July, 2015 Ministry Report

 Maryland Construction Project: 
The Maryland base construction project continues.  The walls are now finished for our residential building.  The roof is being worked on and should be done in August. 

Wordsower Bible Institute:  We finished teaching level one in French to our refugees.

Child Sponsorship: 
Currently, there are 51 children our mission is caring for.  James 1:27 says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."  Thank you for fulfilling this verse with us.  Praise God, last month, God provided 7 additional sponsors for our children.  Here are a few of their testimonies:

Mabel and Hope

Hope’s story:  
Hope was put out of school because she couldn’t pay her school fees.  The family is very poor and do not eat every day.  Hope is the third born child of four girls.  Hope’s father’s name is Joseph and her mother’s name is Mabel.  Joseph and Mabel were married until Hope was born.  Hope has one leg that is turned in therefore she has been labeled “crippled” by Liberia’s society.  Liberians believe crippled children are “devils."  They believe crippled child interacted with the evil spirit world while still in the womb.  They believe their interaction with these evil spirits is the reason they are born handicapped.  In the eyes of many, Hope is a devil and a curse on her family and neighborhood.  After Hope was born, Joseph determined to “destroy” Hope so she would not bring shame to the family.  Hope’s mother would not allow him to destroy her so Joseph left Mabel saying, “I don’t want to be with a woman capable of bearing crippled children.”  Mabel stayed single for the next 6 years until she met Kwenah.  After becoming pregnant for Nora, Kwenah left Mabel saying, “I don’t want to be with a woman who bears crippled children.”  Hope has grown up with the horrible “crippled” title.  She is shy / broken and desperately needs to know God’s love for her.  God provided a sponsor for Hope!  Please pray for Hope, her family, and the community around her.  

Princess, Baby Girl, Moba, and Christian

Princess, Baby Girl, and Christian’s story:  
Four years ago Princess, Baby Girl, and Christian were orphaned and moved in with their elderly grandmother.  The grandmother suffers from frequent sickness in which her belly swells like she is pregnant and then later reduces.  I don’t know the cause of the sickness but I wonder about her longevity of life.  The grandmother is widowed, all of her children have died, and all of her brothers and sisters are dead.  She and her three grandchildren are all that remains in this family.  The grandmother is too old and frail to work; needless to say, her family is very familiar with homelessness and hunger.  The best word that I can think of to describe their daily lives is, “Suffering.”  To add to their situation, Liberians are very superstitious people.  They believe that the only way a woman could lose all of her relatives is for her to be a witch.  Due to this superstition, very few people offer their family assistance.  As I look into the future, I see a good chance that these children will lose their grandmother to the sickness that plagues her.  Praise God, He has provided sponsors for all three of these children.  With God's help, we will come alongside of this family until all three children are raised. 

Thank you for partnering with us through child sponsorship!

Testimonies of disciples:  

David

Gbenquelleh, Bong County:  
We met a man named David and have started discipling him.  David lives in Sengbeh which is very close to Gbenequelleh.  David is a passionate follower of Christ who has had very little training in the Scriptures.  God has used David to start two churches.  One church is located in David’s hometown, Sengbeh and the other church is a three hour walk away from him hometown in Foloblai.  Every Sunday, David walks to preach at this church.  Last month, we preached in David’s church in Foloblai, visited David’s family and hometown, and started teaching David our Romans study.  

Gbechon, Bong County: 
We started meeting with a man named Paul.  During Liberia’s civil war, Paul was captured by rebel forces and was beaten without mercy.  While his captors were leading him out of the camp to kill him, He prayed and told God that if God would save his life, Paul would serve him the rest of his life.  The rebels did not execute him and his is passionately trying to fulfill his vow to God.  Paul has no Biblical training and is a poor reader.  He has started a small church in Gbechon.  We have started discipling Paul and have preached one Sunday in his church.

Cyrus and Opa

Denta, Bong County:  
5 years ago a missionary came to Liberia and began discipling Cyrus.  Though this missionary was forced to leave Liberia for health reasons after staying only a few short months, God used his time here to create a fire within Cyrus that is still burning today.  Armed with only a few months of discipleship and little Bible knowledge, Cyrus and his wife Opa began walking 5 hours one direction every week to a bush town called Denta.  Through much sacrifice, over the past 5 years, God used them to start a church.  We have started discipling Cyrus.  We have taken Cyrus on many mission trips.  He is an interpreter and a friend.

