About
On behalf of Helping Children Worldwide (HCW), eight Ebenezer missioners traveled to Bo, Sierra Leone October 16-30. This was the visit for most of us, but for two team members, it was a trip back to a place that had touched their hearts. Much has changed since the last Ebenezer team traveled to Bo almost five years ago. HCW continues to strengthen the bonds of community and family by transforming what was once an orphanage into a hub of trained counselors and family advocates serving impoverished families and children throughout the region.
We immersed ourselves in the daily work of reaching out to vulnerable communities with compassion and hope as we listened to stories, celebrated births, taught basic hygiene and prenatal care practices, and prayed for their well-being and health. We were able to live into the harsh daily schedules of those who must travel many miles for food and basic necessities by coming alongside HCW to deliver assistance and a caring smile to many of the families in the Family Empowerment Advocacy program.
We will continue to tell our stories during Sunday worship services, small group presentations, and during our annual efforts to support our international mission partners. The team is grateful for all the support our congregation has given us over the year to make this trip possible. We look forward to sharing our experiences and discovering how we can continue to make a difference in the lives of those in Sierra Leone.
Amy Miller, Director of Missions and Outreach
Outreach
Bevehun Lebembu Medical Outreach
Our first outreach effort as a team was about an hour outside of Bo. As we arrived, we closely zig-zagged between the houses until suddenly, the whole village appeared! Tables and tablecloths and benches and chairs came out. Almost immediately, the medical equipment that the Mercy Hospital team brought was set up and things were ready and organized. The crowd was probably 250-300 people. We served mothers and babies with a medical outreach that included prenatal check-ups and malaria testing. We served more than eight pregnant mothers and 81 babies! We were all engaged with specific jobs from registering families as they walked up, helping write prescriptions from the doctor, administering malaria testing, and filling prescriptions. We were told it was the largest outreach in the village to date, doubling the size of the previous effort.God is good all the time, all the time God is good.
Fengehun Village
Another outreach day at Fengehun village about an hour outside of Bo. When we arrived, many children and families came out to meet us with chairs and benches for us all to sit. We presented rice and chocolates to several families that are part of the Family Empowerment Advocacy program via Helping Children Worldwide. Fengehun was the original village partnership for Ebenezer Church. They have thrived from the care provided, including a fresh water well, a school room, and family support. The next step is their village enterprise project which should start soon. We let them know that Ebenezer has been praying for them continually over the years and we will continue to pray and be faithful in our support.
Sentenery Church, Bo Town
So much singing! Worship was an incredible experience for our team as we sat with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Scripture was read, birthdays were celebrated, and offerings were given all while dancing up the aisles. As honored guests visiting from the U.S., we were asked to preside over the collection bins and dance and sing for a little friendly competition during the service. Everyone was dressed in beautiful traditional clothing in bright colors and designs. It was a joyful experience, and the choir was awesome. Pastor Emily was asked to give the offertory prayer and was invited to sit with the pastors of the church.
Manjama Village
Our team left in three SUV’s for the 20-minute drive out past the paved road at the edge of Bo. The town of Manjama is at a junction where upwards of 17 villages used to come for the medical clinic located there. The property was built over 70 years ago and has since been abandoned. HCW, the local Health Ministry and Mercy Hospital have begun efforts to form a partnership to revive the medical outreach and support to the community there. We met with the leaders, families, and children of the area and discussed what it would look like for HCW to offer family support. The children sang for us and were excited to show us their school and village.
Mercy Hospital Clinic
On our last day in Bo before we left for Freetown, we attended the antenatal clinic at Mercy Hospital. Our team members were able to assist with prenatal check-ups, educational instruction that included singing songs about all the things new mothers should be aware of, and hands-on clinicals for student nurses. There were new babies being born, and mothers receiving new baby and mother kits that we delivered to the hospital. It was a blessing to be a part of such a wonderful mission!
