Home Again Still Feels Good

This week Barry took me on an R & R.  Yes, you've already picked up on the fact that I've admitted this week that I have felt my age probably for the first time ever. It's taken me by surprise since I returned from Liberia.  This has been a sobering reminder of my mortality, not that I want to sound morbid, but reality checks aren't bad for you either.  This world is not my home, and yes, I am praying that I grow more and more desirous of going to my true home and meet my Savior face to face.  Since I've begun to get in the habit of often being brutally honest with you regarding my "not so nice emotions", I'll tell you that yes, I might have to live a lot more years to conform me more into the image of the one I want to meet in real life!

On lighter notes, I've gotten very rewarding emails from some of my students.  One of them very skillfully had given a persuasive speech in which he wanted to persuade his fellow classmates to petition the administration to have less professors "like me."  What I think he meant was professors who were given the assignment of teaching 6 semester hours in seven weeks.  The work load for us all was huge!  I took his efforts in good humor, but what touched me was in his email he told me that if Prof. Vickery hadn't come, there wouldn't have been public speaking or public relations taught in 2011.  (Maybe if we can send the young man to Daystar University in Kenya that I told you about for a Master's in Communication, both of my student's requests will be met.) 

One student I'd had to discipline one day in class even came out to the helicopter to see me off the day I left.  That too felt re-assuring that maybe the efforts had touched something in them, even though age, culture, and even "supposedly" speaking the same language often got in our way.

Let me close for today, to go through a week's mail.  It DOES feel good to be home.  The blessings of life are hard to count!

Almost 2 Weeks

Getting used to no daily updates?
I have been pondering how I could view this compilation of "stream of consciousness" myself. I fully expected that by now I would be fully acclimated back into my world. I envisioned that i would feel physically strong too. Neither is presently true, even though I have been loved and pampered. Emotionally I feel "spent"

What is going on? When you feel down you tend to think it is a forever thing. I may later today be embarrassed that I have written these words, but I have been so bold while in Liberia to share raw emotions. I thought maybe if this is of a spiritual nature, that some of you would pray for me.

In these almost 2 weeks, I have gotten many very, very nice emails from my students. To have them express appreciation is so touching to me. One who had complained whEn I was there about how hard it was on students to have temporary and short term professors, wrote that if I had not come there wouldn't have been public speaking or public relations for the sophomores in 2011.




Another great development: EAFC thinks we have identified a church and student that will be the permanent replacement for the job I did in Liberia. The school has a state of the art communications building almost finished. They will soon have both TV and radio. Oh, how they need a full time communications professor. Isn't that exciting that a church has identified a young man they have asked EAFC to join them in training? One sharp young man is currently working toward pursuing a masters in communication at DAYSTAR University in Kenya. Church, ABCU and EAFC at this point are excitedly exploring this to see if this is in fact where God
is leading.

May 1 I give a report in my Sunday School class. Hummm! How do you wrap yourself around 7 weeks and do justice to the experience? I have tried with friends so far, and each person has such varied levels of interest and different types of things they want to know.

May my next post lift you up as you have so often lifted me up. Keep praying, and pray too that God would show you whether or not you are to be a part in training a leader in the field of communication in Liberia!

Re-Entry

Well,  Jesus certainly did leave much more of a place of glory to dwell among men than I have ever experienced.  But the things I've become aware of that never crossed my mind before have been interesting.  In just 2 months, I'd forgotten how to text;  I turn keys around twice in a lock; I notice foods and varieties that are available like never before;  I've noticed changes around town, even people who have died in 2 months;  I notice microwaves, stoves that don't need matches to light; see the power of prayer; am touched by people's noticing that I've been gone, having prayed for me, hug me when they see me.

I've also been reminded of a chapel talk I heard in Liberia when the speaker told us about 3 things that are true:  1.  Life isn't fair  2.  People disappoint  3.  Love is the answer.  We "say" we believe that, and yet our lives don't always show that we do.  We act shocked when "some" people don't welcome you (me)  home, ignore you (me)  as though you (I) "should" be thought about.

May God make me LIVE with an increasing desire to LOVE in all circumstances of life.

Oh, yeah, Monday and Tuesday I must have been living on adrenalin;  I felt FINE.  Wednesday and today I've drug a bit.  "SLOW DOWN"  I keep telling myself;  "Rome wasn't built in a day."

Some have responded about May 24.  I'm thankful that there is interest.  I hope it continues to grow.

