March 2010 Archives

We've gotten a couple of updates from Dan Snyder, as they are winding up their ministry trip to Liberia.

Not much time now but thanks for all your prayers. I was bed ridden for a day plus per Dr. Sacra when my blood pressure shot up to 200/118 - back to normal now. I missed speaking in 2 schools that day and our youth rally that night but God still blessed. Also the YFC worship leader ran a fever for several days but is better now. Satan has been trying hard to disrupt our Lord's ministry unsuccessfully thanks to you guys for your prayers.

So far over a hundred young people have come to know the Lord as their personal Lord and Savior and YFC has been introduced to so many new ministry partners...

We had our 8th and final youth rally tonight. God moved in a tremendous way. There were at least 10 ex-combatants thaat I spoke with several days ago who gave their lives to the Lord who came and wanted to make it public. I still get goose bumps thinking about it. God's word has not been spoken in vain! We have invitations from every church where we had a rally to come back and do it again next year. And YFC has been asked by all the pastors to come monthly to each church to have rallies. Its great to see God giving confidence and empowerment to YFC to have rallies without the "missionaries" present. He will be using them is so many more ways than we can even imagine.

Tomorrow is our last day. We will be on radio ELWA from 9 to 10 am talking bout what the Lord has done then we will be going to see Coo Coo and Mrs. Tubman (the old lady). Lunch at the ELWA guesthouse and a little time for the beach and to fellowship with some of the ELWA staff. At 6 pm we go to a Bible study with Vice-President and Mrs. Joseph Boakai then to their home for dinner. We will leave the ELWA campus at 6 am Thursday to return to the foreign country that we now live in.

This trip has been very special to me and I even see a greater need to reach out to the youth here in Liberia. Everyone has been so kind and receptive and appreciate that several Liberian pekins thought enough about them to return home and loved them enough to come all this way to share the message of God's love and hope. God has been magnified and glorified.

More on our trip when I get back to the other side of the pond. Annette will be posting pics - being a professional photographer that she is you know they will be good.

Praise God for His Word being preached with such boldness! "I will send out my Word, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere. You will live in joy and peace" Is. 55:11-12. Liberia's only hope for joy and peace is through God, and the work of Christ, the Prince of Peace, on our behalf. What a privilege to be a small part of this exciting ministry. You can join us with your part as prayer warriors, joining a serving team, and giving as God leads.

Today Annette and Dan are at the International Church of Monrovia (ICM) with Pastor Moses Gwoley, right on the ELWA campus. Then in the afternoon, there is going to be a baptism at ELWA Beach for those who made commitments to Christ at the Youth Rallies! What rejoicing in Heaven there must be!

Yesterday, they hosted a dessert celebration for the ELWA staff members at the ELWA guest house, built by Annette's father Ray G. de la Haye. It was also the one year passing in to Glory of this remarkable man, at age 97. Annette shared a tribute in honor of her father, and here are some of her thought from her blog.

My Daddy didn't tell me how to live or die, he showed me. For all of us who had the honor of visiting him during his last few weeks, this statement was very evident. During his last few days, he communicated with peace in his eyes, a gentle smile, or squeeze of his hand. I am thankful that God kept his mind alert so we could say "goodbye, see you in the morning".

He was an SIM (Serving In Mission) pioneer missionary who lived life to the full. He and my Mom (Sophie) sailed for Africa on the Queen Mary in 1937. Our first home was a grass hut, and first mode of transportation was a camel. Family life was always an adventure....

When I think of Daddy, I realize his faith was practiced in the way he lived day by day. I am so proud to be a part of his family. It is my honor to follow in his steps, ones that look so much like the steps of Jesus. My prayer is that in my generation and those behind, we will be able to recognize the steps of Jesus. Clarence Kelland said: "My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived and let me watch him do it." This was so true of Daddy. He also showed us how to die well, and we thank him.

What a man ... he was made of clay, but the fragrance of Christ was so much a part of his life. "Thank you my Heavenly Father for such a wonderful earthly Daddy." Amen

Here is an album of photos from Annette, honoring her Daddy.

