counting down the days.

Someone please tell me something- can it really be November?

In addition to the fact that it was, in fact, 70 degrees outside today and breezy, it just seems impossible that the penultimate month of the year could be upon us already. Thanksgiving is peering in through the doorway with Christmas coming fast on her heels, and I still feel like I'm trying to wrap my head around the academic calendar again. Summer leaves slowly at first, with all of our vacations winding down into back-to-school shopping and final hurrahs at the pool, and then all of a sudden she's gone, the season has changed and autumn comes in to sweep us off our feet. While I am still reeling from the shock of that change, November is setting up camp in my front yard again, and she's bringing all the holidays with her. And in spite of the Christmas commercials now being crammed between re-runs of "It's a Wonderful Life," I just still can't believe it's already that time of year.

Similarly, about a week ago, the Liberia team gathered in Brent's living room and marveled over how quickly December the 27th is approaching. As we discussed our very flexible tentative schedule, I was reminded again that this is really happening. In 43 days, I will be taking three very long plane rides to arrive at my destination across the ocean, where I will spend 9 days living outside of anything I've ever experience before. I think all of us probably felt it a little, that nervous-but-thrilled feeling of getting close to something really huge, like when you're third from the front in the line for a roller coaster after waiting for two hours. Suddenly, you can just see yourself suspended 200 feet off the ground, upside down and nothing to keep you from falling, having the time of your life. That's when the butterflies invade your shivering stomach, and that's when your heart girds itself up in determination and says, like a battle cry, "Let's do this."

So, although maybe it doesn't seem quite that dramatic just yet, the trip is getting so close and I can feel the excitement building steadily. Sometimes it's hard to see past the stack of paperwork that stands between us and the Liberian border, but I believe we will all get there, and it will be worth every minute of preparation and more. And honestly, even the preparation can be pretty wonderful at times. If you scroll half-way down this page, you'll see the stories that God has been weaving in our team thus far. It's definitely worth checking out; there is nothing like being surprised by the beautiful nature of our God, especially as it is shown through the life stories of His kids.

For example.

Danielle, our co-leader, and I are on the dance team at 12Stone Church together. Last Monday, after our weekly meeting, we were standing in the room where we meet when suddenly Danielle starts jumping up and down and squealing. I, as you might expect, was slightly startled and extremely curious in response to her sudden effusion of happiness, and I tried to slow her down enough to understand what was going on. Between shouts of joy, she managed to tell me that she had just gotten a text telling her about a $1,000.00 check that someone had sent to support her trip! Praise God! I can't tell you the kind of relief and happiness that come in a moment like that. There's nothing like it. She had been at the $2,500.00 mark when that check came in, meaning that her trip is completely and exactly paid for now. That is such a gift. And if there's anyone who knows how to celebrate God's gifts, it's Danielle. Obviously.

So, the intricately woven plan that's bridging the gap from here to Africa just keeps getting more wonderful. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Also, we got to find out what kinds of things we will probably be doing while we're on Liberian soil. Brent talked about how the mutual interests of every team member converged into some vital points, like working with orphans, child soldiers, and those who have been abused. That was very exciting to hear! Those things, in addition to possibly getting to visit a hospital in Monrovia, are what we will tentatively be spending our time and heart on during our stay. That is so okay with me. I could spend the whole week holding onto little Liberian babies and I would feel just fine. I think we'll be doing a lot more than that, though, which is even better.

More information regarding our itinerary should be forthcoming, but nothing will be set in stone until the morning of each day. You'll be reading every night what we planned that very morning; I hope the stories happily surprise us all.

And lastly, here are some facts about the country that we learned:

- Liberia has the 4th highest infant mortality rate in the world. 138.24 deaths / 1,000 live births.

- Liberia is the 4th poorest country in the world, with an average GDP per capita of $500.

- Liberia is approximately 40% Christian, 20% Muslim, and 40% indigenous beliefs.

- The agricultural products of Liberia are rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, tapioca, palm oil, sugar cane, bananas, sheep, goats, and timber.

- The heat index in December and January can be around 108 degrees. Happy New Year, right?

