Mission Update 8-4-2018 by Levi

To all who support Don Riley and his family either financially or prayerfully, I should probably introduce myself. I’m Levi, one member of the five man Engineering Team that came to assist Don and his family here in Liberia. Well they keep calling us the “Engineering Team” at least, but that just seems too official for me. The truth is I’m just a college student. A student with a passion to serve the Lord wherever it would lead me. We first met Don Riley at a men’s conference in Lima, Ohio. He spoke about Hope for Home Ministries and how the Lord was using him personally in Liberia. After hearing him speak, my friends and I were sold. We were going to Liberia with Don Riley. He just didn’t know it yet… So five bold, brave, and probably a bit naive college students walked up to Don and asked, “How could you use five engineering students?” Fast forward about a year and here I sit next to mongooses, spiders, and probably bunch of snakes in Liberia, Africa. Enough about me though, let me share with you what God is doing here in Liberia and how He is using us here. 

Shortly after landing in Liberia, we taught at one of the Bible Institutes, which are Bible classes established by Don and his team for local church pastors and others church leaders wanting to learn Scripture. Our team came with preparations to teach out of the book of 1 John. I have come to learn of the corruption that is present in the state of Liberia, and sadly that corruption has spread to the church. So in teaching, we taught the book in its entirety and were open to any questions that the church leaders and pastors had. Since our first teaching, we have had the opportunity to speak at other Bible Institutes and even preach Sunday messages to multiple other churches found deep in the bush. God is restoring and uniting the church in Liberia, and what an honor it has been to play a small part in that. 

In this one room church in Denta, over 100 people gathered for a Sunday worship service.

Pastors and church leaders gather from neighboring villages to come to the Bible Institutes, while the children peek their heads through the windows.

 Nathan, another member of the "Engineering Team" preaching at the Bible Institute having Cyrus interpret in Kpelleh. 

Along with teaching church leaders, we have been able to teach the children too. Here, Gabe and Teague are teaching Bible stories to the children.

Along with Biblical teachings, Don and his team run a mobile medical clinic. The medical clinic stops in a bush village twice a month, and serves those who normally could not receive medical care. Families and children, all with life threatening illnesses, walk miles from neighboring villages in order to be treated by the mobile clinics. The Lord has done a mighty work through the mobile clinics! It has been the team’s goal to serve like Jesus in bringing both physical and spiritual healing. Adults and children alike who receive medical care are prayed for individually and told the good news of Jesus Christ. In the last two mobile clinics almost 400 patients were seen and treated, of which many had fatal illnesses if left untreated. Not only were many of these men and women physically saved, but all of these 400 souls had their names lifted personally in prayer and told about a God who loves them. From the two clinics 30 men and woman heard the good news of Jesus Christ and chose to surrender their lives to Him! 

All of the patients at the clinic are prayed over personally, including the children.

The medical clinics draw a lot of attention from the village children. Here, Teague is learning a thing or two in a game of marbles against the children.

Special needs children are in dire need of care and protection in Liberia, because they are culturally viewed as demonic or possessed. His Safe Haven has established group homes to care for these children. The ministry has recently purchased land and begun construction on a small community which will care for these children. As five engineering students, we have been able to put our schooling to good use in the construction and design of the group home community. Having a project and construction management background, I felt right at home in Liberia. Almost daily we got to check the progress of the worksite, and give guidance to any issues that occurred. We also aided in the laying out of housing foundations, installation of septic systems, and had some fun along the way!

When we arrived, construction on two homes had already begun. We were able to use the designs of the first homes to lay out and design the remaining homes.

We spent time brainstorming and designing the layout of the group therapy building for the children. We're hoping to include space for a clinic in the building that would be available for all the children and their mothers.

The footer for the fourth house was poured after the foundation was dug. The house is to be placed on a hill, so we had the foundation crew pour a step foundation in order to keep the same elevation.

The houses were made from mud brick from termite hills. In order to keep the termites out, Nathan sprayed the windows and foundations with a pesticide. 

Even the worms are larger in Africa! Here's a huge worm Bryon found at the worksite. We quickly learned that Liberians are not too fond of worms, and we may have found the only animal in Africa that the Americans can handle better than the Liberians.