Prayer requests:  
Pray for a great revival to sweep through this country, pray that Liberia will have a healthy church in every village in our generation, and pray for our leaders who truly suffer for the Gospel.  Please make this a regular item in your regular prayers.  

June Statistics:  
- We went on 139 mission trips.  Many towns we went to more than once.  A mission trip can
   last a day or up to a week and go into many villages and towns. 
- We ministered in 197 towns, villages and communities
- We ministered in 38 new villages/towns
- 11 people were baptized
- 36 people completed our extensive Bible study program
- We printed 1,200 pages of training material
- We distributed 100’s of Bibles
- We purchased 2 motor bikes

Ministry Expense Report:

Mission expenses:
$1,524 – Pens, folders, Bibles, mission trips feeding, etc.  
$3,402 – Motor bike gas and repair, we purchased 2 more bikes.  Gas costs from $5 to $10 a gallon.       

Wordsower Bible Institute:
$44 - Print Shop supplies, paper, and parts.
$634 - Our Ivorian refugee disciples completed level 1 in French

Assistance to the poor:
$495 – Humanitarian assistance:  
$23 – Medical expenses (average treatment cost per person is $1.00 - $10.00).  
$706 – Assistance to Ebola Orphans, sponsored children and suffering children 

Team food and house supplies:
$3,000 – Food and house supplies (close estimate).  Our core team consists of 13 adults and 17 children.  To cover, clothes, food, batteries, soap etc.  Also, we feed visitors every day from our house funds.

$9,828 - Total for the month.     THANK YOU!   

Donations should be mailed to:

Wordsower International
P.O. Box 1648
Piqua, Oh 45356

Donations can also be made online by going to our web page: www.wordsowerliberia.com 
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 Tom Looker at 937-489-8090.

Thank you for your prayers and support,

“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance.  The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”  C. S. Lewis.

Counties, Cities, Towns, and Villages we have been working in:

Bomi County:  Beh, Jaway, Joes Town, Tubmansburg.  

Bong County: Baptist Clinic Community, Belefana, Blama, Chief Compound, Cuttington Univeristy, Dans, Deemita, Dorkpolorsue, Duita, Foebilla, Foloblai, Galatua, Gbalatua, Ganyea, Gbarnga, Gbarnga Central Prison, Gbarsue, Gbechon, Gbenniquileh, Gboque, Gbolue, Gbo-yhea-nyan,  Henry,  Henry Kpangbai,  James Flomo, Janyea, Jimmey,  John Suah,  Kakamue, Kandagai, Khakie, Kolleh’s, Kpaiketa, Kokoyah Community,  Kopata, Kortu, Kpon, Kponyea, Kpatawee, Lelekpayea, Lucky, Martarly, Moieta, Phebee Junction, Qualayarkuke, Sakpalah, Samay, Sengbeh, Smith, Suakoko, Tamayata, Taylor, Tuankan, Tubman Army Barracks.  

Grand Bassa County:, Baccoline, Botata, Barkon, Beh-La, Beletanla, Blameyea, Bucket-Ta, By-Dawoe, Bucannon Dayes, Goah, Nagbeh, Nyudeh, Penney. 