So, everyone, thank you as always for reading and please continue to fight for us in your prayers. Pray practically and with intensity- your voice does not go unheard (1 Peter 3:11-13). Right now I am experiencing the worst headache, and it has been following me for about a week. Those are the kinds of things that the enemy would probably just love to use to wear us down, to keep us from fighting anymore. Pray against his schemes and pray for the covering of the Almighty to surround every person on this team (Ephesians 6; Psalm 91). Pray for our prayers, that we would be strong and consistent in our conversations with God, and that our love for His word would deepen. Pray for our unity with one another, and for what God is already doing on the Liberia side of the world. Thank you, thank you, thank you for every word that you pray! I pray that God's love would meet you as you do.

Be blessed! More soon.

Everything is MIRACLES!

Posted by Danielle:
Ok, I don't know if you have ever tried to go to Africa before, but it's more difficult then it looks. :) Everything is MIRACLES to us poor college kids. The way that God is blessing us is beautiful, and we are seriously thankful to all of you who have said even just a word of prayer for us because God is responding.

All 10 of us have our airfare money for Liberia, and the tickets are bought! WE ARE SO EXCITED! I'm telling you- The week before the airfare money was due, we just saw miracle after miracle after miracle, and we praise God for our faithful supporters this far. We truely love you, and are so grateful for you!

Now the remainder of the money we will raise will go directly towards our living expenses and ministry! We have only 6 weeks before we need the rest of the money in [$11,757], so PLEASE include us in your prayers. We only have 2 monthes we leave! Please pray that God's will would be done in the greatest ways for the people of Liberia!

I don't want these brave young people's stories to be forgotten. So in an effort to glorify God for his provision so far, let me introduce you to a few people in our Liberia Mission Team Family... :)

Dimitri Iliadis

A couple weeks ago, Dimitri needed...a lot, and yet he was so clearly dependent on God. God gifted him in only the way that a Father dotes on a son that he's truely proud of. It was so cool to watch!

"My name is Dimitri and I am a native of Greece now involved in Water's Edge and have the amazing opportunity to go to Liberia with the team. My biggest set back and fear in the upcoming trip to Liberia was the fundraising, I doubted that I would have ability to raise nearly enough money for this trip. God has provided money for me on this trip when I doubted and thought it was impossible. He has shown me that He is faithful, and He is good, and my doubts of His provision will never stop Him from proving himself to me. He has been and still is blowing me away with His greatness."

Amy Lyford

Amy is a beautiful, incredible joy. It's know wonder that she has found favor with so many loving people. Thank you for praying for and supporting Amy!

"Knowing I had to raise a lot of money through sharing my story with others and actually asking others for money was a scary thought at the beginning. I've always had a hard time sharing my spiritual story. I was always scared of what somebody would think, and I had no idea if people would respond positively to me asking them for money. After I sent out most of my letters, I was told almost every week that I got money in for my trip! Not only that, but people loved hearing my story! This process has really shown me how important every single one of our stories is. You never know who was inspired by your story or not because you were too scared of them judging you. I also grew in faith that God would provide and that people really do care enough about me and believe in me enough to support me to go on a mission trip! This is just the beginning I can't wait to see how God continues to grow me through this journey!"

Jeremiah Klinect

If we gave out an award for getting the most people involved--it would go to Jeremiah. He has an infectious passion for ministry in Africa, and he is such a joy to have in our Liberia Mission Team Family. THANK YOU if you have supported him! God is doing something lifechanging in his heart. Please pray for him. :) I'm excited to see what God is going to do in him!

"God is faithful in all things! He is giving me many opportunities to earn or receive money to fund this trip. It is amazing to see what God is planning. With earning money, God has provided some landscaping jobs and recently a second job at Dick’s Sporting Goods. In donations, I had about 35 of the 80 support letters help me by giving money, and almost all the people I sent letters to are keeping the Liberia team and me in their prayers. As PK always says “God is good all the time, and all the time God is good."

waves of mercy.

A week ago from this moment, I was sitting in the very same spot I am in now: the cushiony brown leather chair in the living room of my family's home, where I can camp out and quietly process whatever's on my mind. Today, I am thinking about my best friend's birthday celebration that will be taking place later on, and about how I wish I didn't have a pile of homework waiting in the wings, but last week I had different things on my mind. In spite of the normal buzz of school-related things, last weekend was highlighted with the brightness and beauty of a cultural experience unlike anything I've seen before. The Liberia team (sadly, minus Jesse) had the extreme privilege of visiting a Liberian church right here in Atlanta, and I'm pretty sure we all came out grinning from ear to ear.

