Dear Friends--
We wanted to write to you briefly about Change One's Christmas rice project. Over the past year, the price of rice has doubled in Sierra Leone. This dramatic price increase on the staple food has created new challenges for individuals and families who are already living in strained financial situations. For Christmas this year, we would like to purchase several large bags of rice for distribution in some of the refugee and war wounded communities. A 110-pound bag of rice currently costs about $40 and, we would like to purchase as many bags as possible. We will be raising money over the next month for this Christmas gift to our brothers and sisters in Freetown.
If you are interested in making a donation toward this project, please send a check to Change One, PO Box 82044, Columbus, Ohio 43202, include a note that designates your gift to "Christmas Rice." Or if you see us around and want to give us a cash or check, feel free to do that as well. Every dollar is valuable and no gift is too small!
Thanks!
Keith & Laura Padgett
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
October 2008 prayer letter
Dear Friends,
Recently, Keith and I visited Freetown for about two weeks. We had the opportunity to visit some of Change One’s completed projects, including the well at Rokel and the latrines at the polio community in Grafton. It was great to finally see in person the work that your financial and prayer support has accomplished in those communities! The folks at the polio community were especially thankful to have sanitary toilets and clean places to bathe.
One of my favorite parts of the trip was reconnecting with some of the young men and women we knew from the Lighthouse program. One young man in particular continues to hold a special place in our hearts. Since we left Freetown, he decided to leave school, where he was struggling academically, to pursue a trade. He is now excelling in a youth carpentry program and has been given some leadership responsibilities over some of the younger apprentices. He told us that when he first started the program, he was given many small tasks, such as sweeping the floors and running errands for his boss. He never complained at these seemingly menial tasks, but carried them out joyfully. His faithfulness in these small things has propelled him forward and caused his boss to give him more and more responsibility. Keith and I were able to visit him at his carpentry shop one morning. He proudly showed us some of the work he had been learning. As we left him that morning, tears welled up in my eyes. I remember sitting in the poda-poda (mini-bus) as we left his shop that morning, thinking how all the work we’ve been trying to accomplish in Freetown over the past several years is worthwhile for the sake of this one young man. The meaning of “Change One” hit home on a deeper level that day. To see the change in this former child-soldier over the past few years has been profound. I’m so thankful for the light and love of Jesus in his heart and am excited to see what amazing things God will do with him in the years to come.
We also had a great time connecting with Pastor Menyongar and the staff at IMC. Keith had the opportunity to preach at Pastor’s church, as well as to participate in a call-in radio show. We discussed with Pastor several options for Change One for the upcoming months. Together, we decided that Change One would allocate $1000 toward micro-business loans, providing up to 10 additional families with a small business, and $1000 for school scholarships, granting many more children the ability to attend school this year (school fees range from $10 – $30 per year).
Over the past year, the price of rice has doubled in Sierra Leone. This dramatic price increase on the staple food has created new challenges for individuals and families who are already living in strained financial situations. For Christmas this year, we would like to purchase several large bags of rice for distribution in some of the refugee and war wounded communities. A 110-pound bag of rice currently costs about $40 and, if possible, we would like to purchase 50 bags. We will be raising money over the next couple of months for this Christmas gift to our brothers and sisters in Freetown. (If you are interested in donating toward the Christmas rice project, please send a check to Change One, PO Box 82044, Columbus, Ohio 43202, with a note marked “Christmas rice.”)
Finally, we are also beginning to pray and discuss the possibility of building a holistic training center in Freetown. The center would exist to train pastors to return to the provinces to plant churches, offering training not only in Bible and ministry, but also in a business or trade. This would be a large undertaking and we would love it if you would pray with us for God’s leading and wisdom for Change One and IMC as we are evaluating this possibility.
We cannot thank you enough for your continued prayers and support for the ministries of Change One!
With love,
Keith & Laura Padgett
Recently, Keith and I visited Freetown for about two weeks. We had the opportunity to visit some of Change One’s completed projects, including the well at Rokel and the latrines at the polio community in Grafton. It was great to finally see in person the work that your financial and prayer support has accomplished in those communities! The folks at the polio community were especially thankful to have sanitary toilets and clean places to bathe.
One of my favorite parts of the trip was reconnecting with some of the young men and women we knew from the Lighthouse program. One young man in particular continues to hold a special place in our hearts. Since we left Freetown, he decided to leave school, where he was struggling academically, to pursue a trade. He is now excelling in a youth carpentry program and has been given some leadership responsibilities over some of the younger apprentices. He told us that when he first started the program, he was given many small tasks, such as sweeping the floors and running errands for his boss. He never complained at these seemingly menial tasks, but carried them out joyfully. His faithfulness in these small things has propelled him forward and caused his boss to give him more and more responsibility. Keith and I were able to visit him at his carpentry shop one morning. He proudly showed us some of the work he had been learning. As we left him that morning, tears welled up in my eyes. I remember sitting in the poda-poda (mini-bus) as we left his shop that morning, thinking how all the work we’ve been trying to accomplish in Freetown over the past several years is worthwhile for the sake of this one young man. The meaning of “Change One” hit home on a deeper level that day. To see the change in this former child-soldier over the past few years has been profound. I’m so thankful for the light and love of Jesus in his heart and am excited to see what amazing things God will do with him in the years to come.
