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.
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