Monday 22 December 2014

What If CHRISTMAS means a Little Bit More…?



                                            Who is The REASON for the SEASON?


                                             
JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON...
AND THE SEASON IS ABOUT LOVE.



                                     
Merry x-mas, happy holidays, Happy x-mas…etc. etc.

Out of all the above the one that grind my gears is the happy x-mas / merry Xmas which is just a perfect display of the combination of modern day laziness and utter disregard for Christmas. What is so happy and merry about X mas?

What happened to Merry Christmas. Or Happy Christmas?



We are trying so hard to take the Christ out of Christmas. We are trying so hard to kill the reason for the season. Let me remind you that you can’t kill someone twice.


Are we just a holiday-starved generation? Or are we simply consumed by commercialism that we allow society to dictate how we celebrate the birth of Christ? Are we drowning in the endless adverts that tells us that Christmas is about the gifts and all the bargains? Or maybe its just innocent ignorance?


Is Christ present in the midst of all the presents?!


We pour all our time and energy into bagging Christmas deals with credit cards we can’t possibly afford. Our Christmas tree is lush and our house is dressed up like salad looking all glittery and shiny and Christmassy but really what are you doing to spread the love which Christmas is all about?


Think about those who can’t afford even a meal on that day or those who don’t have the privilege of looking towards a gift under the Christmas tree, or those who just pray for the simple things of life like clothing and shelter.



I Dare You...



We have nations killing each other, people lying in hospitals, disease infested nations daily living in fear of their lives and all some of us care about is self. Don’t you think they’ll like to receive gifts too and run to a Christmas tree on Christmas morning to unwrap gifts? Don’t you think for a day they’ll like to feel the spirit of Christmas without worrying when the next bullet will fly past their heads or give a warm hug to a loved one without the fear of catching something?


Now don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with you running up your credit card or chasing the bargains. What I have a problem is us taking the true and real meaning out of Christmas. I am certain that most kids these days don’t even know why we celebrate Christmas, all they look forward to is the gifts and what happens when you can no longer afford those gifts they so look forward to? What happens when they wake up one morning and mummy and daddy haven’t booked that holiday in the Bahamas?

You’re in trouble mummy and daddy!


We’ve made Christmas expensive. We’ve managed to pollute Christmas so much that it’s almost deemed unaffordable. We’ve made Christmas about money and materialistic gains. We’ve almost succeeded in taking Christ out of Christmas and reaping Him off His birthday. Wow…the power of societal thinking!



What If...


Some of us have managed to wrap the meaning of Christmas in our roast turkey and we think the spirit of Christmas can be found in a bottle of vodka.


Lo and behold Christmas is priceless. The love that is in you is affordable and in good amount to share to the less fortunate. The love that is in you can make a broken person whole. The love that is in you can satisfy your kids in abundance and way better than that gift from the store. You do not have to be rich to experience the spirit of Christmas. Without sounding preachy that spirit in the vodka bottle is not the spirit of Christmas!


Let’s take a step back and go to the drawing board.
       What is Christmas to you?
     How are you sharing the spirit of Christmas?
     Are you teaching your kids what Christmas is all about?
  When was the last time you showed a selfless act of genuine love?


In case we have forgotten…
         Jesus is the reason for the season… and so it shall remain.
       Jesus is Love and the season is about Love
       Christmas is about showing love
      Christmas is not about your exuberant gifts and Christmas tree



just be selfless...



If you’re not spreading love then you’re doing Christmas wrong. Jesus was born and sent into this world out of love and we needed a saviour because we all have sinned and fall short. Thinking of it there is no greater love.



Let’s have our fun and games and gifts and Christmas trees but let’s not make that the ultimate focus and forget what is important. The real and true meaning of Christmas is love.



John 3:16-17 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."





MERRY CHRISTMAS....
REMEMBER THE REASON FOR THE SEASON AS YOU CELEBRATE



Till then



Xoxo


Wednesday 10 December 2014

Christmas in Sierra Leone is All I Know…




Ebola stole my Christmas and I want it back!



I want my Christmas back!


