Students Send Their Love to Sierra Leone

Five years ago, Burley Christian School in Burley, Washington became part of the Children of the Nations family when they began sponsoring Michael Roberts, a young orphan in Sierra Leone. After several years of sponsorship, school leaders decided to work with the students to create a special project for Michael.

Over the course of the school year, they assembled a giant care package for Michael and his “brothers and sisters” in the Banta Mokelleh orphanage. It was a labor of love that involved the entire school—students in preschool through twelfth grade.

“I was glad that we could be a part of the happiness in the children’s lives at the orphanage, by spreading God’s love,” 12th-grader Adam Ferguson said.

The school, which is located in western Washington, began sponsoring Michael when he was only a little over a year old. Students raise money for his monthly support by selling baked goods and lollipops. Over the past several years, students have seen Michael grow through sponsorship updates and pictures.

As yearbook advisor Sheryl Johnson thought and prayed over a yearbook theme for the 2007–2008 school year, Michael Roberts kept coming to her mind. Soon after, staff and students decided that the yearbook theme would be missions, and they would highlight Michael.

In preparing the yearbook, they asked questions about Michael’s daily life in school and at the children’s home. At the same time, the school decided they would create a care package for Michael and the other children in Banta Mokelleh.

“The mother in me wanted all the children to know that they were loved and that God cared for them,” Sheryl Johnson said.

Students in each grade at the school had a special project to encourage Michael and the children in Sierra Leone. Some projects were for Michael only—including a prayer blanket and a yearbook with personal notes from each of the staff. To make the prayer blanket, each first and second grader tied a fringe knot to the blanket while saying a prayer for Michael.

Meanwhile, other children kept busy with projects that would be shared with Michael’s brothers and sisters in Banta Mokelleh. The youngest students made wordless bracelets with colored beads representing the plan of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Older students designed a coloring book, tie-dyed T-shirts and pillows, and made colorful beanbag toys.

“It was cool, because the beans that were put in the beanbag could feed them too,” said sixth grader Jeremiah Johnson.

Now that all the gifts have been finished, they will be delivered to Sierra Leone with a visiting Venture Team. Sheryl Johnson was very pleased at how the school worked together to minister to Michael.

“We hope every time Michael snuggles close to his blanket, rests on his pillow, wears the T-shirt and bracelet, plays with the beanbags…he will feel our hugs and sense our care for him. Our hope is that Michael will feel loved and be encouraged,” Sheryl Johnson said.

by Aimee Henderson, COTN–USA Communications Assistant