Pressing on, Pressing on

Hey all,

So has been a very hectic week. Last week, I was teaching at the CRC Primary school every day, helping the kids prepare for their first annual Thanksgiving, which took place on Sunday, June 27th. A lot of hard work but what a blessing...it was incredibly emotional and amazing to see how far the school has come in just a few short years! And it was even more amazing to see the impact it has made on the children, the community, and the country as a whole. CRC Primary school is still the only school in all of Sierra Leone to have class sizes of 30 students per teacher (the norm is over 120 students to one teacher), and a desk for each student. Because the class sizes are so much smaller, and actual textbooks are provided for the students, the quality of learning is immeasurably better. Since 2007, CRC has consistently ranked the highest in the whole country in terms of letter recognition and literacy among the kids. What an amazing thing to think that a seemingly impossible dream that started with Mr. Degroot, my old principal, and the community here, could make such an incredible difference. I remember wondering why we always had to fundraise money when we were in high school, and feeling like our teachers and principal were always pressuring us for money for some unknown country in Africa. If only I had known then, and my friends had known, what an incredible impact the money we raised has had on these children, this community, and this country. It is so unbelievable to think of how grateful people are for this school, and to realize the magnitude of what it is accomplishing here in Sierra Leone. I can only hope and pray that I will one day get the opportunity to teach here too :)

I was also meeting with the CES national director last week, talking about what training we could do with the staff (for those of you who don't know, I am here running The People's Foundation, but I am also volunteering with CES, a local NGO in Kabala). I will be putting on 4 workshops for the staff over the next couple weeks, based on what I've just studied in my course back in Canada...training them how to write effective field reports, write grant proposals, develop groups they are in, and recognize and acknowledge gender differences. It's amazing to be blessed with the opportunity to share some of the things you've learned with others, and to learn from others' experience at the same time. It's so humbling to see how excited the staff are about these workshops...what a reminder that I am so not qualified or deserving to do this work, it is only by God's grace it is possible!

In terms of our own project (The People's Foundation), things continue to be going well. I am sometimes discouraged when I think of the relatively small time I have left here and the immense amount of work I have to do, but I know that God never gives us anything we can't handle, and it will all get done. We are trying now to partner the program with the CRC church formally, so that when Katie and I are not in Sierra Leone, the program can still run smoothly and continue developing. We hope to carry out mentoring interviews next week with those who took part in the mentoring training, so we can find someone for them to mentor and help along through life. We started group sessions on "How we can plan for our future" last week, and the result was very inspiring and encouraging. Next week, we will be doing HIV/AIDS education and sensitization. I will also need to make up a "manual" or a guidebook to leave here in Kabala, so the program can continue to run all year. It's so exciting to see a dream taking form and becoming a reality, but it's also a reminder that it takes hard work and doesn't happen overnight! You can't give up just because you aren't seeing results right away or you're tired. Perseverence and patience are always needed.

One of my favourite quotes that always encourages me in this type of work is "God grant me the peace to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." What an incredible reminder, to think about the fact that we cannot fix everything. Sometimes I become discouraged in my work when I feel like it's not changing anything, or I am working hard and seeing no results...but it is always critical to remember it's not the success of the action, but the love behind it. Little things done with great love will always accomplish something...even if it is not the size or the scope you had first hoped for. I was very discouraged earlier this week because of some emotional problems some of my friends were going through, because no matter what I did, I couldn't help them feel better. Sometimes its hard to accept that you can't fix everything...but it's a reminder that as a missionary, God did not call me here to save everyone in this country and make them all feel better - that would be impossible!He simply called me to do the work with great love, no matter the results. So I am trusting him and casting my burdens at his feet, knowing any emotional hurt or frustration I am feeling is something I must work through, not something I can use as an excuse to give up. When you give God the heartaches of your past, the problems of your present, and the uncertainties of your future, you'll be amazed at the result.
Much love!

Krissi