Saturday, February 24, 2007

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 Harbel, Firestone Crown Financial Ministries’ Pastors’ conference is today and tomorrow.  See the schedule here.

I’ve posted some pictures that Ken gave me this morning for his wife, Trudi (sorry about the spelling) who says she doesn’t get to see what’s going on when I’m not traveling with Ken.

Today I’m separated again but then, everyone is separated this morning.  Dion and Christine are going to visit an orphanage today and will be stopping back by the ELWA beach.  They’re taking Meshac and Abendigo (Shadrach’s young boys whose names I can’t spell and I’m too lazy to look them up in the Bible) along with them so that they can see the ocean.  They’ve never seen it.  Ridge and Katie are going back to Hebron Orphanage to do some work, Ken is doing a leadership training seminar at a church and I’m going back to Harbel, Firestone for the second half of Crown conference.

This morning has been fun as it’s the first lazy morning for me so far.  Dion isn’t leaving until about 10:00 so it’s given me a chance to spend some time with him in a more relaxed environment.  He’s a super guy with a heart that ‘s bigger than he is.  I don’t know all the facts but I do know that he gives a significant amount of the gross revenues from his business (which is quite large) to fund the God’s Kids work around the world.  He’s also very mild mannered and quite (quite the opposite of either Ridge or me).

I’m becoming the computer guru for the compound (now that’s a scary thought).  First I set up their wireless router which has made everyone happy.  (Please don’t tell them that it’s very easy, I’m milking this for everything I can get.)  Alvina brought her laptop out this morning to see if I could figure out why her mouse will not work.  Then Laurence stopped by on his way out to work (he has a construction company) and asked about getting his laptop set up to receive the wireless signal.  So my morning’s work is set.

I’ll go for now but will write more tonight and post some additional pictures.

Matthew the taxi driver arrived right on time and we left to pick up Robert and James.  Robert lives in Sinkor and James lives somewhere near down town Monrovia.  Then it was off to Harbel, Firestone.

People were already arriving as we got there.  I’m amazed how people work the day, then hurry home and change into their best clothes and go off to a 4.5 hour training conference.

We got the projector and computer set up and they began singing an opening song.  Robert started the conference with session 3 which covers giving, saving and spending.  I know that I’ve already said it before but I am so very impressed with Robert and the planning and preparation that he has made.  His teaching is right down the line with the book but he adds those practical examples that turn the session from a great theoretical exercise to a practical application of the truths being taught.

The break between Robert’s session and the final one that I am teaching allows the people there to have a small, shortening bread type biscuit along with a cool soda.

I was so excited to have a part in this, the first Crown – Liberia conference to be held.  My session was about honesty, training our children and eternity.  I shared my embarrassing story of being dishonest at the airport in Liberia during our July visit and it tracked almost perfectly with the entire session.

After we finished a lady with a small bread making business gave her testimony of having already put yesterday’s teaching to work to make her business line up with God’s financial principles.  The congressman from the Firestone district attended and publicly declared that he was going to take this teaching and share it with his fellow congressmen at the capitol.  The teaching had a true impact on those who attended.

Robert and the people of Firestone were busy planning all the other places that they were going to hold conferences.  The excitement was contagious.  We have to get them more materials as quickly as possible.

The God’s Kids group came in a few minutes ago and they had each had a fabulous day.  Dion and Christine had visited 2 orphanages plus taken Shadrach’s kids to the beach for the first time in their life.  Ken had a fabulous day training Liberian pastors in Godly leadership.  When he gave out the study Bibles (they didn’t know they were getting them) the 90 pastors were absolutely ecstatic. Ridge and Katie spent the entire time with Sheila at Hebron Orphanage mostly playing with Tina.  They went to a fancy restaurant and had a great dinner but I think Esther did me just fine.

To everyone that has been praying for us… Thank you!  What a privilege to represent so many of you in the work here.  I am grateful to you.

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