Grand Gedeh County: Albert, Army barracks, Badou, Bah, Bakor, Banana, Banglo, Bar, Bargblor, Bartejam, Bassa, Bassa Village 1 and 2, Bawaydee, Beagompo, Beezon, Beh, Bellyalla, Benin, Benla, Bently Mining Camp, Best, Better Hill, B’hai Tarway, B’Jozon, Blessing Hill, Billibo, Blown, Blue Camp, Boe, Boley, Boplue, Borbor Freeman, Border, Boundary, Bouduo, Brown, Buhou,  Butor, Cartumacy, Chandy, Chayee, Chebeh, Chebeor, Chensla, Chete, Civil, Compound, Crahold, Cotton tree Community, CVI gold mining camp 1, 2, 3, 4, Dark Forest Camp, Deplay, Deyan, Diahn, Disco Hill, Dogbar, Dolozon, Dougee Refugee Camp, Doubah, Double Bridge, Ducas Wulu, Duo Town, Dweh,  Enoch Nahn, Era, 48 mile, Franzay, Freeman, Frinkey, Gambo, Gambo Road Community, Garbo, Garley, Gave Thank Shilue, Gardweh 1 and 2, Garkel, Garley, Gaye, Gbakah, Gbarbo,  Gbarken,  Gbarzon, Gbarbor, Gbarzon Inside, Gbayea, Gbeyoubo, Gborlue, Gboe, Gboan, Geewon, Gboleken, Gborabo, Gambo, Geeha, Geeyah, Gleplay, Gloropardee, Go Look, Golo, Gorabert, Gorbowrogba, Goyeazohn, Graddeh, Grady, Grebo, Guagbo, Gwein, Gweledee, Gwenibo, Jackson, Jaibo, Jallah, James Glortoe, James Sayon’s, Jarbah, Jargbeh, Jarwleh, Jarzon, Jayjai, Jayteken 1, Jayteken 2, Jellu,  Jerry Tiah, Jimaca Camp, Joe’s, Joe’s Mother, Johban, John David, Jonesgbaye, Juahzon, Julutuzon, Juwar, Kadifah, Kanbli, Kanneh, Karlowleh, Kartumaside, Kayne, Kohn, Kojayee, Konobo, Koor, Kpallo, Krah, , Kpay, Kulee, Kuma, Kwebo, Ma Esther, Menyea, Middle East Camp, Momom Camp, Moses, Morris, Morris Dowho, New York gold mining camp, Neplubo, New Zwedru, News, Nyennawliken, Nico, Panwolor, Papa Hill Gold Camp, Papayea, Pellelzon, Pennue 1 and 2, Community, Penokon, Peter Saydee, Philip Torh, Pohan New and Old, Pineapple village, Ply, Plapp, Ploe Bodee, Pola, Polar Town, Polar Village, Pokor, Popo, Pourhyonnoh, PTP refugee camp one and two, Queboe, Rancy, Sally, Saiwaken, Sant, Savah, Savior Worbey, Saycon, Saylee, Sayebo, Sentrodu, Sewion 1, Sewion 2, Shouken, Sinkor, Sloman (a gold mining camp), Solo Inside, Solo Outside, Solo Refugee Camp, Sowaken, Steven, Suahken, Tagbayah,Talorkan, Taryee Beaway, Taye’s Village, Techiensla, Teladee, Tempo, Tiama, Tobolee, Toes Refugee Camp, Toes Town, Toffoi, Togbayee, Togbolee, Tojillah, Toueah, Towah, Tuglor, Tuzon inside, Tuzon outside, Vanyeazon 1 and 2, Varglor, Vleyee, Whybo, Wilking Paye Camp, Willie Jellu, Winner Gardueh, Wlagbo, Woloken, Wulu, Yardglo, Yarlee, Youbor, Zai, Zarzar, Zaiyee, Zaybay 1 and 2, Zeon, Ziah, Zilaken,  Ziulay, Zoe Bush, Zuabah, Zwedru, the county prison, 4 road check stations, and the county hospital.  

Grand Kru County: Baclaville City, Baclaville Check Point, Beach,  Beloken, Barclay, Bewane, Blikpo, Boniken, Big Suehn, Camp Spin, Ceitaa, Cladia, Company Camp, Dayokpo, Diakpo, Doubbo, Dweaken, Farina, Feeder-klee, Galaway Beach, Gbarken, Gbenken, Gblebo, Gedebo, Geneken, Genoyah, Glabroken, , Glabroken, Grand Cess, Iron Bridge, Jlatekpo, Jokekpo, Kladipah, Kelekpo, Klekali,  Leaceco, Newaken, Newinyen  Beach, Nokia, Nrokuia, Pinecess, Pity, Pogbaken, Poor River Big Town, Poor River Middle Town, Sass, Solokent, Solokpo, Sorroken, Tarpleh, Togba-klee, Topoh, Wilsonville, Woelowinken, Wropluken, Yambo, Ylatuen, Zoloken.  

Lofa County: Voinjama, Zorzor.

