Hope for Home, Liberia: March 2018

STORM RELIEF:

Thank you for fixing and replacing many roofs in our neighborhood. Last month, we had two destructive storms sweep through our area. So far, our mission has been able to help repair or replace 26 roofs. Our role has been to assess the needs, to choose families to assist, to purchase and deliver roofing supplies, and to monitor each home to ensure the work is done properly. Here are testimonies from the last five roofs we replaced:

Roof 1: There is a very poor family that lives about a mile from our house. Their house has strong walls but the roof has been a problem for some time. Due to their poverty, they could not afford new zinc (metal roofing) so they took old, rusty scrap pieces of zinc and put them on their roof. They could not afford nails to hold the old, rusty zinc down so they placed sticks and rock on top of the zinc. The storm blew much of the roof away. This family did not seek us out. We were driving by and saw their need and stopped to offer assistance. Friday, we delivered everything they need for a strong roof. Many from their community gathered and praised God for His provisions. The family was shocked that we would help. We told them that as they sleep at night and see the zinc above them, they should remember that God is their provider. He knows when they sit and when they lay down.

Roofs 2-3: There was a widow who came to me. As she told me about the storm damage to her house, she began to cry. “I have no one to help me,” she told me. “What am I going to do?” When I visited her house, I noticed that the storm had carried away most of her roof. Her house was made from mud brick and mud mortar. The rain has been filling her house with water. As the water drains through her mud wall, the house is slowly weakening. While looking at her roof, I noticed that her neighbor’s roof was badly damaged as well. Five ladies were living in this house. We took measurements for both houses. Later when we returned with zinc and nails, there was instant, spontaneous worship and dancing. Some from the community gathered around and said, “See what God can do!” Later that day, we delivered all the wood they needed. This surprised them. They thought we were only bringing zinc and nails. This time, the old ma fell to her knees and praised God. For each person we helped, we encouraged them to let their roofs be a memorial, reminding them that God is their provider and their helper.

Roof 4: There is another poor widow who lives close to a swamp. As I surveyed the storm damage the Lord put her house on my heart more than the others. This woman’s roof was eaten by termites and was badly damaged by the storm. Later in the week, young men picked up pieces of zinc from her yard, set them back over her roof, and placed rocks and sticks on top to hold the zinc in place. The woman said she couldn’t wait to go to church to tell everyone about the great thing that God had done for her. We provided all she needed for a new strong roof.

Roof 5: There is a poor, single mother that our family has been helping for years. Her children are in our school sponsorship program. When we first met, she was very deceitful and lied to get what she wanted. Last year, she started going to church. We are starting to see change in her life though we still do not trust her very much. The storm took away half of her roof. We provided zinc for that half of the roof.

Today, we will be providing roofing material for this house. Thank you for partnering with us in the Gospel! You are bringing hope to those who felt hopeless!

“WE ARE NOT TOO POOR TO GIVE”

Thank you for blessing our church family. Gbarnga Christian Fellowship has been in existence for a little over a year. Though our church is young, God has used it in many ways. Last month, our church took a special offering to build permanent walls for our church house. Our church’s normal weekly offering totals between $15 - $20. Our church members are among the poorest in the world. As our church members prepared to give, I heard them saying, “We are not too poor to give.” The total of their special offering was $250. I know some people gave all they had out of their deep love for the Lord and for our church.

On behalf of our entire church family, thank you! What we could not do for ourselves, you did through your giving! When the church heard about your generous gift, they responded by volunteering their labor to complete the church’s walls. I am humbled as I watch our church members working. I wonder to myself if they even have food in their homes to eat. Their words keep going through my mind... “We are not too poor to give.”

MOBILE MEDICAL CLINICS:

Last month, our mobile medical clinic visited two bush towns, Denta and Duaita. Our medical team seeks to strengthen the local churches we work with by treating the sick and by introducing people to Jesus.

Large crowds come to our clinics because many of the towns we work in are remote and have little access to medical care.

Before the clinics start, our physician assistants give a health talk geared towards improving the health of the town and the pastor presents the Gospel.

Every step our patients take is a step of prayer. After having their vitals taken and their medical charts prepared, every patient is prayed over.

