Touchdown in Freetown

Tel am tenki, tel am, tel Papa God tenki.

Tel am tenki, tel am, tel papa God tenki.

Wetin e do, fu me, Ah go tel am tenki.

Wetin e do, fu me, Ah go tel Papa God tenki.

Tel am tenki, tel am, tel Papa God tenki.

During my January visit to the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod, pastors and members of congregations in the north Dallas area gathered to learn about Sierra Leone. Anthony Tucker, a recent graduate of the University of Sierra Leone now residing in the US, Pr. Deb McCann and I taught the Krio song Tel God Tenki: Thanks be to God! (This picture was taken by folks in Dallas who have roots in my hometown in western NY and who sent a copy to my parents there.)

I arrived back in Sierra Leone last Friday after 6 weeks in the U.S.  I flew out of Dallas, Texas to London on January 28 and had a few extra hours there when my Africa- bound flight was delayed.   At one point I looked out the window at Heathrow and saw snow flurries, but was reassured that my flight’s delay was not weather related.  The journey this time was much smoother and easier than one year ago when a snowstorm closed all the airports in London and caused all sorts of chaos for travelers.    When I arrived in Lungi (across the bay from Freetown) on Friday night, I passed through customs and all the normal immigration lines with amazing speed  thanks to the help of a pre-arranged “greeter,” and I completed the last leg of my journey home via a 7 minute  helicopter ride to Aberdeen.  It is good to be back.   Hot but good!

On Wednesdays each week the ELCSL staff meets for devotions and holy communion.  Today as we met, I told my colleagues that I felt I was sent from Africa to the America with grace, that I met grace along the way in the US, and was welcomed back with grace in these days.  I have been warmly welcomed every step of the way both going and coming, and God’s  goodness has been abundantly real in these weeks as I’ve traveled.  Now that I have been back in Africa for a few days, the 6 weeks I was away seem to have passed in the blink of an eye.   I did cover a lot of ground in NY, PA and Texas, and really appreciated the chance to tell stories, show pictures, and talk about mission in Sierra Leone.    To all those I met along the way: thank you for your support, interest and encouragement!

It is Wednesday afternoon as I write. I had hoped to post my blog earlier in the week, but –  the electricity has been off  for over 24 hours and our diesel powered generator was out of order yesterday.  The generator was repaired this morning so we are back on line for a few hours.   Somehow, this makes me feel that I am back on familiar ground.    And while the electricity situation may not have changed much in recent weeks, I did notice a  significant increase in prices when I went to the supermarket over the weekend.   Folks here are talking about a new tax on goods and services, and the continuing rise in the cost of living.    More thoughts and stories about all such things will be coming your way soon….  as I continue to settle into another year of living and working in Sierra Leone.

Traveling Times

As I write tonight the sounds of a holiday party are echoing outside my windows:  African dance music and conversation in Krio to accompany my thoughts for a Monday evening.  Members of the ELCSL community gathered together here late this afternoon for a holiday celebration, and a handful of staff are still at hand  as the party continues in the cool night air of “winter” in Freetown.  In the course of today’s celebration,  I was blessed for my own holiday journey back to the U.S. tomorrow.

Holiday party in the ELCSL compound, in front of the house where I live.

I am leaving Sierra Leone for the first time since I arrived last February. I will be in the States through the end of January, visiting with  family and friends in NY and PA, and spending time with ELCSL partners in the Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod of the ELCA.  I will be sharing stories of Sierra Leone in Frewsburg, NY on Dec. 27,   in Lancaster PA on January 3, and visiting churches in the Dallas area on January 10 and17.  On January 24 I will be in Temple, TX, and then back to Salone at the end of January.

Wilfred Kamara, the evangelist from Faith Community in Lumley (Freetown) told me tonight that I am being sent with the fervent prayers of many people.  I have heard this repeatedly in the past few days, and I am assured that as my mind and body turn to “home,”  I am leaving behind a deeply prayerful and graciously caring community of faith who are ready to welcome me back to my “home” in Salone in 2010.

I may blog once or twice in the course of my US travels  (no promises though), and will plan to resume writing about life and faith in Sierra Leone the first week in February 2010.

A final thought from Africa before I go:  a blessed Christmas to all who have been reading On Mission this past year!

