Isaac And Brittany .com

In Sierra Leone there is a huge number of men in thier late teens to thier late 20's that live in the street. Many of them were child soldiers, many others were displaced to freetown during the war never having fought themselves. Almost all have witnessed and taken part in unimaginable things. These guys are the marginalized , the outcasts (along with the disabled), in sierra leone. They are the cause of most of the trouble and conversly they are the future of the nation since they are a large portion of the men of a generation. We believe God has given us a call to minister to these guys His love and acceptance. After 6-9 months (depending on the area) of doing outreaches and prayer meetings with these guys we now have about 14 enrolled in Bible college and we are also starting tayloring and other trade training alongside it. We are housing 8 of them (a total joy). The Bible school has around 30 students total and we meet now three days a week. Its a DVD curriculum from the states that gives time for translation. We have seen these guys really catch hold of a greater vision for thier lives. They are excited and empowered. The word of God is the most empowering thing in the world. Read Ephesians 1:1-9 for an example. These guys are worth something to God, he loves them and can redeem thier lives of violence and drug addiction and their past of trauma and hardship. We are so excited for what God is doing so be praying for Ali, Ibriham, Bangali, Abriham, Jawad, Elton, Humphrey, Francis, Abu, Abu, Raymond, Fofonna, Junior, and Foday. I hope to be able to share with you all more about these guys It has been such a pleasure growing to love them and help them to be all that God created them to be. We are doing the impossible. I spoke with one ex government official who used to work with the youth. He said that they wont listen to anyone but maybe they will listen to God. They are and His love is doing the impossible.

In order (David, the team, Brit and Isaac's anniversary, Johnny preaching, Mr Manna, Samuel Isaac and Sylvester, the house.

Tonight the street boys gathered under their temporary housing. Its about a 30 by 5 yard strip with a ten foot wall on one side and a 7 foot side that is open except for beams and a small wall. Each Wed evening we all get together and have a small church service and then provide food. 40-50 came this Wed and we gathered around sang praise and worship and then sat. I began to preach on a scripture that says that God looks throughout the earth to see if any are seeking him. The Bible says in Hebrews that we must believe that God is and seek Him and he will reward us. We all sat seeking God. All of the sudden the police came in three large trucks, there were maybe 50 of them. Some had guns, riot gear, gas masks. These guys were ready for action. Since this is the street boys’ area they come frequently and make wholesale arrests. They came and tore down a 'bar' about 200 yards away and some passed by us. The streetboys didn’t know what to do they wanted to run but knew if they did they would be arrested. I thought "this is either really good that we are all here together or really bad". The police just passed guns gasmasks and everything. You could see them pointing and talking about us from a distance. Since they knew we were a 'church' service though they didn’t say anything except one police officers comment of 'hallelujah' as she passed. Other people were arrested and taken away. Temporary structures for businesses were broken. We prayed. I told them about Psalm 91 that even if 10000 pass on my right the Lord will save me. I told them to trust Him, to begin to seek Him. He is waiting like the father of the prodigal son for his children to return to Him. If he sees one seeking Him he runs to them! We prayed and all the guys asked God to change their lives to come and help them and to provide for them. Afterwards as we all ate they rejoiced. The police left, none of them were arrested, we asked them and they said that if we had not been doing church when they came they would have arrested everyone. Instead they came and sought God and he rewarded them, His sons. I felt like an intercessor. The Bible says that Jesus was the great intercessor. An intercessor is someone who stands and speaks for someone, usually asking for mercy or help, but giving themselves for the life of another. Jesus gave his life for all of mankind and we are called to do the same. I was so glad that we have been led to love these guys. Since we are 'interceding' for them, they are finding acceptance, honor, love, hope, dignity, and protection. They know that there is a God who loves them, laid down His life for them, and He is turning their hearts toward Him little by little. They all exclaimed with laughter and childlike awe and excitement that God had saved them! We started singing "It is a great day to serve the Lord, It is a great day to serve the Lord, Walking in the light of God," They all joined and we danced with gratitude and love.

