Living in Banta has been an adventure up until now. We have been able to participate in a number of activities and have settled into a good routine. Everyday we have opportunities to experience the love God has for this place and work together as a team to be His hands and feet in this beautiful country.
So far the three major projects we have been involved with are... updating sponsorship records, tutoring students from the Junior High School and a select number of home children, and visiting local villages where we are able to build new relationships and help out with village life. Additionally, we have been involved in outreach to various villages for health education talks with the clinic staff, where we teach on sanitatin, clean water, nutrition, malaria, While there we also perform water testing and run a little clinic where we screen adults and children and hand out vitamins.
Recently, COTN's Mallory Johnson Secondary School held a Saturday workshop on goal setting that we were able to be apart of. We put together a skit that demonstrated the distractions that can come about as a young adult and how they can put a plan into action that would help them achieve their goals and dreams. We then broke up into teams and talked about what that might look like for them and what they could do to overcome those obstacles. We had a really positive response of about 100 students from both the Junior and Senior High and students from each group shared their thoughts and experiences. It was a successful outlet for both information and participation.
To my family and friends:
I miss you all so much. I can't believe that I will be home so so soon! Time has really been flying since may has hit. Banta has been amazing our last few weeks here. Visiting with our new skills family and building relationships with the children have been my favorite part! We are leaving banta next thursday morning to head to freetown for a little retreat before we hit the airport. We have such a short amount left! Its crazy! I can't to share all my stories and pictures with everyone! OH YEAH: we are recently building a pig pen. It is very hard labor, but it is paying off! Just not the sun burns :( love and miss everyone.
Mommy and daddy: I miss you both so much. Especially when I dont feel good :( I can't wait to be home and tell you all everything. Dont worry, im safe and healthy! Mom- stop crying :) Im okay! I miss you and I love you so much. Dad: I can't wait to work out at the gym with you. We've been walking so much, so I have been staying healthy and ready to go! I will call you both on my birthday around 4 ishh your time, so be free :) OH DADDY: im learning to make homemade peanut butter for you :)
Jackie and Matt:I miss you both so much. I am praying for your marriage every morning :) I hope all is well and little brady is healthy. Although he may not be little anymore! I will see you guys soon! Love and miss you both. And jackie, starbucks date is needed..asap!
Blake: I hope your enjoying being 16! I miss you bro! Im going to get you a sweet african knife for your birthday! You'll love it! Sorry dad! Haha. Love you brother, stay outta trouble.
Sarah lee, Max, Dina:I cant wait to snuggle at night again(: miss you all! I hope sarah is not chewing up any more couches!
Lauren Grenicles: You thought i'd forget about you..huh!? Haha, never :) I miss youuu. So much! Its weird not hearing from you everyday :( I hope your doing soo good lauren. I pray and think about you all the time. Remember to keep listening to that play list okay?! :) cause I do! I can't wait to see you and everyone soo soon! I hope your still counting down! I will call you on my birthday, so you better not be working missy! I love you soooo much and I can't wait to see you again. Stay strong for me and dont give in to ANYTHING. Haha. Give Patrice a shout out for me& Eric! Don't forget about our summer list now...(: Love youuuu muffin. Ohh: say hi to our small group for me(: miss you.
Maggie May: I miss you girl! I hope college life is treating you well! Im sure your almost done! And I can't wait to see you at that airport..even though I will prob hear you from miles away hahha. Miss you girl. I cant wait to blast tay swift in LAKE! Holla. Love you girl.OH pho date asap when I get back!
Thanks for everyone's prayers and thoughts! I can't wait to share my stories and pictures. God bless you all, and I will be home very soon. I am praying for you :)
Love Chelsea
Dear family and friends
Banta is amazing, we have all fallen in love with the people and the land. Its beautiful here, and the people are so amazing and so full of life even though they have so little. Sense the mines we have still been tutoring our students in English, and they are coming a long way. We are still doing Friday health talks, and still doing new skills which is where we go to a family in a village and learn about village life, and help out in any form 2 days a week. We have also started to build a pig pen for the farm because there are way to many pigs in 6 rooms so we are building two more for the piglets. Its been a lot of hard work and a lot of hours but its been worth it. I am learning so much here, and just changing so much as a person, growing up and seeing whats actually important in life. Banta brings a joy out of me thats unexplainable, a peace and a home. Thank you all who are praying for me I could not do it with out you, and thank you everyone who supported me, this tip would have never happened with out your support and you believing in me, Thank you for this amazing gift, and for helping me achieve one of my dreams. Thank you :)
Mom and Dad- I miss you both so much. I cant wait to see you in a couple weeks. Its going to be great. Sense last I talked to you on the phone we have still continued with our normal activities, and have added a few more. Daddy Chris the founder of COTN and Bruce from orange county came for a few days this past week. It was really nice to see white people, and to hear about whats going on at home. They stopped here on the way to Liberia because they are setting up a COTN there. Which is amazing, there will be Five places after that. I have gotten close to a few village kids even more lately and its going to be so hard to leave them, not to mention the children in the homes. Its amazing here! One day we should all take a trip down here, you two would totally fall in love with this place. Seriously its amazing. I'm bringing a food pounder home so I can make african dishes for you all, and PEANUT BUTTER be stoked!!!!! I love you two so much, and I cant wait to see you, tell the dogs I say hiiiiiii!! and give tanner a huge kiss!!!!
Reo- Hey love I miss you so much!! i'll be home to you soon and we can spend so much time together. And go to the zoo!! on the way to the zoo can we get fro yo??? please?? i'm craving it so much!! babe this place is amazing, I really hope you and me come back one day all the house kids want me to bring you here so they can meet you, and they have all demanded wedding pictures galore. So we will have to remember to order more and send some here. They all wanted me to say Hi to you and that they are excited to meet you one day. I'm excited for that day, the day I come back. Its going to be so hard to leave them here but i'm excited to come home to you. I hope work is going good, and that your enjoying your time. Specially because it will be crazy ness when I get home, and all the planning begins. I cant wait to see you I love you so much!! I miss you Reo a lot.