‘’Are you coming this year’’
‘’Of course’’
‘’When are you arriving?’’
‘’Oh the 15th of December, I can’t wait!’’
‘’Why did you leave it so late, make it a bit earlier, we have a party on the 11th and I would hate for you to miss it.’’
‘’Oh I wish I could but I can’t make earlier because of work. I’ll make up for lost time when I get there’’
‘’Okay just hurry up and get here’’


Jin jin!!

Oh the memories….


Look Ebola, i do not want any trouble. I just want to claim my Christmas back!


The above is normally the way conversation goes as soon as Christmas starts peeping. We plan long before we get there and without much ado we execute the moment my plane arrives at Lungi airport. The excitement starts building up and all my party bones that have been stiffened over the past months start to come alive.


I left Sierra Leone long ago but the truth is my heart never really left. It's like an unfinished love affair.


Sounds crazy right? Yea I know but I don’t expect everyone to understand. For you to understand you must be in my shoe, laced up like how I tie my laces and step just like I do.


However fret not, you’ll be in the know soon, maybe just maybe I’ll managed to capture an insight for you of what I mean when I say Christmas in sierra Leone is all I know.


With my people, when the Christmas season starts approaching we all get tuned into the same wavelength and frequency. Even though Sometimes we don’t talk all year through, other times, we send the odd text messages here and there but when December slams, we all know what time is it. It’s like the unspoken rule, December is just that time and you do not need to be reminded. We live for Christmas in Sierra Leone.


One our side of the pond, Some may have deposited or bought their ticket long in advance but for me the search for ticket begins because last minute.com is engraved in my DNA, even though this has done me no favours in the past (need to break that habit). Not forgetting the flimsy excuses we carefully and so craftily weave for our employers. Hey don’t judge me.  My aunt once said ‘’You got to do what you got to do’’ and I tell ya, she haven’t lied.



Shhh...



Ooh the things I’ll do and the things I’ll give for my Christmas in Sierra Leone.



In Sierra Leone however is where the real planning gets down. The list of parties, chilling, and beach outings all set up so by the time I get there…everything is sorted and I am spoilt for choice. At home I am spoilt for choice with all sorts of African food and snacks which I have so been deprived of over the past months and the pampering, I dare not go into it. Waking up to the ever smiling and happy faces of my cousins alone is enough reason for me to claim my Christmas back.


Ebola I want my Christmas back!


Freetown city is home. Freetown is where I come alive. Wind sweeping across my face and the smell of street food that is oh so familiar glazed with the whistling and screeching sound of car horns and the odd vulgar blasts from drivers and okadas, the city always welcomes me with open arms. What’s more welcoming than that.



The tantalizing smell of street food - Fry fry



The ever joyful Okada Drivers with that glorious potty mouth!



With series of sleepless nights and nonstop raving, when I say I’ll make up for lost time, believe me, I’m not kidding.  My Christmas holiday starts the day, the hour and the minute I arrive. No time to waste, I waited all year for this moment. All I need to do is drop my baggage home, ferociously squander my aunt’s freshly prepared cassava leaves with ample fresh fish on a bed of rice and I’m ready for the night.


Christmas in Sierra Leone is all i know!


Happy as a lark. Free as a bird. Without a care in this world. The motto for the holidays is fun. No matter how the night pan out, no matter what happens, we just make sure we’re having fun.




We party like its 99’


My friends all come from different countries and occupational backgrounds, we all come from different tribes and clans but When we meet it’s like we never left, it’s like we sprung from the same stem and frankly speaking we do. We have a full year’s catch up, reminisce, relish every passing minute and make some more sweet memories that will take us through the next 12 months.


When we meet we party like its 99’. We raise hell and roofs and paint the city red. We forget what sleep is and throw all rules through the window. We just party like there’s no tomorrow and we are damn good at it. We make sure we are in the know of every party and get together, every beach chilling and every street carnival. Sometimes we manage to double book ourselves just like the fable spider.


Other evenings or days are spent by the seaside, just in case you haven’t heard, Sierra Leone is home of some of the finest and most beautiful beaches you will need to put on your bucket list. Blue sea and golden sand, other places, you’ll see white sand and most beautiful view. Yea our beaches got swag like that. Imagine spending time there with friends, music, food, games, good conversation and all the essentials in the red cup. Your day is made!


