july.

this is my july prayer letter. it includes reflections from my time in sierra leone.

There are certain places, smells, people, colors and landscapes that bring me a sense of home. There was something familiar about Sierra Leone. Through early morning runs on the beach and late afternoon conversations over coffee, I was introduced to Sierra Leone.

A sweet, playful country that greeted me with a dripping humidity, Sierra Leone spoke to deep parts of my soul as an African American and one who wants justice for our friends.

Different people asked me what it was like to be an African American visiting Africa. Some thought it might be too personal of a question, but I welcomed it. I never imagined I would arrive in Africa and scoop the dirt and proclaim, my land, my land, I have returned. I did however have several moments when I had an intimate connection with the people I encountered. One evening some of the Lighthouse graduates and Sierra Leone staff played charades with me and Marcia. It was a heated and passionate game, and I did play fairly well. I thought to myself, oh my goodness, this makes sense. This is a loud and vibrant culture…and I made sense in it. I had these moments over and over again. I would catch myself observing characteristics of this culture that were so familiar to me.

I don't think there are words to describe or articulate the intimate and unique connection I had with the Sierra Leone culture. It was the first field visit I've been on when I actually felt like I was able to walk a bit deeper with the culture. I didn't stand out as much, I felt like I had the ability to go a bit unnoticed. And it left me with questions about the importance of minorities in missions. There was something mystical that happened between my brown skin of North America and the brown skin of my family in West Africa that I don't think can always happen. There is something familial about my time in West Africa that I think speaks to something deep and something prophetic.

Walking through Kroo Bay, a slum area in Freetown, made my heart race. It seemed familiar. Before I left for Sierra Leone, I had dreams about a field overlooking the ocean. This field was filled with kids and our staff. When we got to the shore at Kroo Bay, we looked back and saw the picture that is familiar of Kroo Bay…rows and rows of shacks built on trash. Each time it rains, the trash from higher up flows into Kroo Bay, filling it up more and more with trash. I stood there looking at the pigs picking through the trash and residents walking around and I remembered that dream. In my dream, the field was bright green and clean, the complete opposite of what I saw.

My heart raced again when we began Good News Club, one of the Word Made Flesh ministries in Kroo Bay. There was a room full of kiddos who were incredibly attentive to Noah, one of our Sierra Leonean staff members. As he introduced me, he asked the kids, "Doesn't she look like us?" They agreed. I had to agree as well.

As I went through the week, my heart was heavy for Freetown, Sierra Leone, our staff members and those they serve among. I'm known to want to fix things, everything, even things I know that I can't fix or even explain how to fix. So in my heavy place, I had to just rest; I couldn't do anything, and this is a good place to be in. We're called to be in this place of submission and intimacy with God…knowing that God is in control and also that He is who I can run to with my questions, my burdens, my celebrations.

Marcia and I had one-on-one with our staff members over lunch throughout the week. During our lunch with Noah, he said something profound that has stuck with me. Well, this is my summary. Noah said that God will work with or without us, but it would be nice if we were able to help. That statement came from a man who is my age, who has chosen to live in Kroo Bay and take in four young men who have come through the Lighthouse Program, another WMF ministry that serves among young adults who were affected by the civil war.

As I listened to him, I knew I was with a man of deep faith. Like our full-time North American staff in the office and overseas, Noah is responsible for raising his stipend, which is $8,000 a year, or about $670 a month. You can read his prayer letters online here.

As he explained his situation, I did feel guilty about how I've struggled and stressed about support. But he didn't make me feel guilty. When I explained my hopes for support-raising to be a sustainable aspect of our ministry and vocation and an invitation to our supporters to join in what God is doing around the world, he was affirming.

Noah and I are both in this together, just like you and my fellow coworkers. Some of us, like me, sit behind a desk for eight hours (sometimes more) a day. Some of us spend our days walking in red-light districts in India, loving on the women and inviting them into God's freedom. Some of us spend our days nurturing and raising children, instilling in them words of justice, hope, care and redemption of the world. Our reflections of service look different. We are all washing the feet of Christ; we are feeding Him and clothing Him in unique and different ways.

So I'm back home. I bought mangoes to eat in the morning because they remind me of sweet times with Stephanie. I've listened to a mix CD that Cami bought me before I left because I like to be reminded of being in a poda poda, local transportation. I've enjoyed working out because it makes me sweat almost as bad as I did in Steph's house. I've been reminded to pray for our friends in Sierra Leone. I've sat and listened to the rain in the morning and remembered our friends who are about to enter into the rainy season. And I hold our friends close to my heart.

I invite you to join in supporting the ministry of Word Made Flesh. Yes, I'm still raising my salary and invite you to be a part of my particular need, but I want you to know that you're supporting the work that God is doing around the world. And I want you to know about ways you can continue to do so in new and different ways. As I mentioned before, Noah is raising his stipend, too. I do not want you to feel conflicted on whom to support but want to invite you to respond in any additional way that resonates in your heart.

I appreciate the ways in which you support me and inspire me.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, love, jara