Don's Last Mission Update 4-24-24

In May 2013, we hugged our families goodbye and boarded a plane bound for Liberia, Africa. We were green, optimistic, and idealistic. Nothing seemed impossible. We knew that we were called and that God was with us. Upon arriving in Liberia, we fell asleep at a guest house and were awakened to our children vomiting in the bed. The Liberians told us that it was a “Liberian Kiss.” “The American was coming out as the African went in.” Our journey into the bush had frequent stops for vomiting. It was a long, gruesome trip, beyond imagination. The roads were indescribably bad. When we arrived in Zwedru, our bodies felt like they had been beaten. We were instantly greeted by the Liberians. Our children were the first white children they had ever met. We carried our bags into our two-roomed house, looked around, and thought, “What in the world did we get ourselves into?” My wife’s first words to me were, “Don, listen to me, our bags are already packed. I’m serious. Let’s just go home.”

Our first home had no electricity, no running water, no bathroom, no screens on the windows, and no ceiling tile (open rafters)….

We slept on mats on the ground, we used the outhouses, we cooked on an open fire, we hauled water from the hand-pumped well, and we took bucket baths under the stars.

Life was not easy. Our house was a Liberian multi-family unit with several Liberian families living with us.

Our source of meat was the bush. We ate rats, snakes, dogs, monkeys, deer, bugs, etc… Needless to say, we were constantly sick. We experienced typhoid and malaria more times than I can count. I started judging food by how it tasted when I vomited it up, rather than how it tasted when it went down. We all became malnourished as our bodies tried to adjust to our new lifestyle. Our best medical care came from Augustin, a man who ran a pharmacy out of a shack. Kim, our missionary partner at the time, joked about Augustin nearly killing him while saving his life several times, in reference to being overdosed on meds. At one point, I was being treated for malaria, typhoid, and dysentery all at the same time. The only comfort I had was to lie in my own pool of sweat on the cool concrete floor. During that sickness, I tasted death. I lost feeling in my limbs. I lost hearing in my left ear. At one point I remembered Kim standing over me and repeating, “Move your legs, move your legs, stay with us. Don, you have to fight.”

Our lives in Liberia had several high points and low points. Yes, we eventually got solar power, a car, and many other western conveniences; however, our mission experience could be described as moving from one trial to another. Melanie and I laugh as we talk about not remembering what life was like without trial. 

We have experienced numerous children dying in our arms. There are a million regrets of things we wish we would have done differently that could have resulted in saving a child’s life. Each trial took a little piece out of our hearts. There are so many memories that haunt me. The children called me “Da” for “Dad.” “Da, I sick, help me.” There were so many to help that we could not have possibly helped them all. I have performed CPR on soooooo many children and never brought a child back. I began to think that CPR was a joke, until CPR brought my wife back. My children have experienced so many things that their friends in America could never understand.

There was a predictable pattern for our lives in Liberia. Our family would experience a new significant trial, we would come to the end of ourselves, God would provide in ways that can only be explained by His miraculous hand, and His Kingdom would move forward. You may ask, “Why didn’t you give up?” The honest answer is (1) we had already counted the cost, (2) every trial resulted in God’s Kingdom advancing, and (3) every trial resulted in hope and life for the Liberian people.

When God called our family to Liberia, I wrote this song. I invite you to listen to the words. 

 Song: Welcome Home

If I were asked to describe our supporters, I would choose the words ‘faithful partners.’ We came to Liberia with only a few thousand dollars pledged in support. You have gone through it all with us! Thank You!!! When we were in need of prayer, you were there. When we were building a school, you were there. Faithful, that is the word that I would use to describe you. You were the most steadfast and faithful partners that a missionary could ever wish to have. There was never a need that You closed your eyes to. We were never alone in our trials, you were always there partnering with us. For your faithful partnership in the Gospel, I am forever grateful.

I want to take a few minuets to reminisce some of the highlights of what God did through us as we partnered together for His Glory!

Video from July 19, 2013: https://youtu.be/05-vl25_ENg?si=sZA4fzmofninpVu6

Together, we helped start a Bible Institute under Wordsower that is still discipling hundreds of pastors, today. Thank You!

Video from January 18, 2014: https://youtu.be/RcHOO7xSqUk?si=YpuWqs4F_fAOKJj7 

Together, we helped start a Christian print shop under Wordsower that is still printing millions of pages of Bible training material. Thank You! 

Together, we started Liberty Elementary and Junior High School. Though we are no longer supporting them, they are still going strong with over 200 students. Thank You! 

