Thoughts from Belynn, Yanni, Stacey and Collin

Thoughts from Belynn:

"I was so excited about today. Danielle and I got the opportunity to visit a place called THINK (Touching Humanity In Need of Kindness). This is a place where they temporarily house children who have mostly been sexually abused. At the beginning Danielle and I got the chance to spend time with the case managers. I enjoyed this becuase I have had the opportunity during my intenship back at home to work with social workers. It was interesting to see the similairites and differences between the states and Liberia. The children were absolutely beautiful. They enjoyed every minute we were there! We only had a little time with them today. So I am looking forward to a full day with them on Friday."

Thoughts from Yanni:

Today, we went to the Greater Love compound, our initial objective was to complete a generator project that would give electricity to the whole facility. We were missing a couple of parts so we did not finish the generator today. I was actually pleasantly surprized a couple of hours later we looked back at all the meaningfull, relevant, and practival conversations we had. I had a great talk with a guy named Pao. Pao is called to be a pastor in Liberia, but he has tons of fears and doubts because of how hard life is here. I told him not to give up and when God calls with one hand he gives with another. I loved our conversation, I was blessed to have talked to him. When we returned home Collin and I went for a walk around the village close by, and all the kids followed us as they showed us their homes/shacks. Playing soccer, basketball, hopscotch, handing out candy, and giving out a bible were all involved. We are falling in love more and more with this country and cannot wait for the next 7 days ahead.

Thoughts from Stacey:

Today, Dave, Miles, Jose, Emily, and I went to the Diana Davis Center. The center is a combination of a clinic and orphanage. It was truly amazing to see how welcomed we were by a speechless Diana Davis, who ran the place and gave all the glory to God every second. There are 35 kids at this orphanage, all of them lost their parents in the war. The guys worked on the generator house. Emily worked in the clinic for the first part of the day, and I played with all the kids. It was really neat to see some of the Liberian guys at the orphanage pick up on how to build a generator house being led by one of our drivers (he just jumped right to work!). Emily was able to help with one of the patients and watched how they performed each process. I was able to play with the kids, talk about favorite Bible verses, paint pictures, and paint the girls' nails. The kids smiles are contagious. The big, most interesting highlight of today was that our driver got arrested with the car on the way back to the compound. We had to get out and walk all the way back to the place. This was definitely interesting but it was all God! God is everywhere and in every detail. All praise is His!!!

Thoughts from Collin:

AHA! The conclusion paragraph is mine! So for the next four-five lines, you are all mine. Tomorrow, Yanni, myself, Brent, Matt, and Rodney all head out to the bush. Where monkeys, jaguars, and other insane animals roam. Like Crazy. We will be bringing out peanut butter and bread, in addition to that we will also have some more peanut butter and bread... We will be building a generator house and fixing up a generator and then sending the wire out to the school. So, i did say that I had like five-four lines but... yea. So for three days us five will be in the bush. Pray for us. We will be cut off from civilization entirely. zing! Alright! Hope all is well with everybody back home and I miss you guys and Julisa. :) PEACE! Happy New Year!!!!

REAP Generator

The Generator Shed and Water Tower at REAP

Working on the Generator

We started off today going straight to the REAP Camp. The generator shed was already built, so they just had to figure out how to connect the wiring and get it running. The guys stayed at the generator site, and they got it running. Now all they have to do is dig a 100 foot trench on Friday to connect the electricity to the building.

While the guys did that, us girls went with Christine to help her with the kids and helping her get ready for a big meeting. We all got to see the Vice President today along with many other distinguished people. It was an honor to be with them.

Quotes from Yanni, Collin and Belynn

Yanni- "We played soccer with 15 kids in the rainforest today... we lost, and we wouldn't have had it any other way."

Collin: "How many lion teeth do you want? ZIIIIIINNNNNNGGGGG!"

Belynn: "I connected with a girl today who lost her father in the war, and she and her siblings are being raised by their mother who is single and tryng to support her children to go to school. The young girl is 12 years old and loves school. Her mom said she wish that she could afford to pay for her kids to go to school. The entire time we were there she followed me everywhere. My heart grew for her. I just wish I had more time with her..sigh."

We saw a cockroach, and Yanni was scaring Belynn at the same time.

Our full first day in Liberia

Us at the Beach

Walkin Around

You'd be happy to know that most of us slept well last night, and we woke up this morning to eat breakfast with the Norman's at about 9am. It's been a good day. First, we went to visit the Greater Love church, the same church that had the tragic fire. Sadly the fifth man's funeral was last week. Pastor Wesley was so kind to us and showed us around everything they had there. he showed us their church, clinic, school, and the burned radio station. We will be going back there to install a generator for them in a couple days.

After that, we drove around downtown Monrovia. I personally have never seen such a bustling chaotic citiy before. The people have been exceptionally kind to us, and we're looking forward to jumping into ministry tomorrow.

We also got to go swim at the beach today. It was good to have some more time to unwind and have some fun before we start the real work tomorrow.

