February 2010 Archives

Greetings from Liberia, where the weather is warm and sunny, and the sea is cool and blue!

We've been here for two weeks now, but I've only been in the ocean twice -- not a great record! Jeff Kennell, a friend from college, has long been interested in coming to Liberia but this is the first that the timing has worked out with his farm schedule. I've been so glad that he came -- besides farming he makes electronic parts for another company, so he's able to quickly pick up all the electrical work we're doing and has been the best help I could have asked for.

Our first week in Liberia we stayed at Bethesda Christian Mission School, founded in 1973 by Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF). They struggled through the war but now have 460 students in grades 1-12 and nearly half of those are boarding students. Their real struggle now is with electricity -- since there is none in Liberia they have a couple of generators and have installed their own wiring as they've grown. But it has been inadequate for their needs.

A friend of a friend who has been a supporter of Bethesda asked me to come along to look at their campus and give some recommendations. (You can see the campus on Google satellite maps.)

We spent that week developing a long-term plan for a power distribution system on their 30 acre campus. My experience with the electrical system at ICA in Bouake, Cote d'Ivoire, was a big help there, and having Jeff along with his laptop and Autocad made it possible for us to present a reasonable plan on the spot. Honestly, I don't think I would have been able to do even half the job if Jeff hadn't been along -- we spent several days measuring the campus together, but he did almost all the work in creating a map of the campus! It was also really helpful to have someone who knew what I was talking about to bounce ideas around and refine the plan. We'll finish up the details and present it to the sponsors for funding when we get back. They are hoping that they will be able to find a team to install this electrical wiring next January!

We moved over to the ELWA campus last Sunday afternoon, and I was able to get in my first swim in the ocean before dark. =)

Blessings,

Alan Shea

Note: This photo of Cherie and Alan was taken last year. Cherie remains in the States with their new son, Adam.

Today, David Frazee is traveling to Liberia to join the electrical team. Several months ago, when Steve Kjer put out the word for help on this project, we had no idea how God would answer.

There will be a team of ten men, in all, contributing their services, expertise, and equipment. Mel Kejr arrived on Feb 5 and leaves March 5. Alan Shea left on Feb. 15 to work one week at Camp Bethesda, and two weeks at ELWA, leaving March 13. Paul Ruark arrives Feb. 19 and leaves March 5, and Steve Kejr arrived Feb. 19 leaving March 20. Eric Lewis is a friend of my cousin David Tyler, and he and his wife are in the process of adopting from Liberia, and left Feb. 22, leaving Liberia on March 5. David Tyler is going to be in Liberia with their church working on church planting, and will join the electrical team for a week. John Dabeh arrives in Liberia Feb. 24 leaves March 24; David Frazee leaves today, Feb, 26 and leaves Liberia on March 8. Got all that straight? There will be a quiz.... :)

David is carrying with him a large electrical panel -- pray that there are no problems getting it there. Boni, David's wife posted on Facebook:

Yesterday David wrapped his box up in shrink wrap, and attached handles. I hope it gets through okay. Today God provided small Bibles for him to give out, tools to leave behind, and other miscellaneous items he has needed. It is amazing to see all that God is doing!! He will be sleeping in the house he grew up in. AND he turns 50 on the day he arrives back in the US.

Please keep David and the rest of the team in your prayers, for safe travel, for teamwork and getting much accomplished, and for God to be glorified. The success of this project will make an enormous difference to ELWA and all of its ministries.

Philippians 4:19 "My God will meet all your needs. He will meet them in keeping with his wonderful riches that come to you because you belong to Christ Jesus."

In addition, I promised you information about the upcoming ELWAKids reunion, so here it is:

From the Reunion Event website (bookmark it!)

ELWAKIDS REUNION 2010 JULY 11-13, 2010 Cocoa Beach, Florida

The 2008 ELWAKIDS Reunion was wonderful, but so many of you were missing. Make plans now to join us on the beautiful beach of the Atlantic Ocean for a time of reminiscing, laughing, crying and getting sunburned!!! We'll be staying at the Best Western, Cocoa Beach for 3 wonderful days of fun in the sun, July 11-13th. It won't be the same without YOU!!

That fact that we will be on a beach is filling us with anticipation. Though it is not the incomparable ELWA beach, it is sun, sand, and salt water. Jim Reed posted this a while ago on the Yahoo group.

I have no idea when I learned to swim. I think in utero, since that seems to have been salt water. All I remember is that I have known how to swim my whole life (like knowing Jesus, I guess, when you grow up in a Christian home). I have no fear of the ocean, and feel at home in it, flat or rough, deep or shallow. Lots of good things have happened to me in and on the ocean.

So when I returned to the US after 8th, I knew I knew how to swim. The summer between 9th-10th grades, I spent some time at Word of Life camp in upstate NY, on a Lake. The life guard asked me if I knew how to swim. I proudly said yes. He told me to swim to the floating thing out in the lake and back, using the Australian crawl going out, and the back stroke coming back. I had no idea what he was talking about. I told him I would do better with fins and a mask and snorkel. He told me it was obvious I did not know how to swim. He told me I would have to take the swimming class. At the moment, I would have happily tossed him into the ocean. I let him know that swimming in fresh water was not really swimming. Where is the challenge when you can swim in stuff you can also drink?