....friends, music, food, games, good conversation
& all the essentials in the cup.
 


There are places waiting for me to explore and experience.


....I want my Christmas back!


It’s not always about the big night outs. Some nights you will catch us in one of our friends’ houses, eating in the kitchen from their mum’s pot some solid cassava leaves with our five fingers and when that is done we move to the ‘’krawo’’. Now that is where all goodness is at and that’s a whole new party right there washed down with several bottles of the great cousin Heineken.


And you truly and really haven’t experienced true friendship till you’ve scraped the bottom of a pot together with people who you party and have a good time with. I am grateful for people like these.


True and real Friendship…. We do not need a lot, just the right people at the right spot.
For all the simple pleasures and all those treasured nights….

I am claiming my Christmas back.



Other times we will start off the night at a nice chilled out spot and slowly and surely with the ever trusted help of Uncle Jackie and his nephew Mr Henny and the rest of the family we arrive! Soul, body and spirit. When I say we arrive, we arrive in full force and fully ready for whatever the night throws at us and where we end up sometimes I can’t even say because we do not have a set plan but when we are together, things happen, elements fall into place and life is just uber beautiful.


Christmas in Sierra Leone is all i know!


The sight of familiar places and faces, warm hugs and smiles, cheers and laughter are all the elements of Christmas for me. The nights that ends in jaw-aching laughter, the loud mornings from music blaring from the sitting room or from the CD sellers and okada (commercial motorcycles) drivers opposite my house, the afternoons spent buying all sorts of street food from smoke fish to jelly to oontoo…from the comfort of my veranda. The nights that end on the kankankan stand (Roasted meat) and the nights that are sealed with plates of fried rice and chicken…


The nights that are sealed with plates of fried rice and chicken…


The Sunday church service that is ever so blessed with carols and sermons, giving me a blast from my childhood. All dressed in the night’s gear, we do our little marathon to our local church on new year’s eve just before the clock strikes 12, thinking our little sins will be washed away for the new year…yea right!!



The Sunday Church Service...


Then the church bells and whistles and horns and chanting of ‘’Happy New Year’’ begins, sweeping little rays of happiness in the air. These are all the things that oozes Christmas for me. These are the times I live for and that is the Christmas I know.



 Give me back my Christmas! 


Christmas this year is going to be spent somewhere that is not home, somewhere that I can’t call my own, somewhere I’ll forever be a foreigner. This was not the dream. Christmas is going to be bitterly cold, possibly white and definitely not my Christmas that I am used to.

The turkey, the chicken, the holly, the lights, the white Christmas, the scarves and the gloves and the knee length boots was never my idea of Christmas. Neither was the dark, cold and gloomy weather a part of my description of Christmas.



The lights, the white Christmas, the scarves and the gloves...
not my idea of Christmas!


Ebola crippled my Christmas. I want my Christmas back!



For the longest of time, I have a description of Christmas in my head and in my mind but Ebola took that away from me.

 Ebola ripped me off my Christmas.

 Ebola stole my Christmas one-handedly.

 Ebola left me with no choice.



Sierra Leone - Sussex Beach!


When I say Christmas in Sierra Leone is all I know, please understand.



This is all i know...Lumley Beach!  -Sierra Leone


Because of the times we chose to make memories with the fun times we’ve had, the beautiful moments filled with laughter and endless joy I am able to write this article and walk down memory lane. Imagine if I didn’t have any memories to look back on, or moments of laughter to put a smile on my face or that pang of excitement to fuel my zeal for this walk….imagine.

I think I would have found it very difficult and then I would have realised something bitter and painful.


 I would have realised that Ebola have won.


While you’re here, soak up every ounce of beautiful, joy and laughter while you can. Bask in every ray of sunshine and happiness. Dance in the rain and enjoy the small moment. No matter how little and simple things and situation may seem, find time to be grateful because one day, what we took for granted, What was looked upon as nothing will become a daily prayer request.



Without memories like this...Ebola would have won! 

Soak up every ounce of beautiful!




Refuse to leave this world unhappy and unfulfilled. Refuse to drown in fear, pain and illness OR any financial constraints. Refuse to be labelled and defined by your scars. Live so well that death will know you have no interest in dying!

