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...