It's been a couple of days since I've given you an update about Dan Snyder and Annette de la Haye Cooper's ministry trip to Liberia. After a series of meetings with officials regarding Liberian adoption issues, they visited Susie Guenter Orphanage, said goodbye to David Wood and Herbie Newell from Lifeline Children's Services.

Thursday, March 25, Annette spoke at an all-day retreat with girls from three THINK homes. THINK (Touching Humanity in Need of Kindness), was started by Rosanna Hungerpillar Schaack (another ELWAkid), for girls who were child soldiers in the war. Then, Dan joined some of the YFC staff and ministered to ex-combatant boys, followed by an afternoon meeting with another group of boys, non-combatant, but affected by the war. In the evening, they held a youth rally for the THINK girls.

I was able to chat with both of them on-line (I love technology!) last night. They said that they have some amazing stories, but have been so busy they haven't had any free time to write us. Annette said she is keeping a journal, and when they come back, I will flood you with stories! They have been "abnormally busy", and Annette said, "we have been running so much and multitasking all day through the night". Annette, Dan, and Rosie Shaack were at Laurence and Christine Norman's home for dinner, and a time of prayer. Keep praying for them! God is doing wonderful thing, and using them mightily.

Today, Friday, March 26, Annette meets all day with the Project Hannah women (see a past blog), while Dan meets with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, followed by a meeting with some of the legislators who are friends of YFC, to see how we can best be of service to Liberia's youth in future ministry opportunities. And of course, there is another of the daily youth Rallies, this time in Monrovia.

Tomorrow morning, Dan, Annette and Christine have a press interview, a youth rally for several orphanages including Judith Craig. They will have lunch with Rebecca Hungerpillar Jallah and Rosanna at the ELWA guesthouse. In the afternoon, they are hosting a reception for the ELWA staff from the radio station, hospital, school, and services departments. They will be at the guesthouse (Annette's former home, where Annette will be hosting just as her mother Sophie used to do the same. Are you tired yet, just reading about this schedule? But wait -- there's more. The Youth For Christ staff will be hosting a dinner for them -- then planning and preparation for the following day, getting to bed in the wee hours. Pray for health, strength and wisdom for them!

Sunday will have an exciting event -- more about that later.

Dan's brother Steve got an exciting update from him last night.

Dan called me last night, and told me about the amazing things happening on their trip. Last night, they had another youth meeting. The way things have worked out, Dan doesn't see any real need for him to be on the platform (so to speak) at all. But, he wound up leading that old song "Fire Up" and had an absolute blast. He used John Schindler's and David Troko's routine of walking out the side door. The walls to the building were made of that open concrete block (you know, with large openings in each concrete block, sort of like on a fence, that allow ventilation) . The people could see him walk around. Every little bit, he'd stick his face up to one of the openings and yell something in to them. He eventually came through the back door, walked back up and ended the song. Everyone had a blast! Then, he said they would do the song one more time -- but he wanted a volunteer to lead it. One kid (I don't recall the age but I am under the impression he was only about 11 or 12 years old) raised his hand but quickly pulled it back down. Dan got him to come up and he started leading the song. He soon really got into it, started hamming it up, and did the same routine of holding his hand up while everyone held the note, walking outside, and so on. Dan was so excited.

More than 75 young people and kids have responded to invitations to acccept Christ in the first two meetings alone. I am truly amazed and excited. The pastor last night already asked Dan to promise to return with another youth rally next year. Dan was also talking last night about your going with him next year.

Anyway, thank you for praying for him and for encouraging him -- and for praying for me, as well. I am praying for you guys!

Steve Snyder

Steve Snyder is an attorney who also has an exciting ministry, Global Adapt, as well. Today he travels to Nairobi for a series of retreats and seminars for missionary kids. Read his letter detailing what he will be doing Steve Snyder's 2010 Kenya trip.doc In February of this year, he had a tremendous trip to Nigeria where he had opportunities to speak to law school students. His Steve Snyder's Nigerian trip.doc here is exciting and detailed. Please be praying for him as he travels and speaks.

Wow! God has been so good. To start off with we made our tight connection in Accra and ALL of our luggage made - a modern day miracle especially in West Africa. Thanks for your prayers.

