Our first home had no electricity, no running water, no bathroom, no screens on the windows, and no ceiling tile (open rafters)….
We slept on mats on the ground, we used the outhouses, we cooked on an open fire, we hauled water from the hand-pumped well, and we took bucket baths under the stars.
Life was not easy. Our house was a Liberian multi-family unit with several Liberian families living with us.
Our source of meat was the bush. We ate rats, snakes, dogs, monkeys, deer, bugs, etc… Needless to say, we were constantly sick. We experienced typhoid and malaria more times than I can count. I started judging food by how it tasted when I vomited it up, rather than how it tasted when it went down. We all became malnourished as our bodies tried to adjust to our new lifestyle. Our best medical care came from Augustin, a man who ran a pharmacy out of a shack. Kim, our missionary partner at the time, joked about Augustin nearly killing him while saving his life several times, in reference to being overdosed on meds. At one point, I was being treated for malaria, typhoid, and dysentery all at the same time. The only comfort I had was to lie in my own pool of sweat on the cool concrete floor. During that sickness, I tasted death. I lost feeling in my limbs. I lost hearing in my left ear. At one point I remembered Kim standing over me and repeating, “Move your legs, move your legs, stay with us. Don, you have to fight.”
Our lives in Liberia had several high points and low points. Yes, we eventually got solar power, a car, and many other western conveniences; however, our mission experience could be described as moving from one trial to another. Melanie and I laugh as we talk about not remembering what life was like without trial.
We have experienced numerous children dying in our arms. There are a million regrets of things we wish we would have done differently that could have resulted in saving a child’s life. Each trial took a little piece out of our hearts. There are so many memories that haunt me. The children called me “Da” for “Dad.” “Da, I sick, help me.” There were so many to help that we could not have possibly helped them all. I have performed CPR on soooooo many children and never brought a child back. I began to think that CPR was a joke, until CPR brought my wife back. My children have experienced so many things that their friends in America could never understand.
There was a predictable pattern for our lives in Liberia. Our family would experience a new significant trial, we would come to the end of ourselves, God would provide in ways that can only be explained by His miraculous hand, and His Kingdom would move forward. You may ask, “Why didn’t you give up?” The honest answer is (1) we had already counted the cost, (2) every trial resulted in God’s Kingdom advancing, and (3) every trial resulted in hope and life for the Liberian people.
When God called our family to Liberia, I wrote this song. I invite you to listen to the words.
If I were asked to describe our supporters, I would choose the words ‘faithful partners.’ We came to Liberia with only a few thousand dollars pledged in support. You have gone through it all with us! Thank You!!! When we were in need of prayer, you were there. When we were building a school, you were there. Faithful, that is the word that I would use to describe you. You were the most steadfast and faithful partners that a missionary could ever wish to have. There was never a need that You closed your eyes to. We were never alone in our trials, you were always there partnering with us. For your faithful partnership in the Gospel, I am forever grateful.
I want to take a few minuets to reminisce some of the highlights of what God did through us as we partnered together for His Glory!
Together, we helped start a Bible Institute under Wordsower that is still discipling hundreds of pastors, today. Thank You!
Together, we helped start a Christian print shop under Wordsower that is still printing millions of pages of Bible training material. Thank You!
Together, in partnership with His Safe Haven, we built an entire village for special needs children whose lives were at risk. In this village we care for widows and formally orphaned special needs children: ‘Formally' because they are now in a beautiful family made up of widows, widows’ children, and missionaries. Thank You!
Together, we started Fairview Missionary School in Denta Town. We currently have around 200 students. This was one of the greatest joys of my life. Imagine a once illiterate bush village that is now learning to read while learning about God’s great love for them! Thank You!
Together, in partnership with LIVE2540, we started the Jesus Loves Me Children’s Hospital. Every month, over 1,400 children receive free medical treatment while hearing about Jesus. Thank You!
From the bottom of my heart, I want to say, thank you for your partnership in the Gospel.
Recently, Melanie and I have felt God calling us back home to the United States. More specifically, He is calling us back to our families. We have been slow in responding to this call because there is so much at stake. We wanted to make sure our recent health trials were not clouding our judgment. We seriously want to be wherever the Lord calls us no matter the cost. We have sought council. We have walked in this council, which has confirmed an unmistakable calling to return to our home, to our families, and to serve the Church in the United States.
Over the past several months we have been communicating with Hope For Home’s International Director, our Board of Directors, and the missionaries on the ground to talk about succession planning. These meetings have culminated with the appointment of Hope For Home’s new Country Director for Liberia, Suzie McLay. Suzie has agreed to serve a preliminary term of 6 months and then to meet again to reevaluate. Over the past month, Suzie has taken over more and more of the daily leadership responsibilities. At this point, I am serving only in an advisory role to Suzie. I will continue to serve in an advisory role as long as I am needed. Suzie is absolutely the right person for this job. She was with us when we started most of the ministries that are listed above. She is amazingly gifted at administration. She has my full confidence and support.
