Sunday, May 8, 2011

April Ministry Report

The mission of Jesus, “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9 NIV ), is also our mission.

Wordsower Liberia exists for the purpose of going to all the villages and towns of Liberia to preach the good news, disciple, encourage and train existing church leaders and raise up leaders to start churches. Our mission is that every village will have a church. Most of the towns and villages of Liberia have no church. We have worked in over 100 villages.

This month we made over 77 mission/ministry trips, visiting 60 villages, and other locations, going into 20 new locations. Many of the places we visited multiple times, our longest trip was 5 days, shortest a few hours. We printed and distributed approximately 17,200 pages of teaching material and distributed hundreds of Bibles. This month we baptized 51, and 127 completed our extensive Bible study program. Our core team in Africa is: 1 from America, 1 from France, 5 Liberians. We have 19 Liberian ministers that travel with us to the villages, many trained pastors and many field leaders. The team of supporters in USA and France are also many. We, as one united team, are all working together, under the leadership of Christ, for the kingdom of God in Liberia!

One day we had thankful generous friends bring us gifts of meat: an ungutted, not fresh owl; a deer head, also no fresh: and part of a dog. We ate all (oops, we forgot to tell Christine, our Lady from Paris, that she was served dog soup until after she had finished, the laughter was not small). Those who gave the meat are very poor, what they gave was truly a sacrificial gift. It was meat they would have loved to have had in their own bowl. We are blessed to have such friends (fortunately, all bacteria is destroyed when meat is well cooked).

Concerning refugees, we are primarily working with 6 groups in Grand Gheda County and others in Maryland County. We spent at least $1,226 to assist them this month. We purchased 17 bags, 110 pounds each, of rice and also provided other foods and essentials. The Liberians are sustenance farmers. They have sacrificially given their reserves to the refugee, now they and the refugee are in need. The refugees we work with are not getting any assistance from the UN or other humanitarian organizations… well, except for one which gave mosquito nets, even though the refugees did not have homes to hang them in. They cut them up and used them for fishing nets, so not a total waste.

All 6 groups are now having regular Bible studies and worship services, with and without us. Leaders have been discovered and are being trained. Several have given themselves to Christ and been baptized. Churches have been birthed! Most are meeting under trees, or in homes, one is in a school and another has already started construction of their church building. Many of our lessons have been translated into French. They are always eager to receive them. We see smiles, positive energy and hope.

Our team in France has been a great help! They have generously assisted with donations and have also purchased and are sending us 4,000 tracts and 2,000 Gideon type pocket Bibles. To our French team we say, “Un grand, grand MERCI au nom de Jesus.”

Prayer request: “When he [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Mt 9:36-38). The requests for us to come to other villages is always far greater than our ability. Please pray that our Lord will help us to train and send more leaders into His harvest field.

Villages, towns and cities we have been working in:
Sino County: Cass Town, Cheboken, Deedo, Gbliyee, Gardoway, Greeneville, Jaytoken, Joazon, Karquekpo, Putu Jadweodee, Peace Camp (a gold mining camp), Pynes Town, Qutatozon, Seetor, Saydee, Senquene, Voobadee, Titus. Grand Gheda County: Bargblor, Barte-jam, Bawaydee, Beezon, Beh, Boundary, Compound, Dian, Dolozon, Dweh, Franzaz, Garley, Gbarbo, Gbeyoubo, Gbloue, Gboleken, Gambo, Gleplay, Gorbowrogba, Gwenebo, Jaibo, Jargbeh, Jarzon, Julutuzon, Jellu, Kohn, Konobo Ziah, Kpae, Kyne, Pellelzon, Polar Town, Polar Village, Savah, Sentrodu, Sewion 1, Sewion 2, Sinkon, Sloman, Solo Inside, Solo Outside, Suahken, Toes Town, Toffoi, Tojillah, Toueah, Tuglor, Varglor, Willie Jellu, Wulu, Zarzar, Zeon, Ziulay, Zwedru, and the county prison, three road check stations, and the county hospital. Montserrado County: Monrovia. River Gee County: Cheboken, Dweaken, Fish Town, Geeken, Jarkaken, Jaytoken, Kanweaken, Klaboken, Podroken, Putuken, Sargba, Tartiken. Bomi County: Beh. Maryland County: Cain, Cavalla, Gbolobo, Harper, Kablaken, Lexicon, Pedebo, Philadelphia, Pleebo, Refugee Village, Rubber Bag Camp, Wuluplukredi, the county prison and the check point.

Thank you for your prayers, donations and support,
Kim

April Expense Report

Assistance to the poor:$560 – Humanitarian assistance: including food (average cost is $1.50 a day for food), rent, home repair, etc. (Ivorian refugees not included in this)
$180 – Medical expenses (average treatment cost is $1.00 - $10.00)
$350 – Three business starts for field leaders
$1,226 – Food and rent for Ivorian refugees

Ministry expenses:
$538 – Paper, gas for the generator, pens, folders, Bibles and mission trips
$501 – Motor bike gas and repair, we have 5 bikes (Gas prices range between $4.28 - $6.00 a gallon)
$35 – We pay one teacher $35 a month in a school we started.
$21 – We fund a daily one hour local Christian radio program. The total cost is $21 a month

Well construction:
$120 – a specific donation was made to dig a well. It is about 1/3 completed.

Team food and house supplies:
$1,033 – Food and house supplies (close estimate). Our core team consists of 11 adults and 11 children. We regularly feed and house visitors from the interior and locals as needed from our house supply funds. That averages out to $1.60 a day per person to cover, clothes, food, candles, soap etc. Really our team uses less than that per day because we also feed others every day.

$4,564 - Total for the month

Donations should be sent to:
Wordsower International
16960 Sidney Plattsville Rd
Sidney, Oh 45365

All donations are tax deductible. A receipt will be sent in January. 100% of all donations go for the mission to the Liberians. None is used for me or administration. If you have any questions concerning donations you may call Tom Looker at 937-489-8090.