While the "harmattan" (cool season) breeze was blowing, I received this Christmas gift from the ELCSL staff. It is a bed covering made by the ELCSL Women's Center.

Where in the World?

Sierra Leone

The colored balloons mark the site of the water wells to be dug in partnership between the ECLSL and Water to Thrive.

To give you an idea of the size of the country and distances involved, Freetown to Kenema is approximately 190 miles by road (150 miles as the crow flies).   Sierra Leone is often described for American audiences as “slightly smaller than South Carolina.”   Bordering nations are Guinea and Liberia.    We are working with local ELCSL churches in 9 of the communities being served by the Water to Thrive water well project:  Kenema, Jimmi, Momajo, Yegele (hidden on the map behind Momajo as it is only a few miles away), Bumpe, Njala, Taima, Mogbuama, and Senehun (between Taima and Mogbuama).  Deep Eye Waterloo is a fast growing area on the outskirts of Freetown.

This is the main source of public water for the Deep Eye community. We walked about 1/3 mile from the well site to this spring. Imagine carrying buckets of water every day to meet your household needs for drinking, cooking, laundry, bathing.

Francis is a member of the Deep Eye community, and his t-shirt makes a good Texas - Sierra Leone connection. (Francis has no idea who or what the Cowboys are but happily posed for this "snap." Clothing from all over the world finds its way to Sierra Leone and is sold cheaply in street markets.

On the Road Again: Water Ways

This was one of the places we had to stop and assess on the road from Yegele.

This past weekend I traveled “up country” one final time for the year, stopping in 6 rural villages over 3 days and preaching at Advent Lutheran Church in Bo on the first Sunday in the season of  Advent.     Considerable work has been done  this past year on the main roadways in the country, and the journey to Bo is much easier than it was even 10 months ago.  Still,  the vast majority of the roads in Sierra Leone are unpaved and full of bumps and ruts.   These are wonderfully described in Krio as “gallops.”   My car has needed repairs and welding about every week for the past month thanks to all the gallops we’ve traversed, and the familiar sound of clanking metal meant repairs on this journey as well.   Still, we traveled without incident — even through mud and puddles created by late and heavy rains on Monday morning.

I traveled in the company of Pastor Moses Kobba Momoh, the development desk officer for the ELCSL; Pr. Lavally, dean of the southeastern region; Tom Barnett (Jr.), national youth coordinator, and our  driver Abu.   At the heart of the trip was the task of meeting with community members and setting in motion the process for the digging of water wells.  The ELCSL is partnering with Water to Thrive to provide 10 wells in 10 communities by early next year.

This is a typical scene at a local well. Hand pumps like this are very common.Children are often responsible for carrying water from the well to the home.

In each of the communities we visited, we met with church and community members, including village chiefs and other local leaders.    The contractor for the well was introduced to the community, and expectations and responsibilities were discussed.   Each community  has formed a Project Management Committee to work with the contractor and to plan for ongoing use and maintainance of the well.     Wells in this region can be anywhere from 5 meters to 20 meters deep, and are dug by hand.  Timing for  the digging of these wells is essential so that the water table is reached near the end of the dry season.   Every community we visited shared their experience with wells that dry up by March or  April every year.  We hope to  complete our well projects in time to serve the communities by the end of March 2010.

(Thursday Dec. 3: I started this blog posting earlier in the week, but the power has been out, the internet connection has been variable, and I haven’t been able to upload all the photos and comments I was hoping to share.   I’ll try again next week.)

Meeting with project management committee. Grace Lutheran Church (Jimmi) is in the background.

The site chosen for the well in Jimmi.

Comings and Goings

Circumstances and available power have conspired against a timely blog posting this Thanksgiving week, but with the return of electricity tonight I thought I’d share my own words of thanks for prayers and support, encouragement and accompaniment over the past number of  months.  I am truly grateful!

I went for a walk one night in Kenema with ELCSL colleagues Doris, Halima, and Juliana. We were waiting here for a snack of grilled kan-kan -- a type of roasted meat.

This past month has been a time of comings and goings at many levels.  Many expatriate and missionary friends are departing for holidays back in the US or Europe, and others are finishing their  contracts here and moving on.  American colleagues from Lutheran Bible Translators were in Freetown recently and we had interesting conversations with their local partner about possibilities for developing a Lutheran liturgy in Krio.  Thanks to one of the LBT missionaries, I am enjoying some red and green m & m’s from the U.S.  tonight.  (Thanks Jim, for the taste of home as the holidays approach!)