It’s hard to believe that I have already spent over a month serving in Africa, and only have less than a week left. It seems like yesterday I was landing in Liberia and meeting Don for only the second time as he picked us up from the airport. Now after a month in, I’ve made friendships that will last a lifetime and will stretch across the world. I’ve been given a glimpse of the unity through Christ that is here now, but is yet to come in full when our Savior comes again. I’m thankful for all who have faithfully supported the Riley family and the five of us who were able to come and assist them. It truly has been an incredible life changing experience, and for that I'm eternally grateful for. I hope these last pictures bring you as much joy as they have brought to me, and I hope they inspire you. I hope they inspire you to let God's love guide you wherever it may lead you, even if it means walking up to an unknown missionary and asking how you can help.

Mission Update 7-20-18 by Christina Andrews

Visiting Liberia – Seeing God’s Work in Action

For a long time, I wanted to visit Don (my brother) and his family in Liberia. There were so many unknowns and concerns that kept me away for years. Recently a family at my Dad’s church felt led to sponsor costs that allowed him to visit. What a huge blessing!!!! I was inspired to join him along with my daughter Autumn (she has been sponsoring a child for nearly a year and was excited to meet her). 

Our anticipation grew with each passing day. We purchased gifts, supplies and scheduled the needed vaccinations. Don had prepped us well, but until we were on the ground, we didn’t truly understand what Liberia would be like.

Liberia brought many emotions. The country is full of desperation, hunger, sickness, corruption, a terrible infrastructure ... REAL poverty is a normal part of life. However, it doesn’t stop there. Despite these real challenges, Liberians are also some of the most genuinely joyous people I have met. As an American who has access to so many resources, food, clean water, electricity, health care, schooling, and employment … it is hard to imagine that true joy and love are possible in the middle of such need.

My experience in Liberia was amazing! Don asked me to write a blog post for him to share. He stated that he liked seeing Liberia through the eyes of others. He and the family have been living in the country long enough that Liberian life is normal. I honestly have struggled writing this blog. I didn’t want my writing to be just a travel log. I wanted to somehow offer more value to the Mission Team. It is a little long, hopefully you are able to make it through to the end.

As a sister, I can’t help but be immensely proud of how Don and his family allow God to work through them. They will be the first to tell you that what they have accomplished is NOT of their own doing. There is no doubt that God is moving in Liberia, and that God is using Don, his family and the amazing Mission Team to fulfill His work and show His love to the Liberian people. 

The core Mission Team is small but mighty. They are truly amazing!!!! The depth to what they are accomplishing with God’s direction isn’t humanly possible. 

Developing pastors and church planting …
Originally the mission was solely focused on church planting and teaching. They strategically work to establish strong churches in the towns and small villages around them that are miles and miles deep into the bush. The Bible Institute holds monthly teaching sessions at two different hubs to help equip new pastors to be strong leaders and teachers of God’s word in their communities. They also have an artist as a part of their team to draw pictures to help communicate God’s Word, which is especially helpful for those who can’t read. 

An interesting side note, when the Bible Institute is teaching, the windows are full of children listening, wanting to know more. They stayed the entire day. These teachings are developing pastors and children in the communities. 

The team quickly realized that investing in someone’s spiritually health sometimes starts with meeting their physical needs. Other elements of the mission quickly began to take shape including:

A child sponsor program …
So many people in Liberia don’t eat every day, it is hard to imagine that being a normal part of life. Children especially suffer. In addition, the Ebola crisis that hit the country a couple of years ago left many children in a very desperate situation. In many cases their entire extended family was taken from them, leaving them orphaned and shunned from the community - with literally nothing. The Mission Team helped find foster homes. For $40 a month a child is provided schooling, clothing, medical care, food (which also helps feed the entire household) and spiritual guidance. (It was very special to see Autumn meet the child she sponsors. The two of them spent time together a couple of different times during our trip).  

A school …
Illiteracy is very common in Liberia and the public-school system is broken in so many ways. How can one learn from the Word of God if he/she can’t read? Reading and education is key to giving hope – both for spiritual growth and a brighter future. The children are learning so much … the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic, but more importantly they are also learning God’s word and what it means to live a righteous life. What better way to help these children rise above the corruption that is so common in their country. They greeted us with excitement and some played games with Autumn. They are full of so much potential!!!! 

A group home for special needs children …
Special needs children are viewed as a curse on their families. Without intervention, many would suffer a terrible fate … likely death. Having grown up with a special needs brother, Michael, who has Down’s Syndrome, I know that there is purpose to EVERY life. Don and I have both been shaped in many, many positive ways because of Michael’s influence in our lives. If allowed, God’s work ALWAYS happens, even in what seems like broken situations. He can take disability and brokenness … and bring meaning! The group home in Liberia consists of several “moms” who oversee the wellbeing of these children. As a result, the community is seeing God’s love in action. 

