NO MORE TUNA PLEASE.......

Hello world…..
I am doing fabulous! My time here in Sierra Leone has gone by so fast! Time is really lost in Africa; it seems like we have been here forever and yet at the same time it seems like we haven’t been here but a couple of days. I am learning new things everyday. It has been awesome!!! Everyone is good it has been fun but we are getting tired and sick of tuna and peanut butter! I am going to be sad to leave, but feel like I'm supposed to come back in the future, hopefully soon!
We were on the radio today sharing with the whole country about our time here! It was awesome! I have a vision and plan for the upcoming semester. A lady here has made me an entire African outfit! Taylor-made just for me! You can only imagine how cool I look and feel in it!! ha! We might get to meet the President tomorrow at noon here so 6 am or 7am where you are. So please pray God will open the door in Jesus Name. It will be a great opportunity for the work here with the ministry.
We took all of the guys out for pizza and they absolutely loved it. It is so rare for them here and a real treat. Something that we can take for granted pretty easily. They are so great! . But 2 more days, then I’m home but I can already tell you that I am different!!!!! I have a totally new perspective on so many things. I love you all and will see you soon.

SUMANA

"LEBANESE" PIZZA PARLOR??

Ok, so today we took all of the guys to the "Lebanese Pizza Parlor" ( I know, it doesn't sound right) called Montana Garden which is actually really good !! It reminds me of homemade pizza. We had a lot of fun and it was a special treat for everyone!
I dont think I have told you about all of the guys so here it goes. First they are all in there 20's. Johnny is from Bo. He is very funny kind of reminds me of Rafiki the baboon from The Lion King ! He lives at the mission and leads a church. Next is Aiah, he lives with Johnny he is a Freetown native. He also leads a church and is more reserved. We talked american politics a couple of nights ago for like 3 hours. People here love Obama they have Obama Ice Cream stands and I cant tell you how many "In Obama We Trust" I have seen, actually the internet cafe I am in right now has an Obama sign in it. Next is Elton originally a street boy he came to the Lord and is on fire! He is so goofy though, like just never stops laughing and smiling. Jawad is the strongest of them all. He is a converted Muslim from Bo, his family has disowned him and he lived on the streets for 8 years. Now he is the best Bible school student in the school! He visits the jail twice a week is the best soccer player I have ever seen and leads a church. Eziekel is the greatest drummer I have met. He is ridiculous! He said he can teach me but its hopeless. Melvin is the leader of the Bible school just a great guy, loves basketball. I went and played with him the other day. Now the older generation, Pastor Moses is an awesome guy ! He was an alcoholic.. but is now addicted to Jesus and leads his own church. He grows his left thumb nail like 3 inches long for some reason. He says to scratch his back, I think it is so people will ask. Charles aka Smokin Joe is the king of the one liner. He is originally from Dallas but moved here in 2001 the year before the war ended. He is also the best driver in Sierra Leone. Pastor Andrew is the head honcho he is great, loves Jesus and loves singing his praise. Admire leads her own church she made me some african clothes. Britney is a missionary from Colorado and is kind of like the mom to all of the kids. Her husband Isaac and her lead a church and Isaac is 6'3" and loves basketball but more importantly loves Jesus and is very very ,did I say very, laid back nothing bothers him. Angela is Pastor Andrews wife and she has yet to have left the house which apparently is a good thing here. The wife is suppossed to love her house so if she stays there she loves it. But I think she takes that to a new level. Thats the older gang then there are the kiddos. Starting with Heidi she is one month 8 days and stays up all night. Next is David he is Pastor Andrews child and he just turned 2 last week. he is my little buddy he calls me uncle and we hang out all day.. he is one of the smartest 2 year olds in history. then there is Emanuel he is 2 also but older than David. He is a little slow though they think he has a mental dissability but he is so cute and awesome. He is so funny! Then there is little Moses or Comba, (they have like 15 names here its crazy but anyways) he is 6 and is a ball of energy! He is very funny and loves everyone. he calls me uncle crack, im not sure why but it doesnt bother me. Next is little Rebecca she is 8 and very reserved but loves to touch me then run away so I guess we have a bond. Next is A-boy aka Stephen aka Alpha he is a great 12 years old and just is great, i know i already said that, but he is he so calm and respectful. But he can have fun too! Next is T-boy aka Paul aka Thamba he is loud sings the same song over and over and over but he is awesome loves Jesus and is so fun. Then there is Samuel he is 14 and 6' he is a handful there are few Samuels in this world he is very energetic in your face 24/7 but not in a threatening way, just so excited like a puppy. He loves basketball so we go every once and a while and play at the court like a mile away up a mountain, its not too fun! That's everyone Samuel ,David and Heidi are Pastor Andrew and Angela's children, the rest are Angela's sisters kids who were orphaned a couple of years ago.
The local group here in Sierra Leone!

