Melanie's "All" Update

Hello!  How ARE you?  We are doing well for the most part.  Tommy vomited last night but seems to be doing fine today and Don has a rising.  I will be honest, my husband’s rising, doesn’t look as bad as it is.  But a rising is a blood infection of some kind that gets infected and begins to rise.  When it begins, it looks just like a mosquito bite, but gets swollen and looks a lot bigger than just where the “mosquito bite” is and it really hurts.  At this point in the process, it is bright red, puffy, and a white liquid is oozing out.  Don says that the area is so tender that even if his arm hairs move, it hurts it.  Kim says that it can even cause a temperature and can be about impossible to get anything done because it hurts so badly.  He also says that Don is really suffering, so I should have compassion on him. :)  And I do, at least, I hope.  So, I think that you should have compassion on him as well. :)   

I am thinking that an update is way over due, so here goes.  Last Saturday, we went to PTP Camp once again.   Wow, if only each and every one of you could be here to join in the experience, I know that you would have a blast.  It is so fun to watch the kids.  I think that the number of children is definitely growing.  I believe that we started our Bible Study with over 100 kids this time and ended with close to 200.  Let me try to explain it to you.  We arrived at our friend’s, Nelson, house.  He lives deep in PTP Camp, clear on the other side, so it takes awhile even after arriving in PTP Camp while traveling on motorbike to get there.  From there, we sat under a bamboo porch with a steel roof and waited for my husband to go back home to get the rest of the clan.  While we are waiting, groups of kids and adults walk by the door way hoping to catch a glimpse of us.  I walked outside many times to try to greet everyone and was only successful one time.  (When I walked out, all scattered in many different directions.  I suppose they were afraid of me.)  Meanwhile, Christian, Grace and I read the Bible.  Once my husband and the rest of the kid’s arrived and after our interpreter arrived, we began our trek up to the school.  It is a good walk up to the school.  Each step we took, more kid’s joined us until we become a large mob heading to the school.  By now, Tommy is clearly in his element.  He is running around trying to hold people’s hands with a huge smile on his face.  As we walked Tommy played a game with the kids.  The kid try not to be touched by him while he tries to touch each of them.  As we walked, you hear screaming and then laughter.  The laugher that you hear is not only the kid’s laughter but also your own laughter.  Everyone involved are having fun!  Once we arrived at the school, all gathered in a school room.  Christian, Tommy, Don, and Grace stand up in the front confidently as they began teaching their portion of scripture from our picture Bible.  For the most part, all the kids are listening intently on every word or sign was being spoken.  Where am I?  I am in the back, supposedly taking pictures, but struggle because I have so many kids surrounding me.  One is on my lap, while others are tightly woven around me, touching my arms and legs.  In fact, there are so many little black arms and hands that when I look down, I am quite sure that my skin has changed colors.  Later, Christian said it nicely.  He said, “Mom, when I looked back and saw you, I thought to myself, “Oh, Mom is loving this.”  He is right.  I was loving every second of it.  After the kids teach, they gather a few of the older kids who can read and take them back to Nelson’s house.  So the big mob leaving the school continues to grow by the second as we walk back.  

Children gathering at PTP camp

Don leaves and takes the first group of us back home and Christian hands each one of them, their own French New Testament.  He then begins to show these kids how to begin “Bible markings” in their new French New Testament Bible’s.  Christian did a remarkable job.  He so amazed me.  He listened to their questions and calmly answered all their questions even with the language barrier.  All during the last part, Nelson, was outside playing games with all the PTP kids.   Then the day was over and we began our trek back home again.    

Last day with our dear friend Christine 

The rest of the week has been good.  Though, our dear friend, Christine left on Tues morning.  What a sad day that was.  We really enjoyed our time with her.  

