June 2010 Archives

DR. ALFREDMY CHESSOR

I'd like to introduce someone special today, someone who can greatly help ELWA Hospital, and someone that you can help as well. Dr. Alfredmy ("Alfredmah") Chessor has agreed to replace Dr. Rick Sacra at ELWA Hospital, filling an incredibly urgent need.

Dr. Chessor was born in Monrovia and lived there as a child. When she was about 7, her parents divorced, and her father came to the US while Alfredmy stayed with her mother.

In 1984, at age 14, she got on a plane and traveled to Minnesota by herself, to live with her father. I'm not sure how many 14 year olds would have the courage to move halfway across the world by themselves, but Alfredmy had a dream, and she knew she had to take this big step.

She graduated high school in St. Paul, Minnesota with highest honors, graduated from college in New Orleans, and then went to medical school at Case Western Reserve Medical School in Cleveland, Ohio, followed by an Internship in Pediatrics at Miami Children's Hospital in 1999, a Residency in Pediatrics at the Naval Medical Center in 2002 and a Residency in Family Medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center in 2009. Her specialty is Family Medicine, and she will find many challenges at ELWA Hospital, putting all her training to great use.

Dr. Chessor has returned to Liberia where she delivered medical supplies and volunteered at the J.F. Kennedy Medical Center, so she is well aware of the medical challenges in Liberia. Her commitment and love of her homeland and its citizens are unquestioned, and her abilities are top-notch

Currently, she provides medical service at a medical clinic in the Brooklyn Park area of the Twin Cities. She has actively worked with Liberian AIDS community in the Twin Cities, encouraging an open and honest discourse about HIV/AIDS within the community. She warns, "Liberians need to get tested in order to know their status, but more importantly remain in committed, faithful relationships." Her experience will prove invaluable to ELWA Hospital.

Dr. Chessor loves the Lord, attends a Bible based church, and loves Scripture. She has studied under the BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) for three years.

Personally, Dr. Chessor is single, and is raising her 14 year old sister. She is in the process of adopting a Liberian baby that she had delivered (at JFK) and whose mother subsequently passed away.

Dr. Chessor is willing to commit to ELWA Hospital for at least a year, Lord willing arriving in August or September. In order for that to happen, we need to raise $1000 a month for her expenses, to add to a generous donor's gift. In addition, funds are needed for travel for both Dr. Chessor, and her sister, who will be studying High School on line. Does God want YOU to be part of His plan to support Dr. Chessor and ELWA Hospital?

If you can help, please contact EMA+USA. Your tax-deductible gift large or small, one-time or monthly is vital, and you will be sent a receipt. Click on the "How You Can Help" button, then click on "Donate", and you can use a credit card or bank draft through Paypal, or you can mail us at EMA+USA, P.O. Box 1, Warrenville, IL 60555. Thanks for all you do to support ELWA, and EMA+USA and our projects, both financially and in prayer. We cannot make both a present and eternal difference at ELWA and its surrounding community without you!

ELWA Hospital has many needs, including additional personnel. Is God speaking to YOU about filling one of these needs? Here is some information about ELWA Hospital from the latest SIM publication, "Serving in MISSION Together", Issue #127 May - Aug. 2010:

ELWA HOSPITAL

The facts:

• Beds: 55
  
• Outpatients Daily: 165
  
• Operations Monthly: 100
  
• Staff: 80 national, 3 missionary
  
• Special Programs: HIV
  
• Language Required: English

The needs:

• Family practice
  
• Surgeon
  
• Nurse Practitioner/Physician's assistant
  
• Nurse Lab technologist
  
• Nurse anesthetist
  
• Pharmacist
  
• Dentist
  
• Lab technologist
  
• X-ray technician
  
• Medical Student: Two-month positions

If you spent some part of your childhood at ELWA, then you are an ELWA Kid. The ELWA Kids reunion is coming up quickly and if you haven't registered yet, you need to do so! Karen Ackley Kern needs to know how many will be eating country chop on Monday July 12, so let her know if you are coming at elwakid@yahoo.com or call 214-228-0648.

For the first time, this reunion will be at the BEACH...we are so looking forward to great times enjoying the memories that we all have from growing up on the Atlantic Ocean. We will have time to play at the beach, swim, talk, and renew old friendships.Here are the details:

Sunday, July 11 afternoon -Tuesday, July 13 afternoon
Best Western Cocoa Beach, Florida www.bestwesterncocoabeach.com
For Reservations: 800-962-0028 rooms@bestwesterncocoabeach.com

Room Prices-
$115.00 2 beds, non-ocean (sleeps 5)
$160.00 2 bed suite with sofa, non-ocean view (sleeps 6)
$178.00 2 beds, ocean view (sleeps 5)
If you would like to come for a longer period of time before or after the reunion days, the resort will let you use the reunion rates. All rates are per night and subject to local taxes and occupancy taxes.

