The Zone

      The real purpose of our trip to Sierra Leone was to be able to experience the life of Dave's brother Steve. At just 25 years old, Steve has recently been promoted to the Chief Operations Officer of a fruit juice industry in Sierra Leone. First Step (a subsidiary of World Hope International) created a Special Economic Zone just outside of Sierra Leone's capital: Freetown. In partnership with another company, Africa Felix, The Zone has been transformed into an industry which is striving to positively enrich the economy of Sierra Leone. Steve has been involved with the company (off and on) since it first commenced production of juice concentrate in 2011.
     CNN published an excellent video and article in 2011 which details what the company is all about better than we ever could. Additionally, Steve's name is made infamous in the following articles:

• 2013: Bread for the World -a condensed history of the Outgrowers' Project
• 2013: Sierra Express Media - comparing Steve to a handsome Westlife star
• 2011: Houghton College - meeting Tony Blair

You can also check out Steve's blog which provides additional (yet rare) updates about his life and work in Sierra Leone.

First Step/Africa Felix main office building - where Steve works AND lives

 Inside the production plant:

The final product: Containers of pineapple, mango, and cashew fruit juice concentrate

Pineapple fields surround the compound:

    Pineapples that are not juiced are sold wholesale to various restaurants throughout Sierra Leone, such as the Oasis Juice Bar and Cafe. We had sampled some of the freshly squeezed pineapple juice from this particular juice bar on Christmas Eve. It was delicious.

     In addition to touring the juice factory, we also visited Makeni - the nearby city where Steve lived when he first began his work in Sierra Leone. Back then, Steve wasn't nearly as stressed out with the amount of responsibility he has now...so he had time to sign a contract with the Wusum Stars: A professional soccer club team in Sierra Leone. Again, he made the headlines and is recognized as the first (and only) white man to ever play professional soccer in Sierra Leone. We got to see the stadium where he played.

Wusum Stars 2011

     In Makeni, we attended a Sunday service at the church where Steve attended while living there. Considered to be guests of honor (likely due to the fact that we were the only white people in the congregation), we were coercively ushered into the front pew seats. The seating gave us a better view, but it did little to improve our understanding of the sermon in spite of the fact that everything was in "English". Among the few things we were able to gather was that the term "halleluiah" is locally translated into "Tell God Thankee".
     Dave and Steve also hiked up Makeni's highest peak: Wusum Hill. The round-trip hike took them less than 1 hour...which attests to how miniscule the elevation of this hill actually is. Regardless, they managed to work up a sweat and capture a decent picture.

A panoramic view of Makeni from the top of Wusum Hill

     While we admire Steve's evident accomplishments in Sierra Leone, we do not envy the responsibility that has been bestowed upon him (nor do we envy his current, closet-sized living arrangements). Please keep him in your prayers as he continues to work toward bringing this juice company to its full, promising potential.

-David & Nicole