Tommy’s birthday was yesterday.  That was a fun day.  He had no count down because he wanted it to be a surprise.  He knew nothing and awoke hearing the family sing Happy Birthday to him.  Daddy then took him around to each of our friends and told them that it was his birthday.  Of course, we cancelled school for the day and made it a family day.  (We have a “No School” on birthdays policy.)  Even Daddy took the day off at the Bible Institute.  We finished our pancakes with syrup for breakfast that Christine brought for us.  Mmmmm.  Delicious.  We had the music going, so we danced to the tunes while it poured down rain on us.  (Very thankful for our “new back porch.”)  Then we tried to make a cake, but the flour had spoiled.  (There were the normal bugs in the flour but this time there was also worms and a few other kinds of bugs so we decided to pass on the cake.)  Grace then made us a dessert with peanut butter and sugar.  She insisted we needed to do something for Tommy.  He definitely deserved it.  :)  

Tommy opening the kid's present

Right before lunch, Tommy opened his gifts.  He got gum, suckers, lego’s, 2 ducks, and a kitten.  Pretty good birthday, huh?  Then we went out to eat at Florida and Kim joined us for the celebration.  We played The Snowball Game while waiting for our food.  We had a good time and decided that we were the only people in Zwedru that were playing with snowballs right then. :)  So it was fun at least until we awoke in the middle of the night, helping Tommy as he vomited.  Unfortunately, vomiting for no apparent reason is considered normal these days.

Jessie enjoying Tommy's B-day

Well,   love you all sooooo much!  We are so looking forward to seeing you!  Get ready for the hugs, for they will be ever enduring.....

Love, Mel :)

PS.  There has been small confusion, I believe. ALL of our family are going home for a visit.  Yeah!!!!!  :)

Print Shop Video

We praise God for our new Print Shop!  We are now writing and printing Bible training material for all of Liberia.  This month, we anticipate printing over 100,000 lessons.  Praise God!

Ivorian Bible Institute Class

Today, we started teaching our first Bible Institute class in French.  There are 10 students from local refugee camps who are being trained to be missionaries to the Ivory Coast.  By the end of 2014, we pray we will see several churches started in the Ivory Coast.

I love this man!  Nelson is one of my closest friends in Liberia.  He lives in PTP Refugee camp.  Nelson has a heart of gold.  In the camp, you will find Nelson training church leaders, starting churches, and caring for orphans and widows.  Though he owns almost nothing, he shares all he has with those in need.  Last month, Nelson and I spent a lot of time together preparing for this month's Bible Institute classes.  Nelson is being trained to teach all the classes I have taught in the past.  Our vision is to constantly work ourselves out of jobs.  Next month, Nelson will be doing the majority of my teaching for level 1 classes while I observe and encourage him.  We want to train several teachers so we can start offering satellite classes in the more remote areas.  I praise God for Nelson's partnership.

Tommy's Duck Farming Update

This is my duck farming blog.  I have 4 ducks.  One of my ducks passed away.  If that one would not have passed away I would have 5 ducks.  That was a sad day when it passed away.  It got sick with something and would not eat anything and it died.  I love you all.  I have a white duck and black ducks.  All my ducks, I really like.  

Dad: What do you like to do with your ducks?  
Tommy: Pet them, catch them, hold them, and feed them

Dad: Have you taught them any new tricks.  
Tommy: We haven’t taught them any new tricks but they eat apples, bananas, rice, and grass.  That is all we tried so far.  So how has your day been?  I sure hope you are going to like my duck farming blog.  

Dad: What is the neatest thing about being a duck farmer.  
Tommy: The neatest thing is to see how they react.  When I hold them, they do not want to open their mouths.  When I try to get their mouths open, they will not open them.

Dad: What surprised you the most about being a duck farmer.  
Tommy: That I got to get close to ducklings.  Ducklings walk in a line behind their mother.  I haven’t gotten ducklings but my friend Marry has.  I have one boy duck and three girls.  Duck farming is a really fun thing.  If I wasn’t here, I never would have been a duck farmer.  Welcome to Tommy’s duck farming blog.

Dad: Will you eat your ducks.  
Tommy: I am not going to eat them but I sure do enjoy having them as a pet.

Being a duck farmer, you have to spend your money to buy them.  The cheapest price I have found is 250LD.  LD is not as good as USD.  I love you!  Good bye.  This is Tommy’s duck farming blog.  

From Tommy.

P.S. I also started a cat farm.  Later, I will tell you about it.

