World Renew is helping families overcome poverty through Free A Family® programs. The Mansaray family in Seduya, Sierra Leone continues to make progress in their journey towards a healthier and more financially stable future.
If you receive the quarterly Free A Family® updates for the representative family from West Africa, you may recall that the Mansarays make a living through farming, and that they have taken part in agricultural and nutrition training through World Renew’s local partner, Christian Extension Services (CES). They have livestock such as goats and chickens and they grow crops such as corn, pepper, potatoes, and rice. During the rainy season there was not much flooding so Jadee and other farmers are expecting a high crop yield. One day Jadee hopes to have enough money to afford paid laborers to help him to cultivate large acres of land.
As at the time the Mansaray family were selected the as the West Africa Free A Family® representatives, Poreh was Jadee’s only wife. However, in the last year he added a second younger wife, who now lives in the family home in Seduya. I think it is important that I give you the cultural context for this family’s situation.
In Sierra Leone and many predominantly Muslim countries in West Africa, polygamy is a common practice. While World Renew disagrees with polygamy, we believe that we have been called to help the poorest of the poor around the world—whether they are Christian, Muslim, or followers of another religion. World Renew is careful to ensure that our staff are Christian and are able to talk about and represent Christian values. We also work through Christian churches and organizations at the community level, so that the work can bear witness to the love of Christ. So I hope you will understand how working with families like the Mansarays is a powerful and tangible way to share the hope and truth of our Saviour.
Like Jadee and Poreh, Jadee’s younger wife, Yeriba, is involved in the Village Savings and Loan activities and has been elected to count and manage the money in her group. The Mansarays are finding their training in small business management very helpful. In a country and community where economic hardship persists, it is important to know how to start and run a successful business.
“Although our family has hard times, I am determined to help give my children a good future,” said Jadee. “I want all of them to go to school, because I have realized that if they are educated it will be better for them and for the whole community. They will learn that they have more choices and opportunities in life than early marriage or working as farmers.’
Please pray for this family—that they will have good harvests and good health. Pray for unity and peace in their community, where there are both Muslims and Christians.
In Christ,
Andrew Gwaivangmin
World Renew Sierra Leone