February 2012 Archives

Isaiah 43:16-19 (NIV)

16 This is what the LORD says--
he who made a way through the sea,
a path through the mighty waters,
17 who drew out the chariots and horses,
the army and reinforcements together,
and they lay there, never to rise again,
extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:
18 "Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.

In November, right after the election and the studio fire, an architectural and design company, RebekahAdam Wagoner[RAW]Design arrived at ELWA for 2 weeks. They were hired to help ELWA visualize the future development on ELWA's 137 acre property, which comprises ELWA Radio, ELWA Hospital, ELWA Services, and ELWA Academy.

Adam Wagoner and Tim Sherman spent their time in Liberia, living on the ELWA campus and working with the staff and users of the complex to help visualize the future of their site. This new plan includes a new 100 bed hospital, new K-12th grade school, new radio station to replace the one that was fire bombed five days before their arrival, new guest house to server over 40 people, new amphitheater for concerts and community events, and a number of new residential units.

The plan moves the site for the new 100 bed teaching hospital by the main entrance, and moves the school to the current hospital site. The current Academy would house a vocational training center.









View of the proposed school site.















View of proposed amphitheater and radio station site.

View of proposed hospital site. The hospital is designed to facilitate modular, easily constructed, wings connected by central circulation corridor with space for future expansion.

This is an exciting plan, with breathtaking vision. There will be more than a few obstacles, with not everyone wanting to see this come to fruition. This week, the Inquirer reported that the Liberian Government wants to revisit that land issue for ELWA, with the Chinese committing to construction of a US$70 million multipurpose administrative complex for government ministries and agencies on a large portion of ELWA land.

As we pray for outcome of this plan and the future of ELWA, I am reminded of the verse in Proverbs -- Many are the plans in the mind of a man,but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
--Proverbs 19:21

This year's serving trip to Liberia was an all-guys event, and the projects were scheduled accordingly. Clip Kniffin, Jim and son John Molenhouse, and David and son Seth Parker's plans for the 2 weeks included:

• Dave and Seth teaching addition woodworking classes for the Susie Guenter wood shop
• Repairing the merry-go-round well, and training the staff to maintain it
• Replacing the alternator on the Jahzjet van to get it running
• Clip doing some teacher training at ELWA Academy, and meeting with the Scholarship committee
• A trip to Buchanan to the other Susie Guenter orphanage, to install a swing set.
• Today, Jim, Dave Parker, and the ELWA team will be working in Bentol at the REAP WRT YEE Center, working on the Marian Schindler Building, completing the ceiling, the electrical, etc.

Here's a video describing the wood shop and what the team has been doing.

David Parker wrote on Facebook, "It's Saturday night, Jan 28th, we will leave for Bassa on Sunday about noon, with Jackie and Jeff Jr. as our guides. It's about a three hour drive. We will see the country school, and visit Jackie's pharmacy/clinic there. We will spend one night, and return to Monrovia on Monday evening. We will be eating lots of country chop, and no hamburgers. Last time we enjoyed some craw fish too."

Later, Dave's wife Cathy posted, "Dave just called from Bassa - a village about three hours from Monrovia. Wanted me to hear the singing around a fire in the Bassa language. ... Dave said that Seth winning a couple scholastic arts awards for two pieces of his pottery was worked in as a sermon illustration this morning. I said, "who was preaching??" And Dave said that he was. He said had a feeling that this might happen - so he prepared a bit from Romans 9 ... and sat in the back row. Sure enough he was introduced and invited to preach :)"

Today, Dave had the kids at the orphanage making "pinewood" derby cars (out of mahogany), and a track to race them!

Pray for the team, that they will finish strong, that they will be an encouragement to those they encounter, that God will be glorified in all they do and say, and for protection as they return.