Hello world!!!
I hope you and yours are doing well. I'm doing great, thanks be to God! On August 10th, I attended an ecumenical prayer service for the eradication of the deadly Ebola virus at the Good Samaritan Lutheran Church, organized by host pastor Reverend Gloria Malake Cline-Smythe. The purpose of this event was to pray for Sierra Leone with the theme of "Bringing Hope To A Hurting Nation." Sermon was delivered by Reverend Dr. Abdul K. Sesay. I was honored to do the opening prayers in Krio.
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| Reverend Gloria Malake Cline-Smythe and Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson |
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson praying in Krio |
Under the organization of Rev. Cline-Smythe, this prayer service was brought by the Washington metropolitan inter-denominational coalition participating clergy from Maryland, District of Columbia, and Virginia. Minister Ken Turay hosted the prayer service. Sacred readings and reflections were done by Bishop Lucy Anthony, Rev. Thomas and Rev. Fifi Bhai Kamara. Prayers for houses of worship, hospitals, clinics, medical professionals, the Sierra Leonean people, caretakers, educational institutions, etc. were done by Rev. Antoine Ellong, Rev. Silas Nicol, Ms. Audrey Pabs-Garnon, etc. Vote of thanks given by President of National Organization of Sierra Leoneans in North America (NOSLINA) and Miss Sierra Leone in DC board member Ms. Suna Nallo.
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson praying in Krio |
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson and Reverend Dr. Abdul K. Sesay |
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson |
In addition to my prayers done in Krio, individuals from the congregation led opening prayers in Limba, Mende, Temne, Yoruba, French, as well as Muslim prayers. The inclusion of the variety of prayers with regards to ethnic groups and religion is because Sierra Leone is a unified and religiously-tolerant nation. His Excellency Ambassador Bockari Kortu Stevens (Sierra Leone's Ambassador to the United States) was in attendance and gave the opening statement.
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| United Sierra Leoneans Praying for the Nation |
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson |
Rev. Sesay requested we pray for three things to pray for Sierra Leone during his sermon: purity, plead for his cause (mercy, grace), and petition (ask God to intervene). Also, he requested women and men of different age groups to come to the altar and represent the demographic of our nation, Sierra Leone. Collectively, we prayed for our Salone.
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| Sierra Leoneans Praying in Unity for the Eradication of the Deadly Ebola Virus |
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson and Ms. Audrey Pabs-Garnon (humanitarian and educator) |
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson |
Before heading inside for the prayer service, my friend told me to do an elegant "beauty queen pose" for this picture. Well, THIS is what I did (photo below). Oh so queenly. Haha! Live your best life, be happy, be goofy, and laugh at yourself. It's good for the soul.
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson |
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson |
As most of you may know, the Ebola virus spread is destroying our nation currently and as believers I highly trust that we do our physical best but also trust in the Almighty. Let us continue to pray for Sierra Leone, as well as our West African neighbors: Guinea, Liberia, and Nigeria. We are Sierra Leoneans, we will prevail. God bless the districts of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
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| Miss Sierra Leone USA 2013-2014 Ruby B. Johnson leading a prayer in Krio |
Republic of Sierra Leone national anthem (first stanza)
High we exalt thee, realm of the free;
Great is the love we have for thee;
Firmly united ever we stand,
Singing thy praise, O native land.
We raise up our hearts and our voices on high,
The hills and the valleys re-echo our cry;
Blessing and peace be ever thine own,
Land that we love, our Sierra Leone.
- written by Clifford Nelson Fyle, composed by John Akar
Ruby B. Johnson,
Your Miss Sierra Leone USA.
