Weekly Missions Update: 11-29-17

Lassa Fever:

Last Friday, a precious 12 year old girl named Ruth died.  Ruth was part of our school sponsorship program.  Over a week ago, Ruth tested positive for malaria and immediately began her 3 day treatment plan.  Susan, our Physician Assistant, visited Ruth daily to monitor her health.  When Ruth did not get better, she was sent to our local clinic and was transferred to the hospital where she died 2 days later.  Ruth died of Lassa Fever.  Lassa Fever has many of the same symptoms as Malaria.  Since Ruth tested positive for malaria, no one diagnosed her for Lassa Fever until the day before she died.  By that time, it was too late.

I am at a loss of words when it comes to writing this post.  The truth is, our family loved Ruth and we are grieving.  Please keep Ruth's family in your prayers.

Lassa Fever is spread through rodents and can be passed from human to human through body fluids.  Since Ruth's death, our missionary community has been doing everything we can to keep the fever from spreading.  Ruth's clothes and mattress have been burned.  Ruth's house has been sprayed with bleach water.  Ruth's family has been asked to remain home while being observed.  Two times each day, Susan visits Ruth's house and takes the temperatures of her family while we try to get the rodent problem under control.  Please pray the fever does not spread.  Please pray for all who are grieving Ruth's death.

Liberian Thanksgiving:

If you were to ask a Liberian what they are thankful for, they will likely tell you, "I am thankful that my life has reached today."  For Liberians, holidays are viewed as life's mile markers.  With sincere hearts, they celebrate living long enough to see another one of life's mile markers.  Liberians die young.  This deeply grieves me.  I have learned not to take anything for granted and have found myself being more and more thankful for life itself rather than meaningless things.

Our missionary community held a Thanksgiving feast last Thursday.  The food was excellent and the fellowship was even better.  Lunch started at 1p.m. but everyone stayed until about 7p.m.  I praise God for the wonderful missionary community that He has placed us in.  We laughed together, shared testimonies, and truly had a great time.  

My children have a saying, "There's a time for feasting and a time for fasting."  They refer to our time in America as our time of feasting and our lives in Liberia as our time of fasting.  It is true there is a time for every matter under heaven (Ecc 3:1).  After leaving the Thanksgiving feast, I couldn't help but being torn by the two worlds that were pulling at my heart.  You see, while we were feasting, there were many outside the gate who were hungry.  To be completely black in white with you, while we were laughing and having a good time, precious Ruth was dieing.  My heart is driven to do more.  What we have done in the past is not enough!  I want to loose my grip on everything that still holds me back and live my life more committed to spreading the Gospel and to helping those who are suffering around me.  As we celebrate this holiday season, let us not forget the poor. 

REMEMBER

While we feast, many are hungry.

While we laugh, many are crying.

While we worship, many do not know Jesus.

While we enjoy our families, many are widows and orphans.

Let us truly enjoy this holiday season while remembering the poor.

Prince's Art:

Prince works full-time for our mission.  His job is to draw or paint the pictures that we use to reach the illiterate.  Through Prince's hand, beautiful pictures have been drawn that have led many to Christ.  Over the past month, we have put Prince to work, loving our special needs children.  

  

Here is a mural Prince just completed in our group home's therapy room.  Many of our children are nonverbal.  We try by all means to help them know that they are loved and adored not only by us but also by Jesus.  We painted this mural so they can see themselves with Jesus everyday.

Many of our foster parents are illiterate.  How can we communicate the daily needs of our children to them in a way they will not forget?  Prince has been drawing pictures of daily activities each of our children need to participate in.  These activities are therapeutic.  We will hang these pictures on a bulletin board in our therapy room and hold our foster parents accountable to completing these daily activities.  Let me introduce you to some of the most awesome children in the world through their daily activities charts that Prince helped us create.

Thank you for sending us a new ministry tool.  Last month our new IPad Pro arrived.  Prince is learning to do his art directly on the IPad.  Not only will this improve the quality of Prince's art but it will greatly speed up the process.  Prince calls the "machine" a "miracle."  He says, "it is powerful on the inside."  Fun!  This week, Prince's attention is being redirected back to drawing the Gospels.  He and I are working hard on creating lessons for the reopening of the Bible Institute.  We will be leading the Pastors through the Gospels this year. 

Meet the Apostle Peter.  This is the first picture Prince drew on the New IPad.  Not bad for having the "machine" for only a week!  Prince is a quick learner.  We will use this picture to help us tell the story of Peter falling asleep at the Garden of Gethsemane. 