Video from November 23, 2020: https://youtu.be/6ISBQCxFkeg?si=Un7zxM64ljaIDU30

Together, in partnership with His Safe Haven, we built an entire village for special needs children whose lives were at risk. In this village we care for widows and formally orphaned special needs children: ‘Formally' because they are now in a beautiful family made up of widows, widows’ children, and missionaries. Thank You! 

Video from June 29, 2022: https://youtu.be/PSJXOvMIN2g?si=WPe5ZPKQw-rULsLM 

Together, we started Fairview Missionary School in Denta Town. We currently have around 200 students. This was one of the greatest joys of my life. Imagine a once illiterate bush village that is now learning to read while learning about God’s great love for them! Thank You!

Video from August 11, 2022:  https://youtu.be/8aCpFtUZ6aU?si=R6KU5W2wTJWc2Xej

Together, in partnership with LIVE2540, we started the Jesus Loves Me Children’s Hospital. Every month, over 1,400 children receive free medical treatment while hearing about Jesus. Thank You! 

From the bottom of my heart, I want to say, thank you for your partnership in the Gospel.

Recently, Melanie and I have felt God calling us back home to the United States. More specifically, He is calling us back to our families. We have been slow in responding to this call because there is so much at stake. We wanted to make sure our recent health trials were not clouding our judgment. We seriously want to be wherever the Lord calls us no matter the cost. We have sought council. We have walked in this council, which has confirmed an unmistakable calling to return to our home, to our families, and to serve the Church in the United States. 

Suzie McLay

Over the past several months we have been communicating with Hope For Home’s International Director, our Board of Directors, and the missionaries on the ground to talk about succession planning. These meetings have culminated with the appointment of Hope For Home’s new Country Director for Liberia, Suzie McLay. Suzie has agreed to serve a preliminary term of 6 months and then to meet again to reevaluate. Over the past month, Suzie has taken over more and more of the daily leadership responsibilities. At this point, I am serving only in an advisory role to Suzie. I will continue to serve in an advisory role as long as I am needed. Suzie is absolutely the right person for this job. She was with us when we started most of the ministries that are listed above. She is amazingly gifted at administration. She has my full confidence and support.

My desire is that the ministries that we have started would continue to meet the needs of thousands of Liberian children. Your ongoing partnership and support is needed now more that ever before. As my family prepares to transition back to life in the States, my last wish is for you to continue to support Hope for Home’s ministry the way you have so faithfully done in the past. Currently, we have over 100 employees (national missionaries) and several international missionaries who are as committed as ever to passionately share the love of Jesus. All they need is support to get the job done.

Thank you for your amazing partnership in the Gospel! This blog will continue even as I am signing off because the mission in Liberia is still needed and will continue to serve children under new leadership. May God be glorified both now and forever, Amen! 

Mission update 3 - 04 - 24

Hello friends of Hope for Home, Liberia

Thank you for continuing to follow along with us on this adventure in Liberia! Each and every one of you are very appreciated and valued for your love, care and support for us here in North West Africa! 

We hope you enjoy reading through the latest update of each area of ministry here. 

Fairview Missionary School 

Last Friday was a major victory for Denta Town. We had 62 people baptised! 

Denta has been a town of extreme spiritual darkness and battle. Some of the battles included until a few years ago child sacrifice being common and normal and when the children were anywhere from 5 years of age to older they would be initiated into the demonic secret society (this included genital mutilation for the girls). When we held town meetings, the town blocked their ears, they would be physically trembling in their seats in terror of the Witch Drs (otherwise known as “the devil”) reaction to the things we were saying. There was a time we were asked to leave the town because of the fear the town had of backlash from the Witch Dr 

Below is a video interview with DK Yarl (the current Pastor in Denta and Principal of the Fairview Missionary School) explaining what happened when “the devil” came to Denta Town. 

Spiritual Emphasis Week is the most recent special activity at school. The children had a special schedule for a guest speaker each day. Christian Riley came to the school and taught a Bible lesson from the book of Romans. He included a demonstration of Christ dying for our sins as well as an explanation of baptism. The children that were excited about the Holy Spirit dwelling within them went home to ask their parents if they could be baptised at school on Friday.

The Art teacher had the children draw and color pictures of the cross to hang for decorations this week.

All the children, teachers and even parents walked to the river close to the school for a baptismal field trip. They went into the water where the teachers and administration conducted this very important step in faith. It was a beautiful day of celebrating and glorifying our Lord Jesus Christ.