Steve Snyder added on to that post, "There's a line (in your post) that we should put on the tee shirt for the next ELWA Kids reunion: "Swimming in fresh water is not really swimming." I love it.

An event website has been created for you to register easily this "don't miss" event. Also posted on the site are some slide shows, and a list of who is coming so far. If you are an ELWA kid, add your name to the list! Hope to see you there!

ELWA kids. Never mind that some of us are in our 50's and 60's - in our minds we are all still "kids". Who is an ELWA kid? Anyone who spent part or most of their growing up years in that scenic campus called ELWA is a member. ELWAKIDS is a site exclusively for "kids" who share the experience of ELWA on the beautiful palm-lined beach on the Atlantic Ocean near Monrovia, Liberia.

Six years ago, Nancy (Sweekie) Ackley Ruth and her sister, Karen (elwagirl) Ackley Kern, formed a Yahoo group, "ELWAkids". The purpose of this site is simply to offer a venue for reconnection with those who spent some time in their formative years at Radio Station ELWA. It provides an opportunity to share our stories - the good, the funny, the bad, the ugly, the silly, and the unique. It does not matter if we experienced life at ELWA at the same moment in time - simply sharing a heritage, similar stories, pain, and distinctive experiences produces a profound bond. It is a missing link to our adult lives as many of us tried to camouflage our youthful identity in an effort to blend into our current surroundings. Many of us have gone decades in this masquerade, having no "safe" place to share our "real" selves.

According to the ELWAkids Yahoo group site,

It is not intended to be an evangelistic site, although we recognize that God is an important part of the lives of most of us; it is not intended to be a business site from which to solicit for personal gain; it is not a political site. It is a place that allows us all to go "home" cyber-ly.

We come together with a commitment to treating each other with kindness and acceptance and respect regardless of theology, philosophy, ideology, and place in our individual journeys.

As we reconnected in cyberspace we began to dream about returning to Liberia. Lee Sonius kept us informed with his frequent ELWA trips and report on the 50th ELWA celebration, Dan Snyder, John Schindler, the Molenhouse family with David Parker and Clip Kniffin, David Frazee all visited, and the Thompson siblings returned in 2006. With these trips, our desire to support the current ELWA ministry and its surrounding community developed into the seeds of the EMA+USA ministry.

ELWA MK's got together for mini-reunions, but the in 2006 a number of us met in Dallas at the SIMRoots reunion. We decided we needed our own reunion, and in 2008 we met in Atlanta. One of the unexpected blessings was having our children becoming friends. Tracey Kern, Taylor Snyder and Joelle Koci stay in touch and look forward to their own reunion. Then, our parents apparently were jealous of all the fun and reconnecting, so they had their own reunion at the same time at a hotel next to ours. Three generations impacted by missions, all eager to attend a reunion!

We sang old choruses, lead by Dr. David Troko (complete with all the motions), had an auction, talked into the wee hours, played Rook and more. On Saturday, we met with the "oldtimers" for a group meeting, updating the work at ELWA, and then Marie Kayea and others cooked all of us an amazing feast!

We then entertained the "old folks" with the Bucks version of "This Land is Your Land", followed by four square in the gym! It was an amazing weekend, and gave us just a little taste of what heaven will be like when we see Jesus, and all those who've gone before us. We decided the next one would be this July, at a beach, Cocoa Beach Florida!

If you are an ELWA Kid, join us on the Yahoo group! Karen Ackley Kern is the administrator, and can help you. Tomorrow, more about the upcoming ELWA Kids Cocoa Beach Reunion.

Ron McGinley is an "ELWA Kid", an MK who lived at ELWA in the 70's. He eloquently wrote this essay describing his experience, which resonates with many of us MK's. He has graciously allow us to share his thoughts. Thank you Ron for writing beautifully about your ELWA experience.

Jesus once said that we must become like children to enter into Heaven. I had never really contemplated those words until recently. I've had plenty of time on my hands as I have been going through cancer treatments over the past few months. This has given me a new priority in life as I have come face to face with my own fragility. Was I ready for Heaven? What kind of legacy would I leave? Had I accomplished what God had intended for my life?

Unfortunately the answers were not good. My life was a mess of selfish, sinful, and painful clutter. God was far from the center of my life and yet He was there waiting and working. Through "circumstances" and people God placed in my life I began to work through that mess as I spent hours with Him in prayer, reading and worship. Forgiveness is sweet and yet consequences linger.

It's been during these times that I have felt God speak to me through His Word, dreams, and prayers. He's given ideas that have turned into poetry. He's woken me with feelings of urgency to pray about something. He's brought memories I'd long forgotten back to life and some of those memories shed some light about Heaven for me.

I have experienced a small taste of Heaven here on earth. That place was called "ELWA". One may think me crazy and wonder how a little place in Africa could bring a foretaste of Heaven, but I beg your indulgence. It was in looking through some recently found pictures of ELWA and further discussions with my parents that some real correlations became evident to me. It wasn't because of the beach, though that was wonderful, and life wasn't perfect there, but I soon felt something stir in me as I remembered people. Heaven on some level is all about relationships: relationships with God, with friends and loved ones, saints of old and many more. This time we all will be perfect.