A medical clinic program …
The team also includes two Liberian nurse practitioners who help oversee the health of the children at the school and the group home. Twice a month the entire Mission Team visits the communities where churches have been established by pastors from the Bible Institute. During my visit we helped with one of these clinics and provided care to 181 people in one day. It was exhausting! These clinics are key in so many ways - meeting both physical and spiritual needs. At each stage of the process patients are prayed for. After patients have been treated, they hear the message of salvation. During our time at the clinic 45 people accepted Christ for the first time!!!!!! The clinic also helps establish the pastor and the church he oversees as a valued element of the community.

All of these elements of the mission are woven together for one purpose. To help share the love of Christ! 

Often when we think of the mission in Liberia we think of Don and the Mission Team. I have new respect for my sister-in-law Mel. She works hard behind the scenes to care for their family, provide home schooling etc. She is an awesome partner to Don and plays a major role in what it takes to allow their family to remain in Liberia. The kids are getting older and also have important impact on the community. It was fun to get to know them all over again. Please remember to also pray for Mel and kids. 

I was in Liberia for just under two weeks, my dad stayed for 2 months. There is no doubt that this visit has changed my perspective on life (I know that sounds deep, but it’s true). It was so special to make that trip with Autumn and my Dad. I am so proud to have had the opportunity to work alongside the Liberian Mission Team. EACH one of them play a very special role. 

When I returned I quickly folded back into my normal routine, but with a new perspective. I struggled with my meaning … my value … my role in life … God’s work. The book of Ecclesiastes came to mind. EVERYTHING is meaningless outside of God’s will. Death will come to us all. It is hard to imagine what eternity will be like. It is hard to remember that our time here on earth is just a tiny, tiny, tiny spec on the timeline of eternity. If you think of eternity as a string that stretches from here to the moon and back … and back … and back … and back … there is no ending. Our time on earth is just a spec on that timeline. It is meant to prepare us for ETERNITY. It is our test. What is our grade? The consequences of getting it wrong are so real. Heaven and hell are REAL and yet we allow ourselves to be distracted with the meaningless. 

I’m encouraged more than ever to change my perspective. I’m a proud investor in the mission in Liberia. Don and his family have been called in a way that I am not. I find new meaning in my work. The meaningless challenges in my job have new meaning in that they help provide for my family and allow us to support such a MEANGINGFUL mission … GOD’s work.

I urge everyone to consider visiting. Who knows, maybe someone will be called to join the mission on a short or long-term trip. It really isn’t a scary place. Sure, it isn’t always comfortable, I sweated the entire time I was there 😊, but you will be changed forever. Also for those who are supporting this mission through pray and financial means, please know that you are helping touch countless lives in a real MEANINGFUL way. The mission uses every dollar very thoughtfully and they stretch it far. For those who are looking for a place to give … or better said invest … I guarantee you won’t find a better place. The need is so great. 

I want to say a quick thank you to Don, Mel, Christian, Little Don, Grace, Tommy, AB, Abby, Annie and the entire Mission Team along with my travel buddies Dad and Autumn for making my trip so amazing. I will treasure our memories forever!

Mission Update 6-30-18

For the past several weeks, we have had visitors from the United States.  I thought it would be fun to have them write blog posts, giving their perspective on all the Lord is doing here.  Here is a post from my dad.

Update from Don Riley Sr.

Greetings, this is Don Sr. from U.S., writing today from Denta, Africa where the team of 13-15 of us brought the mobile clinic.  We traveled with Susan and Elizabeth, our two Physician Assistants, Mercy (our pharmacist) and Lucy (our lab technitian).  

The patients sit in a circle of 120ish where we first present the Gospel of Jesus Christ through Cyrus, our interpreter.  I had the privilege of presenting our purpose through medical help and especially taking the Gospel to the people.

Don went around the entire circle and took everyone’s temperature, looking for the very sickest to rush to the front of the line.  We have a team of 5 engineers who are graduating this spring from Toledo University and wanted to give 6 weeks to Africa! 

These 5 young Americans are helping take vitals before the sick see the practitioners. 

They also shared the Gospel with every patient.

This clinic has a huge influence in the community and is done in the town church where Cyrus (Dons incredible super indigenous top man) is the pastor.  By using the church as a site for medical healing, it raises the level of the church’s influence in the entire town to a level above the secret (demonic) society.  The church brought healing!  You are supporting the medical clinic which is serving in a local church chosen for its Biblical integrity.  This brings people into the church!  People’s lives are literally lengthened, giving them time to understand and accept the truth!