JENNA BEAN!!!- Oh how I miss my best friend!! and I miss hanging out and chatting with you, and spending time and just having Jenna and Kaylyn nights, which by the way will increase so much more when I get home. So about Africa I have a million and one bug bites on my legs but let me tell you its all worth it. I want you to come here so bad. I can totally see you just falling in love with these children and just loving it so much here. I miss you so much!! Red Robin will be so happy to see us together again!! haha, Girl I miss you. I cant wait to beach it up, and to just do summer fun. Its going to be great, and to plan everything will be crazy but it will be fun. Jenna I don't want to leave this place whats so ever but im excited to come home haha if that makes sense. But i'm going to pass the computer. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!! i'll see you in two week now!!!
SHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPPP
Thank you again everyone for your support and i'll be seeing you in about two weeks!! love you all
Love Kaylyn
Hello everybody. (JESSE)
So there's only two weeks until we're home so there's really not much here to say that I'd rather not say in person very very soon. Suffice to say everything is of course amazing here and I miss you all so much and am so blessed by those praying for me every single day and I wish I didn't have to leave. The stories to tell... Can't wait to see you all and to tell you them! Just with I could pack up again and come back... Just with Hailey!
To Hailey of course I CAN'T WAIT to see you at the airport :) Oh how I love thee! See you very soon!!! So much to talk about for the both of us! Sorry I haven't called again I'll explain later. My parents should be able to give you a small update.
To family we just spoke to you know how I feel :) Love you all and speak to you soon! To my friends pretty much the same thing. I don't know what's goin on with the small group but I would love to have a party a few days after I get back for us all!
See you all very soon as we return to the “civilized” world!
Love,
Jesse
Hey everyone!!!! I hope that you are all doing well. I miss you all so very much, but I have fallen so deeply in love with Banta. The people, the landscape, the weather, everything about this place is so incredible and a constant reminder of how incredibly huge God is and how phenomenal His creation is. The last two months have been so incredible! I can't think of any other place that I would rather have spent my birthday (apart from with my family). It freaks me out that we only have two weeks left here and then we are off. I can't even begin to put into words how much I am going to miss Banta. On the other hand, I can't wait to see all of you and share all of my experiences with you!
To Mama & Daddy: I miss you both SO very much! Hearing your voices today was so incredibly uplifting and inspiring. It was exactly the second wind that I needed. Thank you so much for being such incredible parents and role models to Zach, Mikle, and me. I love you both so much and am counting down the days until I can see and hug you both! I read your letters everyday and my shell is always by my side, Daddy! And Mama, stay strong and know that I am thinking and praying for you all the time. I love you guys SO SO SO SO SO much.
BUDDY!: I can't wait to see you at the airport! I miss my sidekick! I hope that you are doing well and staying strong. I am so proud of you and the accomplishments that you are making in track. I wish that I could be there to cheer you on and support you, but know that I am rooting you on from a few continents away. =]. I'm glad that the concert and prom went well and I can't wait to see pictures! I love you very much and I am counting down the days until we can raise hell in Lakeland again! =]
My dearest Grammy: I love you!!!!!!! It was so nice to hear your voice today! Thank you for singing me Happy Birthday! I love you very much and I can't wait to see your precious face! Give Jazzy love for me!
Boo Bear: I MISS YOU! Life is so boring without my boo bear here to raise hell with me! I love you very much and I can't wait to see you at the airport! =].
To All My Friends And Family: Thank you again for all of the prayers and support! This trip would not have been at all possible without your help and support. I love you all so very much. Stay strong and take care! I will be home in two weeks!
God Bless,
Kaytee =]
Hey everyone!
It's crazy how quickly these past 2 months have gone by! Banta gets more beautiful every single day. I'm really excited to be seeing everyone again, but it's going to be tough leaving these kids. The people here are so wonderful and getting to know them and hear their stories has been such a blessing. It's incredible learning about where these kids used to be before they came to the home and seeing where they are now and how much God has redeemed their lives. God is doing such huge things in this community and it's exciting to get to play a small part in the work being done. I'm so thankful that we've gotten to have the opportunity to come here and my life has been changed forever. We haven't gotten to hear from home much, so I'm really eager to hear about all the cool things going on in Washington :) I pray for you guys all the time and I am so thankful for those of you who have been keeping us in your prayers, it's definitely appreciated. Please continue to pray for our team as we approach our last week here.
FAMILY- I miss you. Mom and dad, I know I just talked to you the other day, but here's another shout out... HEEEEEYYY!!! I LOVE YOUUUUU!!!! Oh! I forgot to say thank you for the goodie bag you gave me! The book of sudoku keeps me sane when my mind needs a break from my emotions haha the cadbury eggs melted all over my purse and the contents of my purse way back when we first got here... I did NOT see that coming! Haha basically all the candy melted everywhere. Oh well. It was a fun-filled moment to discover that! Hope school is going well and the kids aren't being too obnoxious as you approach the end of the school year :) I'm expecting dates for the hiking trip when I get home so my fiance and I can request it off from work! Can't wait to see you in a couple weeks! Erika- Hello I love you! Mom said you are coming to the airport with Josh! And the van! Yayyyy!!!! I'm excited to see you guys. I'm sure Josh is a golfing extraordinaire by now and is writing songs or doing something amazing. I'm excited to see him! and you and Mark! Tell him I say hello and thanks for all the words of wisdom! Jenny- I miss you! I hope that school is going well for you and that things aren't too crazy for you and Chad right now. I'm gonna have some time off when we get back so maybe we could reunite at some point this summer? :) I'm praying for you guys and am excited to see you.
J3- I am so excited to hear about how youth is going and how you are all doing! I haven't heard anything about youth since I've been here so I'm eager to hear about all that's happened this spring! I trust that God is doing amazing things and I hope that you are having a great time with the leaders that are there. I love you guys so much and think about you all the time. Umm... and I'm thinking we need to have a party when I get home :) I'm praying for you and can't wait to see you guys!
And to everyone else... I'll see you soon and I'm looking forward to hearing about all the good stuff happening back in America.
See you in a few days!
love love love.
Katie Miser
So we leave in a week!! Im so excited to see everyone! I have so much to tell you all and im excited to share with you all my experiences. I wont go into to much detail on here because I will see you so soon but Africa is still hard and uncomfortable but the best experience of my life. I have been able to find my identity here and I found parts of my heart I didnt even know I could love with. Im super stoked to come home and see everyone. Mom, shellee, grandma, bama (pretty much all the woman of my life) im sorry we have posted only 2 of these since we left but like I said earlier internet is hard to come by here. I love you all! See you soon.