But as I remembered life as a child my memories are sweet. I can recall most every missionary that was there while I was and they all became more than other missionaries. Parents of friends and other adults became known as uncle or aunt. We did everything together, there was a sense of belonging to something bigger than just my family...I had a great extended family right there at ELWA. We celebrated and we grieved together, we played and we prayed together, we supported each other in a way beyond my experiences since. The stories that could be told would fill volumes and still only those that lived it would truly understand.

I remember the longing to return after furlough or while at boarding school, and I remember turning into the main gate and the comforting feeling of being home. I couldn't wait to see DAY or DK. Yes we had nicknames for about anyone. Sam, David, and Meanu Kayea were known as Sam-Jo, DK, and man-toose (later it was "frog island tarzan). DAY was for David Young, Byoke was for Brian Bliss and there were many more. The memories of people like Uncle Pete and Aunt Sadie, Pat (Chase) Ring, the Naffs and Balzers, Dr's Schindler and Young, Miss Kasper, the Geysbeeks, Brunings, Thompsons, Slaters, Sonius, Blisses, Hungerpillars and many more. All of these people and others had a profound effect on my life and I could never thank them enough. Many of them are still with us and some have passed on but I want to pay tribute to each of them for modeling Christ for me.

I never even knew what denomination all of these people were from and really didn't even know about denominations until high school. That says a lot because it seems these days there is plenty of friction just in one church or denomination, yet alone between denominations. I believe God was glorified at ELWA. There were plenty of non-ELWA'ers that we adopted too. There were the McClellans, Sweets, Enstroms, Jones, Reimers and so many more. I'm sure there were differences but they were never very evident to this child's eyes. All I saw was a big family that loved me and I loved them too. My heart broke when Aunt Betty Geysbeek, Uncle Els Balzer, and Bertie Hungerpillar passed away. They were part of my family too somehow.

I know that never again will I have a Christmas-eve potluck on the beach, or enjoy an Easter sunrise service on the beach with breakfast at Ackley's to follow, or experience the sight of Lee Sonius running across our backyards yelling in excitement at 3:30 am after the Cincinnati Red's won the 1976 World Series. Oh for Uncle Pete to have been a little league coach for my boys, what wonderful life lessons he taught. And yes there were the communal gatherings during the evenings at homes that had televisions. These were events. There were contacts, and junior high and high schoolers coming to our house on Sunday afternoons, charter flights where we could actually go up into the cockpit and talk with the pilots. How the world has changed. Before Playstation MLB there was APBA... (ELWA boys remember those games).

I'd love to return to Liberia, but I know that it is not the same place. Yet there is a deep sense of longing for the Liberian people that I love so much. The slice of Heaven that was there is gone and the hellish un-civil war has left so much need and a people starved for Good News. God is faithful and loves Liberia more than I ever could so I pray for them continually.

As I look toward Heaven now I can't help but think with child-like faith that someday I will be re-united with all of those who played such an important role in sharing Christ with me and showed me a little bit of Heaven.

My dad and I were talking and he shared with me that he had been thinking about family and history and such. He talked about going to a cemetery and seeing all of the stones and the epitaphs and the dates, but what really peeked his interest was that little dash between the dates. It represents a persons whole life and he wondered what that person had been like, what had they experienced and seen. Was their life meaningful, did they know Jesus, what all did that little dash entail? Well all of us are somewhere along that dash in our own lives and hopefully at the end of your dash I will see you in the real Heaven and we can sit and reminisce over old stories with those that have gone before. Someday maybe there will be an ELWA reunion in Heaven where I can finally meet those I had never had a chance to meet there and then be re-united with all the other "ELWA'ers".

Ron McGinley

According to Wikipedia,

Missionary Kids (or MKs) are the children of missionary parents, and thus most were born and/or raised abroad (that is, on the "mission-field"). They can be a subset of Third Culture Kids (TCKs), but not always.

The term is more specifically applied when these children return to their "home" or passport country (the country of their citizenship) and often experience various difficulties identifying with fellow citizens. The resulting feeling is described as "reverse culture shock." MKs often identify more with where they were raised (and this could be multiple cities, countries, or continents), than where their parents were raised, but are not fully at home in any one culture.

MK's tend to be open-minded and tolerant of many diverse cultures. They often feel more at home in culturally rich environments and can be "homesick" for their foreign home. Their knowledge of a country and its culture typically exceeds language fluency. Upon returning to their passport country, MK's possess unique skills that can be helpful to academics and governments. Because of their international experience, they often have a much broader worldview than their peers. This broader worldview can also lead to mixed emotions about their passport country and its foreign policies...

You know you're a Missionary Kid When...