Brittany and I have been married for one year on the 7th!!!!
We are so grateful for all God has done.
We love all of you and thank you for all your support!!!!
I Jesus name
Isaac and Brittany

Street boys here are kind of like migrant workers in the States. They often broke the law to get where they are (totally different comparing delinquency to illegal immigration I know but bear with me) They are looked on as less than people by the majority of the population, as 'undesireables'. They serve in the country as cheap labor (washing cars to carrying boards on thier heads.) They live in temporary housing and are often hasseled by authorities. Here they are put temporarily in jails, prisions over and over again for petty offences. If a serious crime has happened in the area. The police will often arrest as many as they can as a response. Some are there by choice but many are orphans or just stuck without any way to get out of the cycle they are in. Some of the biggest problems they face are drug addiction, prostitution, homelessness, and sickness. Saturday night one of them stole a lady's purse and so the police came and tore down four of thier buisnesses (small shops) and many of thier shelters. Sierra Leone doesnt know what to do with them. They are the cause of many of the problems. But the current response of the government isnt helping too much and in a lot of cases is making the situation worse. We some of them and hold a small church service once a week, but that is nothing. I know from my experience that in the case of addiction spiritual help is the most effective. We want to focus on that but if we dont help meet thier physical needs we are missing the boat. Our plan now is to start a 'rescue house' where 5-6 of the guys will come who are serious about wanting to leave the streets. We will provide them with basics as well as a curfew and pretty strict expectations. Brittany has had a lot of imput about this as she is a Social worker and did her internship at a homeless shelter. We are working closely with a Sierra Leonean name Sylvester who is fresh out of college as a social worker. He works with these guys tirelessly. They call him the 'father of the street boys'. He will be the one living with them and doing most of the programming. We will offer them counseling, opportunities to learn a trade, and a Bible school because we beleive that some are 'called' as pastors.
Please help, We visited 60 of them in the jails yesterday. Brought them food and water. The other ones we visited dont have any place to stay. We cant help all of them now. The fact is that this really is a crisis right now in Sierra Leone. It is one though that God has a plan for. He will raise these guys up as the farmers, pastors, and leaders in Sierra Leone. We want to start the house within next month. Pray, give, see with His eyes. These guys are children of God, he sees thier fear and sadness as they go to bed. I really feel, however,that this crisis is actually a huge opportunity for God to do some great things here. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Rom 8:28

*REPEAT OF EMAIL* Friday night we saw the promise of Jesus to heal the sick and raise the dead with our own eyes. Samuel who when I first met him said, to my face, that he hated white people and was adimently opposed to the church we started in his 'house' (he stays in the unfinished building that we meet in). Since then we have seen the Lord reconcile him and his brother, him and I, and him and the Lord. I came to the place where we hold service (his house) Friday night to find him sick with malaria. He had been sick since Sunday he had taken tons of medication and nothing was helping. He told Mr Manna that morning that he thought he was going to die. (I learned afterwards) When I got there I didnt realize how serious the situation was. I prayed for him for a few minutes and he decided that he would get up and come and lie down on a mat during the prayer meeting. We prayed and at the end I decided to pray for everyone. As I went around the room I got to where he was lying down. Manna was sitting next to him and called me. I looked down and Samuel was fighting and kicking in agony. I knelt on the ground and began to pray with manna for him. We prayed for about 20 minutes. At times his pulse and breathing were so low that I was really afraid. Its not like America here there are no quick/emergency response systems in place,no 911 to dial. He began to breath normally again though and so I got up and closed the prayer meeting. After talking with some of the people there I turned back to where he was lying to check on him. Manna was talking with him and so I asked what happened. Manna turned back to ask him and I heard 'Samuel...Samuel...SAMUEL...SAMUEL!!!...PASTOR COME HERE!' I thought he had died as he was totally unresponsive, foam at the mouth, no breath, eyes rolled back. He felt cold. I thought 'should I do CPR?' I dont really know it though, I was afraid. I realized that I believe in prayer more than CPR and I began to pray. A boldness inside me rose up. The Lord had spoken to me previously that he wants to use Samuel in a big way. How could that happen if he died? I KNEW it was not the Lords will for him to die. So I prayed. I prayed loud and with fervency. Samuel began to move a little, but still he didnt seem to be breathing (I think he must have been, just shallow breaths) In my spirit I heard the Lord say, 'Tell him not to be afraid, tell him I have saved his life today.' As I said 'Samuel Jesus has saved your life today' He let out one big cough and began to breath loudly. I prayed against the spirit of death and then the Lord started speaking to me about Samuel. 'Your going to be a prophet to the nations...' the electricity (fire) in the room was really intense. Brittany said that it filled the whole room. Then from out of my spirit came the words. 'Samuel get up, In the name of Jesus, get up!' The very moment I spoke he rose and the power of God just enveloped us. As he stood up I gave him a hug. He asked immediatly for water. He gave his life to the Lord and laid down to sleep. The next day I saw him. The light in his eyes was amazing. He said 'God did a wonderful thing last night' I looked at him amazed myself as he stood before me in full health. 'Yea He did Samuel, and He is going to use you in a big way.'I can still feel the chills when I tell the story. I dont know if Samuel had actually died when the Lord healed him, but I know that we serve a God who conquered death on the Cross, we just saw it happen before my eyes!