What Happens In One Month

Announcing!  To all blogging friends over the past two months!


May 24, 2011  at First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, Mississippi (Patterson Hall)
11:30 A.M.  
A Gathering for any and all who've followed this blog and want a time to share and learn more.
Let me know if you think you can bring your BROWN BAG lunch and join me!  The church will set up for us when we let them know how many to expect.

Open Letter to Potential Church Partners in Africa

An Important Letter to Prospective Church Partners

in Liberia and Rwanda

2011

EAFC has been trying to establish strong relationships with evangelical churches in Africa for fifteen years now.  And that has happened,  We believe, however, it can be even better. We believe this aspect of our ministry is so “unique”, so “vital” that we are willing to limit ourselves to working with ONLY TWO countries in 2011 so that the relationships that come from this time will be beacons that light the future course of EAFC for years to come.

In Africa the picture of “cooking stones” to describe this work has been successful. People seem to understand that 1. the church 2. the educational institution and 3. and EAFC represent the 3 stones.  It’s easy to picture that if one removes any one of those stones that the pot that was cooking (the student) will fall over.  If the 3 do not remain balanced, either the pot cracks from the intense flame, the contents boil out, or burns up.    But in perfect balance, leaders are trained for the glory of God and the benefit of the church in the country in Africa who entered into this partnership.

What hasn’t previously been highlighted is that 3/4 of this equation LIVE in Africa.  The shared responsibility is NOT EQUAL.  More responsibility  rests with the church in commending men and women prepared for the training, financial responsibility so that everyone is participating, and proper mentorship of the student so that when training is completed, the church has not a man/woman with certain skills, but who possesses leadership qualities, and godly character.

The church is in the drivers seat in this vehicle of blessing.   EAFC does not send funds to churches; only an approved educational institutions, but it is the church that makes sure that students are keeping up with their responsibility to EAFC and that the educational institution provides the student with up to date grades for EAFC’s office.  Without EAFC knowing how the student is progressing both spiritually and academically there cannot be a strong and growing relationship with the church/ministry.

EAFC desires to grow from strength to strength.  We want church partners who work so successfully with EAFC that year after year they send excellent, qualified candidates.  We must stay in touch with those who receive EAFC funds long after they have received the final gift from EAFC.    Otherwise, we have no stories of how God is blessing our labors.  Without stories the “well runs dry.”

If this information is understood and agreed with, you are invited to contact the EAFC office by email requesting “A Letter of Intent.”  That document is required so that EAFC knows you are serious about establishing a relationship with EAFC.

After the letter of intent is received and reviewed, EAFC will contact the church’s designated representative for the next steps in this process.

With Blessing,    The Board of EAFC

Bethel Church's Potential EAFC Student, Magdalene

Meet Magdalene Mulbah.  

Here she is pictured with EAFC board member, Peggy McKey, who came to the ABCU Re-Dedication Ceremony March 23. Magdalene is a freshman at Cuttington University.

                She was home that week because she had malaria and had spent a few days in the hospital.  Later I will post part of the testimony that she wrote for me so that you can get to know her heart and pray with her as she pursues her pre-med studies.

Magdalene is Nathan and Julia Mulbah's only child.

Madgalene Mulbah and Peggy McKey

She worships with Bethel Church in Yekepa.  The night before I left, I met with FOUR of their church leaders at the Mulbah's house.  I explained our desire to work with them so that Magdalene can indeed be trained as a medical doctor.  I left them to discuss this and make decisions as to whether they desired this. Later I heard from Nathan that not only do they want to, but they have other church members in mind they'd like us to get to know.

Another Relationship in the Making

If you have been following this blog, you have met Eleazar Gbengan before.  He's the Program Director at ABCU.  But that's just ONE HAT he wears.  This past weekend, he and a group of students went back to the BIG REFUGEE camp in which they've been ministering this year.  This weekend was their third trip there.


Eleazar's home church in which he works is in Ganta, about an hour from Yekepa where we lived.  His church is the Evangelical Christian Assembly. (ECA)  He's working, however, on an association of churches in Ganta with by-laws so that their strength could make it possible for them to more fully participate with EAFC so that many in Ganta can be trained leaders in their city.  Yes, Ganta is a very large city in Nimba County.

Meet Angel, Elazar's 2 year old daughter.  She has 4 older brothers
and many, as many as 12 foster
brothers and sisters.