• You can't answer the question, "Where are you from?"
• You speak two languages, but can't spell in either.
• You flew before you could walk.
• The U.S. is a foreign country.
• You have a passport, but no driver's license.
• You have a time zone map next to your telephone.
• Your life story uses the phrase "Then we went to..." five times.
• You watch nature shows, and think about how tasty that would be if it were fried.
• You speak with authority on the quality of airline travel.
• You send your family peanut butter and Kool-Aid for Christmas.
• National Geographic makes you homesick.
• You have strong opinions about how to cook bugs.
• People simply don't understand.
• You don't know where home is.
• Strangers say they can remember you when you were "this tall."
• You have friends from or in 29 different countries.
• You sort your friends by continent.
• You keep dreaming of a green Christmas.
• You tell people where you're from, and their eyes get big.
• "Where are you from?" has more than one reasonable answer.
• You realize that furlough is not a vacation.
• You've spoken in dozens of churches, but aren't a pastor.
• You stockpile mangoes.
• Someone brings up the name of a team, and you get the sport wrong.
• You believe vehemently that football is played with a round, spotted ball.
• You know there is no such thing as an international language.
• You tell Americans that democracy isn't the only viable form of government.
• You realize what a small world it is, after all.
• You never take anything for granted.
• You know how to pack.
• All preaching sounds better under a corrugated tin roof.
• When guests come to your house and bring a fish as a gift.
• Going to the post office is the highlight of your day.
• When you sing songs to yourself in a language other than English.
• When on deputation you have memorized Dad's messages.
• When after the church service you look for a slide projector to put away.
• When wearing shoes in the house sounds disgusting.
• On your 18th birthday you still don't have a driver's license.
• When you go on furlough your Mom buys everything in the store.
• When you would rather sleep on the floor than on the bed.
• When the family gathers around the computer to check the E-mail.
• When you enjoy getting together with other MK's and talking about old news.
• When all your clothes have been worn by someone else.
• When you find a seven year old picture of yourself on someone's refrigerator.
• When you know how to send a fax using an international call back service.
• When you have carried the same dollar bill in your wallet for four years.
• When you take a shower before taking a bath.
• When you call senior missionaries grandma and grandpa or aunt and uncle.
• You consider parasites, dysentery, or tropical diseases to be appropriate dinner conversation.
• You tell people what certain gestures mean in different parts of the world.
• You have stopped in the middle of an argument to find the translation of a word you just used.
• You calculate exchange rates by the price of Coke.
• You would rather have a Land Rover Defender than a Lexus.

(Originally compiled and published by Andrew and Deborah Kerr)

This week we are focusing on ELWA MK's. What's an MK? It's short for "Missionary Kid", a child who's parents were called by God to serve him in someplace other than where they called home. MK's often have a hard time answering questions like, "Where are you from?"

The homesick Bucks wrote this while traveling on furlough in 1984:

This land is your land. This land is my land.

From the ELWA beach--to the Nimba Mountains

From the Lofa River to Sinoe County

This land was made for you and me.

As I was tramping through her steamy jungle

I saw above me the rain was falling

I saw below me the snakes were crawling

This land was made for you and me.

I've roamed and rambled and followed my footsteps

From the swampy lands of her coastal beaches

And all around me a breeze was blowing

This land was made for you and me.

I've trekked and hunted thru the swampy bushland

I've canoed and swam in her raging rivers

And all around me the birds were singing

This land was made for you and me.

As I was walking, I met a Charlie

He said, "My good fren, I have some ivory."

I said, "My good fren, I have no money."

But this land was made for you and me.

I said, "My good fren, go fine a white man,

The kind of white man, who has no suntan.

He's from the rich land, he's got some money.

He just come from the United States."

Under a palm tree there is a small box

And from that small box a voice is speaking

It says God loves you, He lives in heaven

And that land's prepared for you and me.

The baby hurting, the mother crying.

We have injection to heal their sickness.

We bring them Jesus to heal their spirit

And give them life eternally.

That land is your land, that land is my land,

If we ask Jesus to be our Savior

From pearly gates down the golden highway

That land's prepared for you and me.

We have been so blessed to have many generous friends who donate clothes, Bibles, crafts, money, etc., and today I'd like to share the result of one such gift.

My niece Katie has a great love for Liberia and Liberians, and through the several trips she has made with her parents, has made many friends. She also has a gift of evangelism in her quiet strong way, and has lead several young people to Christ while on the beach. One of her good friends is Vashti, who spent a lot of time with us as we toured the ELWA campus and walked along the beach looking for shells and agates.

As we rested from our first walk on the beach, we went through the donations that were spread out on a large table in the guest house, and found Vashti a bathing suit and some tops. Then Katie gave her a beautiful leather study Bible, and as I sat down with her, and showed her some scripture, it was soon obvious that this 4th grader could not read. Was this a wasted gift? No, God had prompted Katie to give it, and I would have to trust that He would use it for His glory.

The next day, this beautiful woman appeared with her 3 children. "Caroline", she said when I asked her name. As I asked about the boys, she quickly answered, and promptly turned the conversation to her mission. "I wanted to thank you for the gifts you gave Vashti, especially the Bible. I will read it to them, and make sure that they learn to read. I lost my husband in the war. It's hard" - a refrain we heard repeatedly. No jobs, mouths to feed, school fees if the children are to be educated. We outfitted the boys with bathing suits, Umbros and shirts, added some devotionals. It wasn't much, but her eyes filled with gratitude. Hugs, a word of prayer, pictures with my daughter Joelle, and they were on their way... Another gift given in Jesus' name had met its mark.