2015 we’re coming!

Ebola you have to find a new home. We’ve had it with you. We are claiming our Christmas back.


We are claiming our lives back, our families and our country back. We will fight you with every ounce of strength left in us. Some of us, Sierra Leone was all we had but you ruthlessly took it away from us….and left us crying.

Ebola you ripped us off our festive season, birthdays and anniversaries, businesses and livelihood. Why? You snatched our whole lives right in front of our eyes.



I want my Christmas back. 



Ebola I am claiming my Christmas back. Sierra Leoneans and all our neighbouring countries that have been deprived of the festive season and so many other things, lets hang on to the good times. Let’s remember what it once used to be. Let’s allow those memory to propel us into a better 2015.



Let’s allow these memories to propel us into a better 2015.

 ~Sierra Leone, Lumley Beach



Let’s pray hard and never lose hope. Let’s change our attitude and act like Ebola is real and out to kill. Let’s not be foolish but conscious, conscious enough to know that with God all things are possible but God helps those who helps themselves.

Africa shall rise again. West Africa shall thrive again. Our lives and losses shall be restored in thousand folds because Our God is not dead.

Let’s just use this time to thank God for our lives and praise Him for what he is yet to do. In all situation be grateful.




Christmas in Sierra Leone is all I know and now I am claiming my Christmas back!












We are done feeling sorry for ourselves, 

we are done crying.
It's time to wipe our tears 
and take action!

Plausible action to claim and restore our Christmas back!





Merry christmas & 
a Prosperous New Year




Till then



Xoxo
















Tuesday 11 November 2014

15 Lame things we do on Instagram



I strongly believe in the notion,


‘’Do what makes you happy and allow people to do what makes them happy’’


But sometimes we misuse our rights, failing to realise that to every right there is a responsibility. Some people do misbehave on social media, like they torture you all the way to the block and unfollow button.

It shouldn't be like that.



When a Smart App is left at the mercy of a not so smart generation. Guilty as charged




1. What if I told you that you don’t have to tag me when you comment under my posts on Instagram? Yea Instagram got that covered!


2. If I like 10 of your pictures and you start feeling Instagram happy and do a screen shot of my likes, just know I’ll never be that happy with your pictures again. Why would you want to put me on a blast?! I thought we were friends...boohooo


3. Oh so you can sing? You’re so talented. I wish I can sing. Errrr No! Stop right there. The shower is there for a reason, use it my friend. Even I sound good in the shower, you should try it some time.


4. You’re on private, with 2 posts and 300+ friends and following 1250 people….Why? What is your purpose on Instagram? Do not follow me.


5. You’re bored so you decide to empty your 1995 album on Instagram. Stop it...what a torture!



Really..?!



6. One outfit, same location, same occasion, different pose….allow it fam! It's Instagram not hi5


7. I love my active users on Instagram, in fact I consider myself one but honey, variety is the spice of life. Mix it up, don’t bore me with the 10 selfies a day, that is not what the doctor prescribed. Have you changed that much in 2 seconds?! I think not.


8. Bomb-ass picture with the lamest caption ever! I have held a like back because of this misbehaviour…yes I am guilty! That clever caption that normally looks really irrelevant under a great picture....yea stop that intelligent parade! Let the picture do the talking.


9. You’re eating your rice and stew and for some reason the taste flew to your brain so you decided to take a picture of it and post on Instagram. Rice and stew....??? Don’t ever post your rice and stew and can of coke, even if it was cooked by yours truly! Mediocre and nothing special…Next!


10. I liked one of your pictures so you decided to like my 40 weeks old picture in return. Babe keep that like, I’m sure I have a like-worthy picture other than my 40 week old one. Plus I don’t do like for like….are we in kindergarten?!


11. You know that neat, flawless white border you give to all your pictures, it doesn’t make you look deep and powerful and intelligent and soulful and creative and well you get the drift. Be you, even our lives are not that tidy!


12. Let’s be honest, Instagram is all about the likes, and if you ain’t liking my pictures, mate what are you doing?! Let’s get liking …it’s not that serious! It’s not deducted from your bank account either, release the ting!


