August 2010 Archives

In past posts, we referenced John Corey and MP3 players that Bill and Judy Slater carried to Liberia. Liberia is rebuilding spiritually, and John Corey is on a mission to rebuild Liberia spiritually by training English speaking pastors using expository messages (from his pastor Scott Gilcrist) on key books of the Bible. The bar is high if a pastor desires to join this program, which uses the MP3 players. According to John,

In order to qualify to receive a player a pastor is required to first read the book of Romans 20 times and to copy it word for word into a notebook. When he is presented with the player he must agree to listen through the 109 messages on Romans as taught by Scott Gilchrist of the Down Town Bible Class. He is then encouraged to do the same with the Gospel of John and then each of the books on the player.

Can you imagine your pastor doing this, and what an impact it would have on him and his preaching? Bill and Judy were able to deliver a supply of MP3 players to Pastor Jeremiah F. Kollie, who is the ECUL Todee-Careysburg District Chairperson. In a recent letter to his supporters, also posted on his church's mission blog , he wrote the following exciting report.

Dear Friends,

Imagine pastors throughout Liberia reading the book of Romans 20 times, copying it into a notebook, and then listening to an exposition of Romans in 109 messages, and doing the same with John, Acts, Eph., Phil., Col., 1&2 Tim., 1&2 Peter, 459 30-40 minute expositions, with Genesis, Luke and Rev. possibly to be added? I visualize 1000 pastors and leaders in Liberia and 10,000 and more among other English speaking emerging church countries doing exactly that.

Since 2005 I have been taking mp3 CD players with messages of our pastor, Scott Gilchrist, to Liberia and giving them to key pastors. I upgraded last year and this to an electronic mp3, 4gig player to give to other pastors Since returning from Liberia late Feb., I purchased 40 more of these players at prices from $15-20. But it gets better. A business man, who is connected with our church, living in China and participating in our project, can purchase the players there and deliver them to us for about $8-10 each or even lower. We are expecting the first shipment of 100 by the middle of May with Scott's messages on the above books already preloaded. We are still researching for the best product and pricing, however. Join in prayer that we will come up with a very durable player to meet this need.

Scott's messages are broadcast on various radio stations in America, and have been on ELWA in Monrovia Liberia since 2004 and for about 3 years in Ghana under the name of Down Town Bible Class (DTBC), the radio wing for Scott's ministry. He has taught for many years in the Portland Art Museum under this same name. This class is cross-denominational and designed for any who can come on Wednesdays at 12:15 - 12:45. About 150-175 attend it weekly.

Kolahun leaders

We have set up a project in Liberia that once a pastor or key church leader has read the book of Romans 20 times and copied it in a notebook word for word, he will be presented with a mp3 player containing the above mentioned 459 messages. They are encouraged to read the other books 20 times and copy them as they listen through them. Scott doesn't begin to study a book he is going to preach on until he has read it about 50 times. He has hand copied the whole Bible exactly as it appears in his own Bible, line for line, page for page. Over the last few years he has encouraged us to copy books, and many are doing so. Why not try this yourself? (Deut 17:18-20) He's back to copying the NT again. I asked those I was training in Liberia this past January and February to copy Philippians during the week that I taught it. Several gave testimony that it helped them to understand the context of verses they often quoted. Few pastors have ever read through the New Testament and many haven't even read through very many books. So this is a big leap for them.

Moses Paye "I am having a wonderful time reading Romans the 20 times. It is a great spiritual experience for me. It is so encouraging, reading and playing the messages of the book (Romans). I am enjoying it so much, and am teaching it in my church in a Bible study. Two years ago (15 months) when you were here you challenged us to read through the Bible. I have been doing that and am almost finished now. It has been a new experience for me. I am so glad. This has helped me so much to focus on just one book. So wonderful. Pray this program will open for many others. People see me with the phones in my ears and ask me about it. Then I have to tell them all about it and how wonderful it is. When I get up in the morning I read and at night time I read and any other time I can get I am reading Romans. I am encouraging the people of my church to be reading it. I am telling people about it everywhere I am going."

He was very encouraged that we are opening this up to all pastors who will do it. He said it would be so helpful to the pastors of Liberia. He felt that it would strengthen them and help them to understand good doctrine and to teach good doctrine and not just any kind of things that come to their minds. He repeated over and over again how valuable this is and how happy he is about it.

Moses is one of our lead pastors in associated with SIM international mission). A very godly man. His wife had a near death or death experience a year ago, after an operation to repair her intestines with complications of Typhoid and where her intestines perforated in many places. None of the doctors expected her to survive, and almost immediately after the surgery was finished her blood pressure dropped to zero, the doctors left her, changed their clothes, and two left the hospital. A nurse stopped in from time to time, but there was no response, but then she came again and saw her toe wiggle. Moses and the chaplain had been in a room and praying through all this time. His wife had seen herself leaving and felt she was on her way to heaven, but was told strongly by someone in front of her to go back. She tells that she knew she had gone a long way and didn't want to go back, and felt afraid to go back but because the one in front of her was so strong in his command to go back, she turned around to go back. She has totally been restored, and when I asked Moses how she was doing, he said she is in normal strength. She is an OR nurse and had worked and is working in the same room where she had been left for dead, and where God brought her back. Her story has had a deep impression on many.