Last weekend I traveled to Kenema for a regional Lutheran Women’s Association gathering. The women came together for a workshop about water and sanitation, but managed to include a lot of singing and dancing as well.  I also had a chance to attend Incarnation Lutheran Church in Kenema and to preach at a Women’s Thanksgiving service there. (Thanksgiving services are a Sierra Leonean tradition involving spirited and lengthy worship around a  chosen theme, and the chance to make monetary contributions with thanks to the community and God.

Members of the Lutheran Women's Association act out the gospel story of the Samaritan woman at the well with Jesus.

On Monday I traveled on to the village of Bumpe and met with community members there in preparations for digging a water well.  Tomorrow I will leave early in the morning for another 3 day trip up country to visit  six well sites and to preach at Advent Lutheran Church in Bo.  I borrowed a friend’s GPS unit and have been learning how to use it in order to mark the locations of  the wells.  Check back next week for more about this project.

The funeral service for the Rev.  Juliet Rodgers-Pearce took place today almost one month after her death  and was a somber and faithfilled opportunity to give thanks to God for her life and witness as a mother, grandmother, teacher, evangelist and ELCSL pastor.  Today was also a national holiday in Sierra Leone, the  Islamic festival Eid al’Adha.   Many businesses and offices were closed, and as I returned home from the funeral late this afternoon, Lumley beach was crowded with folks enjoying the “eid.”

In recognition of the American Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, many of my Lutheran colleagues here made it a point to wish me a happy and blessed Thanksgiving.   I enjoyed explaining this American tradition to those unfamiliar with the occasion.    The idea of a national holiday dedicated to giving thanks was new to many, and as a result of our conversations, I had a renewed sense of  appreciation for the Thanksgiving tradition..  In the evening yesterday,  I celebrated the holiday at a dinner with American and British friends.  Our amazingly wonderful Sierra Leonean Thanksgiving potluck featured turkey, mashed potatoes, yams,  pumpkin (in various form including pie), cole slaw, apple crisp, ice cream, and more.  To be able to celebrate with good food and fellowship was grace indeed.

Finally this week, my housemate of the past 2 months said good bye to Freetown and returned home to Switzerland.  Marlene is a teacher who spent this time with the ELCSL  teaching at Calvary Lutheran primary school and visiting at the Women’s Center in Calaba Town.    With Marlene’s departure, my guest room is available for visitors once again.  Welcome!  The only thing I know for sure is that Sierra Leone continues to surprise and bless those who come and see.

Marlene with children in Bumpe. She came to the ELCSL via a connection with the Lutheran World Federation in Geneva.

The view from the porch: bird watching

A scops owl.

This morning dawned cloudy and grey, and a steady, cooling rain has been falling for a few hours — an unusual daytime occurence this late in the rainy season.   At this point in the year, the heavy rains of August and September  have given way to mostly blue skies and humid days, with periodic bursts of thunder and lightning followed by tropical downpours in the night.   Even with the rain, though, today is welcome for the grey coolness and for a temporary respite  from the rising temperatures.

Fishing in Cockle Bay

With lessening of the rains in the past month, a variety of birds have returned to the area.   The herons and egrets are back, in and around Cockle Bay, joined at times by yellow billed kites and a few vultures.  I believe I’ve spotted an osprey once or twice.   There are a variety of songbirds in the compound now as well, cheering me with their musical calls.  The lantana I transplanted months ago in front of my house has grown into a sizeable bush and attracts some of the smaller birds every morning, as well as butterflies throughout the day.  For a few days recently an owl took up residence in a large plum tree behind the offices, and kept careful watch over our comings and goings.

Pied crows are the most common bird I see. This pair nests in a coconut tree by my house. These birds are locally known as "minista birds" (ie, minister birds for their white neck collars.)