This would be a great reflection for you to write about in your letters to the children this month. They are very excited each month to receive your letters. It doesn’t have to be long, but that regular connection is wonderful. If you have anything special for your child, a team from Fairview Missionary Church will be traveling to Gbarnga, Liberia this October. The informational meeting for this mission trip will be at Fairview Missionary Church on May 5th after 2nd service.        

- Tracey Newell 

Jesus Loves Me Clinic

I would like to share with you two stories for you to catch a glimpse of what the reality of giving birth is like for women here in Liberia … 

Ma Patricia is a dear friend of mine, she is also one of the cooks in our school. After a very long and hard labour Ma Patricia lost her baby and almost her life. On Sunday night I went to visit her in the hospital. She was so weak and barely conscious, at that point she had not given birth yet and the baby had been dead inside her for about 3 days. 

There was a group of us that met together after we had visited her and we all knew there was no humanly possible way that she would make it through the night. The friends that I was with were adamant that God would make a way and she would deliver the baby that night and everything would be okay. They kept making the comment “God will make a way, He will do it for her”. I am a  little ashamed to say, I did not share their faith. I have watched too many people die here, some days I struggle with remembering that God really can, let alone that He will! I went home and waited to hear that she had passed away. Thankfully, the phone call never came! Ma Patricia did deliver the baby and God did spare her life! She is still very sick and is fighting a serious infection, she has a long road to recovery ahead of her. But, I have once again been reminded of the goodness of God! I am so thankful His grace is greater than my unbelief. 

After the heartache that Ma Patrica went through with losing her baby last month, another one of our cooks gave birth to a healthy baby girl this month! Success is the younger sister of one of my namesakes, Suzie. She was born into the Denta Town Chiefs family, who happen to be all girls! One of the most incredible parts of Liberian culture here is to witness a baby being welcomed into the town. When I took Aunty KP and Success from Gbarnga back to Denta, you could hear the celebrations before we even reached the village. It starts with music, dancing, and clapping while literally everyone that is in the town comes running out to greet the new baby. The baby is then passed from person to person, throughout the whole village before being handed back to the Mother. But the celebrations last the whole day and often into the night as well … For me it was such a special reminder that in their own way, human life is valued here, it is celebrated and it is precious. 

I was also reminded this morning how special our cooks are. There are 6 very Godly, upstanding women in Denta that have gone through much persecution from the town, while working  in the school. They gathered together and helped Ma Patricia grieve the loss of her baby, they held their own private remembrance service and planted a tree in replacement of having a body to bury. This probably does not seem like a huge deal to us in the western culture but this is not something that is done in the Liberian culture. To see these women fight so many things and stand together and support each other is so humbling to me! 

- Suzie McLay 

His Safe Haven 

One of the precious gems from our outreach program passed away last weekend. Amos was abandoned by his Mother because he had Hydrocephalus. His Grandmother was taking care of him. At the start it was out of duty because he was family, however as she learnt how to provide care, as she learnt that he was a special child of God and as she saw other families taking care of their children her attitude towards him started to change. Ma Helena started to love Amos and the response Amos gave her back was incredible! The two formed a very special bond and the hole Amos leaves in her life and in ours has been large. Please pray for Ma Helena and the team through this time. 

Leela received eye surgery this week. Leela has been with us for a few months now and has had increasing pressure build up and pain behind his eyes. We are so thankful there is an eye specialist in Monrovia (the capitol) and we were able to get him an appointment there. He was diagnosed with the worst glycoma the eye Dr had ever seen. The surgery went well and Leela is at home recovering now. He has a follow-up appointment next week so we will know more then about how the surgery was. 

Ma Kolu who is one of our substitute Mums and Grace, one of our nurses, have been the two women caring for Leela through this process. We are so thankful for dedicated, loving and gentle women that go above and beyond their jobs to make sure the children are safe and well looked after. 

Josiah, who is Scott and Christina’s son, has been battling some health issues recently too. He has gone through malaria, typhoid and a few other things. The medical clinic here on the compound was treating him but as he continued to decline in health the decision was made to take him to the mission hospital in Monrovia where they could do tests and a CT scan. As I am typing this, they are still waiting for the results of the CT scan. Please keep the Hoffman family in your prayers throughout this time. 

On Monday we had a visit from a mission called feed the hungry. They have offered to partner together with us in providing fortified rice for His Safe Haven. This is an amazing answer to prayer! Rice is expensive to buy here in Liberia and this fortified rice is packed full of vitamins and minerals! Today is the first day the cooks are cooking the rice and we are excited to see how it will taste! 