Eric
Hello everyone!
I hope you are doing well at home. We will be home in a few short days and I am so excited to see everyone. I have really fallen in love with this place and all of the kids here. There are so many stories I can't wait to tell you all. JJ, I am trying to work on getting you a cool present for your birthday. Can't wait to see you. Carl... how's my little bro doing? Hope all is well and miss your smiling face. Mom, I hope everything is going well for you and I think about you often and wish you could see Sierra Leone and all it's wonderfulness. Dad, I can't wait to give you a big hug at the airport! Gramma, hope you and Peppie are have a good Spring. :) Kat, Selena, Steph, Jenay, Nadine, and all other friends and family.. I hope you are doing well and I love you bunches!
Thanks to everyone for your love and support! See ya soon!
Jen
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Dear Moma Landram,
Today your daughter turned 19 and celebrated with the help of her new little brothers and sisters. They sang for her. They wrote her letters. They gave her gifts. A special menu was also prepared with pizza (yeah, okay, so maybe we should have told the lady that cooks for us that Kaytee doesn't like pizza) and an amazing cake with pink icing. Tomorrow she is going to trek her way in to the jungle and cross a river in a dugout canoe. I know you're incredibly proud of her. And you should be. But you really need to do something about the size of that kid's thumb!
Just sayin'.
With love,
The Irishman
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Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Our first team blog!
Welcome to the first and infrequent blog of the GO Sierra Leone Team. Since we have been here we have been able to be involved in many areas of Children of the Nations such as Sponsorship, the Village Partnership Program, English Tutoring/Mentoring, health and sanitation lessons and spending time with the kids.
In the Sponsorship area we are taking pictures of and interviewing each child to update their profiles. We also have had the chance to hand out letters from each of the sponsors to the children and help them write letters back.
Village Partnership Program is where COTN has working relationships with the surrounding villages and each of us is paired up and assigned to spend time with a family in that particular village. This has been a great opportunity for each of the interns to see what village life is like and help out with chores or on the farm. It has also begun to develop lasting relationships with the nationals. Today, we went together to a local village called Wonde and gave speeches on health education. We spoke on sanitation, clean water, malaria prevention, and nutrition. We also made vitamins available and encouraged people to come to the clinic if needed. While in the village we took water tests to see if the water they are drinking from is clean.
Three times a week we each meet with a few teens to tutor them in English. We all have individual plans, however we have been going over phonics, songs, stories, and grammar with an emphasis on pronunciation, comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary development. The plan is to develop mentoring relationships with each teen and be a positive influence. It has been a great experience that each of us looks forward to.
Please continue to pray for our team as we endeavor to move the Kingdom forward here in Sierra Leone. We are all adjusting to the environment, some a little more than others, but enjoying our stay. Be in prayer that we are all healthy, mentally, physically, and spiritually.
This trip has been a blessing for each of us in many ways. It has opened our eyes to what is important in life. We can see how these children live with so little, but have so much. There is so much joy and love all around us, we cannot help but see God's greatness.
Unfortunately, we won't be able to keep up with the blog as often as we thought because the internet is difficult to access and our days are filled with activities. However, please know that the good Lord is taking care of us, we love and miss you all, and will be home soon. :)
Hey everyone!!! I miss you all so much! Africa is so amazing! We have been doing so much here with the children, and villages. We have done health work, Chelsea are doing clean water so were teaching people on water in villages. There is a little girl in Magborie who is adorable! First time I saw her she was sick but she is getting better after some prayer. Her name is Lucia. I have fallen in love with her. Fatu Hanna is another girl who I just love. She is a home child, and she has so much joy in her heart, and she just inspires me to be a better person and to be content with what I have. These children are all parentless and have so much joy and are living there lives worshiping God everyday. Its life changing to watch. We came here thinking we would help the nationals out, and in return they are totally changing, growing, and growing our hearts more then I ever thought possible. Mum dad I love you so much!! I miss you so much. I hope you are doing good! Mum I ate a bug today!! give newnew a fatty hug and tell him I love him. I CANT WAIT FOR YOUR HOME COOKING!!!!
REO love I miss you so much. I cant wait to see you. I cant wait to come home and just have fun days and just hang out with you. I cant wait to marry you. Africa Is amazing! Thank you for gifting me with the ability to come here! I love you so much and i'm praying for you everyday. CHEETO PUFFS!!! don't forget!! haha.
Jenna bean I miss you. I have texted you and no reply!! lameo. But I still lovers you. I can not wait for RED ROBIN!!!!!! girled cheese with avo and tamo. I MISS IT SO MUCH FRIES!!!! i'm craving them!! I have been praying for you. I hope your staying positive, following the lord! I'm praying for you daily, and I seriously miss you so much! You would love it here. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!
Thank you all so much for supporting me through this process. Its amazing and the best gift ever!
P.s We sweat like crazy here, every second of the day wet bodies hahahahahaha.
Love, Kaylyn.
To my family and friends: OHHH HOW I MISS YOU ALL! Life in Africa is pretty legit. Although these past three weeks have been difficult with the transition, God is providing me peace to get through. We are all having a blast here with all the children! Like kaylyn, I have fallen in love with a little girl named Fatu Hanna. She breaks my heart with her cute little face and her loving heart. Twice a week, Katie and I work with a family down in a village named Senehum. It shows me the lifestyle that these people have to go through daily, it is laboring work that just opens my eyes to an unseen world. It brakes my heart knowing I have so much at home, and these people live on less then a dollar a day. I hope to go home and apologize to my parents for being so selfish! Anyways! I miss everyone so much. You have all touched my heart in unique ways and PLEASE continue to keep praying for our team.
Mommy: I miss you. I miss your cooking(when you did)& I miss our talks. I can't wait to catch up! I love you! Daddy: I miss you so much and I can't wait for the game room parties! Also, sorry about the phone bill..haha. Love you! Lauren: Stay strong in your faith. Remember God is your foundation, and your going to do such amazing things while i'm gone. Now go to the waterfront and read :) & say Hello to Patrice for me! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. Jackie&Matt: I MISS BRADY& you both! I can't wait to see you! Brother: love you so much. Be good.