Computers Down........

Just got to a computer and am having an awesome time!

We met with the first lady and she was very gracious and kind to us. She loved hearing about our mission and work that we are doing. Many great things for the ministry were accomplished. We had a lot of favor with her. We are planning to meet the Pres. before we leave, but all things are subject to change. Just pray.
The people here are great so happy and yet they lack so much. I am sorry that I haven’t been able to send more email but apparently internet and extreme poverty doesn’t mix very well! But the Lord is great here in Sierra Leone!! He is using me to further his kingdom and at the same time shaping me into a man after his own heart. I have prayed for amputees with both legs missing I shook the hand of a known criminal and swam with him in the ocean and I have shared heart to heart conversations with an ex-child soldier who has dropped his old lifestyle and became a new creation in Christ! There are so many stories that I can’t wait to share, but the overall theme here is "God is Good, All the Time and All the Time, God is Good!" He Reigns in Sierra Leone and we are changing lives every day!
The best story so far comes from my good friend, Elton. He was a child soldier where he amputated hands, raped women, used every drug available, and killed hundreds of innocent people. He lived on the streets for 8 years and Pastor Andrew, our missions pastor, brought him and several other street boys and gave them a place to stay. Now Elton is 100% transformed. He is a new creation in Christ! He has cut his hair and changed his lifestyle completely, to show his transformation. And now the little boy who did all these awful things is going to those same people that he terrorized in the war and telling them about Jesus! Somebody say amen!!! He is great… that is just one of the stories hopefully i can update this soon.
Please keep praying that "We will finish strong for God!! " Thanks!
But I love you guys and God is good in Sierra Leone!
"Sumana".... Craig

Well I Got Pooped on Today T.I.A.

Hey fam and friends! All is well in Sierra Leone! We arrived safely and stayed in a nice hotel the first night (by nice I mean motel 6), we then took the ferry to the mainland and met with our team over here. They are awesome people love Jesus and have complete and total faith in him. The mission is in a much better state than where No Boundaries left it a year ago. They have electricity from 8p.m. to 8 a.m. and random spurts of water, so the only thing we really rough it in… is heat bugs and interpretation of what they are saying. These people talk so fast and you cannot understand half of what they say. But they are so nice and funny. Yesterday I fed them American food which included Goldfish, Fruit Loops, Original and Ranch Sunflower Seeds, Skittles, Air Heads, Beef Jerky, and Sour Patch Kids. Some of them loved it all, but we got really good reactions for the sour patch kids from the others. It was hilarious! Our culture is much different than theirs one thing I learned very quickly is they don’t understand sharing in small quantities I offered a boy named Abraham a piece of gum and he took the whole package and put it in his pocket I quickly realized that when I offer anybody anything give it to them one at a time.
Ok so you guys are only reading this to see how I got pooped on so here it goes. I have a little buddy named David he is two and calls me uncle and he loves to sit in my lap. I’m not sure why he has taken such a liking to me but I’m not complaining. So he just got done with a nap and ran over to me and threw his arms up in the air for me to hold him and when I went to pick him up Brandon said, “wait!” But I didn’t and my hand landed in David poop! It was great we laughed pretty hard but it was really gross I washed for a long time but got it all off eventually and was ready to hit the road.
Brandon and I have gotten our African names! He is Foday, which is the name of a friend of one of the boys who has since gone away, and mine is Sumana which is the head Pastor’s grandfather’s name! We start our real evangelism today so be praying for us.

God Bless,
Sumana

FIRST WORDS FROM TEAM!

Hi guys! We just arrived into sierra leone and are at the hotel that is near the airport. We are really tired but glad to be here. :) The circus continues tomorrow when Pastor Andrew will pick us up. Going to be a fun day and beginning to our trip. Will email later in the next few days.Going to bed now!

LANDED IN AFRICA!

We got word that Craig and the team arrived a little later than we thought, but are safely on the ground of Seirra Leone! He should begin blogging in the next few days! Continue to pray for their safety, divine appointments, anointing, many salvations, healings, signs, wonders, and miracles! Craig really wants to be effective in ministry to the awesome people of Africa! Thanks!

It was the night before Africa........

It's the evening before I leave and I am really excited about the trip keep me in your prayers and thoughts!