Thanks for your participation with us in the gospel. Jesus IS COMING SOON!

John and Jeanette

For more information about the MP3 project, visit http://mp3project-mp3.blogspot.com/, or if you desire to support this project send your contributions to:

DBC - MP3 Project

14605 SW Weir Road

Beaverton, OR 97007/

Judy Slater recently visited and interviewed other students with Benedict Nagbe, Principal of ELWA Academy and EMA+USA Scholarship board member. We hope that you can get an idea of their struggle just to survive, their loss and grief, and of their deep desire for an education, and to help their country.

Mark Nyemah, doubly promoted to 6th grade at Bishop Matthew Norwood School, wants to be an army general.

Lawson Wonnah, 10th grader at Carver Mission School, wants to be a doctor. He and 5 siblings are grieving the loss of both parents. They have been taken in by Martha Nuan, a very fine Christian woman.

Frederick Montgomery, 10th grader at Bishop Matthew Norwood School, wants to be a civil engineer.

David Dorado, 6th grader at ELWA Academy, wants to be a lawyer, deeply grieving the loss of his father.

Charles Dixon, 9th grader at ELWA Academy, wants to be a doctor

Henrietta Zenneh, 5th grader at ELWA Academy, wants to be a doctor like her sister who passed away.

Grace Nyancie, 8th grader at ELWA Academy, wants to be president.

Ramsey B. Zeon, III, 3rd grader at Ford Madden Christian Academy, (F.M.C.A.),wants to be a doctor.

Nanee Goffa, 4th grader at Christian Children's Community School, wants to become a medical doctor.

Pauline White, 2nd grader at Carver Mission School, wants to be a teacher.

The need is great, and to support students needing scholarships, we need at least $10,000 by the end of the year. School costs range between $100-$300 for one student to attend school for a year, a small price for a huge impact on not only a young person, but also the country as a whole. Can you help us make a difference with a tax-deductible gift?

Liberia is slowly recovering from the devastating effects of a 14 year civil war that has destroyed the country's infrastructure (no sewers, electricity, running water, education, etc.), left thousands of orphans, and has emotionally and physically devastated each Liberian in some way with the horrors of war. The current rate of unemployment is 85%, 2nd worst in the world, and the per capital yearly income is $500.

More than a half a million youth are not in school. These young people have a tremendous desire to return to school (after a 14 year absence), but most cannot because of lack of school fees. And so, a non-profit c-501 organization, EMA+USA (ELWA Ministries Association USA) was borne, and a scholarship program was developed with Liberian board members involved in the interview, applications, and follow-up of each student. Currently we have 40 scholarship students, with another 45 applications waiting. Here are some of our students. Contact us if you can help!

Nanee Goffa, 3rd..... Grace Nyancie, 7th ..... Charles Dixon, 8th....Solomon Klon Jarpah, 9th

Clarane Gray, 2nd.....Erica Dayougar, 3rd.....Fatoria Harris, 3rd.....Hannah Gargannah, 9th

Grace Nyancie, 7th...Henrietta Zinnah, 3rd ...Jacob Tokeh, 4th....Julius William, 9th

Mercy Peters, 3rd.....Nyanda Lahai, 9th

In July 2010 Judy Slater visited and interviewed other students with Benedict Nagbe, Principal of ELWA Academy and EMA+USA Scholarship board member. We hope that you can get an idea of their struggle just to survive, their loss and grief, and of their deep desire for an education, and to help their country.

Mark Nyemah, doubly promoted to 6th grade at Bishop Matthew Norwood School, wants to be an army general.

Lawson Wonnah, 10th grader at Carver Mission School, wants to be a doctor. He and 5 siblings are grieving the loss of both parents. They have been taken in by Martha Nuan, a very fine Christian woman.

Frederick Montgomery, 10th grader at Bishop Matthew Norwood School, wants to be a civil engineer.

David Dorado, 6th grader at ELWA Academy, wants to be a lawyer, deeply grieving the loss of his father.

Charles Dixon, 9th grader at ELWA Academy, wants to be a doctor

Henrietta Zenneh, 5th grader at ELWA Academy, wants to be a doctor like her sister who passed away.

Grace Nyancie, 8th grader at ELWA Academy, wants to be president.

Ramsey B. Zeon, III, 3rd grader at Ford Madden Christian Academy, (F.M.C.A.),wants to be a doctor.