Eleazar mentioned Abraham, a young man in Ganta that he wants to train on the diploma level.  He spoke of Abraham's involvement in the church as one of the reasons he wants to invest in him.  Another possibility is
Emmanuel Gaye.


I'd first heard Emmanuel's name from my former housemate, Dr. Vicki Kloosterhouse.  He wants him to get
a master's in education so as to possibly someday replace her as
Dean of Education at ABCU.  Emmanuel is a part of a Baptist church in Ganta.  Through Eleazar's 
Ministerial Association, his church could participate.  Emmanuel is a junior and so has one more year to get his church on board and to find a good program of education in a university in Africa.

Emmanuel tutors community children like these
every Saturday and goes out to a village
another day during the week.  He's
putting into practice as a student
what he hopes to carry out as a career.
One evening he came to my house
to get me to help him with tunes
to music in a phonics book
he was using with the children.

Processing EAFC's Involvement with Liberia

Educating Africans for Christ asked me while in Liberia to assess whether or not I thought the church there would be enthusiastic to working with this ministry.  I will post later the open letter that we have given to our newest friends for them to share among the body of believers in that nation of 3 million people.  (Over 1 million of them live in Monrovia.)

These men pictured are some of the decision makers for their denomination, and each one

of them enthusiastically endorsed the
idea of working with EAFC for many years
to come.
EAFC has for years now insisted on church partners, but we have allowed potential
students that we would meet and were impressed with to tell their church leaders
about the ministry and the possibilities available.  What we found often was many churches with less than adequate knowledge to actually pick up the mantle of leadership EAFC was requiring.  It wasn't a lack of desire, but there was a lack of understanding or buying into the philosophy of cooperation EAFC was seeking to establish.  How could they assume responsibility that they didn't fully understand or agree to. 

I'd like to introduce you to  Albert, Moses and Thomas,the denominational leaders from ECUL (Evangelical Church Union of Liberia).  This denomination was started by SIM and after the missionaries had to leave Liberia because of the war, the church struggled.  Today they are eager to both evangelize their nation but even more to emphasize right theology that translates into the way the people put their faith in action.  

After our meeting, I'm looking forward to their initiating a Letter of Intent with our office.  After that memorandum of understanding, I believe there will be one selected man for 2011 and then more in subsequent years.  I believe there is potential for a long, healthy relationship with the ECUL church.  I worshiped Sunday in one of their churches.  The message was powerful, even though the pastor was suffering from malaria as he preached.  (I learned that from one of the other men, not from the pastor.)

Process of De-Briefing

Tuesday, April 12, 5:45 A.M. my mind has been up at least an hour.  The physical part of adjusting never seems to be the same from trip to trip.  Actually I feel pretty good, so far. That statement could change many times throughout this day.  Sometimes I just feel like crying for no known reason. The trip was at least 3 hours longer than was necessary.


Thomas, Houwa (his wife) and Albert picked me up at 2 PM for the airport.  Getting in the normally confused line with 2 suitcases (carry on was packed inside one big suitcase, thankfully) was challenging, but nothing compared to the WAIT in that line.  A power surge shut down the computers and ticket agents processed hundreds of passengers by hand one at a time.  Yes, our 5:45 P.M. flight didn't take off to Akra, Ghana until 7:30.  Besides the heat during the wait, there were silver linings all around called INTERESTING PEOPLE with which to talk.  As long as stories keep pouring out of me, I think I'll keep writing.  So be aware that I have not yet put this blog to rest. (Colvin is from Long Beach, Ca.  He's the age of my children, but such a world traveler, having had pages added to his passport twice in the past 5 years.  Just to see "the smallness of this world"  Colvin's mother grew up in Crystal Springs, Ms and went to Belhaven College!) He's an example of one interesting person I met.
In Ghana, we had the usual  customs and  routine procedure of cleaning and securing the plane.  The security check in Liberia had been one of the most thorough I'd ever gone through.  They cut no corners even though the passengers had done nothing but stand and wait for HOURS and HOURS.
In Ghana, the "crisis of the moment" was not having enough pounds of fuel (155,000) the pilot told us that was needed.  At one point during THAT WAIT, he told us we might have to find a place in the city to go for the night.  Thankfully, that didn't happen, and other than arriving at least 3 hours late into Atlanta, all else was uneventful.  My seatmate had been another guest at the same guesthouse I'd stayed in the last 2 days in Monrovia.  Visiting with like-minded people you meet is always enlightening, challenging and just plain fun.


