April 2012 Riley Family’s Update for Liberia
Blog: liberiacalls.blogspot.com Phone: 937-451-9809 E-mail donriley4@gmail.com Webpage: wordsowerliber.com
Ministry Updates:
As you read this next sentence, please make it a prayer! “Father, we pray that we would see a healthy church in every town and in every village of Liberia within our lifetime!” Please continue to pray that prayer!
Most towns and villages of Liberia do not have a church. They are without hope and without God. God’s mission is our mission: “Now wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9). Please continue to pray for Liberia. By God’s grace, here is what took place in Liberia last month. Our missionary teams went on 61 mission trips, visiting 98 villages. With God’s help we went into 7 NEW LOCATIONS! PRAISE GOD! 10,000 pages of discipleship material were printed and distributed to people who are being discipled by our field leaders. 36 were baptized and 35 people completed our extensive Bible study program. Praise God!
In Liberia, deaf children and children born handicap are viewed as a curse on a family. If a family chooses to keep the child, that family is viewed as a curse on the community. As a result, special needs children are often set outside of the town to die or they are sold into human trafficking, often times ending up as sex slaves. Last month, I met with the President of Wordsower and a close friend of mine who feels called to rescue children out of human trafficking and restore them to life in Christ. These two men are seeking the Lord for direction. The possibility is there that three orphanages would be started which focus on special needs children and rescuing children from human trafficking in Liberia. Please pray for God’s leading. James 1:27 says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
Family Update:
- Bootcamp has officially started in our house. 1 Cor 9:25-27 says, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” God has graciously called our family to the front lines of ministry. FUN! We know that trials and discomfort are ahead of us. We know that if we are going to run this race, we must prepare our family now. In Liberia, we will live at the same standard of living that the Liberian lives. Our house will be 12‘X24’. There will be no electricity, no running water... To the best of our ability we are trying to transition to the Liberian lifestyle now so that our move will be easier. We have moved our family into one room in our basement that is about the size of our room in Liberia. We are sleeping in sleeping bags on the floor since there are no beds in Liberia. All our possessions are being reduced down to what we can pack in our suitcases. By the end of this month, all our possessions will either have been sold, given away, or put in storage. This transition has been both challenging and fun. There are no comfortable chairs to sit on. There is no sugar in our house..... I could share more but here is the conclusion: WORTHY, GOD IS WORTHY! What a joy to follow Him. He is to be praised and admired. We are blessed to be chosen by Him for this mission and the journey of life that He has us on is exciting and a joy!!!!!!
- Last month Melanie and I attended a homeschool convention and selected curriculum for our children for our first two years in Africa.
- Our investment house will be completed this week!!!! Renters will move in on Saturday! Praise the Lord. After the house is completed, time will be freed up for me to focus more on the Mission in Liberia! Our other house still needs to sell. Please continue to pray for this.
- All of our Doctors have been consulted regrading our move to Liberia. One of our Doctors is working with us to come up with a medical treatment plan for our family in Liberia. One of my friends is a pharmacist. He is working on creating a list of meds. for us to take. Praise the Lord for their help.
- Construction of our house in Liberia has started. To be able to call Liberia home is a dream coming true. In many ways, we are feeling HOME SICK! We long for the day when we will finally be able to go home! We know this will happen in God’s perfect timing. We are building as we have funds available.
