Don't Pray & sit unless God tells you to Wait!
Florence was forced to marry a man when she was 15 yrs & he was 40 yrs & this forced her to quit school to her great sadness. Her father owed someone money & didn't have it so he gave his daughter to this 40 yr old man to pay his debt.
They had 2 kids & 1 died at 5 yrs due to hunger & poor conditions during the war. Her husband died when the children were very young & she was left alone. She mentioned brutal things she had to endure during the war, people getting their feet shot so they couldn't move & then their heads were cut off with knifes. She says sometimes she just can't talk because the memories haunt her & she needs to be silent.
She became a christian during the war & it was not an easy task because she said her parents shunned her for this decision as they were Muslims. She decided to learn a trade, Arch Welding so she could support herself as a single parent. She didn't have the money to attend the welding school but she was fortunate, the fees were paid for her by someone who was willing to help her. She studied for 3 yrs & graduated the program but was not able to get a job welding. She did finally get a welding job with the Anastasis (Mercy Ships) when they last visited Freetown.
After that outreach work with Mercy Ships she was able to purchase a plot of land, but has not been able to erect a common structure due to financial difficulties. She has such a generous heart after she bought the land she gave half to her church. Here on the ship she is the only women in her department & maybe the only female welder in Sierra Leone, she is known for her hard work. She did get married again. Florence & her husband now have a 2 yr old son they named Precious because they are both so happy to share a child together & you can see the sparkle in her eyes as she speaks about this little boy. She said there is so much more to her story but this is all she could say for now. I am trying to find a way to help her build her house. She has had great sorrows & has worked & tried so hard. The structure she wants to build is extremely simple compared to most western lifestyles. We connected when she was in her welding gear, you couldn't tell that she was a female, but she called me over as I was passing by on the ship & from then on we have had a friendship. I was set to visit her outside of the city but her father died & she had to go upcountry for the burial. She said she forgave her Father for forcing her into the marriage & causing her to lose out on her education. In fact 2 weeks before he died she said she wanted to bless him & she sent him some money, which she said he appreciated.She has great courage & determination but you can also feel her pain & sorrow that she has experienced.
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