Margibi County: Army barracks, Barclay, Bovclay, Brown, Dolos Town, Harbel camp 7, Kpuyah, Mazoe, Naway, Sherflin Barak, Takata.

Maryland County: Bann Village, Barreken, Biladimour, Bonnikek, Brownell, Cain, Cavalla, Cavalla Konukridi, CRC Camp 3 and Camp 8, Gbolobo, Gbon, Dakay, Dannis, Dibleken, Doloken, Driver’s Camp, Dugboken, Dweaken, Face, Factory Camp #1, Factory camp #2, Factory Camp #3, Feloken, Fish, Free, Gbanken, Gbaso, Gboloken, Gedetabo, Geeken, Glofaken 1 and 2, Gwissiken, Halfgrayway, 7 locations in Harper, Henugba, Hnabo, Holegrn, Hospital Camp, Jebaiken, Judy’s, Kablaken, Karloken, Kings, Klodikle, Koffi, Koffibeo #1, #2, #3, Koluso, Konusod, Lexicon, Libsuco, Little Weleppo Refugee camp, Refugee Camp Town, Marfliken, Middle town, Nekpachelu, Nemelken, New Half and Whole Half, New Sodoken, Number 8 Camp, Graway Towns, Old Lady, Olegravic, Pedebo, 4 locations in Pleebo, Philadelphia Gold Mining Camp, Poceken, Pogbaken, Ponken, President Tubman farm camp #1&2,Pular, Pulla, Puluken, 

Quiloken, Refugee Village, Rock 1 and 2, Rock Town, Rubber Bag Camp, Saleken, Saydeken, Sawlowken, Saywonken, Siliken, Spring Hill, Teaken, Tugbaken, Warteken, Weah’s Town, Wechoken, Weleken Wholegrayway, Wuluplukredi, Wutuken, Yederobo Nyanbo Wessiken, Yederobo Wessiken, Ylehiken, Yelibibou, Ylahken, Yobloken, Yoploken, Yourken, Yulukridi, the county prison and check stations.  

Montserrado County:  Bannerville, Barkley Farm, Bassa, Gbenbah, Jacob town, Monrovia, New Georgia, Pipeline.  

Nimba County: Beatwo, Borbor, Boyee, Bleaseh, Burtein, Buutuo, Camp 1, Dialah, Dinplay, Fienney, Fluma, Freeman, Ganta,  Geapa, Gbanquoi, Gbanolu, Gbarwea, Glalay, Gonkopa, Gougartwo, Graie, Guotoin, John Strother, Karbah, Kpallah, Kpaytuo, Kpiekpoa, Kwendin, Logan, Mentor, Miller, Noway, Puayaker, Saclepea, Sagba, Sarlay, Tanwea, Tappita, Yopedi, Towah, Unification, Venn, Whea, Wontoe, Yiteepea, Your Peg, Wesseken, Zahnzayee, Zarwulugbo, Zautuo.  

River Cess County: Darhga, Gbee.  

River Gee County:  Bletiken, Cheboken, Deabo Klibo, Deabo Parken, Deabo Saykliken, Deabo Tugbaken 9, Deabo Youwolken,  Dweaken,  Fish Town, Fish Town Prison, Gbaweleken,Geeken, Jarkaken, Jarlatuken, Jaytoken 1, Jaytoken 2, Kanweaken, Kaytoken, Klaboken, Knonowloken, Knowluken, Myoken, Nyennawliken, Pairloken, Podroken, Putuken, Sargba, Sueaken, Sherriken, Suwloken, Sweaken, Tartiken, Tuaken, Tuobo, Tuumaken, Wartiken, Weah’s, Webbo Knoroken, Welegboken, Whesatuken, Worleken.  