Nanee Goffa, 4th grader at Christian Children's Community School, wants to become a medical doctor.

Pauline White, 2nd grader at Carver Mission School, wants to be a teacher.

The need is great, and to support students needing scholarships, we need at least $2500 by the end of the year. School costs range between $100-$300 for one student to attend school for a year, a small price for a huge impact on not only a young person, but also the country as a whole. Can you help us make a difference with a tax-deductible gift?

A brand new theater program for youth called Burning Barriers, Building Bridges is partnering with Rosanna Schaak's THINK, for an interesting and exciting new venture.

According to their blog,

Burning Barriers, Building Bridges is a Theater Program that has been a year and a half in the making, and it is finally happening! Follow us this summer in Monrovia, Liberia as youth make change in their community while improving their literacy and math skills through the arts. Twenty Liberian youth have been identified as participants by Touching Humanity in Need of Kindness (THINK), Inc. Founded by Rosana Schaack, THINK exists to demonstrate God's love to the disenfranchised members of society, especially women and children by empowering them to transform their lives and communities. THINK implements educational programs for disadvantaged children and youth and also advocates for the rights of women and children and provides rehabilitation, shelter, medical care and counseling for victims and survivors of sexual and domestic violence.

Here is an invitation for those who are in the Monrovia area next Tuesday. You can view Their first play is coming up, and you are invited, if you are in the Monrovia area next week. You can view a copy of the invitation PlayflyerAug10.pdf .

Rosanna Schaak has sent out this letter of invitation.

Dear All,

We take this time to invite you to the Play "Problems to Solve" being put on at the Monrovia City Hall next Tuesday. Ms. Jasmine Blanks has been here in Liberia since June 24, 2010, working with these children that THINK has an outreach Ministry with.

We are quite busy as the President may attend the event so we want it to be the best. This has been a good process for all of us and the children have learned a lot.

Burning Barriers, Building Bridges

In collaboration with

Touching Humanity In Need of Kindness (THINK) Inc.

Invites you to a play

"Problems to Solve"

In honor of H. E. Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Date: Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Time: 6:30pm

Where: Monrovia City Hall

RSVP by Monday, August 16, 2010 cell: 06449944 /06513233

Have a great weekend.

Rosana Schaack

The story of Stephen Tamba's Sapata Cafe continues with an article that was published in the Washington Times on July 10, 2008. It also talks at length about the Rock Hill community which is across the road from ELWA. It is heartbreaking to read about such young children working such a dangerous and difficult job for so little money. I was also struck again by the deep longing for education, and the frustration of being denied that opportunity for lack of funds. Stephen Tamba's story vividly illustrates the difference that educational opportunities can make.

That is why our EMA+USA Scholarships are so critical to the future of these young people and for the future of Liberia. We are still short on funding our scholarships for this year for our current 32 students, and there are so many more who have applied! If you can help, click on our "Donate" button. Your tax-exempt gift can make a difference!

Stephen Tamba grew up at ELWA and had the benefit of a good education at ELWA Academy. Here is more about his "Sapata Internet Cafe" from the Washington Times, how it came to be, and the challenges that are faced.

Anguish of war yields to new opportunities

Ruth Kollie, 7, shatters rock into gravel. A pile of gravel will yield the child a little more than $2 a day, but jobs are coveted in the area.

PAYNESVILLE, Liberia -- On blue computer screens inside an air-conditioned Internet cafe, a message flashes - "The Liberian Dream." Here there are no guarantees. Dark streets have become hunting grounds for young thieves searching for high-priced game - cell phones, laptops or a wad of dirty Liberian bills. It is difficult to find investors willing to sink big money into a country only five years after the end of a ruinous civil war.

But entrepreneur Stephen Tamba said he is determined to help end a nightmare of guns, violence and destruction in this neighborhood of bushy, green, open space outside the traffic-clogged capital of Monrovia. "We are about to change that dream. Their next dream will be one of hope. There is a future here," he said.

Mr. Tamba, 35, and two former elementary-school classmates recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of their Internet cafe, named Sapata Inc. Sapata got a chance because Mr. Tamba's business partner Mike Sarkor, a Liberian engineer working in Canada, was able to secure private investors. It took about $120,000 to open the cafe. All the equipment, including 10 computers and a generator, had to be imported. The cafe gets its speedy wireless connection via a satellite company in Florida.

Thieves remain a threat. Red steel frames called "rogue bars" cover the windows and the air conditioner sits caged and bolted deep into the ground.

Robertsfield Highway, the main road stretching through Paynesville, is lined with dingy kiosks that charge cell-phones batteries for about 40 cents, and sell fizzy drinks to wash down fish roasted on sticks. Mr. Tamba began selling kiosk owners some of the surplus power from his generator, hoping a future partnership can bring more light and safety to the area at night.

