February
3, 2014
So many amazing things continue to happen here and I am continually blessed and empowered by God's Spirit and guiding presence and uplifted by beautiful, godly people.
I had a wonderful visit with the League of Mercy (Community
Care) Secretary for the Liberia Command.
She has a heart longing to reach out to hurting and neglected people and
those who just need a kind word of encouragement and prayer support. She mentioned so many areas of need and
concern and longs to find ways for the Army to minister through the Community
Care outreach program. We talked about
the prisons in Liberia and how the LOM would go weekly to bring rice to feed
the prisoners. In Liberia, prisoners are
not fed on a regular basis. Some places
they do not even have water available to bathe or wash their clothes. Ministry to prisoners – same, but different.
She mentioned so many young girls on the streets at night
and how she longs to be able to get to know them and offer them a way out of
the life they are living. They need
Christ. They need God’s love. They need a safe place to stay. They need a chance to break free from the
bondage of sin and become what God intended them to be. I think of safe houses, shelters, and the
many programs available through The Salvation Army and connecting with other
community resources in the States. Here,
there they are still trying to figure out a safe and helpful way to get to these girls. So we brainstorm. What is a vehicle could be made available to
drive to and in these areas? What if
they could be offered a sandwich or biscuits as they are told about the love of
Go? What if a nearby corps could offer a
time of fellowship and a place to talk once a week? Ministry to girls on the street – same but
different.
There are the elderly, the homes for the mentally disturbed
and hospitals to be visited. They all
need to be reminded of God’s love and presence.
And they need rice, towels and wash cloths, soap and other toiletries
and blankets. Same but different.
In our conversation I asked her, if there was one area where
she would start, where would that be?
Her response: the mental
home. So we prayed. We prayed that God would guide hearts and
hands so that organizations and institutions might come together in ways never
considered before. In the USA, we so
often have companies donate from their storehouse of supplies; airlines give us
blankets, hotels give us toiletries, towels and washcloths, restaurants,
supermarkets and bakeries donate food. I
wonder if that could begin to happen here.
Same but different.
"For God so
loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in
his name, he gave the right to become children of God—“ John 1:12
Now, that’s the same
everywhere and for everyone. No
difference.
Prayer focus: Community Care (League of Mercy) ministry in
Liberia – that God would provide supplies to carry to those in need and give
those who are members of the Community Care program the courage to visit and share
the Gospel and love of God. Even if
their hands are empty, their hearts still beat strong for God. Perhaps that is the first step. And as the first step is taken, let’s see
what God provides. Hallelujah!
Command Band
The band is doing so
well. Their playing and performance
improves weekly and they add so much to worship. Julius Fayiah is bring the band along
well. And the beginner group is
amazing. Under the leadership of David
Oloruntoba and Julius, they are learning well and have been diligent in
practicing.
Vocational and Professional Training Center
Students and staff have been cleaning classrooms and preparing for final exams and the semester draws to a close. Thank God for those who have been part of getting the Training Center started five or six years ago and for the progress they continue to make in excellence in education. The financial needs for investors and supporters and special projects is an area where they all continue to pray for the right connections from within Liberia and around the world to sustain this great work.
investors/institutions for ongoing sustenance of much-needed trainin
Supplies needed for various departments in order to properly teach and train students
Maj Pamm