The service, which was a special event dedicated to celebrating the church's 23rd year, began at 2PM and did not end until after 5PM--how's that for different? It seems like so often we are just concerned with "getting people home on time," but that was certainly not the mentality here. As I was watching all the many beautiful elements of this Liberian service come together (dance, music, intense warrior-like prayers), I kept thinking about the things we could learn from the way that these people were "doing church." There was a solid spirit of undeniable worship present in the room, with overflowing freedom and exponential joy to undergird the pursuit of that end. There was this "wander in whenever and jump right in" kind of quality that just felt like salve on the soul of a girl who always seems to be rushing, hurrying, or making a deadline. That would be me. Worship of the creator and fervent, meaningful prayer clearly mattered more to these people than whether or not they would be finished in time for dinner... how refreshing (and yes, a little intimidating).

Here are some pictures that Amy took of the service:

And one of the IHOP breakfast we all ate beforehand, where we tried to learn the Liberian handshake that is apparently harder than it looks:

Overall it was a great day, and a very exciting experience for us all! Personally, I got to spend time with my teammate Kayla on the way there and back, and the whole trip would have been worth it for that reason alone. Hearing her story of all the incredible redemption that God has woven into her life in just the last two years was such a privilege. People are always what remind me the most that God is so very good.

Anyway, one more story and then I'll wrap this up.

As you may know from Danielle's last post on this blog, every member of the Water's Edge missions group needed to have the cost of their airfare covered by last Tuesday, October 6. For the Liberia team, that cost is roughly $2500.00. At our last meeting it was made clear to each of us that if we did not have the cost of our airfare covered, we would not be able to go. It was just that simple. But by the time October 1st came around, many of us still found ourselves hundreds (or thousands) of dollars away from the $2500.00 mark. The rest of this story I'll have to tell you just from my own experience- I don't want you to miss how very awesome it is.

So, a week away from the October 6 deadline, I knew that I was in trouble. I needed over $1300 dollars in order to meet the airfare goal, and I felt like I had no way of getting there. I stressed myself out for days, trying to come up with enough letters to send out that I might actually get a response. I realized at some point about 3 days from the deadline that it was a lost cause; I could not send enough support letters before the deadline to make $2500 land in my lap. So, because I knew that this is what so many of the WE missionaries were doing, I prayed the desperate prayer of someone who has no other way: God, if this is what you want for me, then do something amazing and send this money my way. Really, the prayer was for all of us, for every person who was at the end of their financial rope. I had to stop and ask for forgiveness, realizing how quick I had been to belittle God's opinion in favor of my own. When I said "if this is what you want for me," instead of "this is how it's gonna happen," things changed.

By Monday afternoon, I had found out from Danielle that I now only needed $750 dollars, and I was holding in my hands several checks that brought the total down to $480. Twenty four hours and 480 to go? I started to get excited. I knew that God would do amazing things, even if it wasn't what I was expecting. So I started calling all the family members in my phonebook, explaining my situation and asking that they pray for the team as a whole. There is something so life-giving about rallying people across a great distance to pray; the responses were enthusiastic, but the asking was what blessed me the most. As the day progressed, I knew more and more that the favor of God was rolling in like a great tide to sweep over not only the ones who are being sent to spread the Word, but over those who are doing the sending as well. I prayed, and I ask that you would pray, for each and every person who gives financially and spiritually to this trip- I believe that God has something unique and wonderful in store for them.

By Monday night, I needed $280, and my heart was being lifted by the hour. Without my asking, my small group all laid hands on me to pray for the trip, pouring their hearts out in intercession in such a beautiful way. When they finished, my heart was already overflowing with gratitude for their prayers alone when suddenly, unexpectedly and without warning, they all started emptying their pockets into my hands. These college-aged young women, each of whom is probably living from paycheck to paycheck, were literally handing me what probably would have been enough gas money to last them for weeks. And each of them smiled while they gave, pressing checks and dollar bills into my palm with a look of certainty and happy resolve in their eyes. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed. I spilled my heart out loud to God on the drive home, thanking Him over and over and letting myself be reminded of what I now believe: I was chosen for this trip for a reason. And I love finding out what it is.