In the midst of a noisy, crowded and chaotic city, I feel blessed to be surrounded by the gifts of  creation  in a large, spacious, and relatively quiet compound.   The ELCSL property where my house is located is a sanctuary of sorts — for birds and missionaries both.  Before and after working hours, you’ll find me on the porch, often these days with a borrowed copy of a field guide to the birds of West Africa in hand.  When I watch the birds from the porch, I think of Jesus’ words:  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.  Life is more than food and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens, they do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much  more valuable you are then birds….”  (Luke 12:22-24)

The view from the porch of a friend who lives in the hills of western Freetown. I live on the right hand side of the land bridge separating Cockle Bay from the Atlantic Ocean. Lumley Beach faces the Atlantic on the left. Aberdeen is marked by the small hill in the center.

Worship Matters

When the pastors and evangelists met together in Njala recently for training and continuing education, my role was to teach and to facilitate conversation about worship.  I raised 3 basic questions in my introduction to this topic:

1. What is worship?

2. What is Lutheran worship?

3.  What is Sierra Leonean Lutheran worship?

Evangelist Wilfred Kamara and Pastor Edward Lavally. Wilfred was originally trained as a lay evangelist when the ELCSL began 20 years ago, and he has served Faith Community in Lumley ever since. Pastor Lavally trained at a Lutheran institution in Nigeria and at an ecumenical bible college in Freetown and he currently serves King of Glory in Njala.

Our meeting together afforded the first structured opportunity in many years for a comprehensive  conversation about the life of the Lutheran community in Sierra Leone.  There was a strong desire expressed before and during the training to unify and standardize an approach to worshipping as Lutherans in this country.  Over time, variant practices have emerged in the 22 ELCSL congregations and there was a felt need to address the differences.

From my observations and experience attending worship in a variety of congregations, the question of what makes the worship distinctly Lutheran and Sierra Leonean is still in the process of being answered.  At 21 years old (including 11 years of civil war) the ELCSL is still a very young church, and much is  evolving.  The Lutheran identity is strongly embraced, but there is need for continued exploration of what this means.

There are a variety of issues which impact the shape and character of worship in the ELCSL congregations.  The ELCLS is a multi-lingual community and literacy is a challenge at every turn.

The primary resource for worship to date has been the Lutheran Book of Worship published in the U.S. in 1978.  The language and music of worship in the ELCSL comes directly from the LBW, and this dependence on an English language resource and western hymnody has been a significant influence.  The LBW liturgy was translated into the Mende language some years ago, and this is widely used in the Mende areas.   Additionally, most of the Mende congregations own one copy of an old Mende hymnal published long ago by the Methodist church, and  Mende hymns from this resource are well known and loved.   My own hope is to see the LBW liturgy also translated into Krio someday, and to encourage Krio literacy where appropriate through congregational programs.   The issue of composing contextually-inspired music for a Sierra Leonean Lutheran liturgy is an additional challenge in this process.

The use of drums and other traditional instruments in Lutheran congregations is a well established dimension of worship life throughout the ELCSL. Modern drum sets and keyboards are also increasingly common in worship in many denominations in Freetown, especially in Pentecostal churches.

The broader context of African Pentecostalism is yet another significant  influence on the character of worship in Sierra Leone.  Pentecostal worship is often described as “having fire.”  Mainstream Protestant churches are accused of lacking fire in their preaching, worship and praise.  Praise choruses and a time for spirited singing and dancing have come into Lutheran worship from the currents of Pentecostalism.  In our discussions in Njala everyone concurred that a set time of singing and dancing has become an essential dimension of Sierra Leonean Lutheran worship.  We then had a lengthy debate about the most appropriate place in the liturgy to include praise choruses.   We also had some discussion about the use of English-language, American and European hymns in general, and I proposed that where the liturgy as written in the LBW calls for a “hymn,”  this means any appropriate song or chorus (and not just music from the LBW).

A final significant factor in the development  of “Sierra Leonean Lutheran worship” is the role of lay evangelists.  Lay leaders have been at the heart of the Lutheran movment in Sierra Leone  from the beginning.  Still today, only 11 of the 22 ELCSL congregations are served by an ordained pastor,  so the ELCSL is distinctly a church emphasizing proclamation of the Word, more than being a church of word and sacrament.  (Similar to the early history of the Lutheran church in the U.S.)

Our conversations in Njala were rich and altogether too short.  The pastors and evangelists have much to share with each other, and there is a great spirit at work, molding and shaping life together as a Lutheran community.   We are all hopeful we will be able to continue the conversations and learning.

Tom Barnett (Jr.) is the newly appointed ELCSL Director of Music and also the National Youth Coordinator.

