Through the Children’s Eyes

A few weeks ago I shared that we'd taken 15 of the children to visit the Logos Hope ship that is docked in Freetown. Sam, one of the older boys at the center, interviewed each of the children. I promised him that I would type up his work and put it on the blog; so here is an exact (or as close to it as possible) replication of his work…enjoy!

Sam reporting from Hope, Help one child, one family at a time, on the 17 June 2010. Some of my brothers and sisters visited the floating library ship in the waterkey, Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Reporting on what Melvin Koroma saw and what was his explanation.

I was surprised and happy when I was chosen as one of the kids to go.

I was very happy on my way going to the ship. I saw many people going up and down the street and I also saw some house that are beautiful that are not in my village. I saw the ship and the water where it was standing on top of the water, when we enter in the ship I saw a lot of books, pencil, and inside was having cold. I have never seeing that kind of thin. I pray that God will bless The Raining Season for that kind of thing they have done in my life.

Reporting on what Amidu Lahai saw and what was his explanation.

I was very happy to go with my brothers and sisters to the ship. It have been a very good time in my life since I was born, when I went there I was very happy and thinking of that kind of thing can be standing. When I enter I saw books and pencils.

Reporting on what Albert saw and what was his explanation.

I was very happy to go and see the ship. When I was chosen, that was my first time to see ship. When we reach the water key, we enter the ship, then I saw many books and television, pencil, pen and some white people in the ship. The inside was cold and I have never witness that kind of thing in my life.

What I love in the ship was books. I wish I will have them in my home to read. I was very happy for that kind of journey I have made in my life.

Reporting on what Alie saw and what was his explanation.

I was surprise and happy when I was chosen as one of the children to go. I was very happy. On my way going to the ship I saw many people and the cars going up and down.

When we enter the ship I saw books, pencil, pens, and the place was cold.

Reporting on what Yusufu saw and what was his explanation.

I was very happy to go and see that ship in town, that have been my first time to move in Freetown. On my way I saw some houses that are not in my village and I saw some lorry and a policeman standing and commanding the cars and lorry. (Cari: I do not know what lorry is!)

When we reach there I saw a policeman and a road to the ship and I felt the place was cold and I was thinking. What I saw were books, pencils, bathroom, and children from another place. They were watching in the ship and reading and I also saw the place of the sailor driving just like a car and also looked at the distance of the water.

Reporting on what Fatmata J. saw and what was her explanation.

I was very happy to go with my brothers and sisters to the ship. It have been a very good time in my life since I was born. When I went there I saw books, pencil, pen and the place was cold. The inside of the ship have movies.

Reporting on what Fatmata C. saw and what was her explanation.

I was very happy to go and see this great ship that is very big. My aunties have been explaining to me how that ship is, that it is very big and have many rooms, field to play games and there is also a church in it.

When I went there with my aunty I saw so many things that I have never seen before. I saw books, bed to sleep and bathroom.

What I love in the ship is that I saw so many books. I wish I will have them in my home to read and study. (Cari: This is a girl after my own heart!)

Reporting on what Sorie saw and what was his explanation.

I was very happy when I was chosen as one of the kids to go and seet hat ship. On my way in the car going I was very excited because I have never been there, then when we enter the water key, I just looked at the ship. It was very big and I was wondering, how can a big ship stand ontop of the water like that. I saw a lot of books and I also watch television in the ship.

Reporting on what Abdul Fornah saw and what was his explanation.

I was happy in my mind, when I was chosen as one of the kids to go and see that ship.

When I went there with my uncles and auties I saw a lot of books. I was surprised to see so many rooms and so many food in the ship.

Reporting on what Isatu K. saw and what was her explanation.

On the 17^th June 2010 I made a tip to the ship at Water Key. I was so happy and excited to go and see that ship and the other children that they picked.

When we came out for lunch, the Home Father told me to tak off my uniform and dress up. And I put on my beautiful cloth and saw Mr. Mohamed coming, and before we enter to the car we prayed first. And when we were going I saw many cars coming down and going up. And when we reach in Water Key I saw the ship first and we walk to it.

And we enter inside the ship, I felt cold and I got sick. And my head was turning. I saw plenty of things, books, movies, chair, food and many people. And we took a family pictures and came out of the ship and got outside. And the name of the ship is called Logos Hope. And when we were going home the Home Father buy fur us some bread and we ate and enter into car, then Pastor Daniel prayed for us.

Reporting on what Fatmata A. saw and what was her explanation.

On the 17^th, June 2010, I was in class then I saw the Home Father coming to my teacher. He told her to choose some children that are going to see the floating library ship. I was among them.

I was very excited when they said we are going to see the ship, when we came out for lunch, the Home Father told us to dress properly and we did. Mr. Mohamed told us that he will go and gind a car for us, we waited for some time then we saw Mr. Mohamed coming with the car, before we entered into the car we prayed first.

I was seating closer to the window, I saw many things through the window. The car stopped and we came down, when we came down I first saw the ship. I saw many container and we climb the steps before we entered into the ship.

The name of the ship is "Logos Hope", the ship was very big and beautiful, when we entered into the ship, the place was very cold, then we seat and watch movies, and they allow us to look all around the ship. I saw many reading books and I saw many things that is good for children. And I went to the bathroom and urinated, I was my hands with hot water.

Reporting on what Hawa saw and what was her explanation.

I was surprise and happy with I was chosen as one of the kids to go. I was very happy on my way going to the ship. I saw many people and cars going up and down.

I saw the ship and the water where it was standing on top of the water. When we enter into the ship I saw a lot of books, pencil and inside was very cold. We watch movies.

Reporting on what Katiatu saw and what was her explanation.

I was very happy in my mind that I was chosen as one of the kids to go and see that ship.

When I went there with my uncle and aunties I saw a lot of books. I was surprised to see so many rooms and so many food in the ship.

Reporting on what Fallah saw and what was his explanation.

I was very happy when I was chosen as one of the kids to go and see that ship. On my way in the car going I was very excited and having joy in my heart because I have never been there. On my way going to the ship, I saw many people and cars going up and down. When we reach the Water Key, I saw the ship very big standing on top of the water. Wondering, if you take a little stone and put it into the water it will go down, then I ask my uncle where can a ship work, he told me that on top for water, then we walk to the ship.

When we enter the ship I began to feel cold, but I was happy because I saw many books, pens, pencils and foods in the ship and that kind of thing can walk on top of water. Then I watch movie in the ship. I was afraid not to run so that it will not go with me down in the water, but other children were running inside.

Reporting on what Rugiatu saw and what was her explanation.

On the 17^th June, 2010. When I was in class this morning I saw the Home Father coming and told my teacher to choose some kids that will be going to see the ship. I was the last child that they picked and I was very happy. When we came out for lunch, the Home Father told me to take off my uniform and dress up. When we went in the car we prayed.

On our way going I saw many people in the street, they are selling. And I saw many things on my way to the ship. When we reach the Water Key we all come down. When we came down I saw containers, and the ship was very big and very good to look and I was happy too much in my heart.

When we enter inside I saw a place with many books and pencils and pens. I asked a man he told me that there is a church in the ship and a place to play games.