13. #I #am #Tired #of #seeing #this #misbehaviour #on #IG. #Fix #it #Jesus   This right here is super annoying. The hashtag morons, go easy. I know you want those likes but this is making you look uber desperate! Take heart, one day you shall conquer your deserved likes in Jesus name!


14. There’s that thing where we can upload 2 or more photos in one go…yea a pic collage! My friend utilise that app and do not let me go through my feed thinking you’re the only person I’m following. That warrants a straight unfollow…behave, ain’t nobody got time for that!



Behave..!



15. On a more serious note when I go on your Instagram, I truly want an insight of your life, who are you, what you stand for and believe in, what are you passionate about and maybe a glimpse of your personality. Let your Instagram scream who you really are. After all Instagram in my opinion is all about creativity, if you want to showcase non-stop pictures, then my dear Facebook is your friend.



If you noticed you’ve been losing followers or even likes it might be because of one of the above reasons or something I haven’t thought of. I Laughed out loud after writing this. Stop acting a fool… Go crazy on Instagram, heck go insane but be considerate.




Till then


Xoxo

Friday 31 October 2014

The Expectation



The hopes, the expectations, the castles in the air all makes for a rather rude awakening. The fall is pretty serious and landing is never soothing to the bum.



“To wish was to hope, and to hope was to expect”


Most times than often, that awakening is needed. It’s like a slap to reality from reality.


My theory is if you have to be awakened rudely like that then you have no business sleeping. When a situation arises where you can’t sleep you have no business being there in the first place. I have a thing for cosy, sureness and trust and if I can’t experience any of it…it leaves me empty with a lot of questions.


Why fall asleep? Why dose off? Why let your guard down and start expecting and hoping? Heck why do you even shut your eyes? Our expectations always sell us short. It’s all good to be hopeful and expecting people to behave in a certain way. It’s all good to think and expect….but keep your feet grounded, grounded on something solid.


Sometimes I think expectations come from a deep place within ourselves. Expectations comes from our pattern of thinking and trails of thoughts we have so carefully weaved in our heads. It can also be because of what we’re used to. It is a result of what you thought it was or should be. Other times, it is because of what you have experienced and certain experiences leaves you positively expectant.




Positively Expectant...



We expect people to act in a certain way. We expect them to do certain things and behave in a certain fashion and when they don’t that is where the awakening comes in. Yea that rude awakening.
We believe and want them to act in a certain way because we will act in that same manner given the same situation. We believe we will go that far for them so we expect them to do the same. We believe we will bend and break bones for them so we think they’ll be willing to do the same.



“Persons appear to us according to the light we throw upon them from our own minds.


Well it doesn’t work that way unfortunately. People react to situations differently therefore you can’t expect the same level of reaction given the same situation. People think differently and we are all ever so different in various ways. I once read somewhere that when you stop expecting people to behave in a certain way, life becomes easier and you become happier. Expectation in a sense is self-destructive as you slowly build yourself up for disappointment.



'Blessed are they who expect nothing for they shall not be disappointed.”




Expectation is a child born from a comfortable place. I say comfortable because it is a situation or relationship or person or thing you thought you knew, they’ve become your playground, all so familiar and cosy. You knew all the back routes and the ins and out. You feel like you’re home and Boom…..expectation kicks in. Such a familiar territory with an unfamiliar trails. From a comfortable place like that, the awakening is never a good one.



The Awakening...is real



That awakening is your call to duty. It is your call to evaluate and re-evaluate. Look at the situation from all angles and analyse. What made you so expectant? Why did you ever start thinking they will do that for you or be that for you? Why did you even think you mattered that much to them? What sparked that expectation? What gave you hope that the situation would be all you’ve wished for or thought it would be? 


Wake up!


Things don’t pan out your way, so what? Situations don’t turn out as you would have liked, so what? Life goes on. Do not allow yourself to become bitter, frustrated or full of anger because disappointment does that to people. Remember your happiness is paramount. It doesn’t mean the situation was a bad situation or the person is a bad person, it simply means that people are different. People think differently. People react to situations differently.



Waiting and Expecting...