Barry's up.  We're reading our Bible TOGETHER this morning.   I can't take in YET all the contrasts that have been experienced so quickly. I'm a bit overwhelmed this morning.  But this too will pass, as my Mama used to say. So  stay turned for more de-briefing!

Thomas Shelwah

I met Thomas Shelwah in Nairobi. He was then a student at NEGST. He graduated with Dave Mwangi in 2006. I met him again last evening, and in 30 minutes he will pick me up to take me to the airport. He works with both Samaritan's Purse and ECUL. That stands for Evangelical Church Union of Liberia. From the reaction of Thomas and other church leaders, I am expecting a vibrant church partnership between the ECUL and EAFC. I hope that it works out that way!


One more idea: TO ALL OF YOU who have stayed with me these past 2 months.
Would you like for us to get together for a "reunion" of sorts in about a month? If enough of you email me or comment on this blog in the next 2 weeks, I will plan that.

Be home, Lord willing in about 24 hours now. Today has already felt LONG.
Bye!

Thomas Shelwah

I met Thomas Shelwah in Nairobi. He was then a student at NEGST. He graduated with Dave Mwangi in 2006. I met him again last evening, and in 30 minutes he will pick me up to take me to the airport. He works with both Samaritan's Purse and ECUL. That stands for Evangelical Church Union of Liberia. From the reaction of Thomas and other church leaders, I am expecting a vibrant church partnership between the ECUL and EAFC. I hope that it works out that way!


One more idea: TO ALL OF YOU who have stayed with me these past 2 months.
Would you like for us to get together for a "reunion" of sorts in about a month? If enough of you email me or comment on this blog in the next 2 weeks, I will plan that.

Be home, Lord willing in about 24 hours now. Today has already felt LONG.
Bye!

Will This Be the LAST One?

Will I write again from this side of the Atlantic?  I "think" this is my last post, but then you know me, I seem to always find one more something that I think is worth posting.  Now whether or not I have the opportunity to report is another thing.

Early morning walk along
the beach in front of this guesthouse.
Samaritan's Purse and SIM headquarters are around here.

I think I'll just write captions describing some scenes from today.  I hope they show you some of not just the scenes describing where I went and what I did, but that they capture some of the emotions associated with what I CONTINUE to learn.


Going home TOMORROW still feels like a dream, but it certainly is a good one!  


Here's to possibly the last pictures taken in Liberia.  If you care to keep this going a little while after I get home, maybe I'll go back and show some of the shots that got left out on the first attempt at telling the story.

It was just this pretty.  So different from Gulf of Mexico beaches though.
I  didn't think walking barefoot was too smart!

Thank you all for sharing this with me. 

 May we all keep growing through                                 

                                   Africa!

Here are more pictures depicting this Saturday, April 9, 2011.

Meet Albert and Priscilla Lloyd.
Priscilla is from Nigeria, a freshman at ABCU.
Albert went to ABC before the war.  He's a leader in his denomination
and a potential master's degree student of EAFC.

A billboard I saw today.  Albert said it was an old one.
Pray for the October elections!
So much depends on that election in this country.

Can you tell what the containers we're drinking from look like?
I'd never before pinched a corner from a plastic square of nice cold water.
When I did, I squeezed and squirted water all in my face.
Many around got a laugh from that one! 

When the freed slaves got to this country, they formed
the Free Masons.  Albert says that most
politicians belong to it.  It's really big here.  This
headquarters in Monrovia.

See clothes drying on the roof, the house next door and the beautiful backdrop
of the Atlantic Ocean.  You get beautiful views of the ocean
all over Monrovia.

Freed slaves shot this cannon at the other Liberians as
they "warred" over whether or not the returning Americans would
be given any land in which to re-establish themselves.
I'm looking forward to reading the book about Mississippi in Liberia
when I get home.

This is the George Washington of Liberia, President Roberts.  (can't remember his first name)

This Baptist church in downtown Monrovia is the first church
the freed slaves built in this country.

My "View"

The  Yah River that runs by campus.
(I just now learned from Albert its name)

At 11:05 A.M.  Liberian time our helicopter took off.  What a thrill!  Straight up.  The pilot Dan "played" a bit with us pretending to let Daniel a passenger who was sitting up front fly the helicopter.  He tipped it to the right and left.  (wasn't sure I liked that. ha!) We all were fitted with headsets and instructed how we could talk to each other as we flew.  The beauty was hard to describe.  I could hardly take it all in, especially looking SO QUICKLY at the world that had become familiar to me.  At 100 mph, we were out of territory rather quickly.

