Star Fruit and Cashew Fruit, we eat the fruit and nuts of the cashew.
Rider (brown boy) Razor (black girl)
Assembly May 2009,
New Sussex Congregation, nope it is not Dennis in the back of the group, it is a missionary brother. Dennis was in the US at this time.Hello Friends and Family,
Yes, we are on the move again.... Sussex here we come. Sussex is a new little congregation here in Sierra Leone. They have 16 publishers and had 229 at memorial. If you scroll down to previous posts you can find pictures of our visits to Sussex and preaching with the friends there.
We will be moving first week of June. But first Dennis, Shelby and Lorie have pioneer school starting tomorrow. Our visitor Dan from NY travels back to NY today. It has been a very eventful and fun three weeks since Dennis arrived with Dan.
Dan got to see lots of Sierra Leone, he went upline, to bush country for a four day trip giving talks in tiny congregations, including my beloved Lunsar village and getting as far as Kabala and Sefadu. Inspecting kingdom halls, or non existent delapidated kingdom halls. The friends are so welcoming and happy to have visitors. So many Kingdom Halls are old and weathered beaten or destroyed from the wars in the past. It is amazing how many groups and congregations meet outside under trees. Rainy season can be difficult but they persevere.
Assembly was wonderful, there was a record attendance of 1,271. The little congregation of Sussex is out where there is no public transport, they rented a poda poda, minivan taxi, mini van seats removed and replaced with narrow metal benches. They packed over 30 inside including many small children who walk to meetings everyweek, some as young as 5 years.
One little girl arrived at a witness families home the night before assembly with her assembly clothes, she is 5 years old, the next morning she rose at 4 am to wake the family so they "wouldn't be late", she attends all meetings on her own. Walking over 40 minutes to and from meetings. Last month at a meeting her little friend came and started crying softly after the meeting. When I asked why she said she didn't have a bag for her bible. She is so cute! Rainy season is coming and having a bag for books is extremely important.
Our new home in Sussex Congregation Territory is actually in the Village of Lakka. It is right on the ocean, 5 minute walk to gorgeous beach and swimming pool. Lakka is about a 30 minute drive from Lumley which is our old territory. The Bethel Branch is about a 40 minute drive so we can still visit and volunteer without difficulty. Lakka is the last stop for Poda Poda transport from Lumley, so if we want we can take public transport. The Sussex territory extends from Lakka to past River No. 2. Some of our visitors may recognize the territory. It is just after Godrich congregation territory, heading out of Lumley. Ok now that we are all lost....
Oh new puppies, yes we have two additions, Rider and Razor. Brother and Sister puppies. They are doing very well. Our new home we are transferring to in June has a large flat yard and lots of garden space, great for kids and the dogs.
Dexter the Monkey, or is it? Dexter You Monkey! is doing great, he really likes his new monkey family member :) picture attached of him grooming his stuffed monkey from America! Thankyou!
Our internet may not work the next couple weeks, but we will try to email or check in from the internet cafe.
Think of you all lots!
Swift Family