Baby Emanuel Update

Baby Emanuel's health continues to improve.  He has added weight since we moved him to his new home.  As you know from my previous posts, special needs children are viewed as a curse in Liberia.  They are actually called "devils."  Recently, we removed Emanuel from his home because his mother threatened to "destroy" him.  Emanuel was placed in the loving home of Augustine and Josephine.  Augustine and Josephine continue to experience some persecution for bringing him into their neighborhood but things have quieted down quite a bit.  It is still unclear rather Augustine and Josephine will be forced to leave their neighborhood.  Their rent is due at the end of the month.  Their landlord has not agreed as of yet to let them remain.  

We have been working on getting medical exams and paperwork together so that Baby Emanuel can make a trip to the United States to have his many medical needs treated.  A mission called "Ray of Hope Medical Missions" is working hard to raise the funds and arrange medical treatment for Baby Emanuel.  The medical system here in Liberia is government run and full of corruption.  The citizens are supposed to receive free medical treatment but due to the lack of money, the government often does not pay the doctors.  Doctors often refuse to work with you unless you offer bribes.  This has been the case with Baby Emanuel.  When Emanuel is being looked at, the nurses remind the doctors that Emanuel is the baby that is going to America.  The doctors automatically assume that they can get a lot of money from us if they make the process difficult.  To make a long story short, we worked for a week straight, making multiple trips to the hospital, simply to get a medical report from Emanuel's medical visits.  Sad!  The doctors wanted bribes and we refused to pay them, believing them to be unethical.  We also know that if we pay bribes, all our future medical visits will be plagued by bribes.  

We are now trying to figure out how to get Emanuel's medical report to those who need it in the USA.  We live in the middle of a rainforest.  We are looking for someone in Zwedru who can scan the documents and email them for us.  We may have to send them to France with our friend Christine when she returns home later this month.  She can then mail them to the USA.  

Please keep Baby Emanuel in your prayers.  He sill has a long road ahead of him.

Eating Bugs

Have you ever been served a plate of bugs to eat?  Here is a plate of "Bug-a-ball" that we were served yesterday.  

Bub-a-ball is a seasonal bug here.  It migrates here once a year and looses its wings.  When they come, children rise early in the morning and go out and gather these bugs by the thousands.  They are cooked in oil and lightly salted.

We expected the bugs to be crispy to the taste but they were more soggy.  Believe it or not, they taste really good.  They taste a little like soggy potato chips.  Isn't life fun!!!  Yes, my Melanie likes them too.  They say that if you catch the bug before they loose their wings they taste good as well.  These bugs, you don't cook or even kill.  You simply hold them by the wings and eat the bodies.  We have not tried to eat them this way yet.  

Ministering in PTP Refugee Camp

The last 2 weekends our family went on mission to PTP Refugee Camp.  PTP houses 15,000 Ivorian refugees.

Many of the refugees live in small houses made from tarps.  Those who have lived in the camp for a long time have replaced the tarps with mud walls.  Our mission was to strengthen the church by loving on the children of the camp.

For most of the Ivorians, our children were the first white children they had ever seen.  We simply walked down the street and children came from everywhere.

By the time we reached the school where we taught, a parade of children followed us.

Donny was the first to teach.  We are teaching through the New Testament.  Donny taught about the foretelling of John the Baptist's birth.  The children love it when Donny teaches because he not only teaches them the Bible Stories, he also teaches them how to speak Sign Language.  Each week he teaches them new signs.

Christian taught second.  He taught about John the Baptist's birth.

Grace was the third to teach.  She taught the birth of Jesus.

Tommy was the fourth to teach.  He taught about the Wise Men and Jesus escaping to Egypt.

Last, Christian taught again.  He taught about 12 year old Jesus teaching in the temple.  We are working with the churches that have been established in the camp to reach the children.  Last week over 20 children prayed and received salvation.

We had to take two trips on the motorbike to get our family to the camp.  After teaching in the school, Dad took Grace, Tommy, and Donny home on the first motorbike while Christian stayed back with Mom so he could spend time teaching those he is discipling.

Christian is leading these young believers through 21 lessons that teach the basic doctrines of the Christian faith.  He gave Bibles to those he is discipling.  Each time we return to the camp he brings additional lessons.  