We have been running hard all day until late in the evening and God has been working and changing many lives for His Kingdom. the Youth For Christ (YFC) team has been such a blessing and an asset to this ministry. They are truly anointed by God. We have changed our original program idea (no Sammy Morris film), delivering the same message in skits, and added "Fire Up Fire Up Christian Fire Up" to our song list. I chose a young teenager from the crowd tonight and had him lead us in singing it and he did a GREAT job.

The Lord has been blessing our meetings with the government so far and we have 2 more days of meetings. Satan has been fighting us daily and especially the Liberian team members. So far each day one of them has lost a close family member. Please keep them in your prayers.

Annette's testimony is powerful and effective. And even Tom Skeen, a good ole country boy, never been outside of the US before, and talks more southern than you all think I do, has been enjoying being involved in the skits.

We have been able to go in the ocean late at night but it is still good. I won't comment on the food but to say I have not eaten any American food since being here - today potato green and rice for lunch, palm butter and rice for supper. I also saw a motorcycle get hit today by a car in town and had a one armed ex combatant pull out a razor and started a rage because he was begging while we were in a store and the owner made him go outside, he threw huge rocks and hit the owner and a large crowd grew quickly while we slipped away fas oh!

God has united so many different ministries in these rallies and His unifying hand has been a blessing to all ministries involved. It is hard to express all that is happening but Annette will do so much more eloquently than I can.

Your prayers are still needed and greatly appreciated.

Dan S.

Today, the team meets with the Ministry of Justice regarding adoption issues, and in the evening, there is a youth rally at Rock Hill Community Church, located across the road from ELWA. The pastor is Isaac Paye's son, Moses.

Tomorrow morning there are meetings with the US Ambassador and Vice Counsel, and visits to some orphanages. Annette was under the weather last night, so please be praying that she be restored to full health and strength. God is good!

Good morning all! After a snowy first couple of days of spring, it's great to be thinking of warm Africa. A few days ago, Annette said it was very hot and humid and reports today from Ghana and Senegal are talking about thick harmattan but the I thought it would be interesting to check the forecast for Monrovia.

I haven't heard how the church service and youth rally went yet, but today is another busy one. Dan Snyder, Herbie Newell and David Wood from Lifeline Children's Services, Christine Norman and Annette are meeting with the Ministry of Health regarding adoptions of Liberian children and establishing training programs (partnering with REAP) in Liberia for economic orphans (who are not eligible for adoption). Due to abuses, the government of Liberia has temporarily suspended adoptions to the U.S. to revise its adoption laws. (In 2008, 254 children were adopted from Liberia, in 2009, only 35.)

This evening there will be a youth rally with Pastor Moses Gwoley at the International Church of Monrovia (ICM) right on ELWA campus.

Tomorrow will be another series of meetings regarding adoptions issues, as well as visiting several orphanages, then another youth rally in the evening. Keep praying people! God is at work!

Annette has had a full week of ministry in Liberia, and today is no exception. She is speaking at the Women's Aglow breakfast at Pa's Rib House in Sinkor. Also today Dan Snyder joins her. Two other members of their team arrived yesterday. They are from Lifeline Children's Services (LCS) and are having meetings with officials to see about opening up Liberian adoptions again. Herbie Newell is the Executive Director, and David Woods is the International Adoptions Director. David also happens to be Dan's best friend from high school in the States. Tom Skeen is the other member of the team, and is from a church in Rock Hill, South Carolina which is interested in sending missions teams to Liberia.

Dan hits the ground running. He gets in about noon, and after some "goo foo" for lunch,will be having a press conference at the ELWA guesthouse with the Youth For Christ (YFC) staff to promote the youth rallies. Later that afternoon they will be having an organizational meeting with all the pastors from the local churches they will be working with, the YFC staff, and Christine Norman's REAP staff that have been instrumental in scheduling and logistical arrangements for all the rallies.

After all that, they deserve a quick swim, and then they go to dinner for more incredible Liberian food at Laurance and Christine Norman's home.