Thanks for everyone's support and prayers. You all are such a blessing in my life.
Love, Chelsea
HELLO EVERYONE!!!! I MISS YOU ALL SO SO VERY MUCH!!! Africa is PHENOMENAL!!!! It is the most beautiful place I have ever been! I have been having such an amazing time here. I have had the tremendous opportunity of working with the Kpata family in Ngolala. They have so graciously welcomed me into their home and patiently been teaching me the ropes of traditional African life...which in no way, shape, or form have I expressed ANY natural ability in. I have also been blessed to live with nearly one hundred INCREDIBLE children who remind me daily that in the midst of many trials and tribulations, God is always by our side watching over us and guiding us. Their endless joy and unwavering faith is so inspiring and is a constant reminder of how incredibly great God is. I have had the most amazing time here, and I thank you all so very much for all of the help, support, and prayer that you have blessed me with. It is because of all of you that this opportunity has become a reality, and I can't wait to share this terrific experience that God has blessed me with with all of you! I love you all so very much and I miss you like CRAZY!!!! To my dearest Mama: I miss you so very much and I can't wait until I can see your gorgeous face! You are the most amazing woman I know and I can't thank you enough for everything you do for Zach, Mikle, Daddy, and I. You are so strong and courageous and I thank God daily that He blessed me with a Mama like you. It is because of your phenomenal parenting through Christ that I have the courage and strength to do something like this. I love you so much and I am so excited to tell you all about the kids and my experiences! Thank you so much for the letters and cards. They are a constant reminder of your love and always brighten my day. I LOVE YOU! Oh! And I sleep with my quilt every night!!!! =]. I can't wait until I can see my best friend again! To my Daddy: I MISS YOU LIKE CRAZY!!! I miss your hugs and how they are able to solve any problem no matter how big or small. I miss your pep talks and how you always know the perfect words to say. I miss your infectious laugh and how no matter what the situation, you could always make me laugh. And I miss your smell and how whenever I smell it I know that no one and nothing can hurt me. But most of all I miss you...I miss my Daddy. I love you so much and I miss you so much. I look at my shell every night and every night it gives me the encouragement I need to get through the next day. Thank you so much for letting me do this. I know how hard it was for you to let me go, and I want you to know how incredibly thankful I am. Thank you for always letting me spread my wings, but still being there every time I stumble and need a push. You are an amazing father, and I love you more than words can even begin to express. Remember to keep your head held high and take one day at a time. I will be home before you know it!To my Buddy: ZACHIE!!!! I love you and miss you so much!!!!! My days just aren't the same without you! I miss your hugs, contagious laugh, and your Borat impressions! I miss my little brother! I can't wait to see you and give you the BIGGEST hug ever!!!! I love you and I hope you are doing well. Keep an eye on Mom and Dad for me! To my beautiful sister, Mikle: I love you so much and I miss you! Stay strong and know that God is always watching over you. I can't wait to see what He has been doing in your life while I have been gone. I love you and can't wait to hug you! To my friends and family: Thank you all so much for all of the prayers and support. I love you all so much and can't thank you enough for everything that you have done for me. Please know that I have constantly praying for you all and thinking you all often. And please read Colassions 2:5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =].
Love Always,
Kaytee =].
Hi friends!
So first of all, anything that I write isn't going to give this trip any justice. I need a book! Sierra Leone is just incredible. Seriously, I fall in love with this country more and more every single day, I look outside and I feel like I'm in a movie. It's hard to believe we've already been away for 3 weeks! The kids at the home are so funny and full of life and spending time with them is so much fun. Every morning we get to wake up to the sound of African Children singing praises to God and to the sound of a rooster outside our window. I'd prefer it over an alarm clock any day :) Chelsea and I go to a village called Senehum a couple times a week to hang out with a family there and learn the ways of life. I don't think I'm ever going to complain again about having to work hard, these people work so hard just to do normal everyday things. The people there are so sweet and they always send us home with mangoes or coconuts or cassava or some other random food. Tutoring is really fun. I have 3 boys in class 7 and we are studying English together 3 times a week. I'm also teaching 6 aerobics classes a week! God is good and I get to use my aerobics instructing skills here! I do 3 classes a week with the teenage girls and 3 classes a week with the home aunties. They seem to like it! It's a huge blessing to be able to do what I love with the people here and they really enjoy it too! Mom and Dad – thank you for supporting me as much as you did to help me get here. I miss you guys a lot and am excited to share everything with you. You guys would LOVE all of the singing and music they have here. Mom I'll try to pick you up another drum or shaky thing if it can fit in my bag :) I love you guys so much. Erika and Jenny – I miss you guys and wanna hang out with you when I get home. Jenny, it's gonna be like, 6 months of not seeing you... You both should come to to air port with mom and dad!! happy belated birthday to me??? I miss you guys. Froomies – I hope the house has heated up for you. I miss you guys like crazy and I am so excited to wake up and drink coffee with you guys and have random dance parties. And Nicole and Mandy, thanks for the letters! You guys are so sweet, they are so fun to read. Brittany, I hope you had an amazing birthday. So sad I had to miss it. Let's go out when we get back! To everyone else, I miss you dearly and am excited to hear about all the exciting things going down in Kitsap County when we return. Please pray for myself and the rest of my team as we live here the next couple of weeks. Please also pray for COTN and all of the kids here in the sponsorship. The kids here are so amazing and it's amazing the work that the sponsorship is able to do for them. I love you guys and I'm praying for you all daily and I can't wait to see you when I get home. See you sooooooon!!! :)
Katie Miser
Hey Everyone!
Africa is so awesome! I love it here so much! I love the people, the food, the kids, and the red dirt. I just love it. It is so beautiful and there are loving kids everywhere. Every time you pass anyone they stop and greet you and are so friendly. I am learning how to cook some Africa food and learning some Krio and Mende language. In my African village, there is a lady whose name is Aunty Sallie that I just adore. She is the one who is teaching me some African dishes along with Nancy our house Aunty (who is also totally awesome.) My African name is Gita, it means “this one” and implies a sense of belonging like this one is ours. :) There is a little girl in the village that has the same name that follows me everywhere, so cute. I have really enjoyed spending time with the house kids, (the kids that live here on campus), they are so much fun.
