Christian Veterinary Missions of Canada

I am sitting at my desk near an open window in my room in the SCHDO (Sierra
Canadian Humanitarian and Development Organization) guesthouse. Outside, the rain is pouring buckets straight down from heaven. This is a typical downpour in the rainy season of Sierra Leone.

We arrived three days ago. Cautiously, I want to share that exciting things are happening in Sierra Leone and with our organization, SCHDO. With me on this mission trip is Bill Boston a farmer from Illinois. We have known each other since 1969 when I arrived as a greenhorn in Sierra Leone and he was the head of the Animal Science Department of what is now Njala University, and also my boss. Besides lecturing at the university, we operated a small for profit Agribusiness in the Animal Science Department consisting of a feed mill, slaughter house and raising pigs, poultry and cattle. We produced the best meat in the country at that time. Things have changed since then. During the civil war of 1991 to 2002, Njala University College was destroyed and evacuated from the country into Freetown. Three years ago students and staff were being moved back in and the rebuilding process has begun.

Bill and I have two main goals, we want to help the local pig and poultry farmers by expanding our feed mill to supply feed. Secondly, we want to help the Animal Science Department of Njala University to become a profit center again as it was before..

My cautious optimism is that the progress I am discussing here is broader in the country as whole. Roads are starting to be built. Mining companies are much more active. Outside of Freetown many houses are being built. How is the population as a whole? They are still suffering. Fuel prices have gone up. Inflation continues. There is still an extremely high unemployment and underemployment rate. But there is a flickering light at the end of the tunnel.

We are continuing our work with subsistence farmers both in poultry and corn. We have 125 water filters that we want to distribute to needy women with young children. Our container is in the port and besides poultry feed premix and poultry feeders, we have a variety of goods, including Ontario Gleaner soup mix for two orphanages and polio victims, some sewing machines, tools, medical supplies, and much more to distribute to the neediest people.

Please pray for our work, for the alleviation of poverty in Sierra Leone, that the gospel be spread, that the captives of poverty and spiritual oppression be set free. Pray for the SCHDO staff and workers and that the Lord will provide the resources to carry out the work.

-Conrad Van Dijk
July 10, 2011 (early morning)