We also had a great time connecting with Pastor Menyongar and the staff at IMC. Keith had the opportunity to preach at Pastor’s church, as well as to participate in a call-in radio show. We discussed with Pastor several options for Change One for the upcoming months. Together, we decided that Change One would allocate $1000 toward micro-business loans, providing up to 10 additional families with a small business, and $1000 for school scholarships, granting many more children the ability to attend school this year (school fees range from $10 – $30 per year).
Over the past year, the price of rice has doubled in Sierra Leone. This dramatic price increase on the staple food has created new challenges for individuals and families who are already living in strained financial situations. For Christmas this year, we would like to purchase several large bags of rice for distribution in some of the refugee and war wounded communities. A 110-pound bag of rice currently costs about $40 and, if possible, we would like to purchase 50 bags. We will be raising money over the next couple of months for this Christmas gift to our brothers and sisters in Freetown. (If you are interested in donating toward the Christmas rice project, please send a check to Change One, PO Box 82044, Columbus, Ohio 43202, with a note marked “Christmas rice.”)
Finally, we are also beginning to pray and discuss the possibility of building a holistic training center in Freetown. The center would exist to train pastors to return to the provinces to plant churches, offering training not only in Bible and ministry, but also in a business or trade. This would be a large undertaking and we would love it if you would pray with us for God’s leading and wisdom for Change One and IMC as we are evaluating this possibility.
We cannot thank you enough for your continued prayers and support for the ministries of Change One!
With love,
Keith & Laura Padgett
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Lighthouse Youth
Lighthouse is the program we worked with when we lived in Freetown. The program worked to get youth off the streets and into educational programs (whether traditional schools or training in a trade such as tailoring or carpentry). We loved getting a chance to interact with them for a couple of weeks. We miss these kids!
Keith wrestling with a couple of the boys:
Me & David:
David & Santigie playing mancala:
Cooking cassava leaf and rice:
Here's me with Fatmata:
Keith wrestling with a couple of the boys:
Me & David:
David & Santigie playing mancala:
Cooking cassava leaf and rice:
This is Joseph, showing us the ceiling he was helping build (Joseph is a carpentry apprentice). I love this boy so much! 
A Day in Konde Farm
Pastor Menyongar lives outside Freetown in an area called Konde Farm. He has started a church and a school in this community. We had the privilege of visiting his home and church one Sunday.
Here is their current church building, that is also being used for classrooms for school children during the week:
Pastor Menyongar, Manasseh (Pastor's son), and Keith at the site for the new church building. They are working slowly to raise funds to build a more structurally sound building to use for their church as well as the school. Change One is funding the latrine project here, since there is currently no toilet facility in this area.
Here is their current church building, that is also being used for classrooms for school children during the week:
Pastor Menyongar, Manasseh (Pastor's son), and Keith at the site for the new church building. They are working slowly to raise funds to build a more structurally sound building to use for their church as well as the school. Change One is funding the latrine project here, since there is currently no toilet facility in this area.
These next 2 photos are of the "bridge" we had to cross to get to Konde Farm. To be honest, I was scared I was going to fall in the river. Thankfully, I had Rugi (pastor's small niece) holding my hand to keep me steady!
This one is me with Pastor's kids: Rugi (she's actually a niece), Manasseh, Becky, and pastor's nephew (who's name I don't remember...):
This is just an example of the types of fine roads we got to drive down... Ah, Salone...
Percival Street
One of my favorite things about our trip was visiting our old house on Percival Street. Zara, the little girl who lived downstairs, was my saving grace so many days when we lived in Freetown. When I would come home from a long, tiring, stressful day, I could just go sit and play with Zara and feel it all melt away.
When we first walked into the house this time, Zara ran out to greet me and gave me a huge huge. That one moment made the whole trip worthwhile.
This is Zara and another little girl that was at the house:
When we first walked into the house this time, Zara ran out to greet me and gave me a huge huge. That one moment made the whole trip worthwhile.
This is Zara and another little girl that was at the house:
This is Ishmael--we didn't even recognize him, he's grown so much!
Kroo Bay Kids
The Kroo Bay Good News Club didn't meet while we were in Freetown. They had taken a break for the month of August, due to the excessive amount of rain they were having. The Bay floods terribly during the rains, especially since it acts as a drainage ditch for most of the run-off from the city.
Keith and I walked down toward the Bay one day to visit some friends, and were swarmed with children. It was so good to see Remie, Saidu, Kuami and some of the other kiddos we used to see every week.
Kids love Play Station games everywhere, I guess! It seemed like Freetown had more electricity in the 2 weeks we were visiting than in the entire time we lived there! The kids were sure taking advantage of all the power for things like video games. Keith even showed Kuami & Saidu a few new moves on Mortal Kombat.
Keith and I walked down toward the Bay one day to visit some friends, and were swarmed with children. It was so good to see Remie, Saidu, Kuami and some of the other kiddos we used to see every week.
Kids love Play Station games everywhere, I guess! It seemed like Freetown had more electricity in the 2 weeks we were visiting than in the entire time we lived there! The kids were sure taking advantage of all the power for things like video games. Keith even showed Kuami & Saidu a few new moves on Mortal Kombat.
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