August Update

August 2013 Riley Family’s Update for Liberia

Blog: liberiacalls.blogspot.com  E-mail donriley4@gmail.com Webpage: wordsowerliberia.com

Address: P.O. Box 1648 Piqua, OH 45356

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. This month we had unusually low donations and had to cancel most all of our out of town mission trips. We made 15 mission trips, visiting 13 villages and other locations and we made many local mission trips.  We went into 2 new counties and 3 new villages.  We printed and distributed approximately 2,000 pages of teaching material, 27 were baptized and 19 completed our extensive Bible study program.  Several factors affect how many mission trips we can go on each month; illness, injuries, motorbikes repaired, the availability of gas and money are some. 

Some highlights of the month

Bibles: We have acquired 4,500 Bibles this month.  They will last us several months.

The Bible Institute opened: The vision of the Bible Institute is to raise

up an army of indigenous missionaries who will sacrifice their lives to start a disciple making, church planting movement that will spread across Liberia and West Africa.  Due to the extreme poverty in Liberia, we designed our training to consist of four levels of intense 2 week classes at the Bible Institute and ongoing training on the mission field.  We will offer a two week class each month. If we required missionaries to attend the Bible Institute longer than 2 weeks at a time, they would not be able to maintain their small farms to feed their families.  Last month 22 missionaries completed their first level of training at the Bible Institute.  In two weeks we will teach another level one class to a new group.  In Liberia, a little money goes a long way.  We can train missionaries for the cost of a Bible, soup, and rice.

Here is a story about the Bible Institute that illustrates the

extreme spiritual hunger that is in Liberia.  Due to an abnormally low month of giving, we gathered our students the week before class started and told them that we may need to postpone the start of the Bible Institute for one month because we didn’t have the money to feed them.  Their response amazed me!  Unanimously they protested, “No!  We need to be trained!”  They said, Jesus went through 40 days of fasting before He began his ministry, we will simply tighten up our belts, please train us.”  We agreed to open the Bible Institute because we could not say no to their hunger for truth.  The Liberians hunger for the Word of God.  Simply Amazing!  Students arrived the first two days of classes expecting to fast but we were able to provide food from our mission’s garden and small farm.  On the third day of class, God provided the funds needed to feed our students for the remainder of our time together.  God is Good!  I have never seen a spiritual harvest like what is here in Liberia.  There are three unreached people groups in Liberia.  I am certain we will be training the missionaries who will bring the gospel to these people groups.  What a privilege we have to get to be involved!  We are truly blessed!

Digging wells in every town we are working in: Last month, our ministry and a ministry called The Last Well met to see how we can best work together for the Kingdom of God.  This is very exciting!  As you may know, unclean water is a serious problem in many communities in Liberia.  The Last Well is a Christian organization that partners with missionaries with the goal of ending dirty water in Liberia within this decade.  In the past few years, they have brought clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of Liberians.  We were excited to meet with them because a number of the communities we are working in get their drinking water from polluted rivers or from swampy like areas.  They were excited to meet with us because they don’t have any missionary partners who focus where we are working, the most remote parts of Liberia.  To make a long story short, they want to work with us and dig a well in every community we are working in and in all the communities we will work in as we spread across Liberia.  We have worked in over 300 communities so this is not a small task.  They are hopeful that we can accomplish this during 2014.  Praise God!  Isn’t it fun serving our King! 

We bought a printing shop: Two months ago, we received a large donation to set up a print shop on our base in Zwedru.  Last month we bought the printing equipment from World Missionary Press.  For years, Wordsower has wrestled with printer problems.  Like our motorbikes, our small copiers constantly brake and give us a headache.  When the print shop arrives in December, we will be able to print for the cost of .01¢ a page.  With the printing presses, we are now able to supply the printed material that will support a movement that will spread across Liberia and West Africa!  Praise God.  Once our print shop arrives, we foresee printing 100,000 pages each month.  These lessons will be put in the hands of missionaries who will start churches in every town and village of Liberia.   

Audio Lessons in every language of Liberia: In the remote interior villages 80% – 90% of the people we work with are illiterate.  Some of our most powerful leaders do not know how to read or write.  In addition to our adult literacy program, we will soon begin to record all our lessons in the various language of Liberia.  Last month, we received portable recording equipment that will allow us to go into remote villages and record each of our lessons in the various languages of Liberia.  Though Liberia is one of the poorest countries in the world, many Liberians have a cell phone.  These phones double as a music player.  Also the CD/tape players used here accept the SD cards.  Our vision is to put our recordings on micro SD cards that can be played on their cell phones and CD/tape players.  We believe God will use the printing shop and the recording equipment to reach every Liberian.  

