April 2014

Happy 5th Anniversary — Kuwaa Mission

Dear Kuwaa Mission Partners,

     Please join us in celebrating the 5^th Anniversary of the Kuwaa Mission in Liberia, West Africa.  During the past five years, you, as a partner or partner congregation in this vital ministry, helped dig wells for fresh drinking water; build a medical clinic; provided scholarships for technicians, nurses, and evangelists; trained for well and filter care; provided school supplies and Christian education to families in the villages of the Kuwaa Chiefdom.   We would like to say “thank you” by inviting you to party with us this Fall.

     5^th Anniversay packets will be available on-line for your celebration or where one close to you might be.  Included in the packets are the following:

• A DVD on the progress that has been made through our mutual efforts
• Reproducible flyers and bulletin inserts
• Liberian Recipes that you might use to host a Liberian lunch or dinner
• A Litany of Celebration & Thanksgiving suitable for use in worship
• A reproducible coloring page for use in Sunday school or children’s church
• A special anniversary “noisy offering” paint can cover

All of these resources and more will be also available on our website at www.kuwaamission.org soon.

     We suggest you pick a Sunday this Fall for your congregation’s Kuwaa 5^th Anniversary Celebration.  It could be as simple as using the Litany of Celebration & Thanksgiving during your morning worship, taking up a “noisy (loose change) offering,” and serving a “birthday” cake following the service where you would play the video of the mission progress.  Or you might choose to host a Liberian meal and invite a Kuwaa board member or missionary to speak.  A speaker may be arranged by contacting Stan Olsen, CEO at (907) 333-2614 solsen@kuwaamission.org or Rev. Carol George, Congregation Coordinator at (907)227-7501 or pastorcarol@kuwaamission.org   Please let us know when you’ll be having the party so that we can post it in the prayer letters.

Thank you for all you’ve done and continue to do for the Kuwaa people.  NOW – LET’S PARTY!

Happy Easter-He Is Risen

     We can party because what Jesus Christ accomplished in his suffering, death, and resurrection. Because he accomplished restoration and renewal for all humanity, we can celebrate new life in Christ and the5th Anniversary.   Jesus gave himself for the following purposes:

• Reveal the love of God passionately, deeply, and unconditionally
• Forgive the sins of all people throughout the ages
• Replace the curse and consequences of the Law that all people deserve with forgiveness
• Disarm and defeat Satan
• Abolish the disease that separates mankind from God that allows people to come to him   cleansed, unafraid
• Installed a 24/7 connection with God forever for us

Now we have the power, the Holy Spirit, to go out and be missionaries for Christ sharing the good news of Christ’s resurrection to all Mankind by word and deed. During this Easter Season, for those of you who can’t go consider helping send someone – you can pray for them, you can support them and the Kuwaa Mission will gladly send them!!!

 Let us also remember the people in Western Africa who are affected by the deadly outbreak of Ebola in our prayers.   Let us also praise him for being a God who cares for all people and who keeps his promises. Let us also remember to thank God for all of the prayer warriors, volunteers, field workers and financial supporters.  We the Board of Directors thank you all for being a witness for Christ.  We ask God to bless and keep you.

Celebrate and party joyfully in Jesus,

Carol George & Lolitha Shepard – Board Members

Our contact information for donations is given below.  Please contact myself or Rev. Carol George, the Congregational Coordinator, if you want a spokesperson to visit your congregation.  Her email address is: pastorcarol@kuwaamission.org   Thank you for your continued prayers and financial support.

 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

MS Word versions of this letter

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The Kuwaa Mission:  c/o Bethany Lutheran Church,  1340 8th Street,  Slidell, LA 70458

March 2014

In February 2014, I returned from my fifth trip to Liberia with the Kuwaa Mission.  What a pleasure it is to see the Kuwaa People that I have come to know and love.  Thanks to all of the Mission supporters for making these trips happen.  We are doing great things and changing lives.