Hi to Mom and Dad, hope you are doing well and I am praying for you as you manage that crazy house full of people. Love you so much! Thank you for your prayers and support. It means a lot. JJ, you are so amazing. I am praying for you and the boys. Give them big hugs for me and tell them that I love them. Carl, I am so thankful to have you as my little brother. I love you so much and can't wait to see you again when I get home. Kat!! Can't wait to chat with you and tell you all about everything, and I mean everything! I hope you are getting enough sleep with the wee one on the way. Love you! Kaitlyn, thanks for your advice about mid-afternoon showers! I am looking forward to our lunch when I get back. :) Selena... hugs!!! Movie night is awaiting! Love you all. At this point I really don't want to come home, but I will see you all soon!
Jen
To my wonderful friends and family,
I'm not going to lie I miss you all very much, but I'm sorry to say I'm still not ready to come home! We have been here only 3 short weeks and I can't even begin to describe the things that this wonderful and unbelievably beautiful country has done to my heart. Daily life is pretty tough here, but I have never seen a people group with such a sense of family and care for one another. I am surrounded everyday with over a hundred orphans, but you soon begin to realize there are no orphans here. They are one big family and they have welcomed us in as their own. I have never been so warmly welcomed to a place in my life and I am just filled with more and more love for Sierra Leone every single day. By looking at what others have posted you can get the basic gist of what we have done so far and what is going on so I wont spend a ton of time on that. Sorry the blog wont be weekly, but I'm glad we were able to get something out. Mom and Chris I love you guys and I miss you a lot. I think of you everyday. Yes mom, Africa has a certain smell to it! Most of all I just smell my own B.O from the pools of sweat I lose in a day, but it smells earthy like you had heard. Nick and Hannah, I'm still so proud of you both and I can't wait to see you guys again. Nick I can't believe you graduate this year! Hannah I think we have a Micheal Myers marathon calling our name when I get back!! :) Shellee I Love you! Hope Bobbie is still hanging in there! I'd like to see her again! Please give grandma and grandpa a big hug for me and tell them I miss them and think of them all the time. When you give them their hug make them give YOU a hug as well from me! To my wonderful students in J4!!! I cant wait to come home and share with you guys the amazing things that God is doing here! It it super inspiring! I hope everything is going well in group and you guys are learning lots! Don't ever forget even though I am thousands of miles away you still have been in my prayers and you will always have a friend and brother who will forever be there for you. The notes you guys wrote me have really inspired me and motivated me in some hard times. Thank you for being one of the biggest influences in my life and inspiring me to do crazy things like live in Africa for 3 months! :) Thank you again to EVERYONE who has been praying for us and supporting us through all of this. We all can't wait to see you and share what we have been doing here. GOD BLESS! :) see you sooner than you realize!
Love,
Eric
Hey all. Jesse here. 3 weeks in and time for a blog update!
This is an amazing place. COTN is doing some amazing things here and unless there's some sort of evil world domination plan behind another COTN nation that we don't know about they deserve every bit of support we can possibly give. I have seen a garden that is bursting into life (to steal the words of Snow Patrol) in the form of a hundred orphans who have family again. Hope for the hopeless. Peace for the weary. Love for the broken-hearted. People here have hope. They have the opportunity to do something with their lives and they know it. I've heard (not just COTN children but students from all the surrounding villages who attend school here) the dreams and aspirations of little children who want to become nurses and teenage boys who want to become lawyers and defend their people. To be a part of this is life-changing. This is a place I will return to.
As I make friendships and engage in conversations one thing has struck me above everything else. Something that I'm sure is painfully obvious to many who will read this and may even scoff at the idea that it was surprising. Despite all of the differences in culture and language, despite all of the barriers and boundaries separating us from the nationals, I am seeing so clearly how similar we are. Our culture is so radically different as to be another world, yet the people are the same. The problems, and the pains, and the burdens, and the heartbreak, and the joy and celebration is really all the same. God is such an immaculate artist that he can make so many different wholly unique beings and yet we are all the same.
It has been a rough ride and I miss you all at home. There are less than two months until we return and that isn't nearly enough time here and yet it can't come quick enough. Pray for our team. Unity above all else. We are all very different people (although sometimes to similar for comfort) and we must stick together if we are to do any lasting good while we are here. Those who are regularly praying for me your prayers mean the world and I thank for so much. I ask that you would pray that God would continue growing my patience with people. I never realized how much pride I've had and the ugliness of it pains me. It makes a lot of sense now though knowing how seeing pride in other people had made me so angry over the years.
Last word. Hailey I hope you get this. I miss you terribly and love you so much. I can't wait to get home and begin working for you and us. Thank you for your letter and your prayers. You are my best friend. If you do get this please pass it on to my famliy and anyone else who you think would be interested (ie. Randell, Molly, Randy and Jessica, Jake and Sammy, maybe your friends, ect...). I love you. To my family I cannot wait to share all that is happening with you! Thank you so much for your support in preparing for this trip! Hollie I've been using your journal! :) I love you all! I'll post more when I get the chance!
Love,
Jesse
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If you've made it this far allow me to applaud you. I am swooping in at the end here with a footnote for the eager readers amongst you to say hey and to introduce myself (To be honest I just wanted to type cus all the cool kids were doing it). My name is Mark and I have been blessed with the privilege of leading this group of your nearest and dearest on their African adventure. I serve COTN as their Country Liaison for Sierra Leone and am from Belfast in Northern Ireland...which means that when I am not traveling with the team to one of the various villages in which COTN works or preparing their next activity I am trying to educate them regarding European styles and sensibilities. This second aspect has been an uphill struggle... It works both ways of course...I think I could write a fairly comprehensive review of most of the restaurants in the Kitsap area at this point...
We're having a lot of fun over here and hopefully that is just going to get better as the team settles more and more in to the culture in which they find themselves and they build on the relational beginnings in their villages. My hope is that when you all see each other again and bags are unpacked, cravings for Jack in the Boxes and pizzas and various other things are satisfied and long, hot showers are enjoyed, there will still be something of Sierra Leone under their skin. COTN is a family, a family that loves the life in to you, and so don't expect this to be a journey that ends in June. Thank you for supporting the guys and, if you are the praying kind, thank you for remembering us in that way.
We're only getting started...
