2014 – Liberia, WordSower International

Hi,

I want to write you a short story of one of the churches that you and
I work with. It is through your sacrifice and theirs that we will see
a healthy church in every village of Liberia. Together, in our
unity, we can do what we each could not do alone. Some of your
donations have gone to this church family. Thank you!

The Wah family and the church that meets in their home
They live in Red Light district of Monrovia. It is probably the most
dangerous, poorest, and dirtiest ghetto of Liberia. I sleep with them
often when I come into the capital because that is where the taxi will
drop us when coming from Zwedru. Often it is late in the evening and
few taxis will enter Red Light at night.

Bestman is the father of the house. Bestman has been employed by the
government in the Ministry of Finance for 22 years. He would easily
steal from the government but refuses. One of his co-workers just
stole $35 million from them, and another $500,000. They escaped the
country, no penalty… well maybe they will receive no penalty on earth.
He refuses to steal and because of poor irregular pay he is in
poverty.
There are 15 in their house, most sleep on mats on the floor. The
outside toilet is terrible! Cockroaches the size of your big toe coat
the walls. We bathe with a bucket of water out in the open behind the
house at night. 20 feet from our bathing area is a trail used by the
community.

Once again I arrived late and was dropped in Red Light, and again they
invited me to stay with them. Bestman and I slept on their bed, his
wife, Betty, slept on a mat on the floor. Throughout the night I
killed many bugs that were crawling on me. Bestman, next to me, was
burning with fever from malaria. The mosquitos fed on all three of us
freely; the only way malaria is transmitted is through mosquitos.
Mice were not absent from the mix.

Betty gets up before daylight every morning to go cook and sell fried
bread in the near-by market. She never stops working!

The church in their home is so beautifully anointed. You can see and
feel their great love for our Lord and each other. Attendance ranges
from 20-60. They feed many of the church from their small income.
They remind me of these verses, “And now, brothers, we want you to
know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out
of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme
poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as
much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on
their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing
in this service to the saints.” 2 Cor 8:1-4. On their wall is a
picture of Christ crucified and below it the verse, “Greater love hath
no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.” They
have laid down their lives for their friends!

Wordsower Liberia has given them much training. Several of their
leaders have come to Zwedru to attend our 2 week classes. We have
also provided them with Bibles, training material for them to do
outreach and occasionally provide money to assist their church
planting team and evangelistic teams that they send out regularly.

Their passion and heart is for the lost, for the towns, villages and
communities without churches. (According to the Joshua Project there
are three unreached people groups in Liberia; the Val, Dan and Gola
tribes.) Their church sends out teams into the Dan and Gola. They
remind me of the house church in Antioch, “In the church at Antioch…
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,
“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have
called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their
hands on them and sent them off.” Acts 13:1-3. This small church at
Red Light fasts, prays, lays hands on and sends out teams into the two
neighboring counties to evangelize, disciple, and raise up leaders to
start churches. The names of their Barnabas and Saul are Jonathan and
Elijah.

They have the heart of Christ who said, “Let us go somewhere else—to
the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have
come.” So he traveled throughout Galilee preaching.” Mark 1:38-39.
Their love and sacrifice for the mission of Christ, that none shall
perish, inspires me. It is an honor, joy and privilege to be accepted
into their home.

Thank you,

kim