As people migrate to Paynesville, they must find a way to make a living. Jobs in Monrovia are hard to find. Unemployment throughout the country is estimated at 85 percent; the literacy rate is about 20 percent.

For now, hundreds of Liberians are trying to pay their way by working on an expansive plot of land known as "Rock Hill." Deep within holes bored into the red dirt and along jagged cliffs lined by murky water, the "rock crushers," as they are known, chip away at giant slabs of rock. They sell the crushed gravel to construction companies - the result of grueling and dangerous work in which bits of gravel fly from crude hammers as if stray bullets. Even small children and pregnant women can be seen pounding away jagged pieces of stone in the heat of the day.

On a recent afternoon, Jerry Gbavah, 21, sat with pieces of rock secured between his feet. A burning tire smoldered on a rock slab behind him, generating heat that makes the rocks easier to chip apart. Many days, Mr. Gbavah pounds away for 10 hours, alongside his mother and older brother. A pile of gravel will yield him a little more than $2.

He is using the money to put himself through school. At 21, he is only in the ninth grade. It costs about $3,500 Liberian dollars, or $50, a semester. His dream - to graduate high school, go to college and put rock crushing behind him - is daunting. Sometimes he feels discouraged. "Some of our friends get the opportunity to go to school, so they find life easy," Mr. Gbavah said. "But the work I am doing makes it so hard for me to continue." Still, Mr. Gbavah is hopeful. "We want to see our people coming back to our homes so we can resettle," he said. "I know that things will be fine one day ... one day, for our country, I know ... the time will come for us."

In Paynesville, signs of rebuilding give the appearance that people are holding on to hope. Not far from "Rock Hill," (across the road from ELWA) two branches of established construction-supply companies have opened across the street from one another in the last six months.

Before the nation's 14-year civil war that ended five years ago, people wanting to build had to fight heavy traffic to get into Monrovia. Sethi Brothers Inc. has been in Monrovia for 28 years and saw an opportunity to meet a need in the expanding Paynesville community. The Indian-owned company opened a branch here in February as more Liberians moved in.

The store is close enough that Liberians who do not have a car can walk there and carry home a few supplies. One woman walked along the road near Sethi Brothers with a small roll of zinc roofing atop her head.

Fredrick Griffin, 37, of Jacksonville, Fla., sat in the Sethi Brothers warehouse recently and negotiated prices for building materials with manager Manmeet Singh. Mr. Griffin came to Liberia in May to help a pastor rebuild a church in a remote area of the country. But after two weeks, Mr. Griffin perceived that the need to help Liberians was so great that he and his wife, Diana, decided to move to Paynesville. They are building a home nearby.

Mr. Griffin, a mortgage lender by trade, opened a company called Griffin International Service, which he hopes will provide loans to Liberians to help them rebuild, get educations and start businesses in rural areas. "We've got all these people, all different kinds of ideas," Mr. Griffin said. "But they don't have the money to facilitate their ideas."

Rebuilding Liberia likely will take years, and those who have returned to make a new life are not naive. They know it won´t happen quickly.

Back along Robertsfield Highway, leading to the only commercial airport that will get a person out of Liberia, half-built houses made of concrete blocks are planted on a deep-green landscape of grass and palms. Houses can take years to build because Liberians construct their homes as they have money.

But even a half-built building on the outskirts of a capital city that still holds the ruins of war is a sign of rebirth. "This is a businessman's nightmare," said Mr. Tamba, the Internet cafe owner. "But the fact that we are here, letting the flag fly, means there is hope." (Washington Times article)

ELWA kid Stephen Tamba is an entrepreneur in a very necessary industry for modern Liberia, as Bill and Judy Slater found out. I thought you would be interested in finding out more about Stephen's "Sapata Internet Cafe", and Judy Slater graciously agreed to write about her experience.

While we were at ELWA, we had difficulty getting on the internet and someone suggested that we go to Sapata Internet Cafe. We hadn't heard of it and we didn't know where it was so Bill and I took a taxi.

To our surprise it was less than a five minute drive. For you who know ELWA, if you were walking on the old road in front of ELWA Clinic you would just turn right on the Robertsfield Highway and it is a short distance walk on the right with large lettering on the building.

We went in and were surprised to see Stephen Tamba and to learn he was the owner of the cafe. Then we saw Jusu Tamba and Matthew Paye working there. It was a neat reunion.

As you can see by the pictures there are several computers and stations for people to use. People of all walks of life come and go using the computers at reasonable rates. The guys are quick to give any needed technical help in a gracious way without making you feel illiterate. They also have a pop machine and we drank our "non-diet" coca colas, much to the neglect of my waistline. They always put me next to the guys at the main desk which I enjoyed and felt was a compliment. Because I have a MAC it took a little while to iron out the kinks but it worked fine after that.