Have you heard about the dental clinic attached to ELWA Hospital? It's an exciting new ministry, and I thought you should know about it. SIM (Serving in Missions), in partnership with Mercy Ships, is working to save lives and to restore hope through this one year old dentistry project in Liberia, West Africa. From their website:

In a country with 3 licensed dentists serving its population of 3 million, Liberia currently receives negligible attention to oral health. Consequently many suffer for years with dental pain, and complications can even reach a fatal stage, contributing to the nation's low life expectancy, which statistics show is only 40 years of age. Liberia is one of the 10 poorest nations on earth. It is emerging from a 14 year civil war that destroyed the country's infrastructure.

The population of Liberia lives on average at less than $1 per day. It is currently impossible therefore for each one to cover the cost of their treatment. Even with no dentists' salaries, most dental materials and supplies are only available from and priced by the American and European market, and the lack of electricity in Liberia means high prices for generator fuel.

The need is great. Most Liberians cannot afford a regular visit to the dentist, leaving them vulnerable to disease brought upon by abscessed teeth and decaying jawbones due to chronic infections. Without treatment, many will die.

Sadly, most of these critical dental problems would never have happened had Liberians had better access to a dentist, who could have stopped the problems with a simple cavity filling or a chat about preventative care.

Trinity Dental was founded by Dr. Keith Chapman, dentist and surgeon, and Frieda Schmidt, a dental therapist, on the ELWA campus just outside the capital city of Monrovia on Nov. 23, 2008. Both Dr. Keith and Frieda previously work with the organization Mercy Ships, a humanitarian organization that provides medical care to poor people in developing nations. Surgical procedures are performed by Dr. Chapman in the ELWA Hospital operating room.

They currently see from 15-35 people/day at the clinic, and average over 250 new patients a month in a new building attached to ELWA Hospital. Take a tour of the new facility!

Trinity Clinic has a three-pronged approach - Treating, Teaching, and Training. Dr. Keith's year-end report includes the following:

Treating In the first year, we surpassed our goals, providing 5685 procedures to over 3200 patients. Unbelievable. Procedures included more than 1200 fillings (that's saved teeth!) and 84 surgeries for severe dental, head, and neck problems, many of which we provided free of charge.

Teaching We also now have a full time dental health educator, who spends her days in classrooms around the city teaching students about dental health, and empowering the teachers to carry that information on to future classes. Every patient at the clinic is also given educational literature stressing the importance of early, preventive treatment and the prevention of tooth decay.

Training

We are in the process of educating our assistants to give injections for local anesthesia, and continue to think forward towards a dental therapy training program in the future. The Methodist Church is also looking into starting a dental nurse practitioner training similar to our concept, with which we may be able to combine efforts.

Trinity has come up with a creative way for you to help support their ministry, called "Tunes for Teeth". The CD "Breaking New Ground" was released in 2003 by Dr. Keith. It has 12 tracks with 10 original songs. 50% of all sales will go directly to the clinic. Trinity Dental Clinic is a charity clinic in partnership with SIM and Mercy Ships, established near Monrovia, Liberia to provide affordable treatment, training, dental education, and hope to millions who suffer from preventable dental complications in Liberia.

For more videos, check out Trinity's YouTube channel.

In January 2009 we facilitated a morning retreat for the Project Hannah women. I taught on prayer and we also taught the ladies a craft. This group of women is part of a world-wide group, sponsored by Trans World Radio through REAP. Each year, women around the world focus on a single issue for prayer. Last year, the prayer focus was on the sex-slave trade around the world.

REAP describes the goals and mission of Project Hannah / Women of Hope in the following:

The effects of the Liberian crisis on women is nothing to overlook. Majority (if not all) of Liberian women still find themselves in crisis after the war. Some of the conditions are spiritually rooted and can only take spiritual interventions to have them resolved.

It is within this prayer view that Project Hannah exists. The program offers spiritual assistance and women empowerment skills training for needed women in the community and the church.

In a monthly network meeting, Project Hannah brings together victimized women and women leaders from churches, NGOs, and the communities to undergo training in life skills, counseling, and prayers.

The program also has a weekly radio broadcast on Radio ELWA. The radio program is geared toward giving hope to all women who find themselves at the verge of giving up in life as a result of crises.

Esther Bomosy, Project Hannah's REAP Coordinator, gathered testimonies of four of the women, and I thought you should hear their stories.

Elizabeth Youndo's Story

Dear Christian Friends,

I was sick until nobody knew if I was going to live. I was out of my home for more than one year, going from sick bush to sick bush, and my children were alone in the home. The father never had time for them. The children were all in people's homes and they were using them to work for them while they were out of school and dirty.

My husband had left our home and went to another woman and he was only waiting for me to die until one day when I was coming from church, one of my friend saw me she could not believe to see me alive. She said your husband said you will not live, and I lifted my two hands up and praise God, for his goodness in my life.

But God has been wonderful. He healed me and brought me closer to Him and saw all my children and most of all brought my husband back home and right now he is in my church. I am part of the praise team and also part of the praying team.

