May 2013

SPECIAL PRAYER REQUEST:

The Kuwaa Mission just recently learned that a cholera outbreak has occurred in the Kuwaa Town of Fassama.  Prayers for the people are requested.  Cholera kills especially children and seniors.

What?! No food for 30 hours?? You can imagine the response you would hear from middle schoolers when approached about participating in a 30-Hour Famine. Not so with the confirmation class at Trinity Lutheran Church in Boulder, Colorado! Although maybe not thrilled with the hunger pains they knew would gnaw at their stomachs, they jumped in and accepted the challenge. Here’s how it works:

The purpose of the 30 Hour Famine is to learn about the causes and effects of hunger, to experience hunger firsthand, to help fight hunger, to participate in a service project, to join in worship, fellowship, fun, and  – here’s where the Kuwaa Mission comes in – to gather funds for a selected cause.  I presented a slide show to the class that introduced them to the Mission and its goal of providing clean drinking water for the Kuwaa people. The class decided that this was indeed a worthy cause. They set a goal of $2500 toward a well in Liberia.

The next step was to enlist sponsors for their 30 hours of fasting. The sponsors pledged various amounts toward the goal of $2500, payable when the class successfully completed their task.

Then the famine began. The class gathered with their sleeping bags in tow in the church basement on a Friday at 7 o’clock.  Lunch that day had been their last meal. They were allowed to drink fruit juice and Gatorade and chew gum. Their first full glass of juice/Gatorade was “free” but after that they had to carry 2 gallons of water around the room 4 times to get a refill for one glass, illustrating how not everyone in the world has a tap handy with fresh clean water, and that many people have to walk miles to get their water.  The class kept a journal to record how they were feeling at various times of the famine, and what it must be like for others to live with hunger.  They made a trip to Costco to buy supplies for their service project – no free food samples allowed! They filled the basement with the aromas of bread and chocolate chip cookies baking – no sampling allowed!

The service project was to assemble goody bags to be handed out at a mobile medical clinic. They also assembled street bags for homeless folks who were being served lunch at a neighboring congregation. They delivered the bags, helped serve the lunch and visited with the guests. Afterwards they joined in a Bible study about the Feeding of the 5000.

When the 30 hours were over, they broke their fast by celebrating Holy Communion and shared a meal of their freshly baked bread and fish sticks.

Then it was on to the job of collecting from the folks who had made pledges. The amount they collected for the Kuwaa Mission totaled $2545. How thrilled I was when I heard about it! What a blessing for the Kuwaa people!

This is one example of what a congregation can do to raise funds for the Kuwaa Mission. For other ideas, visit kuwaamission.org. By working together and with God’s help, we will surely make a difference in the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

 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

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

April 2013

The Kuwaa Mission exists to wholistically help the Kuwaa people reclaim their hope and dignity as God’s redeemed people.

A Good Day Fishing!

After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”  “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.   John 21:15

It was early morning.  Jesus appeared to the disciples as they were heading toward the shore after a very disappointing night of fishing.  From the beach Jesus offered a word of encouragement, “Hey guys, try the other side of the boat (roughly paraphrased).”  And that’s all it took, a fresh perspective.  With Jesus’ help, the disciples hauled in the catch of a lifetime! 

On the beach, after a fish & bread breakfast, Jesus asks Peter straight out, “Peter, do you love me?”  It was a fair question seeing as how Peter had denied even knowing him as Jesus faced arrest, torture and death.  It’s not Jesus’ question however that gets our attention as much as his response to Peter’s confession of devotion.  “If you really love me, Peter, walk the talk- feed my lambs (again, roughly paraphrased).”

My father used to have an old saying, “Fish or cut bait!”  I always took it to mean that if I was present when others were working, I was expected to pitch in – to find some way to make myself useful.    It’s true that most things in life are easier if you have someone sharing the load.

Isn’t that what the Kuwaa Mission is all about?  It’s Christ’s disciples pitching in- lending a hand- to our brothers and sisters half-a-world-away in Liberia.  It’s feeding Christ’s lambs, by sharing His love with the Kuwaa people in a real and tangible way, helping to provide clean drinking water and access to medical care.