One night we stayed later than intended and walked through a very dark area to get home. We had forgotten our flashlight so were using our cell phone as a light when someone came up behind me and whacked the hand I had the cell phone in. My first thought was it was a friend playing with us so I yelled at him, "Give me back my phone!" I didn't understand his reply but Bill got the picture fast and started yelling rogue. The young man threw down the card and took off across the field with our phone. The moral of this story is to not walk in that particular unlighted area in the dark. After that ELWA security rode me on a motorcycle to and from the Sapata Cafe if I went without Bill. It was fun. I felt so cared for and enjoyed the cafe a lot.

The young man who helped me with the yard work while we were in Liberia asked if I could help send him to a computer class. Again, I was surprised to find he wanted to go to classes at Sapata. Apparently, they offer classes too. Liberians are getting up to speed on the internet like you wouldn't believe. It's a riot to see all the things the kids can do on the cell phones there too.

We just have no idea what little boys and girls are going to do when they grow up. I remember the Tamba boys when they could hardly walk and now they are technical businessmen. I remember how much their parents loved them too. Seeing Stephen's active happy little boy was a joy. May God continue to bless these men and their business and may they honor Him in all they do.

More about Sapata tomorrow.

Hospitals of Hope is Christian medical missions organization that aims to improve the healthcare of the under-served, both locally and internationally. Their motto is "Showing Christ's love by healing bodies and souls", accomplishing this goal by using medicine as the medium to first heal the physical body and then using the Gospel of Jesus Christ to cure the soul.

They send both medical and non-medical volunteers, as well as students at various levels in their training, to serve at hospitals in Liberia (JFK and ELWA Hospitat) and in other countries. As well, they send medical supplies and equipment to hospitals and clinics in Kansas and around the world and equip missionaries, both short and long-term, with the supplies they need to provide quality medical care.

This summer, HOH (Hospitals of Hope) had a team of students from Wheaton College serving at ELWA Hospital in Liberia. When HOH staff traveled to Liberia in July 2010, they interviewed them about their experiences. Here are some excerpts from one of the interviews:

My name is Peter Wickwire, and I'm part of a group of three that has come to ELWA Hospital in Monrovia, Liberia for 6 weeks. We've had a blast so far. It's been about 4 weeks, and each week has given us something entirely different than the one before it.

I went to the OR to start with. I'm so thankful I went to the OR. It was a really good landing for me in the clinic. The OR is pretty much like the functioning ER, the functioning operating room. The first couple days were difficult to get settled into. I don't think they were used to premed students coming in. They didn't understand back then that we were really here to be taught, and then, using what we're taught, serve. It was really just watching people, shadowing from the corner, silently watching people.

Really, my "in" was that I watched a nurse folding gauze for surgery and wound dressings, and the next day, without them asking, I just got up and started doing it, and he's just like, "Oh, where'd you learn how to do that?" They kind of realized that we can learn, and so time went on and day after day I started doing more things, learning new things.

I saw a c-section one day. It was the first c-section I had ever seen in my life. The next surgery after that was another c-section, and they're like, "Okay, Peter, you're scrubbing on this one." I was like "What are you talking about?" but I ended up scrubbing on the surgery, and it was a really neat experience.

After the first week or so, I think they really picked up on the fact that really we're here to be taught and really here to just serve them, and they really started understanding that and utilizing that. Also, I think what helped was founding relationships with them and spending time just talking, and learning, and exchanging personal stories and life stories of how the war has shattered this country. It's good to hear their stories of what they had to go through. It kind of opens doors for you to be part of their lives.

I think one of the difficult things for me being in Liberia is this place is really so torn. The buildings you see when you're driving by are a living history of the war that happened so recently. It's hard to be in a country so full of pain and just coming out of that. It's a beautiful time, and yet it's a difficult time.

I think my favorite thing of being in the clinic has not been delivering a baby or stitching up patients but getting to know the Liberians and speaking Liberian English to them and joking around with them and them loving to see that I'm trying to learn their culture. People are really grateful.

This trip has been so beneficial to me as a premed student looking in the future to going into medicine internationally, to use it for furthering Christ and his kingdom, and I couldn't have thought of a better experience for me. They're kind of teaching me what it looks like to use the resources that you have, which here are very limited, to give the best health care possible. There is just such a pressing need for help in this country, and it was good to visualize that. It's a renewed fuel to the passion and fire I had to become an international physician. I really hope to someday come back and serve in a country like this, if not maybe here.

Bill Slater continues his report of their month-long visit to ELWA and Ganta.

ELWA Security:

We were rogued (robbed) as we walked down the road past the Studio one evening, (lost our cell phone, but no personal injury) which taught us a few lessons. We felt it was a good thing because it brought about changed behavior regarding our walking in dark places and notifying security of our adventures. ELWA Security has done a fantastic job in taking care of us and is trying very hard to keep residents safe as well as help the community as a whole. They have an attitude of caring which is refreshing. Of course, we are partial to John Vokpo ("LJ") whom we have known since he was a young boy playing with our sons. He takes his position very seriously and we are proud of him.