Sunday again is a full day. They will be attending Zion Praise Baptist Church in Bentol, where Dan will be speaking. He requests special prayer, that the Lord would show him what to speak about. They will have and afternoon youth rally, and then will be visiting the 40 acre property that Christine wants to make into a youth training and development facility. Her father started the project and it was ravaged in the war, but Christine has big dreams!

We covet your prayers for the ministry that Dan and Annette and the rest of the team are having. The youth of Liberia are its future, and Godly leaders are going to make a difference. Let's surround them in prayer!

Annette had a wonderful day speaking to a power breakfast at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with many Liberian Judges, lawyers, women in the government and wives of men who serve Liberia. Many of the older women remembered her mom and dad, Ray and Sophie de la Haye. We were able to get a quick e-mail from Annette:

I haven't been able to get on line this week, so I am truly going to bed. Also pray as Saturday morning I will be speaking to the women's Aglow breakfast. Many of the judges and lawyers and government officials that were at the breakfast today said they will come. This is such an honor. please keep praying.Thank you so much for your warm love and prayers.

Annette was able to chat on-line with her sister Joy, and this is Joy's report:

I just had a wonderful on line chat visit with dear Annette...it is about 11:00 p.m. there and she was tired after a very full day of speaking to government personnel, cabinet, senate members wives and so on. She said everyday it is amazing how God opens up a new opportunity for her to present her testimony and the precious Word. The warmth and loving receptions has been fantastic in so many wonderful ways. She said she and Christine got up early 6 a.m. this morning and were off for a breakfast meeting with government officials. God is truly reaching into the hearts of so many thru her testimony. Please continue to pray especial for spiritual strength as she put it, as the devil is not to happy right now to see all that Our Heavenly Father is doing in the lives of so many, many people.

Pray for her day tomorrow she will be speaking several times at a large Women's Retreat that will last the full day. She is looking forward in seeing Danny and the rest of the team. We must remember them in our prayers especially as they have a shorter connection in Ghana in order to get the flight to Liberia Saturday morning. God is able...God can do anything.... right!

Annette asked me to thank each of you who are faithfully praying for her. Please continue to pray as she joins the rest of the wonderful team on Saturday for another two weeks of ministry in Liberia.

Everyone there has extended such warm and caring welcome to her. She said it was very touching to talk to the older friends who do remember the many many years ago folks, like dad and mom, Bill and Betty, Dick and Jane and on and on. Everyone is so thankful for the wonderful work the children of these 'older' (hahaha) missionaries are doing in Liberia.

I hope each of you in our ELWA family are doing well and blessed with the greatness of His eternal Love...

Gratefully,

Joy delaHaye/Clark

Annette has been having some trouble with email and facebook and blog site since she has arrived in Liberia, but we have gotten a few updates. She had a wonderful Sunday at home, attending First United Methodist Church, almost across the road from the old old mansion with Coocoo and two of her grandkids. Annette said, "It was amazing! The music, well ... it would take too long to go there. I spent most of the day with her and family. It was so precious seeing Old Ma Tubman. She is 97 this year."

The next day Annette and Christine Norman went to visit Vice President Joseph Boakai at his home. Annette attended CWA with him and he remembers that her special name was "Sista Sugar Star". They had a wonderful time looking through the CWA (College of West Africa) year book, telling stories and laughing together. They ended their time holding hands in a circle and praying together.

Annette's wonderful sister, Joy de la Haye Clark, who is an amazing encourager and prayer warrior wrote,

Dear Sista Sugar Star...that sounds pretty accurate in describing you my dearest loved sista. This news is just another fantastic example of how wonderful God has His way and plans for each 'step' you take thru out your "journey" back home. I am thrilled to know that you already have met the Hon. Joseph Boakai and I know thru my Liberian friends He is a strong believer and loves the Lord Jesus.

Annette, I know I have introduced several of my friends from Liberia to you, through emails, but I would ask if you please print up each introduction email and take them with you so that you will be able to have the honor and pleasure of meeting each of them. They all want to show you a 'good' time back home. Each has expressed such tremendous gratitude and sincere appreciation for all that the ELWAKIDS group teams who have visited over the post civil war period right up to David F. and Alan S. and their team. They are excited about you and Dan and team coming in a few days. This is a wonderful story of how so many of you ELWAKIDS have carried out the fantastic legacy and examples of our dearly loved parents who gave their lives for God's wonderful work in Liberia, Nigeria and all around the world. What a journey this has been and will be in the future."

