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Thank you for covering Margaret in prayer as she travels with Volunteer in Mission Team to Sierra Leone. Below are some prayer points to guide you as your pray. Following that is the daily travel itinerary, which is subject to change, but will assist in your prayers for Margaret and the team. Keep in mind that the Sierra Leone is five hours ahead of our time (if it is 11:00am here it is 4:00pm there.) You may pray daily at your home or place of work or volunteerism or you may join together with Eleanor and Pastor Joleen each day in the downstairs Chapel at 11:00am.
Prayer Requests from Margaret
My only physical concern is enduring the extreme heat.
I hope that we will have safe traveling while in Sierra Leone. I understand that the roads are not in good condition and sometimes the vehicles are not real reliable.
I want to understand the needs of our sister church and learn ways that we can be of help to them. Expand my mind and heart.
May the gifts I'm taking to the people of Sierra Leone be a blessing.
Guidance as I prepare to lead devotions with our group of five.
Additional Prayer Points for Margaret
submitted by Nancy Koerber who was a part of the 2013 Sierra Leone VIM team (member Centre Grove UMC.)
Bless the team with safe travel for the entire journey
Give her stamina and good health
Guard her heart for all that she will see and experience
Open her eyes to see where God is at work
May she have words of encouragement to offer those she comes in contact with
May she enjoy the friendship she makes with those she meets in Sierra Leone as well as team members
2014 Sierra Leone Tentative Itinerary
Saturday, January 11 – Thursday, January 23, 2014
Saturday, January 11
Meet at Harrisburg Airport United Departure area NO LATER than 11:30 a.m.
Depart Harrisburg (MDT) 1:31 p.m. to Dulles/Washington, Flight UA 3332
Arrive: Dulles/Washington at 2:13 p.m. .
Depart: Dulles/Washington at 5:45 p.m. to Brussels on UA 950
Sunday, January 12
Arrive Brussels at 7:15 a.m.
Depart Brussels at 12:15 p.m. on SN 241 (Brussels Airline) to Freetown
Arrive: Lungi/Freetown at 6:00 p.m.
Group fill out an immigration form, then proceed through Immigration.
Group will travel (30 to 45 minutes) to the Ferry Dock. We may be waiting for sometime until all vehicles are loaded on the Ferry, it usually leaves around 9:00 p.m. We then will travel (approximately one hour to the Government Wharf Dock) and unload. Once off of the Ferry, we will travel to Autumn House, (10 minute drive) where will lodge for the next two nights. We will have a brief debriefing of the experience thus far followed by much needed bed rest.
Monday, January 13
8:00 a.m. Breakfast and Devotions (Margaret leads this morning.)
10:30 a.m. Jeff meets with Sierra Leone Initiative Committee
NOON Meet at Conference Center w/Conference members and if available, Bishop John Yambasu will greet the group.
Possible tour of a mission site or rest at Guest house
6:00 p.m. Dinner & Devotions
Tuesday, January 14
7:00 a.m. Luggage to cars, breakfast and Devotions
7:30 a.m. Depart Freetown to Yanibana (Approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hr. Drive)
9:30 a.m. Visit with Margaret/West Side UMC, Clearfield’s Sister Church: Roruks.
***The hope at each church visit is to meet with the pastor and/or with church leadership and members. Margaret should have time to ask questions about the congregation as well as to listen and see the needs that she may return home and report to WSUMC.
11:30 a.m. Noon ~ Lunch or snacks while driving or quick meal
12:00 Noon Depart for Moyamba (Approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hr. Drive)
2:00 p.m. Visit with Carola/Upper West Shore Cluster’s Sister Church: Warner Memorial Mano UMC
4:30 p.m. Travel to Bo (Approximately 2 to 2 1/2 hr. Drive)
7:00 p.m. Arrive have dinner & Devotions (Jeff) & lodge at the Missionary Training Center (MTC). The group will lodge and take meals at the MTC for three nights.
