About time for an update

So I know many of you are wondering how things are coming with my trip and I thought it was about time I update everyone- well at least with what I know right now.

First of all the support I have received has been amazing- it is so great to be reaffirmed in what I am doing by those who know and care about me. God continues to bring in the funds and I have little doubt He will continue to do so. Thank you.

I still am unsure of when I will be leaving, though it now looks as though it could be later than we had hoped. The elections are coming soon- August 11 and Sierra Leone is feeling it. There have been pockets of violence and a lot of intimidation. I am including two emails Karen (Jonathan House) has sent to give you a little more info.

July 16th
As many of you know, the first election since the conclusion of the civil war in Sierra Leone is scheduled for August 11. Please pray.

***We have gotten word that people are beginning to stockpile rice, making the price rise and in some cases, making it difficult to buy. Our plan is to send over $1200 ( as soon as we have it) to purchase a 2 month supply of rice now for the orphanage. We will store this rice and try to continue buying rice as we usually do for now.

***We are also planning to send over money for a "slush fund". We may need to move the children to a different location at some point and would obviously need funding to get that done. We don't have a vehicle that can transport all 85 children, so we would have to hire vehicles, a bus, ?????

***We have gotten word that the former rebels, who have been assimilated back into the villages and towns, have been talking and are saying that they will go back to war if their party is not elected. (Their party is now in office. The president of Sierra Leone is not running, but the vice-president is running. This is who they would like to see elected.)

***The other major candidate is said to be anti-corruption and has a lot of support among the young people and the educated.

***Bo, the second largest town in Sierra Leone and the home town of the orphanage, is seen as the political hub of Sierra Leone. There have recently been some demonstrations and political posturing that have not remained entirely peaceful.

***The security fence at the home is in the process of being installed.

***We now have 40 staff members who have vivid memories of the war and the devastation.

We invite you to join us in serious prayer each day for Sierra Leone. Pray for our children. Pray for those kids who remember and may have been involved in the first civil war. Pray for our staff who were greatly affected by the first war. Pray for the country as a whole. This is a very tense time in the country. Pray that those who love the Lord who rely on Him at this difficult time. Pray that God's glory would be revealed!

July 25th
Please be praying for PEACE in Sierra Leone. The elections are scheduled for August 11. There has been continued unrest in Bo, the political capital of the country. A couple of days ago there was an alleged assasination attempt on one of the candidates at a guesthouse within ten miles of the orphanage. It continues to be difficult to buy rice and the prices are going up as people are hoarding in anticipation of violence. The United Nations has UNAMSIL troops in Bo as a security and peace-keeping measure. Please pray for safety for our kids and staff in Sierra Leone. Many of them are members of a party with a candidate running against the current vice-president. Pray for wisdom for each of those involved in making decisions about the safety of the children.

Needless to say there is a lot more involved here than just my trip. I ask you to pray for it all- the country, these great friends at Jonathan House, and for my trip. I do really still want to be there. I was waiting to start really using this until I went- I will now start updating more often with all the info before I go. Sorry for the length of this post- you are now at the end.

*For news on Sierra Leone got to http://www.allafrica.com/ and type in Sierra Leone

Joining the bloggers

So as most of you know I will be heading to Sierra Leone in September for 6 months. I am hoping this blog will make it easier for those of you who would like to know what I am up to. Being that the electricity in Salone only works sporadically I am not sure how often I will be able to update this, but I am hoping to rope my mom and sister Amy into maintaining it for me when I cannot. Thank you for taking the time to see what I've been doing.