As 2019 draws to a close and I sit here on Thanksgiving Day and I realize how much I, and we as the Kuwaa Mission, have to be thankful for:

• The Kuwaa Mission is ALIVE and WELL!!!
• We have wonderful individual and church partners across the United States
• We have a strong prayer support group
• We have a strong financial support base
• That we have accomplished so very much over the past 10 years (see the August 2019 Prayer Letter for detailed information)
• That we have a strong viable partnership with the Lutheran Church in Liberia
• That we have a solid financial base (although we can always use additional funds to meet our programming needs!!)
• That we have two strong, capable and trustworthy contractors in Liberia who do our Well construction, Children’s Bible School, Sanitation and Days for Girls programs
• That we have a very committed and dedicated board of directors whose time is totally volunteered and received no monetary compensation
• That we have developed a strong working relationship with Samaritan’s Purse field staff in Liberia
• That we have a positive relationship with people of many faiths in the Kuwaa area
• That we have a good business relationship with many of the commercial businesses in Monrovia from building supply firms to pharmacies to various small transportation entities
• That we have a good relationship with the Ministry of Health in Liberia
• That we have established a relationship of trust and mutual expectations with the Kuwaa People in Liberia

As with all volunteer organizations, indeed all organizations, we are currently looking at our past accomplishments and our future hopes and dreams and the best way to meet those ideals, all based on the expressed wishes and needs of the Kuwaa People.  Our relationship with the Lutheran Church of Liberia helps us focus on the best way for us to meet those needs in a culturally sensitive and acceptable method.  As your year draws to a close please take time to examine what you are thankful for and how God has blessed your life.  Yes, we all have experiences and trials that we undoubtedly wished had turned out differently, but we have been so very blessed as individuals, churches, and citizens.

Thank you for your support and I pray that you will continue your prayer and financial support in the months and years to follow.

Stan Olsen,

CEO

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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:  A Check to the mission address or PayPal on our Website: 

Kuwaa Mission, PO Box 90513, Anchorage, AK 99509

www.kuwaamission.org                          Facebook: Kuwaa-Mission

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Oh, give thanks unto the Lord because he is good, and his love endures forever (Psalm 107:1) When things aren’t going right, or when they aren’t going in the direction, we feel they should be going, we wonder what’s the matter with God. After all, he promises to take care of us, but he doesn’t tell us how he will do it. He also promises all of those who believe in him that he will love us. He adds that his love will grow and continue to grow. Ah, but there is a catch to this. We have to remain faithful to him even when things don’t appear to be going in the right direction. So, what’s the answer to our problem? We are to pray to him asking him to clear up any doubts might have, and then praise him for he is Lord who knows what he is doing. We are to trust the Lord! And we are to trust him that he knows what he is doing. When we look at what he is doing with a new perspective, we will see what he is doing is good and right.  There is something else we need to explore when we question where God is and what he’s doing – me, myself, and I. I am just as guilty as the next person. For instance, I have questioned why the Kuwaa Mission is about ready to stop operation. But then God shows me that he’s still at work helping the Mission to evangelize the Kuwaa people and to help them rebuild their infrastructures. However, in order to do this, we need manpower over here and over there. ½ of the problem is solved. Four people whom we have given scholarships to, have now graduated and are ready to go to work beside Pastor Paye. They are Joedoe Boy Wanley, Edward Payne, Jr., David Garwolo, and Youngor Wanley.                 Oh, give thanks to God because He is paving the way to evangelize the Kuwaa people. God will use Pastor Payer and these. Four Ordained Evangelists mightily. Now we need to step forward and become mighty for the Lord. The Mission is in desperate need of Board members and individuals who would be willing to go Liberia to help supervise the workers doing infrastructure upgrading, to help in VBS, and help teachers in teaching Biblical truths. If you would be willing to serve in either capacity, please let Pastor Carol George know of your interest. Thanksgiving is almost here! Therefore, let us thank the Lord because he is good and his love endures forever. We are thankful for the individuals who served on the Board and especially for Stan Olsen (Project Supervisor, plus lots) and Todd Thompson (Website and Prayer letter distribution) May God help us continue with our mission work.  May he raise up more workers to extend his kingdom. May he hear our mighty thanksgivings. Amen

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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:  A Check to the mission address or PayPal on our Website: 

Kuwaa Mission, PO Box 90513, Anchorage, AK 99509

www.kuwaamission.org                          Facebook: Kuwaa-Mission

Shop like you normally do on Amazon but make a small contribution to the Kuwaa Mission with every purchase.  Please consider adding the Kuwaa Mission. 

