Immunizations -- Easy for me to say

I'm having my first post-retirement experience with the Public Health Dept: in preparation for the trip to Sierra Leone, I need to update my immunization shots. When I was in the military, I could simply show up at the shot clinic, have someone look at my records and then be given the shots; now I must go stand in line to fill out paperwork, then wait for half an hour in line to see someone who can recommend (not tell me) what shots I may need...but I will have to pay for them.

Should I think this is a hassle? What a blessing! First, there is an organized, functional public health system within easy travel from my home. Second, there are immunizations in stock or available within a week. Third, relative to the cost of living, the shots are affordable.

This is not so for most of the rest of the world--it is certainly not so in Bo, Sierra Leone. The civil war and lack of sound governance created an environment that could not sustain a public health system.

But there are people working to make health a reality, not a luxury for the children in the city and at the Child Rescue Center.

In their own pictures

After I began my journey to learn more about the Child Rescue Center, I discovered how blind I have been to the Sierra Leone civil war--and how bad it was, even as I worked with the RAF from England during the stabilization work in 2000.

I found Sorious Samura's heart-wrenching documentary, "Cry Freetown" and his cautiously hopeful "Return to Freetown" that showed first-hand, the tragedy and horror experienced by and perpetrated on the children of Sierra Leone.

Then, I came across this website showing the drawings of children at the Child Rescue Center and my heart broke--through this research, I am discovering may faith has been too simple and too comfortable, while there are these outrages happening around us.

That which has been at the edges of my radar scope (Rwanda, Congo, Zambia, Sudan) are now screaming overhead in my life.

The Journey Begins

I've finished adding content to the web log template (talk about prayerful editing!) and am ready to "go public." Here begins the journey--moving beyond the meetings, the talking, and starting the planning and preparations.

The airline tickets were purchased last week for the next mission team going to the Child Rescue Center: 2-17 October--the journey now proceeds in earnest.

Pastor Ted just returned from a too-brief scoping visit (gone 6 days, but with all the travel and the yet-to-be-improved road to Bo, he could only spend 36 hours at the Center. Still, he was very pleased with the trip and the future partnership that St Stephens has joined.