Reunion Registration Fee: Includes dinner Sunday and a Liberian Feast Monday evening. (Hotel provides breakfast. Lunches are on your own.)

• Adults $40 (14 and older)


• Children $10 (maximum $30)


• Late registration: add 20% of total fee (Registration submitted after June 1, 2010)

Lodging costs are not included in the reunion registration fee.
Please make your own hotel reservations at the Cocoa Beach Best Western.

Registration & Payment Options: Payment must be received before registration is confirmed.
1. Make check payable to ELWA Kids and mail completed registration form and check to Robin (Miller) Zook, 6437 Galway Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
2. Send all information asked for on the registration form via email and pay via PayPal to robinzook@gmail.com.


Reunion Committee Contacts:
Dan Snyder
Rhoda (Balzer) Navage
Robin (Miller) Zook

• There is a special event website where you can register and check out who is coming, or if you can't come, you can comment or catch up with old friends.
• Contact for registration: http://elwakids.myevent.com/
• ELWA Reunion Facebook page

Rhoda Balzer Navage is on the reunion committee, and lives in Florida. She just wrote the following:

Friends,

We hope many of you can join us at Cocoa Beach. There will be volleyball, you can rent surf boards, and just about every other board you would like, boogie boards etc. Come if you can...there is always room. I have attached the schedule for the two days that we will be there. A couple of things could always shift slightly, but otherwise it is good to go.

And there is no tar and no need for gasoline to take off the tar like we had to use in Liberia. But we do have lots of sun, rain, humidity, thunder and lightening.. ..now that sounds like home.

Here is the agenda for the reunion, with one added note: The newest Reed couple, Beaj and John, with be there on Sunday only.

AGENDA FOR ELWA REUNION JULY 11-13

• Sunday: 1-5 pm Check in, swimming, beach, hanging out, seeing old friends
• 5-7 pm Bar-be-cue

• 7-? pm/am Getting reacquainted, making s'mores
• Monday: 7-9 am Breakfast
• 9-noon Beach activities
• Noon-lunch on your own
• 2-5 pm Free time, surfside room open, beach time
• 5-7 pm African meal
• 7-? Fun Night with singing, remembering, discussions, update from latest travelers, offering for ELWA
• Tuesday: 7-9 am Breakfast
• 9-noon Beach activities, surfside room
• Check out day (unless you are extending your vacation)

For more information about ELWA Kids, check out our Feb. 24th blog.

Today I would like to celebrate all those Dads and Grandfathers who have lead and guided us through the years, and modeled our Heavenly Father to us. Many of them were and are men of integrity with a heart that follows after God. "I know, my God, that You examine our hearts and rejoice when You find integrity there." (1 Chronicles 29:17a, NLT)

I'd like to salute those Godly, courageous men who took the vision God gave them for ELWA, and sacrificed and and toiled to make that dream a reality. Men like those Wheaton College students in 1953 who prayed and worked and established this first radio station on the African continent -- Abe Theissen, Bill Watkins, Dick Reed and Merle Steely. Sudan Witness Aug. 1953 Supplement.doc "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9, NIV)

Later they were joined by Herschel Ries, Gil Hoffman, Bill Thompson , and others who cleared the bush and built the radio station from the ground up, and Radio Station ELWA, Eternal Love Winning Africa, went on the air in 1954. Through the years Godly men like Ray de la Haye, Ray Coddington, Perry Draper and Edwin Kayea joined in leading ELWA, depending on God to provide the wisdom needed."I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life." (Proverbs 4:11-13, NIV)

After the two civil wars destroyed the radio station, a group of Godly Liberian men refuse to let ELWA die, and ELWA Ministries was born. We are so thankful for righteous leaders like Kedrick White, James Kesselly, and Joe Wankollie who have stood forth in obedience to God's calling, and are providing a new generation of role models of fathering both their children, and ELWA and it's community and ministries. Like the early ELWA fathers, they are men of faith and courage. "Then I said to you, "Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place." Deuteronomy 1:29-31 (NIV)

We are so grateful to all of the ELWA Fathers, past and present. I trust that their children and grandchildren bring them great joy and that this treasured legacy is continuing. "The father of one who is right with God will have much joy. He who has a wise son will be glad in him." (Proverbs 23:24, NLV) "A righteous man who walks in his integrity - How blessed are his sons after him." (Proverbs 20:7, NASB)

Most of all, we thank our only perfect parent, our Heavenly Father, for His additional gifts of His:

• compassion "Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him." (Psalm 103:13, NASB)


• discipline "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?" Hebrews 12:7 (NIV)


• fathering the fatherless "Father to the fatherless, defender of widows - this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families; He sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But He makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land." (Psalm 68:5-6, NLT)


• love "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! "1 John 3:1 (NIV)

There are many other ELWA fathers deserving a mention. Submit yours in the "comment" section and we can honor them together! And if you want to include other ways God has fathered you, we'd love to hear that too.