Prayer requests: We see the mighty hand of our Lord blessing us beyond what we have even imagined.  Praise Him!  Our request is that as you remember to pray for WSL that it be a prayer of praise!

God Bless!

Don

Donations:

Donations may be mailed to:

Wordsower International

P.O. Box 1648

Piqua, OH 45356

Donations may also be made online by going to our webpage: wordsowerliberia.com

All donations are tax deductible.  A receipt will be sent at year’s end.  100% of donations go to the mission for the Liberians and Ivorian refugees.  None is used for me or administration.  If there are any donation questions, you may call Doug Billeinstein at 937-459-6412.

Villages, towns and cities we have been working in:

Sinoe County: Bardoua, Beatuoken, Bilibokee, Charlic, Cass Town, Chebioh, Cheboken, Dagbe, Deedo, Dejila, Deyankpo, Fanfin, Funnioh, Gbliyee, Gardoway, Greeneville, Geelor, Greft, Jalay, Jaytoken, Joazon, Joe Village, Jokoken, Judu, Karquekpo, Kilo, Korjayee, Kuwait Gold mining camp, Nyennwlejen, Pellkon, Pokpaken, Putu Jadweodee, Peace Camp (a gold mining camp), Polay, Pratt, Pynes Town, Qutatozon, Saygbeken, Seetor, Saybaken, Saydee, Senquene, Sennajalh, Titus, Voobadee, Wiah.  Grand Gedeh County: Army barracks, Badou, Bah, Bargblor, Barte-jam, Bassa, Bawaydee, Beezon, Beh, Bently Mining Camp, Best, B’hai, Tarway, Billibo, Boe,  Boley, Boplue, Border, Boundary, Chayee, Chebeh, Compound, CVI gold mining camp, Deplay, Diah, Dolozon, Dougee Refugee Camp, Duo Town, Dweh,  48 mile, Franzaz, Garbo, Garley, Gbakah, Gbarbo, Gbayea, Gbeyoubo, Gbloue, Gboe,  Gboe Geewon, Gboleken, 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, Ziah, Kpae, Kyne, Kwebo, Ma Esther, New York gold mining camp, Nico, Old Pohan, Panwolor, Pellelzon, Penokon, Peter Saydee, Pineapple village, Ploe Bodee, Polar Town, Polar Village, PTP refugee camp, Queboe, Sant, Savah, 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, Tiama, Toes Refugee Camp, Toes Town, Toffoi, Togbayee, Tojillah, Toueah, Tuglor, Varglor, Vleyee, Whybo, Willie Jellu, Woloken, Wulu, Zarzar, Zaiyee, Zeon, Ziulay, 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, 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.

Updates from Family Members:

Update from Christian:

Hi Friends and Family,

Today was a good day.  Last month we opened the Bible Institute. 

It has been good because we do school while Dad teaches.  When we are done with school, daddy is normally done.  The only thing I don’t like about the Bible Institute is that Dad needs to go early in the morning.  Almost everyday we play touch.  It is a really fun game.  Dad has given us $120 US dollars for ministry.  With that ministry money, we bought someone a house for 6 months, we bought a bed for the same person, we paid to bury a friend’s brother, and we helped save a woman’s life.  I enjoy helping people.  Yesterday, we played in the rain.  It rained pretty hard but who cares when you have your shirt off.  It rained so hard that if we stood under the corner of the roof it felt like an American shower.  We got to bathe in the rain.  We also played soccer in the rain.  We have 8 traps that are set.  6 are Liberian traps and 2 are American traps.    It is fun going into the bush because when we first went to the bush we had to cut our way through.  It was really fun.  Kim got some baseball supplies.  Baseball is my favorite sport.  When I saw that we got them I said, “Yes, Finally!!”  First we played catch then we got out the bat.  Now everyone on the base knows baseball.  We have been playing everyday since we got the baseball stuff.  Bye, love you all.

Update from Grace: 

Hello again, it’s nice to write a letter to you again. 