Yesterday, Annette wrote,

Today we went to visit Counselor Yvette Chesson-Wureh in the government about planning for the breakfast meeting with and association of female lawyers, legislators, judges, cabinet ministers and wives of cabinet ministers. Pray that I will speak boldly and without intimidation.

Please pray as I will be speaking tomorrow at College of West Africa's assembly. I still stand in awe at what God has given in this gracious gift - returning home. Today we had wonderful mouth watering palm butter with chicken and fish. Mangos, fresh sweet pineapple ... ahhh yaaaahhh. I wish all of yoall wa' here o'.

She's on her way! Please be praying for the entire team. Their schedule is daunting, but with God's help, what is said and done will make an impact for eternity. Here is a glimpse of Annette de la Haye Cooper's heart:

"Lord, I have heard the news about you; I am amazed at what you have done.Lord, do great things once again in our time; make those things happen again in our own days." Habakkuk 3:2

I am on my way to Liberia! I can hardly wait to step on Liberian soil! This is home to my heart! Thank you for praying and loving the people God loves there. I'll keep you up to date. Be sure to follow my trip on cultivatingbeauty.blogspot.com

From her latest newsletter, here are some of her praises, and a description of the team of people who will be working together on this trip.

Praise items:

Mrs. G's Bible stories

Mrs. G and her children's radio program was on Radio ELWA during the 1970's. The ELWA radio library was destroyed during the civil war. I will be taking CDs to rebuild the radio children's library

www.biblestoriesaliveministries.org

Radio ELWA's music library:
I will be taking Christian CDs

Equipment & crafts for youth rallies, orphanages & schools
With 50% of the population under the age of 15 years of age, our focus will be on youth.

Seminar equipment
I will be taking and leaving equipment in Liberia for the women's retreats, seminars and leadership training.

Follow me:on my blog, Cultivating Beauty.

God is at work:
He says: "I know the plans I have for you!", Jeremiah 29:11

Please pray for the "TEAM" by name. Their names and responsibilities are listed below.

Pray for Our team

• Dan Snyder: Team leader. As an ELWA MK, this is his 4th trip back to encourage the rebuild of our homeland. His main focus is on Youth Rallies and Leadership seminar at ELWA
• Herbert Newell: Exec. Director of Lifeline Children's Services.
• David Wood: Director of International Adoptions with Lifeline Children meeting with the Liberian Government. (Hague Accreditation)
• Tom Skeen: Friend of Dan, from his church.
• Christine Tolbert Norman & Emmanuel Manneh: with REAP,Restoration of Educational Advancement Programs, Liberia, who has arranged most of our itinerary. www.reapliberia.org
• Pastors of the churches we are working with for the youth rallies who will follow up with the young people: Rev. Brent, Pastor Moses Gwoley, Pastor Moses Payne, Rev. Wm R Tolbert III, Pastor Jefferson Padmore, Pastor Stephen Wonbenyakeh, Pastor Abraham Kun
• Rosana Schaack, founder and director of THINK Liberia, (3 Safe homes), full day retreat on March 25th.
• Esther Bomosy with Hannah Project, Women of Hope full day retreat on March 26th.
• Augustine Frederick & Ben P. Klede-Davies with Youth for Christ Liberia (YFC)
• James Kessley & Kedrick White, with ELWA Radio Station. On our last Sunday we will be having a baptismal service for those who made decisions at the Youth Rallies. For more informations, go to www.sim.ca, 'Africa Region' then to 'Liberia'.
• Annette de la Haye Cooper: Speaker for 7 Youth Rallies, Liberian Senate, Judges, Lawyers, Cabinet and Legislators wives, Woman Aglow, THINK Liberia, Hannah Project -Women of Hope (Women's safe home from child soldiers and prostitution), visiting schools, orphanages and hospitals

PLEASE PRAY THAT OUR TEAM WILL ...
"Do justice...love mercy...walk humbly with God" (Micah 6:8).

I want to personally thank all of you who are joining me in prayer and those who have given to make this trip a reality.

