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October 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. 

This was our busiest month ever thanks to the new bikes and plenty of gas.  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 143 mission trips, visiting 79 villages and other locations and we made many other local mission trips. Our longest mission trip was 2 weeks the shortest a few hours.  10 attended our 2 week Bible Institute. We printed and distributed approximately 28,000 pages of teaching material (We purchased a new copier for about $2,000).  27 were baptized and 24 completed our extensive Bible study program.  Jesus film was shown 2 times in the local dialect to over 200.  We had 3 1-2 days conferences.  We acquired 3,900 Bibles. 

Some highlights of the month

Testimonies from the Bible Institute: Last month we graduated our 3rd class of students from the Bible Institute level 1 courses.  We had 10 students in attendance.  I just returned from a mission trip in which I visited 4 towns and 2 former students of the Bible Institute.  Lois graduated the Bible Institute 1 week ago.  Already he is discipling people from 2 towns that have no churches.  His hometown is called Gbabo and the other town is called Pennizon.  When I met with the disciples from Gbabo, I was encouraged by their commitment to the Lord.  I told these young believers that I believed I was looking in the eyes of church leaders who would establish a church for the first time in their town and would bring the Gospel to every person in their town.  They all gave a hearty “amen.”  I told them we would train them as they started the church.  They agreed to meet for the first time as a church this one week after Lois graduated from the Bible Institute.  I praise God for what He is doing.  As I prepared to leave Gbabo, Lois asked me if I had time to go and encourage the disciples in Pennizon.  While meeting with these disciples, I had the same experience with them as I had with the believers in Gbabo.  Where is Lois today?  He recently got on one of our new motorbikes and traveled to Jailbo and Pola.  His vision is to start churches in all 4 of these towns!  Praise God for what He is doing! 

While on mission, I spent time in Gborlu and Paynes town.  Paynes town is deep in demonic worship.  This is a hard, hard place to minister.  My goal in going to Paynes town was to meet and encourage a man named Payne.  Payne attended our second Bible Institute class. He is daily fighting an intense spiritual battle.  Please keep him in your prayers.  He has about 30 young people he is discipling.  While talking with Payne, people outside the hut said, “all the white man came here to do is to try to destroy dancing with the devil.”  They did not approve of my coming.  Please pray for this town.  Simply put, the town is ruled by the devil.  The devil (witchdoctor) has been brutal in the past.  Please pray for Payne as God uses him to deliver his town.  I am certain as the church takes root, God’s disciples will be persecuted there.  Please pray. 

Testimony from Kim Smith: Delta 1 as they call him, was also a former commander of the war.  I met him in a bar on a Sunday in the capital city, Monrovia.  The whole bar became a congregation.  All listened to the word of God and prayed for forgiveness.  Many of them are now doing our Bible marking study.  Delta 1, I discovered, is good friends with the other two former commanders that have join us and that I have written about.  He is studying and preparing to come to our Bible Institute.  The army grows!

Purchasing of another ¼ acre lot: Praise God for more answered prayer!  We had been praying for the ¼ acre lot that boarders our existing property.  In the past the owner did not want to sell.  After days of prayer Kim was preparing to go to him and ask him again.  But, before Kim went, the man came and asked if we would buy it.  Sold!  We plan on using it for our permanent press house, a storage building, bike shelter, and future expansion of our Bible Institute.  And, maybe to store water well drilling equipment and supplies, read below. 

Preparing for the printing presses:  Our printing press shop is on the boat and should arrive in the port mid November.  We are now changing our storage and bike garage into the temporary press house. We need prayer!  The equipment weights about 3 tons.  It is too fragile to travel the terrible Liberian road from Monrovia, the capital, to Zwedru.  It will have to be flown in.  Thank our Lord that Samaritan’s Purse, Billy Graham’s organization, has agreed to fly it to us by plane or helicopter at no cost.  But there are issues.  How do you pick it up and get it through the door of a small plane?  We need prayer.  We may need to put it in a net under the helicopter, issues there also.  We need prayer, please pray with us.

