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Daily
Snapshots of Liberia
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12 Stone Liberia Prayer Team
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Leaving Atlanta
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Leaving Chicago
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Leaving Brussels
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Guess which ones are Tyler and Noel
By the way, they guy in the middle
is Joshua Milton-Blahyi (previously known as “General Butt-Naked”
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Old Friends
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Roughing it in Liberia
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My office space (Christine’s porch)
complete with wireless internet (sometimes)
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Notice the manufacture of the fan in
my room. Crown is taking over the
country.
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Little Christine and Abednego
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Palm Nuts – The “everything” food
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The “Bullet Cross”
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This is the way a floor is mopped in
Liberia
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Children prepared for church
services
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Christine and Christine
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Perrine, Elizabeth and Paul
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The newly painted truck
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Peter and I enjoy Hummas &
olives
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The Chapman girls with their sugar
cookies
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Pastor Wesley – friend and board
member
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A Liberian Concrete Mixer
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Well cared for children
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Robert praying for Christians in
countries that cannot worship freely.
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Proof that I’m in the Brussels
airport.
It’s hard to take a picture of the
back of your head.
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Sam Reeves, Thelma Cato and Robert
Cuppah on the Congo Town property
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Width of column is 2.5”
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Service To Servants
Post
Office Box 771
Murfreesboro, TN 37133
615.202.3517
info@servicetoservants.com
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For, brethren, ye have been
called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh,
but by love serve one
another. Galatians 5:13
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Last updated
5/20 @ 4:41pm (Central)
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Dates
in BLUE with an underline are linked to a full journal.
Contact
Information:
In Liberia-
Rodney
Edwards, Service To Servants
011 231 6 652 187
Robert
Cuppah, STS – Liberia 011 231
6 553 223
Remember when
calling Liberia that you will be charged for the call but the call
recipient will not. The safest
way to call is with a phone card from Wal-Mart. If you use your personal phone please
call and find out the rate.
Normally you will pay 35 – 50 cents per minute.
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Prior
to departure:
Scripture- 1 Samuel 3:9, 10 Speak Lord… for your
servant hears.
Pray for today- That my health will continue to
improve so that I will be fully functional by the time of my arrival.
Planned- Final preparations, packing and
gathering of items needed by those in Liberia.
Actual- Gayla did most of my packing, work
settled out well before I left, drove to Atlanta to spend the night
with Dave and Karen Bearchell, attended worship service at 12 Stone
Church, met and was prayed for by the 12 Stone Liberia Team and,
finally, enjoyed a night’s sleep.
By the way, I feel much better and am left primarily with an
annoying dry cough. I wouldn’t
want to sit next to me on the flight over.
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Saturday, May 3rd
(click for full journal and photos):
Scripture- 1 Chronicles 16:34 Give thanks to the
Lord… for he is good.
Pray for today- That I might have the opportunity
to develop relationships on the trip to Brussels where the love of
Christ can be shared.
Planned- Drive to the Atlanta airport with David
Bearchell, fly to Chicago then to Brussels, Belgium.
Actual- Up at 5am to repack my bags to include
the auto parts being taken for the Ford truck. Dave delivered me to the airport
where I had the absolute best check in experience ever. 10 minutes from drop off to sitting
at the gate. Flights to Chicago,
Brussels went fine.
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Sunday, May 4th
(click for full journal and photos):
Scripture- Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my Shepherd… I
shall not want.
Pray for today- That I might have the opportunity
to meet someone on the flight from Brussels to Monrovia who Service To
Servants can serve.
Planned- Fly from Brussels to Monrovia, live
through the customs clearing process, meet up with Robert for the trip
into Monrovia and renewing relationships with Laurence and Christine
Norman.
Actual- Arrived in Brussels about an hour
late. Slept on the airport floor
for a couple of hours and then it was time to board the flight for
Monrovia. The flight was half
full and direct. Robert &
Emma Cuppah picked me up and delivered me to the Norman’s. Christine is gone to visit her mother
but she made sure there was a full meal waiting on me. Met Noel (Minnesota) and Tyler
(Michigan) who are intern missionaries helping Christine. Off to bed. Robert’s to pick me up at 10am
tomorrow.