My SIM Support Number 034211

SIM Canada:
10 Huntingdale Blvd
Scarborough, ON M1W 2S5
Canada Phone: 1.800.294.6918 (9am-4pm EST)
www.sim.ca

SIM USA:
PO Box 7900
Charlotte, NC 28241-7900 USA
Phone: 1.800.521.6449
www.sim.org

Thank you for taking time to hear my heart.

Serving together,

Annette (de la Haye) Cooper

99 Michael Blvd Whitby,
ON L1N 5Y3 Canada 416 225 3341
annettecooper77@yahoo.com
cultivatingbeauty

Annette de la Haye Cooper is returning home after being gone for decades, her journey beginning today, March 10, 2010. In the intervening time, she married to a pastor, Warrick Cooper, had 5 children and is a devoted "grandma", and is an accomplished photographer and gardener, and musician and speaker. She and Warrick have served around the world in ministry, and she will be joining Dan Snyder's team this month focusing on youth and women's ministries.

Dan says,

To say I am excited is an understatement and I don't know how to describe how I feel except to say that I am grateful to our Lord for giving me this opportunity to be a part of His service in our beloved Liberia. It is exciting, humbling and an awesome responsibility to be His messenger. And having Annette be on this team has been such a blessing. God is going to use her in ways she would never dream of and I hope, pray and trust this will be the first of many ministry trips for her.

I wish I could be there to see her reaction when she first arrives (she arrives a week before I do). My first trip was very emotional for me and heart braking due to all the devastation. Each year since 2007 it has been such a joy going back and seeing all the progress...
I believe God has so much in store for us and the devil can't stand it so he has been fighting hard to constantly try to derail and discourage me in this last number of months of planning for this trip.

I know he will continue his fight when we get on the ground so your continued prayers are greatly needed. The Lord has opened up so many ministry opportunities that have so much potential of reaching many of Liberia's young people for Him. Our schedule is jammed packed and starts the day we arrive - no time for jet lag to set in.

Annette leaves from Toronto to drive to Detroit today. Tomorrow, she will fly to Ghana and will overnight there. She will leave there and arrive home (Liberia) on Saturday morning at 10:10 am (that will be 5:10am EST.). Before the rest of the team arrives, she will be speaking to a number of women's groups, ministering with Christine Norman and REAP.

I am very excited for her especially for her first Sunday there (March 14). She will be spending the day with and going to church with CooCoo Tubman (President Tubman's daughter and her childhood friend and playmate). And Mrs. Tubman, yes the former first lady, is still living and lives with CooCoo. What a glorious day that will be for Annette.

The rest of the team (4 of us) leaves on March 18, taking the same route thru Ghana and arrive home (Liberia)on Saturday, March 20.

Much more about Annette and this trip tomorrow and in the days to come. Please be praying for her, that God would provide HIS wisdom, endurance and strength for this long journey and demanding schedule. Your prayers and support are crucial, and we are deeply thankful for them. You can check out Annette's blog.

The electricity is on at ELWA, and our prayer is that the work that has been done will help it stay on even more consistently. Joni Byker, who lives on the ELWA campus says, "What a HUGE difference it has made in our house! THANK YOU!!!!!"

David Frazee and Alan Shea were interviewed on ELWA Radio as MK's coming back to work at ELWA. They all are taking a well-deserved day of rest on this Lord's Day. I'm sure that David speaks for all the men when he says, "I'm so thankful to have been a part of this!"

Alan Shea has shared the following:

Greetings,

Its been a busy week! Thank you so much for your prayers and emails. We are very thankful that things have gone so smoothly and safely. We do have one option for working on the power system that most locations don't -- we can turn off the generators and then there is zero power anywhere! One fun test that we ran today was to get all four generators running in sync on the bus then hit the big red EMERGENCY STOP button to make sure it all stopped working It got very dark very fast, so I guess the test worked! (The rest of the campus was off for a few minutes for other work.)