If you can handle the difference, then there is beauty in differences. To each their own. Personally I have learnt to never try to change anyone. As the wise saying goes, if you know how hard it is to change yourself then you will know how little a chance you have of changing others. Inspire change in them but never try to change them.


Accept them wholly or keep it moving. This applies to all situations and everyone. Expectations are always going to be there just remember to not fill your life with resentment and anger when it doesn’t create the vision you envisioned. You can’t expect everyone to be dedicated as you or have the same level of passion as you and this is a mistake made more often than we think.


Lower your expectations of people and you will never be disappointed. This doesn’t make you any less of a human neither does it diminish the person that you are. It doesn’t lower your self-esteem and you can walk with head held high. But what it’ll do is save you from unnecessary anger, pain, resentment and frustration. You really don’t need to be inflicting all that poison into your system. You can’t change people, and some situations are totally out of your control.




“My expectations are sky low, because I’m standing on a mountaintop.” 





Remember you can’t control everything that happens to you and around you but you can control how you react to it.





Till then



Xoxo

Thursday 9 October 2014

100 Happy Days Challenge




Yes I did it. Yeeeaaaa!!



I can proudly say I am among the 29% of people who actually finished the challenge. Yippee!!



This was inspired by my colleague at work. I saw her doing it on Instagram and I thought to myself, I think I should jump on this bandwagon. What gave me the final push was how happy she looked in her photos and going through her photos it did put a smile on my face. So I thought, why not, And Doris’ 100 Happy Day Challenge was born on the 1st of July 2014.



100 Happy Days!!





Whatever I put my mind to, I see it all the way to the end and I knew I was setting myself up for something here, I wasn’t sure what but I knew it was going to be something. I started this challenge knowing I have made a commitment to being happy, a commitment to train my mind to look for the good in each day, a commitment to give a blind eye to negativity and upsets. I made a commitment to myself to be a happier person and this changed my perspective on so many things in life including the way I dealt with situations that were completely out of my control.




You are in charge of your happiness. You are the sole happiness proprietor of your soul.




I did mine on Instagram and before I can say I posted stuff for likes and other times just because I could, but as I got into the challenge, all the urge for likes disappeared and that was replaced by an urge to show the world what actually put a smile on my face. I didn’t care about people’s judgement. If it made me happy I posted it. That alone is happiness on its own. Not living for the approval of men, not living for likes and not doing things because you’re scared of how you might be perceived. That was a junk I got rid of and made space for all things happy.


If you live for men’s approval, you will die of their criticism


This challenge made me appreciate the little things. I am not going to tell you it was all happy days and honky dory because it wasn’t. I won’t lie to you and tell you that I was automatically happy and good things started happening to me, no. Neither will I tell you that I became richer or that every day was Christmas, because it wasn’t. However, what made the difference was the ability and the willingness this challenge created in me to look for the good in every bad situation, the blessing in every setback and to see the rainbow during the storm. It opened my eyes to the positives of life and closed my eyes to a lot of negativity.



If there was one thing this challenge taught me it’ll be, it could be worse.



Life is too short for moaning, sulking, whining, complaining and bearing grudges. If you can spend that time being happy, be happy if you can spend that time spreading happiness, spread happiness. Just strive to keep that smile on your face. If something is not going your way, change the way you look at it and deal with it differently. Whatever you do, remember a deep rotted happiness comes from within and it is tied to no man.



I urge you all to do it if you haven’t already. It is a challenge worth taking. However bear in mind it is a CHALLENGE. As simple as it may sound, as happy as it may look, some days you have to fight a little harder to see the sunshine. Some days you will not see any sunshine at all but take a deep breath and remember how blessed you are just to be in the land of the living. Other times it may be the smallest thing that put a smile on your face, go for it and don’t let judgemental people stop you from posting it.



Can You?







Be happy and Spread Happiness whenever you can.





Till then




Xoxo

Tuesday 7 October 2014

121 Deaths In One Day!


I have been putting this post off for a long time but as I was scrolling down on Facebook,  I saw 121 deaths in one day from my motherland, Sierra Leone. I cried.


God where are you?



