Right behind the great news that the newly donated transmitter has arrived, comes word from Steve and Carol Kejr about ANOTHER lightening strike! ELWA old-timers cannot remember another rainy season with so many strikes affecting the transmitters with the result that the Gospel broadcasts are being silenced for a time. The Kejrs write,
For the third time in one month we are hit hard by lightning. Damage to our power system and radio equipment has us off the air.
Pray we will find the the parts needed and have the wisdom to get radio back on soon.
Yes the land issue has been taken to court by the Ministry of Justice. We continue to know that our God is in full control and we can trust Him to glorify His name. He has said that He will build His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Pray we will be tools in His hand to use as He will.
We see weariness in those around us and in ourselves and yet we are challenged by Gal 6:9 "not to become weary in doing good".
The security wall has been coming along well and has already been helpful. More funds will be needed to totally complete it. The increase in the cost of materials is being felt. Pray we will know how to make the best use of the funds we have on hand at this time.
Now that Carol and I have had our time it Liberia extended until the 21st of August, Joseph and Lisa have decided to come visit us for two weeks. That will be a fun way for us to get some items we need over here as well as for them to reconnect with the ministry and people in Liberia. A new challenge for them is that they both found out after they had their tickets and had sent their passports in for Liberian visa's that they could not get on the plane unless they renewed their passports which are now at the Liberian embassy. They found out that passports have to be good for at least 6 months after the intended return date on their tickets. So they are planning to drive to DC to try to intercept their passports, get them renewed and then Liberian visa in them and back so they can be on the plan the 25th of June.
There is a song that says "Our God is so great, so strong and so mighty, there is nothing Our God cannot do"..........
Thanks for praying with us that God's will be done in all these details of life.
In His Care,
Steve and Carol
Bill Slater, former ELWA Pharmacist and EMAUSA board member and recently ordained minister comments that this is a "reminder that Satan is the prince of the powers of the air. I can't remember such a significant and damaging number of lightning strikes during our time at ELWA. We need to pray them back on the air and then ask God for an umbrella of protection.
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
How wonderful that God takes our humble efforts to be used for His glory, and allows us to observe it happening!
Moses Nyantee, Director of ELWA Radio, has sent us the following words of thanks and encouragement. "Thanks a million times to you and all those who donated the Bibles and CDs to ELWA Radio. Two of the Bibles have already given out to two persons who were really in need of a Bible.
Words are inadequate to express our gratitude to you. Thank you."
"You have done it again. Thank you for the small package that came to again. It contains musical CDs, two large Bibles, one NIV and one giant print King James Version. We believe this is a result of the message you send out on behalf of ELWA Radio some months back...Thank you plenty." Many of you have donated CD's and Bibles and they are not only appreciated, but making a difference -- Many thanks for these donations!
Moses also wrote Betty Thompson with the following report:
Hi Aunt Betty. Trust you are doing good today. Here are two testimonies we received from two listeners after listening to our On-the-air Counseling program. We give God the glory for the transformation that is taking place in the lives of our listeners.
Testimony #1 Your message on anger touched my heart. I used to lose my temper even without a reason. I am now able to control my anger with the help of God.
Testimony #2 I always listen to your program. I listen to the speaking talking about how bad some men treat their spouses. Through your program, I learn to treat my wife with respect and dignity. Thank you for your work and may God bless you.
As Betty has said, "We praise the Lord for His working in lives through the ELWA Radio broadcasts!" She also wonders if we couldn't help out the counseling followup of listeners by donating Gospel tracts appropriate for various topics. Readers? Can you help?
In 2008, Moses Nyantee was featured in an article in the SIM magazine titled, "Rebuilding ELWA Radio" written by Christine Holder. Here are some excerpts:
Moses Nyantee knows the power of radio.
During Liberia's brutal civil war, he walked an hour from his home to a neighboring village to hear the latest news on the war.
Nyantee had only the clothes he was wearing and little food to eat. The rebels had taken everything. He lived under the constant threat of violence.
"There was always gunfire all around the place," he said. "It was like the sound of music to us."
But Nyantee, director of the Eternal Love Winning Africa (ELWA) radio, held onto a hope that does not fail. He relied on God and trusted that he would restore all that the war had destroyed.
That hope is what brought Nyantee back to ELWA radio even after rebels twice looted and burned the station to ashes. ...
"In these post-war years, people are still the same," Nyantee said. "People still need the Lord. They need to hear the words of God to transform their lives ... We have a lot of radio stations around, but what do they offer?"...