The Clinic is UP

The walls of the medical clinic in Kondesu are up, the floor is poured and the roof is on.  The nurse’s quarters are at the same point.  Praise God for our contractor, Stone; Koko, the well contractor; Nathan, who has supervised our lumber operation; and, of course, Pastor Chris Kowula.   Missionaries, Cindy Ellis Bye and Stephen Bradley attended the clinic groundbreaking and helped begin work on the clinic (up to window level).  Stephen conducted a workshop on use and maintenance of water filters and a 4-day pump and filter training workshop for 17 people during this, his first visit.

Please hold in prayer

• Our CEO, Stan Olsen, as he travels to Liberia, for the second time in the past few months.  We pray for availability of helicopter travel from Samaritan’s Purse for Stan into and out of the Kuwaa area from Monrovia  This will allow more time for him to visit the villages and meet with elders and contractors in order to verify progress on all fronts.
• Success in talks with Child Fund about school projects and clinic staffing.
• Effective communication between all parties involved in our mission activities and for strengthening of our relationships at all levels.
• Those who will be working to complete water wells in Fassama, Kenata, Gatema, and Maufordor.

Written by Pastor Carol George, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Anchorage AK

Pictured above with granddaughter Brooke; the author of Kids for Kuwaa!

 Donations can be given in two ways:

2.   Make out check and send to:

       Bethany Lutheran Church,  1340 8th Street,  Slidell, LA 70458  

1.   Go to the Kuwaa Mission Website at www.kuwaamission.org:

      use PayPal to make a one time or automatic monthly donation

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

March 2013

I recently returned from a successful trip to the Kuwaa Chiefdom.  What a pleasure it was to return there and see the progress that is being made. The lives of the Kuwaa people are improving!   We are a part of it.  Thanks to all of you for your prayers, financial support, and spreading the word about the mission.

This year I was joined by Stephan Bradley, the Manager of Water Treatment and Process Engineering for DOWL-HKM in Billings, MT.  Stephan worked on the water purification filters the mission provided the Kuwaa people. After 3 years of use, some of them really needed cleaning.  Using a diluted bleach solution, he fixed them.  He also instructed key people on the technique.   It was good to see that many of filters were still in use.

A Pump Technician Workshop was held to train a few villagers on the care and maintenance of these pumps. They need to be able to care for them on their own.  The trainees were very thankful for the training which will allow them to help their own villages. Spare parts were given to each village. Training is a priority for the Mission to keep projects self-sustaining .

The most exciting news is that the clinic construction is underway!  All glory to God!  This has been an enormous undertaking. The Groundbreaking Ceremony was held in Kondesu on Feb 4.  A representative from the Senator’s office attended. As is their custom, the ceremony began and ended with prayer. The people thanked God for the work the Mission is doing. By now, the clinic walls should be up.  The roof is the next task.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for our blessed lives.  We thank you for the ability to do your work among the Kuwaa People.  We thank you for the supporters of the Kuwaa Mission.  Please hold the Kuwaa People, the clinic workers, and their families in the palm of your hand.   All glory and praise to God for the work that is being done!  Amen.

PDF Prayer Letter Link

By Cindy Ellis Bye

Volunteer Coordinator and Interim Chair of the Board

 Donations can be given in two ways:

2.   Make out check and send to:

       Bethany Lutheran Church,  1340 8th Street,  Slidell, LA 70458

1.   Go to the Kuwaa Mission Website at www.kuwaamission.org:

      use PayPal to make a one time or automatic monthly donation

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

February 2013

December 2012 found Stan Olsen, CEO, back in Liberia making arrangements for the clinic’s groundbreaking with Rev. Chris Kowula, Kuwaa Mission Field Director and Darlenston Coldheart, Contractor.  Despite heavier than normal rains this past rainy season we were able to start the transportation of 120 bags of cement shipped from Monrovia to Fassama by commercial vehicle, a 12+ hour trip.  From Fassama the bags are transported by motorbike 3 hours to Kondesu.  The actual construction begins this month when Cindy Bye arrives.

Stan met with the Liberian office of UNICEF and obtained a booklet entitled “Community-Led Sanitation”.  The goal of this approach is to get the villagers to recognize the need for “them” to take the lead in cleaning their villages of feces which contributes to the contamination of surface water, causing several different kinds of illnesses one of which is eye infections in the children who play in the dirt and play with the animals who get into everything.  The Mission is praying for funds to enable us to start this project during our visits next dry season.

