Yams Farm Wharf

An hour away from the madness of Freetown is a village called Yams Farm Wharf. While the traffic is still crazy and there are signs of recent war everywhere – this place is beautiful. If you drive down the hills on almost none existent roads you come to this tiny village. Surrounded by trees on this steep slope lives this group of people we have been serving. At the base of the village is a river that leads to the ocean with a mountain on the other side. Absolutely beautiful…until you look at the living conditions. 

YFW is made up of people displaced by the 10 year civil war that raged throughout the land. Everyone lost everything and were relocated here to start new. There are no stores/markets, no jobs, no doctors, and no hope. This community fishes for food and sells sand, sticks, and rocks (the child pound down to size). This is their life. Every day their only effort is to make sure they have food for tomorrow. They can’t see beyond that…they don’t seek happiness, joy, etc. In fact, most of them have never been to the beach/ocean – even though they are so close. 

It is easy to see hopelessness in this situation but that is not the case. These last two weeks I’ve seen this community trying to break the mold – trying to improve and not follow the model everyone around them follows. It started with a man, Pastor Mark, starting a Christian primary school and church 3 years ago. He was heavily persecuted for the five previous years but he stood his ground and expected better. In 3 years, the hearts of mind of the people have changed. 

Inside the school

The current school in Yam's Farm Wharf

Our project to build a secondary school these last two weeks proved this to me. It started with an elderly man named Champion. We bought a large load of rock from him for the construction work. When Pastor Mark went to pay him, he refused the money and wanted it to go into the school project. This was easily several months to a years worth of income for him but he would rather change the future than eat. This set the precedent and I was amazed to see the entire community start to follow his example.

Champion

The construction workers turned down paying work to come and build this school for free – they will go several weeks without pay (only their lunch provided) but they and their families are committed to change the future. Committed to break the mold and overcome. 

One worker, Mockidad, told us that we helped them accomplish in 2 months what would have taken them over 10 years to complete. Our presence changed them, never before had they worked with the “white man”. The fact that we would “sacrifice” so much to help them made them feel like they mattered. I suspect it may have been the first time they ever really had this feeling. 

Pierce and Mockidad

The new secondary school will change Yams Farm even more. Before, children who wanted to continue their education past 6^th grade had to change their religion to become a Muslim. There were no real Christian options. Now, children can continue their education and keep their faith. In fact, I was told that many of their new students are Muslim. Their parents see the love and affection going into this school and the high standard. They would rather send their children to there than the Muslim options. 

The students are very eager to learn!

This village has broken down the barriers that keep them from progress. They have exceeded our expectations and have taught us so much. They are breaking the mold, changing their world, and changing their future! They are overcoming and there are my hero’s for it!

Please pray they stay on track. They are not perfect and have a lot to overcome. But as Pastor Mark said,

“Because of you, we now know that Christ is alive!”