My desire is that the ministries that we have started would continue to meet the needs of thousands of Liberian children. Your ongoing partnership and support is needed now more that ever before. As my family prepares to transition back to life in the States, my last wish is for you to continue to support Hope for Home’s ministry the way you have so faithfully done in the past. Currently, we have over 100 employees (national missionaries) and several international missionaries who are as committed as ever to passionately share the love of Jesus. All they need is support to get the job done.
Thank you for your amazing partnership in the Gospel! This blog will continue even as I am signing off because the mission in Liberia is still needed and will continue to serve children under new leadership. May God be glorified both now and forever, Amen!
There was a predictable pattern for our lives in Liberia. Our family would experience a new significant trial, we would come to the end of ourselves, God would provide in ways that can only be explained by His miraculous hand, and His Kingdom would move forward. You may ask, “Why didn’t you give up?” The honest answer is (1) we had already counted the cost, (2) every trial resulted in God’s Kingdom advancing, and (3) every trial resulted in hope and life for the Liberian people.
When God called our family to Liberia, I wrote this song. I invite you to listen to the words.
Song: Welcome Home
If I were asked to describe our supporters, I would choose the words ‘faithful partners.’ We came to Liberia with only a few thousand dollars pledged in support. You have gone through it all with us! Thank You!!! When we were in need of prayer, you were there. When we were building a school, you were there. Faithful, that is the word that I would use to describe you. You were the most steadfast and faithful partners that a missionary could ever wish to have. There was never a need that You closed your eyes to. We were never alone in our trials, you were always there partnering with us. For your faithful partnership in the Gospel, I am forever grateful.
I want to take a few minuets to reminisce some of the highlights of what God did through us as we partnered together for His Glory!
Video from July 19, 2013: https://youtu.be/05-vl25_ENg?si=sZA4fzmofninpVu6
Video from January 18, 2014: https://youtu.be/RcHOO7xSqUk?si=YpuWqs4F_fAOKJj7
Together, we helped start a Christian print shop under Wordsower that is still printing millions of pages of Bible training material. Thank You!
Together, we started Liberty Elementary and Junior High School. Though we are no longer supporting them, they are still going strong with over 200 students. Thank You!
Video from November 23, 2020: https://youtu.be/6ISBQCxFkeg?si=Un7zxM64ljaIDU30
Together, in partnership with His Safe Haven, we built an entire village for special needs children whose lives were at risk. In this village we care for widows and formally orphaned special needs children: ‘Formally' because they are now in a beautiful family made up of widows, widows’ children, and missionaries. Thank You!
Together, we started Fairview Missionary School in Denta Town. We currently have around 200 students. This was one of the greatest joys of my life. Imagine a once illiterate bush village that is now learning to read while learning about God’s great love for them! Thank You!
Video from August 11, 2022: https://youtu.be/8aCpFtUZ6aU?si=R6KU5W2wTJWc2Xej
From the bottom of my heart, I want to say, thank you for your partnership in the Gospel.
Recently, Melanie and I have felt God calling us back home to the United States. More specifically, He is calling us back to our families. We have been slow in responding to this call because there is so much at stake. We wanted to make sure our recent health trials were not clouding our judgment. We seriously want to be wherever the Lord calls us no matter the cost. We have sought council. We have walked in this council, which has confirmed an unmistakable calling to return to our home, to our families, and to serve the Church in the United States.
 |
| Suzie McLay |
Over the past several months we have been communicating with Hope For Home’s International Director, our Board of Directors, and the missionaries on the ground to talk about succession planning. These meetings have culminated with the appointment of Hope For Home’s new Country Director for Liberia, Suzie McLay. Suzie has agreed to serve a preliminary term of 6 months and then to meet again to reevaluate. Over the past month, Suzie has taken over more and more of the daily leadership responsibilities. At this point, I am serving only in an advisory role to Suzie. I will continue to serve in an advisory role as long as I am needed. Suzie is absolutely the right person for this job. She was with us when we started most of the ministries that are listed above. She is amazingly gifted at administration. She has my full confidence and support.
My desire is that the ministries that we have started would continue to meet the needs of thousands of Liberian children. Your ongoing partnership and support is needed now more that ever before. As my family prepares to transition back to life in the States, my last wish is for you to continue to support Hope for Home’s ministry the way you have so faithfully done in the past. Currently, we have over 100 employees (national missionaries) and several international missionaries who are as committed as ever to passionately share the love of Jesus. All they need is support to get the job done.
Thank you for your amazing partnership in the Gospel! This blog will continue even as I am signing off because the mission in Liberia is still needed and will continue to serve children under new leadership. May God be glorified both now and forever, Amen!
Partners in Ministry
LIVE2540: https://www.live2540.org/
His Safe Haven: https://hissafehaven.com/home
Wordsower: http://www.wordsowerliberia.com/
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