IN LIBERIA... While we continue to rejoice in the ongoing and fruitful ministries at My Father's House Liberia and at the Children's Rescue Center in Ghanta, we are rejoicing in the opening of the Precious Life Home for Girls in Monrovia Liberia. The Lord has given Wordsower a wonderful partner in Pastor Emmanuel Jones and his church. These fine folks have joined with us to extend housing and oversight to teen-age orphan girl.
In Liberia, as in many other nations, when a child turns sixteen years of age they are no longer internationally adoptable unless adopted with a younger sibling. Orphanages that are struggling financially, or are not committed to the children, often force these teen agers out since there is no hope of income from them. The children have nowhere to go and no resource.
In Liberia, for example, the unemployment rate is ninety-five to ninety eight percent. The youngsters have no job skills anyway and little basic education. They're plight is extreme and one of the fastest growing needy populations in Africa.
The Lord has had us involved with teen-age orphans for some time. We have had a house in Monrovia, for boys for over four years, and we have supported a few girls for much of that time but not in a structured manner. It is time to take as many girls as we can into a home with strong and spiritually sound adult leadership and get these girls equipped for life.
Precious Life Home for Girls is open (Praise God!) and we need your prayers.
A Report from Kim Smith in Liberia, West Africa.
Hi,
Our teams go into villages to evangelize, strengthen the existing Church if one is present, or start a church ina churchless village.On our first visit to a village we give Bibles to every adult, we purchase Gideon pocket NKJV pocket Bibles for 3 1/2 cents apiece. Those who can read we give a pen and our first Bible lesson. To everyone, we are able, we tell about Jesus Christ and salvation. Depending on the distance and money we will visit an area of several villages 2-4 times a month, staying 1-5 days. We evangelize, train, develop leaders, form them into teams and send them to villages. Always we are well received. The entire village will gather around to greet, listen, clap and cheer. Every village we have been to, at different levels, is controlled and harassed by the village devil dancers and disciples. Regularly we are made aware of and invited to new churchless villages. Many teams are needed to be formed and sent. The prison we have been working in has formed a church in two of the blocks. Another church is forming in another block. Their worship is loud and vibrant. They are focused and working hard on the training we provide. We have sent a doctor to them. He has treated many, many more need treatment. Yesterday, a team and I walked 2 1/2 hours, one way, to a new churchless village. As usual we were well received and have been invited back. We will return next week. The following week we will go and stay a few days.
July financial report:
- $462-General feeding
- $324-Feeding and house supplies for our home. We are 7 adults and 5 children
- $100-Burial expenses of the wife of one of our committed workers
- $92-Medical supplies and service
- $299-Supplies (folders, pens, paper, gas for generator, etc)
- $143-Transportation
- $20-Radio program that we support
Donations can be made to:
Kim Smith: Liberia
Wordsower International
P. O. Box 173
Franklin, OH 45005
Thank you,
Kim
IN GHANA... Pastor Larry Jarbah, his family and team continue to minister in Buduburam and Krisan Refugee Camps. Since many people have returned to Liberia or gone on to resettle in other countries, there seems to be a sense that this ministry if winding down.
We have probably contributed to this idea that the work with refugees in Ghana is ceasing. We thought that Buduburam Camp would be empty and closed by now. Every indication from the UN, the Ghanaian Government, the Liberian Government, even the Refugees themselves was that the Camp would be empty and that no one of need would remain there. We diverted our attention to other ministries and I am deeply sorry. It has been a severe oversight on my part for the government has not closed the camp or moved the people. The Camp, though smaller (We reckon about ten thousand, down from a high of fifty-five thousand.) remains. There are people still suffering at Buduburam Camp and they're not going anywhere for a while. We have over two hundred widows stuck here, with no place to return to and no place to go, in need of basic food supplies. We have many children scrounging for food and out of school for they cannot afford even the minimal amount it costs to attend. When the choice is between food or school most, of course, chose food. The widows, many with small children at their homes, have no way to work and are reduced to picking plastic bags for a few cents a day just to stay alive.
Wordsower (there is no one else working in the Camp) needs to 'ramp up' the Widow's ministry again. We need to focus our prayers and resources on the needs of these dear women, most of whom are believers, all are widows indeed and dependent upon God. WE MUST NOT ABANDON THEM!
We need to start our Saturday Bible School and meal program again, perhaps feed children another day each week. It is incumbent upon us to raise up children who know the Lord and who are equipped for productive lives.
PAULA MWASAMAILI... Paula is in the States for the month of August and will be visiting friends and family on her first time back to The States in six years! Please pray for her and her work in Ukunda, Kenya. She now has twenty-five children in her home and continues her medical clinic ministry to the people thereabout. This sister and her work is worthy of your prayers & support.