Wednesday, January 15
8:00 a.m. Breakfast & Devotions (Margaret leads)
8:30 a.m. Drive to Kenema (approximately 1 hr. Drive) Visit with Tom/Trinity UMC, Jersey Shore’s Sister Church Kenema District: Boajibu UMC.
12:00 Noon Lunch
1:00 p.m. Tour Bo Area
6:00 p.m. Dinner & Devotions. Lodge at MTC/ Bo
Thursday, January 16
6:30 a.m. Breakfast & Devotions
7:00 a.m. Drive from Bo to Pejehun Town (approximately 4—5 hr. Drive)
11:30 Lunch/ perhaps snacks on the road
12: 30 p.m. Visit with Tom/Hummelstown Trinity UMC’s Sister Church: Pejehun Town UMC.
2:30 p.m. Return to Bo for nights lodging at MTC
7:00 p.m. Dinner at MTC, Devotions (Jeff)
*Possible stop at South Kambui Forest Reserve if time or break allows
Friday, January 17
6:30 a.m. Load Luggage, Breakfast and Devotions (Margaret leads)
7:00 a.m. Depart Bo to Matru (approximately 5 hr drive)
12:00 Noon Lunch/ and or snacks
1:00 p.m. Depart to Yago (approximately 2 hr drive)
3:00 p.m. Depart Yago by boat to Bonthe Island (1-2 hours depending on power of boat)
5:00 p.m. Arrive at lodging in Bonthe (2 nights)
6:00 p.m. Dinner & Devotions
Saturday, January 18
8:00 a.m. Breakfast and Devotions
9:00 a.m. Meeting with Bonthe Elders
10:30 a.m. Meet with Tom/Hanover First UMC’s Sister church, Matru, Jong
12:30 p.m. Lunch
1:30 p.m. Possible tour of Island Dinner & Devotions
6:00 p.m. Dinner, Devotions Lodge at Bonthe
Sunday, January 19
6:30 a.m. Breakfast & Devotions (Margaret leads)
7:00 a.m. Depart Bonthe by boat to Yago
10:00 a.m. Depart Yago by car to Rutile, /Moyamba (approximately 3 hrs)
*Plan worship in Rutile at Bishop Humper UMC
1:00 p.m. Lunch/snacks at Moyamba
2:00 p.m. Depart Moyamba to Freetown (approximately 3.5 hrs)
5:30 p.m. Arrive Freetown
7:00 p.m. Beach
6:30 p.m. Dinner & Devotions
Monday, January 20
8:30 a.m. Breakfast & Devotions
9:00 a.m. Free time to read, write, review, enjoy the beach
12:00 Noon Lunch
1:30 p.m. Tour area
6:00 p.m. Dinner
7:00 p.m. Campfire & Devotions/Communion
Tuesday, January 21
8:00 a.m. Breakfast & Devotions (Margaret leads)
9:00 a.m. Jeff to Conference office/review with SLI committee
11:00 a.m. Everyone move to Family Kingdom
12:00 Noon Everyone meets for Lunch at Crown Bakery
1:30 p.m. Craft market shopping
3:00 p.m. Back at Family Kingdom/ also another craft market on beach
6:30 p.m. Dinner at Lighthouse Restaurant & Devotions
Wednesday, January 22
7:00 Breakfast & Devotions
7:30 Leave for Ferry at Aberdeen
9:00 a.m. Ferry departs to Lungi
10:30 a.m. Depart Ferry drive to Airport Hotel
Noon: Lunch at Airport Hotel
4:00 Get in line for Flight at Airport
Depart Lungi/Freetown (FNN) to Brussels at 7:20 p.m. on SN 241
Thursday, January 23
Arrive in Brussels at 5:15 a.m.
Depart Brussels to Dulles/Washington on UA 951 at 12:10 p.m.
Arrive: Dulles/ Washington at 2:45 p.m.
Depart: Dulles/Washington on UA 3334 to Harrisburg (MDT) at 4:48 p.m.
Arrive: Harrisburg (MDT) at 5:41 p.m.