 Sinoe County: Alvin Koon, Bah, Bannah, Bardoua, Beatuoken, Beeweyee, Bilibokee, Bluebarrack, Blumsville, Bluntville, Boah, B.O.P.C., Bortu Junction, Charlie, Cass Town, Ceeubo, Chea, Chawlue, Cheepoyee, Chebioh, Cheboken, Congo, Cura Wah, Dagbe, David Kuma, Deedo, Dejila, Deyankpo, Diayankpo, Dioh, Dodueken, Donnah, Down, Down the Mangrove, Eni, Farmersville, Fanfin, Fish, Funnioh, Gardoway, Gbalawin, GBC, Gbason, Gbliyee, Gbojuelville, Gbowe, Geblo logging camp, Geekin, Geekloh, Geelor, Grasphy, Greeneville, Greft, Greenville Hospital, Grigsby Farm, Jalay, Jaypoto, Jaytoken, Joazon, Joe Village, Jokoken, Jonny-Boy, Joseph Bloch, Juahnneh, Judu, Kakpo, Kamus, Karquekpo, Katuzon, Kelgbeh, Kilo, Kitatuzon, Korjayee, Kpantan, Kuwait Gold mining camp, Kwitouh, Lexington, Louisiana, Mama Creek, Melvin Lai, Money Camp, Monueh, Murraysville, Neinplikpo, New Kru, New, Nyanphio, Nyennwlejen, Nyonpoh Barrack, Panama, Patern, Patricia, Paul, Peace Camp (a gold mining camp), Pellkon, Penny, Plandiaba, Planksite, Pokpaken, Putu Jadweodee, , Poblee, Poheh, Po-River, Pogbaken, Polay, Prapee, Pratt, Prison of Sino County, Puogbaken, Pynes Town, Qutatozon, Red Hill, Saikas, Sackor, Sarpo Community, Sargbah, Saygbeken, Secthon Juaryan, Secthon New, Seebeh, Seedubo, Seth, Seetor, Saybaken, Saydee, Senquene, Seakpa, Seekon Pellokan, Sennajalh, Shakepeh, Shagbe, Shalee, Snoboe, Spansor Baily,  Spoken Boots,  Swangba, Swenpon, Tabti, Tarta, Tawn, Teah, Terison Gee, Tiakah, Titus, Tudee, Tuobo, Unification, Voobadee, Wiah, Wreenewet,  Zanwonjah, Zayzaz Kollie. 

From Death to Life

Front of Joseph's House

I want to share a testimony of how God has worked in a tragic situations.  I pray this testimony will encourage you to look to God no matter what season of life you are in.  

Look at the picture at the top of this post.  I took this picture last April when I visited Joseph’s house for the first time.  When Joseph built his house, he permanently etched Ecclesiastes 3 on his front wall.  I couldn’t help but feel the reality of this verse while ministering to his family while they were in the mists of deep sorrow and many tears.  Ebola devastated Joseph’s family.  At times, it killed 2 people each day in his house and in the houses of his family members.  By the time ebola had finished it’s toll on Joseph’s family, his wife, two brothers, and all his children except 1 were dead.  Joseph and his sister-in-law were left with 14 orphaned grandchildren to care for.

During their crisis, Joseph’s family’s homes were quarantined and the community turned their backs on them.  Joseph’s family was blamed for bringing the sickness into town.  From time to time, someone from the CDC would stop by their home, standing at a far distance, they would yell at Joseph’s family asking them for progress reports.  As family members died, Joseph’s family would help carry their bodies outside the house and wait for authorities to pick them up, never to see them again. 

There was a time when Joseph’s house was known as a place of death.  Now, God is making his home a place of life and a lighthouse to his community.  The house that was rejected and shunned is becoming a safe place for the community to come and hear about God’s love for them.  Joseph has become a very serious student of God’s Word and is taking his responsibility to pastor each of his grandchildren seriously.  Each morning and evening, Joseph’s voice can be heard on his porch teaching his grandchildren God’s Word.

First house church meeting at Joseph's house

Last Sunday, our family and some friends of ours, had the wonderful privilege of attending the first worship service Joseph held at his house.  Joseph meekly taught the story of John the Baptist and encouraged his family and neighbors to repent and turn to Jesus.  

The verse Joseph etched on the front of his house is quoted from the Bible.  Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 says,

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:  a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to morn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up , a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”

This verse gives us a healthy perspective for whatever season of life we find ourselves in.  If we are in a time of weeping, we should know that there is a time of laughing ahead of us.  If we are in a time of death, we should remember there is a time of birth ahead of us.  

It is important for us to know that the reverse is also true for us all.  If we are in a time of dancing now, we should know for certain that there will be a time of mourning ahead of us.  If we are in a time of planting, there will be times of uprooting ahead of us.  