A woman came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” The woman said to him, “How is it that you ask for a drink from me?” Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”  The woman said to him, “Where do you get that living water?” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I will not be thirsty.” John 4:7-15 This is a familiar Bible story from the New Testament. The woman was thinking about earthly water:  providing health and well-being to the earthly body.  Jesus, however, had spiritual water in mind: God’s Word, providing spiritual health and eternal life in Heaven. As I was studying this story in preparation for teaching my Sunday morning adult Bible class, I was thinking about our Kuwaa Mission and the work we have done together with you, our supporters, in Liberia, West Africa. Through the Kuwaa Mission these past 10 years we have:

• Constructed 33 new freshwater wells in the 16 villages of the Kuwaa Chiefdom and rebuilt over 20 others.
• Distributed over 150 water filters to individuals, churches, schools and medical clinics.

Most importantly, we have:

• Conducted teacher training workshops for Lutheran evangelists and Lutheran school/Sunday school teachers
• Provided scholarships for students becoming evangelists and deacons in their local Lutheran churches
• Conducted vacation Bible schools averaging 150 students attending
• Helped to rebuild Lutheran churches and schools destroyed in the recent civil wars.

            Water for the body and soul. Physical water and Spiritual water. Earthly water and Heavenly water. Taste and see what the Kuwaa Mission has done for our Kuwaa brothers and sisters in Christ through your prayers and financial support. Thank you on their behalf and God bless you all.

Ed Stelling, KM advisory board member

 

 

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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:  A Check to the mission address or PayPal on our Website: 

Kuwaa Mission, PO Box 90513, Anchorage, AK 99509

www.kuwaamission.org                          Facebook: Kuwaa-Mission

Shop like you normally do on Amazon but make a small contribution to the Kuwaa Mission with every purchase.  Please consider adding the Kuwaa Mission. 

  The Kuwaa Mission exists to holistically help the Kuwaa people reclaim their hope, dignity, and destiny as God’s redeemed people by helping them to rebuild their lives, homes and communities (Kuwaa Mission Vision Statement). Days for Girls International works to increase access to menstrual care and education to shatter stigmas and limitations for women and girls providing dignity, health and opportunity for all.

In the past 10 years Kuwaa Mission has worked with the people of Kuwaa Chiefdom to improve infrastructure for water, sanitary facilities, schools, churches and medical clinics. Kuwaa Mission has also worked to provide prenatal and reproductive health education. One of the programs has been the distribution of sustainable feminine hygiene kits and health education to the girls of Kuwaa Chiefdom. To date, Kuwaa Mission has distributed over 300 kits to the villages. In addition, there are another 400 kits in Monrovia waiting to be distributed during the next dry season by our health worker Korpu Barsay. With the distribution of each kit, the girls are taught their worth, how their bodies function, and how the human race continues because of them. Girls replace confusion and shame with knowledge and dignity. With a reliable method to deal with menstruation girls are able to stay active in school and in their community.

Each kit is made and assembled with care. Special attention is paid to quality and detail so that each kit will last a girl for up to 3 years. It is a reminder to the girl who receives it that she is loved, that she is worthy of dignity, education and opportunity. Each kit contains: 2 pairs of panties, 2 washable panty shields with pockets, 8 washable flannel liners, a washcloth, a bar of soap, 2 Ziplocs for soaking and washing the items, all in a cotton drawstring bag. Days for Girls International (www.daysforgirls.org) has developed and field tested the kits and the educational programs. In the past 10 years, over 1.5 million kits have been distributed to girls in over 100 different countries by DFGI. Kuwaa Mission is pleased to be partnering with this organization.

Several sewing groups have participated in sewing and assembling the kits: Lord of Life Lutheran Church (North Pole, AK), Cross of Christ Lutheran Church WELCA (Welch, MN), Sun City Summerlin Quilt Club (Las Vegas, NV), Terri’s Friends (Reno, NV), Christ our Savior Lutheran Church (Anchorage, AK),  and Faith Lutheran Church (Shreveport, LA). Additional sewing groups are always welcome to register as a team and participate. Kuwaa Chiefdom is in a very remote area of Liberia and is not on the road system. The logistics of transporting supplies and materials to this region are very expensive and complicated and can only be accomplished during the dry season. Donations are needed to support ALL the programs of Kuwaa Mission. Please pray for Kuwaa Mission as we work together with God’s children in the Kuwaa Chiefdom. They are loved, they are worthy of hope, dignity, education and opportunity.

With gratitude,

Sue Zager Days for Girls – Kuwaa Mission Partnership Coordinator email:summerlinlvnv@daysforgirls.org  

Word Version                            PDF Version

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:  A Check to the mission address or PayPal on our Website: 

Kuwaa Mission, PO Box 90513, Anchorage, AK 99509

www.kuwaamission.org                          Facebook: Kuwaa-Mission

Shop like you normally do on Amazon but make a small contribution to the Kuwaa Mission with every purchase.  Please consider adding the Kuwaa Mission. 

The Kuwaa Mission has completed another year’s work of helping the Kuwaa People as they continue to work to rebuild their lives and communities after years of civil conflict, the Ebola crisis and the ever-present complications of access / transportation to their communities after the heavy rains during our summer months.  The roads turn into a clay quagmire that makes it impossible for vehicles to travel upcountry.  We have helped rebuild many bridges within their area, but the main road is the government’s responsibility and they have neglected this responsibility since the war started in the late 1980’s. Inflation and extremely high unemployment remain two of the biggest obstacles to development. 

