November 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

Some highlights of the month

Sino Road

Our prayer is that there would be a healthy church in every town and village of Liberia within our lifetime.  For this prayer to be fulfilled, God must enable us to both start and maintain healthy churches.  Most towns have no churches.  This breaks our hearts!  Several towns say they have a church but they really do not.  Their pastor may be the town drunk or a thief who uses religion for his personal gain.  I want to take you on a journey down Sino Road to give you a taste of what ministry is like here.  To give you an idea of how remote Sino Road is, the maps that I have created are the most accurate maps that I know.  I have found only one map in Liberia that has Sino Road on it but the towns and roads are located in the wrong places.  Here is a map I am creating.

Pola: Healthy Church
When you leave our base and travel southeast the first town you come to is Pola.  Pola is easy to miss because it is located on a small bush road off the main road.  Pola once had no church but by God’s grace He has enabled Wordsower to start a healthy church there.  Praise God!

Jarba Town: No Church
Wordsower has done much ministry in Jarba Town but have been unsuccessful to date at starting a healthy church there.  The town loves dancing with the devil (witchcraft).  We are working with a leader named Gabriel in this town.  It is still too early to know if Gabriel will be a serious disciple of the Lord.  Please pray for Jarba Town.

Pennizon Town: No Church
The people of Pennizon still dance with the devil.  We are working with two men from Gbabo to try to reach into this town.  Please pray.

Gbabo: Church is Starting
Last weekend, we worshiped with 55 people who have started a house church in Gbabo.  Please pray for this church.  It is the first church ever in Gbabo but it is young and still unstable.  Once a month we meet with leaders from Jarba, Pennizon, and Gbabo in Gbabo for discipleship and training.

Zabay, Kuma, Pennue Towns: Churches are being Started
There are two men who are pastoring a church in Jellue who are working hard to start churches in these towns.  Currently they are meeting with Christians in Kuma and Zabay once a week for discipleship.  Please pray for these towns.  They still dance with the devil but they are open to the Gospel.  Once a month, we meet with leaders from Zabay, Kuma, Pennue, and Jellue in Kuma for training.

Gborlue: Healthy Church
Most of the people in Gborlue worship together on Sunday morning.  There is no more devil dancing in the town.  The Pastor’s name is Camara.  He is very serious about the Lord.  He is the man we are working with to help start churches from Gbabo to Pynes Town.  Praise God for what He has done in this town.  Once a month, we meet with leaders from Gborlue to Pynes Town for training in Gborlue. 

Sluma Gold Mining Camp: No Church
Wordsower has spent much time in Sluma but there is not a self supported church yet.

Gorbowragha and Khadaffi: No Church
To my knowledge there are no churches in these towns.  We will be on mission December 14 in these towns and hope to begin working with them to see churches started.

Pynes Town: Struggling Church
Pynes Town is a stronghold of the devil.  This town has a feared reputation even among the Liberians.  Our missionaries have been bound and beaten by the devil (witchdoctor) in this town.  There is a church in Pynes Town but its influence in the town is still small.  The church leaders have suffered persecution.  Please pray that the Gospel would set this town free from the oppression of the devil!

Writing and Recording

Jesus once said, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Matt 9:37, 38).  This verse is abundantly true of Liberia.  The fields are ripe for the harvest but there are only a few workers.  There are no missionaries in the interior other than Kim, Melanie, our children, and me.  I believe most people are scared to come here because of the “Black Magic” (witchcraft).  The interior has a history of witchcraft, sacrifices, murder, torture, rape, and cannibalism which scares people away.  Here is the truth, there is nothing to fear!  The fields are ripe for the harvest.  Everyday we are surrounded by people who were greatly feared in the past but are extremely open to the Gospel today.  They desire a different life.  Who will bring in this harvest?  We believe the Liberians must bring in this harvest.  When we enter a town we must be able to reach someone for the Lord, quickly train that person to lead others to Christ, and train Christian leaders from within that town to pastor the community.  In so doing, we have to be able to take someone who knows little or nothing about the Bible and quickly equip them so they can teach the Bible.  We accomplish this through the Bible Institute and on the field training.  We are in the process of writing (for the literate) and recording (for the illiterate) a study through the Book of Romans.  We are writing this study so leaders who have never read Romans will learn the book of Romans so they can teach it to those they are leading.  I am constantly amazed by how fruitful Liberia is.  During this past 3 weeks, over 200 copies of the first 8 weeks of this study were given out only to church leaders who are using it to teach others.  Last week, I went on mission to a town I had never been in before.  Word of the study had already reached the ears of the church leaders in that town.  They requested a copy of the study.  Wow!  If these 200 leaders teach only 10 people (I know they are teaching much more), the study is already touching 2,000 lives.  Praise God!  What a privilege we have in serving our King!  For fun, you can click on the link below to read the first 8 weeks of the Romans study.  If you read it, please feel free to make edits and send it back to me.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5Xgce5dX2DpVDNzaHdwRUJfdkU/edit?usp=sharing

Print Shop

Our print shop has cleared the ports in Monrovia and was flown to Zwedru via Samaritan’s Purse Airplane.  I praise God for this new tool.  Thank you for sacrificing to bring this to us.  I know many people will come to faith in Christ because of the training material it will print.  Thank you!