ELWA Services:

Judy was able to do a few things that hopefully will help ELWA/SIM. She had two screen doors built and installed in our temporary residence, G9. She also bought material and had curtains made, in addition to picking up a few rugs, bed linens, hangers and cloths. Judy hired two young men to cut grass, bushes and rake the yard. She also bought a shovel, a rake and two grass whips. During our stay the sink backed up and the kitchen septic tank had to be dug up, the roof leaks in two places and the kitchen faucet deteriorated and had to be replaced. The refrigerator finally stopped working after several attempts at repair. We were reminded of what it is possible to get along without.

Some of these are normal challenges of maintaining property in a tropical climate. However, it is obvious that ELWA/SIM needs both financial and personnel help with the property. Many roofs need to be replaced including the one where we stayed. Judy interviewed Rusty Laird (SIM Acting Services Director) who expressed his thankfulness for EMA's help and mentioned other needs such as the roofs. Rusty and his family leave in a week. We pray Alan Shea and other replacements will be able to come and help in this area soon.

ELWA property looks much better than in 2004 with the paved roads and the houses along the beach road well kept. We saw ELWA men working hard cutting the tall grass in the field by the Hospital. The property near SIM headquarters and the Studio could use some work such a removal of palm trees and rubbish on the ground. There are many rubbish piles here and there. We think ELWA needs a tractor that will dig deep holes for garbage and that there be a central garbage dump. A tractor is also needed to keep the high grass mowed.

It is good to see people moving about freely. There seems to be a national movement to clean up and many Monrovia streets are cleaner than we have ever seen them. Abandoned junk cars (known in the past as the "national flower") have virtually all been removed. The traffic is heavy at times but it is not as reckless as we remember it. There are many motorbikes now, ridden by young men carrying one or more passengers weaving in and out of traffic.

Ganta, Nimba County:

We were especially blessed to see so many old friends who survived the war and are back home everywhere we went. The reunions were just wonderful. We took a trip to Ganta, Nimba County, where we stayed with Joseph and Elizabeth Kilikpo (Bill's first hire at the ELWA Hospital Pharmacy) and Bill taught the Young Adults Sunday School and preached at the United Liberian Inland Church (ULIC) Sunday a.m. service. We had wanted to visit this church since we sent them hymnals a few years ago and they invited us to come whenever we could get back to Liberia. The church was packed and the congregation is building a beautiful new church that will be finished soon. It was good to travel up-country again. It took us a little over 5 hours to get to Ganta in the rain and 4 to drive home in sunny weather. Many mentioned the bad roads but we found the roads much better than we have ever seen them. All of the bridges are in good shape with no navigating two logs across a creek or river as we did in the 70's. There were sizable potholes in some places but that is to be expected during rainy season and there was construction going on to minimize these. We visited the new ULIC Bible College in Ganta and the EQUIP Ministry Headquarters as well as the Catholic Leprosy Rehabilitation center. We saw first hand the shop our friends are building to sell merchandise to help in sending their children to school. We saw a lot of innovative projects both in Ganta and the ELWA area, with people rebuilding their homes and doing business to provide for themselves.

Churches & Youth for Christ (YFC):

Bill also spoke at the Sunday services of the (ULIC) ELWA church (this church was a Bible study in John Geain's home when we visited in 2004 and is now in a building bulging at the seams), and the Christian Faith Center (CFC) on Bushrod Island. Additionally, Bill taught the book of Romans over a four night YFC-sponsored rally at CFC and led two seminars at a Saturday afternoon leadership training conference for YFC in Logantown. Bill also led the Hospital chapel service one morning. We attended the ICM church the second Sunday and Bethel Church the fifth Sunday. We heard excellent sermons and music.

We have been especially blessed and taught by Liberian Christians. The church is growing and alive. Many people appear to have a vibrant faith. The enthusiasm and passion in all of the services moved us to want to "lighten up" in our worship of the Lord.

General Comments:

We will carry home and profit by the example of Liberian believers especially Kedrick White, James Kesselly, Joe and Nene Wankollie and the ELWA Department Heads. Their patience, kindness, and leadership are surely the fruit of the Holy Spirit. We are thankful too for Ben Colby (pictured with his family) and Rusty Laird who run here and there keeping things in working order and meeting ELWA's functional needs.

One other strong impression was the willingness of Liberian Christian families to extend themselves to help others. Every home we visited has taken in additional people at great expense to themselves.

