Saturday, September 29, 2007

Sierra Leone Freetown

As some of you know, my son went to Africa this summer with a missions organization called COTN. He had the trip of his life. I'm posting this little bit of information about COTN and their mission. God is truly working through COTN and changing the lives of many children.

We will post pictures soon of his trip. I want him to write a little about his experience first. Here is a video of the work that COTN does for the children of Sierra Leone.


Recovering from ten years of civil war, the children of Sierra Leone were the hardest hit by this internal conflict. Hundreds of thousands of people were slaughtered, leaving an estimated 10,000 children orphaned and unaccompanied in the late 1990s. Today, the infant mortality rate (the percentage of children that die before they reach five years of age) of Sierra Leone is the highest in the world (2006 UNICEF report). This statistic reflects the shortage of important infrastructure like hospitals, educational institutions, agricultural development, and economic development that is needed for the stability and improvement of conditions for children.


5 comments:

Jennefer said...

What a powerful video. Thanks for sharing what COTN is doing in Sierra Leon. Now, I want to fly over there and bring one of those sweet babies home with me!

I'll be excited to see photos and hear the firsthand stories, too!

Jennefer

Salar37_Shushan said...

Glad to hear you son's mission trip went well! Does sound like he has been helping in a very worthwhile cause. I know you must be proud of him, and rightly so!

Susan in Va

Cynthia said...

Thanks for the you tube video. I think I'll post it on my blog when I do the review of the book I'm just about done listening to.

Cynthia said...

Do you have a reference for the statistics you posted? If so, can you share it so I can gather some current day info to post with my book review? Thanks much

Lisa~ said...

Hi Cynthia! Yes... I do have a reference. I will email it to you. If you would like to see more videos from COTN, they also have one for Malawi Africa in you tube. Type in COTN and Malawi. It will show up.

I'll look up that statistic for you. *Ü*

Jennifer! Imp right with you.... I went to Ethiopia ( Addis Ababba and the mountains) 12 years ago on a 3 week mission trip and it changed my life! My goal for this year is to save enough $$ so our family can go on a mission trip after my sons graduation. If not over the summer with in a year after he graduates.

My prayer the entire time he was gone… was that God would move in his heart the way He touched mine so long ago. I love Africa…. I do… and now… my son does as well.


Sushan....

I am very proud of my son. He has a lot of growing and maturing to do.... but he is a great kid....*Ü*

Lisa~