Annie Colby, the daughter of the family we are staying with said to her dad, Ben, yesterday, "We need current!" Their end of the campus has had the most outages this week, between trying to keep power to the hospital at the other end and major work on two sections of the power lines at this end. (see links to pictures at the end)

Besides replacing 21 transformers on Tuesday, the team has reworked a number of sections of the power line, replacing flaky aluminum and corroded galvanized guy wires with new copper lines. I believe they have installed over a mile of wire! Many thanks to Paul Ruark, a linesman from Mississipi and cousin of Steve and Mel Kejr, who worked tirelessly in the heat -- and rain!

I had told Cheri that I didn't need an umbrella with me because it never rains in March in Liberia. Hmm, that was the wrong thing to say. It has rained at least six times since the day we arrived here. I've learned my lesson. =)

I feel like we are on schedule to complete the work here, including a lot that we didn't anticipate or expect to get to. All four generators are converted and the control panel work is nearly complete. Tomorrow I would like to get our documentation updated with the work that we've done and try to write some basic instructions for how to use the control system that is now working really well!

Next week I'm hoping we can spend most of the time with the broadcast engineering folks and get some work done with them, including install a new radio mixer for the on-air studio. This is the very mixer I specified and that Jeff and I installed at Houghton College's WJSL in the early 1990's. When Houghton College sold WJSL and dismantled the studios I was able to get that mixer to bring to ELWA. Two years later it may finally happen!

The ocean sure is nice to look at, and even nicer to swim in! David Frazee and I have had several nice sunset swims, including one this evening. Come on over, the water is fine!

Blessings,
Alan

Pictures of our adventures this week:

Transformer changeover day

More power line work and visit to Mt Coffee Hydro Dam

Slideshow of Mt Coffee pictures

Some historical ELWA pictures -- "Kent Warden just posted these photos, taken I believe in the 70's, some installation of electrical poles. You can also see a very young Steve Kejr, Al Walden, Fred Stoll, and the late Elsworth Balzer." (www.elwamausa.org/blog) - compare the installation of transformers and delivery of a new generator then and now!

Update from Boni Frazee:

Yesterday, David and the other men quit "early". They stopped work at 6 p.m. Their days start at 8 a.m. Some of the men have to leave tomorrow, so they all decided to go to town tonight and eat dinner together.

David has 2 more days to finish up what he can do in Liberia. He has been extremely happy to be able to use his knowledge of electricity in order to further Christian radio in Africa. I thank God for His provision that allowed David to go. I also thank God for all the people who have been praying for us during this time. We are truly blessed.

Lee Sonius surprised the men with his first ELWA visit in almost 3 years and spent some quality time on Naff's rock. He was able to spend some time with John Tamba after the passing of his wife Dorcus. He'll also be helping to celebrate David Frazee's 50th birthday.

Rusty Laird graciously sent photos of the electrical project. This set is from March 2, 2010. I'm sorry I don't have captions. Perhaps some of you could go on to Flickr and tag the photos.

On Monday, Alan Shea had talked about an upcoming visit to the Mount Coffee Dam.

I voted for visiting the Mount Coffee Hydroelectric dam -- or what's left of it. The dam was washed away by the rains during the war because the spillway gates had been left closed when the technicians fled from the fighting during the dry season.

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Alan added,

We're leaving in a few minutes to worship in an SIM-related church plant in Todee, which is on the way to Mount Coffee, and whose pastor says he knows the way there.

Latest update from Boni Frazee:

David and Eric Lewis, both electrical contractors, were asked to look into some of the small electrical problems that have been going in at some of the residences. They were each given a list of some homes that needed attention. They worked on this most of the day.

Alan and his friend Jeff, an engineer, worked on the generators along with Ben Yoko, ELWA staff member. As of this writing I am not sure how many generators have been switched over to the new power yet.

Paul Ruark, who is a lineman by trade, found himself working at camp Lawana today.
Jeff Neufield, who is on loan from Samaritan's Purse is also helping where needed.

Steve, Mel, and Kevin care are jumping in and helping where ever help is needed.

A lot of work needed to get done this week, and Praise God a lot of work is getting done.

