Friday, November 9, 2012

October '12: "(they) have been asking for such a place for years."


Our mission is that every village of Liberia will have a healthy church.  Most of the towns and villages of Liberia have no church.  We have worked in over 200 villages in 9 counties; there are 8,700 villages and towns in 15 counties.

This month we made 70 mission/ministry trips, visiting 75 villages and other locations.  We have started work in 14 new villages.  Many of the places we visited multiple times, our longest trip was 12 days, shortest a few hours.  We printed and distributed approximately 11,000 pages of teaching material and distributed hundreds of Bibles, 13 were baptized and 40 completed our extensive Bible study program.  We showed the Jesus film 2 times.  We also did two, three day church planting training conferences.  Several factors affect how many mission trips we can go on each month; illness, injuries, motorbikes repaired, the availability of gas and money are some.  

Some highlights of the month

Praise God!  We received a large single donation of $3,000 designated for two construction projects; new outhouse and generator house.  And also, so we can make an offer for the purchase of two lots adjacent to us to be used as a training facility for a Bible school.

Acts 19:9-10, “So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord”   There is a ½ acre adjacent to us we want.  It would be our “lecture hall of Zwedru”.  I have studied about other successful church planting movements and many have had such a place, as did Paul.  In Zimbabwe Heidi Baker has done this and now has 10,000 churches in 17 years.  There are 8,700 towns in Liberia.  We would have two week workshops at three different levels.  Leaders would come from the bush and attend without creating a disruption or hardship at home and the farm.  We would charge for their feeding and small supplies which would be about $30 per 2 week session.  They need to have the Bible, our manual and other material taught to them.  It is difficult for them to understand with their low reading and educational level without it being taught. The owner of the property is a congressional senator. He is not using the property.   So I will first try to get him to donate it (would promise that his name would be on the sign board as the donor); if that fails then want to offer him $1,500 up to $2,000.  It has 4 buildings on it.  Three are 90% complete, 1 is 45% complete.  All the buildings would be great for us.  We have been praying about it for months but have not yet approached him about it.  One reason is I wanted to have money available before I approached him.  Our church leaders have been asking for such a place for years.  I believe it is an important part for accomplishing our goal of a church in every village of Liberia.  The leaders need to be given vision and have to be trained.  This place could do that.  The Don Riley family (husband, wife and 4 kids) are moving here to be a part of the team.  He would probably be the primary teacher.

Our region ran out of gas again this month because the road was impassible.  Gas prices were over $10 a gallon.  Too expensive, so we had to shut down operations for a while.  Rainy season is now over, road is open and gas prices are currently $7.00 a gallon and dropping.

Reinforcements have arrived!  Allison Smith from Sidney, Ohio has joined our team for three months.  Her degree is in special education.  She has brought curriculum, books, and school supplies.   She will be going to our two schools to train teachers and will train inmates to start literacy classes in two prisons.  Additional duties will be assigned of course.  Her first meal in Zwedru – monkey. 

Ants!  They call them Driver Ants.  They have become a growing plague on our base.  One morning we got up to many 1000’s in our bedrooms and porches.  They ate all the meat and oil we had stored and ruined other food stuff.   They move in lines and can form balls the size of a bowling ball when they find food.  They are aggressive and their bite is like a weak bee sting, painful.  They say they can kill and eat a cow in a short time.  I believe it.

Prayer requests:  Urgent prayer request!  We want the ½ acre that borders our ½ acre for a training facility.  Already an answer to prayer has been a designated donation for it.  Pray that when we present our offer to the owner that he will accept it.

Thank you for your prayers, donations and encouragement,
kim

“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance.  The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”  C. S. Lewis.

Villages, towns and cities we have been working in:
Sino County: Bardoua, Beatuoken, Bilibokee, Charlic, Cass Town, Chebioh, Cheboken, Dagbe, Deedo, Dejila, Deyankpo, Fanfin, Funnioh, Gbliyee, Gardoway, Greeneville, Geelor, Greft, 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, Sennajalh, Titus, Voobadee, Wiah.  Grand Gheda County: Badou, Bah, Bargblor, Barte-jam, Bassa, 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,  Johban, John David, Jonesgbaye, Julutuzon, Karlowleh, Kohn, Kojayee, Konobo, Ziah, Kpae, Kyne, Kwebo, Ma Esther, New York gold mining camp, Nico, Old Pohan, Panwolor, Pellelzon, Penokon, Peter Saydee, Pineapple village, Ploe Bodee, Polar Town, Polar Village, PTP refugee camp, Sant, 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: Bannerville, Jacob town, Monrovia, New Georgia, Pipeline.  River Gee County:  Cheboken, Dweaken, Fish Town, Fish Town Prison, Geeken, Jarkaken, Jaytoken 1, Jaytoken 2, Kanweaken, Klaboken, Podroken, Putuken, Sargba, Sweaken, Tartiken.  Bomi County:  Beh, Jaway, Joes Town, Tubmansburg.  Margibi: Bovclay, Brown, Harbel camp 7, Kpuyah, Mazoe, Naway, Sherflin Barak,Takata. Maryland County: Cain, Cavalla, Gbolobo, Dakay, Dannis, Dibleken, Factory, Fish, Gboloken, 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, Puluken, Refugee Village, Rock, Rubber Bag Camp, Saydeken, Sawlowken, Saywonken, Siliken, Warteken, Weah’s Town, Wechoken, 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.