Randy is an engineer from Jacksonville.  He was on campus with SP
all week helping with
the 5 year plan.

One quick impression;  this is really a very rural country, VERY GREEN, and only about 3 million people; 1 million of those here in Monrovia.

I am next door from the guesthouse where I'm staying using their wifi.  It doesn't work at the guesthouse for some reason.  MY "VIEW" is the Atlantic Ocean, and the sounds of waves crashing on the shore gives me a rush.  My neighbors are from U.K.  They are SIM country coordinators here.  They've offered to take me out to dinner tomorrow night.  How KIND!

Another WONDERFUL man (guest of the house where I'm using their wifi) just walked up and offered me his cell  phone to call Barry. I don't even know his name.
(It's Saturday morning, and I now know his name, Jim Dillon from Washington state, here  for 6 weeks to help ELWA, the radio station.  He calls himself a self-taught engineer.  I told him I was impressed;  "Only be impressed" he said, "if I have wisdom.")

The Chapel as we took off.
Within minutes we'd left anything that I'd come to
know and love.
What a trip!

So, as you see,  leisurely time now to enjoy THE VIEW, but soon, oh soon  I will see all of you, my friends an family!

Pictures will follow when I can.
(It's now Saturday morning, and we have internet in the guesthouse.  My HOSTS, Albert and Priscilla are waiting on me, so I'll be brief.  They're taking me to see the city, and of course to talk about our favorite subject, proclaiming God in this land!)

Let Me Tell You What's Happening at ELEVEN Tomorrow

• Just when you think things can't get more exciting, they do!

We have engineers from Samaritan's Purse on campus this week.  They come in and out in their helicopters.  Someone mentioned the other day,  "Wouldn't it be nice if they had space for you Friday when they leave."  Now who wouldn't be excited about a 1 hour 45 minute flight over an 8 hour bumpy road trip, not to mention that I've never been in a helicopter.  
So, I silently asked my Heavenly Father if that would be possible.  Last night at staff Bible study Del asked the SP men if they had space, and they quickly said "no".   "OK,  I wasn't surprised or very disappointed, since I didn't really expect God to say yes.

Now, this is when it gets interesting.  During the day yesterday I mentioned to one of my students about "my secret prayer request".  After I did, I kind of kicked myself.  "WHY, with all the troubles in this world, would you share about such an insignificant little desire as this?"

This is Harris who suggested  "What if God had
the pilot knock on that door
and tell you there was a seat on that helicopter?"

But I'd done it, and I couldn't take it back.  Today I've had students come by the house ALL DAY!.  Most of them wanted to see final grades, but they've been gracious and kind to me.  It's been a good day.  One of them that came was the student that I had shared with yesterday.  He brought another student, Harris, with him.  When Winston asked me if I was going to get to ride in the helicopter, I quickly said,  "No, God said that wasn't His will."  Harris asked,  "How do you know that wasn't God's will?"  "Well,", I replied,  "When something is God's will, He gives permission.  He hasn't given me permission."  We chatted back and forth about how to know God's will, and then he said,  "What if the pilot knocked on that door, and said they had room for you."  "I guess ," I replied, "that I would say I'd gotten God's answer wrong and be thankful that He'd said yes,"


Little did I know it, but Harris's scenario came true.  While I was teaching this afternoon, Jamaima  that works in this house came to my classroom and told me to go see Jeremy as soon as I got out of class. (That's unusual for her)  All I know about Jeremy is that he is a nice  young man that works for SP.  I didn't connect at all his wanting to see me could have anything to do with the helicopter, but I was wrong.


I actually didn't go see him right after class; too busy, but when I went to my friend's' for dinner, Jeremy was there.  That's when he told me;  "I knocked on your door today but you weren't there.  There's space on the helicopter for you."


All of us are awed!  God cares about little blessings that just say,  "I love you and I want to  lavish you with a fun and exciting gift."


Tomorrow I have to send my luggage with the van, but at 11 A.M.  I'll fly away!

Stay tuned!  I better go pack!

Last Day On Campus

There were days in which it felt like this day would never come, and yet I've lived long enough now to know that emotions come and go.  I'd better not depend on their being reliable anchors for my actions.  But man oh man are they powerful.  At the time you feel intense joy or pain, you can't imagine that what you are feeling are not the sum total of reality.   