So I praise God for my life, because if it had not been His grace I will have not been living by this time. I want to tell the whole world to only focus on God and pray to him and believed that he is able to change our life and he is to do it for US.

All we need to is to keep the faith and He will do the rest for us and let us praise Him all the time and He will bless us in everything that we do.

Thanks

A Story of my Experience in the Liberian Civil War
by Mrs. Helen Dahn

I am Helen Dahn: I am a Liberian and member of the United Inland Church. I am a widow: I lost my husband in the Liberian civil war. He was an employee of the J.F.K Hospital and ELWA Hospital.

When the war began, there were people searching for my husband. We then went to seek refuge in the S. Trocun Nagbe United Methodist church in Sinkor, Monrovia. When soldiers carried on a massacre at the Lutheran Church, the next morning we left the Church compound to go toward the rebel line.

My husband was caught along with many others and was carried to be killed. Later I was arrested and managed to escape by the grace of God.

My children and I spent some time in Nimba, but due to hardship and threats, we went in exile to the Ivory Coast where we stayed until after the elections.

Nowadays, I have given mine all to God and I am prepared to work for Him for the rest of my life. I have been encouraged by working in the house of the Lord, going for seminars, etc.

Well I learn a lot about God.

Thanks

From Mrs. Dorothy Miller  
The Result of the War

My husband died in 1990 and left me with seven living children. We are living through the help of God, some are in school and some are not because finance. Also my house was burned during the war.

Thanks

From Mrs. Ruth Z. Bleah
My Civil War Experience

October 6, 1994 was a dreadful night in Saclepea, Nimba County.

Rebel soldiers came to our home and took away my husband, John, at gunpoint to their headquarters about half a mile away. it was about 2: 00 AM.

Earlier during the day time they came to our house demanding for a vehicle from us. This vehicle was not ours. So my husband refused to give them the vehicle.

At their headquarters they demanded for money from my husband. He did not have any money so the soldiers returned to our house and took me to a river nearby about half a mile away in the opposite direction from their headquarters.

They demanded money from me. I did not have any money either. They took me to their headquarters where my husband was kept.

While all this was going on with two of us, our children were held at gunpoint in our home.

About 4:00 AM they took us back to our house and they let us go when my husband give them $ 250.00 USD he had kept somewhere.

Within the next few days we lost every valuable house hold items we had. They regularly came to us and we gave them vehicle parts, hand tools etc.

We praise God that through it all we were protected from bodily harm.

For more details about our time with Project Hannah women, check out the report on the "Projects" page.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Today's journey to the Seed Faith New Kru Town Church and the service itself were both wonderful and vexing. It took four taxi rides to get out to New Kru Town and three to get back. But, the 3-hour service was a powerful demonstration of the power of God to motivate and rally a community. Rev. Josiah Swen is a very strong leader and pastor. The Seed Faith Church had just moved out of the basement of its large church building onto the 1st floor, and that was a cause for rejoicing. Clearly the congregation responds very well to him. In addition to this new church, Pastor Swen wants also to build a school and a hospital for the New Kru Town community. Tall orders indeed! I came home tired and hungry from this 6-hour journey and ready for some downtime on the peaceful grounds at ELWA.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Today's adventure was to go to the Central Prison in Monrovia to see Saturday who is in jail. We have had Saturday work with us each of the past two trips, and I wanted to help Saturday. It was wonderful that David Williams and Obadiah both made the trip to the prison to see Saturday. In addition, Francis Kollie from Prison Fellowship accompanied us. Francis's expertise in the prison system was invaluable to us in trying to get Saturday's release. In addition, Francis gave a Saturday a good firm talk about his relationship with God and the need for forgiveness of his accuser. It was wonderful to listen to Francis tell Saturday what he needs to do to be fully rehabilitated, even once he leaves the prison.

The stats on the prison do not paint a pretty picture. Saturday is in a small cell of about 8'x10' with about 10 other men. He gets one bowl of rice daily with no soup on the rice. Saturday had already been in jail for 10 months, and his trial would probably not come up for another two or three years.

If Saturday is released, he must post bail for $150-200. Bail is not it is in the States, in which he gets the money back after his trial. But, if he is released based on testimony and his time served, he does not have to stand for trial. So, he would be a free man. We hope that Saturday is indeed freed, is repentant and can forgive his accuser.

This was a unique experience for me. I've never gone into a prison before in the States or anywhere else. We like Saturday, and others do as well, as witnessed by two of his co-workers that went with us to the prison. We shall be praying for Saturday's heart and for his release.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Tuesday was our "free" day to go to Grand Bassa County with Jefferson and Helena. Jeff is from Grand Bassa. From the Susie Guenter Orphanage, it took about 2 ½ hours to "reach to" District 3, where Jeff has a network of contacts. I believe that he grew up on a Baptist mission compound. The first stop was a second orphanage that Jeff is supporting in addition to his work at Susie Guenter in Paynesville. There are about 19 children at this compound, and Jeff has plans to expand it to be able to take in more kids. Here is a photo of their well. The local people were very hospitable as usual, and they served as lunch. In addition to a rice dish, dumboy was served. This is made from cassava, and I declined to have any, not having had any success with that meal in the past. Jeff and Helena took us to several other nearby villages. At one, we met the regional chief, who spoke to us in Bassa with Jeff translating for us. We met some of the other people in the village. One person spoke out that one of the men was 66 years old. I added that I also am 66 years old, and so we had our picture taken together. This "old man" looked "strong," as the Liberians like to say.