I want to tell you about all the miracles God did.  First, Mom and Dad gave us all our family’s money and told us we had to spend it on the mission field and food.  Right now we are providing for the family.  Now I am going to tell you the miracle things God has done.  First, daddy brings all the needs to us and tells us how much it will cost.  Then we pray about it.  One of the needs was Joseph.  His brother died.  We needed to buy him stuff so he could get buried.  Here’s another story, we have a friend named Lasanna.  He needed a house so we gave him extra money so he could buy a house and a bed to lay on.  I want to tell you another story.  Daddy brought the biggest need we have ever had.  Well, it was about a lady.  She needed her belly to get cut so she could have a baby.  She lost a lot of blood so she needed a pump.  We prayed about it.  We felt God said to help.  We put all our money together but we didn’t have enough.  We didn’t care that it was not enough, we gave it anyways.  At least we helped.  That’s about it on all the miracle things but I have lots more to tell you.  Right now I am going to tell you about going into the deep, deep, deep, deep rainforest.  We went to set traps.  Badio taught us how to set Africa traps.  My favorite game is to play hopscotch.  My second is touch.  My last but not least is marbles.  Baseball is also my second favorite thing.  We got a shipment from the United States.  Kim got baseball stuff.  He got a whole set besides the bases.  We had a lot of fun playing with it.  In the sandbox we play king of the hill.  Guess what, if you look on a map and it is about Liberia, look how long it takes to get from Monrovia to Zwedru.  It takes longer than going to Florida.  In our school, we are learning about earth.  We are learning about rocks right now.  There are igneous, sedimentary rock, and I forget about the third rock.  Guess what is made out of sedimentary rock?  Coal is made out of sedimentary rock.  Houses, gas, mud bricks, cars and many other things are made from sedimentary rock.  So far we have learned about coal and I forget the other.  Anyways, we are learning in history about China.  We just finished learning about India.  Don was really excited about that.  He taught us how to color the flag.  Now we are learning about China.  We just started learning about China two days ago.  I love you all, goodbye.  It was nice to write a letter to you.  I hope I can write another letter to you soon.  Goodbye.    

Update from Tommy:

Hi, I really love you all.  Glory, Hallelujah, we got to meet you.  I l

ove you really, really, really much.  I hope you are having fun in America.  I really, really, really, really love you.    My usual game is touch and hopscotch and marbles.  Marbles are my favorite game to play.  Glory, Hallelujah, we got to help save a woman’s life and pay to burry a man.  I hope you guys have a really, really, really fun day.  Glory, Hallelujah, the Bible School started.  My second favorite game is playing baseball.  We set traps way into the bush to catch animals.  We almost caught some.  One of them got a haircut.  The other one got caught and excapped and got away from the trap.  We have plenty house churches so far.  I really like it in Africa.  Africa is on the mission field, the front line of the battle field.  It is mostly dirt roads.  There is only one place that has a cement road.  That is in town.  We have a sand box.  I like to play king of the hill.  I love you realy much.  Goodbye.

Update from Donny: (Pray for Don.  He is still missing USA).

I love all my friends and family in the USA.  We have fun her

e though.  I love all my friends.  I play and have fun with my friends.  We have been playing baseball.  We go play baseball with all our friends.  We try to help people learn to follow Jesus.  A long time ago people saw one snake.  People hit it with a stick but it got away.  Two days ago we killed a poisonous snake.  It was going into one of the guests houses.  Today, people saw another snake.  They hit it on the head and killed it.  Today, one snake died.  Another snake they hit with a stick and it died.  Dad said to me, it’s ok you can be scared.  If we see a big snake we tell people where it goes and people will find it and kill it.  After they kill it they throw it out.  It is fine.  People say yeah, the snake is finished.  Our motorbikes break often.  Dad has a hard time starting one of them.  We have heard that people in the United States are going to give money to buy new bikes.  This will help us.  Today, dad and I sat on a bench under the tent and talked.  Later mom said, where is dad?  I said, I don’t know.  I could not find him so I ran around and around and around.  I found dad under the tent.  He was talking on the phone.  We went on a walk and talked about the snake.  It is ok to be afraid of a snake.  I don’t think dad was afraid.  He said, we are going to eat it.  On our walk we sat on a bench.  I pretended to make food for dad.  Dad ate the food.  Later dad made pretend food for me.  We used sticks and leaves for our food.  Mom called us and told us that it was time to eat.  We had fun.  Yesterday, I played in the rain outside.  We played soccer.  It was so much fun.  I slipped and fell down.  It kept raining on me.  The water was so much it made a river.  Junior won the soccer game.  I slip and fell again.  We were playing in the mud.  Mom took a picture of me.  We took a lot of pictures.  Then I went swinging in the rain.  I slip and fell again.  When I got off the swing, I fell again.  Why?  Because it was still raining.  I had to change my cloths.  Tonight we played baseball game.  I hit the ball a far way!  I said, “Yeah, I am awesome.”  Junior hit the ball and it went really fall.  We had fun.  When it was finished.  Dad said, we can go on a walk just the two of us.  I threw water in his face.  When people see dad, they talk to him for a long time.  Now it is family time.  We played and finished then we came home.  Now we are having fun again.  Nanny and Papaw sent us a lot of pictures of the USA.  I miss everyone.  I love the picture book.  I wish I could hug Nanny and Papaw and Grandma and Grandpa.  Wow, I am strong. Yeah! I wrote a long letter!  I beat my brothers and sister!!