In an effort to aid the flood victims in Kailahun District, Sierra Leone, the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints organized a two-day donation drive and provided much needed relief items. On 22 November 2023, a donation ceremony was held in the district with many of the flood victims attending with local leaders.
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In September 2023, heavy downpours had caused significant flooding and left many residents homeless in Kailahun township. The heavy rains lasted for many hours, flooding the town market, parts of Kissi town community, Panguma Kebawana community, and Kissi Kenema Masakpa community.
Attending the ceremony was the Honorable Gbessay Jusu Jaka Ngobeh, the resident minister and Town-chief in Kailahun. Also attending was Chief Maada Bringo Ndolleh, the Eastern Region Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Agency. Representing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was Elder Kenneth Pambu, an Area Seventy for the Church in Sierra Leone, and John Gobba, President of the local church unit in Kailahun.
The relief items distributed by the church included essential food and non-food items such as rice, vegetable oils, and mattresses. Elder Pambu addressed the flood victims, offering words of solace and emphasized that Heavenly Father is aware of who they are and their predicament. He reiterated the church's commitment to prioritizing the physical and spiritual well-being of its members and the communities that they live in, stating, "Charity is the pure love of Christ, and as followers of the Savior, we must emulate the example of Jesus Christ."
Resident Minister East, Hon. Gbessay Jusu Jaka Ngobeh, expressed gratitude to the Church and its leadership for their benevolent actions, referring to it as "a good gesture." He assured the people of Kailahun that the government will follow the Church’s example and is fully committed to addressing the needs of those affected by the flooding. The Eastern Region Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Agency also shared those sentiments.
The community members were deeply appreciative of the support extended by the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints, recognizing the importance of collaboration and aid during times of crisis. The relief items provided by the church will undoubtedly go a long way in addressing the immediate needs of the flood victims and assisting in their recovery process.
Kailahun District, located in the eastern part of Sierra Leone, shares borders with Liberia and Guinea. The people of the district have dealt with many years of trials and strife. Bomaru, a small township within Kailahun District, gained significant historical relevance as the location where the first gunshot was heard, signifying the start of an 11-year-long civil conflict. Additionally, Kailahun District was the site of the initial outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) which claimed the lives of thousands in West Africa
Despite many years of civil war, other regional conflicts, epidemics, and famine in Sierra Leone, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has witnessed miraculous growth. The first branch of the Church was established at Freetown in 1988, and in the ensuing 35 years, membership in the Church has increased to 30,000, with 93 congregations. The first mission in Sierra Leone was created in 2007and on 1 November 2023 the Church announced the creation of the Sierra Leone Bo Mission. In 2019, President Russell M. Nelson announced that the Freetown Sierra Leone Temple would be built, and construction of the Temple began in 2022.