Nyantee knows the power of radio in people's lives. He and other staff hope to touch hearts shattered by war and point broken people to the only One who can heal them.
"They need to hear something that will give them hope and comfort," Nyantee said. "We still believe that we have a major role to play."
Judy Slater got the following interview from Moses. Thank you Moses for your faithful service to ELWA Radio, his Liberian countrymen, and most of all to the Lord!
By Judy Thompson Koci on September 9, 2010 8:32 AM
We've been talking about ELWA Academy, and I'd like to step back several years and tell you about how began and has grown. The original ELWA Academy started in the 50's and continued until the war. In the remarkable story below, you will read about women, like women around the world, who wanted the best for their children, and how ELWA Academy got a second life. This written and published by SIM (Serving In Missions) in 2007, I believe, and I will note some of the recent updates.
A blackboard and a piece of chalk. A single copy of an out of date textbook. A 20-page composition book and a pencil. For most teachers and students in Liberia, these few items are all they have for teaching and learning. But after 15 years of civil war, Liberians believe that the education of the next generation is the key to a future of peace, progress and democracy.
ELWA Academy's purpose is to train the minds and character of children in preparation for life and leadership in the church and society through a Christ-centered educational experience.
In 2001, three Christian mothers started a childcare program on the ELWA campus. They wanted to provide a loving, safe, and stimulating environment for little ones whose mothers had to work. With only $300 in donations to buy some furniture, paint and used toys, they began to care for about 20 toddlers, most of them children of ELWA staff and local pastors.
From the beginning, the ELWA Childcare program was more than just daycare--children heard stories, sang songs, and played games. The parents were excited about the development in their children, and they urged the women to start a school. It seemed impossible, as none of them were trained teachers. But when a complete Christian Kindergarten curriculum was donated out of the blue, they felt it was a sign from God.
Meeting with the community revealed what kids faced in many schools: no books, teachers who didn't show up for class, sexual harassment of young girls, pressure to let classmates copy assignments, and a tedious, rote learning style.
Parents felt like they were paying school fees in vain--their children were not even gaining basic reading and math skills. Those serving in full time Christian ministry could not afford better schools. The childcare staff and ELWA management decided to go forward and open a school that would honor God and prepare their children to be a light for their nation.
In 2003, just months after the civil war ended, the ELWA Academy opened the Kindergarten division. In 2004, grades 1-4 were added. An additional grade is being added each year so that by 2009, the Academy will be a complete preschool, elementary and junior high school, up through 9th grade. (Update: The Academy has more than 500 students, a new classroom building, and goes through the 10th grade.) Here is a slide show featuring the "new" ELWA Academy. It also points out some of the repairs that are needed.
SIM has been privileged to partner with the leaders of ELWA Academy to help make their vision a reality. Funds for renovations, furnishings and equipment have come through this SIM project. SIM missionaries have spent hours training the Academy staff in modern instructional techniques. Hundreds of boxes of books and materials were donated by friends of SIM and shipped by container.
Vision for the Future
The Academy buildings have been neglected for over a decade. Roofing tiles have blown off in storms, rafters are rotting from moisture and termites, floors are cracked and septic tanks overflowing. The bathrooms that served 180 missionary kids in the past are not adequate for the anticipated 500 students. Two classrooms must be added by 2009 to accommodate all the classes up through 9th grade. Finally, a security fence is needed to protect the students and the campus from intruders and vandals.
Looking beyond these basic needs, Rev. Benedict Nagbe, the principal of ELWA Academy, dreams of feeding students a nutritious lunch; offering art, music, home economics and computer classes in the afternoons; and renovating the ELWA gym for school programs and sports. And someday, he'd like to open a high school.
This big dream began from the mustard seed of faith that three mothers planted just a few years ago. This dream BELONGS first to the Liberian leaders of ELWA. And they are ready to make it happen. Can you help them?
Pray
Please pray for God's blessing on ELWA Academy's vision to raise the standard of education and instill Christian values in the next generation.
Give
Your financial gift will fund repairs to the weather-worn buildings, improvements to the gym and cafeteria, and furnishing of more classrooms. In addition to your financial gift, gifts in kind to this project are welcomed and greatly appreciated: library books, textbooks, teaching materials, art supplies, school supplies for children. Contact your SIM Office to find out how you can give gifts in kind.
