06 Aug Ebola Claims a UB Pastor’s Wife in Sierra Leone

John Pessima (right), Bishop, Sierra Leone Conference

The following is excerpted from an August 6 email from Bishop Pessima to Donna Hollopeter, associate director of Global Ministries.

A United Brethren pastor’s wife, Mrs. Mbaindu Laggar, died from Ebola on Sunday at the treatment center in Kenema. She was a nurse.

We appreciate all UB churches and members in the US who are praying for our country and for us your partners. By the grace of God this Ebola epidemic will be over very soon.

We have all joined hands together with the government to fight this deadly epidemic. A national religious leaders task force on Ebola has been formed. I happen to be a member of that 11 man committee of both Christian and Muslim leaders in the country. We always come together to fight a national cause.

During the war, this group went into the bush and talked to the rebels to seek reasons for peace, and it worked. After this past election, this group again brought the President and the opposition leader together in the name of peace. We have again come together to fight this epidemic which, by the grace of God, will be over soon.

We are happy for what Jeff Bleijerveld is doing, promoting our cause on this epidemic. We are eagerly waiting for funds to go to our people in Mattru, Bumpe, Rutile and even Freetown for sensitization, as other denominations are currently doing.