Good News!!! Biamba and Joseph made it here after a detour to Ghana, and my bag came today!( which I am currently rejoicing over) However, you can keep praying because Brent and Matt did not receive their lost bags yet... which is a bummer.

Dave and Emily are sitting with me out on the porch.

Dave is sad that the Jets lost, and he loves Karen.

Emily, is taking in this culture around her and it feels surreal.

Everyone else has gone off to bed.



We send our love!

The Rocks at the Beach

We're Here!

So it’s 9:52 pm Liberia time and we’ve just finished eating dinner at the Norman’s house. I’m not going to write much tonight because I haven’t really slept much in these last 30 hours (I’m not the clearest thinker right now), but most of us made it safe! Biamba and Joseph had some difficulties at the Amsterdam airport and they had to separate from us. We expect to see them tomorrow.

Everyone is well-fed and going to bed. Pray for us that we can sleep well and deeply, and that our bodies would become quickly accustomed to the heat which is in the 80s and 90s.

Also another thing you can pray about: Brent, Matt and I lost our luggage somewhere along the way. It would be such a huge blessing if you all would pray that we’d get it back soon.

We send out love! Thank you!

Danielle

Update Since Yesterday on Tragic Fire

Message from Pastor Richard Wesley of Greater Love Ministry in Liberia:

Dear Christian Friends,

Just wanted to let you that 4 of the 5 technicians have died, the 5th is on a critical list. Our hearts are filled with sorrow. Thanks for your prayers for us and the families of those who have died.

Pastor Richard Wesley

Liberia Prayer Team, please pray that we will be able to minister to these people when we get there in a couple weeks. Pray that God brings an Isaiah 61 kind of restoration to these people.

God please meet all their needs, and be close to them in their brokeness.

"To comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated ; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devasted for generation."

Isaiah 61:3-4

Tragic Fire in Radio Station

Liberia Prayer Team
Pastor Wesley just emailed Rodney Edwards this note. This happened at a location where we will be installing a Generator. Please pray for them, and for the families of the two men that died, and for the men who are in serious condition. The Waters Edge Liberia Team will still go to serve Greater Love (medical clinic, nursing school, radio station, church) as planned.

Dear Brother Rodney Edwards,

This incident happened last week Wednesday and I have been so down to even write has been so difficult for me Brother Edwards. Technicians from another radio station were hired to fix up our radio station studio by making it sound proof. Five of them came to work around 11: 00AM on Wednesday to do the job. By 6:15PM, they were still working. After our Wednesday Bible Study, I went upstairs where they were working and told them that it was late and they should go home and come the next day to continue the work. They insisted on finishing the job that night. I left the church compound with my family for home. At about 8:15PM, Deacon George Togbeh called me on the phone and said the studio was on fire. What the technicians did is that they bought gasoline and mixed the gasoline with the glue they were applying to the acoustic materials they were mounting on the wall and floor of the studio. When it got dark and they could not see clearly, they bought a candle, light the candle and forgot they had gasoline near at hand and they put the candle near the gosoline trying to see what they were doing. The candle put the gasoline on fire, the studio caught on fire and the five technicians were caught up in the fire and got severely burned . They were taken to the JFK and Catholic hospitals that night. Yesterday, one of them died and this morning another died. The other three are on critical list. I’m really in distress and our church is mourning right now. I need your prayers and if you can get to some friends to help us help the bereaved family for burial of the two dead and to redo our radio station studio. Please see attached photos of burnt studio.

Pastor Richard Wesley

Resource Update

So December 27th is getting closer, and the team is getting so excited about going. It looks like we’re going to have some rich opportunities for ministry. The final details are being put together and we are praying harder now more then ever because the date is finally almost here. Our small group has been meeting every week, growing in community and in planning for the trip.

Although almost 70% of the budget has been paid (TY LORD!), $15,000 in travel costs (mostly airfare) is still needed to insure all will be able make the trip. This final 30% is needed by December 19th.

As you may already know, the Water’s Edge College Ministry’s involvement in Liberia is a long term investment, and we hope that this is the first trip of many. We expect resistance, because we are in the business of His love and restoration while the enemy wants to see God’s precious people in bondage. We are praying that we can give ourselves away, be used by God, and be a catalyst for both love and restoration. We are firm in the belief that this is what God has called us to and we are trusting in Him to provide His resources; His power for His purpose. We have grown in passion for this work and have focused our hearts and actions to see His will done through us-complete the mission given to us.

People of God, I pray should the Lord press on your heart to be a source of helping meet this need and if so you will hear and obey. Please join us in this ask of God as you pray with us, that He would move on His people to provide for the need in full. May His will be done.

We are so grateful for all of you. Thank you!

Yanni, Collin, Stacey, Lisa, Brent, Dave, Joseph, Biamba, Matt, Miles, Belynn, Emily, Jose and Danielle

Should you be led to give, please make checks payable to: 12Stone Church and put in the memo section on the check “WE Liberia Mission”.

Mail checks to:

12Stone Church
1322 Buford Drive

Lawrenceville, GA 30043
Attn: Stacey Belflower