Maple Valley charity supports medical, school and church efforts in Sierra Leone
February 1, 2012: It’s hard to say who is more excited – 11-year-old orphan Samuel,
who has received two life-saving operations in the past year – or the two teams
of volunteers who are preparing to visit Sierra Leone in February and March to help
Samuel and many others who live there.
Volunteers with The Bridge of Hope first met Samuel about five years ago. Samuel
is quick to make friends and is the kind of boy who will turn around and immediately
share any gift given to him. He had large tumors on his head and lost the use of
his left eye due to neurofibromitosis, the same disease that affected the elephant
man. The tumors can cause terrible headaches, cut off airways and can potentially
turn cancerous. Bridge members and others had worked diligently to get Samuel medical
help, but were unable to find assistance in Sierra Leone until the Mercy Ship visited
the country last year. Samuel underwent two surgeries on the ship and recovered
beautifully. Unfortunately, due to the nature of his disease, the tumors may return.
Now, Bridge members hope to orchestrate a visit this spring to the U.S. so that
Samuel can receive further medical treatment and meet the people here who have been
praying for him for years.
The Bridge has sent teams to Africa once or twice per year since 2006, and will
send two groups this year.
“We always plan and prepare for our trips hoping to do as much as we can to help
our friends in one of the poorest countries in the world,” Bridge President Geri
Jeffery said. “But what we always find is that they actually help us! These trips
impact the lives of everyone involved and really give team members a greater perspective
on life and a higher appreciation for the country we live in.”
Among other projects, volunteers will:
- Offer a medical and dental clinic
- Train teachers and pastors
- Run a sports camp
- Distribute handmade dresses and shorts that volunteers have been sewing for several
months
- Build classroom furniture
- Complete electrical work.
Sierra Leone has been deemed the world’s “least livable country” based on poverty
and poor quality of life, and also has the world’s worst under-5 mortality rate.
The Bridge began as a ministry of New Community church and Jefferson Baptist Church,
and has grown to include New Life Fellowship, Soma Community, TurningPoint Community
and others.
*Photos of Samuel (before and after surgeries). Also available are photos of church
and school buildings in Sierra Leone, and Bridge teams on prior trips to Africa.
For more information, please visit
www.thebridgeofhope.us or, contact President Geri Jeffery at 206-719-3653.
Posted on February 7, 2012