“For all the saints, who from their labors rest”

During the last week in October the pastors and evangelists of the ELCSL gathered together in Njala for training, education, and conversation about the life of the church.   At the close of our time together, the evangelist from Momajo, Mr. Abdul Collier, shared that he was somewhat nervous before coming to Njala because he had dreamed about the event.  In his dream, he saw that the training would take place as planned, but there would be a major barrier or obstacle in the process.   By the time Mr. Collier spoke, we all knew that his dream had been remarkably prescient.   The training took place, but with a different schedule and mood than anticipated.

Rev. Juliet Rodgers Pearce, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Kissy, Freetown.

On  Tuesday night, shortly after all the participants had finally arrived in Njala,  ELCSL Pastor Juliet Rogers-Pearce became  ill.   We attended to her as best we could, but it was clear that her condition was quickly becoming critical.    We sent for a car to transport her to the Njala hospital.   Pastor Juliet died within moments of arriving there.

Members of the ELCSL community gathered in shock, grief, and somber silence at the Njala hospital that night.  “Ah, life” was the sorrowful refrain I heard over and over as we sat together.  Phone calls were made to family and friends, and arrangements were made to transport the body to a mortuary in Freetown that night.    Another ELCLS pastor, Lynton Gomoh, along with the evangelist from St. Paul, were charged with making that journey.    Like many African women, Juliet was the primary caretaker for many extended family members.  She was Pastor Lynton’s foster mother and a main source of support for him as he trained to become a pastor.   Her death was especially shocking for Lynton that night.

In the context of a nation with little to offer in terms of medical care, quick and sudden deaths like this are common.   Pastor Juliet had a recent history of heart problems, and had consulted a medical practitioner the day before we traveled to Njala.  When she shared word of her most recent diagnosis  and the treatment she was receiving, I wondered at the time whether or not she was receiving proper care and advice.   And while the Njala hospital is a fine, new facility serving a university community, I saw no medical equipment for emergency cases.   My basic sense is that there is nothing that could have been done in that context to prevent her death.

A life-long Christian, Juliet had been one of the original evangelists trained to serve in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sierra Leone in 1989 and 1990. On more than one occasion she made reference to things she had learned in those long ago training sessions, and she shared her eagerness to learn more at our Njala meeting.  In the early days of the ELCSL, she was a determined and feisty woman among a cadre of male colleagues.  Her dedication to service, to learning, and to the life of the church bore the fruit of her ordination as a pastor in 2006.

Mr. Abdul Collier, lay evangelist from St. Andrew Lutheran Church in the village of Momajo. He is new to this role and among the next generation of ELCSL leaders. He is participating here in a training exercise on the Lutheran liturgy. His quick and heartfelt smile signifies for me a joy and graciousness rooted in faith, even amidst the sorrow of death.

There are many traditional African beliefs and practices related to death and the afterlife which I am learning in these days.  Overall though, I have been most struck by the resonance of the gospel across time and place and culture.  From Corinth to the U.S. to Sierra Leone, the good news of Jesus Christ is the same:   “for this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying this is written will be fulfilled:   Death has been swallowed up in victory.  Where O death is your victory?  Where, O death is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  (1 Corinthians 15:53-57)

Truth while Driving

Trucks and buses in Sierra Leone often proclaim a message.

Driving back to the ELCSL offices through Freetown the other day, a policeman standing by the side of the road signaled that my driver should pull over and stop.  We pulled up behind a line of stopped cars, and the policeman came over to inspect our vehicle.  I’ve been in Freetown long enough to know that we were about to begin playing a game calling for good negotiation skills and the will to endure.   The basic reality is that the traffic police are always looking for some extra income, and drivers will often pay the officer for any violations or infractions identified in that moment rather than go to the police station or to court.  Poda-poda bus drivers and taxi drivers are especially subject to these police stops as a cost of doing business.  I’ve seen police with long wooden boards attached to a strap and studded with large nails, designed and used to prohibit the movement of buses and taxis.

Typical bus on the Freetown - Bo road. This one is carrying a smaller load than many.

The policeman who stopped us did a cursory inspection of the car and then asked my driver Abu for his license.  Abu apologized profusely and explained that he had forgotten it at home that morning.  A long and animated conversation followed.  I decided to sit it out and not get involved, although I was consulted at a couple of points.  In the meantime, I watched as a British friend was also pulled over and then waved on.   After 20 minutes, the police gave in and let us go without gaining the hoped for reward.