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Monday, May 5th
(click for full journal and photos):
Scripture- Psalm 34:8 Taste and see… that the
Lord is good.
Pray for today- That old relationships would be
re-established quickly.
Planned- Meet with Dave and Audry Waines of Equip
to work through a lease for a walled lot on Airport Road to be used for
an ice business.
Actual- Talked with Dave Waines by phone. He’s still in Greenville and will not
be home until this weekend. Met
with Shadrach Saywon and Jeremiah about some property they had
found. Robert picked us up and
we looked at the property plus spent time on the Equip property that we
may be renting and finally went to the Cato property that we just
purchased to do some initial planning.
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Tuesday, May 6th
(click for full journal and photos):
Scripture- Psalm 46:10 Be still… and know that I
am God.
Pray for today- That the initial review of the
newly purchased property will provide an accurate understanding of the
required renovations.
Planned- Conduct all planning and begin process
of moving a refrigerated container onsite for setup and production. Find out the paint status of the
military truck and secure a driver and maintenance man.
Actual- Met with Rameses I. E. Bright during
breakfast. He has a business
selling basic agricultural equipment to farmers. More by tonight.
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Wednesday, May
7th (click for full journal and photos):
Scripture- Proverbs 3:26 The Lord… will be [my]
confidence.
Pray for today-
That our plans to get the container moved, a well dug and a
generator house started will move forward quickly.
Planned- The well is to be started (pouring of
concrete culverts for lining) today in the Equip lot. We hope to make contacts that will
pick up one of the refrigerated containers from ELWA and move it, along
with 2 generators and other supplies, to the Equip lot that we are
leasing.
Actual- The day has started well but I’m somewhat
stuck without transportation.
Work is staring on the Equip lot for the well and general clean
up. I placed a detailed description
on today’s journal of the reason we do business development. I encourage you to read it so that
this trip doesn’t seem to be “all about business” to you. Robert has given an update on the
various projects that are in progress so see the full journal for
details.
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Thursday, May 8th
(click for full journal and photos):
Scripture- Nehemiah 8:10 The joy of the Lord… is
[my] strength.
Pray for today- That we will remain focused and continue
to execute the plans that we have made.
Planned- Christine has asked Robert and I to join
her for a morning trip to see the Indigent Children’s property at
Bensonville (Bentol). The legal
proceedings have drawn out much longer than expected but it looks like
everything is coming together.
Hopefully the afternoon will see the continuing progress toward
opening the first ice business and also to getting our truck licensed
and on the road.
Actual- Last night was wonderful sleeping
weather. It was around 70
degrees and (gasp) almost too cool.
This morning I had breakfast with a Joshua Milton-Blahyi. That name might not mean anything to
you ( it didn’t to me) but if you search the web for “General
Butt-Naked” you will find that this was no ordinary breakfast
guest. After that we visited the
property in Bensonville that STS helped REAP secure. We then had lunch at P.A.’s BBQ which
is a pretty upscale place regardless of the name. We then went to visit Monrovia’s
largest scrap metal business.
After that we visited with former president Tolbert’s brother,
Daniel. He has been in business
in Liberia for a long time and Christine wanted me to meet him. A pretty full day. Plus we found out the latest
container is in the port.
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Friday, May 9th
(click for full journal and photos):
Scripture- Luke 1:38 Let it be to me… according
to your word.
Pray for today- That we will have favor in
securing audiences with key governmental ministers in connection with
bringing U.S. firms into Liberia to assist with the equipment and road
construction needs.
Planned- Meet with Richard Tolbert and Pete
Norman of the National Investment Commission regarding construction
equipment sales. Work with
Robert to get Ice Business 1 and the Truck Business started.
Actual- Met with Pete Norman of the National
Investment Commission but Richard Tolbert was tied up in meetings. Met the President Pro-Temp of the
Senate and ate lunch in the cafeteria of the executive mansion. Also ran into an “old friend” from
our last visit.
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Saturday, May
10th (click for full journal and photos):
Scripture- Matthew 6:9 Our Father… hallowed be
thy name.
Pray for today- That I will be able to expand our
relationship with the STS – Liberia board of directors. They are key to the success of STS in
Liberia.
Planned- Make contact by phone. with each of the
board of directors and spend time with Robert going over STS plans.