In the Sponsorship area we are taking pictures of and interviewing each child to update their profiles. We also have had the chance to hand out letters from each of the sponsors to the children and help them write letters back.
Village Partnership Program is where COTN has working relationships with the surrounding villages and each of us is paired up and assigned to spend time with a family in that particular village. This has been a great opportunity for each of the interns to see what village life is like and help out with chores or on the farm. It has also begun to develop lasting relationships with the nationals. Today, we went together to a local village called Wonde and gave speeches on health education. We spoke on sanitation, clean water, malaria prevention, and nutrition. We also made vitamins available and encouraged people to come to the clinic if needed. While in the village we took water tests to see if the water they are drinking from is clean.
Three times a week we each meet with a few teens to tutor them in English. We all have individual plans, however we have been going over phonics, songs, stories, and grammar with an emphasis on pronunciation, comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary development. The plan is to develop mentoring relationships with each teen and be a positive influence. It has been a great experience that each of us looks forward to.
Please continue to pray for our team as we endeavor to move the Kingdom forward here in Sierra Leone. We are all adjusting to the environment, some a little more than others, but enjoying our stay. Be in prayer that we are all healthy, mentally, physically, and spiritually.
This trip has been a blessing for each of us in many ways. It has opened our eyes to what is important in life. We can see how these children live with so little, but have so much. There is so much joy and love all around us, we cannot help but see God's greatness.
Unfortunately, we won't be able to keep up with the blog as often as we thought because the internet is difficult to access and our days are filled with activities. However, please know that the good Lord is taking care of us, we love and miss you all, and will be home soon. :)
Hey everyone!!! I miss you all so much! Africa is so amazing! We have been doing so much here with the children, and villages. We have done health work, Chelsea are doing clean water so were teaching people on water in villages. There is a little girl in Magborie who is adorable! First time I saw her she was sick but she is getting better after some prayer. Her name is Lucia. I have fallen in love with her. Fatu Hanna is another girl who I just love. She is a home child, and she has so much joy in her heart, and she just inspires me to be a better person and to be content with what I have. These children are all parentless and have so much joy and are living there lives worshiping God everyday. Its life changing to watch. We came here thinking we would help the nationals out, and in return they are totally changing, growing, and growing our hearts more then I ever thought possible. Mum dad I love you so much!! I miss you so much. I hope you are doing good! Mum I ate a bug today!! give newnew a fatty hug and tell him I love him. I CANT WAIT FOR YOUR HOME COOKING!!!!
REO love I miss you so much. I cant wait to see you. I cant wait to come home and just have fun days and just hang out with you. I cant wait to marry you. Africa Is amazing! Thank you for gifting me with the ability to come here! I love you so much and i'm praying for you everyday. CHEETO PUFFS!!! don't forget!! haha.
Jenna bean I miss you. I have texted you and no reply!! lameo. But I still lovers you. I can not wait for RED ROBIN!!!!!! girled cheese with avo and tamo. I MISS IT SO MUCH FRIES!!!! i'm craving them!! I have been praying for you. I hope your staying positive, following the lord! I'm praying for you daily, and I seriously miss you so much! You would love it here. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!
Thank you all so much for supporting me through this process. Its amazing and the best gift ever!
P.s We sweat like crazy here, every second of the day wet bodies hahahahahaha.
Love, Kaylyn.
To my family and friends: OHHH HOW I MISS YOU ALL! Life in Africa is pretty legit. Although these past three weeks have been difficult with the transition, God is providing me peace to get through. We are all having a blast here with all the children! Like kaylyn, I have fallen in love with a little girl named Fatu Hanna. She breaks my heart with her cute little face and her loving heart. Twice a week, Katie and I work with a family down in a village named Senehum. It shows me the lifestyle that these people have to go through daily, it is laboring work that just opens my eyes to an unseen world. It brakes my heart knowing I have so much at home, and these people live on less then a dollar a day. I hope to go home and apologize to my parents for being so selfish! Anyways! I miss everyone so much. You have all touched my heart in unique ways and PLEASE continue to keep praying for our team.
Mommy: I miss you. I miss your cooking(when you did)& I miss our talks. I can't wait to catch up! I love you! Daddy: I miss you so much and I can't wait for the game room parties! Also, sorry about the phone bill..haha. Love you! Lauren: Stay strong in your faith. Remember God is your foundation, and your going to do such amazing things while i'm gone. Now go to the waterfront and read :) & say Hello to Patrice for me! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. Jackie&Matt: I MISS BRADY& you both! I can't wait to see you! Brother: love you so much. Be good.
Thanks for everyone's support and prayers. You all are such a blessing in my life.
Love, Chelsea
HELLO EVERYONE!!!! I MISS YOU ALL SO SO VERY MUCH!!! Africa is PHENOMENAL!!!! It is the most beautiful place I have ever been! I have been having such an amazing time here. I have had the tremendous opportunity of working with the Kpata family in Ngolala. They have so graciously welcomed me into their home and patiently been teaching me the ropes of traditional African life...which in no way, shape, or form have I expressed ANY natural ability in. I have also been blessed to live with nearly one hundred INCREDIBLE children who remind me daily that in the midst of many trials and tribulations, God is always by our side watching over us and guiding us. Their endless joy and unwavering faith is so inspiring and is a constant reminder of how incredibly great God is. I have had the most amazing time here, and I thank you all so very much for all of the help, support, and prayer that you have blessed me with. It is because of all of you that this opportunity has become a reality, and I can't wait to share this terrific experience that God has blessed me with with all of you! I love you all so very much and I miss you like CRAZY!!!! To my dearest Mama: I miss you so very much and I can't wait until I can see your gorgeous face! You are the most amazing woman I know and I can't thank you enough for everything you do for Zach, Mikle, Daddy, and I. You are so strong and courageous and I thank God daily that He blessed me with a Mama like you. It is because of your phenomenal parenting through Christ that I have the courage and strength to do something like this. I love you so much and I am so excited to tell you all about the kids and my experiences! Thank you so much for the letters and cards. They are a constant reminder of your love and always brighten my day. I LOVE YOU! Oh! And I sleep with my quilt every night!!!! =]. I can't wait until I can see my best friend again! To my Daddy: I MISS YOU LIKE CRAZY!!! I miss your hugs and how they are able to solve any problem no matter how big or small. I miss your pep talks and how you always know the perfect words to say. I miss your infectious laugh and how no matter what the situation, you could always make me laugh. And I miss your smell and how whenever I smell it I know that no one and nothing can hurt me. But most of all I miss you...I miss my Daddy. I love you so much and I miss you so much. I look at my shell every night and every night it gives me the encouragement I need to get through the next day. Thank you so much for letting me do this. I know how hard it was for you to let me go, and I want you to know how incredibly thankful I am. Thank you for always letting me spread my wings, but still being there every time I stumble and need a push. You are an amazing father, and I love you more than words can even begin to express. Remember to keep your head held high and take one day at a time. I will be home before you know it!To my Buddy: ZACHIE!!!! I love you and miss you so much!!!!! My days just aren't the same without you! I miss your hugs, contagious laugh, and your Borat impressions! I miss my little brother! I can't wait to see you and give you the BIGGEST hug ever!!!! I love you and I hope you are doing well. Keep an eye on Mom and Dad for me! To my beautiful sister, Mikle: I love you so much and I miss you! Stay strong and know that God is always watching over you. I can't wait to see what He has been doing in your life while I have been gone. I love you and can't wait to hug you! To my friends and family: Thank you all so much for all of the prayers and support. I love you all so much and can't thank you enough for everything that you have done for me. Please know that I have constantly praying for you all and thinking you all often. And please read Colassions 2:5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =].
