to tell you about the life of the young girl’s here in Baomahun.

First, you must think about those things you take for granted each day.

·         Running water

·         Electric lights

·         A bedroom

·         A bathroom

·         Toys

·         Clothes

·         Books 

·         Parents that care for you.

  Running water - Each morning to wash your hands you move the handle on a faucet and water comes out, you turn the handle after supper to wash the dishes. You do not even think about it, it is a habit. The girls in Baomahun do not have that luxury! From my window, I can watch a steady stream of girls walk back and forth from a well, making numerous trips to get water. The well these girls use requires them to drop a bucket deep into the well and then haul it back up filled with water. Then they must carry a large bucket back to their home on their heads and they rarely spill a drop of water!  That is a lot of work. Here is what you should do. Find a 5-gallon bucket, just fill it half full with water, then you try to carry it and see how far you make it! They are strong little girls.

Electric lights – You wake up early one Sunday morning to get ready for Church, but your room is dark, you cannot see to find your shoes. What do you do? Turn on the light switch, of course. I have not seen a light switch in any of the houses I have visited here. In the school houses there are no lights. There is no flip of the switch to turn on the lights that enable you to see. No lights so you can read before you go to sleep. Not here! There are flashlights, but I do not see the children getting to use them.

Bedroom – Some of you might have your own room or you might share one, but I am confident you do not share your room with everyone in your family! Most houses have one room, shared by all the members of the family and any visitors that stop by! Most of the time the people do their work and cooking on their veranda (sometimes cooking is done in a hut type structure, that is shared with the neighbors) and the small inside area is reserved only for sleeping.

Bathroom – Let me keep this simple, there are no bathrooms in Baomahun like you have in the states! There are latrines, outhouse, but they are seldom used by the children. If you want to get clean, you either walk down to the river, or use a bucket of water in the front yard!

Toys – You might have a computer, a hand held gaming system, dolls, board games, and whatever else girls play with in the states!! Here, they can play football (Soccer) from dawn till setting sun and not get tired of it. (I have actually been invited to play football, but that is another story) Or they play with sticks and bottle caps to see who can knock their cap the farthest. One of my favorite toys they make is taking a thin branch, then sticking a long leaf through the center and running to make it spin. Almost like a pinwheel. I have also seen small plastic bottles made into cars. They have so much fun with the simplest of things!

                              Bottle car

Clothes – Every girl likes clothes, some not as much as others do, but you all like them. Try having only two sets of clothes and maybe one pair of shoes! Would you be able to still smile and be happy? Granted these girls have never seen the things that American girls have. They do not realize that things are any different in America than they are here. Still they are content.

Books – Most of you have a Bible and others books to read at any time you want to. Not only do these girls not have access to books, even if they had them, most could not read them. Just recently, I met two girls, about 12 years old, who could actually read very well, but they did not understand what they were reading. They have the order of the letters memorized so they know the word, but they do not know what the word means. Many girls are not sent to school, they do not have the opportunity to learn to read to discover the wonders that are contained between the covers of a book. They cannot read God’s word for themselves. May I encourage you spend time reading. Most importantly spend time read God’s word.

Parents –Many times a Mother will have more children than she can provide for and so will send a child to live with a relative. The relative will care for that child, in exchange for having the child there to do the work that relative does not want to do. Often not only do the children not know who their father is, they do not even know how old they are!  There is very little love shown to these girls. Their fathers do not hug them, or their mothers tell them they are loved. They do not get to hear those words!

   The life of the children here in many respects is very hard, but especially for the girls. They must be tough to survive in a male dominated society. Just the other night I watched a girl wrestling with a boy who had annoyed her, and the girl by a clever maneuver landed the boy on his back and won. 

 

 

  There are things I have taken for granted, but have seen that not everyone lives as I have had the ability to live. I thank God for the things mentioned that He has allowed me to enjoy and pray that I will not take them for granted any more.

  I hope you enjoy hearing a little bit about a girl’s life in Baomahun, if you have any questions I would be more than happy to answer them.

Aimée (Nyadavo)

1 Chronicles 16:8

Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.

 

 

People

Here is another people report! This time I have several people to mention!

 

 

First off is Mohamed Sillah and wife Beatrice. They are expecting their first child in the a few months.



  Mohamed is a 26 year old, former Muslim who praise God saw the truth and has been gloriously born again! He attends the Bible school, teaches Sunday School and does a fine job on evangelism. To provide for himself and his wife, he buys chromite from the local miners and then sells it in Bo or Freetown. Mohamed, along with 15 other people, including his wife, was recently baptized and he has decided to change his name. Mohamed desires to separate himself from his Muslim background, because he is walking in newness of life, and is choosing to now be called Michael. While I like his reason for changing his name, I will always think of him as Mohamed, and it will take some time to remember to call him Michael. He always has the biggest smile, and enjoys teasing the white girl!

    Beatrice is one of the sweetest ladies, quiet, but sweet. She works planting (Braids) hair from home and she plants a lot of hair. It is amazing to watch her fingers fly through the hair, and some of the designs she does are astounding! Hair is big business here, not only hair, but wigs as well! Beatrice is kept busy as most ladies do not wear the same style for more than a week!

 

Moses Menjor Family

A while back, I told about Alfred Menjor and his family, this time it is his older brother Moses’ turn.



   Moses is in his mid 30’s, he has some major health problems that often leave him not feeling well but he is a great evangelism partner! Moses and I are both very quiet, but when we work together, we do all right! Recently we have been going to a business where many people lounge about and have been able to have several good conversations.

  One such conversation was with two men Gino and Mohamed. Gino is a loud, rough looking fellow who lost his left arm in the war; he is also the proprietor of the business where we meet, while Mohamed is a quiet, more thoughtful young man. Both have questions regarding the Bible, Islam, etc. And between Moses and me, we have been able to answer all the ones they have sent our way!