Thank you again for our motorbikes

Each time I go on mission, I get on a new motorbike full of gas.  I know these bikes came at a great sacrifice for many of you.  Thank you!  Gone are the days of being left stranded in the bush.  Each month, we are going on a record number of mission trips into unreached areas.  Thank you!  The Bike’s engines hardly cool before they go back out on mission.  When a missionary returns from a mission, the bike is quickly looked at by our in-house mechanic and then loaded again for the next mission.  The bikes already have thousands of miles on them.  Thank you!  I like to call our bikes “horses.”  Each bike is numbered between 1-10.  Lasanna and I go on most of our mission trips together.  I always tell Lasanna, “#7 or #3... is the horse that will carry us into battle today.”  Loading the bike with supplies, running the bike through its checklist, and packing my backpack always feels like a soldier preparing for war.  What a joy!  What a privilege!  Thank you for partnering / sacrificing with us for our King!  We are truly Blessed!

Kim was in Monrovia preparing the print shop to be transported to our base during the writing of this update.  I will not be able to submit the statistical side of my report until he is able to slow down... probably mid month.

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.  It is fun here.  Our dog “Puppy” just had 7 babies.  They are super cute.  I like playing soccer.  It is fun.  I can’t wait until the printing press comes.  Dad just helped us make bunk beds.  They are really nice.  I have a shelf in my bed.  I also built a place for me to sit and read at night.  I also made a door on it that can be locked.  I have the top bunk.  My brother, Don, has the bottom bunk.  Grace has the bottom bunk on her bed and Tommy has the top.  Our new puppies are so cute.  We just found out today that our dog “Hope” is sick.  I was amazed at how dogs come out.  We finished our generator house.  It looks nice.  Last Sunday, we went on mission to a church in Gbabo.  It was a nice mission.  The church is like a house church.  I taught about Jesus’s birthday.  Goodbye friends and family.  I love you all. 

Update from Grace:

I miss you all very much and I was playing soccer ball today and I was winning and winning and winning and winning.  It is really fun here.  We have a dog named, “Puppy.”  It has 7 baby pups.  They got born today.  It is very fun here.  We have great friends.  One of my friend’s name is Pophina.  She is a very sweet girl.  She is one of my best friends.  I have a dog named, “Hope.”  He is a really good dog.  I love to play jump rope and play a game named touch.  Thank you for the motorbikes.  They are very useful.  The motorbikes are going out on mission constantly.  Thank you for the one year’s worth of gasoline.  I went on mission.  It was very fun.  I taught about Jesus’ birth and went to 3 places.  One is a house church that we started, another was a church, another town had no church.  Don went on mission.  It is on video.  He fell while being videotaped.  It was hilarious.   
Love, 
Grace  

Update from Tommy:

I love you all.  I can’t wait to see you.  It is fun here in Africa.  I met many new friends.  One of our good friends is named Junior.  He is a really good friend.  There is another friend that is named Chanco.  Chanco caught a bird.  The bird is a baby bird.  Chanco is going to raise the bird.  I found a nest and gave it to him so he can raise his bird.  I went on mission.  They built a road.  I taught some kids.  I taught about Noah’s flood and John the Baptist.  “Puppy” got seven pups. 
Love,
Tommy

Update from Donny:

Last month, Dad and I went on mission.  We walked a long time.  I was walking and looked back and fell.  It was funny.  We walked a really long time in the bush.  We baptized, taught, and then walked back.  I taught about John the Baptist.  Last Sunday, I also went on mission.  Christian talked about Jesus’ birthday.  I taught second about John the Baptist.  Dad also taught.  When we went on mission into the bush we had to cross a big river by walking on a fallen tree.  Our friend Lasanna almost fell into the water.  We walked across several rivers on logs.  I was really tired and hungry by the time we got there.  On the way back, we found a truck that had come on a road into the bush.  We rode the truck back to the main road.  The truck went fast through a very bumpy bush road.  We were in the bed of the truck.  When we went into town, Dad took me out to eat.  It rained on us and I got really cold.  When we got home, I warmed up and felt better.  Last week, we made bunk beds.  We worked hard.  Now the whole family sleeps in the same room.  Mom and Dad moved their mats into our room so they don’t have to set up their beds every night.  Mom and Dad still sleep on the floor.  I love you.  I miss you.
Love,
Don

God Bless,
Don Riley