- Suzie McLay 

Mission Update 3-25-24

Riley Family Update

The last year and a half has been a whirlwind of trials for our family. 

The trials started in October 16, 2022 when I had a stroke. This stroke took me off the field for 10 and a half months. I was in the United States, recovering with Grace and Christian, while Melanie was in Liberia with Annie, Abigail, Abraham, Tommy and Don. Melanie was not able to travel because Annie, Abigail and Abraham did not have American visas. 

I returned to Liberia in July, 2023, thinking I would only be in the country for a couple of weeks, and then my three Liberian children would have visas and we would all go back to the States to fundraise for the mission. Much to our surprise, the trip ended up being about three months long and we only got two of the three visas we were going for. Those visas required my two children to travel to America before the end of December. Our hearts were devastated with the thought of the family being forced to separate again. 

In December, I gave Melanie a hug and said goodbye to her, Annie, Abraham, Tommy and Don as they got on the airplane and flew off. I didn't know when I would be able to see her and the children again. Grace, Abigail and I returned to the hotel, with hearts completely shattered. In order to reunite our family we had to go through the process of re-adopting Abigail and then applying for a new American visa. That task felt like a dreadful mountain that was too high to climb. 

I went to bed and woke up the next morning, started to drive back home to Gbarnga when I learned that my wife had had a heart attack in Brussels. Don (my deaf son) was left alone in the international airport with Annie and Abraham (who had never been in a foreign country) while Tommy went with Melanie to the hospital. My wife would not be with us today had it not been for the two people that stood in line behind her.  They administered CPR and got her heart beating again. I wish I could say thank you to those men, but I don't even know their names. When I received the news that Annie, Abraham and Don were left alone in the airport, I frantically bought a ticket and arrived in Brussels in the middle of the night. I was so thankful that God protected my children from unforeseen danger. 

    Grace and Abigail stayed with Suzie in Liberian (a missionary partner, and close friend). 

We were in Brussels for about a week when Melanie was finally able to travel. We decided I would travel with her to America and help her get settled. I was able to help her get through her initial medical appointments before returning to Liberia on January 22, 2024. 

Since returning to Liberia, I have been a full time Dad and the country director of Hope for Home Ministries. My wife's health continues to improve in the States and we are close to being finished with re-adopting Abigail. 

God has been faithful, and I see His hand protecting and providing throughout. Our family is currently still split up and so my heart is on both sides of the ocean. The ministry during my absence and hardships has grown. We have incredible leaders who have worked very hard and very faithfully to serve the Liberian people and my family. I am forever thankful for their service. 

With our recent health complications, I recognize the need to decentralize leadership within Hope for Home Ministry, Liberia.

 

There are literally thousands of children that are dependent on our ministry. You are going to notice that my future mission updates will include articles, written from several of the great leaders that make this ministry successful. I fully trust their leadership and I want you to get to know these leaders by name. We are going to do weekly updates for the next eight weeks to get you up to speed on all that has been going on in the last year and a half. Here is a brief update from each area of our ministry. 

                                                            -- Don Riley --

Jesus Loves Me Clinic

Because the extreme poverty rate in Liberia is so high, many women have to choose between not feeding their children for 2 or 3 days so they have enough money to get the sick child medical help, or watching their sick child suffer and continuing to feed their families. There is usually never a good outcome no matter what they chose. The corruption rate in the medical world is very high in Liberia too. When the woman and her children do make it to a medical clinic they are faced with  extra fees that they cannot afford from the Drs, many of whom are not trained or are very poorly trained. The women know that more times than not, even when they do take their children to receive medical attention, the child will die because of lack of medical knowledge, empathy and compassion. 

We are working to be different. The Jesus Loves Me Paediatric Children’s Clinic aims to show the love of Jesus from the moment you step foot into the building, until when you leave and beyond. We believe that it is useless to provide even the best medical care and treat the body physically if the opportunity is missed to minister to the human soul. When patients come to Jesus Loves Me - they don’t only receive compassion, care and help from trained medical staff, that won’t take bribes and be corrupt, they also receive a gospel message, they are prayed for and they are given an opportunity to know Christ. Notes about their spiritual status are marked on their medical chart so the next time they come, we can continue as able alongside them. 

The clinic is called Jesus Loves Me because that is the message we want everyone to know! Imagine a Muslim or a witch Dr needing medical help and they are directed by the community to Jesus Loves Me! 