Just imagine how Jesus must have felt when God did turn his back on him.  His emotions DID match reality in that instance.


Ruth has just come into my office, and so I'll continue this one later.

Green Mamba Story

Can you really spend time in Africa without a "snake story"?
I guess not, since I have one even with only a few days left on this continent!  Snake stories scare most people, and the last thing I'd want is to add to Africa's public relations struggles.  After all, I'm in the business of "putting good spin" whenever I can and wherever I can.  (That's "tongue in cheek" since I don't really believe that I am putting SPIN on anything in such a way as to leave wrong impressions.)


Here is my SNAKE STORY! I have seen a DEAD green mamba once when it was still moving.  I got to hear the tale of how it had been killed.  The one I'm now describing was BIGGER  (or was in my mind!)  I was walking from my office to House #2 at lunch and ran into my friend, Laytopoe.  As I hugged her, I realized that she had fever.  I suggested she follow me home so I could give her Advil and Tylenol.  As we were walking, we saw Zohr, another student walking in at a right angle to us.  We all spoke, and then a very hoarse Laytopoe screamed, "SNAKE, SNAKE," pointing towards Zohr.  At that time, I saw Zohr jump and run off.  That's when I saw the GREEN MAMBA on the side of the walk but still in the GREEN GRASS.  He slithered on across the walk where Zohr had just been walking.  He looked to be headed for the chapel, I hope to pray!


I often associate snakes with spiritual warfare.  And lately I have sensed an increase in events that are stretching, like feeling emotionally low, having misunderstandings that normally wouldn't be a problem between people.  Stephanie, my roommate, told me that she too has been having these same episodes.  Today I'm happy, relaxed and enjoying being here while at the same time being quite excited about going home! 


Now, that last paragraph might be "a bit over the top" for some of my readers, but if you have followed my processing over these past 2 months, you probably aren't very surprised that I process life through my fingers or with pen in hand.  I've let you into my world.  I'm doing it again because many of you have received warmly in the past when I've stepped out on a limb sharing my heart!


Please, however, don't stop praying.  Physical safety has been God's gift to me so far.  I have been well; no green mambas have gotten me or anyone else I love around here.  I have a LONG trip to Monrovia on Friday and a longer plane ride on Sunday, into Monday.  Please pray for safety for vehicles, even the Samaritan's Purse helicopter that will collect their surveyors on Friday, too.


P.S.  The plumber last night was good!

Is Your Plumber This Responsive?

"The Girls" as I call them have gone to Ma Becky's as they call her.  This Fashion Show is SO HUGE.  You just can't imagine all the preparation going into it.  It is an event that I doubt Liberia has ever seen. (I know I haven't.)   They even have a modeling coach here from Monrovia this week to train the girls.  There is a Kenyan choreographer coming to teach the 5 guys who've been selected to dance.  I'm amazed by the talent and work ethic of "my girls". They are so young to be so professional and knowledgeable.  Becky consults them on almost all decisions. 


But I began this blog to tell about "my plumber".  The Girls showered after their walk and the shower sprung a leak.  Naturally, I'm the only "unclean" member of "this family."  We can't seem to have enough towels or mats to absorb the stream of water flowing.  At first we were told that they'd just have to turn off the water, and we'd have to wait until tomorrow.


I'm kind of used to adjustments by now, but not having the big drum of water drawn like in other Liberian homes that don't have running water made me see that  spending a night without water would be considered by me "as a hardship."


Thankfully, the plumber has shown up.  Now, let's hope he can fix the problem.  At least you've got to give him an A+ for coming.


Tonight we had FRESH PORK.  My mother-in-law would have loved this.  It came from the Betty Jonah Orphanage, and portions of it were given to all the houses on campus for our guests during the dedication.  We didn't need it, so we had ours tonight.  That, with our much appreciated portion of sweet and sour slaw and Pecan Rice that I had brought from home was our supper.  We all liked it, though I'm beginning to wonder whether I'll ever want cabbage again when I get home.

Weekend Ahead

It's only Tuesday and here I go planning the weekend.  Anybody wonder why?  I begin the journey HOME on Friday and don't arrive until Monday, the 11th.  Let me explain!


