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Lee Sonius, Steve Ackley, Sam Kayea and Clip Kniffin traveled to the ELWA campus in November. Lee, Steve and Sam grew up on the campus, and Steve and Sam had not been back to Liberia for 40 years! Their insights and new vision produced a new goal for the EMAUSA: To renovate the old gymnasium and upgrade the housing stock on the campus. The excitement among these three “ELWA kids” was palpable, and we are enthusiastic about the gym project and making it once again an attractive meeting place. Today the old gym is a mere shadow of its former self. In the 1960s and 70s it was a gathering spot for the ELWA kids of yesteryear. The boys played basketball, and weddings were performed. Church services and graduation ceremonies were held there. But the Liberian civil war and the salt air off the Atlantic Ocean have taken a toll of the gym, and today it is in sad shape. Our plan is to make the gym a center for sports ministry and discipleship. More than this, we want to make a center for community activities. To accomplish this, our current plan is to extend the south side (the side closest to the Atlantic Ocean) by 20-30 feet to make room for bleachers. Electrical and plumbing upgrades are vitally important for this restoration. A second goal is to restore the Schindler house that is next to the beach so that it can house a missionary family. At present we estimate the total cost of these improvements to be $60,000-$80,000. Much depends the feasibility study now being undertaken and upon our ability to raise the funds. Your generosity in supporting this project is vital to its success. The five large girders, each weighing a half ton or more, are in place on the top of the concrete walls of the ICM (International Church of Monrovia) Church sanctuary. These five girders support the other steel structures that will hold up the roof of this new church. The wholely Liberian crew has lifted these girders into place without the benefit of a crane. Instead, they have used a pulley system to hoist these girders. This project has been underway for more than six years. It is now nearing completion. The new Perkins generator arrived on the ELWA campus in May. EMAUSA contributed a modest amount toward the purchase of this generator for ELWA. SIM missionary Alan Shea was on hand to help install the new generator and integrate it with the generator control system and the three Cummins generators on the campus. Because the Liberian rainy season is now underway, the demands on the ELWA generators are reduced. However, when the dry season returns in December, these generators will be needed for backup power for ELWA.
The new 340-foot ELWA Radio tower serving the greater Monrovia area and Liberia is up and operating! EMAUSA has been committed to financing and constructing this new radio tower for ELWA this project for more than three years. There have been serious delays caused by COVID-19, inflation, and shipping snags, but ELWA radio is now transmitting a clear signal to the Liberian community. Key people, including Kyle Shropshire, Nat Tamba, and Alan Shea, have been instrumental in bringing this project to completion. The old ELWA radio is down, and no one was hurt from the possible collapse of that weak, rusty tower. It had been in imminent danger of collapse for many, many years. Jestina Wesseh, whom EMAUSA has supported in recent years, graduates from the College of Health Sciences at Monrovia Bible College in July. Jestina will be joining the nursing staff at the ELWA Hospital. Congratulations to Jestina!!  |
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ELWA Ministries Association USA