Eventually, after highly successful Mobil clinics, the preaching of God’s Word, and growth and development of the Local Gospel teaching church, the time comes to establish a school in the town.  

From my perspective, we need more missionaries here to help shoulder the tremendous load of oversight and ministry that is presently carried by one man, Don.   This ministry includes: the mobile medical clinics, the Bible Institute, the Group Homes for handicapped children, the child sponsorship program, and the establishment of Christian schools.  

From my perspective, we need a missionary to Administrate the schools, which is a rapidly growing piece of the total ministry. We need a missionary to oversee medical clinics and all the medical activities of the total ministry.  We need a missionary to oversee the child sponsorship program.  We need a missionary to oversee church planting and Bible teaching throughout the ministry.

We need His Hands and feet!

On another note, we are building a town!   We have enjoyed having 5 Engineers here from Toledo University who have staked out the properties for us.  This includes foster homes that can foster up to seven special needs kids.  The initial village includes 11 homes and is infinitely expandable.  There will be another structure built with a therapy room for daily physical therapy, a kitchen with full time staff, and a dinning hall.  Included will also be offices and a clinic.  This plan will eventually include a state of the art hospital where outsiders can come for help with their special needs children and receive training in physical therapy and the care of these children. 

The well is in the center of the courtyard.  The well is 45 feet deep and hand dug!  I was amassed at the bravery of the workers who climbed 45 feet into the earth by simple dimples in the clay walls for footholds!  All of this was built this year.  

We also host the Bible Institute in faithful churches that teach the Gospel truthfully and exclusively.  I refer to the fact that the vast majority of Liberian churches blend some Bible with demonic tribal superstitions and witchcraft, meaning the Gospel is totally broken in their teaching.  All church leaders are welcome to attend the Bible Institute and many have become Christians as a result of the teaching. They are expected to totally learn and be tested on the Biblical material presented.  This month the Institute was taught by the 5 man team from America and they presented 1st John.  Next month, I will be presenting the book of James.  Liberia is 80% illiterate making the Institute essential!  

Prince, the staff artist, paints pictures that help display the Biblical text.  These pictures are used to teach Scripture and are sent home with the leaders that can pass the test over the material to be used in their churches.  If they can’t pass the test they are not given material to take home, thus preventing false teaching.

One Missionary administrates it all, Don.  I did mention that we need additional Missionaries and we need them now!  As if this is not enough, church planting is a growing angst in the hearts of the team members.  We have 2 leaders designated for this mission but right now they are needed at the work site, the group homes, the Mobile Clinic and the Bible Institute.  I forgot to mention that every team member has a spouse and children and many, many additional mouthed to feed living in their small African homes.  They have to walk to the community well and carry water for their households every day.  They are all husbands, wife’s, dads, and moms and serugate parents to many, many!  Most of their homes support more individuals than the family core within the home, for example, the staff member may have a spouse and 4 naturally born children of their own, but also has nephews, nieces, grand parents or distant relatives also living in and depending on the provisions of food and shelter in the home.

This ministry is exponentially productive.  One Missionary is simply not enough!  There is always a greater need for funding and sponsorship.  Don won’t mention it but I will, I know it first hand!  Everything is stretch and squeezed to the max!  Ministry costs and it costs a lot!  Each month the needs are far, far beyond the supply.  Think of it as “buying” a soul if you must but in Africa they are easy to win by the bunches!  America has a church on every city block.  We are totally without excuse!  Africa is ripe for the harvest and the Muslims are taking advantage of it.  Let us light an ever burning fire in Liberia where we have a trusted and true Gospel spreading Missionary.

Did I forget to mention that we need a Land Cruiser that can get the job done.  Then we will have two vehicles for Mobile Medical Clinic.  This second car is also essential for transporting special needs children from His Safe Haven’s group homes.  A mere $30,000ish.  Need a pet project?  We paid $1,000 for a starter for the present Land Cruiser, that has 200 thousand miles on it, that starter costs $94 in the US but corruption is huge here!  Don’s a minister not a mechanic.  The last two Mobile Medical Clinics we traveled by Land Cruiser and Dennis’s (Group Home Chef) Toyota car!  Reference the picture of the road that little car traveled.  Four wheel drive and a high chassis would just be sensible right?

I extend the love of Jesus and the opportunity to be a part of this enormously effective ministry.  Fall in love with Africa!  All are welcome!

Donald A. Riley Sr.  (The Dad)