Stan also was able to meet with Mrs. Malai Goutro Gbogar, the newly elected Representative for the Belle District of which the Kuwaa People belong.  She appears to be very concerned about the plight of the people as evidenced by her recent travels on foot thru the “bush”.  We are very hopeful that she will be able to enlist additional governmental assistance for this area.

We have long wanted to establish an income generating program within Liberia to generate funds and to provide employment opportunities.  Establishing such a venture would ultimately would make the work projects and people self-sufficient.  As such Stan met with several logging company representatives to see if we could set up a “Woodmizer” sawmill at their center of operations in the bush.  Several were supportive of the idea but only one was located near enough to Monrovia to make it feasible.  Unfortunately, we discovered the government recently instituted a moratorium on all logging due to “issues” with the issuance of permits.  We are praying that the issues will be resolved with both the companies and various people within the government.  Until these issues are resolved our sawmill plans are on hold.

Two years ago I visited with the international NGO ChildFund and had explained our desire to establish a clinic in the Kuwaa Area.  ChildFund was, and still is, involved in healthcare in Gbarpolu County in which the Belle District is located.  I informed the Director that we were starting construction, and he was very excited.  ChildFund will work with the county health department to try to staff and supply the clinic.   ChildFund has agreed to pay the salaries for the first 3 years!

Please consider making a donation to help to make the opening of the clinic a reality in the near future.  Your prayers and donations make the work possible.  The Kuwaa people and the Mission’s Board of Directors thank God for you, our partners in mission.

Your brother in Christ,

Stan

PDF Prayer Letter Link

 Donations can be given in two ways:

2.   Make out check and send to:

       Bethany Lutheran Church,  1340 8th Street,  Slidell, LA 70458

1.   Go to the Kuwaa Mission Website at www.kuwaamission.org:

      use PayPal to make a one time or automatic monthly donation

Unsubscribe - Edit your subscription

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

January 2013

In March 2012 Ed Stelling was able to return to Liberia after an absence of 33 years.  He was happy to see a small medical clinic now serving the people of the Fassama area.  However, the reality is that sick or injured people have to be brought to Fassama from distant villages.  It did not take much for Ed, Cindy, Jensen, and Stan to see the need for more medical clinics. After researching the need, it was decided that Kondesu should be the next village to have a clinic, but it would be built according to government specs and able to serve more people in a day.  Planning and getting started on the building took 3 years.  The funds are still being raised to completely finish the clinic and equip it fully.  The people are ready to build the clinic, the nurse’s quarters, bathroom house, and a generator house.  A contractor has been hired to organize and keep the work going.  By the end of dry time this year, God willing, the Kondesu Clinic the buildings will be built.  Prayers are needed to raise the funds to equip and supply the clinic so that it can open soon.  Praise God for his provisional hand over the Kondesu Clinic.

The clinic needs trained personnel.  Ester, the daughter of Rev. Chris Kowula, our Liberian Field Director, began nurse’s training last year.  She is receiving a scholarship from donations made to the Kuwaa Mission Educational Fund.  It is important to get local people trained to serve in capacities like this.  They are much more likely to stay in the area, and they have the heart of the people.  In a couple of years she will return to the Kuwaa area and be on the staff at one of the clinics.  Please keep Ester in your prayers. As with the building of the clinic, we are grateful for the prayers and financial support from you, faithful friends and warriors of the Kuwaa Mission.  Thank you for your love for the Kuwaa people.

Board Chairperson, Cindy Bye, formerly Cindy Ellis, is returning to Liberia the 27th of January.  Congratulations and God’s blessings to Cindy and David who were married on January 12th.  Cindy is making her 4th volunteer trip to Liberia. Accompanying her is a new volunteer, water engineer Stephen Bradley.  They will be in Liberia for 3 weeks.  Stephen will be distributing and training the people in the use of water filters.  Cindy will oversee the construction of the Kondesu Clinic and the digging of new wells in 4 more villages.  Please keep them in your prayers for safe travel and good health.