By the end of Monday, I needed $106 dollars for the trip. By the deadline, I needed $30. If the tickets end up being a full $2500 dollars, that 30 is definitely a number my bank account can handle. I am just so astonished by that fact.

And all across the board, there are stories like this. Pray that there are more to come. Pray that our hearts line up with His heart for this trip. Pray for the Liberian people- for what God is already doing in their land. Pray for our leaders, that they would follow Him closely. Pray for protection and continued favor. Pray for the spiritual battles that are being fought over this trip; that where there is opposition, it would be met by the powerful hand of the Almighty. Pray as He leads you, and REJOICE in what has happened thus far, and in what is to come! :)

More soon.

The Currency We’re Dealing With

Hello, Danielle here. I’m hijacking the blog from the normal author for a few moments because something is pressing on my spirit. We as a team are desperately calling to Jesus. Our airfare money is due in 7 days exactly, and if the money is not in—then we will as lovingly as possible be drawn off our mission team.

I’d like share a story from the book, Voices of the Faithful.

“Fourteen women stood in a circle as we prayed for the young Costa Rican woman who was about to leave as a missionary to a Muslim country. All of them were committed to pray for our church’s first international missionary. But what brought tears to my eyes that afternoon was not their commitment to pray.

In many evangelical churches across Latin America, God’s Spirit is raising up a missionary movement from areas that have traditionally been our mission fields. From our small church in San Jose, Costa Rica, He called out “Farisa” to go to one of the darkest corners of Central Asia.

When Margarita’s turn came to pray that afternoon, she prayed, ‘Lord, You know our family’s commitment to the faith promise offering so that Farisa can go to another land. As I’ve told my children, ‘First, we will give the offering, and then if there is anything left, we will eat.’

She continued her prayer, but I didn’t hear the rest. Tears flowed as I realized that this woman, whose husband was dying of cancer, was truly committed to the high cost of reaching the world for Christ. She was teaching her children where a Christian’s priorities should lie.

In the United States, the vast majority of those who support missions do so out of relative wealth. But the missionary movement from the Two-Thirds World (outside the U.S., Canada, England and Europe) is being supported in most in most cases out of dire sacrifice.” – Wilma, pg 305

WHAT DOES THAT STORY DO TO YOU?!

When I read it I immediately felt God telling me that the vision for this Missions Ministry is still much larger then we have made it to be. We are in obedience of God by pursuing this vision. EVERYTHING so far has been set in place by his hand. I have NO interest in pursuing my own plan. I only want Jesus’ glory to be made magnificent among us and the whole world in huge, glorious ways. The question that we are asking ourselves is, “Is our missionary work worth Margarita’s family’s food?” Is our work THAT valuable, that we could accept an offering like that?

The honest truth is that as a follower of Jesus—redeemed fully by him. Our body could die tomorrow and we would be okay because we would finally be with Him, but there are lost nations. There are pre-redemption stories everywhere we look. Don’t think that this mission work is not valuable… I would be hesitant to accept Margarita’s offering, but she understands something about the dire need to further the kingdom of God through the world. She understands it so deeply, that she will not feed her family until it happens.

How do we make this personal? Please pray and give generously and sacrificially to these mission efforts. Allow the Holy Spirit to “break your heart to the point of giving to missions with exuberance, not only because of the vast lostness and depravity of the peoples of the world, but because the supreme sacrifice of redemption has already been made for their salvation, of only they hear. Amen.”

“For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.”
2 Corinthians 8:3-4

These are orphans at one of the poorest orphanages in Liberia.

PS: If you don't know how to give please e-mail liberia.we@gmail.com

meeting 2.

Sitting in the cold upper room of the library where I sometimes work, I'm thinking through everything that has happened in the last 6 weeks since my last appearance on this blog. The list seems mountainous, full of milestones and important moments for my life and for the Liberia team as a whole. The speed at which life urges us forward seems just too fast; how on earth could I write down every marking thing that takes place? And yet I have been taught to live in the crux between "speed of life" and "speed of soul." The place in which those things mingle is where it becomes possible to live happy and live well, which of course implies that it's not such an easy balance to obtain.