Actual- I didn’t make contact with any board
members today (my fault). Most
of the day I spent with Alvina gaining more insight into the Liberian
culture and especially into the interdepartmental operations of the government. The military truck is painted,
running and at ELWA awaiting its registration! Thanks to Robert for working through
all the “kinks”.
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Sunday, May 11th
(click for full journal and photos):
Scripture- John 12:28 Father… glorify your name.
Pray for today- That I will truly worship God
today.
Planned- No selection of a church to attend yet
but I want to begin trying to worship with a different board member
each Sunday that I am in Liberia.
Actual- I am going to church with the Norman’s at
the Bensonville church that Christine’s father pastured for many years
before becoming president of the country. May 13 is William R. Tolbert, Jr.’s
birthday. This morning I had a
wonderful devotion with the staff at the Norman compound but even a
more special experience with a young 15 year old girl (6th
grade) named Christine. She is
reading books on a weekly basis.
Happy Mother’s Day Mama!
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Monday, May 12th
(click for full journal and photos):
Scripture- Luke 23:46 Father… into your hands I
commit my spirit.
Pray for today- That we can get a forklift lined
up to move our container to the Equip lot.
Planned- Visit Equip – Liberia to pay the lot
rental fee. Check on the status
of the well drilling effort.
Take some pictures of the newly painted and (hopefully) soon to
be titled truck.
Actual- Today was a busy and scattered day. So I may or may not remember
everything that we did. So here
goes… I rented a car/driver today and was picked up at 8:30am. We picked up Robert, went to
Monrovia, picked up the latest cash wired from Chuck (we’re spending
money like we have it), met with Judge Jones, an STS board member,
about one of the illegal residents on the property we purchased, went
back to Sinkor, dropped Robert off, visited with Dr. Sam Reeves,
chairman of the STS board, visited with the Orphan Relief and Rescue
folks, went to ELWA to see the truck, stopped off to see the progress
on the well, came back to Sinkor, had a meeting at the Royal Hotel’s
restaurant with Dr. John McFadden, Robert and Peter, met Dave and Audry
Waines of Equip to finalize the lease and pay for the first year and…
finally made it home around 8:30pm.
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Tuesday, May 13th
(click for full journal and photos):
Scripture- Galatians 5:25 Live by the Spirit…
keep in step with the Spirit.
Pray for today- Sorry that today was not set up
for you ahead of time. The day’s
over here but I needed continued prayer to get the ice business set
up. It’s a struggle.
Planned- Move the ice business forward and meet
personally with 2 board members.
Actual- Today is William R. Tolbert, Jr.’s
birthday. He’s the former
president of Liberia and Christine’s father. Met with Robert and worked through
the ice business and trucking financial projections and the critical
path items for the ice business project. Went to ELWA and worked with
the electrician on planning the wiring of the generator and the
container. Met with Major Ben
Gaymo (all he wanted to know was how Dave is doing). Found my young friend, Michael. Ate with Peter at the Café &
Pizzeria.
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Wednesday, May
14th (click for full journal and photos):
Scripture- Philippians 1:21 To live is Christ…
and to die is gain.
Pray for today- Continue to pray for the startup
of the ice business prior to my departure on Sunday.
Planned- Spend time with Robert, check on the
progress of the well, generator house foundation and container
foundation work. Have supper
with the Chapman’s.
Actual- Took Paul and Elizabeth to their tour of
the U.N. building. Robert needed
to visit Harbel so I hung out at the Royal Hotel using their free
internet and air conditioning until 3pm (I nursed a donut, cup of
coffee and a dish of hummus for 5 hours and they didn’t mind. Peter and I then went by to check on
the Equip lot. Then we ran into
Jessy Togba-Doya and had a good visit.
Finally I went to the Chapman’s home in the ELWA and enjoyed a
dinner of jollof rice, rice pudding (2 kinds), sugar cookies (baked by
the 3 children) and after dinner coffee.
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Thursday, May
15th (click for full journal and photos):
Scripture- Philippians 2:3 In Christ’s humility…
consider others better than yourselves.
Pray for today- Wisdom and a pure heart as I stay
focused on God’s will for the Liberian people and their benefit rather
than our own.