Clean Water for all: We are in discussion with two other organizations about working together, The Last Well and Water of Life.  They are committed to evangelism, church planting and clean water for all in Liberia.  We are praying to see how we could work together.  We may be given the assignment of drilling wells in the South East region, our region, of Liberia. It may be that we will get trucks and all necessary well drilling equipment.  We at first would put water wells in all the places we have started churches and then use it as a tool to plant churches in the Muslim communities.  This also would give our missionaries much needed jobs.  During the day they would put in wells in the evenings establish and strengthen churches. The Last Well’s goal is clean water for all Liberia this decade.  Pray about this with us. 

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,

I miss you all.  I have a lot of fun here.  I went on mission last weekend to Gbabo, Pennizon, Gborlu, and Paynes Town.  It was a nice trip.  We started two churches.  It is amazing how kids here look at you as a white kid.  They will sit and stare at you until you leave.  It is real fun to sleep on bamboo beds in the bush.  While on mission I told some Bible stories, went to church, and that’s about it.  Kim has a duck.  It’s name is, “Eat me not” because here if someone gets hungry for a duck it’s name is “Eat me, Eat me, Eat me.”  Anytime an animal stops producing or it is no longer useful it’s name is “Eat me, Eat me, Eat me.”  We raise chickens and ducks here.  Chicken is one of the best meats here.  I like catching the chickens.  It is fun because you have to run around while the dogs chase them.  To tell the dogs to chase the chickens you say, “Sha, Sha, Sha.”  Tommy raises ducks.  His duck’s name is Love.  He says that he won’t kill it but I think he will get hungry for duck one day and it will be gone.  I am going to raise chickens because they are faster to reproduce.  After raising chickens I will add on ducks, then sheep, and then goats.  Maybe, just maybe I will get a cow one day.  Here, you can get animals a lot cheaper because they don’t know the American price, so we got our dog for around $5.  He is a really good dog.  I like catching chicks because they calm down and you can pet them.  Here, if a hen has chicks and you try to touch one of the chicks, the hen will jump up and kick you.  I learned this one the hard way.  Sometimes the mom will abandon the chicks at a young age.  When that happens I can pick them up with no problem.  There are ant hills on our new property.  They are fun because we climb on them.  There are 4 large ant hills that we like to play on.  I love you all.  Goodbye.

Love,

Christian

Update from Grace: 

Hi, I miss you all very much.  I really like it here.  It is very fun.  So far, w e have been doing school.  We do school Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.  Last Monday we had a family day because Saturday and Sunday Daddy went on mission.  We learned a game here called bebeo.  You draw a circle in the dirt and then you have people stand on the circle line.  Then you go A, B C, D chulan as you go around and touch different people.  Then the last person who has not gotten chulan will have to say bebeo.  When they say bebo, the other people who have gotten chulan say “Payol” The person who said bebeo will say, “I must come?”  The other people will say yes or no.  If they say yes then the person who said bebeo will run and try to touch their hair.  Those who make it back into the circle are safe.  Do you know what Biblos means?  It means book.  Do you know what souris means?  It means lizard.  Do you know what dinosaur means?  It means terrible lizard.  I am in 2nd grade now.  Thank you so much for the building stuff you have bought.  Thank you for the motorbikes and gasoline.  Thank you for partnering in our ministry.

Love,

Grace  

Update from Tommy:

I like it here.  I can’t wait to see you all again.  Did you know that I am raising a duck and its name is love.  I love you all really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really much.  I love you all.  We have a new property.  There are ant hills on it.  We like to climb the ant hills.  I can’t wait to see you all.  How are you doing?  Are you well or not well?  Are you sick or not sick?  I love you really, really much.  So, we have plenty of friends here.  One of our good friends is named Junior.  Junior is a good friend.  I can’t wait to see you again.  Bye.