I think one of the sweetest things about being on the Liberia team thus far is how frequently it can pull me back into the current of "soul," reminding me of God's irrevocable love and His desire for us to hear Him say our names. I am being invited into community with other followers of Christ who are letting Him lead them all the way across the world, letting Him re-shape their hearts to look like His, letting God's provision melt away their anxious fears. I am being covered in prayer by friends and family members, by leaders whom I trust and adore, and by people I don't even know who have been asked to cover our team as a whole. I get to watch as God writes stories for us to marvel over and tell later. I get to jump on a plane to go wrap my arms around orphans and widows across the planet. I even get to be the scribe who captures it all in sentences, letting other people in on the adventure! Could there be anything more reviving to the soul, anything that better speaks the language of my spirit?

But life almost always provides a contradiction just when you think you're home-free. Keeping back the extrinsic forces of classes, jobs, homework, and relationships feels like wearing a backpack full of bricks while walking uphill and holding a small child: difficult, delicate, and at times devoid of purpose. Adding in the necessary clause, "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice!" just feels like busywork to the soul that is living only at the speed of life. I know this because, more often than not, I am that soul.

So, I have the knowledge of this beautiful soul-life that's lingering in my peripheral vision, and I have the weary confession of a life that's just too full of things to do. Jesus, what can I do?

1 Peter 5:6-10 (Amplified Bible)

"Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset--rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you."

I have a feeling the answer is in there somewhere, and probably not that hard to find. If you are praying for this team, pray that those emboldened commands would be true for each and every one of us. Part of me feels like it could take a lifetime to cultivate that kind of spirituality, but whom are we talking about here? Scripture says, in not so many words, that God can do in a minute what I could never do at all on my own. Even when it seems like He is a million miles away, my own breath couldn't be closer than He is to me, and His Power is just as perfectly present as His Person. Gets pretty hard to wrap my heart around that one, that's for sure.

Anyway, all of this leads up to what I'm technically supposed to be saying which is that...

We had another meeting! All four teams met together last Sunday night to worship, listen to some great teaching, and have some good team time. Katie led us in worship again, and it was so refreshing. Miles spoke about "the seven opportunities of a short-term mission trip," which is a sort of academic way of saying "all the incredible things we can pray for and set our hearts towards in the next three months." During small group time, each group had all the members share stories about their experiences in life and faith. Our group is the smallest of the four and we couldn't even get to hear everybody's testimony because we were so caught up in listening and talking (and laughing). Overall, the night was a wonderful success.

Pray that every financial need will be met and overwhelmed- that God would more than provide for every person on the team. Pray that He would old up doors for beautiful stories to form in the arena of financial support. This is something I think we forget to do sometimes. We're so bound by the anxiety of trying to get all the money in on time that we forget how effortlessly God can both provide the funds and author a mind-blowing story to go with it. Pray that both of those things take place.

Pray that the Spirit of God would combat all anxiety on our behalves. Worry over money, over travel, over life calling; all of these things are cares to be "cast on Him."

Pray that God would expand our hearts for each other before we are ever sent out to have compassion on other people. Pray that He turns our hearts to feel like His even now in our everyday lives.

Pray that these seven opportunities become realities for every member of this team...

1) the opportunity to expand our spiritual horizons; to minister to God's people in new ways and new places.

2) the opportunity to re-clarify or re-surrender our lives' callings to Him.

3) the opportunity to have our hearts break for what breaks His heart.

4) the opportunity to experience God as a present, active, vocal Father (a provider).

5) the opportunity to grow in our understanding of what it means to be a servant.

6) the opportunity to deepen and sharpen our prayer lives (to pray specifically, and honestly).

7) the opportunity to renegotiate my lifestyle at home (to realize that I am not entitled to everything that I've been given).

That's all for now. Thank you for reading and thank you for praying. :) More soon.

beginning again.

So, it would appear that introductions are in order...

That's me. My name is Annie Morgan. I am nineteen, a college student, and the blog and prayer team leader for the 2009-10 trip to Liberia in West Africa. In the past, Danielle Williams, the missions coordinator for the Water's Edge ministry, has been primarily in charge of updating this blog. Thus, all the entries previous to this one have been either from her wonderful self or from another member of the Liberia 08-09 team. If you're curious to see what a Water's Edge mission experience would be like, those entries are a perfect place to explore stories and photos of last year's journey. Beginning here and now, however, a new story is unfolding. God is again bridging the oceanic gap between nations, sending out handfuls of eager twenty-somethings to Haiti, Bolivia, Guatemala, and of course, Liberia. This is something He is doing all the time, revealing Himself and His heart to every corner of the earth; how thrilling it is to be a part of something so much bigger than just our team! That brings all the more weight and significance to the short amount of time we'll spend in Liberia, knowing that Jesus is always there and He is loving those people every day. And we get to follow Him around over there for a week and be a part of what He's doing- I'm more than okay with that.

