The Chiefs of Kailahun
- Oct 6, 2024
- 2 min read
Scott-
We have four missionaries serving in Kailahun, which is near the border of Guinea. These are the first missionaries to serve in the region, so far as I know. We opened up the area just a few months ago. The next closest missionaries to them live two-hours away. If you have read my prior posts, I am happy to report that this drive was on paved roads all the way to Kailahun. How pleasant!
Elder Pambu, the only area seventy in Sierra Leone, grew up in a village near Kailahun. He was a child when the civil war started and he ended up moving to Freetown, where he learned about the Church and was baptized. He returned with us to Kailahun this week to introduce us to the tribal chiefs. The four missionaries, local branch president, stake president (who lives two hours away), Elder Pambu (who lives seven hours away), and I (since we are telling time—three hours away for me) met with the chief’s council. I believe there are 15 chiefdoms in the area. The head chief is in the middle and extending to either side of him in a semicircle are the other chiefs from the city and surrounding villages. There were at least 15 chiefs present in the council. These chiefs and the local people are predominately Muslims.
In very brief, we told them we are members and missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We have come from around the world to teach and invite the people in their city and villages to come unto Jesus Christ. We believe in supporting governments and obeying local laws. We respect their position as chiefs and are honored to meet them. At the end of our presentation, they told us we are welcome in their city and villages, they will protect our young missionaries as if they were their own children, and if we need anything—such as land to build a church they will help us. We were expecting the meeting to go well, but the offer to help with land was a surprise.
The next surprise came from the woman closest to the center. She is the “mommy queen,” elected to represent all women on the chief’s council. She said her daughter is serving a mission in Nigeria. Did I hear that right? Yes, I did! She he has a daughter who is a member of the church and currently serving a mission. There are surprises everyday.
At the end of the meeting, several phones appeared and we took a snap (snapshot). Our missionaries mounted their bikes, one more snap, and off they went to teach the gospel of Christ in a Muslim community in Africa.
Another miracle for Sierra Leone! How exciting! God is preparing these people to receive his gospel and help the work move forward! What amazing experiences you're having!
How nice that members and missionaries were received so kindly. There would be a lot less strife in the world if everyone treated each other as kindly as those Kailahun chiefs treated you. I noticed that there are 4 missionaries in that picture but only two bikes. Do both missionaries ride on one bike together? Similar to your previous posts where lots of people are perched on a single vehicle, motorcycle, bicycle, etc.😂
It’s inspiring to see the warm reception and support from the chiefs in Kailahun, enhanced by touching personal connections like the “mommy queen’s” story. Truly heartwarming!
A piece of history in the making for Sierra Leone. Well done President. What an honor to thus be honored as a representative of Jesus Christ.
Thanks for sharing this inspiring post, Scott. The kindness of these people is remarkable and is so fitting for a general conference weekend where we’ve been reminded to be kind and civil. We in the USA could learn much from them.