Many things happened on our last few days in Liberia. We went out to eat at P.A.'s Ribhouse with Kedrick and Florence White. The food was very good. If anyone reading this comes to Liberia, they should look for this restaurant! We had periods of great meals and then periods of peanut butter, popcorn and plantain chips supplemented with Coca-Cola and the bread Esther brought by. We walked a lot and Judy was sure she would lose weight but she doesn't think it happened. The periods of great meals slowed down that process. The people in Liberia seem to be eating a lot more fish and we really enjoyed that.

We connected with Clavenda Bright Parker (Pharmacist colleague from the past), and Dr. Walter Gwenigale the former Phebe Hospital Medical Director (now the Minister of Health) and we talked by phone to Mrs. Payne (Director of Nurses when we lived at ELWA). We didn't know Mrs. Payne was in the country or we would have gone to visit her orphanage.

Many people came to tell us good-bye. We are thankful to God for the opportunity to return to Liberia.

Bill and Judy Slater are en route to Chicago, and sent this report, written by Bill Slater. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did, and are challenge to continue in prayer for the ministry of ELWA, and ask God what your role might be. I hope you also have a new appreciation for the leaders of ELWA.

TRIP REPORT-ELWA, Liberia

BILL & JUDY SLATER

EMA-USA

JULY 1 - AUGUST 3, 2010

Judy and I were asked by Steve Kejr and Les Unruh to come to ELWA to help the ministry contingent on Kedrick White's approval. My responsibilities were to: (1) act as a consultant for both ELWA Hospital and ELWA administration; (2) mentor the Acting Hospital Administrator, James Freeman Garway; (3) encourage and support Kedrick White, ELWA Ministries Executive Director. (4) help newer SIM missionary staff to learn and understand the history of ELWA, from 1973-2004; (7) deliver a new short wave transmitter tube; (8) and, on behalf of John Corey, deliver a supply of MP3 players to Pastor Jeremiah Kollie.

By God's grace (and Judy's large purse), we were able to hand-carry the short wave tube and deliver it to the transmitter building. It was exciting to see ELWA short wave back on the air. On our first visit to Joe Wankollie's office, we met Pastor Jeremiah and delivered the players.

Over time and in various settings, we were able to share stories of events and people from 1973-1980 and our earlier short-term visits that we believe helped newcomers to better understand some of the history of ELWA.

ELWA Administration:

We both strongly believe that the financial and administrative processes and procedures that Mr. White is attempting to put in place are both necessary and correct and we affirm both his leadership and his heart for the ministry of ELWA. As a Liberian he brings together the cultural understanding of Liberia and the technical/administrative functions of the U.S. Coupled with this is a high level of patience and tolerance. He is courteous in meetings, allowing individuals to speak and listening to all views of a given situation. One of his key goals is to see staff come to an understanding of the needs of the ministry and the role that their good job performance could play in meeting them. We believe Kedrick to be a Godly man, intelligent, able to manage multiple responsibilities and many interruptions in an amazing way. We are sure God has gifted him and placed him in this position.

James Kesselly was unfailingly helpful to us during our time in Liberia with his experience and qualities of patience, humor and a Godly attitude. Judy interviewed James who spoke of the benefits of EMA's hosting social events and repairing the Administrative buildings as well as the educational scholarships given to children. At Kedrick's request, Bill developed a voluntary retirement form and an employee profile, intended to provide information on the various working positions at ELWA ending in the ability to produce meaningful position descriptions. We collaborated to compile and edit a first draft of the Employee Handbook for submission to the Board of Directors, to ultimately be adopted for the current ELWA operation.

ELWA Academy:

The Principal, Benedict Nagbe, "has his act together," and the school appears to be well run. Mr. Nagbe is also the EMA Coordinator of Scholarships. He and Judy interviewed several children who are receiving EMA scholarships using the camcorder and then took their pictures to update the EMA website. They traveled to some of the students' homes and had enjoyable visits with their parents or guardians. It is obvious that the scholarships are meeting a great need.

ELWA Broadcasting:

We listened to ELWA radio in taxis, in our bedroom (from our Liberian neighbor's back porch), and at various places on the compound. We were able to sit in on Kedrick's Sunday afternoon broadcast of music and public service announcements. Judy also interviewed Moses Nyantee for EMA USA. Moses seems to be doing a great job at the radio and has a positive, warm attitude. We enjoyed the programs and the announcers. Thank God for the radio that blesses so many. We did observe that there are a lot more secular radio stations in Liberia now than there were before the War.

ELWA Hospital:

The Hospital represents the most critical challenge in the dual areas of finances and personnel. I provided James Garway, the Acting Hospital Administrator, with a set of forms that will hopefully aid in his efforts to direct the day-to-day activities and also developed an In-service Attendance Certificate, and In-Service registration form, enabling staff to have verification of their attendance as part of their employment record. As part of my mentoring assignment, I had a number of conversations with James Garway, sharing administrative and management principles, offering suggestions, and encouraging him as he continues to develop in this challenging position.

