sierra leone

does it ring a bell? have you heard of it?

-it's a country in Northwestern Africa
-the life expectancy is 43 years old
-57% of the population drinks from "improved drinking water sources"
-it's a war-torn country - it's "improving" recently but still considered dangerous
-the human development index is 176 of 177 countries (human development index (HDI) measures human development by combining three dimensions of development—longevity (life expectancy at birth), knowledge (adult literacy and mean years of schooling), and income)
-it is often ranked the worst country to live in
-the gross national income is $220 (per year, people!)

ok. so what's with all this info? why all the sad facts? this country has gotten into my heart in a huge way. and i didn't really realize it was happening til just recently. i'll backup a bit.

last Christmas my aunt gave my kids a Barnes and Noble gift card. well, a couple months later, i escaped my house for an hour (it was one of those nights where i just needed out) and went to browse the bookstore for a new book. (i know, i know - it was supposed to be for the kids - sorry!) it's one of those things i LOVE to do - browse a bookstore - not something i can do with 3 kids in tow!

anyways, i ended up coming home with A Long Way Gone . i read it and it was the beginning of this country finding a way into my heart. it's a memoir about a boy soldier from Sierra Leone. it's his story. you should read it.

shortly after, i was in the library and this book caught my eye because it referred to "Africa's children". i checked it out, read it, and have furthur fallen in love with and been horrified by a continent far away. i've since seen this book referred to in multiple blogs, etc.

we decided to support a child as a family. we chose Sierra Leone as the country "our" little Moses lives in. it's been an awesome thing to do as a family. i pray we are expanding our kids' minds to the rest of the world at a much younger age than i realized the realities going on "out there."

then, you've heard me reference this family a number of times. they are adopting twins from Sierra Leone. and their story has captivated me. my kids know their twins in Sierra Leone's names and ask about them.

so, what am i getting at?

well, at Christmas we typically "give"something to each kid from an organization that sends aid to another country - you can buy ducks, diapers/milk for babies, etc. The organization will send you a card to put in their stocking or whatever to say that the ducks or diapers were given.

i wanted our "gifts" to go to Sierra Leone. there was really no other option in my mind. so i started researching. i love researching on the computer. well, 2 hours later i was SO angry and in tears. why?? because the stories are so sad?? because they need so much?? it could have been the reason, but it wasn't.

it was because it is virtually impossible to find HELP and AID being given in this country! it is unbelievable! it's like a forgotten country. or like people think, "it's so bad, why even try?" before i get tons of response...there ARE people in there helping. the organization that we sponsor Moses through is in there and they are doing awesome things. i just kind of got on a mission to get a feel for the aid being given to that country and it's so little compared to other countries.

so, i've spent days being angry and sad about this. and not knowing what to do. this is what i've chosen to do right now. share what i've learned. spread the word. and hopefully it'll do something. these are PEOPLE...CHILDREN...BABIES....so very many ORPHANS.

James 1:27 says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

if nothing else, pray for this country. please.