Blocks for peace

“Years ago, our forefather left the Wara-Wara mountains near Kabala” The village elder’s eyes glowed with the light of his people’s collective memory. “He sat down between the Gbagbe and the Seli Rivers and called the place Firawa, The Vast Forest.” Firawa is surely hidden deep within the vast forests of the Nieni chiefdom. In dry season, December through April, a single rain battered road exists, a road that stands nearly impassable for the remainder of the year. Something extraordinary is happening in this remote forest village, a true testament to God’s power and love extending to all the corners of the world.

The CRCSL planted a church in Firawa in 2008. This church has grown from a few members meeting on the pastor’s porch on sundays. In 2012 Firawa is one of the largest churches in the CRCSL community yet In spite of this stunning growth the church continues to meet in the pastors house. Things, however, are changing. The village is now working to build a church in Firawa. Muslim and Christian are working side by side on the plot of land that will soon hold the house of God to make local mud-bricks. This remote forest village is defying norms, Firawa is rising up and speaking loudly to everyone everywhere. “we are united” they say, “we  will be at peace.” 

Firawa Youths mixing Mud for blocks