Africablog: Operation Classroom '07

Thanks for asking -- great question. There are three ways you can participate:

• First, pray for the team's safe and meaningful trip. This is the single most important thing you can do! Zap me an e-mail (sssemester@yahoo.com) or leave a note in the comments section if you'd like a list of the folks going on our trip.

• Second, if you haven't had a chance to consider a financial donation to the mission, now's the time! As of right now, I'm still responsible for raising about $1,200 -- so any gift from $10 to $1,000 will be appreciated! Either track me down and put some cash in my hot little hand, or send a check. (If you want to write a check, make it out to St. Luke's UMC, put West Africa '07 on the memo line, stick it in an envelope with a note that it's for my participation on the work team, and mail it to: St. Luke's World Missions, 100 W. 86th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46260.)

• Third, keep checking back here for updates and information about our trip before, maybe during, and certainly after.

I thank God for your interest in this program and our mission. I pray for your health and safety and for the success of our team's visit to Sierra Leone and Liberia in January 2007!

It's time to play ... WHERE'S! THAT! COUNTRY!!!???

Sierra Leone and Liberia are on the West African hump -- kind of the western "shoulder" of Africa. If you look at the African bulge (western side of the northern half) and follow it from the bottom (southern) coast of the bulge west, Liberia is the country on the corner where the south coast turns north, and Sierra Leone is the country immediately north of that.

With more information straight from the CIA's handy World Factbook for those of us who are new to West African geography, here are the basics on where we're going and the situation we expect to encounter...

LIBERIA (January 4 to January 11 or so)

History: Settlement of freed slaves from the US in what is today Liberia began in 1822; by 1847, the Americo-Liberians were able to establish a republic. In 1980, a military coup led by Samuel DOE assassinated President William TOLBERT (1971-80) and ushered in a decade of authoritarian rule followed by a prolonged civil war, in which DOE himself was killed. In August 2003, a comprehensive peace agreement ended 14 years of intermittent fighting and prompted the resignation of former president Charles TAYLOR, who was exiled to Nigeria. After two years of rule by a transitional government, democratic elections in late 2005 brought President Ellen JOHNSON-SIRLEAF to power.

Size: Slightly larger than Tennessee

Population: About 3 million

Religious Orientation: 40% Christian, 40% Muslim, 20% Traditional/Animist

Official Language: English

Where We'll Be: Monrovia, the capital. Ganta, way up-country past Gbarnga.


SIERRA LEONE (January 11 or so to January 23)

History: The government is slowly reestablishing its authority after the 1991 to 2002 civil war that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (about one-third of the population). The last UN peacekeepers withdrew in December 2005, leaving full responsibility for security with domestic forces, but a new civilian UN office remains to support the government. Mounting tensions related to planned 2007 elections, deteriorating political and economic conditions in Guinea, and the tenuous security situation in neighboring Liberia may present challenges to continuing progress in Sierra Leone's stability.

Size: Slightly smaller than South Carolina

Population: About 6 million

Religious Orientation: 60% Muslim, 30% Traditional/Animist, 10% Christian

Official Language: English

Where We'll Be: Freetown, the capital. Jaiama, way up-country near Koidu.

The Hull Freedom Trail is an initiative of the City of Hull in the UK. They'll be travelling to Sierra Leone, arriving in March, to deliver five 4x4 SUVs to give to NGOs working in the West African country.

This video shows what I'm guessing is the worst of the worst of Freetown: children living in a dump. I'm not sure what we'll experience when we get over there in a few weeks, but I have faith that God will show us what we need to see so that we can help others see.

From my other blog on November 18:

The trip to West Africa (Liberia and Sierra Leone) is about six weeks away!

We had another great orientation meeting last night, and we're down to the nitty gritty. Making serious plans about who's in charge of the suitcases, who's in charge of lunch or devotions on which day, etc. We're having a "packing party" on January 2, and then we're off to Liberia on January 4! We'll make it to Sierra Leone about a week later.

I'm going to be the music leader for the trip, which will entail brushing up on guitar and creating a songbook for our team to use. I'm also going to be interviewing a lot of students and faculty at the remote school where we're going, so we can come back and tell the story to other United Methodist churches in our district (about 60 churches between Indy and Terre Haute). We hope to be able to support the scholarships, supply needs, and capital projects for the 400 students at Jaiama Secondary School, which is in the Middle of Nowhere, Sierra Leone.

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From my other blog on October 26:

Planning for the Africa trip is in full-swing.

Looks like I'll be bumped up from second-string story-teller into the big leagues, now that our dear friend Rosemary Brown is unable to join us for the trip. I talked with Don and Marilyn yesterday and learned more about what I, specifically, will be doing to contribute to the mission of the group.

In addition to helping with the children's peace activities in Liberia, I'll be working in Sierra Leone to learn about the needs of our friends in Jaiama, so I can come back and share their struggles and their joys. You know, so many of the others on the work team have actual skills (medical/pharmacy training, construction background, counseling experience, etc.), and I felt intimidated that I don't have any real-time applicable skills to speak of that might translate into an effective contribution over there. Now, I'm really excited about the opportunity to use the gifts that God gave me to communicate the need by articulating a clear vision and enrolling individuals and families to help us realize that vision.

I've still got about $1,800 to raise, but I'm doing my part and trusting God with the heavy lifting to get me over there. (Insert self-deprecating "heavy lifting" joke here.)

My prayer is that God will allow us to see how we can work together in loving support to reach our shared and individual dreams for the future. I am grateful for opportunities and friendships that have powered me into the place where I am today, and I continue to give thanks as I seek out new opportunities and friendships to advance my personal mission and to realize God's purpose for me.Amen