Love Always,
Kaytee =].
Hi friends!
So first of all, anything that I write isn't going to give this trip any justice. I need a book! Sierra Leone is just incredible. Seriously, I fall in love with this country more and more every single day, I look outside and I feel like I'm in a movie. It's hard to believe we've already been away for 3 weeks! The kids at the home are so funny and full of life and spending time with them is so much fun. Every morning we get to wake up to the sound of African Children singing praises to God and to the sound of a rooster outside our window. I'd prefer it over an alarm clock any day :) Chelsea and I go to a village called Senehum a couple times a week to hang out with a family there and learn the ways of life. I don't think I'm ever going to complain again about having to work hard, these people work so hard just to do normal everyday things. The people there are so sweet and they always send us home with mangoes or coconuts or cassava or some other random food. Tutoring is really fun. I have 3 boys in class 7 and we are studying English together 3 times a week. I'm also teaching 6 aerobics classes a week! God is good and I get to use my aerobics instructing skills here! I do 3 classes a week with the teenage girls and 3 classes a week with the home aunties. They seem to like it! It's a huge blessing to be able to do what I love with the people here and they really enjoy it too! Mom and Dad – thank you for supporting me as much as you did to help me get here. I miss you guys a lot and am excited to share everything with you. You guys would LOVE all of the singing and music they have here. Mom I'll try to pick you up another drum or shaky thing if it can fit in my bag :) I love you guys so much. Erika and Jenny – I miss you guys and wanna hang out with you when I get home. Jenny, it's gonna be like, 6 months of not seeing you... You both should come to to air port with mom and dad!! happy belated birthday to me??? I miss you guys. Froomies – I hope the house has heated up for you. I miss you guys like crazy and I am so excited to wake up and drink coffee with you guys and have random dance parties. And Nicole and Mandy, thanks for the letters! You guys are so sweet, they are so fun to read. Brittany, I hope you had an amazing birthday. So sad I had to miss it. Let's go out when we get back! To everyone else, I miss you dearly and am excited to hear about all the exciting things going down in Kitsap County when we return. Please pray for myself and the rest of my team as we live here the next couple of weeks. Please also pray for COTN and all of the kids here in the sponsorship. The kids here are so amazing and it's amazing the work that the sponsorship is able to do for them. I love you guys and I'm praying for you all daily and I can't wait to see you when I get home. See you sooooooon!!! :)
Katie Miser
Hey Everyone!
Africa is so awesome! I love it here so much! I love the people, the food, the kids, and the red dirt. I just love it. It is so beautiful and there are loving kids everywhere. Every time you pass anyone they stop and greet you and are so friendly. I am learning how to cook some Africa food and learning some Krio and Mende language. In my African village, there is a lady whose name is Aunty Sallie that I just adore. She is the one who is teaching me some African dishes along with Nancy our house Aunty (who is also totally awesome.) My African name is Gita, it means “this one” and implies a sense of belonging like this one is ours. :) There is a little girl in the village that has the same name that follows me everywhere, so cute. I have really enjoyed spending time with the house kids, (the kids that live here on campus), they are so much fun.
Hi to Mom and Dad, hope you are doing well and I am praying for you as you manage that crazy house full of people. Love you so much! Thank you for your prayers and support. It means a lot. JJ, you are so amazing. I am praying for you and the boys. Give them big hugs for me and tell them that I love them. Carl, I am so thankful to have you as my little brother. I love you so much and can't wait to see you again when I get home. Kat!! Can't wait to chat with you and tell you all about everything, and I mean everything! I hope you are getting enough sleep with the wee one on the way. Love you! Kaitlyn, thanks for your advice about mid-afternoon showers! I am looking forward to our lunch when I get back. :) Selena... hugs!!! Movie night is awaiting! Love you all. At this point I really don't want to come home, but I will see you all soon!
Jen
To my wonderful friends and family,
I'm not going to lie I miss you all very much, but I'm sorry to say I'm still not ready to come home! We have been here only 3 short weeks and I can't even begin to describe the things that this wonderful and unbelievably beautiful country has done to my heart. Daily life is pretty tough here, but I have never seen a people group with such a sense of family and care for one another. I am surrounded everyday with over a hundred orphans, but you soon begin to realize there are no orphans here. They are one big family and they have welcomed us in as their own. I have never been so warmly welcomed to a place in my life and I am just filled with more and more love for Sierra Leone every single day. By looking at what others have posted you can get the basic gist of what we have done so far and what is going on so I wont spend a ton of time on that. Sorry the blog wont be weekly, but I'm glad we were able to get something out. Mom and Chris I love you guys and I miss you a lot. I think of you everyday. Yes mom, Africa has a certain smell to it! Most of all I just smell my own B.O from the pools of sweat I lose in a day, but it smells earthy like you had heard. Nick and Hannah, I'm still so proud of you both and I can't wait to see you guys again. Nick I can't believe you graduate this year! Hannah I think we have a Micheal Myers marathon calling our name when I get back!! :) Shellee I Love you! Hope Bobbie is still hanging in there! I'd like to see her again! Please give grandma and grandpa a big hug for me and tell them I miss them and think of them all the time. When you give them their hug make them give YOU a hug as well from me! To my wonderful students in J4!!! I cant wait to come home and share with you guys the amazing things that God is doing here! It it super inspiring! I hope everything is going well in group and you guys are learning lots! Don't ever forget even though I am thousands of miles away you still have been in my prayers and you will always have a friend and brother who will forever be there for you. The notes you guys wrote me have really inspired me and motivated me in some hard times. Thank you for being one of the biggest influences in my life and inspiring me to do crazy things like live in Africa for 3 months! :) Thank you again to EVERYONE who has been praying for us and supporting us through all of this. We all can't wait to see you and share what we have been doing here. GOD BLESS! :) see you sooner than you realize!