Jesus Loves Me Children’s Clinic is almost completely free to the public. They pay a standard, doable registration fee and the mission covers the rest of the medical fees. Currently we are operating out of a 2 room clinic, but we are in the process of building a 60 inpatient bed clinic to grow into the rapidly increasing patient load. On an average month we freely treat an average of 1,200 to 1,500 children. 

                                                            -- Suzie McLay --

His Safe Haven

This month we welcomed this precious gem into our His Safe Haven Family for children with special needs. Edwin is about 6 years old (we think). He was abandoned by his family and an Uncle took him in. The Uncle also has some disabilities and was not able to care for him. Because of the disabilities that Edwin has, he was beaten regularly by the community around him. This first week of having Edwin with us has been such a joy and a blessing! Edwin knows he is safe, he knows he is loved and he knows he is well taken care of. He has made some great friends already in the other boys and we love having him with us! 

Our outreach ministry is growing! The outreach program is set up for families who are looking after children with special needs in their homes, to come and join in therapy sessions twice a week.  We now have 11 Moms / caregivers bringing their children with special needs to therapy! We are loving watching the caregivers grow in confidence in regards to caring for their children, we are loving watching their children learn new things and explore the world around them and we love watching the HSH children and Moms come alongside the outreach families. It is an amazing ministry and we are so thankful for what God is doing in the lives of everyone involved! 

We need your help though, as the program continues to grow, the expenses grow.  Sponsorship for an outreach family is $80USD a month. This covers the cost of feeding the families one meal when they come, it provides transport for the families to come visit us and it helps put food and other supplies into the homes of these families so they can continue to care for and look after these children in their own homes. 

If you would like more information on sponsoring a family, or if you have questions - please contact Suzie McLay at susan@hopeforhome.org 

Wednesday mornings we have started a movie morning for the children! They absolutely love it! It has become an avenue for the Moms to have a morning to catch up on work around the house or just relax if needed, and they know their children are being cared for. Nemo and Madagascar have been huge hits so far! We love seeing when the children laugh and what pieces of the movies capture their attention :) 

We highly value and appreciate the love and care this young man has for our autistic teenage boys. Joseph works tirelessly every single day with Papee and John (pictured on either side of him) to give them a calm and stable environment that they can thrive in. When Papee needs a time out, Joseph quietly takes him by the hand and walks around outside with him. When John needs somewhere to get rid of energy, Jospeh takes him to a quiet place, puts some music on and dances with him. When Sylvester needs a safe place to relax, Joseph takes him and calmly talks him through things. Jospeh has such a rapport with the boys, they adore and respond to him and we are so thankful for his servants heart and willingness to calmly walk life alongside these boys. 

We are also very thankful for the continued dedication and hard working attitude that Ma Gormah brings to HSH. Ma Gormah helps the Moms by washing the clothes for the children. Everyday she collects water from the well and hand washes the clothes that need washed. When she isn’t washing the clothes, she is stopping by the therapy hall to say hello and spend time with the children and the Moms. We are incredibly thankful for the work that she is doing to serve His Safe Haven. 

                                                                   -- Suzie McLay --

Fairview Missionary School

Let me introduce myself and describe how a teacher in Northern Indiana gets connected to a mission in Liberia! Tracey Newell (me) has been working with the Hope for Home Ministry for a little under a year now. I recently retired from a 33-year career in education; this included a range from middle school, elementary school, and kindergarten. Joan Riley, Don Riley’s mother, started collecting supplies and asked for volunteers to help pack materials to start a library for a school in Denta town, Liberia. My heart has followed many missionaries over the years. Many of those missions we (my husband Greg and I) are still connected in prayer. Greg and I attended a missionary church in Littleton, Colorado, and worked with the mission’s director from that church. Upon our move to Angola, Indiana, Fairview Missionary became our new church family, and when I heard about the mission in Liberia, it piqued my interest. Soon after my volunteer work with Joan, Don Riley came to the church with Dr. Mikey from ELWA. They began working together to grow the Jesus Loves Me Clinic into a hospital. They both stood on stage and described the mission field, and its needs. The Holy Spirit was speaking to me. In a triangle of decisions, retiring, becoming snowbirds in Florida, and God’s mission for me ( a story for another time) became evident that I needed the Lord’s direction. Graciously, the Lord provides and all three were accomplished. I’m inviting you to explore the beautiful but raw world of this Hope for Home mission with me. Please keep us all in your prayers daily! God hears us, and he loves that you have a heart for all his people.

                                                                -- Tracy Newell --