In our homeschooling we are learning French.  As we work with refugees we have to speak through interpreters.  We pray that we will come know French well enough that we don't require interpreters.  We have a long way to go.

We praise God for all He is doing.  Every day we feel extremely blessed to get to do what we do.

Please pray with us that we would see a healthy church in every town and village of Liberia.  Pray also that we would be successful in training Ivorians who have sought refuge in Liberia so that we would see churches started in the Ivory Coast when it is safe for the refugees to return home.  

January Ministry Update

The mission of Jesus; “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9 NIV), is also our mission.  

Our mission is that every village of Liberia will have a healthy church.  Most of the towns and villages of Liberia have no church.  We have worked in over 300 villages in 12 counties; there are 8,700 villages and towns in 15 counties. We made 68 mission trips, visiting 88 villages and other locations and we made many other local mission trips. Some of the towns we were in multiple times. We went into 13 new communities. Our longest mission trip was 2 weeks the shortest a few hours.  13 were baptized and 58 completed our extensive Bible study program.  Several factors affect how many mission trips we can go on each month; illness, injuries, and availability of money are some.  

Some highlights of the month

We are missing Pa Isaac:  Isaac Glady one of our powerful, sacrificial, committed field leaders for years died from an unknown illness.  We grieve.  His testimony was that WSL found him as a womanizing alcoholic destined for Hell.  With us he received his salvation, was baptized and married his wife on our compound.  His family like most Liberian families struggle for a daily meal and housing.  We are committed to our sacrificial leaders.  We are covering the medical and funeral expenses.  We have also committed to providing his widow and their children with food and their children’s school fees for one year.  Be in prayer for those he has left behind.   

Society Devils:  Another masked devil leader has repented and is trying to leave the society.  Leaving can be fatal. 

This picture was taken last week when Zwedru's devil came out.  This is the devil.

My heart dropped:  Well funded Muslim missionaries from Pakistan are in Liberia.  Their mission: a mosque in every town.  Before the Liberian war there were 7 mosques in Monrovia, the capital city, now there are over 100.  Throughout Europe and Africa Muslims are gaining rapidly.  Remember the Bible book Ephesus?  That city and country, now Turkey, was Christian and is now 98% Muslim.  There is a fierce spiritual war waging let us not sleep or be unaware.  Do not be confused, Islam is a tool of Satan and is powerfully evil.

Wordsower Bible Institute:  23 completed the level 1 two week class.  They have been sent out.  We are now receiving calls for supplies.  Praise God for our press shop!  We printed over 29,000 pages of training material in January.  

December's level 1 Bible Institute class

24 Students

Commissioning Missionaries to reach Liberia

6,000: That is the number of additional Bibles we acquired in January.

National Armed forces of Liberia:  The main army troop base of Liberia is forcefully advancing.  We have done several trainings there.  The army of our Lord, in the barracks, is armed, organized and going from house to house as Christ and His original disciples did.  They are distributing 1,000 lessons each week, one in each home.  The lessons teach about salvation, faith, repentance, forgiveness, sin and how to live the Christian life.  The army is prepared to disciple those who will present themselves.  From great sowing will come a great harvest.

A Modern Paul?  About 6 months ago Wordsower started to have regular “services” in a bar.  Some were converted, baptized, and trained.  They are now doing the same with their friends.  One from the bar, Prince, was a persecutor and harasser of the new converts.  He was a violent leader.  A few times he and his friends would beat them and rob them.  He hated them and me.

To our relief he left town.  While away he became deathly sick.  He panicked and in his spirit felt he had to come find me.  When he returned to Zwedru he had a dream.  In the dream an angel told him to find Kim, that Kim had the solution to his problem.  He truly gave himself to Christ, completed our Bible marking, is evangelizing and teaching others.  Those he once persecuted are now the ones training him and the persecutor has become the persecuted.

He has changed so much it is hard to recognize him.  He was full of drunkenness, arrogance, disrespect and hatred.  You could see it in his face.  Now he is full of humility, kindness and love.  This can also be seen in his face.  This is what spiritual transformation looks like.

He is now on his way to Monrovia, the capital, to get treatment.  Remember him in your prayers.