In traveling to Buchanan, we crossed over the train tracks that extend all the way to the LAMCO iron ore mines in northern Nimba County. Now a new company, Mittal, has invested in that mine and I believe has bought it from LAMCO. Jeff said however that he believes that LAMCO still retains an interest in that mine. But regardless of ownership, the tracks are being repaired so that iron ore can be shipped out of Liberia from the port of Buchanan.

We traveled to Buchanan to see the port and the sea at this coastal city. Kru fishermen were bringing in their catches and the women were readying the catches for market. I entered into a conversation in Kru with some of them and spoke of Timothy Nyae, the man who taught me some Kru. A lady there knew Timothy Nyae and his whole family. She knew that Timothy and his wife Josephine had died and were buried in Ghana, and that their five children wear now living in Nigeria. What a remarkable coincidence to accidentally meet local people in Buchanan that knew my old friend from Peace Corps days.

The trip back was uneventful, and we got back to ELWA and had an evening meal of macaroni and cheese. I got up and continued the lettering for the new sign for the Susie Guenter Orphanage.. Then I had many small errands to run to get different parties paid. Our final meal was rice with goat soup made from the goat that Uri Mohammad brought to David. What a remarkable gesture to bring a goat to Dave as a gift for the work that Dave awarded to Uri Muhammad last year. The goat meat was tasty - tasted like beef. Then, after some delay, we headed off to the airport for the long trip home.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The work projects are moving more slowly than in past years. Jim is busy with various projects on the ELWA campus. These projects include:
• Fixing the Perkins generator at the ELWA Hospital;
• Repairing the John Deere generator for ELWA Services;
• Stabilizing the foundation for the Administration Building;

At Susie Guenter, David Williams and his construction team have torn off the roof on the old school building and constructed the pillars for the new roof. This team of men is working quickly. They have made the concrete form with rebars for the horizontal piece that forms the support for the new roof. The plan is that this work team will build the frame for the new roof prior to our departure next week. Then, we shall attempt to raise funds upon our return back home so that Jefferson can purchase the zinc (or tin) that actually forms the roof. This needs to be done prior to the beginning of the dry season in April.

The coolest thing just occurred. Last night I went on ELWA radio with Steven Debleh, one of the local announcers, to give the name of some of my students from my Peace Corps days in the mid-1960s. Steve was very pleasant in the interview, and I was able to recount my time in the Peace Corps as well as the projects that our mission team is working on now. At the end of the interview, I gave the names of ten of my students from my teaching days at Edwin Barclay School #2. One of those was Angeline Nyante. This morning, one of the radio guys named Perry contacted me to tell that some lady e-mailed or contacted ELWA radio to say that she heard Angeline Nyante's name on the radio, and knew her. I now have her phone number and will call her shortly. This is exciting and also an emotional moment for me.

Yesterday also, I set up teaching times with Benedict Nagbe at ELWA Academy to teach on the prominent African-American figures. Also, our mission team hopes to visit with Saturday, one of our workers who is now in Central Prison in Monrovia. I hope that Prison Fellowship can follow up with him after we are gone.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

A highlight for me occurred this noon when Angeline Nyante and her son Victor came to the ELWA Guest House to pay me a visit. Angeline and Victor came out by taxi to ELWA from their home in the Front Street area of Monrovia. There is probably a Kru community in that section of the City. I felt honored that she was willing to make the trip out to ELWA. . She and Victor spoke about their family. Angeline has six children and one grandchild. Their family seems to have survived the war pretty well, since no one has died. Indeed, Angeline's mother is still alive. On the other hand, the kids haven't been able to continue with their schooling because of the war. Victor has finished high school but hasn't been able to go to college. He is now about 33 years old (born in 1976).

Angeline looked very well to me and so did her son. I hope to make contact with some of the other children from my class at Edwin Barclay School No. 2 in Old Kru Town. I gave Angeline a listing of the names of the kids that I could remember, and that's about 10 or 11 of the class of 22 or 24.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Last night I had hoped to go on the air with Steve Debleh to record on ELWA radio my meeting with Angeline Nyante and her son Victor. I waited for about 30 minutes while Steve did the announcements that mainly related to churches in the Monrovia area. As we were about to go live on the air, the ELWA power supply went down, and everything went dead. So, Steve said for me to come back this morning to try again. So, last night the four of us (Dave, Seth, Jim and me) went to the Mona Liza for banana splits (our reward, so to speak!), and then turned in. Lack of power does tend to deaden the evening's activities!

This morning, I went back up to the ELWA radio station to do the interview again. I recounted the activities of our mission team and also my meeting with Angeline. It was about a 12 minute interview and was much warmer than the first one on Monday of this week. Also, this morning I got over to the Peace Corps Office at the American Academy. Had a good talk with Darren Defendeifer, a former Peace Corps volunteer and currently serving in an administrative capacity for Peace Corps/Liberia.