- Finances: We are still in need of raising around $670 a month to support our family while we are in Liberia. Please pray that God would provide these funds. The mission in Liberia is ready to start at lest two new church planting hubs in two unreached counties. There are 15 counties in Liberia. Our strategy is to put a church planting hub in each county. It cost between $1,000 - $1,500 a month to fund a hub. Each hub is equipped with a generator, copy machine, motorcycles, and two trained Liberian missionary families. From these hubs, leaders are trained and churches are started in every town and village of that county. Literally, $1,000 - $1,500 a month is all the funding it would take to change an entire county in Liberia. To see the impact of a church planting hub, three years ago we started a church planting hub in Grand Gheda county. Here are the locations within that county we are now working. (Badou, Bah, Bargblor, Barte-jam, Bawaydee, Beezon, Beh, Bently Mining Camp, Best, Biah Tarway, Billibo, Boe, Boley, Border, Boundary, Chayee, Chebeh, Compound, CVI gold mining camp, Dian, Dolozon, Dougee Refugee Camp, Duo Town, Dweh, 48 mile, Franzaz, Garbo, Garley, Gbarbo, Gbeyoubo, Gbloue, Gboe, Gboe Geewon, Gboleken, Gambo, Geeha, Geeyah, Gleplay, Gorbowrogba, Graddeh, Grady, Gwenebo, Jaibo, James’s Sayon’s, Jargbeh, Jarwleh, Jarzon, Jayteken 1, Jayteken 2, Jellu, John David, Jonesgbaye, Julutuzon, Karlowleh, Kohn, Kojayee, Konobo, Ziah, Kpae, Kyne, Kwebo, New York gold mining camp, Nico, Old Pohan, Panwolor, Pellelzon, Penokon, Peter Saydee, Pineapple village, Polar Town, Polar Village, PTP refugee camp, Savah, Saylee, Sayubo, Sentrodu, Sewion 1, Sewion 2, Sinkon, Sloman (a gold mining camp), Solo Inside, Solo Outside, Solo Refugee Camp, Sowaken, Steven, Suahken, Taye’s Village, Tiama, Toes Refugee Camp, Toes Town, Toffoi, Togbayee, Tojillah, Toueah, Tuglor, Varglor, Vleyee, Whybo, Willie Jellu, Woloken, Wulu, Zarzar, Zaiyee, Zeon, Ziulay, Zwedru, the county prison, 4 road check stations, and the county hospital.) I have been praying that a few churches would adopt an entire county in Liberia. From Liberia, we would provide each American church a map so they can watch the spread of the Gospel, and frequent updates. From the States, churches can pray and fast regularly or their county, financially support their county, and send sort-term teams to their county. Together, we would celebrate as the Kingdom of God moves forward. I believe this can excite and mobilize a church to be globally focused. Please pray for partnering churches.
God Bless!
Don
All donations are tax deductible. A receipt will be sent at year’s end. If you are interested in becoming a monthly supporter of either our family or of the mission, please send a note with your donation stating your desire. All donations without a note will go 100% toward ministry in Liberia. Thank you for partnering with our ministry!
Update from Christian
This is what I feel about going to Africa. I think it is fun to go and serve. In Liberia there are no hunting seasons so I can hunt all the time. We are working in 8 counties of Liberia. Lot’s of people are coming to know Jesus. In Africa, all the food is really gamey. Thank you for partnering with us.
Update from Grace
We have moved into our basement because it is how big our room will be in Africa. We have no electricity at Africa. I only have baby dolls and little dolls. In Africa, we will be eating food that we don’t like. We are starting to eat food that we don’t like. Thank You for partnering with our ministry. Bye bye. We are going to leave our family and friends behind to serve the Lord.
Update from Tommy
At America there is really good food. At Africa the food doesn’t taste as good as ours. We have been eating rice. We love Jesus. We are going to tell people about Jesus. Kim is our partner.
Update from Don (Prabhat).
My family is going to Africa on a mission. My family is having a good day. Grace, Christian, Tommy, Mom, Dad, and I will all go to Africa. I like African food. My friend Kim is in Africa. I don’t know if there will be good or bad people in Africa. In Africa there are soldiers and I hope I don’t go to jail. My family will see Kim in Africa. My family is living on mission today. We eat African food. My mission in Africa is to help people.
Stories from Liberia:
DK’s safe return home: Dk, one of our founding core team members, received an urgent call that one our village church leaders was very ill. He took our newest motorbike to bring the leader back to Zwedru for treatment. On the way he saw two men broke down on the side of the road. He stopped to help. A third man came out of the bush with a pistol. They told him to take them to where they wanted to go. After driving with three on back for hours into the night they had him stop in a remote region on a bridge made of logs. They shoved him into the creek and started beating him severely with sticks, boots and fists until he went unconscious. They shoved his unconscious body under the bridge. Sometimes it may be weeks before a car can pass on a road, even fewer will drive the dangerous roads at night, but by God’s grace, sometime after midnight, a car overheated and stopped on the bridge. A man went down to the creek for water and found DK still unconscious under the bridge. They took him to the nearest clinic, woke the owner, and had him treated.