So long as we have life in us, both realities of this verse will be true for us.  Our lives are short.  The Bible teaches us that life is but a vapor.  It is here today and gone tomorrow.  (James 4:14)  Life is very fragile and each day we have is a gift from God.  No one knows what tomorrow has in store for them.  In this life we will have trouble but take heart, Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33).   

I want to end this post by reminding us that there is coming a day when this verse will no longer be true for us.  In heaven, there will no longer be time for mourning, weeping, tearing down, hating, war, death….  Let us fix our eyes on things that are eternal while producing spiritual fruit here on this earth.  We have but one life to live.  I pray that each of us will be able to truthfully say the same words Paul the Apostle said in Philippians 1:22, “If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me.”

Have a blessed day!

God is closer than I thought

There is a truth that I found in Genesis 2 that has changed my perspective of God.  God is closer than I thought He was.  I have always known that God sustains me and watches over me but this truth opened my eyes to the level of intimacy that exists between God and me though I was unaware.

Genesis 2:7 says, “Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”

In the past, as I thought of this verse, I pictured lifeless man laying on his back on the ground while God bent over Him in an awesome moment of intimacy and breathed the breath of life into Adam.  I imagined Adam opening his eyes and finding himself staring face to face with God.  The first thing Adam saw was God’s face smiling over him.  After giving the breath of life to Adam, I thought Adam began to breathe on his own.   

Here is the truth in this verse that brings me to the point of awe and fills my eyes with tears in adoration of my God.  In our translations the word “breathed” is translated in past tense because the English language does not have the Qal Imperfect tense that is in the original Hebrew text.  Therefore, we read the word “breathed” as a one time event that took place in the past.  This is only part of the truth.  The Qal Imperfect tense speaks only of a part of the whole event from within the event.  Imagine cutting a cake into pieces.  Before the cake was cut, we called the whole cake, “cake.”  After it was cut, each small piece is also known by the same name, “cake.”  The same is true of the Qal Imperfect tense.  It represents a piece of the action that took place in the past and is still taking place in the present. 

Here is the amazing truth about Genesis 2:7.   The breath of life that God breathed into Adam is still happening today.  God is breathing into you and me this same breath of life right now at this very moment.  God is closer than we think!  

Let me ask you a question that shows the level of intimacy we experience with God.  The breath you just breathed, was it your breath or God’s breath?  Here is the truth, IT WAS BOTH OF YOUR BREATHS.  Amazing!  Awesome!  Every breath I breath is not mine alone, it is also God breathing in and through me.  It is, “OUR Breath” God.  You O Lord are amazing.  I praise Your holy name! 

As I discovered this truth, I felt like my eyes were opened just like Adam’s eyes were opened.  Like Adam I found myself in an awesome moment of intimacy with God as He was / is breathing the breath of life into me.  I felt Him smiling over me as I became aware of His amazing presence that was always there though I was unaware. 

I praise and worship God for His closeness.  I also praise Him for His amazing grace.  While I was in sin, God was still breathing into me and sustaining me.  Some people think God could never forgive them.  They also think God is far away from them.  The exact opposite is true.  So long as we have the breath of life in us, there is hope for us.  We have not gone too far from God.  God is closer than we think.  He patiently breaths life into us even while we are in sin so we can have every opportunity turn from our sins and return to Him.  What an amazing God we serve!
I also praise God because this truth allows me to rest securely at night without worry.  Where is there room for worry?  Worry becomes foolishness.  God sustains me not my own strength.  My breath is not my breath, it is our breath oh God.  You alone determine the length of my life.  You are in complete control.  God’s breath will sustain us until our purpose on earth is fulfilled and then we will spend eternity with Him (Read Acts 13:36).

Here is my prayer for you and myself.

Ephesians 3:17-19 says, “…I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long, and high, and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge…”  My prayer is the same, Father, help us know your Love that is beyond our ability to know.