We are digging 3 wells this year, in Fassama, Konjade, and at the clinic site in Kondesu.  This will bring our total to 15 wells!  Praise the Lord!  We will continue to dig wells, as each village needs at least 2 wells.  The villages are larger than you might think, with the smallest at about 350 people, and the largest at about 3000.  The villages look small, because they don’t have a lot of houses.  Many people will live in one house.  They also don’t have a lot of STUFF, like we have!  Why do we have so much stuff?  That’s a question I often ask myself.

One of the high points of my trip was a visit to the clinic in Kondesu, which is under construction.  The clinic and nurses’ quarters will soon be complete.  That will be such a blessing to the Kuwaa People, as the only other clinic in the region is over a day’s walk away from some villages.  We began planning for the clinic dedication which will take place on April 13, 2014 (Palm Sunday).  Stan Olsen, the Kuwaa Mission CEO, will be there.  The rest of us will be there in spirit, and we are certainly celebrating!

The CBS program covered 2 afternoons, with lessons about David and Goliath and about Jesus’ love for children.  The children learned and recited two Bible verses: Psalm 23:6 and John 3:16.  Nancy had supplied crayons for each child, and everyone got to color a picture of little David overcoming the giant with God’s help.  Even the adults enjoyed the coloring!  We also supplied snacks for them, and my helper from Monrovia, Korpu, popped corn for everyone.  They were amazed and delighted with that.

The whole village participated in the CBS program.  We had requested help from the women, and 16 of them volunteered.  The three evangelists (Lutheran, Catholic, and Pentecostal) helped, too.  To show the women our appreciation, Korpu and I served them tea and biscuits at the conclusion.  We read a few Bible passages and let the women know how important they are to the health and happiness of their community.  All of the helpers received certificates in their names, which is very popular in Liberia.

We also conducted our first “Community Led Total Sanitation” program in Kenata.  This is a UNICEF program designed to incite community leaders to want to clean up their towns, by showing how disgusting and unhealthy their practice of open defecation is.  Korpu facilitated the program, as it is necessary to have a native Liberian involved.  She did an excellent job, and we want to continue this program.

I was absolutely delighted to have transportation by helicopter this year, provided by Samaritan’s Purse.  They have been an integral part of our clinic construction.  We wouldn’t have been able to do it without them.  Thank you so much, Samaritan’s Purse!

My time in the bush was the highlight of the trip.   The Kuwaa People are the reason that the Kuwaa Mission exists!  I got to see many of my old friends, and I can see how their lives are improving.  I also spent some time in Monrovia carrying out some of the business of the Kuwaa Mission.  We try to make contact with government officials and other NGOs working in the area.  Life is all about relationships!

Again, I want to thank everyone for their participation with the Kuwaa Mission.  Thank you for your financial support.  Thank you, too, for your prayers – they are powerful!

I am lucky to be the messenger, to deliver the Good News, the clean water, the improved health, and particularly hope for a better tomorrow to the Kuwaa People.  I am only a messenger, and I don’t take the credit for God’s work through you.  To God be the Glory!

Blessings,

Cindy Ellis Bye

Kuwaa Mission Volunteer

March 2, 2014

Our contact information for donations is given below.  Please contact myself or Rev. Carol George, the Congregational Coordinator, if you want a spokesperson to visit your congregation.  Her email address is: pastorcarol@kuwaamission.org   Thank you for your continued prayers and financial support.

 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

MS Word version of this letter

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The Kuwaa Mission:  c/o Bethany Lutheran Church,  1340 8th Street,  Slidell, LA 70458

February 2014

January 2014

    Rev. Dr. D. Jensen Seyenkulo and Rev. Dr. Richard Thompson organized the Kuwaa Mission 5 years ago.  Since that beginning the Lord has richly blessed the Mission’s work.  The Board of Directors grew to 9 members and hundreds of people and congregations joined the ranks of faithful prayer and financial warriors from all over the country.

Just what has the Mission accomplished by God’s grace in these 5 years in mission to the Kuwaa people?

