Category Archives: Prayer Letters

June 2017 Prayer Letter

June 2017 Prayer Letter

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June 2017

FACE-TO-FACE

Once again, the time has come for the Kuwaa mission board members to assemble for their face to face meeting. This year’s meeting took place in the Beautiful State of Alaska in the city of Anchorage. We met at St Mark Lutheran Church. Much business was discussed to include our bylaws and operational procedures. There was also much discussion about the future of the Mission, along with the discussion of new and existing projects. There was also discussion about the new members coming in and members whose time has come to an end. We are looking forward to new Kuwaa Mission board members being announced soon. There can’t be enough said about all the past and present board members who have given their undivided time, talent, and commitment to the Kuwaa Mission. To say thank you is not enough, but we say thank you anyway and God bless each one from the C.E.O to the volunteers and pray partners, and supporting church congregations. Thanks for all you do on behalf of the Kuwaa Mission.

 New and upcoming projects YOU might be interested in:

Big Belly project (important prenatal care in the bush)

Operation Christmas Child (Samaritans purse)

Day’s for Girls (Female hygiene kits)

Committee assignments (voluntaries)

We are excited and look forward to working with you please come and join us.

Hope everyone had a safe and wonderful 4th of July

OUR NEXT NEWS LETTER WILL BE SEPT 2017

Have a Happy and Fun Summer.

Please pray for Dick & Doris as they are trying to sale their home.

Please pray for Ed & Diane Stalling & Pastor Carol George for a speedy recovery.

 Your contributions to The Kuwaa Mission are tax-deductible.  We are a 501c3 non-profit organization.  Our Tax ID number is 27-5458111

Donations can be given in two ways:

1.   Make out check to: The Kuwaa Mission  (send to Bethany Lutheran Church (see below))

2.   Go to the Kuwaa Mission Website at www.kuwaamission.org:  use PayPal to make a one time or automatic monthly donation

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The Kuwaa Mission:  c/o Bethany Lutheran Church,  1340 8th Street,  Slidell, LA 70458 www.bethanyslidell.org
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May 2017

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May 2017

The evening of March 29 I left for another trip to Liberia, after a two year absence, with several objectives, as usual.  Arriving in Monrovia on the afternoon of March 31st I was greeted by a friend of mine from when I was first in Liberia in 1997.  It is always good to see a familiar face when one walks out of the Liberia airport into a crowd of people.  Other friends greeted me upon my arrival at the Lutheran Church in Liberia’s Guesthouse, so there was no shortage of talking taking place.

My first goal was to meet with the County Health Officer, Dr. Tucker, and review the needs / wants of the Kondesu Clinic.  They have many items on their wish list and some I believe we can help with but many will just have to remain the responsibility of the Ministry of Health: a steady stream of medicines, staffing needs, funding for other county health services and additional building requests.  He is a very well spoken man who I believe is really working to deliver the best health care possible to this remote clinic.  The clinic does see many patients, many who cover many miles on foot, to receive care.  Most of these people come from the local service area but there are many who come from 2-3 days away simply because this is still the closest clinic to their village!

On April 4 I flew into Fassama with our well contractor and our bridge contractor as well as my guide, Murphy, for the next 10 days.  While the trails are obvious there are no signs when one comes to a junction, I don’t speak the local language nor do I have the contacts in the villages to arrange lodging and food.  Murphy is wonderful travelling companion and easily and competently looks after my needs.

We received a grant this year from Water Hope that has enabled us to install 3 new wells in Fassama in addition to the three we planned in Kalata, Sasasu and Kpaulazu.  While in Kalata I discovered that there was on old well, from before the Kuwaa Mission was organized, that wasn’t working.  Since we had the funds I decided that we would install a second well in Kalata this year.  Thus, Kalata went from having no working well to two working wells within two months!!

It was good to see many of the villages working to build a church with mud blocks for their own use without hoping that the Kuwaa Mission would build it for them.  It remains our primary focus to provide safe water, sanitation, and Christian education.  However with the people demonstrating their willingness to work towards a church on their own, and with their request for “assistance” we are hoping to be able to provide roofing materials.  They have the capability to do the work but the roofing materials need to be bought in Monrovia and shipped upcountry.  Their willingness to take the initiative on these projects is a very welcome sign that they are starting to work towards their own development efforts.

