“I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing.” John 15: 5
Dear Family and Friends,
Greetings of hope, joy, and peace to you.
“Wi tel God tenki!” (Common Krio greeting meaning, “We thank God!”) The first quarter of 2007 has been filled with many encouraging events.
In January, David Bayne, previously a pastor at Grace Community Church in Seal Beach and currently a WMF board member, visited Freetown. During a contemplative day retreat he shared a great analogy with the Sierra Leone Servant Team using a pitcher, a cup, a saucer, and a plate. The pitcher represents God, who wants to fill us, the cups, with all his goodness and blessing. We need to be still so he can fill us. When we are continually receptive to his outpouring, we are filled to overflowing. Imagine liquid cascading over the edges of the cup to the saucer, symbolizing our immediate family and community. As we, the cups, continue to rest and abide under the pitcher (our loving Father), the grace and love eventually flow over the saucers as well, onto the plates, which represent our work/ministry. These symbols have been very formational for us, helping us to prioritize. Rather than trying to meet the endless needs here with our own strength, our busy cups parched, we desire intimacy with God, serving out of His abundance.
In February, David Chronic, WMF Europe/Africa Regional Coordinator, visited our community. He shared about the Upside Down Kingdom of God with the Sierra Leone Servant Team. David offered invaluable assistance in helping Faye and I critically evaluate the last couple of years, and in planning the next steps for our community. Faye decided to renew her contract with WMF for another three years, and Stephanie McGuire, who was on the first servant team in 2005, is hoping to join our community, perhaps as early as August.
Noah Tullay and David Chronic then traveled to South Africa to assist David Bayne in discerning and exploring future ministry opportunities in Cape Town. When Noah returned to Freetown, he was filled with bright new confidence and contagious enthusiasm for our community and service among the poor.
Throughout January and February, Remie, one of the young boys Noah cares for in Kroo Bay, repeatedly ran away. On one occasion, he was gone for ten days. As you can imagine we were all worried sick about him. With upcoming elections, there is much talk around town about kidnapping for human sacrifice to gain political power. We were also concerned that his behavior may be evidence of an attachment disorder. Thankfully, he has been home continuously for about three weeks now. Please pray for Remie, that he would know how much he is loved and that he has been chosen.
The Lighthouse youth are doing better than ever. At the beginning of the year we instituted some new expectations and a new schedule. The new format includes more small group accountability and individual discipleship. Most were not happy at first, especially with the increased responsibilities and consistent consequences for bad behavior. However, they are all showing marked improvement in attendance and attitude. We also began an incentive program for excellence. Now they are competing for ‘Member of the Month’, and we as leaders have much fewer headaches. We recently finished up a six-week Bible study on mastering anger and are now embarking on thematic units based on Word Made Flesh’s lifestyle celebrations.(See The Cry for more information.)
In March previous Freetown WMF staff, Joe and Mindy Eichorn, along with their four-month-old baby, Natalie, returned to Freetown to say goodbye. Natalie enjoyed meeting many new friends and didn’t seem to mind the heat. The Eichorns and I had several redemptive conversations that helped us bring some good closure to their service in Freetown.
My friend Heleen (ex-roommate who worked with Rainbows of Hope) and I have been spending more time together. We are taking a very relaxing and enjoyable batik class on Tuesday afternoons. I was also able to assist Heleen facilitate a teacher’s conference in Makeni (small town about three hours away from Freetown). It sure felt good to be in a classroom again! We are also trying to assist Bridgette, our homeless friend who suffers from incontinence and schizophrenia. Heleen arranged surgery for Bridgette at Mercy Ships, and also found housing for her at City of Rest, a rehabilitation center run by a prayerful Sierra Leonean pastor. Please pray for Bridgette, for complete healing and restoration of both mind and body.
Thank you for all of your love, prayers, emails, and support. More and more I feel like we all (you and me) are participating in a miracle of restoration and grace, in our own lives, and in the lives of the His beloved here in Freetown.
May He overflow your cup today!
Love,
Cami Sigler
Field Director
hopehopper@hotmail.com
phone: 00232 76 862 147