By God’s Grace
Below, please find a reflection on the 10 Year Anniversary of our Global Work in Sierra Leone.
From 1991-2002 a fierce and brutal civil war tore apart the country of Sierra Leone. This war took the lives of more than 70,000, caused the displacement of 2.5 million and left thousands of amputees and countless Sierra Leonians traumatized. Colonialism, greed for power and the world’s insatiable appetite for diamonds were all to blame for the devastation left behind by this war. The heart of the war was fought in Kono District which is the center of diamond mining in this nation.
It was in Kono District where Phebian Abdulai (Clinic Director) was born and raised. In the aftermath, Phebian and her young family fled and eventually, in 2001, ended up sitting in the waiting room of a small fledging family medical practice on the westside of Buffalo called Jericho Road.
This began a relationship that eventually led us to follow Phebian back home in 2013 and to help her construct a health center. This clinic was literally built on land right near her family home, which was, by then, littered with empty, burned out buildings from the war. In 2015, the Adama Martha Memorial Community Health Center was born (AMMCHC).
By God’s Grace.
This week, Paul Violanti, Karlin Bacher, Fidele Menavanza, Joyce, and I took the long journey from Buffalo to this amazing place to celebrate the 10-year anniversary (Phebian’s children Martha, Ruth and Emmanuel also traveled here for the occasion). It is a special time to travel here with the JR people who have invested so much to birth and lead our global health work and to celebrate together with the woman, Phebian, whose courage made this all possible. Our time here has been a real celebration.
On Friday evening there was a 3-mile candlelight march through the heart of Koidu City with several hundred JR staff and community friends. The wind blew out our candles and vehicle traffic came too close for comfort but it was great to feel the excitement for this work.
On Saturday, we celebrated together with a 16-kilometer race (which is a little under 10 miles and yes, in the morning heat and sun, I completed the race thanks to the encouragement of several Sierra Leonian friends). In the afternoon, we had a soccer match on the main field in Koidu (I got to do the ceremonial first kick!).
Today (Sunday), we expect 300-400 community members, local dignitaries, and friends to gather here at AMMCHC for a thanks-giving service.
The health center grounds have been transformed to prepare for this service and for the past 24 hours our staff and community members have been preparing a meal for everyone using an outdoor cooking fire. It is possible that the celebration will go long with too many speeches, but what a privilege to be here to celebrate 10 years of God’s faithfulness to Jericho Road in rural Sierra Leone. It will be an emotional service.
By God’s grace.
I have always thought that the impact of this special place would be measured by the much-needed health care that we can bring to this community–where many of the poorest here live off the equivalent of 1-2 dollars per day. And we have made a huge difference. Since opening 10 years ago, the AMMCHC team has done more than 256,000 patient visits, performed thousands of hernia repairs, and delivered thousands of babies. There is no question that many lives have been saved and that daily, this team has demonstrated the Love of Jesus to the people of Kono.
But there is more. This community was torn apart by the civil war. Death, destruction, and trauma devastated Kono District. The very fabric of the community was ripped apart. Families were left torn apart, it was hard to find a job, entire systems were broken. Hope was in short supply.
As I have witnessed the celebrations this week, I have a new appreciation for the profound ways that the work of Jericho Road has brought hope and healing to this community beyond the provision of medical services.
More than one hundred local people have jobs here. Their salaries provide sustenance for themselves but also for family members and neighbors. Every building at AMMCHC was built with local workers. As I have watched the community march through the streets of Koidu, run a 10 mile race, play soccer, prepare food for hundreds, and come together for a thanks-giving service, I have realized that this work has brought a deep sense of pride, hope and joy that is hard for me to express in writing but is so easy to recognize in person. The fabric of this community is being rebuilt partly because of the work of Jericho Road.
Someone here told me a long time ago that “The civil war took everything from us. But the one good thing that came of the war was that Phebian came home and brought Jericho Road with her.”
By God’s grace.
Myron Glick, MD