Thank you for paying Prince's salary and for making his ministry possible!  

Pictures from last week:

Thank you for paying this man's medical bills.

Hannah just started school this week.  Thank you for paying her school fees.

Thank you for paying for a blood transfusion.

Melanie at the Thanksgiving feast.

Our missionary friends at the Thanksgiving Feast.

Sponsorship Opportunities:

Susan:  $375 monthly

We are looking for a sponsor or a group of sponsors to pay for our new physician assistant's salary.   Your sponsorship would enable us to hire Susan long-term.  Susan's salary is $375 a month (Note: This is the same salary the government pays physician assistants who work in Liberia's hospitals).  If you are interested in helping sponsor Susan's salary, please send me an email letting me know your intent.  My email address is don@hopeforhome.org. 

Praises:

1.  Last week, I posted a sponsorship request for a young boy named Christian.  God provided a sponsor for Christian. 

2.  Last week, I asked that you would pray for our missions finances.  You gave generously!  I praise God for your partnership.  Words cannot express my gratitude.  You give us the freedom to serve without worrying about finances.  Thank you!

Prayer Requests:

1.  I know that I sound like a broken record but please keep Liberia's presidential elections in your prayers.  There is still no progress in electing a new president.  Please pray for a peaceful transition of power.  

2.  Please pray for our community.  Please pray that we will not see more cases of Lassa Fever.

3.  Please pray for Ruth's family as they grieve their loss.

4.  Please pray for Kokoyah Road.  Pray that we will see many healthy churches started there.  

5.  Please keep my wife in your prayers.  Please pray God gives her wisdom as she home schools our children.

Weekly Missions Update 11-20-17

Every Disease and Sickness was Treated:

A week ago, we led our first mobile health clinic in a bush town named Denta.  When Jesus entered a town, He healed the sick and taught about the Kingdom of God.  Our clinics seek to do the same.  

Denta, a town of about 200 people, has a history of resisting the Gospel.  Though the town had a church, the church was far from being Christian.  The pastor and it's members participated in the dark demonic society.  During one of my early visits to Denta, this church gathered to welcome the town’s children back from the bush after being initiated into the demonic society.  These children walked to the cadence of a drum while being paraded through the town.  They wore hooded gowns and walked slowly with their bodies bent towards the ground.  The sight looked like something you would expect to see in a halloween movie.  
  

Four years ago, Cyrus and Orpah felt led to start a Christian church in Denta.  Every week, Cyrus walked 13 hours in and out of the bush to lead a Bible Study with five people as he struggled to start the church.  The town's people and the secret society fought against him.  The chief told Cyrus that he would never give land for the church to settle.  Despite many setbacks, Cyrus was faithful to his calling.  

After 3 years of ministry, Cyrus’ church grew to 14 members and the town relented, giving Cyrus this land to establish the church.  

We chose Cyrus' town as the sight of our first mobile medical clinic.  As we set up the clinic, Cyrus walked from house to house, handing out tickets to the sick.  After the town gathered, we thanked them for giving the church land to settle, we affirmed Cyrus' ministry, and we gave Cyrus the wonderful privilege of presenting the gospel to his entire town.

After Cyrus preached, the sick were called one at a time to have their vitals taken.  Medical charts were prepared and every patient was prayed over.  

Next, people were led to a waiting area behind the church where Cyrus presented the Gospel to them again, one on one.  Nine people gave their lives to Jesus.

Susan called the people into the church one at a time and treated every sickness and disease in the town.  




After Susan prescribed medicine, people visited our mobile pharmacy where they received free medicine and more prayer.  

By the end of our two day clinic, we had treated 104 patients.  We praise God for these victories:
-  Nine people gave their lives to Jesus.
- Cyrus' church's attendance doubled in size the Sunday following the clinic.
- Every sickness and disease in the town was treated.

45 of the patients we treated were children, 44 were adults, and 15 were elderly.  

Here were the diagnosis for the 45 children we treated:

40 were treated for worms

34 were treated for malaria

5 were treated for skin infections

5 were treated for UTIs

4 were treated for typhoid

4 were treated for scabies

1 child was diagnosed with an enlarged spleen

1 was treated for epilepsy

Random Pictures from the Mobile Medical Clinic:

Thank you for your partnership in the Gospel.  Cyrus is one of our students at the Remote Bible Institute.  Like many others, he is leading his church through the Romans study that we taught last year.  Please keep Cyrus and God's church in Denta in your prayers.  Please also pray for these mobile medical clinics.  Pray that we will be able to host more clinics in towns and villages where we are training pastors. 

