Tuesday, May 7, 2013

April 2013: "Met with surprise...and enthusiasm as we entered their domain with the Gospel.."


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 10 counties; there are 8,700 villages and towns in 15 counties. This month we made 35 mission trips, visiting 13 villages and other locations.  We made 44 local mission trips.  Many of the places we visited multiple times, our longest trip was 8 days, shortest a few hours.  We printed and distributed approximately 11,100 pages of teaching material and distributed hundreds of Bibles, 38 were baptized and 58 completed our extensive Bible study program.  We showed the Jesus film 2 times to over 375 people.  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

Local missions: This month and last month our operating money was lower so we have been focusing on our local city, Zwedru and our team in Maryland County focused on their local city, Harper.  We now have many new fruitful teaching points.  On Sunday mornings some of instead of going to church went to the bars and drug houses.  Sunday morning is the biggest drinking time of the week.  We were met with surprise, acceptance, and enthusiasm as we entered their domain with the Gospel.  Most were shamed former rebel soldiers, of those many were former child soldiers.  They are outcasts and have committed some of the most murderous, hideous brutalities ever imagined.  A few, through witchcraft, have even committed cannibalism and drank human blood.  Many have now made commitments to Christ, have been baptized and are now evangelizing their friends.  We have started Sunday morning studies on our compound.  One Sunday we had over 30 of them studying scripture with us that weeks before were getting drunk and high to numb and forget.  They would never walk into a church but enthusiastically study scripture with us on Sunday mornings.

The Rainy Season: It has started the rain is almost daily and can be very heavy.  Last night our MI team and I went into PTP Refugee Camp, of about 9,000 refugees, to encourage the churches.  A huge storm hit while we were there, the camp suffered.  Thatch and tarp roofs were destroyed.  The church we were speaking in had most of its roof badly damaged, water poured through.  That evening when the rain let up we headed home.  Not long on the road a large tree had fallen across it.  We turned back and found one of the pastors who was able to let us sleep in one of their refugee homes.  We were treated like royalty, given the best they had.  The next day a UN chain saw team cleared four fallen trees that had crossed the roads.
        The refugees truly suffer!  The MI team noticed how they have lost everything: homes, land possessions, their country and most if not all have lost family members.  They live in tarp tents and mud shacks in the jungle and receive insufficient food yet still laugh and smile much more than most Americans.  Why?

Woodside Bible Church:  Tom Gitter and Dave Janman from Woodside Church in the Detroit area came and spent 2 ½ weeks with us to observe, preach and teach.  They have returned and will present to their congregation what they have seen and heard.

Ryan Cain: Ryan spent 3 months with us and is now back in Ohio.  He truly experienced Liberia and WSL.  At the very start Africa greeted him with the kiss of malaria.  He was very sick for weeks probably because of fake malaria treatment medication, and before he left he received another gift of Typhoid.  While here he went on multiple mission trips, taught and worked on a video presentation of WSL and Liberia.  He hopes to have it ready for you soon.  He left Liberia 30 pounds of his weight.

Christine Medan: Has been with us for 2 years, she is now back in France.  Our Lord has reassigned her to Afghanistan.  She came to us as a new missionary. Through the Holy Spirit she is leaving us as a well-trained, experienced missionary prepared to meet the dangers and spiritual battles of that land.

Jean Francois: came to us from France and spent 3 weeks with us.  He has returned.  While here he did preaching, teaching and casting out demons.  Our Lord brought him to us at the right time to deal with the demon infestation of these former soldiers.  He also taught us and gave us the experience needed to continue this ministry.  Even today a former soldier came to me requesting deliverance of a demon.

Don and Melanie Riley: They have 4 young children.  I pick them up from the airport this week.  They sold and gave all.  They have purchased one-way tickets and have no plans to leave.  Zwedru is now their home.  Wow, do we continually see the plans and workings of God here.  The Holy Spirit sends and trains Christine and then relocates her and one week later brings in new trainees and workers to replace her.  All under His plans and purposes.  Guaranteed it is not my planning and leadership, I am also just a trainee obeying orders.

Prayer requests: Special prayer for the Riley family.  There is going to be huge culture shock and many challenges.  They have bravely and sacrificially brought themselves and children into the very harsh center of Liberia.  Truly the harvest is plentiful!  Pray for our workers, for more workers and our ability to reach the people. 
 
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:
Sinoe County: Bardoua, Beatuoken, Bilibokee, Charlic, Cass Town, Chebioh, Cheboken, Dagbe, Deedo, Dejila, Deyankpo, Fanfin, Funnioh, Gbliyee, Gardoway, Greeneville, Geelor, Greft, Jalay, Jaytoken, Joazon, Joe Village, 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 Gedeh County: Army barracks, 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, Gbayea, 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: Army barracks, Bovclay, Brown, Dolos Town, Harbel camp 7, Kpuyah, Mazoe, Naway, Sherflin Barak,Takata. Maryland County: Cain, Cavalla, Gbolobo, Dakay, Dannis, Dibleken, Factory, Fish, Gboloken, Halfgrayway, 6 locations in Harper, Holegrn, Judy’s, Kablaken, Kings, 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, Pular, Pulla, Puluken, Refugee Village, Rock, Rubber Bag Camp, Saydeken, Sawlowken, Saywonken, Siliken, Spring Hill, Warteken, Weah’s Town, Wechoken, Wholegrayway, 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.  Grand Kru: Bewan, Doubbo.