PTP Refugee Camp

PTP Refugee Camp

PTP Refugee Camp:  It is the largest refugee camp in West Africa.  There are approximately 13,000 there now.  The camp is just a 30 minute bike trip away.  (Solo Refugee camp is another camp we work in that is also about 30 minutes away). We have been working in them for 2 years.  This month we will have a level 1 two week training with them in our Bible Institute in French.  Other refugees will attend another two week class in April.  After the class we want to put translated lessons in each home as we are doing in the army barracks.  We want to train and send an army of Christian warriors back into Ivory Coast.  WSL has plans on entering it with them this year.

Donations should be mailed to:
Wordsower International
P.O. Box 1648
Piqua OH 45356

All donations are tax deductible.  A receipt will be sent in January.  100% of all donations go for the mission to the Liberians and refugees.  None is used for me or administration.  If you have any questions concerning donations you may call Doug Billeinstein at 937-459-6412.  Please make checks payable to Wordsower.

Thank you,

Don

Villages, towns and cities we have been working in:

Sinoe County: Bardoua, Beatuoken, Bilibokee, Charlic, Cass Town, Chebioh, Cheboken, Congo, Dagbe, Deedo, Dejila, Deyankpo,  Eni, Farmersville, Fanfin, Funnioh, Gardoway, Gbalawin, Gbliyee, Gbojuelville, Geelor, Greeneville, Greft, Greenville Hospital, Grigsby Farm, Jalay, Jaytoken, Joazon, Joe Village, Jokoken, Judu, Kakpo, Karquekpo, Katuzon, Kilo, Korjayee, Kuwait Gold mining camp, Neinplikpo,  New Kru, Nyennwlejen, Paul, Pellkon, Pokpaken, Putu Jadweodee, Peace Camp (a gold mining camp), Po-River, Polay, Pratt, Prison of Sino County, Pynes Town, Qutatozon, Saikas, Saygbeken, Seebeh,  Seedubo, Seetor, Saybaken, Saydee, Senquene, Sennajalh, Swenpon, Tarta, Titus, Voobadee, Wiah,  Zanwonjah. Grand Gedeh County: Army barracks, Badou, Bah, Banana ,Bar, Bargblor, Barte-jam, Bassa, Bawaydee, Beezon, Beh, Bellyalla, Bently Mining Camp, Best, B’hai, Tarway, Billibo, Blown, Boe,  Boley, Boplue, Border, Boundary, Brown, Chayee, Chebeh, Chebeor, Compound, CVI gold mining camp, Deplay, Deyan, Diah, Dogbar, Dolozon, Dougee Refugee Camp, Doubah, Duo Town, Dweh,  48 mile, Franzaz, Garbo, Garley, Gbakah, Gbarbo, Gbarzon, Gbayea, Gbeyoubo, Gbloue, Gboe,  Gboe, Geewon, Gboleken, Gborabo, Gambo, Geeha, Geeyah, Gleplay, Gorabert,  Gorbowrogba, Graddeh, Grady, Gwenebo,  Jackson, Jaibo, James’s Sayon’s, Jargbeh, Jarwleh, Jarzon, Jayteken 1, Jayteken 2, Jellu,  Johban, John David, Jonesgbaye, Juahzon, Julutuzon, Karlowleh, Kohn, Kojayee, Konobo, Krah, Ziah, Kpae, Kyne, Kwebo, Ma Esther, Menyeah, New York gold mining camp, Nico, Old Pohan, Panwolor, Pellelzon, Penokon, Peter Saydee, Pineapple village, Ploe Bodee, Polar Town, Polar Village, Pokor, PTP refugee camp, Queboe, Sant, Savah, Saycon, Saylee, Sayubo, Sentrodu, Sewion 1, Sewion 2, Sinkon, Sloman (a gold mining camp), Solo Inside, Solo Outside, Solo Refugee Camp, Sowaken, Steven, Suahken, Taye’s Village, Techiensla, Tiama, Tobolee, Toes Refugee Camp, Toes Town, Toffoi, Togbayee, Tojillah, Toueah, Tuglor, Varglor, Vleyee, Whybo, Willie Jellu, Wlagbo, Woloken, Wulu, Zarzar, Zaiyee, Zeon, Ziulay, Zuabah, Zwedru, the county prison, 4 road check stations, and the county hospital.  Montserrado County: Bannerville, Jacob town, Monrovia, New Georgia, Pipeline.  River Gee County:  Cheboken, Dweaken, Fish Town, Fish Town Prison, Geeken, Jarkaken, Jaytoken 1, Jaytoken 2, Kanweaken, Kaytoken, Klaboken, Myoken, Podroken, Putuken, Sargba, Sweaken, Tartiken, Tuaken, Wartiken.  Bomi County:  Beh, Jaway, Joes Town, Tubmansburg.  Margibi County: Army barracks, Bovclay, Brown, Dolos Town, Harbel camp 7, Kpuyah, Mazoe, Naway, Sherflin Barak, Takata.  Maryland County: Cain, Cavalla, Cavalla Konukridi, Gbolobo, Dakay, Dannis, Dibleken, Factory, Fish, Gboloken, Halfgrayway, 7 locations in Harper, Holegrn, Judy’s, Kablaken, Kings, Lexicon, Little Weleppo Refugee camp, Middle town, Nekpachelu, Nemelken, New Half and Whole Graway Towns, Old Lady, Olegravic, Pedebo, 4 locations in Pleebo, Philadelphia, Poceken, Pular, Pulla, Puluken, Refugee Village, Rock, Rubber Bag Camp, Saydeken, Sawlowken, Saywonken, Siliken, Spring Hill, Warteken, Weah’s Town, Wechoken, Wholegrayway, Wuluplukredi, the county prison and check stations.  Nimba County: Beatwo, Camp 1, Dialah, Fienney, Freeman, Glalay, Gonkopa, Gougartwo, Graie, Guotoin, Kpaytuo, Miller, Noway, Sarlay, Tappita, Towah, Unification, Venn, Wontoe, Yiteepea, Your Peg, Zarwulugbo, Zautuo.  River Cess County: Darhga, Gbee.  Grand Kru County: Baclaville City, Baclaville Check Point, Bewan, Boniken, Camp Spin, Company Camp, Doubbo, Gbarken, Iron Bridge,  Kladipah, Leaceco, Solokent, Woelowinken, Wropluken. Bong County: Bucannon.  Grand Bassa County: Baccoline, Goah.  

