by Ellyn
In 2017, several MKM girls took part in being “soccer leaders.” I, Mark and Karen’s daughter Ellyn, was in Salone for the summer and worked together with MKM staff and these girls to put on two weeks of girls soccer camp. But before any soccer camp could begin, the soccer leaders themselves had to learn how to play. These brave young women, between the ages of 12 and 17 at the time, took up the challenge. I spent time practicing with these girls and teaching them the basics of soccer. I also spent time discipling them. We shared our testimonies, studied the Word together, and planned Bible stories to teach about the love of Jesus at the soccer camp. After weeks of learning to play soccer themselves, we put on the soccer camps. The soccer leaders helped guide their groups in the basics, passing along what they had recently learned. They led singing, helped prepare and distribute snacks and food, and helped lead the participants in many ways. On the last day of each soccer camp, the participants got to play a game against each other. At half-time, the soccer leaders acted out the story of the prodigal son. If I remember right, a couple of them even acted as the pigs! Although the game was very chaotic (picture lots of excited girls playing a game without knowing the rules) it was a great time and a great way to share the love of the Father with the crowd of mixed Muslims and Christians!
In years following these soccer camps, the girls continued to be involved in outreach camps that MKM put on in villages surrounding Kenema. They even played soccer with those kids! These girls have continued to grow and develop and now they are all young women. While some of them have transitioned away from MKM, many of them are part of the Transition Kids (meaning they are going to college soon, are in college, or are transitioning into working or an apprenticeship type position). These kids help with the camps that Karen puts on when she visits each year. They also are involved in other outreach events put on by Kinsmen Christian Church and they even started a college ministry at their school called Lighthouse InC. (In Christ).
Each of these girls are on an individual path and God is at work in their lives. He uses the staff at MKM and Kinsmen Christian Church members to continue to disciple many of them. They are also growing in Christ together through Lighthouse InC. and in their relationships as sisters in Christ. Not all of their lives look the same, but it’s a delight to see how God has grown them over the years.
So where are they now?
One of the girls is now a wife and mother. She married Lansana, a man who has been part of MKM for a long time. She is also trained as a midwife and helps assist at births in villages.
Another girl finished her two-year program at the college in Kenema, and after seeing her potential, one of her relatives decided to pay for her to get a four-year degree in health services in Bo at a larger university.
Others are still in school (nursing school and business school)at the local college or have graduated and are figuring out what is next for them.
As I’ve been thinking back to the trip that I spent with these girls, I realized that all of these girls are older than I was when I spent the summer in Salone! It’s great to look back and see what God has done in their lives so far!