• The Mission constructed or repaired wells in 14 of the 16 villages in the Kuwaa Chiefdom and passed out hundreds of water purification filters.
• God willing the Mission will dedicate the Kondesu Medical Clinic, nurse’s housing and bath house in April.  Solar panels are being furnished as well as a toxic waste incinerator and clinic well in April.
• The Mission provides scholarships.  Ester Kowula receive a full scholarship to attend nursing school so that she can serve as the clinic’s full time nurse.  3 young men received full scholarships to attend the seminary to become ordained evangelists in the Chiefdom.
  
• The Fassama Clinic, schools, and dressers received medical supplies from the Mission each year.Workshops were held for pubic and church school teachers, also for evangelists, town pastors, Sunday School teachers, and church leaders. 
• Several workshops were held for people to be trained in the need for sanitation and drinking good water, especially for the children and workshops for learning how to care for the well equipment and water purification filters.
• The mission also provided books, equipment, materials, and religious materials as well as hygiene information.

For all this we give all glory to God as the Kuwaa Mission celebrates it’s 5^th anniversary this year.  The Mission also gives thanks to God for you, our faithful prayer and financial warriors.  None of this could be done without you.  With you the mission is possible!  Thank you on behalf of the Kuwaa people.

Your brother in Christ,

Ed Stelling, Board member

Our contact information for donations is given below.  Please contact myself or Rev. Carol George, the Congregational Coordinator, if you want a spokesperson to visit your congregation.  Her email address is: pastorcarol@kuwaamission.org   Thank you for your continued prayers and financial support.

 Donations can be given in two ways:

1.   Make out check and 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 of Prayer Letter

Word version of Prayer Letter

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The Kuwaa Mission:  c/o Bethany Lutheran Church,  1340 8th Street,  Slidell, LA 70458

December 2013

Merry Christmas!

Advent Promise

Advent, the 4 weeks preceding Christmas in the church calendar, is my favorite time of the year.  Living in Alaska, these are among the coldest, longest, darkest days of winter.  It can be a difficult time for many who suffer from a clinical psychological disorder known as SAD (Seasonal Effective Disorder) or who are dealing with loss or grief.  In the midst of this darkness the prophet Isaiah speaks a word of hope…

…that time of darkness will not go on forever.

The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.

For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.

                        Isaiah 9:1a, 2

In my congregation these past few months have been a time of exceptional loss.  I performed six funerals in three months.  Many beloved friends and family are now missing from our fellowship and their absence is felt profoundly.  Through the darkness of loneliness and grief, Isaiah’s words speak hope..

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.

The government will rest on his shoulders

And he will be called:

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

The Lord, the Messiah, is coming!  In Him is the hope of the nations… hope for peace, for justice, for health and for liberation.  And as children of God, we are ambassadors of peace, justice, health and liberation.  We are called to speak out, as Isaiah did, the Good News of hope, reconciliation, justice and peace delivered to the world as a baby in a manger in Bethlehem.

For those of us who serve as volunteers, board members, supporters and missionaries to the Kuwaa people, Advent is a time to rejoice in the living hope that one day all people will have clean drinking water, sanitary living conditions, and access to medical care along with the Good News of Jesus Christ.  It is a time to recommit ourselves to our mission, even as we wait for Jesus’ return and the fulfillment of God’s Kingdom on earth!

I believe these words, a new verse to the old hymn, O Come, O Come Immanuel, sums up our Advent hope:

O come now, living water, pour your grace,

And bring new life to ev’ry withered place;

Speak comfort to each trembling heart:

“Be strong! Fear not, for I will ne’er depart.”

 Rejoice, rejoice! Take heart and do not fear,

God’s chosen one, Immanuel, draws near.

Barbara Lundblad

Our contact information for donations is given below.  Please contact myself or Rev. Carol George, the Congregational Coordinator, if you want a spokesperson to visit your congregation.  Her email address is: pastorcarol@kuwaamission.org   Thank you for your continued prayers and financial support.

Rev. Carol George, Kuwaa Mission Board Member

 Donations can be given in two ways:

1.   Make out check and 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 of Prayer Letter

Word Version of Prayer Letter

Unsubscribe – Edit your subscription

The Kuwaa Mission:  c/o Bethany Lutheran Church,  1340 8th Street,  Slidell, LA 70458