Mel's Update from Liberia

My friend Ruth

Dear all my precious Friends and Family,

Greetings from Liberia! In fact, I must tell you, "Happy 26!!" This is Liberia's Independence Day.  It was post-poned a day because they cannot celebrate 2 holidays in 1 day.  (You see, Sunday, was the Lord's day..)  It was a really fun day!  I didn't realize this but July 26 is a BIG day!  People wake up bright and early and begin to cook.  In fact, by 7:30 in the morning, we had already been gifted 2 different meals by 2 different families.  Everyone dresses up in their finest clothes.  Not very many people have the funds for this but if they were able, they would then get their picture taken and then get it printed off.  Then they will have a family photo for the year.  What a blessing to be able to be apart of different people's lives today.   (As a gift to our neighbors, we took different families' pictures and then later on in the week, Don will get them printed off and then give them to the families.)  Don did not try to get that done today because we heard from all that it would be wise to stay away from town.  I really think that July 26 may be a bigger holiday around here than Christmas.  The crowds of people were so large that on Saturday, (3 days before "26", that they had 4 police men directing traffic.)  Now, I know what you are thinking.... 4 police men???  No big deal.  But if you only saw the traffic and the way people cross intersections, you would be highly surprised that there are not police men directing traffic on a normal basis.  So to think of 4 police men actually needing to direct traffic with the standards over here.  Wow.... I can only begin to imagine... I walked around with Don for awhile to get people's pictures.  Oh we had such fun expressing our thoughts with everyone looking so wonderful in their best clothes.  And then to give to take their pictures was so fun as well.  What a fun thing!

Well, on another note, I truly can NOT believe that it has been almost 4 months since we left the States.  In some ways, it seems just like yesterday when we moved in our new house in Gbarnga, (pronouced like Bonga but with a slight G sound at the beginning.  You can practice saying it but a Pelle person would tell you that you are pronouncing it wrong.  Trust me, I have practiced much to no avail, I can't say it right.)  Mostly, we are just missing family and friends.  Infact, Don and I were talking that we wish that we could simply go away for an afternoon :) to visit everyone and then come right back here.  But we all know that it is simply not that easy, so here we are....

My husband and I celebrated our anniversary this week.  Oh what a good day it was.  My precious children really loved on us/me.  Grace sewed us a few things and gave us flowers.  Christian found me comfortable flip flops for when I can't seem to find my shoes.  (It seems that there is a point at least once a week, when I can't locate one of my flip flops so I borrow his shoes to take something outside.  (Oh the joys of being able to fit into my kid's shoes..) So he thought that I would like a back up. ;)  Grace found a BIG bag for me for when I go to the market I will have a bag to put my groceries in.  Trust me, the market is completely different than going to the super market and I know that I will use the bag especially because we don't have. carts to put the groceries in...  Little Don found me a small purse with lots of compartments in it.  He told me that he thought it would work better for when I am carrying all my goods when I am shopping in the market because it is smaller.  I tell you the truth, I am so loved.  Then, my friend ( a dear friend from Switzerland) watched the kid's so that Don and I could spend the day together.  It was so good.  We went out to lunch at a place kind of similar to last year's Florida.  It is called The Hill Top.  Then we came home and made brownies but I burned them.  I have an oven but everything cooks so fast, most times, I burn them.  We played a game and talked for several hours.  Then I made popcorn and watched a movie.  It was such a good day together.

Life here is good.  Mostly, the kid's and I are very busy with finishing up school for the year.  We are almost finished and will take a 2-3 week break before we start up our new curriculum.  A friend will be bringing our next year's curriculum on Aug 17th.

Believe it or not, this week has been chilly.  We spent a lot of the days in our sweat shirts and socks or wrapped up in blankets. (Especially, the nights, they have been frigid.) ;) I checked the temp with my thermometer just now for an example, and it said that it is 76.4 degrees out.  See what I mean? Completely, frigid. :) :)  I am sure that you understand completely when I say that the kids even have their heavy sweat shirts on with blankets wrapped around themselves.  And I have my flannels p.j.'s on, with blankets wrapped around me, and I'm seriously thinking about finding some more socks that are still tucked away in my suitcase.  (All my other socks are dirty thanks to my feet being cold lately.) ;)

Well, love you all dearly!  Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support and encouragement!  We so appreciate and miss each and every one of you!

Love, Mel (and family) :)  :)  :)

PS.  I will try to write sooner this time.  I tell you the truth, the days and then the weeks fly by here.  Since everything takes longer to do here and since we go to bed earlier here, it seems that the days are only half as long here compared to the states.  Have a super week!!