Rusty Laird, ELWA staff member, has sent me some pictures of the work. This first set is from February 10, 2010. The big ELWA electrical project started with a time of prayer and worship. The team included
Steve Kejr
Mel Kejr
Paul Ruark
Alan Shea
Jeff Kendall
David Frazee
David Tyler
Eric Lewis
John Dabah

along with help from Kevin Kejr and Justin, a short term volunteer with SP from Canada with some electrical training. SP "loaned" him to us for the week. ELWA electricians are Ben Yoko, Joe Kantoe, Henry Higgins, Gibson and Alfred. Peter Swen and Pewee David were also very involved. A number of other services staff also contributed, with our plumbers and masons even helping set transformers on Tuesday.

Twenty-one transformers were changed out and are operating, praise God! Also the voltage to one generator was changed over. The other generators will be changed in the days to come. All of this work was completed in one day. In addition, they are able to keep the borrowed front end loader for the rest of the week.

Yesterday, a tremendous amount of work was accomplished. Twenty-one transformers were changed out and are operating, praise God! Also the voltage to one generator was changed over. The other generators will be changed in the days to come. All of this work was completed in one day. In addition, they are able to keep the borrowed front end loader for the rest of the week.

The power was turned off at the radio station, so ELWA was silent yesterday, a disappointment to the men there. They did not want the station to be off the air even for one day, but this could not be helped. Miraculously, ELWA should be back on the air today!

Thank you to all who have been praying for this project, and for the safety of the men as they do this dangerous work. As the men were working up on the power poles a thunder storm came through. NONE of the men stopped working. They kept on even through the thunder. They knew that ELWA radio needed to get back on the air as soon as possible, and needed the power turned on. We thank God for HIS hand of protection through all of this.

The rain also cooled things off a bit which was a much needed relief. (Alan and David have been so busy that they have only gotten to swim once, despite the heat and humidity.) As of 10 p.m. Liberia time the men were finally heading to bed.

A big thanks to David's wife Boni for providing the updates. Please keep her in your prayers as well. In addition to working several jobs, and college mid terms, she is keeping Frazee Electric going. Thanks to good phone service, she's been able to get some business done with Dave as well.

Greetings from Liberia!

Besides Jeff and myself, there are five others on this "power team" at ELWA -- Steve Kejr, previously the ELWA Technical Services manager, his brother Mel, their cousin Paul who is a lineman with a power company in the USA, former ELWA employee John Dabeh, and fellow ELWA MK and electrician David Frazee.

This last week we've been working long and hard to prepare for the big transformer change-out on Tuesday. There are 21 power distribution transformers on the ELWA campus, and most of them are in very poor shape from rust -- they were pretty old when installed.

The new transformers are also a lower voltage to reduce leakage on insulators from salt spray, so we have to replace all of them on the same day to minimize the power outage.

On the other end, we have to change the generator voltage for the new step-up transformers, which will increase efficiency, but it entails over a hundred items that have to be changed in the power house and generators to prepare for it. Jeff has been an immense help to me in getting everything prepared and talking through the ideas

Today the power team is taking the day off and we're taking a trip to see some of the rest of Liberia. Since our interest is electric power, I voted for visiting the Mount Coffee Hydroelectric dam -- or what's left of it. (Google Satellite Map) The dam was washed away by the rains during the war because the spillway gates had been left closed when the technicians fled from the fighting during the dry season.

We're leaving in a few minutes to worship in an SIM-related church plant in Todee, which is on the way to Mount Coffee, and whose pastor says he knows the way there. You can see roads on the Google maps, but we're not ready to trust what Google says is a road in this part of the world!

Pray for our labors this next week -- its going to be a lot of hot and hard work, there is danger from power line accidents although we're doing our best to work safely, and most of all we need God's wisdom. Thanks!

Blessings,
Alan Shea

A collection of documents showing the overall plan of what we're working on is here
including the power house plan, which we hope to implement in phase 3 -- it would have been really helpful to have the power panels to do it all at once this time....

Also, here is an interesting article on the future of commercial power in Liberia (there has been none since 1990), and you can read an archived history of electricity in Liberia (the original website appears to have gone away).

Note from the editor: Kent Warden just posted these photos, taken I believe in the 70's, some installation of electrical poles. You can also see a very young Steve Kejr, Al Walden, Fred Stoll, and the late Elsworth Balzer.