While we are able to hire 3-4 people to help us with our programming, the small amounts we can afford to pay them are not anywhere sufficient for their needs and the needs of their families.  We continue to work with the Lutheran Church in Liberia to do what we can to install hope for a brighter future. Our well program continues to excel.  To date we have installed 33 new wells, 7 in just this year!!  Two wells were hand drilled to a depth of 80’ and are providing abundant water in the large town of Fassama. 

Our Children’s Bible School this year again had over 100 children in attendance, many of whom were Muslim.  Fortunately, both religious groups work and live peacefully and respectfully with each other. We taught stories common to the Koran and the Old Testament.  We have distributed well over 100 sanitary napkin kits to adolescent girls and the demand continues to far exceed capacity. We have helped rebuilt the school in Belle Baloma that now has rooms for K-9 grades, we supplied roofing materials for churches in three villages where they had already begun to make mud blocks to repair / replace their damaged church walls. We are in the process of developing a program whereby churches, schools or individuals can adopt a village church or school and help in the rebuilding of the facility, providing much needed supplies, training, and hopefully actually travel to Liberia to witness the work they are sponsoring and the work that the Kuwaa Mission has accomplished. 

If you would like additional information, please contact Stan Olsen at the address on our web page:  www.kuwaamission.org.

Below is a list of our accomplishments to date. Thank you for your support over the past 10 years and we join you with prayers for Liberia.

KUWAA MISSION 10 YEAR ACCOMPLISHMENTS 

• Established an excellent working relationship with the Lutheran Church in Liberia (LCL)
• Visited all 16 villages and in conjunction with the villagers determined their immediate and long-term needs
• Distributed over 150 water filters to individuals, churches, schools, clinics and demonstrated their use
• Provided at least one potable water well in 15 villages, most for the first time
• Installed 33 new wells and rehabilitated over 20 others
• Received 501c3 status from US Government
• Received Non-profit status from Liberian Government
• Provided evangelist scholarships to students at Lutheran Literacy Center (prior to receiving our 501c3 status)
• Provided one nursing scholarship (prior to receiving our 501c3 status)
• Distributed yearly medical supplies for two area clinics for 10 years and conducted nursing workshops at the clinics
• Distributed yearly school supplies to village schools
• Conducted teacher training workshops
• Conducted Children’s Bible Schools for four years with average attendance of over 150 children
• Built a new 9 room clinic with solar power that is now being run by the Ministry of Health
• Rebuilt over 30 bridges to provide access to new clinic and increase economic development of the area
• Partnered with local villages to rehabilitate roads between villages
• Lived, worked, prayed and worshipped with the people
• Instituted “Community Led Total Sanitation” workshops (Highly successful UNICEF program)
• Conducted 5 well maintenance workshops to teach local villagers how to maintain their wells
• Implemented “Days for Girls” program in three villages. Provides reusable, sanitary menstrual kits to school girls

WHAT HAS THE KUWAA MISSION DONE THIS YEAR:   2019

• Installed 7 new wells
• Repaired 5 existing wells
• Conducting Children’s Bible School in Lowoma in conjunction with the local Muslim leaders (158 children attended)
• Conducting two sanitation workshops
• Inspected the clinic in Kondesu and met with the staff. Delivered over $1,000 worth of medical supplies
• Conducted Days for Girls workshops in Lowoma, Kondesu and Ballama and delivered over 150 menstrual kits
• Met with Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) and the LCL to begin the Big Belly program to teach pregnant women about the changes in their body and proper nutrition. We are also working with the LCL to further the Days for Girls program.

HOW CAN YOU HELP THE KUWAA PEOPLE?

• Pray for the people and the Kuwaa Mission
• Become a volunteer in American or in Liberia
• Become a “Partner Congregation”
  • Adopt a church or school
  • Place the Kuwaa Mission in your church budget
• Donate much needed funds:
• $5 provides one child with school supplies for one year
• $15 provide a teacher with supplies for one year
• $15 provides one blackboard with chalk
• $25 provides one rechargeable light
• $35 provides one bag of cement including transportation (25 bags required for one well)
• $350 provides roofing materials for a church / school (material only, approx.. 240sf)
• $800 provides one hand pump (material only) excluding cement
• $2,000 provides labor to dig and install one hand pump
• $5,000 provides one complete well
• $15,000 provides materials for a village church
• $25,000 provides materials for a 4-6 room school house

Word Version                            PDF Version

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:  A Check to the mission address or PayPal on our Website: 

Kuwaa Mission, PO Box 90513, Anchorage, AK 99509

www.kuwaamission.org                          Facebook: Kuwaa-Mission

Shop like you normally do on Amazon but make a small contribution to the Kuwaa Mission with every purchase.  Please consider adding the Kuwaa Mission.