Who wants to blog about sad stuff, who wants to blog about people dying or even wants to dwell on an outbreak that is destroying our nation one death at a time?! Definitely not me. I created this blog for all things sunshine, all things happy and all things good but unfortunately life is not like that. We wake up one morning and our happy days have been replaced by a deadly disease killing children, adults, the rich and the poor.


Where do we go from here?


I saw the report on the 121 deaths in one day from the BBC website and tears welled up in my eyes. I felt helpless and frustrated. Anger and disappointment filled me just watching my people suffer and die helplessly because our government is busy collecting funds and doing nothing constructive to contain, maintain and eradicate this deadly epidemic. We've become a nation with no hope. I see no way out and this is a bad place to be.

I have never witness anything so deadly. I have never encountered anything this destructive. When i lost a young friend to Ebola, it became more than just mere news, it became a reality. It hits home hard. Yea.... that put a sting on it for me. I have families back home,families consisting of young boys and girls who are constantly living in fear. Afraid and scared and locked within the four walls of their homes. Simply devastating.


Ebola is tearing my nation apart and if you haven’t heard what Ebola is by now, then I don’t know which planet you live on. Ebola is wiping my nation out one day at a time. Now Ebola may look like an African problem because of our poor and inadequate health facilities and mere ignorance which I can’t deny helped play a great part in its spread. I can’t believe there are people who still believe Ebola is a myth and just an easy way of conning money off the international communities. I’m just speechless.

If 121 death in one day is not a wakeup call then I don’t know what is. No country should have to go through this ordeal. No one deserves this, no one!

Employment affected and subsequently putting a dent in the economy. For a nation that was just finding its feet, that is the last thing we need. Education system interrupted and lives have been turned upside down in the pace of few months. People are overdosed from the excessive use of chlorine. You look around and people you once shook hands with are now suspects, even your family becomes a suspect. What a sad way to live.

Health workers in the forefront putting their lives at risk gets the hard fists of Ebola and just in case we haven’t shown enough gratitude, I SAY THANK YOU.



Health workers in the forefront,
Just In case You Forget, we appreciate you!


What is our government doing to help and protect us? Well from what I have learnt, not much. They are meant to seek our interests but the spirit of greed and selfishness won’t let them. They live in safety. They have flown their families out to safety and those who can’t are left at the mercy of this deadly disease. All I hear in the news is this money have been donated, this organisation have donated this amount of item…even if I tried I can’t call the amount that is being donated every now and again. What are we doing with all this funds? I am lost and perplexed. Surely there must be a way out.

Mr Government stop squandering all the money. Heck just stop! Selfishness and greed is not why you were put in authority. Remember these people voted you in because they trusted you. If you are not moved by the tears and cry of the nation can you be at least concerned and moved by the number of deaths per day and the alarming rate at which this disease is spreading. Stop being greedy. Stop and look around. The nation is dying a slow death. How can one be so heartless in the midst of all this?! Stop and listen to the death bells. Stop turning a blind eye to the real issue at hand. Are you going to wait for one of your relatives to be affected before you put real mechanisms and strategies in place to combat this deadly outbreak? Mr Government just stop, take a minute to look around and see what is happening, Maybe just maybe you will be able to open your eyes  and see the tragedy, pain, mayhem and confusion of the nation.


Mr Government, do you ever feel like you've failed us?!


Mr Government, How do you sleep at night knowing the multitude is crying, living in daily fear of death? Do you feel accomplished? Do you feel like you’ve done your best? Do you think you have lived up to the expectations of the nation? Or for a swift moment, do you ever feel a pang of disappointment and failure? Mr Government what are you doing? Stop playing and wake up to the reality of things.

I understand Ebola is not the easiest of things to eradicate or get under control. I totally understand it’s not the cheapest thing to maintain but if the outbreak was initially taken seriously and all precautions put in place as opposed to the continuous denial on the government and the people’s part then we won’t be in the 121 death per day zone. We won’t have lost so many health officials as we have already. We won’t have such high rate of death at all. We wouldn’t have lost so many friends and family to this deadly epidemic. There are African countries bigger than Sierra Leone but they weren’t blind to the realities, they valued life so they took precautions. Why are we like this?!!