DK had broken ribs, bleeding from the mouth, lacerations and deep bruises, yet he was determined to retrieve the bike. After two days he was able to find two Liberian National Police and another man who were willing to try the impossible: search for the bike. They were also in search of a car that had been hijacked a few days earlier. Liberia is sparsely populated with many trails and dirt roads that crisscross for hundreds of miles going to thousands of villages throughout the country. The thieves had a two day head start and could be anywhere. Recovering the bike would only be a miracle of God. They divided into two motorbike teams going from one trail to another, from one village to another searching. After hours they entered an isolated village and told the story to the chief. He said he thought the bike was in his house. There it was! It had been wreaked, key broken, flat tire and out of gas. The chief said three men had pushed it to him and said they would return with a mechanic. They had not returned yet. DK and the bike are now home. His ribs and lacerations healing and the bike back in service. Praise God, He returned the bike and Dk alive. The end of the story could have been much different.
Bobby’s Salvation: Stanly Wright went with one of our teams on a 4 day mission trip. While in Batijen, Stanley’s old friend, Bobby came confessing that he had been, “running from the things of God”, and wanted to surrender his life to Jesus Christ. “I have been in the Dark World and want to come out”, he said. They did a prayer for salvation and Stanley spent time with him teaching about Christ and salvation. The next morning Bobby said he was going to Zwedru. Stanley and team took their motorbike on to One Man’s Village to teach. One Man’s Village is one of many churchless villages where we are starting churches. As he was teaching a bike driver came and reported Bobby had just died in a motorbike accident with a car. Stanley stood there with tears of joy that the man was now with his Lord and Savior and that our Lord had used him to unite the two. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Rom 10:13-15). “Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them.” (Jude 1:22-23)
Reaching the Gola Tribe: Two of our powerful leaders have been relocated to work in Bomi County, home of the Gola tribe. The Gola people are labeled an “unreached people group” by the Joshua Project. They will work with a church we have started among the Gola and will also go into new regions to evangelize and start churches.
Abraham, Gorango and the Poor Small Church
“In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his
steps.” Pr 16:9
The church is in a very remote beautiful village on the beach. They
are a new small worshipping congregation. The leaders are untrained,
one is illiterate the other barely. They did not have a Bible for
their church. The church decided to have a 3 day fast and prayer
asking the Lord for a Bible for their church.
On the third day of their fast Aloysius and his WSL team loaded up the
bike to go on mission into a new remote region. On their way passing
through a village they got stuck in the mud. They looked around and
saw a house full of people. Aloysius said, “We have come to minister
to people, we are here and look there is a house full of people. Let
us go to them.” The people whole-heartedly received them and sent for
their pastors … Abraham and Gorango. It was no small celebration as
Bibles were being distributed on the third day of their fast!!!
Today we are tightly united with them; “What God has united let no man
put asunder”. We meet with them a few times a month. The pastor and
congregation are thankfully and eagerly receiving much needed
training.
“In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his
steps.” Pr 16:9
The church is in a very remote beautiful village on the beach. They
are a new small worshipping congregation. The leaders are untrained,
one is illiterate the other barely. They did not have a Bible for
their church. The church decided to have a 3 day fast and prayer
asking the Lord for a Bible for their church.
On the third day of their fast Aloysius and his WSL team loaded up the
bike to go on mission into a new remote region. On their way passing
through a village they got stuck in the mud. They looked around and
saw a house full of people. Aloysius said, “We have come to minister
to people, we are here and look there is a house full of people. Let
us go to them.” The people whole-heartedly received them and sent for
their pastors … Abraham and Gorango. It was no small celebration as
Bibles were being distributed on the third day of their fast!!!
Today we are tightly united with them; “What God has united let no man
put asunder”. We meet with them a few times a month. The pastor and
congregation are thankfully and eagerly receiving much needed
training.
