Doris Thompson – In Memory

In Memory – Doris Thompson

This month, the Kuwaa Mission is praying for the Thompson family, co-founders of the Kuwaa Mission.  Doris Thompson, the mother of the family died on May 19, 2025, at a ripe old age.

To adopt her into their culture, the Kuwaa people named Doris Korto, meaning “so beautiful as to cause a war or dispute.” Korto and her husband, Dick Thompson (Sumbo), who predeceased her, were one of the two families the Lord blessed the Kuwaa people with in the 1970s. Yes, the Thompsons and the Stellings, Diane and Ed, were firmly committed to the task of helping the Kuwaa people read the Word of God in their own language. But they were just as eager to demonstrate that Word in their everyday living among the Kuwaa people!

“Those people became one of us,” is how the Belleh Governor in Monrovia, Governor James Mafalon, put it when he received the news of Doris’ death.

“She was one of us” is not a phrase that the Kuwaa people use to refer to just anyone, especially not a white person. That person must have convincingly identified with them! The Thompsons identified entirely with the Kuwaa people! Announcing his mother’s death to the Kuwaa Mission Board on May 20, 2025, Todd, the Thompsons’ elder son (a Kuwaa Mission Board member), wrote:

As I lay awake early this morning, I reflected on what an amazing and challenging life she and my father led. The Kuwaa people meant more to them than almost anything. If my dad had been able, he would have lived in Liberia forever. My mom was always looking out for others. Even in her dementia, she always had things to do, people to worry about. You were all part of her life, and I know she appreciated you and your work.

It is exciting that even in death, the Thompsons continue to support the work we do among the Kuwaa people, their adopted family through at least one of their offspring! Prayer: Dear God, we thank you for the many gifts you bestow upon your people in every generation. We thank you today, especially for Dick and Doris, whose presence among the Kuwaa people helped those people see the extent of your love for them. You continue to bless the works of their hands through the generations after them. Thank you! Now, we ask that you not only multiply the impact of what we do for your work but also the impact of the gifts you give us. Amen!

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:  D

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Kuwaa Mission, PO Box 90513, Anchorage, AK 99509

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April 2025 Prayer Letter

As always, there is plenty of work and ministry happening in the Kuwaa Region of Liberia.  You will be hearing more and more about that. However, this month’s Prayer Letter is a health update of Bishop Emeritus D. Jensen Seyenkulo, the COO of the Kuwaa Mission.  Bishop Jensen, as he is called, was diagnosed in October 2024 with prostate cancer while in the U.S.  He returned to Liberia for a period of two months, where he continued his work with the Kuwaa Mission.  On December 24, he left for the U.S., arriving in Chicago on December 25.  An upside of this health crisis was the opportunity to spend part of the Christmas holidays with the three Seyenkulo “kids” who are now adults living in the U.S.  It has been a long time since it was a family Christmas. Surgery occurred on January 28.  It was a long surgery (4 1/2 hours), followed by one night in the hospital.  The recovery was more difficult than the patient had expected. It included pain, an emergency room visit, ending with another hospitalization.  Listening to medical professionals and family has proved to be key to Bishop Jensen’s recovery. Moderate exercise and plenty of rest have led him to be on the road to a good recovery.  The Doctor is well satisfied with the outcome of the surgery and is predicting a long and good recovery.   Bishop Jensen and his wife, Rev. Linda Johnson Seyenkulo, wanted to acknowledge and give thanks to the following individuals and institutions for their support during this time: The medical professionals Dr. Peter Reisz and Nurse Practitioner Ewa Blachowicz, as well as the Nurses Dana,  Taje, and staff who cared for him at Rush University Medical Center. The Metro Chicago Synod and Bishop Yehiel Curry for their prayers and support. Dr. Lanny & Rev. Linnea Wilson who opened their home to us as we prepared for surgery. Josephus & Mae Sackie who helped with housing post surgery. Our children:  Apu, Kenata, and Yongor Linnea who provided wise counsel, hospitality, and         emotional support in person and by phone/internet. Friends and family, including you in the Kuwaa Mission, who are praying people and who            held us in prayer during this time. Bishop Jensen is continuing to recover and practice good lifestyle choice in Liberia. He’s glad to be back home with his people and to continue to lead the Kuwaa Mission. Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the gift of healing and for the people through whom we receive your healing. We pray, let all your people across Kuwaa land and those who work to bring them hope and healing also receive your special healing. We pray in Jesus’ name! Amen!


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:  D

Donate

Kuwaa Mission, PO Box 90513, Anchorage, AK 99509

www.kuwaamission.org                          Facebook: Kuwaa-Mission

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January 2025

We are praying this month for all our Board members, especially for Dr. Apu Amanda Seyenkulo, who was recently elected.