Love,

Tommy

Update from Donny:

I like playing with Junior.  I want to play a game with Junior

and Junior w ants to play with me.  After playing, I want to climb the ant hills.  I like playing with my cars, soccer ball, basketball, and baseball.  I am going to have a lot of fun today.  I like to play jump rope.  My friends and I like to play hide and go seek.  I like to be it and to run and find all the kids.  Yesterday our family had a family date.  We went out to eat and played old maid.  We ate at a restaurant named Florida.  I ate a pop, french fries, and chicken.  It was really good.  We don’t go there very often, only on special days.  I had a lot of fun.  Sometimes we do family movies.  Last week, Daddy and Christian went on mission.  While they were gone we had fun.  We played games and watched a movie.  We played cars in the sandbox and in the house.  Last week I played with my legos.  It was fun.  I was excited.  I want to say hi to all my friends and family in the United States.  I love you all.  I can’t wait until Grandpa comes and visits in April.  We have a long time before we will go home to visit.  I love you.

Love,

Don

Mission to Jellue Town

Our prayer is that there would be a healthy church in every town and village of Liberia within our lifetime.  Most towns do not have churches in them.  Yesterday, Donny and I visited Jellue Town.  Jellue Town was once ruled by the devil (witch doctor) and the devil's dancers.  Today, there is a healthy church there.  Nearly all 100 citizens of Jellue Town have become Christians.  The church was started by two men named Jefferson and James.  Both of these men attended the Bible Institute.  While meeting together we made plans to bring the Gospel to Kuma Town and Zabay Town.  Kuma and Zabay are still ruled by the devil and his dancers.  Please pray for these towns.  Kuma town has a church but the pastor is from out of town and only visits once a month.  Zabay does not have a church.  This Saturday we will be on mission in these towns.

There is no road to Jellue Town.  I believe Jellue Town has to be one of the most remote places on earth.  To get to Jellue town, we travel on motorbike until we could not travel anymore.  Then we walked on foot 3 hours deep into the bush (we took a wrong turn in the bush so our trip was longer than needed).  Along the way, we had to cross several natural bridges like the ones in these photos and climb many steep hills.  We carried all our supplies on our backs and enjoyed every step we took.  The walk was beautiful.  The air was cool and damp.  The trees were huge and beautiful unlike anything in America.  The birds and other creatures in the rainforest serenaded us with their songs. 

Lasanna is the man in this photo who is helping Donny.  Lasanna was a former rebel soldier during Liberia's Civil War.  About 5 months ago Lasanna gave his life to Christ.  Now, Lasanna servers in God's army.  Lasanna has become a very close friend and goes on most mission trips with me. 

While in town, Donny told Bible stories to children while Lasanna and I trained church leaders.  In Liberia, parents often put their deaf children outside the town to die believing the children will bring a curse on their family if they don't.  God is using Donny to change the hearts and customs of many Liberians.  He is always warmly welcomed and loved in every town we visit.  In this photo, Donny is signing while I interpret.  Adults stood outside the house listening to Donny's teaching. 

We have a lot of fun while serving our Lord.  Here is a short video of Lasanna trying to cross a tricky part of the river.  I almost fell in while crossing so I stopped 1/2 way across the river and told Lasanna that I wanted to video him crossing in case he fell.  I videoed while still standing above the river on the log.  Lasanna laughed at me and the rest is history.  Don't ever think that we are suffering in Liberia.  We are not suffering, we are having the time of our lives!  Every morning I wake and thank God from the bottom of my heart for giving our family the opportunity to serve Him in Liberia.  Everyday we feel the joy that is found in seeing God do things through our lives that we know we could not have done on our own.

Soap Making Business

We are helping a few of our friends start a soap making business.  I pray that it will be successful!!  Please pray with me.  My friends are suffering because they have no money.  I don’t use the word suffer lightly.  Last month, we bought a bucket for one of them so they could get water for their house.  Later, I overheard them praising God from the depth of their soul for the bucket.  They didn’t do it for show.  It was real.  I still am shocked by poverty.  It has both ugly and beautiful sides.  It is ugly because of suffering.  It is beautiful because those who are in true poverty seem to be the most thankful people I know.  I hate the suffering!!  I deeply love the people!!  

God Bless,
Don Riley