I visited our clinic in Kondesu, just by chance on April 13, to discover that it had been dedicated exactly 3 years ago to the date.  It was in excellent shape, our solar system was still providing lighting and power for the refrigerators to keep the medicines stored as required.  They have needs for more storage space, shelving space for supplies, a canopy over the entrance for sun and rain cover.  We are hoping to be able to provide these needs next year.

In Fassama I met with the District Commissioner, Jeremiah Flomo, to review our work plans and talk about their needs.  The people had already done a lot of work on the main road into town from Monrovia and expended quite a sizeable amount of money for being in such a remote location.  I was unable to reimburse them for their expenses but encouraged them to continue the work.  I promised to take their request back to our board for discussion to see if we can help them with funding next year.  They need help with fuel for the chain saw, small tools and food for the workers.

Jeremiah Flomo explained the need for the local clinic to have housing for expectant mothers and informed me of a group in Monrovia called Traditional Women United for Peace (TWUP).  Upon my return to Monrovia, I arranged to meet with TWUP and had a very rewarding experience.  This group was founded by an elderly lady from upcountry who realized that the women’s society needed to change and that they needed health care.  Therefore she started the “Big Belly Program” to teach expectant mothers (often young girls) how their body changes during pregnancy (not to mention how they became pregnant in the first case) and how to take care of their body, provide for their nutritional needs as well as their babies.  With assistance from the Carter Center they have been able to bring their program to 7 of the 15 counties in Liberia.  We hope to be able to provide TWUP with travel expenses to allow them to bring their program to the Kuwaa people.

 It was a wonderful trip with many positive outcomes on all fronts.  It is so very rewarding to see our efforts paying off and making a difference in the lives of the Kuwaa people.  There are many ways for individuals and congregations to help us with our work:

• Volunteer here in the states

• Volunteer in Liberia

• Undertake a specific fund raising project such as a well,  assistance with road rehabilitation costs, various improvements to the clinic, church roofing, evangelist education, sponsoring a sanitation workshop, sponsoring a Children’s Bible School program and many others.

Please contact I, or Karen Voris, our congregational coordinator and we will be happy to work with you.

 Thank you all again for your prayers and financial support over the past 10 years.  With you and God’s help all is indeed possible.

Stan Olsen

CEO, Kuwaa Mission

 Your contributions to The Kuwaa Mission are tax-deductible.  We are a 501c3 non-profit organization.  Our Tax ID number is 27-5458111

Donations can be given in two ways:

1.   Make out check to: The Kuwaa Mission  (send to Bethany Lutheran Church (see below))

2.   Go to the Kuwaa Mission Website at www.kuwaamission.org:  use PayPal to make a one time or automatic monthly donation

PDF Version

MS Word Version

Unsubscribe – Edit your subscription

The Kuwaa Mission:  c/o Bethany Lutheran Church,  1340 8th Street,  Slidell, LA 70458 www.bethanyslidell.org
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April 2017 Prayer Letter

 

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April 2017

Tara Orley, a nurse from Anchorage, and I recently returned from a trip to Liberia.  It was a fruitful trip, and I was happy to have a buddy along.  We covered a lot of territory, mostly on foot.  We visited 9 of the 16 Kuwaa villages over a period of about 2 weeks.  There will be info on the website and facebook, with lots of photos.  I can’t cover it all here.

We did another Children’s Bible School this year, since it has been so popular in the past.  There were 158 children in attendance for 2 afternoons as lessons were taught about David and Goliath and about Jesus’ love for children.  They memorized Bible verses, sang songs, had snacks, and received school supplies.  The popcorn snack and crayons were a new experience for most of them; they had never seen them before.  We also brought pencils and the essential sharpeners, so that they will quit using razor blades to sharpen pencils.

