Friday - July 9, 2010 -

On the Road to Zwedru

This is our last working day. We are all tired, but it has been a fantastic week. We have experienced more than we ever could have imagined prior to coming. The Liberian people are warm, giving and gracious and hard working, we have definitely learned from them this week and we are grateful for this opportunity.

Yesterday we completed the foundation walls and have only 4 or 5 support columns to pour concrete into today. So one more day for Tom up on the scaffolding.  We found our extra skill blades last night and John F. should have a much easier time building at least 1 if not 2 more roof trusses.  This afternoon, Penny, Shirley and Ann will leave around noon time and prepare to spend a couple of hours with the children, they will organize games, songs, and crafts. After the Pastors from all over the district are putting on a "send-off" to us. I am sure that this will be an emotional time for all. We have developed some close friendships and good-byes are always difficult.

Tomorrow we will leave hopefully by 8 AM for the "Road to Monrovia" for our 10-15 hour drive. Pray for good weather and no breakdowns.  

I am not sure if we will get to post anything again, but you never know. Like everything else in Liberia being flexible and open is the key and it is possible we could get access to internet.  If not we will make a last posting when we return and I will upload as many pictures as possible.

Thank you very much for following and we greatly appreciated reading your comments out loud to the group. They gave us much inspiration after our long and hard days of work. We love you all and knowing you were praying for us has been extremely uplifting.  God Bless you all.

John Dionne


IN HIS ADVENTURE - LIBERIA VERSION

"Preparing for Re-entry"


When the Space Shuttle is near the completion of its mission, the news programs report, "The shuttle crew is preparing for re-entry." They than go through a process and protocol to ready themselves for their return to the world they left behind in their desire to fulfill a higher mission. Our Liberia 2010 Work and Witness Team is doing just that.

This may be the last day for our blog live from Liberia. We return the USB Modem today to Emmanuel at the local business center (a Staples of sorts but not so much). But that is just the beginning of our process. As you could tell by the pictures we have posted, leaving this world will carry with it a sense of sadness and loss. Look at the faces that are on this blog. We stare at them everyday. We see their plight. We hear their stories. We receive their hugs and handshakes (with a snap of the fingers at its conclusion). And we have joined them in a common cause of empowering the people of Zwedru to reach children who are in need of education. Families that are made up of relatives orphaned and lost by war. People carrying life threatening diseases such as typhoid and malaria, that have a common cure, but those cures are out of reach for some. We will miss this world. But just like the astronauts, we looks through the lens of our window of our journey and we see our world in a distance. It is time to come home.

So, we are preparing for re-entry. Please pray for us these last few days as we begin our journey with long goodbyes and a long ride back to Monrovia. But especially pray for these dear people who have won our hearts. I began this version of In HIS Adventure with the words that described Jesus entry on our world: "In the beginning, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14) May our new friends here know the grace and truth of God, found in the life giving power of Jesus Christ. No doubt we have known it ourselves through the life and grace of our time here.

Preparing for re-entry.

HIS,
pastor geoff


TEAM MUSINGS

MET A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE, HEARD LOTS OF SAD STORIES, WILL MISS THE PEOPLE OF LIBERIA BUT I REALLY MISS MY FAMILY AND AM READY TO COME HOME.   HELLO TAYLOR, MOM, LISA AND MARY!!!  ANN D.

I HAVE SMILED, LAUGHED,CRIED AND THANK GOD FOR ALL THAT I HAVE BACK HOME AND ALL THAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM THE HUMILITY AND GENEROSITY OF THE LIBERIAN PEOPLE.  AT FIRST LOOK YOU SEE POVERTY AT IT'S WORST AND THEN YOU SEE THE THURST OF EVERY CHILD AND ADULT TO HAVE HOPE AND A BRIGHTER FUTURE.  THIS TRAINING FACILITY THAT SO MANY OF YOU HAVE SUPPORTED IS SUCH A SEED OF HOPE IN THAT DIRECTION THAT WILL HAVE A

HUGE DOMINO EFFECT LONG AFTER WE LEAVE ON SATURDAY. GOD BLESS EVERYONE FOR ALL THE SUPPORT AND PRAYERS.  CAN'T WAIT TO SHOW YOU PICTURES AND HELP YOU MEET THE WONDERFUL SOULS THAT HAVE TOUCHED ME DURING THIS MISSION TRIP.  HOPING TO COME BACK AND TO BRING MORE OF YOU WITH ME TO MAKE ONE SMALL DIFFERENCE FOR GOD'S GLORY AND PURPOSE HERE IN LIBERIA.  PENNY

GOD IS GREAT!  HE IS WORKING ALL OVER THE WORLD.  THERE IS A WONDERFUL PRISON MINISTRY GOING ON IN ZWEDRU, PEOPLE ARE BEING DISCIPLED AND ARE GROWING IN THE LORD.  IN THE MIDST OF TREMENDOUS NEED, PEOPLE ARE TRUSTING IN GOD AND WANTING TO DO HIS WILL.  I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE.  THEY HAVE MADE US FEEL AT HOME IN SUCH A DIFFERENT CULTURE.  I HAVE UNWILLINGLY MADE SOME CULTURAL MISTAKES, BUT BEEN LOVED ANYWAY.  I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU AND TELL YOU ALL ABOUT IT.  LOVE, PASTOR SHIRLEY

HAVING A GREAT TIME WORKING HARD ALONG SIDE THE ZWEDRU PEOPLE. TIM EBY HAS BEEN A JOY TO WORK WITH TOO. HE'S A GREAT MAN OF GOD, AN EXCELLENT COOK, AND DOES A WONDERFUL TARZAN IMPRESSION! THANKS FOR THE PRAYERS. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO COMING HOME! DAN

NEVER BEEN SO TIRED, DIRTY, SWEATY, OR SORE, ALSO NEVER BEEN SO BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE LIGHT OF CHRIST IN THE LIBERIAN PEOPLE.  SO GLAD THAT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.  THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AND PRAYERS.  LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL SOON.  18 HOUR RIDE TOMORROW FROM ZWEDRU BACK TO MONROVIA, THEN 26 HOURS FLYING HOME.  JOHN F.


I am not looking forward to the ride from Zwedru to Monrovia - pray for a dry day.  We have accomplished a great deal this week and will leave knowing we have left a small legacy in Liberia - the district center.  The team of pastors will continue the work and hopefully additional funds will come to help complete the construction.  The legacy of the Liberian people on the hearts and minds of our team will be the true lasting impression.
Hi Beth, Mason, and Sawyer - I miss and love you and I am on my way back to you.

Tom