Generosity (part 3)

Just the other day we were invited to the house of our security guard named Joseph who we have befriended. Joseph has not been paid for his work for over 2 months now and is desperate for money but despite this he showed us tremendous hospitality.  He has a very modest house full of children and furniture that barely fit with in the confines of the only public room in his place. There was no electricity and so for our comfort they cracked open a new packet of batteries to plop in a made in China LED lantern so we’d have a little light. He also got one of his girls to go and buy us a couple Fantas and some biscuits, of which they had no money to get for themselves. It was awkward drinking them while they had nothing, as his son was plagued with boils and bow legs due to malnourishment, and he was struggling to pay for his twin girls to continue on with school, but it would have been rude to go without. Joseph did everything he could to entertain and show hospitality, everything within his means, which reminded me of the poor widow who gave a couple copper coins, but gave more than anyone else that day at the temple.

Generosity (introduction)

I have decided to write a series on the generosity that I have been shown in Sierra Leone over the course of my time here.

Sierra Leone is full of need, poverty and dependency issues. It often gets discouraging; children begging you for money everywhere you go, men trying to rip you off, or the manipulation of abusive mothers using their children to guilt westerners into giving them money. On top of the local issues you have NGOs and missions organizations competing over finances and support. You witness a great and discouraging divide between the way Sierra Leoneans live and the way the people here to help the locals live. There is a lot of manipulation, compromising and scandalous creativity used to raise funds for their efforts. When Dave and I go out we are usually approached about money, food or perhaps the clothes that we’re wearing. We have been ripped off many times and lied to by people that we have tried to trust. People here often have an alternative agenda. Sometimes you cannot blame them.

Despite the poverty and deceit there have been many examples of people in dire situations or feeling the stress of running an organization overseas that have gone out of the way to help and show great acts of kindness.

Freetown…no big ‘d’

So i finally made it to my destination as of 11:00pm Saturday, March 5th. I flew from Vancouver, Toronto (the worst part of my travel), to Montreal, to Brussels Airport, to a hotel in Brussels, to Brussels Airport, to Lungi Airport, Sierra Leone, a water taxi to Freetown and finally a cab ride to whatever name of the village I’m staying at is called (I’m pretty sure it starts with a ‘G’)

I knew Sierra Leone was supposed to be poor, but it truly fits it’s title as one of the poorest countries in the poorest continent. There are practically no paved roads, no traffic signs, people recklessly riding 100cc, 1980ish motorcycles around, three on the seat with no helmets, usually with a burnt out headlight. It makes driving truly interesting… pedestrians definitely do not get the right away, as a I driver you just lay on the horn and hope they jump out of the way.

Backtracking, Freetown’s Airport is absolutely ridiculous, and one of the most stressful things I have been apart of. Everyone hassles you, trying to take your bag, passport, whatever, and then expecting tips when they give it back. I was given strict instructions not to give anyone any money. After you get your bags, go through immigration etc. then you buy a ticket for either a water taxi (40bucks american), a helicopter (80 bucks) or a ferry which was deemed completely unsafe. They decided to build the airport across the peninsula of the major city. Apparently there was a hover craft but there had been too many accidents. I guess it would often hit ships that had wrecked over the years in shallow spots. Either way, they have one of the most inefficient infrastructures I have travelled.

I thought they spoke English here, but apparently its a very diluted English developed by numerous African tribes, Nova Scotian settlers and the many liberated slaves that were brought back to Sierra Leone. It is very difficult to understand and so I think I’ll be taking some Krio lessons in the near future.

Though this first writing may have had some negative overtones, I do enjoy this place a lot so far. I am going to be living on a compound on the top of a hill surrounded by jungle on most sides and Freetown at the bottom. All the orphans stay on the compound as well as Dave and I (the two teachers) and Judy, the director of the orphanage. There are also a few dogs, cats, chickens, goats, snakes, spiders, cockroaches, and lots of exotic insects. There are also chimps I heard in the jungle around us. Apparently they have the strength of 3 men and rip limbs off of people. It is hot and humid here, which is a nice change from the cold and frigid rain of Vancouver. I’m at the peak of dry season, but the seasons are changing and we actual had a deafening rainfall last night. I have yet to meet the kids, so very much looking forward to that!

I must go, my battery is going to die…I’m going to try to keep this up to date at least weekly.

I love you,

David

Poverty

Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in Africa. Though it boasts of many resources and has boundless potential, it has been devastated by civil war and corruption. The lack of infrastructure is going to leave this country in its current state for a while.

I come from Canada, full of affluence and convenience. Most things are at my fingertips and there are not many that lack the basics of life. Surely I am blessed, I could have been born in any circumstance, but God apparently reckoned it best that I be born in the culture I’m in.

Many people in Sierra Leone are malnourished, they lack the basic needs that I have always taken for granted. There are a lot of kids that cannot afford to go to school. School is $50 a year… The kids seem happy however, most have smiles on their faces.  There pain tolerance is higher as they must learn to deal with a lot; they definitely no what it’s like to be hungry. During this trip I’ve known what it is like to be mildly thirsty with no convenience of water and it’s awful, not something I wish on anyone. All these people have had to deal with that, even the children.

I love the kids here, they are amazing and beautiful and to see them smile is a borderline spiritual event. I am in a small town for a week called Komakwie and have gotten to know a lot of the kids. I’ve been warned that they view white people as a meal ticket so to speak. Not only the kids…I suppose my first taste of it was at the Airport when I arrived in Freetown. People abrasively try and help you with menial tasks such as directing you to where you luggage comes out and then expecting a tip. The dire straights of a grown man with a family warrant these desperate and unappealing acts. What has really challenged me and brought me to the brink of complete cynicism regarding poverty in Africa is the way the children of this small village are doing everything possible to get anything possible from me. It comes in the unbashful screams of the young from the side of the road, “White man give me some money” or the subtle and pre meditated plan to be very friendly and then, “ Money for books.” It’s been tough to know what to do. I’ve been warned on numerous occasions not to give money as it only feeds the massive dependency problem that West Africa is facing. Because of previous ‘white man’ throwing money around there are Mothers asking me to befriend there toddlers, knowing that friendship means a financially generous relationship. Can I blame them

The problem I suppose I am having is how this fits together with my faith in God. There is a western sentiment fueled by capitalism that promotes the idea of materialism and individualism. It thinks it best to try and gain as much wealth as possible and has a nonchalant attitude on the social welfare of others. I look at the so called poverty of some of these people; the poverty that doesn’t allow them to have access to a television or have a substantial wardrobe and think to myself, I would trade those problems for a lot of the problems that the affluent are facing in North America. Sure they aren’t able to watch Television or perhaps all the toys that they would like, but for the most part they have the basic necessities to live. The Christian life required me to feed the hungry, to cloth the naked and to give water to the thirsty, and from the bottom of my heart this is what I want to do. I guess I’m finding it hard determining who is really in need and who is looking for a quick financial upgrade from an ignorant white man.

Karen, the American doctor who works in the village and does a lot of good suggests that the best thing you can do is spend time with them. I ended up doing this with great success as I spent a few hours playing soccer with a group of guys which allowed me to get to know them relationally and also perhaps give me a glimpse into what their actual needs might be. Attached I have some photos of some kids who had a great time fooling around with photo booth on my computer.

When trying to relate the subject of meeting others needs to the life of Jesus and the disciples, I came to the quick conclusion that they never had anything to give away. Perhaps this is the answer; perhaps I shouldn’t have anything to give as well. Otherwise it seems as though Jesus asks us to give it all away, I find this very command very difficult.

What I do know is I hate being in the position of the privileged.

 

 

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