Tara did workshops at the Fassama and Kondesu Clinics, and several general sanitation workshops.  She brought much needed supplies to the clinics.  We are so thankful to Providence Hospital of Anchorage for the donations!  The Kuwaa people are overjoyed about the new clinic at Kondesu.  They are fully staffed and helping 30 to 40 patients per week.  Although the Liberia Ministry of Health has taken over general operation of the clinic, the Kuwaa Mission helps with additional supplies and transportation.  We really appreciate the sacrifice that the nurse, head midwife, and other clinic staff are making to serve in such a remote area.  Many of their families live elsewhere.

New water wells are being dug, and one was completed in Kalata while we were there.  Kalata is a village of more than 1000 people, and they previously only had one well to serve everyone.  Of course, that is not enough, so they are now blessed to have 2 wells.  The water from these wells is clean enough to drink.  The people are also trained in how to maintain the wells and pumps at a hands-on workshop.

In Monrovia, we were invited to a lunch that Bishop Jensen and the church leaders gave for several volunteers from various organizations around the world.  They expressed their thanks to us for coming, and we talked about the various projects we were doing.  The Bishop said that we don’t really have to do much more than show up.  We don’t have to work hard.  Just the fact that we are willing to travel the long distance and live in the uncomfortable conditions that are a daily reality for Liberians, shows that we love them.  We suffer from the heat and lack of electricity, and deal with the many frustrations and challenges that are all too common to Liberians.  The Liberian people know that we come because we love them.  We are all God’s children, and our presence is an indication of the love we have for them.

The Liberian people also return that love to us in many ways.  They are so welcoming.  When Tara and I arrived, people came from across town to welcome us.  One good friend brought gifts of watermelon, cucumbers, oranges, a papaya, and pineapple.  That’s a special treat when you come from the cold winter weather of Alaska and Montana.  They all made sure we were fed and well cared for, with things like water for the bath, rice and soup, and a place to sleep.  They do all that they can to keep us healthy and safe.

I am thankful that I was able to make another trip to the welcoming and loving Kuwaa People.  Our projects are going well, and the Mission is doing great things, thanks to all of you for your prayers and financial support.  I also want to thank all of you for your prayers for those of us that travel to Liberia.  They mean a lot to us.

Please join me in prayer:

Loving and gracious God,

We thank you for the rich and welcoming spirit of the Liberian people.  We know that you are with them through the trials of their daily lives.  Keep them close to our hearts, oh Lord, and help us to learn from their deep and sustaining faith.  We ask for safety and good health for the workers digging wells and doing the other projects of the Kuwaa Mission.  We ask for peace in the country, as they have national elections this year.  Guide and protect us all, and help us remember that we are all brothers and sisters in You.                        

Amen.

Cindy Bye

 Your contributions to The Kuwaa Mission are tax-deductible.  We are a 501c3 non-profit organization.  Our Tax ID number is 27-5458111

Donations can be given in two ways:

1.   Make out check to: The Kuwaa Mission  (send to Bethany Lutheran Church (see below))

2.   Go to the Kuwaa Mission Website at www.kuwaamission.org:  use PayPal to make a one time or automatic monthly donation

PDF Versions

MS Word Versions

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The Kuwaa Mission:  c/o Bethany Lutheran Church,  1340 8th Street,  Slidell, LA 70458 www.bethanyslidell.org
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In Memory of Chris Kowula

Chris Kowula – Bringing God’s Word to His People

I met Chris in 1975 at the Vacation Institute for Training in Applied Linguistics held at the University of Liberia by The Institute for Liberian Languages. God pricked his heart about Linguistics. He fell in love with it and wanted to bring God’s Word to his people. In 1976 he began working with the Kuwaa Translation Team. He was a quick study and by 1980 the first draft of the Kuwaa Bible translation was completed.

From 1980 on for some time, Chris was persecuted for his faith and thrown in jail. During that time he taught Bible studies to his fellow inmates. When he was freed he began studying for the ministry. He didn’t want to become a pastor, he wanted the knowledge to help him finish the editing of the Kuwaa Bible with Rev. Dale Federwitz. He had a rough life during the 14 year Civil War, being in and out of prison because he stood up for his faith.

