Dear Christian Friends,

I fear you may have given us up. You may be wondering what has happened to us. I am sorry for the news blackout. 1 regret the silence. But believe me, we have been so traumatized in this nation, that for a long time we shall still not be ourselves.

During the past 4 months disaster has come upon us here in Freetown in a manner that went far beyond our wildest nightmare, as the rebels entered right into the centre of the city.

For several weeks we lived in constant fear of death night and day. Five thousand people were massacred for no reason, often brutally. Others had their limbs cut off mercilessly. Homes were looted. Money and possessions carted away. Thousands of houses were burnt down mindlessly, leaving the owners and occupants with all their material possessions destroyed. Most of the population was displaced, having to live in temporary camps, or to squeeze up in the homes of relatives or friends.

The desolation one finds is frightening and depressing. The overall picture is tragic, horrific, overwhelming and one of hopelessness. And this picture now portrayed of Freetown during these past 4 months has been a regular feature of life throughout the rest of the country for the past 8 years.

My family came face to face with these rebels on Thursday the 7 h January. That day there were 24 of us in the Parsonage. They started by setting the houses opposite us on fire 7 of them at 10:30 a.m. Then they crossed over to us at about 4:20 p.m. By then there were over 40 people in the Parsonage including people from the burnt houses. There was such pandemonium shouting and crying. The window panes were all smashed and we were forced to open the door. We did.

At gun point we were lined up. One of them came up to me and said he was going to execute me. We started pleading. Others set the Parsonage on fire at 4 different points. But each time we succeeded in putting the fire out. While pleading with them not to kill and not to set the Parsonage on fire,i~M parted with most valuables in the house including hundreds of dollars and thousands of our local currency. Others went up to our bed room and after overturning our bed and all they could lay hands on, they set the bed on fire. But that too we succeeded in putting out. So with the Grace of God covering us, our Parsonage was spared but not without carrying away a good amount of people's money we had for safe keeping. We were however most grateful to God that we were all spared and the Parsonage and church were not burnt down.

The next 10 days were hell fire for us. Four of those days and nights were spent in the church. My wife went away on Friday the 8th with 5 big girls to an unknown place for fear the girls would he abducted We were separated for 9 days She came on Saturday morning the 16 th only to force all of us out of the Parsonage which had been declared unsafe by ECOMOG. I left very reluctantly. But it was just as good I left even though in tears and unwillingly. We walked a long way out not knowing where we were going. After a few miles we decided to go to one of my Associate Pastors Rev. and Mrs. J.K.C. Renner. They live in the West End of the city and were fortunate not to be visited by the rebels because of the presence of the ECOMOG forces.

We arrived finding them extremely worried about us because there was no communication between us as our telephone lines had been burnt out. I did not know how exhausted I was until we arrived at the home of the Renners. That made a lot of difference. It was as though we were from hell to heaven.

After five nights with the Renners, I insisted that we return to the Parsonage. By then ECOMOG had succeeded in clearing the rebels from our areas of town and our members were asking about our well being. It was just as good we returned at the time we did. That very evening, one family of 12 came from the east end seeking accommodation. The next day my cousin came with 35 people. I told them we could not accommodate them because of space. She burst into tears. Out of concern I remembered that since we had spent 5 nights in the church in the Education Units, I could make them use those at night while during the day they would be out on the Parsonage grounds. That worked out very well for all of us. So we ended up having to care for 71 people for nearly one month. Don't ask how we did it. God made the provision and we are ever grateful.

The war is still raging. We have lost a number of our members by death. My Lay Leader was abducted together with other members' children who still have not been released. Many members houses were burnt down and of course millions of leones worth of properties carted away. It is indeed a miracle that some of us survived the mayhem.

Thanks ever so much for everything you are doing for us. Your gifts and prayers are highly appreciated. Rev. Doris LengaKrorna has been in touch. She sent us the monies you sent for the church and ourselves. Words are inadequate to express our gratitude. We regret the late response.

God has been with us. The church is really growing both spiritually and numerically flor which we give God the praise. The Inter Religious Council, made up of Muslims and Christians is doing very well in the Peace Talk. We see ourselves as facilitators and morale guarantors between Government and the rebels. My Bishop and I are in the Executive. Last week we were in a delegation of 16 8 Muslims and 8 Christians to the neighbouring countries of Guinea and Liberia to speak to the leaders to be involved more positively in bringing peace to our country. The trip was successful. The rebels are now meeting in Togo to discourse how they will dialogue with Government to achieve lasting peace in our country. Please pray for us that the consultations might go on very well and come with acceptable proposals to Government. The entire country depends on the outcome of that consultation, so we are praying very hard for a successful outcome.

Your contributions have been of tremendous help to our church. We would have found it difficult to do what we did without those monies which came in very handy.

We are preparing for Annual Conference from the 23 rd 27th June '99 since we could not have it in February because of the January 6 invasion of Freetown by the rebels. As Pastor of our largest congregation and District Superintendent and Dean of Cabinet there is so much to do. Besides my church is hosting the Conference. Please have us in your prayers.

Our sincerest greetings and expressions of appreciation to the entire membership.May God grant you His grace and bless each of you.

PS: Lest I forget. While we were in church during those five days and nights on the afternoon of Tuesday the 12th January, a rocket propelled grenade was dropped onthe North-Western end of the church which damaged that entire section over our Choir -Stall. But we still thanked God because it could have been worse.

Sincerely Yours,

DH Caulker, pastor