By Judy Thompson Koci on February 10, 2010 10:12 AM
Have you heard about the dental clinic attached to ELWA Hospital? It's an exciting new ministry, and I thought you should know about it. SIM (Serving in Missions), in partnership with Mercy Ships, is working to save lives and to restore hope through this one year old dentistry project in Liberia, West Africa. From their website:
In a country with 3 licensed dentists serving its population of 3 million, Liberia currently receives negligible attention to oral health. Consequently many suffer for years with dental pain, and complications can even reach a fatal stage, contributing to the nation's low life expectancy, which statistics show is only 40 years of age. Liberia is one of the 10 poorest nations on earth. It is emerging from a 14 year civil war that destroyed the country's infrastructure.
The population of Liberia lives on average at less than $1 per day. It is currently impossible therefore for each one to cover the cost of their treatment. Even with no dentists' salaries, most dental materials and supplies are only available from and priced by the American and European market, and the lack of electricity in Liberia means high prices for generator fuel.
The need is great. Most Liberians cannot afford a regular visit to the dentist, leaving them vulnerable to disease brought upon by abscessed teeth and decaying jawbones due to chronic infections. Without treatment, many will die.
Sadly, most of these critical dental problems would never have happened had Liberians had better access to a dentist, who could have stopped the problems with a simple cavity filling or a chat about preventative care.
Trinity Dental was founded by Dr. Keith Chapman, dentist and surgeon, and Frieda Schmidt, a dental therapist, on the ELWA campus just outside the capital city of Monrovia on Nov. 23, 2008. Both Dr. Keith and Frieda previously work with the organization Mercy Ships, a humanitarian organization that provides medical care to poor people in developing nations. Surgical procedures are performed by Dr. Chapman in the ELWA Hospital operating room.
They currently see from 15-35 people/day at the clinic, and average over 250 new patients a month in a new building attached to ELWA Hospital. Take a tour of the new facility!
Trinity Clinic has a three-pronged approach - Treating, Teaching, and Training. Dr. Keith's year-end report includes the following:
Treating
In the first year, we surpassed our goals, providing 5685 procedures to over 3200 patients. Unbelievable. Procedures included more than 1200 fillings (that's saved teeth!) and 84 surgeries for severe dental, head, and neck problems, many of which we provided free of charge.
Teaching
We also now have a full time dental health educator, who spends her days in classrooms
around the city teaching students about dental health, and empowering the
teachers to carry that information on to future classes. Every patient at the clinic is
also given educational literature stressing the importance of early, preventive treatment
and the prevention of tooth decay.
Training
We are in the process of educating our assistants to give injections for local anesthesia,
and continue to think forward towards a dental therapy training program in the
future. The Methodist Church is also looking into starting a dental nurse practitioner
training similar to our concept, with which we may be able to combine efforts.
Trinity has come up with a creative way for you to help support their ministry, called "Tunes for Teeth". The CD "Breaking New Ground" was released in 2003 by Dr. Keith. It has 12 tracks with 10 original songs. 50% of all sales will go directly to the clinic. Trinity Dental Clinic is a charity clinic in partnership with SIM and Mercy Ships, established near Monrovia, Liberia to provide affordable treatment, training, dental education, and hope to millions who suffer from preventable dental complications in Liberia.
Here are some other ELWA and Liberia-related resources and websites including the website of ELWA Ministries by the current Liberian team that manages ELWA now.
soon.
Bill Slater, former ELWA Pharmacist and EMAUSA board member and recently ordained minister comments that this is a "reminder that Satan is the prince of the powers of the air. I can't remember such a significant and damaging number of lightning strikes during our time at ELWA. We need to pray them back on the air and then ask God for an umbrella of protection.
Moses Nyantee, Director of ELWA Radio, has sent us the following words of thanks and encouragement. "Thanks a million times to you and all those who donated the Bibles and CDs to ELWA Radio. Two of the Bibles have already given out to two persons who were really in need of a Bible.
Words are inadequate to express our gratitude to you. Thank you."
"You have done it again. Thank you for the small package that came to again. It contains musical CDs, two large Bibles, one NIV and one giant print King James Version. We believe this is a result of the message you send out on behalf of ELWA Radio some months back...Thank you plenty." Many of you have donated CD's and Bibles and they are not only appreciated, but making a difference -- Many thanks for these donations!
you about how began and has grown. The original ELWA Academy started in the 50's and continued until the war. In the remarkable story below, you will read about women, like women around the world, who wanted the best for their children, and how ELWA Academy got a second life. This written and published by 
