Dennis and Rachel Matson
The miracle of hospitality is that strangers become neighbors, neighbors become friends, friends become dearer... may we never forget the kindness you shared, and you always be blessed with the fullness of its joy.
May your every day be filled with a childlike awareness of God's precious gifts all around you.
The past year of 2004 was full of new experiences and adventures for this very unadventurous couple. We began in January, an 8 month adventure, an almost hopeless trail of paper work, visits to government offices and many phone calls to finally get my(Rachel) permanent resident card. We felt we were being adventurous and were very blessed to have the privilege of two small trips outside of our own province, by ourselves and not to visit family. We were so thankful for how things all worked out and we really felt we had been very privileged to enjoy so many new places and sites. We were only home a few days when we received your interesting email looking for a "welder needed immediately". Deciding to reply and get more information was a step of faith and we were amazed at the very short time before we were making plans to fill the position.
Though we should never be amazed by the ways of our Heavenly Father, we were constantly surprised at the way things all just fell into place. My passport and PR card were in place, we got plane tickets quickly, some funds we had put away that were enough to cover our expenses, Dennis’ employer moved his work schedule around to make enough days for us to be away, we were able to squeeze in the necessary vaccinations into a very tight timetable.... so many things we would never have had the time or wisdom to plan. Not being experienced in travel, we were most amazed that we were not overwhelmed but felt our Heavenly Father had wrapped us in blanket of peace and simply smoothed out all the wrinkles without any effort on our part.
And suddenly we were in Sierra Leone. So many people asked if we were going on a safari or what interesting sights we planned to see. No lions, giraffes, elephants, safari....we didn’t see the tourist spots of Sierra Leone, but we did experience a small part of the real life.
The first taste of reality hit us when they opened the airplane door after touching down at the Lungi airport just outside of Freetown, Sierra Leone. A wave of hot, humid, earthy smelling air rushed in to take over the place. After getting through immigration, we were introduced to the press and mass of people that would be the norm everywhere we went in Sierra Leone. We were impressed throughout our visit by the masses of people everywhere, walking, carrying loads mostly on their heads, day and night, always going somewhere.
Driving in Sierra Leone was an experience that we were constantly thankful to be spectators/passengers in rather than the actual participants/drivers. Bumping, jerking, crunching and dodging over roads (rocks covered with a bit of gravel, broken patches of pavement, potholes and monster speed bumps) about 1 ½ lanes wide, at speeds of 50-60 mph. with people walking on each side, deep gutters, packed taxis parked or stopping wherever they pleased, dogs, chickens and ducks, no street lights (unless you count the candles or kerosene lamps that light the little stick or tin box shops that line the roads and seem to be open day and night). was just part of going anywhere.
We will always remember and appreciate the warm welcome and hospitality of your home. You have such a gift and ministry of hospitality. (We would love to hear the details of how your pig roast and Christmas Eve dinner all worked out.) One thing that impressed us often was that even though we read your interesting newsletters and have received your email prayer news, nothing could affect us like experiencing Sierra Leone/D.O.V.E. ourselves. (I am sure you must have gotten tired of our constant questions, probably many that you have answered many times in your newsletters, but it is so different to see it with your own eyes....to actually be there, to experience a small part, to see just a little of what you go through. Amazing. Overwhelming. And when we say "busy" now, there is always a flash of you and the things you are doing....wondering how you keep up. Resolve to pray more diligently.)
So many new experiences. Mosquito nets. I could enjoy having the windows wide open all the time, but I am not sure I would enjoy the constant warm temperature, I do look forward to the changes of each new season. We enjoyed the Sunday afternoon on the ocean beach, the warm salt water and pounding waves were very relaxing. The drive "up country" (most of the way across Sierra Leone) to visit the Kabala kids was an opportunity to get our eyes full of landscapes of the mountains to the plains, village markets, to experience our vehicle being surrounded anytime we stopped by vendors trying to sell fruit, vegetables, clothes, pots, etc., trying to barter for a few small items, the joy on children’s faces as they received one of the stuffed animals we passed out, rural villages and even in the most remote area still people walking. We heard much of the countries history (and yours. The many ways God has protected and cared for you) along the way. We enjoyed "pumpkin chop" prepared in their outdoor kitchen. The kids knocked enough grapefruit out of a tree to send back for the staff and kids at D.O.V.E. Our senses are so full of pictures and feelings that will forever affect our lives.
Work on the window and door project began after an orientation tour of the compound and an introduction to the staff and kids that live at D.O.V.E. A visit to a local welding shop was a reminder of just how fortunate we really are here at home. It was an experience to work with the most basic tools, limited resources, under manual labor-intensive conditions. How often Dennis wished to have some tool from his shop at home, to be able to run to town for some simple part without taking all day to locate it or just to be able to do more in the time he had. It was soon clear why Phil could use some help with his "to do" list. But by keeping at the work, 2 doors and 5 windows were completed in our very short visit, our small part in the project (still much for all of you to do to make the doors and windows useful. We would love to hear and maybe see some pictures of the finished project).
We were blessed by the evening the children put on a program for us, singing farewell songs they composed to express their thanks, presenting us with cards they each made and putting on a play that they were practicing for Christmas. Their many hugs and farewells, thanks for coming and doing the bit of work we accomplished and welcoming us to come back---they thanked us so often for what we did but we felt so blessed to have had the opportunity to meet them, to see what their lives are like, and to have been any small part in their world. We could see what a difference D.O.V.E. is making in all the lives they touch (the children, the staff, volunteers and all the folks you come in contact with or invite into your home). We were touched by how little the people have, how hard everyone works and how happy and thankful they all are.
We have been asked often, "is it dangerous?" That is a question that we often thought about. (Your great hospitality kept us from any danger and we never felt any danger to ourselves) Compared to our lives here, we would judge your every day life as filled with many dangers. We did see often, daily, how God is caring for, protecting and providing for your needs. Here it is too easy to become independent and fail to see how God cares for us every day. We admire your ability to see the dangers around you as "never a dull moment" while being able to find gratitude and happiness in serving the Lord in difficult situations, turning dangers into another testimony to God's protection.
The trip was the experience of a lifetime. It has and will continue to take some time to process all that we experienced. We will never forget, our lives will forever be affected by the things we saw and experienced at D.O.V.E. and in Sierra Leone. It will always be in our thoughts, something we compare our daily experiences to and it will forever change our prayers for you. Thank you for letting God use you there and for opening your lives to us.
