Traveling through Sierra Leone, Africa

Today we traveled 3 hours east of Freetown to a city called Bo. We passed many little villages, jungles, and pouring streams and rivers as this is their rainy season. I've never seen rain like this. It comes down in buckets and has lasted most of today. We passed many men and women who were naked of all ages. Since we were driving with a local I had to ask WHY?? It wasn't because of culture, rather it is because of their severe poverty. They literally only have 1 or 2 pairs of clothes. When they are working in the fields they don't want to get them dirty or worn out so they leave them in their hut for special occasions. This confirmed my suspicion because when they saw me they tried to cover themselves. National Geographic leads us to believe this is something they do out of culture or belief and that it doesn't register with their social morality, but I have found it to be different. It does register with their social morality and they would prefer to be clothed.

It made my heart ache as I realized this was embarrassing for them and they didn't like their reality. This is poverty beyond what we can understand as Americans. We have thrift store, non profits, and individuals that give clothing away. Our closets burst over with clothes, some we haven't worn in months or years. None of that exists here. Even the well off people wear shirts that have been donated to them.The war here just ended 5 years ago so many of the people we are working with have been directly affected by the death of a close relative, or having to flee their homes.

Tonight I saw a father walking with his son with his one arm around him and his other arm was missing, no doubt brutally cut off in the war. This was an intimidation tactic to get them to join their army.I also met with the mission president, President Squires who opened up this mission when it split from Ghana. He just might have one of the toughest ecclesiastical assignments in the church. He has to deal with things that most of us can't even dream about, believe me. He is here for another year and needs prayers to have his shoulders strengthened.

Thanks for letting me share ~Matt