Nathan and Peter give admission tests in Monrovia on Saturday, and they are my ride to the capital city. (I actually fly out on Sunday.)  With the 3 of us will be two ladies, one a trainer for the 6 students who have been selected as some of the models for the fashion show in May.  The other one is a student going to visit her husband who works there.  Those of you interested in EAFC may hear more about Albert and his work with a  denomination started by the mission S.I.M. in this country.  The church was severely damaged by the 14 year civil war.  People fled to Ivory Coast, Guinea, and Ghana, leaving traditions behind as well as all their assets.  Some of that was good, and yet they returned home with an assortment of "new" ideas, some not better than what they had abandoned.


When I talked with Nathan and Peter this morning, they assured me that they plan to take care of me in Monrovia this weekend.  We actually will get to stay at the same guesthouse, which is quite settling to me.  I may look like a confident woman to many of you, but there are buried inside me some insecurities. 


All the tests and projects will be turned in today.  I'll be grading and recording grades the next 2 days.  The PEOPLE, I will miss, but then there's a lot of you that I've been missing.  Hope to see you soon!

Aaron, Father Times Seven

Aaron came up to me after chapel this morning, beaming. He now has 5 sons and 2 daughters. This last one was another boy. His wife is still in the Sanequille hospital with malaria, but is making progress. He so appreciates everyone's prayers.

The Sankofa Fashion show is planned for Columbus, Ohio in September. Jan Ringer, my new friend, whose husband Kent teaches here told me to fly into Fort Wayne, Indiana, and to bring Peggy with me. The 3 of us will go to the show since we're missing the African version in May. Hope it works that we can. We planned this this morning on one of our LONG walks, probably my last such one. Fellowship during exercise is the best, and I think it keeps women mentally and spiritually healthy. At least I hope it does. I know I do enjoy it!

Informal Learning

"He who graduated yesterday and quits learning today is uneducated tomorrow."


I learned this my last year at Ole Miss, not remembering who said it, but  it still makes an impact on me.  I think it is soooo true!   On Wednesday and Thursday, I'll meet 3 hours each with the 2 sections of sophomores.  The only "official" business we'll have is going over their exams which I hope I have graded.  But there's sooo much more I want to cover.  Will they care?  Will they want to learn when there's not a grade associated with the content?  I'll let you know what I discover.


Mt Nimba was a good worship experience for me today.  I was the only light skinned person there.  I felt very honored and welcomed not just by the people I know but others as well.  We sang from hymn books.  (2 versions so they'd call out two different page numbers).  I had not realized how dry I was to worship with VERSES, words in front of me, something familiar.  I don't know which of those items I just mentioned was paramount in my mind today.  All I know if that I came away having been fed from the preaching, singing, and taking The Lord's Supper.  Yes, God gave me public worship as His means of grace to bless my life!


As I told you earlier, lunch on Sundays is cold, but the temperature in the house is not!  We didn't get a fan until after 3 P.M. so I went out and sat on "my" bridge (the one the team built that I showed several weeks ago) , in the shade, listening to the water skim the rocks.  When I returned home, I had a fan and got to talk with Barry a bit until internet started acting up.  Thankfully, Pete is the "go to man" and my roomies who returned this afternoon were hungry to talk to their families and called Pete over to help us out.  YEAH!  It worked, so I can write this!


Am I just rambling now?   Am I still learning?  In a nice, long email from my sister today, she commented that she could see me staying here on a more permanent basis.  Could I?  Right now, I really want to see my family.  It takes a lot of work here  even  to relax.  I'm tired.
But on the other hand........... get the picture?

Last Sunday in Yekepa, Contemplating Last Week Here

At 6:30 this morning, Jamaima my student and I went for a walk.  I assumed we'd head for the mountains.  She suggested we go see a friend in the hospital who was in a motor bike wreck the other day.  Thankfully, I've not needed a hospital while I've been here.  It's sobering to consider those who do!                                                                                                                                                           

I didn't know the injured friend was Jutonue's sister
until we got there

On our way back, we discussed where I'd go to church today.  There's Bethel that I went to the first Sunday.  I've been to the Inland church twice.  Mt Nimba Baptist is another local one I haven't visited.  I think I'll go there today.  Jamaima says lots of the students attend.  Maybe I'll see some of them.


The electricity is turned off for at least 4 hours in the middle of the day on Sundays.  That's in addition to the nightly cut off between midnight and 5 or so A.M.  So, you only plan a cold lunch if you eat at all.

The halls of the hospital.  It seemed cleaner than
I had expected, but Jamaima tells me it's not a very good
hospital.  They only have one doctor, and
who knows the qualification of the nurses.

Later today, Barry and I will talk on Skype, and my roommates will return.  Things should get lively and interesting then.


