Children Concerned News

Liberia Mission trip June-July 2007

Posted 8/13/2007

This is a link to a video of our recent trip to Liberia.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2193799831639194815&pr=goog-sl

We were a team of 11 in number. Tom and Jack Zackey and Jack Lui from Buffalo, NY, with a group from Minnisota including Dan Gjerstad and his 11 year old son Ashton, and the DeVowe family, of David and his two sons Michael and Steven. Charlie Schutt from Idaho came and offered his construction expertise in many ways. The mission of our trip had many points; and suprisingly enough, we accomplished most of what we came for. During Toms last trip to Liberia, he met two children walking the beach down by thier guest house. Josephine and Tutu became close to Tom during their stay. He went to their house, a shack made of cardboard, rotten mats and leakng tin, and did what he could by getting some cement for the floor, so they could have a dry place to sleep and some new matting to temporarily keep out the heavy rain of the wet season. This trip, we decided to go in and even if we could only touch one family, we would do what we could to provide this family with a better place. The latter half of this video touches on that accomplishment. (Jack Liu was responsible for the excellent photography and equal excellence in video creating) The work on the house was difficult with the rain; our first 4 days in Liberia we could hardly go outside for the constant downpour, but once we got out and worked through a bit of weather and the sun shone brightly for several days after. We flipped this village house; taking it down in roof sections and wall partitions and then rebuild from footers in the red earth and shiny new tin for a roof. It was beautiful when it was done. The house was the object; but what we accomplished in the meanwhile was what made everything worth it. We gave this family of 9 a new place to stay; they would not stop smiling about it.

For a living, the father broke rock with a hammer for crushed rock, which he sold to a large cement company; if he worked long enough, his family had food for that evening. We made them beds; the children won't sleep on the dirt anymore, and the cockroches, insects, scorpions and lizards that ruled the matted walls of the house can't enter anymore. The older boys, those of Shepherd Village and some of My Fathers House older boys, were hired to work beside us; and we showed them basic construction, on how to use all the tools and what building a house consists of. They knew absolutely nothing before they came, but they left with a little money, a lot of knowledge, and the clean pride of accomplishment and seeing what they can do.

It was so much fun to work with them, and watch as they picked things up. Others on the team worked on the house at times, but took time everyday to talk with the people who had gathered to observe the unique spectacle of the team of Whites from America and local boys all coming together and work on this project. They sat with the children, shared the gospel with adults and teenagers, and quickly gave away the bibles brought with us.

There is a small, humble orphanage home, Amazing Grace, run by Pastor Diggs on 72nd street, tucked away from view. Nearly 70 orphans reside there, living in the country-wide poverty but with a special love from the director and his wife. We were able to meet one of thier needs, as we spent 2 days working on their boys dormatory, a single room with only a 6 foot roof. The bunkbeds were tight to the ceiling, and the roof leaked badly. We pulled the roof off, tagged two layers of block on the existing wall and replaced with a new tin roof. There are many of these small, unknown organizations such as Amazing Grace in corners all over Liberia, of Christian Men and Woman taking care of the homeless children in their own homes or small facilities. One of the hopes of Children Concerned is to help these unsung missionaries in their own homeland, and assist them in building improvement and support in the future.

The other goal of our trip, the legal end, went very well. We were able to officially extend Children Concerned's Non-for-Profit status into Liberia, taking care of that at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Besides being a non-taxable organization, we are also now fully accredited with the Ministry of Lands and Mines to hold land or buildings in the name of Children Concerned. If the Lord opens the way for a larger-scale operation, we are legally prepared. We also looked at a large parcel of land, beautiful property in Bensonville, a semi-rural area not far from Monrovia. If finances are available, we have targeted this land for a training center. We also met with Mrs. Vivian Cherue, Deputy Health Minister of Social Welfare, and the overseer of all orphanges under and second in command to Walter Gwenigale. We are currently following by writing a letter to Minister Gwenigale, seeking his approval. We have the full support of Mrs. Cherue, who is in favor of Children Concerned opening and operating a center of learning, a medical clinic, buildings for housing and all things necessary to house, feed, care for and teach hundreds of disadvantaged children. It would likely be a large center, able to hold many children, especially used as a temporary home for those children who are in the small orphanges throughout Liberia, and be a place to house them as we come in a rebuild their current living place. It would come full circle as we work alongside the young men of Liberia, teaching them a useful trade and building homes and reconstructing these poor orphanges, many of which are in danger of being shut down altogether by the Government for their terrible conditions.

Children Concerned opened a home, a house for 30 boys, most of them from Shepherd Village (which has recently been shut down altogether). We had orientation with the boys and administration and met with the land owner to discuss the finances and possible long-term rent. We left Liberia feeling very comfortable with the situation. The home is being directed by Pastor Bestman Todawiah, and he and his wife, Justina, and 2 sons will be the live-in administration. It is a very large, clean house with 7 bedrooms, 4 bathroom, and 4 fenced in acres of land, perfect for growing casavva, corn or other greens to help cut the cost of monthly food. We hope to work with these boys, teaching them academically, raising them in a godly enviroment and caring for their physical needs, and teach them the trade of construction, to work and better their country. We purchased all the needed items to get the home functional, including mattresses for 30, dishes, cookware, water containers for showering/bathroom, fixed some holes in the roof and roofed the outdoor generator room.

We met many people in government positions, and on our next trip, which may take place in September or October, have an opportunity to speak with Madame President on our venture. Please contine to pray for Children Concerned and the future of Liberia.

Jack @
Children Concerned