Anyway, all of this to say that we are a very excited group of college kids (and one real adult: our pastor, Dave Bearchell) who may or may not be at all prepared for what we've gotten ourselves into. It's okay. So far, I am just loving the process. The first official Missions meeting happened on August 9th, and it was inspiring in so many ways. The tables were covered in the flags of all four countries, and a heart of worship for the Creator was clear and present in the room throughout the night. Danielle guided us through "the ultimate ice breaker," i.e., "a scavenger hunt extravaganza" that led us all across the 12Stone campus and ultimately onto the bridge to take our team pictures.

I must say, our team exhibited insurmountable levels of skill and teamwork during the hunt, racing, as a unified force, past every other team to the finish line. Haiti claims that they got there first, but their methods of arrival were most dubious, if you asked me. And by that I mean that they cheated. Definitely. Which makes us the champions. Liberia 1, Haiti 0. But, who's counting, really?

So, it was good to finally match up all the names on our team with a face, and to look at the people around me and know that they will become more than casual friends or acquaintances by the time January comes around. We have been told that each member of every team was

 prayerfully considered and carefully placed into their position. I believe it, and I am grateful. I can't wait to see what each member will bring as an individual part of the beautiful whole. Starting at the top left and going across are our three leaders, Dave (red), Danielle (white), and Brent (green). Amy (blue), Jesse (black), and myself are the other three standing. On the ground, from left to right, are Dimitri, Jeremiah, Steven, and Kayla. Altogether, I think we are perhaps the most attractive group of people ever assembled for missionary purposes. More importantly, though, we are passionate and excited about the task we have been given. I pray that our hearts would be opened up in prayer for one another, and that we would be like Jesus in the way that we follow our leaders and serve our teammates. "For even the Son of Man came not to have service rendered unto Him, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45) 

After the ice-breaker, Pastor Shannon Whaples spoke about the church's responsibility to honor the Great Commission, reminding us of the authority and urgency in Jesus' words,

"Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be)." (Matthew 28:19-20)

We then met and prayed together as a team for the first time, which was very cool. I have so much respect and affection for the leaders on our team, and so much gratitude for each individual member... I can't wait to see what happens next.

Pray that the Spirit of God in each of us would unify us into one formidable whole; a team of amalgamated hearts, longing to give themselves away in service to each other and to the Liberian people. Pray that, in the course of these 4 months, Jesus would so intimately acquaint us with Himself and with His voice that we would be filled to the point of overflowing. Pray that we would learn, in leaps and bounds, what it means to be a follower of Christ, that we would study His example and imitate Him, that the living Word of God would be alive in us on a daily basis. Pray that every financial need would be more than met, and that we would have stories to tell about the perfect faithfulness and providence of God. Pray for our leaders, for our hosts, for the people whose lives will intersect with our own while we are there. Pray for Liberia, for her widows and orphans, her sick and abused and hungry, for the ones whose lives have been shattered by chaos of the recent civil war. Pray that the love of God and His redemption plan would be woven into the fabric of Liberia's story.

Thank you for reading, thank you for praying. More soon.

Pictures from Collin's Gallery

Collin was our "official" photographer for the whole trip. His gallery is http://gallery.me.com/bellcollin Click on "ME gallery Liberia".

Below are some pictures that Collin, Belynn, Emily and Jose took while we were there.

Dave has love for Liberia in him all the time. Can you see it?

We were able to give a generator to Robert Cuppah's church.
The team split up for church on Sunday.

Sunday afternoon fun

Belynn and I with the kids next to the house. Matt "Chiquita Bananna" Elsberry
Yanni, when they drove out to the "bush" to install a generator.

Brent working on the Generator Shed out in the bush.

Our Shopping Day in Monrovia.

Jose with the hope of the nation.Emily, in her awesome braids with James.

Us girls, no Emily :(, with Dave at the Lake.