Praise God for answered prayers and faithful supporters! ELWA still has incredible financial needs, but ELWA will soon be broadcasting God's love, forgiveness and plan of redemption to Liberia via shortwave. Here is the latest from the Kejrs.

"Glorify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together" PS. 34:3

A mighty THANKS to each of you who have prayed with us and to each of you who responded so quickly to the nudge from the Lord to send funds in to help get ELWA Radio Shortwave back on the air. We Praise God for each of you.

The replacement broadcasting tube is on its way to Bill and Judy Slater who will be carrying it to ELWA. It is to arrive at Slater's Wed. the 23 of June. Pray for safety as Slater's leave June 29 to travel to ELWA.

In consultation with John Stanley, the broadcasting engineer who went out to help install this transmitter, we will use the remainder of the funds sent in to get the defective tube repaired for a spare and get other critical spare parts on hand. Thanks for making all of this possible.

This will help keep God's Word under every Palm Tree for all who have a box (radio) to hear it. Radio continues to be the primary way that people throughout Liberia get their information. Thank you for helping make God's word available to all who will listen.

Together We Serve Him,

Steve Kejr

For those of you unfamiliar with the phrase, "a voice under every palm", it is based on a Liberian saying, from the early days of ELWA. ELWA distributed pre-set radios throughout the country, and Liberians said, "There is a voice under every palm tree. All you need is a box to catch it!"

Dick and Jane Reed were part of the team of Wheaton College students with a vision for missionary radio in Africa, and were some of the first ELWA missionaries, and served for many years. In 1968, Jane, together with author Jim Grant, wrote the story of ELWA in a book titled, "A Voice Under Every Palm". It is still available, and Amazon.com describes the book in the following:

It was a dream -- just an idea in the minds of a few young people at Wheaton College. Now it is one of the most influential voices on the dark continent. But then, that is the way God works -- BIG! Jane Reed and her husband, Dick, were an early part of the dream, and she tells the story. It is not the story of a man, but on a mission. This is the history of radio station ELWA -- "The tall preacher with the mighty voice." Broadcasting from Monrovia, Liberia, ELWA transmits the message of Christ in 42 languages to all parts of Africa and parts of Europe, South America, and the Middle East. This is the story of Eternal Love Winning Africa (ELWA). It is a vibrant account in a masterful "you were there" style -- an unparalled description of God's careful and omnipotent dealings with His dedicated servants, called into action to meet the rapidly changing challenge of Africa.

Check it out for an interesting "read" ( "Reed", get it?). Sorry, I couldn't resist!

Steve and Carol Kejr have served with SIM at Radio ELWA in Liberia for many years, and have been able to return several times. Steve continues to help Radio ELWA in many ways (he led the electrical power team went out with in March and upgraded the electrical system). They just informed us of this critical need for ELWA

"There is a voice under every palm tree, all you need is a box to catch it" is a quote from the book "A Voice Under Every Palm Tree". For many years that voice was Radio ELWA. It covered the Land of Liberia and beyond with God's Good News by shortwave radio.

Since the war the Liberian Christians have been trying once again to get God's Good News to be heard under every palm tree in Liberia through the voice of Radio ELWA Shortwave. The cost of equipment and power has made it a tough challenge. God has helped and God's Word has been again on ELWA Radio Short Wave.

BUT, once again the short wave is off the air. This time it is because the "transmitting tube" in the transmitter is bad. I have checked and can get one out of California for approximately $1000. We also have folks traveling who are willing to carry it to Liberia if we can get it to them within a week. That is by June 22nd. That is not far away.

The problem is ELWA does not have the funds at this time. Please pray with us that these funds will be provided in time. Pray also that the funds for spare parts will be provided so that problems can be corrected quickly.

If you would like to help with funds toward this need or know of someone who would, please let me know so we can plan. Funds can be sent to SIM-USA and marked for Liberia ELWA Radio. Any help we can give will be a great encouragement to the ELWA Ministry Team in Liberia.

Also, please praise the Lord with us that the FM is still on the air.

O magnify the Lord with (us) and let us exalt His Name together.......

Steve and Carol Kejr
Cell # is 803-493-0252