Independence and Progress

Tommorrow Sierra Leone will have it's 48th year anniversary of indepedence. Freetown is filled with national flags posted along the streets, and people are waiting in anticipation to celebrate this special time in their country's history. Certain places in town have been under renovations these past two weeks in oerder to prepare for this day, as the city will hold festivals and parties at these sites, not to mention many smaller parties where family and friends get together for "Thanksgiving", as Sierra Leoneans call it.

As we think about the importance of this historic day for Sierra Leone, we are also thinking about the progress that has been made for the PPB factory, not least in successfully installing and testing the machinery! Sometimes it is easy for us to overlook a remarkable step for this program, because we are constantly planning on what to do next in moving PPB forward. But it has been a good learning experience for us in knowing when to take time and celebrate ourselves. Praise God!

Dr. Manary came on April 12th to see us through on setting up the machinery, as well as to observe and help at out clinic sites. As for the setup of the machinery, we worked together in finding a company that was able to electrically install the mixers, and by the 28th we actually were grinding up groundnuts in the big mixer! We are so glad that he was able to come and see first hand PPB Sierra Leone.

Blessings,

Mike and Chelsea