January, 2014 Ministry Expense Report

Mission expenses:
$2,369 – Pens, folders, Bibles, mission trips feeding, etc. We acquired 6,000 Bibles this month.  
$1,056 – Motor bike gas and repair, we have 10 bikes. We buy gas in bulk at about $5.00 a gallon.    

Wordsower Bible Institute:
$444 - Print Shop: This includes all expenses for printing Bible training material  
$10 - Audio Lessons: Recording and distributing audio lessons for the illiterate
$794 - Bible Institute classes: 24 students completed a two week class.  This includes housing, feeding, transportation, etc.

Assistance to the poor:
$729 – Humanitarian assistance: This includes food (average cost is $1.50 a day for food) rent, home repair, etc. Most of this fund assists our sacrificial leaders that live in extreme poverty.                     
$52 – Medical expenses (average treatment cost per person is $1.00 - $10.00). 

Team food and house supplies:
$1,380 – Food and house supplies (close estimate).  Our core team consists of 13 adults and 17 children.  That averages out to $1.53 a day per person to cover, clothes, food, batteries, soap etc.  Really, our team uses less than that per day because we feed visitors every day from the interior, refugees, and locals from our house funds.
$375 – Vacation pay.  We give each of our full time leaders $125 and a two week vacation each year.  This covered 3 leaders vacations for 2013.  They worked all year but still get the bonus.

$7,209- Total for the month.   

Melanie's Birthday

Grace and Dad made Melanie an American birthday cake.

We used our new camp stove.  The cake burned but we had fun.

We ate the cake at Melanie's favorite restaurant.

Our friend, Christine, visited from France.  She brought us American marshmallows!  We built a camp fire and had a lot of fun.

 Here is a photo of our kitchen addition.  For Christmas we built a new table and added a roof to keep the rain off during rainy season.  We cook on the coal pot in the front and now we are able to bake using our camp oven.

Family fun.