The steps toward financial control and accountability (which will apply to the entirety of ELWA Ministries Liberia) that the Administration is initiating are both timely and necessary.

Despite the challenges at the Hospital, it seems that the continued availability of support from technically qualified and spiritually mature short-term missionaries is a good idea. Administration and the Board of Directors are reviewing options to address key issues at the Hospital. We are praying that their decision will bring about the needed and desired results. The hospital is in need of medicines, new equipment, various supplies and money. May God provide as He sees fit.

The rest of Bill and Judy's report will be posted in tomorrow's blog. We would love to hear from you, and welcome comments about our reports and blogs.

"Rebuild Liberia With God's Help. All People. All Tribes. All Churches. All Needs. 'May God shine his light upon us'". What an all-encompassing goal for a single event! We Need Your Help! says the commitment page from the REAP Life Festival link. This appeal for help is directed at literally everyone. The Festival committee wants the Liberian people to be invested in this event:

We are praying that each Liberian would invest in this movement to give at least one Liberian dollar to help bring restoration, forgiveness, renewal, and salvation for all Liberians. If you can donate something we would like you to do the following:

• Write your short prayer for the festival on the currency/note.
  
• Write your initials on the currency/note.
  
• Check the Donate Box on the Commitment page and write the amount of the currency/notes you are including.
  
• Send to the festival committee at the address listed.
  
• Continue to pray for this for the All Liberian Life Festival.

It will take other help in addition to the Liberian support to make this happen. The Festival Committee is looking for commitments to help with:

• Ushering
  
• Set up
  
• Counseling
  
• Refreshments
  
• Donate Supplies
  
• Help with Food/Serving
  
• Music/Choir
  
• Telephone friends
  
• Represent my church/ministry
  
• Security
  
• Put up poster(s)

In addition,

The Crusade will include a complete humanitarian aid outreach to minister to the needs of the Liberian people, most of whom have not even seen a doctor or medical practioner in 25 years. The Crusade will take place mainly at night and clinics, seminars, and workshops will also be held at the stadium during the daytime to provide needed medical, dental, health, social, financial, psychological, and spiritual assistance and education to the people.

Contact the Festival committee at:

The entire "Commitment" page with a form to fill out and send in is available at commitment page festival.pdf

We Need Your Help! . We need everyone's help. Everyone can do something.

The dates have been set. The partnerships of REAP, BIlly Graham Evangelistic Association, ELWA, Samaritan's Purse in Liberia, and Bishops and church leaders from all across Liberia are in place and working together to facilitate the largest African crusade of its kind in history. This dream of Christine Tolbert Norman of REAP is an unbelievably huge undertaking, and she wants it to be surround by prayer, for it is only by God's grace that this will be the life-changing, nation-restoring event that is desperately needed. It will take many people working together to make this happen. Here is more information from the new REAP website:

ALL Liberia Life Festival

There is a nation of Christians who were embroiled in a bitter war, tribe against tribe, faction against faction. They have now laid down their arms. But who will reach out to heal them, restore them to their salvation, and offer forgiveness for their sins?

This is the purpose for which the ALL Liberia Life Festival Crusade has been raised. The death of Christ called forth a few weeks later the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The people who had killed and crucified Christ were called upon to spread the Gospel and the truth of Christ to the rest of the world.

This event will be located at the newly renovated SKD Soccer Stadium in Monrovia, Liberia from March 24 - 27 2011 and will be an ask for the blessing of God upon all of Liberia and all Liberians. The theme will be "May God Shine His Light Upon Us" and will feature several speakers including Dr. Rev. Franklin Graham. All denominations will be invited. All tribes and people from every part of Liberia will travel to make the event.

There will be a major prayer event preceding and at the crusade. This will be a joining together of all Liberians in prayer, forgiveness, and reconciliation for their country and their people. In addition, there will be an emphasis for Liberians to become missionaries to the rest of Africa and to have Liberia become the "spearhead" to bring the gospel to all of Africa.

The Crusade will include a complete humanitarian aid outreach to minister to the needs of the Liberian people, most of whom have not even seen a doctor or medical practitioner in 25 years. The Crusade will take place mainly at night and clinics, seminars, and workshops will also be held at the stadium during the daytime to provide needed medical, dental, health, social, financial, psychological, and spiritual assistance and education to the people. Major banks and hospitals have committed to providing needed clinics and seminars.

The Government has also committed numerous resources and official help for the aid event. We are now working with several international aid and assistance organizations and NGOs to come aboard to provide a full range of needed supplies, goods, items and personnel to offer assistance in a wide range of categories.

To become involved with the ALL Liberia Life Festival, download and fill out the commitment card below or email all.liberia.crusade@gmail.com. We are in need of volunteers, supplies, participants, prayer, and monetary support among many others. Thank you and may God Bless you for your support!

More information about how you can get involved and how to pray to come.