Sierra Leone

After nearly four years, the Luke Society Clinic in Freetown is now operational. Director Paul Kpanabom's efforts had been curtailed over and over by the bloody civil war, which has completely crippled his nation.

During the last round of violence, Paul was stranded in the rural area where he had gone to help his family. For two months, he was separated from his wife, Nancy, and their children.

While Kpanabom's couldn't get the formal clinic started, they ministered to those around them in whatever ways they were able. At one time, they had more than 30 refugees living in their modest home.

Now that a relative peace has been restored, Paul opened the Luke Society clinic in a building that once served as a base for the rebels. A huge hole in one wall from a rebel rocket attack has been plastered over.

Working mainly with adults and children living in the refugee settlements, Paul and his small staff are evaluating and treating the many diseases caused by overcrowding, malnutrition and poverty. He has developed relationships with local hospitals to help people with more extensive problems get the care they need.

The Kpanaboms know what it's like to be refugees. When the war first started, rebels burned their village home forcing them to walk 50 miles to escape. Now they're doing everything they can to help those still in need.

There is no way to communicate the brutality of the civil war that has gutted Sierra Leone these last few years and made it the poorest nation on earth. The survivors are now left to try to put back together what was once a promising nation. More than 4,000 of them will have to do so without one or more of their limbs, as rebels hacked indiscriminately through Freetown and the surrounding countryside. The girl pictured in her father's arms lost her arm at the age of four months. Luke Society director Paul Kpanabom (top center) and his family were caught in their home between the two armies for months. As peace has been restored, Paul is ministering to the many children made homeless by the war. Through the Luke Society Clinic in Freetown, he is serving those with medical needs. Please pray for the hurting people of Sierra Leone as they struggle to recover from the evil which took hold of their land.