Planned- Meet with the Minister of Public Works
and the Minister of Agriculture to discuss their equipment needs. Check the progress on the water
business, the truck registration and the container that is in the port.
Dinner with Jessy and Calandra Togba-Doya.
Actual- Had an early morning prayer time with Dr.
Brownell and Christine. Washed out and reset my appointments with the
Ministers of Public Works and Agriculture (every minister went to
support the president on a road problem field trip). Spent time at the Royal. Visited the
Equip lot to see the progress.
Had a wonderful dinner with Jessy and Calandra Togba-Doya.
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Friday, May 16th (click for full
journal and photos):
Scripture- Philippians 3:10 I want to know
Christ… and the power of his resurrection.
Pray for today- That I can communicate
effectively with the Ministers that I will see and that the work at the
Equip lot will progress rapidly.
Also that our board meeting, which has been very last minute,
will be well attended and productive.
Planned- 9am, meet Judy Thurman at the SN
Brussels office before she leaves for home. Meet with the Minister of Public
Works at 10am. Set up catering for the board meeting at Christine’s.
Meet with Robert to determine status of the Ice and Truck businesses.
2pm meet with the Minister of Agriculture. Prepare for the board
meeting. 6pm host the board meeting.
9pm collapse in bed.
Actual- Met with Jackson Quenisear, agronomist
for God’s Kids, at 7am. Left for
SN Brussels to confirm my flight but got held up getting gas. Went straight to the meeting with
Minister Dunzo of Public Works instead.
Great meeting. Went to SN
Brussels and confirmed my flight home on Sunday. Ordered the food for the board
meeting tonight, spend a little time at the Royal and went for the
meeting with Minister Toe of Agriculture. Meeting washed out at the last minute
due to an emergency. Went back
to prepare for the board meeting, had the board meeting, had a great
time.
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Saturday, May 17th (click for
full journal and photos):
Scripture-
Philippians 4:19 My God… will meet all your needs.
Pray for today- Today’s over for me here so
perhaps pray that I can get back on schedule.
Planned- Visit Lincoln Brownell’s farm, pick up
items to bring back from Calandra, take bags to SN Brussels, visit with
Diana Davies, pick up documents from Pete Norman, visit the Congo Town
and Equip properties with the Humphries’ to see about the water situation
and spend time with Roland Martin of KLI.
Actual- Did all
of those things, just not in that order. A very busy day. All the details are in the journal
for today.
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Sunday, May 18th (click for full
journal and photos):
Scripture- Psalms 90:17
Pray for today- That, with all the things from
the past two weeks spinning in my head, that I will worship Him today.
Planned- Breakfast with the Normans. Church with Robert. Lunch with the Normans. A trip to the airport and then to
Brussels.
Actual- Today was a great day of worship. It started with a 1 hour devotional
time on Christine’s porch with 12 in attendance from 3 different
countries. From there we moved
to the Sinkor Evangelical Church pastored by Robert Cuppah. The service was good and full of
music. Afterwards I returned to
Christine’s, had lunch, met with Robert for a while, drove to the
airport, almost missed my flight and am on my way to Brussels through
Abijan.
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Monday, May 19th (click for full
journal and photos):
Scripture- Colossians 3:1-4
Pray for today- That I will arrive late tonight
with enough energy to do the work that’s waiting on me tomorrow.
Planned- Arrive in Brussels, wait a while, leave
for Chicago then Atlanta, then either home or the Bearchell’s.
Actual- The flight from Monrovia into Brussels
was nearly empty so I had a full center section to myself. I was able to sleep completely stretched
out for a good portion of the trip.
I’m now in Brussels waiting on the Chicago and then Atlanta
flights. By the way, for those
of you who prayed for my health at the beginning of the trip (was quite
sick the week before leaving) I have not had a single day of illness on
the trip. Thank you.
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Aftershock:
Scripture- And it came to pass… Genesis 7:10
(When
asked what his favorite Bible verse was the country farmer, deep into a
drought that was bankrupting him said, “And it came to pass… thank God
it didn’t come to stay.”)
Pray for today- That all the initiatives started
in Liberia on this trip will continue to fruition and that we would be
found faithful.
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“Surrendered
to serving those on the mission field”
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