Once we were down the road and around the corner, Abu pulled his driver’s license out of his pocket to show me:  he had it all along.  He explained more about the game at hand.  Abu said that the policeman who pulled us over knew him, and knew very well that he had a driving license.  Abu further explained that if he were to show his license the police would confiscate it, and then even more time and effort as well as money would be needed to get the license back.

Stories abound about being stopped by the police.  When I shared my recent experience, one friend said that when she refused to release her license into the hands of the police, she was charged with failure to cooperate.  And so it goes.   It seems that quick thinking and creative talking are required in every case;  conventional wisdom suggests that politely and pleasantly ignoring the implied request for a bribe is in order, along with a professed willingness to go to the police station when the possibility  is raised.

Third in my growing collection of messages seen while driving.

While there is much that might be said about systemic corruption and underlying economic problems,  for today I would simply note that humor goes a long way in helping Sierra Leoneans cope with the challanges of everyday living.  Here is a typical Sierra Leonean joke reflecting the culture and context:    A priest was driving home on his motorcycle one night and he was pulled over by a policeman.  The policeman asked for the priest’s license and then carefully inspected the entire motorcycle with a keen eye for any possible violation.  Time went past and the police officer was frustrated because he couldn’t find any reason to pressure the priest for money.  Finally the policeman said:  “Father, it’s getting late and it’s dark. Aren’t you afraid to be driving alone at night?”  The priest responded,  “There’s no reason to be afraid –  I’m really not traveling alone.  I travel with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”   And the policeman said, “Well in that case, I’ll have to charge you for overloading your vehicle.”   In Sierra Leone, this joke draws a laugh every time.

Holy Ground

“Our first task in approaching another people, another culture, another religion, is to take off our shoes and walk gently, for the place we are approaching is holy… else we may find ourselves treading on another’s dream.  More serious still, we may forget… that God was there before our arrival.”

A friend sent me this quote many years ago when I was living in the Islamic-Christian-Arab-African context of Sudan.  Since those long ago days I have come across this passage on a number of occasions; it offers simple wisdom for cross cultural living in a new and foreign land.

The choir of St. Anthony Lutheran Church in Yegele. They made their own choir robes patterned on ones sent from the NTNL. The church building is a typical mud brick structure and a work in progress.

When I was in the village of Yegele last week I found myself walking on holy ground, amidst a people of faith sustained and

“Pa Blake” is the founding evangelist for St. Anthony’s Lutheran Church. He is “an old man” and in poor health.  I was moved that he was able to worship with us.

blessed by the abiding spirit of God.   St. Anthony’s Lutheran Church was planted in Yegele some 20 years ago, part of a cluster of 3 congregations established in the area at that time.  This congregation has never been served by an ordained pastor,  but leadership and inspiration have been provided by lay evangelists from the community.  My visit provided the opportunity to celebrate baptisms and holy communion — for the first time ever in that church.

God’s grace was poured out in abundance that morning at St. Anthony’s as I baptized almost the entire congregation:  71 worshippers of all ages!  Then we shared God’s gifts of bread and drink, and God’s people were fed for the first time in their own church home.   It was rich and meaningful to be among  the members of this community of faith and to see the visible signs of God’s presence shared there.   I was speaking English and the evangelist (James Vandy) translated my words into Mende, but the traditions of our faith tell us that water, bread and drink speak the ultimate language of God’s love and forgiveness.  (In the absence of wine for communion, we used a local, red colored cola.)

This transcendent language of God’s grace was spoken that same morning at St. Andrew’s in Momajo (served by Pr. Moses K. Momoh visiting from St. Mark’s in Freetown), and Grace in Jimmi (with Pr. Edward Lavally visiting from King of Glory in Njala).   Altogether, 142 Lutheran Christians were baptized in these  neighboring congregations, and worship that day truly was a foretaste of the feast to come when “a great multitude from all nations, tribes, people’s and languages will gather before the throne and before the Lamb.”  (Rev. 7:9)

Mother and daughter: 2 of 54 baptized by Pastor Moses in Momajo. Same mother and daughter were pictured at the ELCSL assembly in my Sept. 9 posting.