Scott Hoffman's visit:

Last week, Scott Hoffman visited us from the States.  Scott is one of the directors of His Safe Haven. I praise God for his partnership and the rich fellowship we shared!  In this picture, Scott is meeting with two moms of special needs children who who are supported through His Safe Haven's ministry. 

While Scott was in Liberia, we hired 4 men to start clearing the 10 acres of land that we purchased for our special needs group homes, medical clinic, and training center. 

After the land is cleared, we will make a driveway, drill a well and begin construction.  

Scott helped me begin to prepare for two missionary families who will join us in Liberia, early next year.  These families will work full-time in His Safe Haven's special needs group homes.  Upon their arrival, my time will be freed up to reopen the Bible Institute.  Scott and I looked for housing solutions for these missionaries. 

Scott spent most of his time in our group homes.  Here are a few pictures he took of some of our children.

Liberty Elementary School:

Scott visited our elementary school.  I praise God for giving us a strong start to this school year!  Here are a few pictures Scott took while at the school.

All the students at Liberty Elementary School come from families who are greatly impoverished.  Without a good education, these children have no hope for a better future.  Thank you for sponsoring every student at Liberty Elementary School!  You are changing one life at a time! 

Sponsorship Opportunities:

Susan:  $375 monthly

We are looking for a sponsor or a group of sponsors to pay for our new physician assistant's salary.   Your sponsorship would enable us to hire Susan long-term.  Susan's salary is $375 a month (Note: This is the same salary the government pays physician assistants who work in Liberi'a hospitals).  If you are interested in helping sponsor Susan's salary, please send me an email letting me know your intent.  My email address is don@hopeforhome.org. 

Christian: $40 a month

Christian's sponsorship is close to my heart.  Christian lives in our neighborhood.  When we returned from the States, I was surprised to find him missing.  After asking around, I learned that his parents had moved him into the bush because they could not afford to feed him in Gbarnga.  I am seeking to intervene in Christian's life.  Christian has a history of steeling.  One day, I ran out of my house when I heard a child screaming for help.  I found Christian's mother burning him with a hot coal.  He was hungry and had stolen food to eat so she was teaching him a lesson.  She forced him to hold the scolding coal in his hand and rubbed it on his face as a punishment.  Christian is still a thief.   Christian's academic performance in the past has been poor.  Yet my heart truly breaks for him.  I am seeking someone to help me intervene in his life.  The road he is traveling is not a good one.  Christian's older sister, Hannah, has agreed to allow Christian to live in her house. Hannah is my neighbor.  Christian needs your sponsorship because Hannah, is still in school and cannot afford to feed him.  $40 a month feeds, educates, and medically treats Christian.  If you are interested in sponsoring Christian, please send me an email letting me know your intent.  My email address is don@hopeforhome.org.

Liberia through Scott's Lens:

One of the things I enjoy most about having visitors is seeing Liberia through the pictures they take.  Here is Liberia through Scott's Lens.

Typical open air market

Public school near Gbarnga

Typical house

Taxi

New road leading to Monrovia

Typical Town

Home

Our hometown, Gbarnga

Woman selling popcorn in Gbarnga

Gbarnga and motorbike taxi

Gbarnga

Just up the road from our house

Our pharmacy

Cotten wood tree in Gbarnga

One of our grocery stores

Streets of Gbarnga.  Mothers carry their babies on their backs and loads on their heads.

Clothes laid on the roof of the kitchen to dry

Typical bush community


Selling produce

Transporting drinking water in plastic bags

Typical landscape

Transportation

  

Garage

Transportation

Most people travel by motorbike or by walking

  

Kokoyah Road near town

Kokoyah Road farther in the bush.  These logging trucks are very dangerous. 

Place to stop and get a Coke

Bananas anyone?

Cargo and supplies are shipped in these trucks

Transporting ceiling tile.  They also use these boards for chalk boards.

Bush road.  Children from the bush village running to greet us.

Very good bush road

Bridge

Prayer Requests:

1.  Please keep Liberia's presidential elections in your prayers.  The election is held up in Liberia's supreme court.  People are talking about the possibility if a transitional government.  Please pray for a peaceful transition of power.

2.  Please pray for new monthly supporters.  Our mission's monthly income has seen a sharp decline recently.

3.  Please pray for our elementary school.  Pray that God gives our teachers wisdom as they disciple our children.  

4.  Please pray for my wife as she home schools our children.