Hello everyone, sorry it has been a while since the last post. Brittany and I are doing well, little Emmanuel is really thriving and we love him so much. We are teaching the kids and, as of today, one adult. Tomorrow I am going to share my testimony with 30 or 40 guys at a place called 'the city of rest' it is in downtown Freetown and it is a place for drug addicts and people with serious mental problems. It is a really amazing ministry and was started by one of the oldest living pastors in Sierra Leone, he still runs up the stairs though! I am going to share my story as the Lord helped me out of drug addiction.
I wanted to share a bit of our hearts, share a bit about what God is doing. Being here is difficult as you all can imagine. It is difficult for obvious reasons, mainly its not the United States! :) So we have really had to reexamine our reasons for being here. Heidi Baker, the director of Iris ministries, talks a lot about this subject. She flat out tells mission school students 'If your not in love, don't come! (to missions)'
She says this because the only motivation that sustains, the only motivation that leads to real change is love. Love first for Jesus, and then for those who He loves. (two things that become almost interchangable)
Its really easy to hope in other things though. We all know this especially as Americans. A million things are vying for our attention, and our affections. Pride, money, success, fear, entertainment, sports, etc... But what is it that really keeps us going? What wakes us up in the morning and gives us hope.
The options here are limited, food... going to the restaurant a couple times a week...taking the kids to the beach now and then... ugghhhh. You sort of run out after a little while. But love works, it doesn't just work. Love makes us thrive, and not just any love but the very love of God flowing through you.
We are learning it, little by little, interaction by interaction, situation by situation. Learning to 'Love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and strength...and love our neighbor as our self'
I'm so used to having love just be PART of what keeps me going. Its a whole different thing to have it be ALL. It really means giving of ourselves. Thats what Christs death and ressurection shows us. (To love costs something, or its not really love)
Loving here doesnt come naturally. There is soo much to learn about the culture and everthing has to been done in that context. For example, they play checkers here totally different and at first I just thought the guy I was playing with was stupid and didnt know the rules. Even after I learned that he was playing the way everyone plays here, I wanted to correct him. I stopped myself, realizing my pride, and played the way they do. Its kind of like that dealing with the culture as a whole. We are learning that we need to drop our ideas of how thing are done, the way interactions happen and what they mean etc.. and humble ourselves. We need to be vulnurable and let those around us instruct us. Instead of the natural thing to do which is to stay aloof. In the end when we bond this way, it looks like love.
We are doing so many things here (I haven't shared much of it). But this is what is really the important thing. I Cor 13 " If I sell all I have and give it to the poor...if I give my body to be burned... but I have not love, it is nothing" Getting stuff done isnt the point. Love is, and we are learning.
So like Paul said, "not that I have achieved it yet... but I press on toward the goal to obtain the prize of the upward call of Christ Jesus"
We love you!
Isaac