   If you would please remember to pray for Mohamed, he knows that he is a sinner, but as to putting his trust in Christ, he is not quite ready to make that step!

Moses has been doing a great job talking with people who want to know more about the Church, and talking with men who are trying to start new Church in Baomahun, but who Moses says do not know their Bibles!! It was not that long ago Moses was just like those men, with little Bible understanding, but God has made such a difference in his life!

 

   Moses’ wife is Juliet and they have a little girl Esther, who is just over a year and a half old! Moses makes his money charging cell phones, Honda batteries among other things.

(I do not have picture of Juliet)

  So there are just a few more people from Baomahun!

Aimée

 

 



Happenings in March

Here are some pictures we got this week from Aimée.

Ironing in Sierra Leone

Fire fighting

Aimée said this was a very tasty pineapple.

JM sleeping

Vehicles in Sierra Leone

A vast contrast from Florida

Aimée and her brothers learned to eat different types of food

from the time they were small.

We wanted them to be able to eat anything without complaint.

Not that we expected that they would LIKE all things,

but that they would be ready to go wherever the LORD might lead them

....and be prepared for what might be served on a plate or in a bowl.

All three of them mastered that lesson....

they will try anything!

 

But...could she choose....

I am thinking Tacos and Mexican food might be what Aimée would request.

 

Psalm 119:33

Teach me, O LORD,

the way of thy statutes;

and I shall keep it unto the end.

The Favorite Daughter

Tuesday March 4, 2014

3 John 1:4
   I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

 

Down By the Water

From a recent baptism in Sierra Leone

 

 

Acts 8:36c

See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

Bothers

 

Aimée has an app on her Nook that allows her to create collages.

She seems to enjoy doing this a lot! 

 Here is one of her latest creations.

She misses her favorite bothers!

She really misses them!

(and they miss her, too)

 

These pics were taken while they were skyping with her a while back.

As I think about it....

I don't think we have been able to Skype since.

I wonder if what they were doing has anything to do with that? 

; )

 

Psalm 133:1

Behold, how good and how pleasant

it is for brethren

to dwell together in unity!

March update

Julius

 

 

Ezekiel 3:6 says,

“….of an hard language, whose words thou canst not understand…..”

 

(Yes, I know I completely took this verse out of context.)

   Even before leaving the states, I was attempting to learn the languages of Sierra Leone. One thing I have learned on each mission’s trip I have taken, it is much easier for me to learn the language when I am in country, surrounded by the language. So, I would like to tell a little about the languages in Sierra Leone, because some of them are hard, and there are many words that I “Canst not understand!”

  There are roughly twenty tribal groups dispersed throughout Sierra Leone and each has their own language. The Northern most part of the country is the Temne stronghold, while the South is Mende land. Kind of like the Mason-Dixon Line in the states, things really change once you cross over that line into either section.

   While the “official” language of Sierra Leone, the main language is Krio (Sometimes spelled Creole) which is just a hodgepodge of words from throughout Africa.  Words from each of the tribes in the country have been incorporated into the Krio language. There are words from several different European languages also represented.

   Because of the many years of British control, a great number of the words have a British slant as to their meaning. Some of the words I have picked up on that are very British are “Padi” for friend, “Petrol” for gasoline, “Yonder” for over there, any vehicle is called a “motor car” and so forth.

There were some Portuguese words carried here by returned slaves such as “Pekin”, for child. Then there is “Yabas” Arabic for Onion and the French word “buku” for Many. I am sure there are more, but that is all I can think of at the moment.

   Now for Mende there are four types  or dialects of Mende, that each differ slightly in word meaning or sounds. Kind of like American English, in different parts of the country a can of Mountain Dew can be called Pop, coke, soda, etc.

    In Bo District, where Baomahun is located “Bah Mende” (Anything in quotations marks is very likely to be spelled wrong!!)  is spoken. Then there is “Sayway Mende”, “Ko Mende” (This one is in Kenema) and “Wanjahmah Mende”. The “Bah Mende” is the pure form of Mende and is the type you would find used to print books in Mende.

  Then for the Temne people there are three dialects of Temne, once again depending on what district you are traveling through. My informant only recalled two of the types, but is working on the third name. So, there is “Konofe Temne” and “Yoni Temne”.

   One of the main differences culturally between the Temne and the Mende is that Temne people are often smarter in business and they place a higher value on education. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, but the Northern part of the country is more developed than the south.

  It is amazing how some words can have different meanings, or be used in such a different ways! One example that comes to mind is when you hear someone say, “I am coming” you think that they are coming right then. Well when a Leonean says “I dey come” he means that he will be coming at some point, not necessarily at that moment, more along the lines of “I am returning”!

  Some other word differences are words like Cookie. These are all called “biscuits.” Actually even a cracker is called a “Biscuit” so you must specify if you want a salt or sweet biscuit!

Girls braid their hair; here it is called “planting.”

  We use the word happy; here it is “Gladi” which I actually like!

  To ask if someone knows something, or understands you, you ask if they “Sabi?”

Peanuts, are called “groundnuts.”

To tell the kids to stand, you can either say “Greap” which is a run together form of “Get up” or you can say “Timap.”

  To tell the pekin to stop playing you would say “Lef for play.”

   To end here is just a sampling of Krio from John 11:25-27!

Jesus say to ram, I am de resurrection en de life: who da believe in me, even do E be don die, E go get life: En anybody so for get life an believe in me E no day die. You believe dis? E say to ram, yea Lord: I believe dat thou art De Christ, God En pekin, way for come na de world.

  Hope you enjoyed! Thanks for praying!!

Aimée (Nyadavo)

1 Corinthians 13:1

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,

and have not charity,

I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.