Sierra Leoneans are you ready to vote them in government again? Are you ready to beat your drums, cups and pans to make sweet music and moonwalk to the lies they will tell you once again? Are you ready to throw your lappa in the air and dance to the deception? Are the masquerades ready to go and the small and shallow minds ready to digest and collect that bag of rice and a gallon of palm oil? Shine your eyes my people, shine your eyes.

Why are we so gullible and satisfied with so little? Why do we fall for all these lies time and time and again? Why are we so easily fooled? Is this just mere greed on our part or maybe we’re just too trusting? Is this because of poverty and the incapability to provide for our own? Or is it just mere laziness and idleness? We need to do better. Only reward a great work with your claps and dances. You can’t reward a child for being bad, how do you expect them to act right and do better? To make our government work in our favour we have to speak up, act right and work with them.

Sierra Leoneans we have to drop this lackadaisical attitude. We have to do better, if our government have failed us then we need to get it together. We need to educate, enlighten and sensitize ourselves and acknowledge the fact that Ebola is real and that no one is exempted. I may not reside in Sierra Leone but from what I have seen some think this is one big joke. They think they are immune to Ebola. Let’s not act ignorant and put our lives at risk and the lives of others. Prevent and protect.

Certain precautions have been set in place like avoiding public gathering but in Sierra Leone the law is only for those who wish to obey it. Laws and regulations are made but not implemented. People do not acknowledge them or should I say the law only goes so far as your money is willing to spread?! The rich and the well to do are exempted from the law but what we are forgetting is that the rich and well to do are not exempted from Ebola. Get real Sierra Leoneans. Lawlessness is not the way forward especially in desperate times like these.

Now our only hope is God but…

However there’s hope but God helps those who helps themselves. God will only intervene when we are ready for him to. Ebola is not bigger than God, no never! Our God is ageless, timeless and he delivers us in time of trouble but don’t go organising a rally and expect God to show up and save you. It doesn’t work like that. God saves but he is not a magician.



Hope!



Not even Ebola can taint the beautiful image of Sierra Leone in my head. Not even Ebola can take away my fond memories of the motherland. Sierra Leone is still my paradise. Christmas is round the corner, what would normally be spent in Sierra Leone drinking coconut from the shell or star beer at number 2 or Lumley beach while enjoying the sunshine on my skin and breeze through my hair is now looking a lot gloomier, soggy and cold.


Not even Ebola can taint my memories of SIERRA LEONE!

Lumley Beach - taken on one of my holidays in the motherland.


What happened to Sierra Leone? I think Sierra Leoneans happened to Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone is down but we are not out. We shall rise again. We shall overcome. Our God delivers. He will not leave us neither forsake us. In times of trouble we must be bold enough to call on his name. I know the hardest thing to display now is faith. In the midst of trials and tribulations our faith is low and tested but we must not give up.



God will show up...and show out



God will show up and show out for Sierra Leone in Jesus name!






Here's a poem from a frustrated Sierra Leonean, living in Sierra Leone.


Hope in a time of ‪#‎Ebola‬ by VFORNA.
Ebola comes to a nation,
and there is more;

These are the reasons why,
Ebola may succeed.

I close my eyes to pray,
yet all I see are people dying,
What is happening? 
The doctors and the nurses
the ones giving 
all the caring 
God rest their selfless souls
but with them gone
Ebola may have won

Down my cheeks tears roll,
as I see a child of four in pain,
the mother dead,the two will soon meet again.
Oh ‪#‎SierraLeone‬, ebola has left its dirty,dirty stain.

Education on a stand still,
‪#‎vaccine‬ has not been found still,
People don't know their next step
as the nation tumbles down hill.

Ebola will end,yes it definitely will.
But first we must unite as a nation
Throw away the tribalism
Love our country,increase our ‪#‎patriotism‬. 
Lying - thieving politicians, 
put the country first, 
use the money 
the ‪#‎world‬ sends in. 
Life is but one chance
Sierra Leoneans, kill the ignorance,

Ebola is real.
a bleeder,
Killer headaches and fever,
Ebola is real.

But together,‪#‎united‬ against Ebola,
there is hope still.


~ Victor Osman Forna



Don't allow Ebola to taint this image of our beloved land inyour head.
We shall overcome!




Till then


Xoxo