While waiting to see a missionary physician assistant, our church planting team meets, one on one, with every patient. They make sure each patient understands the Gospel and encourages them from the Word of God.

After seeing a missionary physician assistant, the patient is prayed over again.

The moms from His Safe Haven's group homes take turns going on mission with us. We believe it is important for our moms have a life and a ministry outside the group homes. Some moms have been trained to do malaria tests.

Lastly, patients visit our mobile pharmacy where they receive free medicine and one more prayer.

Here is the report our Physician assistants gave me after Duaita’s clinic. Thank you for making this ministry possible.

TESTIMONY FROM PASTOR CYRUS:

“I am greatful to God for the work that He is doing through Hope for Home ministry. On the 16th day of February, 2018, Hope for Home’s mobile medical clinic visited our church for the second time. God is using these clinics to meet the needs of people both physically and spiritually. On this date of February, 103 sick people were treated and 11 persons gave their lives to the Lord through faith. Every person was encouraged to keep strong in the Lord and do all to the glory of God. I am thankful to God for making it possible for this ministry to come alongside our church, causing the church to become famous in our village and in the nearby villages. It is my prayer that the Lord would help me as I guide people He places within my care. I pray that He keeps me close to Him as I study, preach and pray so that I may reach and teach the lost to follow Him. May the Lord bless those that are faithfully giving to have this work going on through Hope for Home ministry.”

THANK YOU FROM KERKULAH DOLO:

“On the 2nd of March, 2018, the health team, which is part of the church planting ministry under Hope for Home ministries, went to Duaita to help make the Kilitourma church strong both physically and spiritually. This team was composed of an evangelical team and a health care team. I am greatful to God for how He is leading His ministry (Hope for Home) to meet the needs of people both physical and spiritual, on this part of Liberia, the Kokoyah Road. This team treated 131 people both small and big. With in this 131 people, 11 persons believed in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior through faith while the rest were encouraged to be strong in the faith. Therefore, the pastor of this Kilitouma church, called Kerkulah Dolo who is one of the students at Hope for Home’s Bible Institute, says “God bless this ministry and all those that are giving so that the work of the Lord can keep going.”

HIS SAFE HAVEN GROUP HOMES:

Thousands of mud bricks are being made on His Safe Haven’s land.

We need to have all our bricks made before rainy season starts in May.

We built this “kitchen” to keep the rain off the bricks after they have baked in the sun.

We also have a crew removing stumps.

Here is where we will build our group homes. We are building these homes for abandoned / orphaned special needs children. We hope to start construction on our first home very soon.

REMOTE BIBLE INSTITUTE:

Last month, preparations were made for reopening our Bible Institutes on Kokoyah Road. We are in the process of writing 52 lessons that give an overview of the Old Testament. Each month, pastors will learn 4-5 new stories that they can take home to teach their churches. Pastors will learn one step ahead of their congregations. Pictures are being created for each story so pastors can create a visual time line on the walls of their churches as they teach. Here are a few of the pictures we have created so far.

Before creation, there was God.

God created angels.

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

DAY 7 GOD RESTED

First Marriage

Satan’s Fall

First Sin

Prophecy of a Redeemer

Consequence of Sin

Banishment

Cain and Able

Seth

Noah

The Tower of Babel

Abram’s call

Hagar and Ishmael

Sodom and Gomorrah

Isaac

Jacob and Esau

RANDOM PICTURES:

Thank you for paying Towahan’s nursing tuition.

Thank you for providing formula for Patrica’s baby.

Thank you for buying Silas’s school shoes.

Thank you for this baby’s formula.

Thank you for all the eye glasses you sent. As we disciple people and observe them struggling to see, we give them your glasses! On behalf of many, THANK YOU!!!!

Last week, we delivered food and supplies to all our sponsored children. This young lady’s name is Hope.

People are at my gate daily asking for help repairing their roofs. Their needs grieve me deeply!

Zinc going out from our house.

This is my beautiful daughter, Annie. The adoption process is moving forward. Last week, we completed our homestudy. We look forward to introducing you to Annie, Abigail and Abraham in person the next time we are home.