Let us encourage one another to give thanks to our God for everything and praise him for his generosity. He is our very present help in trouble and our stay in life.  He is with us in the day time and at night.

Please consider making a donation to help to make the opening of the clinic a reality in the near future.  Your prayers and donations make the work possible.  The Kuwaa people and the Mission’s Board of Directors thank God for you, our partners in mission.

Your brother in Christ,

Ed Stelling

 Donations can be given in two ways:

2.   Make out check and send to:

       Bethany Lutheran Church,  1340 8th Street,  Slidell, LA 70458

1.   Go to the Kuwaa Mission Website at www.kuwaamission.org:

      use PayPal to make a one time or automatic monthly donation

Unsubscribe - Edit your subscription

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

December 2012

THE WORK PROGRAM: 4 wells, well & water filter technician training.

THE TOP PRIORITY: The Kondesu Medical Clinic construction.  The people are providing building blocks and lumber.  The mission is providing cement, roofing, and other materials.  It’s time to put the building up.

THE ROAD: Extreme rains damaged the road, but with work and care it is passable.

PRAY!  Pray for CEO Stan who is there.  Pray for a solution to the transportation problem that has arisen.  Stan found a solution for transporting the cement & supplies.    Pray for funds to meet the unforeseen cost for transportation.

THE PEOPLE:  They have been preparing for the start of construction.  They realize that the longer they don’t have a clinic, people will continue to suffer. SOLVING THE PROBLEM: Funds are needed for transportation of building supplies and cement.

GOD THE PROBLEM SOLVER: Working through his people we are confident that God already solved the problem of transportation.  God will help the mission to keep its credibility with the people.

PRAISE GOD: God begins to solve problems even before we know for what to pray. He is great and greatly to be praised!  So let our praises ring!

      THE SPIRIT: moves people to help others, especially at Christmas.  What a Christmas gift – giving the Kuwaa people a clinic!  We are convinced that he will do it.  Many famiies give Jesus 10% of what they spend for Christmas gifts for others; others give Jesus a gift equal to the most expensive gift they give to others; and yet, others give a birthday gift to Jesus instead of giving them to family and friends.

Please consider making a donation to help the Kuwaa people.  Your donations make the work possible.  Donations can be given in two ways:

2.   Make out check and send to:

       Bethany Lutheran Church,  1340 8th Street,  Slidell, LA 70458

1.   Go to the Kuwaa Mission Website at www.kuwaamission.org:

      use PayPal to make a one time or automatic monthly donation

November 2012

The Kuwaa people cried for help for over 20 years.  There was no whining or complaining for the suffering they endured at the hands of the brutal rebel groups.  All they wanted was help to help themselves.  They had lost all hope.  Their prayer finally reached the ears of Jensen Seyenkulo and Dick Thompson in the U.S.A.  In 2009 the Kuwaa Mission was founded to help them help themselves.  People soon got involved. Stan Olsen and Cindy Watkins Ellis volunteered.  This dry season Stan is going back the end of Nov.  Stan is serving as the CEO and project manager over work projects.  He is going over to review the work being done and to help the people begin the construction of the Kondesu Medical Clinic.  The clinic will serve 5 or 6 towns.

In the past few years the mission provided the means for wells to be dug or restored.  Schools and school children received educational materials and supplies.  Midwives and small town clinics received medical supplies.  Workshops on various topics have been conducted for the different leaders.  Scholarships were provided for 3 evangelists and 1 nursing student.

Let us encourage one another to pray for The Kuwaa people and the Kuwaa Mission that God continues to help them see the light and find hope, that God continues to bless the mission to be a blessing to the Kuwaa people, that God continues providing funds and volunteers. And that God grant Stan safe travels, blesses his work, and keeps his wife, Sally.

Let us encourage one another to give thanks to our God for everything and praise him for his generosity. He is our very present help in trouble and our stay in life.  He is with us in the day time and at night.

Please consider making a donation to help the Kuwaa people.  Your donations make the work possible.  Donations can be given in two ways:

2.   Make out check and send to:

       Bethany Lutheran Church,  1340 8th Street,  Slidell, LA 70458  

1.   Go to the Kuwaa Mission Website at www.kuwaamission.org:

      use PayPal to make a one time or automatic monthly donation