Villages, towns and cities we have been working in:
Sino County: Bardoua, Beatuoken, Bilibokee, Charlic, Cass Town, Chebioh, Cheboken, Dagbe, Deedo, Dejila, Fanfin, Funnioh, Gbliyee, Gardoway, Greeneville, Geelor, Jalay, Jaytoken, Joazon, Jokoken, Judu, Karquekpo, Kilo, Korjayee, Kuwait Gold mining camp, Nyennwlejen, Pellkon, Pokpaken, Putu Jadweodee, Peace Camp (a gold mining camp), Pratt, Pynes Town, Qutatozon, Saygbeken, Seetor, Saybaken, Saydee, Senquene, Titus, Voobadee, Wiah. Grand Gheda County: Badou, Bah, Bargblor, Barte-jam, Bawaydee, Beezon, Beh, Bently Mining Camp, Best, Biah Tarway, Billibo, Boe, Boley, Border, Boundary, Chayee, Chebeh, Compound, CVI gold mining camp, Dian, Dolozon, Dougee Refugee Camp, Duo Town, Dweh, 48 mile, Franzaz, Garbo, Garley, Gbarbo, Gbeyoubo, Gbloue, Gboe, Gboe Geewon, Gboleken, Gambo, Geeha, Geeyah, Gleplay, Gorbowrogba, Graddeh, Grady, Gwenebo, Jaibo, James’s Sayon’s, Jargbeh, Jarwleh, Jarzon, Jayteken 1, Jayteken 2, Jellu, John David, Jonesgbaye, Julutuzon, Karlowleh, Kohn, Kojayee, Konobo, Ziah, Kpae, Kyne, Kwebo, New York gold mining camp, Nico, Old Pohan, Panwolor, Pellelzon, Penokon, Peter Saydee, Pineapple village, Polar Town, Polar Village, PTP refugee camp, Savah, Saylee, Sayubo, Sentrodu, Sewion 1, Sewion 2, Sinkon, Sloman (a gold mining camp), Solo Inside, Solo Outside, Solo Refugee Camp, Sowaken, Steven, Suahken, Taye’s Village, Tiama, Toes Refugee Camp, Toes Town, Toffoi, Togbayee, Tojillah, Toueah, Tuglor, Varglor, Vleyee, Whybo, Willie Jellu, Woloken, Wulu, Zarzar, Zaiyee, Zeon, Ziulay, Zwedru, the county prison, 4 road check stations, and the county hospital. Montserrado County: Monrovia. River Gee County: Cheboken, Dweaken, Fish Town, Fish Town Prison, Geeken, Jarkaken, Jaytoken 1, Jaytoken 2, Kanweaken, Klaboken, Podroken, Putuken, Sargba, Tartiken. Bomi County: Beh, Jaway, Joes Town. Maryland County: Cain, Cavalla, Gbolobo, Dakay, Dannis, Dibleken, Factory, Fish, 6 locations in Harper, Holegrn, Judy’s, Kablaken, Lexicon, Little Weleppo Refugee camp, Middle town, Nekpachelu, Nemelken, New half and Whole Graway Towns, Old Lady, Olegravic, Pedebo, 4 locations in Pleebo, Philadelphia, Poceken, Pulla, Refugee Village, Rock, Rubber Bag Camp, Saydeken, Saywonken, Siliken, Warteken, Weah’s Town, Wuluplukredi, the county prison and check stations. Nimba County: Beatwo, Camp 1, Dialah, Fienney, Freeman, Glalay, Gonkopa, Graie, Guotoin, Kpaytuo, Miller, Noway, Sarlay, Tappita, Towah, Unification, Venn, Wontoe, Yiteepea, Your Peg, Zarwulugbo, Zautuo. River Cess: Darhga, Gbee.
Donations:
Donations may be mailed to
Wordsower
P.O. Box 1648
Piqua, OH 45356
All donations are tax deductible. A receipt will be sent at year’s end. If you are interested in becoming a monthly supporter of either our family or of the mission, please send a note with your donation stating your desire. All donations without a note will go 100% toward ministry in Liberia. Thank you for partnering with our ministry!