Tomorrow and Tuesday are exams and projects due so lots of grading for me!

Wednesday and Thursday I hope my students will STILL BE MOTIVATED to LEARN, even without grades.  Oh, there's so much I still want them to grasp.


The pictures, I hope, visualize my inner thoughts. What's around the curve?  What beauty is there waiting for me  (us) to discover?  Will I absorb these scenes into my life and become a better person, or just decide the task of meditation is just too hard?  Scripture reading this morning focused on the REAL ENEMY who would stop all our growth in Christ. "Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil." (quoting Luke 11:4 The Message)   "May we consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds."

MORE on Betty Jonah Friends

Boys Dorm at Orphanage;  I understand it needs many repairs.
They didn't take me inside this, only the girls dorm.

Joyce is 12;  She got Sarah's letter, and we've become fast friends.  She loved the "Mississippi pins".

Showing them how to attach pins.  Mrs. Jonah took the pencils
I brought for later use, I'm sure.

Mrs. Jonah gives me a hug!  She's 68 years old, and her husband is, I think, 74.
This morning I prayed that God would sustain them and raise up
people with similar hearts to carry on this work.

Kent Ringer is a visiting "Prof" like me.  He'd been asked to design
the Guesthouse and here he is showing off the closet he included
in that design.  They are plastering walls now.  Floors are the last to be completed.
Since I was there 2 weeks ago, they have added front porches to this and to
the clinic.

The CLINIC for Camp 4 as well as the orphans will not remain
EMPTY for long, thanks to Christians at home
who saw the first pictures and let God touch their hearts.
Emmanuel's sister, Hannah is on the right.

This tiny little girl gave me this letter that Josephine wrote to Tyler.
Let's pray for both Josephine and Tyler.
Wish I'd asked this little girl her name, but then I think
at the time, I thought SHE was Josephine.

Betty Jonah Orphanage Return Visit

Abraham lives at the Betty Jonah Orphanage.  I'll tell about him below.

Betty Jonah age 68 talks with her son, Emmanuel.  I also got to meet Hannah, the sister.
She's a nurse who lives in Monrovia but helps here too.

I'll probably share several posts on the return visit to see "my new friends."

As before, Emmanuel asked me to speak to the children;  I wasn't expecting that

since I'd spoken the time before and so I had to think fast.

Emmanuel had told them about Barry, and so I told the children about the (3) Barry Vickery's. I told them that 2 of these men had come to know Christ when they were children like those I was talking with.  "Bear" however is only two.  I asked the children if they wanted to pray that Bear would give his heart to Jesus at a very young age.  Abraham, pictured above volunteered.  It was touching!

I also taught them all "The Greeting Song" and told them that God could bring us together regardless of whether or not we were in the same room together.  Oh, yes, and my friend Peggy had brought "Mississippi" pins.  They loved that and learning how to spell Mississippi.  I told them about growing up in Greenville, Mississippi and asked if they all had heard of Greenville, Liberia.  They all had!  (just trying to connect very different worlds in ways that bring us together rather than separating us.)

Unexpected Prayer Request

At 8:30 tonight there was a knock at my door.  As the windows are always open, I spoke through them to say that I had retired for the night and couldn't come out.  "I understand," came the voice.  "This is Aaron. Can you just come to the window so I can talk to you?"

He's going 2 1/2 hours away tomorrow to get his pregnant wife and take her to the hospital in Sanequille .  He thinks she has malaria.  He wanted me to know and said he'd be back for the exam on Monday.  I assured him that he would not be expected to take the exam on Monday.  Some things can wait!   I'm not sure though that our prayers can.  Will you join me in praying? There are 6 other children in this family.  I am praying for her as she suffers tonight, waiting for the morning light that hopefully can get her the help she needs.

Greeting Song

Greeting Song

We're glad to see you;

Oh, it's such a blessing.

If others knew,

They too would join confessing

CHORUS

Jesus keeps bringing us together

With love we never want to sever.

SECOND VERSE

Oh, Jesus come

We gather in your presence

We beat the drums

That bind us and renew us.

CHORUS AGAIN

Wish I could hum the tune for you, but I'll tell you what, the sophomores got it quickly on the first day of class.

Today, they stood in front of the rest of the students in chapel and taught it to them.

FPDS 2nd graders in JAX have learned it; and Betty Jonah "Family" will work on it again today.

Maybe I can record that and share it.