Christopolis A/G, Brewerville, Liberia

I had the privilege of preaching the Mother's Day service at Christopolis A/G on July 19, 2015.

A first for me - I was "flowered". Congregants gave money for flowers and pinned them to my clothing. This is done here as a fundraiser. The ladies are trying to raise the money to plaster the inside of their new church building.

This is Pastor Jimmy Kuoh and his wife, Christina. 

I was letting my hair grow out a bit, but after the first trip in the heat and humidity, I went back to my regular cut.  I can only imagine what my hair would have looked like had I not cut it. (Reference to the wet hair on my neckline)

The women also sold a cake to the gender giving the most money in a special offering. Ladies worldwide have used creative means to raise money for their church projects.

A photo with the mothers and women after service. 

What a great day we had! 

Freedom Center A/G–Johnsonville

July 12, 2015, we preached for Pastors Josiah and Jacqueline Mesleh. They had us in their home for a delicious meal afterwards, and we enjoyed their fellowship and hospitality.

         

This was the path leading to the pastor’s home.  I think more motorbikes have traveled it than cars.  But the meal of beans, rice, and fish plus the hospitality of our hosts was worth the trip.

 

Jesus, Build A Fence

What an appropriate song for the youth choir to sing as the nations of Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea continue to pray for God's protection against the deadly Ebola virus and other physical and spiritual forces that come against them on a daily basis.

offering time....blessing time!

i genuinely love african offerings

Joy of Salvation A/G–Pipeline

July 5, 2015, we had the privilege to preach for the principal at Owensgrove Bible Institute and pastor of Joy of Salvation A/G Church, Rev. Hastings Forkeyah, in the Pipeline community in Monrovia.

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We washed our hands at the door and arrived in time to catch a bit of the Sunday school lesson.

These musical intruments are called sasas.  They are made from gourds covered with beads strung on string.  They make quite the percussion section.

Preaching and prayer time

The views from my vantage point

The road to this location was probably the worst that we have navigated this season. Pictures don’t capture the experience adequately. We traveled in a 4x4 vehicle, while most walked or rode motorbike taxis.  The lengths people will go to be in church on Sunday! I think God must be pleased.

Reminder

Another shout out to my daughter Shelby for introducing me to the music of All Sons and Daughters.  This song is not only for missionaries, but it certainly does minister to this missionary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgAzLKXqcDk

The LIBERIAN LINK Newsletter: June 2015

Score!

Our daughter Shelby gave me the idea to use pita bread for homemade pizza.  We have Lebanese pita bread here that is very good, so I thought I would try it.  To our delight, It worked!  We have a new favorite to go along with homemade baked pita chips and fresh guacamole. Score one for the home team. 

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs…

Imagine the challenges of effectively communicating the reality of an unknown pathogen and its devastating affects on an unsuspecting and skeptical population.  Complicate that with widespread illiteracy because of years of interrupted education due to civil war and restricted travel due to inadequate road systems, and you begin to get an idea of what Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia have faced for well over a year now.

Though Liberia has been officially declared Ebola-free, caution is still being taken, and efforts are still being made to advise citizens of the need for continued diligence in health and hygiene as it relates to the disease. Every means possible is being used to spread the word that Ebola is a real disease and poses a real threat to people’s lives. 

Since being back, I have noticed signs and notices everywhere highlighting Ebola awareness. Here are just a few of the examples of some of these.  The first two are long segments of wall painted as public service announcements. (I have divided the photos since a panoramic photo would be too small to see.)

Greetings….

If you are familiar with African culture at all, you know how very important it is to greet one another when meeting.  Children are taught from an early age to present themselves and greet visitors.  It is not uncommon to shake and hold hands long after the initial meeting while inquiries are made about the condition of the person, the wife, the children, the church, the animals….  One comes to understand and appreciate this exchange so that you realize it is not time to start the conversation until proper greetings have been made.

Several have asked our thoughts about the status of the people in Liberia after the Ebola crisis.  Overwhelmingly, all we have met are thankful to God for his protection in sparing their lives. At first, I couldn’t quite explain it, but it seemed as if the people were a bit sadder or more withdrawn.  Then it dawned on me, most people are not greeting in the same manner as before.

To avoid the spread of the disease, buckets of water with chlorine were placed outside homes and businesses, and people were required to wash their hands and have their temperature taken before entering.  All were advised to refrain from shaking hands, hugging and kissing.  Now that Liberia has been declared Ebola-free, some of that is reverting back, but there is still caution since cases are being reported in neighboring countries with which we share open borders. 

Imagine your friends who once greeted you with smiles and handshakes or embraces, now being confined to just looking at you and trying to convey the same feelings.  It is a little uncomfortable – for them and for us.  Liberians are not keen on repeating what they have just lived through. While we certainly don’t want to seem aloof, we also don’t want to minimize what they experienced by encouraging them to violate these restrictions.

The next time you shake someone’s hand, remember that there are many in West Africa who no longer have the luxury of such an exchange.  Please take a moment to reflect on their plight and say a prayer that this dread disease would be contained across all affected countries.

it’s the little things…

upon our return i had a few household items to sell.....a lady who bought one of my small appliances sent me an email and said it was surprising how happy a small item like that could make her in this setting....i understood...i found a bottle of blue shoe polish at the store and revived my trusty crocs that were destined for recycling... ‪#‎smileonmyface‬ ‪#‎callmepathetic‬

On Ebola…

Even in our short time back in country, we have been able to meet some of our pastors, Bible school students, and acquaintances. All seem to be so appreciative that God was merciful and spared their lives.

As we were driving, one young man pointed to a spot in a certain area of town and said that was where dead bodies were piled with no services to pick them up, while dogs began eating their flesh. One said that being confined to his home with the shops closed and streets emptied reminded him of the same circumstances during the war. Fear was rampant as one never knew who might be a carrier of this dread disease. It seems that the images we saw on our television while in the USA may not have done justice to the realities of what these dear people struggled with day in and day out.

A local radio station interviewed Gaylord last week. They asked about the relief efforts of the Assemblies of God USA during this crisis. He was happy to report that in partnership with Convoy of Hope and Assemblies of God World Missions, a total of 15 containers of food and/or medical supplies were provided. That represents almost 4 million meal packs and medical equipment that were distributed across the country.

The radio interviewer likened this intervention to Matthew 25:35,36: For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited me in; naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me. He expressed gratitude for the contribution made to Liberia by the American church. Ebola has not yet been contained in the neighboring countries of Sierra Leone and Guinea, and the borders between them and Liberia have been re-opened. Medical personnel project that there will probably be another spike in Liberia. Pray with us that this is not the case and that soon West Africa will truly be Ebola-free.

My Favorite Recipes

In our absence it seems that My Favorite Recipes were those of the mice as well!