Love,
Eric
Hey all. Jesse here. 3 weeks in and time for a blog update!
This is an amazing place. COTN is doing some amazing things here and unless there's some sort of evil world domination plan behind another COTN nation that we don't know about they deserve every bit of support we can possibly give. I have seen a garden that is bursting into life (to steal the words of Snow Patrol) in the form of a hundred orphans who have family again. Hope for the hopeless. Peace for the weary. Love for the broken-hearted. People here have hope. They have the opportunity to do something with their lives and they know it. I've heard (not just COTN children but students from all the surrounding villages who attend school here) the dreams and aspirations of little children who want to become nurses and teenage boys who want to become lawyers and defend their people. To be a part of this is life-changing. This is a place I will return to.
As I make friendships and engage in conversations one thing has struck me above everything else. Something that I'm sure is painfully obvious to many who will read this and may even scoff at the idea that it was surprising. Despite all of the differences in culture and language, despite all of the barriers and boundaries separating us from the nationals, I am seeing so clearly how similar we are. Our culture is so radically different as to be another world, yet the people are the same. The problems, and the pains, and the burdens, and the heartbreak, and the joy and celebration is really all the same. God is such an immaculate artist that he can make so many different wholly unique beings and yet we are all the same.
It has been a rough ride and I miss you all at home. There are less than two months until we return and that isn't nearly enough time here and yet it can't come quick enough. Pray for our team. Unity above all else. We are all very different people (although sometimes to similar for comfort) and we must stick together if we are to do any lasting good while we are here. Those who are regularly praying for me your prayers mean the world and I thank for so much. I ask that you would pray that God would continue growing my patience with people. I never realized how much pride I've had and the ugliness of it pains me. It makes a lot of sense now though knowing how seeing pride in other people had made me so angry over the years.
Last word. Hailey I hope you get this. I miss you terribly and love you so much. I can't wait to get home and begin working for you and us. Thank you for your letter and your prayers. You are my best friend. If you do get this please pass it on to my famliy and anyone else who you think would be interested (ie. Randell, Molly, Randy and Jessica, Jake and Sammy, maybe your friends, ect...). I love you. To my family I cannot wait to share all that is happening with you! Thank you so much for your support in preparing for this trip! Hollie I've been using your journal! :) I love you all! I'll post more when I get the chance!
Love,
Jesse
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If you've made it this far allow me to applaud you. I am swooping in at the end here with a footnote for the eager readers amongst you to say hey and to introduce myself (To be honest I just wanted to type cus all the cool kids were doing it). My name is Mark and I have been blessed with the privilege of leading this group of your nearest and dearest on their African adventure. I serve COTN as their Country Liaison for Sierra Leone and am from Belfast in Northern Ireland...which means that when I am not traveling with the team to one of the various villages in which COTN works or preparing their next activity I am trying to educate them regarding European styles and sensibilities. This second aspect has been an uphill struggle... It works both ways of course...I think I could write a fairly comprehensive review of most of the restaurants in the Kitsap area at this point...
We're having a lot of fun over here and hopefully that is just going to get better as the team settles more and more in to the culture in which they find themselves and they build on the relational beginnings in their villages. My hope is that when you all see each other again and bags are unpacked, cravings for Jack in the Boxes and pizzas and various other things are satisfied and long, hot showers are enjoyed, there will still be something of Sierra Leone under their skin. COTN is a family, a family that loves the life in to you, and so don't expect this to be a journey that ends in June. Thank you for supporting the guys and, if you are the praying kind, thank you for remembering us in that way.
We're only getting started...
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Our team is heading for Sierra Leone!
Tomorrow we will be setting out on our 3 month journey. We have chosen to spend 3 months in Sierra Leone, West Africa. While there, they will be working alongside Children of the Nations to love, educate, and teach children about God's love for them.
Children of the Nations has a unique approach to the problems facing the population of Sierra Leone. It is a vision that acts now to affect the future. Children of the Nations recognizes the future of any country is in the hands, minds and souls of its children. Through Village Partnership Programs and Children’s Homes, Children of the Nations has established a daily presence in the communities we minister to, providing resources (including schools, medical clinics, feeding centers, health initiatives, etc.) that empower Sierra Leonean nationals to raise their own children. In partnership with the people of Sierra Leone, Children of the Nations’ vision is to develop a generation of future leaders and secure for Sierra Leone a future and a hope.
Please pray for us as we endeavor to be God's hands and feet. We should be arriving there late Saturday their time. We have quite a bit of traveling. Pray for health, team unity, and that God will go before us and prepare the way. Thank you.
Children of the Nations has a unique approach to the problems facing the population of Sierra Leone. It is a vision that acts now to affect the future. Children of the Nations recognizes the future of any country is in the hands, minds and souls of its children. Through Village Partnership Programs and Children’s Homes, Children of the Nations has established a daily presence in the communities we minister to, providing resources (including schools, medical clinics, feeding centers, health initiatives, etc.) that empower Sierra Leonean nationals to raise their own children. In partnership with the people of Sierra Leone, Children of the Nations’ vision is to develop a generation of future leaders and secure for Sierra Leone a future and a hope.
Please pray for us as we endeavor to be God's hands and feet. We should be arriving there late Saturday their time. We have quite a bit of traveling. Pray for health, team unity, and that God will go before us and prepare the way. Thank you.
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