Sunday, January 17, 2010
Darren gave me a quick overview of the activities of the Peace Corps Response program in Liberia in this point. He gave some ideas that might assist ELWA for teaching training ideas. One would be to set up a scholarship for teachers at ELWA to attend the Teacher Training Institute at BWI in Kakata. The other idea is for ELWA to apply for grant funding from USAID for certain projects at ELWA. He also gave me some ideas for restaurants in the Sinkor area.

Saturday Dave drove to Acres of Hope to deliver a package, and then we went out onto Bushrod Island to visit his metal worker from last year, Uri Mohammad. Finding Somalia Drive on Bushrod Island was an exercise, but we found it. Mohammad was most hospitable. He served us beer and fanta in a local lunch spot - he clearly was currying favor from Dave. We went home through Red Light, the intersection named for the red light that was an attempt to regulate traffic at that horrendously busy intersection between Tubman Blvd. and Somali Drive. None of these population centers existed when I was here in the 1960s. I guess that's not too surprising, but it's the only benchmark that I have to mark the changes that have occurred in the Monrovia area.

Saturday evening we went over to the Sacras for an American meal of barbecued chicken, baked beans and brownies for dessert! Delightful! But, the most fascinating part of the gathering was to learn that Jamie and Rusty hope to adopt a baby Liberian girl with a cleft palate. The birth mother has rejected her. The baby girl will have her first operation in about two weeks. The Liberian Government is expected to announce a relaxation of the strict rules on adoption outside of Liberia in Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf's speech to be given at the end of January. If this baby girl is not allowed to be adopted by this family or some other family, her future is certainly not bright.

On Friday, Clip and the others prepared for the ELWA reception, and in the afternoon, had the Scholarship Fund meeting with James Kesselly, Benedict Nagbe (ELWA Academy principal), Nancy and Nate Miller. After ironing out details of disbursement of funds, home visits, and annual application forms, it is very clear that the need and interest in the scholarships has greatly increased. ELWA Academy, like the schools across the country, has had to increase tuition 100%, and though there is an increased interest in college scholarships, it was decided to keep the scholarships to K-12, even considering partial scholarships if funds are short

Clip's journal continues...

Friday was the day for our ELWA reception. The ladies - Rose, Frances, Patience, Sawale and Nene were the food preparers, and we shall tip them generously. The reception for the ELWA staff was a success! Among those people that I met that we had not previously were:

• Ebenezer in the accounting department at ELWA. Ebenezer knew Joseph Danweih when he was at ELWA.
• Moses Nyantee, head of ELWA radio. I told him that one of my students was Angeline Nyantee, but he did not know her.
• Ben Colby and his wife.. Young married couple that had been on the Mercy Ship and was with YWAM. They are now stationed at ELWA.
• Rusty and Jamie Laird. Young couple from the Bellingham, WA area. He has taken over for Steve Kejr but they are returning to the States this summer.
• Liberia John. He gave me a ride on his motorcycle last year to go meet with Peter Swen to go down to the New Kru Town Church.

Saturday, January 10, 2010
Most of the day was taken up with a visit to the Phebe Gray Orphanage. Nancy had arranged this trip with Christine Norman. We met in a beautiful, new classroom or meeting room with ceramic tiled floors. I gave a brief lesson and then Christine spoke. The children were very receptive and sang beautifully. A little two-year boy named Thomas became my friend. The entire visit was most satisfying!

In the mid-afternoon, Frieda took us to Caesar's Beach, located along the road to Roberts Field and then a turn off toward the ocean. There was a large lagoon with brackish water that was easy to swim in. The surf in the ocean was very rough with a strong undertow - quite dangerous. Apparently there was drowning of a young man off the Mercy Ship about three years ago when Joel Parker was here in the summer. The fact that the water is somewhat salty was good because, some say, that keep the crocs out of that lagoon. That is a VERY GOOD THING! The deep water in the lagoon was very warm at the deeper portions, and we found that to be remarkable.

Monday, January 11, 2010
I rose early, as has been my habit. Perhaps I'm still recovering from the time change, don't know. But, I've been rising early. It's quiet and cooler in the early morning and a great time to do my journaling and other study. Often, but not always, it's been the best time to get on the Internet, although this morning I couldn't get on line. We'll try the SIM office later this morning.

Yesterday, Sunday, was pleasant. We went to church at the International Church of Monrovia (ICM) on the ELWA campus. The service lasted for almost two-hours but was joyful and upbeat with a good message. The highlight for me was the praise singing led by Sawale, one of our housekeepers. She had led the praise singing last year and gets the entire congregation going! The message was given by a preacher from Maryland County, and he preached on Deuteronomy 4:15-31 on the commandment against idolatry and the need for obedience.

Sunday afternoon our entire group went to the beach to be with Nancy prior to the departure of all the Molenhouses except Jim. Jim spoke of how much more relaxed Nancy is here at ELWA compared to her busier life back in Wheaton. The local folks around ELWA always wish to greet Nancy and remember her parents, Bill and Betty Thompson, so fondly.

More from Clip to come...