Christmas, New Years, Command Band and recent Corps visits

Some events of the last couple of weeks:

December 20th - CHQ Christmas celebration
We were able to give the children gifts that were sent on the container from the US and all the girls received a new dress make by friends from Canada.

December 25th - Worship at Sinkor Corps
Sinkor was the first Corps established in the country of Liberia 25 years ago.  It is a small corps in a community so in need of our presence.  I am so grateful that the Army has kept this corps in place and not moved it to any other location.

December 28th -
Breakfast with +Christine Norman,  +Momo Douwee and two friends from America
I finally got to meet Christine!  She has two friends from the US who come each year to do 10 days of retreat/training with orphan girls.  We had a delightful meal and fellowship.

Frederick and Dorty's wedding
Frederick is one of young men who played in the band and has been part of the Army since its early days.  They are a beautiful Christian couple and I know God will bless their lives in the days and years ahead and so many others will be blessed by their influence in family, church and the country of Liberia.

December 29th - Visit to Kakata Corps and visit with Willemina Walker
Captains +Edwin and Beatrice Kpadebah are the Corps Officers here and so involved in corps ministry and community outreach.  They are full of the joy of the Lord!  I am so blessed at seeing the way they care for all that care for all that God has entrusted to them - family, community, property, finances, etc.  Thank you Edwin and Beatrice and may God continue to bless your ministry as you honor Him in all things.

I also had an opportunity to visit with Willemina Walker and her son, Prosper.  Johnathan and Willemina were cadets when I was training principal.  They are not in the Army at the present time, but Willemina's heart is still warmed with the presence of God.  They have 5 growing children.  I pray that God will continue to speak into their lives and guide them in the decisions they make in the days ahead.

December 30th - Farewell Celebration for +Jones Appau
Jones is a teenager from Ghana.  His father is the Training Principal in Liberia and his mother the Home Officer.  He has been in Liberia for one year, but the parents felt it best to send him back to Ghana to go to school so he isn't behind in his schooling when their term is up in Liberia.  The school system is Ghana is much more like it is in the USA where high schoolers can choose their course of study. In Liberia, high schoolers all take all of the same courses.
Jones only recently began playing cornet and learning to read music, but has advanced very quickly.  He practices a lot and has set such a good example and standard for the other members of the band.  We will miss his gentle spirit and presence in the band.

December 31st -
day at the farm in Bentol
Momo and I went to Bentol with Christine and friends.  We visited the farm, saw so much of what is happening there, had a great meeting and sharing of vision among staff and friends, and enjoyed lunch with everyone (rice, pineapple and sweet bread).  All I can say is "WOW".  What God has in store for the people of this country!!  We also went to Christine's new mayoral office where the check book (empty as it is) was passed over to her.  We all joined hands in prayer for Christine and this new undertaking.

Watchnight Service at Sinkor Corps with the Command Band
This was an interesting evening.  When it was time to go to Sinkor with the band, there was no driver to carry the boys and their instruments, so I was given a key to the red pick up truck, which wouldn't start.  Then I got the key to the medical jeep and that worked!  When we got to the corps the place was dark because the generator wouldn't work.  The CO had to quickly rent a generator and eventually we had lights (though very dim).  At the end of the service, the ladies of the corps served tea and bread with peanut butter to everyone. Their gracious serving was such a special way to end 2013 and start 2014.

January 2nd - Josh, theolumber came and worked on water and broken pipe issues at the apartment and install a pressure pump so the water will pump through the pipes into the house.  The pump cost $185 and I still need to get an automatic shut off switch for the pump which will be $130.  :)

January 3rd -
George, the electrician worked on outlets and wiring issues at apartment  (This is all costing me!)
Spent the day with Christine Norman - Bentol farm and visiting villages.  We also had a good visit with Dennis, a pastor who is planting churches in some of the villages we visited.  Christine brought little gifts to share with the children in one of the villages

January 5th - Visit to Menigay Corps with Capt. Samson Kanmoe to see Cadet Josephine and worship with the corps family.  We met people full of joy and give good attention and care to all that God has entrusted them with in this community.

John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

Thanks so much for your continued prayers and support.
Pamm

Clearing the Land

Clearing the Land

One day last week as I was on my morning walk, I noticed new shoots growing from the stump of a cut down palm tree.  Several palm trees have been cut down along several streets in Monrovia so that tall electrical poles can take their place.  I wonder if the poles will be in place before the small shoot takes over the “cleared ground.”

A couple of days this past week, I also visited Bentol area with their new Mayor, Christine Norman and several of her supporters and workers.   As Christine showed me around the farm, she talked often about how beautiful everything was before the war.  And she spoke about hiring someone to recently a large portion of the land.  Her eyes sparkled as she explained how pleased she was.   Then she went away for a few short weeks and when she returned, it looked as though the land had never been cleared.   All the weeds and trees had once again overtaken the land.  Oh, the frustration! 

I also saw several building on this land.  Fortunately, the buildings were not destroyed during the war.  But after the war, anything that could be pulled off the buildings were looted and carried away.  With roofs, doors, and windows gone, it wasn’t long before there were trees and all kinds of things growing in the buildings. 

It’s going to take a lot of time and hard to work clear land that has been neglected – even for a short time. Once the land is cleared, crops need to be planted right away and tended to on a regular basis, or it won’t be long before unwanted growth overtakes the land.  Do you ever wonder why it takes so much diligence and discipline for that which is good and hopeful and promising?  And yet, if I sit down and do nothing, life will be overgrown with weeds of discontent, wrongful desires, defeating attitudes and so on.

There’s so much to consider even in making one of those buildings ready to be occupied once again.  If all the trees and growth are cleared from within the walls of a once occupied building and it’s left alone for even a short time, all that effort will be for nothing.  Unwanted growth will spring to life again.  Without a roof and windows and doors, the weeds will begin to grow.   Without regular upkeep and attention to detail, the change will not last.

This is also true for the life of the Christian.  I think of how glorious it is to have the heart and life cleared of sin and guilt.  Can we commit to keeping ourselves covered with the Holy Spirit,  (Ephesians 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.), allow God’s Word to take root in our hearts and commit to regular fellowship with the community of faith? (2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.)

We live busy lives and far too often, without realizing it, attitudes, thoughts, actions and desires begin to take root where the ‘land’ was cleared.    (Hebrews 12:15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.) We have a wonderful opportunity for personal spiritual growth and  help each other keep our heart and life growing with that which pleases God and honors His kingdom. 

When I start to get careless, come along side me.  If you see unhealthy weeds starting to grow, walk with me and help me keep the ‘land’ cleared of the ‘weeds’ and planted in godly growth.  And I’ll do the same for you.  Together, we can clear vast spaces filled with unwanted growth – not just in our lives – but in the world around us.  The fellowship of believers will get larger and larger and God’s presence will take root in ways we can’t begin to imagine.    God is doing a new thing!  New growth is springing to life in and through all of us as we live and walk in the Spirit.

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Blessings to all
Pamm