In 2007 The Kuwaa Mission was established by Rev. Dr. Jensen Seyenkulo and Rev. Dr. Richard Thompson. It was a mission to help the Kuwaao get back on their feet after the rebel forces destroyed the Kuwaa Chiefdom. In 2008 Jenson and I asked Chris to work with the Mission. He served as Field Director for two years. Shortly thereafter he met 3 of the Kuwaa Mission’s volunteers – Stan Olsen who now leads the Mission, Cindy Bye and her daughter, Becky.

Shortly thereafter he became Translation and Literacy Director for the Lutheran Church in Liberia. He was back working with his first love, Translation and Literacy, until he went to gather leaves with Jesus where he will suffer no more.

He and his faithful and loving wife, Jàngá were married in the 70s.  She stayed by his side through the years of turmoil. One of their children, Ester, studied to become a licensed mid-wife. She is now serving in a Kuwaa Mission built hospital a Kuwaa town, Kondesu.

Chris also served the Christians in the Kuwaa Chiefdom as a part time pastor. Whenever he was upcountry he would hold worship services and distribute Holy Communion.

Thanks be to God for the wonderful gift he gave to us. Chris was truly a great blessing to the Kuwaa Translation Mission and the Kuwaa Lutheran Mission. He was a tremendous blessing to his family, and a wonderful blessing to me.

We’ve come this far by faith, leaning on the lord; trusting in his holy word, he has never failed us. Oh, we can’t turn back, we’ve come this far by faith. We’ve come this far by faith. Just remember the good things god has done, things that seemed impossible; oh, praise him for the victory he has won. (“We’ve Come this Far by Faith” by Albert A. Goodson, 1965)

Please join us in prayer for Chris’ family and for his brothers and sisters in the LCL.

In Christ’s love, your brother & Co-Founder of the Kuwaa Mission,

Rev. Dr. Richard Thompson

 Your contributions to The Kuwaa Mission are tax-deductible.  We are a 501c3 non-profit organization.  Our Tax ID number is 27-5458111

Donations can be given in two ways:

1.   Make out check to: The Kuwaa Mission  (send to Bethany Lutheran Church (see below))

2.   Go to the Kuwaa Mission Website at www.kuwaamission.org:  use PayPal to make a one time or automatic monthly donation

PDF Versions

MS Word Versions

Unsubscribe – Edit your subscription

The Kuwaa Mission:  c/o Bethany Lutheran Church,  1340 8th Street,  Slidell, LA 70458 www.bethanyslidell.org
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Villagers Appreciation

The Kuwaa Mission received this letter, relayed via email, from the Kuwaa Villagers expressing their appreciation for our work for their people.  It is sent as received without the corrections that we would normally use.  As you can see, our work is possible only with your financial and prayer support.  It is making a very positive difference in their lives.  I thank you for your continued support.

Stan Olsen, CEO

 

Dear Mr. Olsen

your message  to the citizen of Gbarpolu Belle District#3 was received with great respect and honor.

The citizens have agreed in words to continue to work along with us in rehabilitating their bridges, constrcting their wells, attending sanitation and Nursing workshop that will be coming soon. They have received written and radio message. Murphe Zado; one of our mission brother just returned with the message response from the people yesterday.

I believe we will all work together. I am also suggesting that we put up a billboard at the junction to Kondesu in Fassa for the 32 bridges rehabilitation and Clinic project in Kondesu. If the mission will agree with this idea, please write back and give me the wordings that will be carried on this billboard. I will send you information about the cost and transportation.

Please be aware that (politicians) will want to interfere with our work as we have experienced from the past. The Kondesu Clinic is making impact on the lives of citizens coming from far and near to be specific Lofa County. According to information gathered from Murphe, people are also leaving from Fassama to Kondesu for treatment.

Now I see that your ideas and humanitarian works are helping hundreds of families in a thousand. As I witness, see and hear this news, I feel very great and proud to always be a part of such a great Humanitarian family mission.

I feel blessed a lot, Stan.

thanks in advance