On Friday, December 6, 2024, the Kuwaa Mission Board agreed to add a new member to help it more adequately address the Mission’s work. The individual recommended was Dr. Apu Amanda Seyenkulo, daughter of Rev. Dr. D. Jensen Seyenkulo, one of the mission’s founding members. The Board unanimously voted to add Apu to the board. We are glad to have Dr. Seyenkulo introduce herself to the Board and the entire Kuwaa Mission Community. Here is what she wrote:

“I am deeply honored to join the Kuwaa Mission board, an organization close to my family’s heart. My dad’s unwavering passion for this mission and our family’s roots in the region have inspired me throughout my life. As a Doctor of Physical Therapy and owner of “Pushing It With Pu” online fitness business, I am dedicated to helping those who are vulnerable or less fortunate—a value instilled in me by my parents. Serving the communities that shaped me has been a lifelong aspiration, and I am eager to contribute my skills and experience to this mission. My background includes expertise in social media, website development/marketing, advocacy, and effective communication. I strive to be a logical and compassionate voice, and I hope to leverage these strengths to support and enhance the Kuwaa Mission’s impactful work. Hearing about the mission’s accomplishments has been truly inspiring. I am excited to be part of the ongoing efforts to make a meaningful difference in my homeland in the future.”

Prayer: Dear God, you provide laborers for your harvest. We thank you for the men and women you have chosen across the church to help with the Kuwaa Mission. Thank you for adding Apu to the Kuwaa Mission board. We pray that you may provide her and all other board members and supporters all they need for your work. Amen!


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:  D

Donate

Kuwaa Mission, PO Box 90513, Anchorage, AK 99509

www.kuwaamission.org                          Facebook: Kuwaa-Mission

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Donation Drive December 2024

Christmas Gift Ideas Supporting the Kuwaa Mission in 2025


The Kuwaa Mission is once more excited to provide opportunities to participate in the great adventure of serving God’s people in Kuwaa Land (Belleh). The Kuwaa people are a small tribe in Liberia living in one of Liberia’s remotest parts. Being small, remote, and isolated, the Kuwaa people were neglected by the Government and Non-governmental Organizations for many years. However, thanks to the Kuwaa Mission, which began work among the Kuwaa in 2008, the Kuwaa people are once more receiving the attention they have craved for many years. You can help augment the ministry of the Kuwaa Mission in the region this Christmas season. Your donations are tax-deductible. Here are some ways you can help:


$250

Donate $250 to help provide half (½) of what is needed to repair a hand pump and rehabilitate a well to provide safe drinking water for village dwellers. Your donation of $250, 50% of the cost, will help recondition one of the three wells that are the Kuwaa Mission’s target for 2025. This amount will go toward purchasing materials, transportation, and labor.


$150

Your $150 donation will help supply essential medicines to one Community Health Assistant for six months. Your donation will cover transportation, the purchase of essential medicines for village dwellers, and incentives for Community Health Assistants.  


$50

Your donation of $50 will equip a team of midwives with the materials they need to enable them to help with safe and healthy deliveries. The midwives need gloves, towels, buckets, large bowls, razor blades, and bandages, among other things.


$250

Donate $250, and you will be funding one-fourth (¼) of what is needed to conduct a Children Bible School for the two targeted villages in the Kuwaa region. Your donation will help cover the cost of traveling, teaching materials, snacks, notebooks, writing utensils, and honorarium for the teachers.


$100

With your donation of $100, you will help cover one-fourth (¼) of what is needed to conduct Health and sanitation training in the two villages that the Kuwaa Mission has targeted for 2024.


$250

Your $250 will provide 25% of the amount the Mission needs to help the clinic work in Kondesu in 2025. This amount will help subsidize medication, provide incentives for healthcare workers, and transport equipment and medical supplies.


$200

  1. A donation of $200 will cover the training cost of one of the three evangelists who entered the Lay Training Center to be prepared to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in the region. This amount will cover registration, school fees, transportation, and a small allowance for one session of a two-year, four-session program (i.e., the entire cost to train one evangelist for two years is $800.


$10

  1. Your $10 donation will place a Bible in the hands of an evangelist. 


$100

  1. A donation of $100 will help with the cost of running the Girls Reusable Menstrual Hygiene program. This program helps young girls experiencing the monthly visit stay in school. (Note: sometimes girls have stayed out of school during this time due to inadequate or the lack of supplies.)

             


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: 

Donate

Kuwaa Mission, PO Box 90513, Anchorage, AK 99509

www.kuwaamission.org                          Facebook: Kuwaa-Mission

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August 2024

The Kuwaa Mission is praying for the three new Kuwaa Parish evangelists selected for training over the next two years. Comfort Kollie, Sarah Jeogbor, and Aloysius Korboi Joedoe, the three candidates, arrived at the Lewis T. Bowers Lay Leaders & Ministerial Training Center (LTB-LLMTC) campus on Sunday, August 11, 2024. The three are the Kuwaa Mission-sponsored evangelists for ministry among their people in the Kuwaa Parish of the Lutheran Church in Liberia. Comfort, Sarah, and Aloysius traveled by motorbikes for over thirteen hours through the rain, mud, and cold to get to the center for training – the training that will prepare them for service to their people.       Unlike in previous years, when the Mission had more men than women, this batch of candidates is comprised of two women and one man. This scenario is an encouraging sign for ministry in the Kuwaa region! Our young people are not only exposed to men in leadership in the church, but they also see women who are close to their age in leadership roles. We are deeply grateful to the Kuwaa Mission and her supporters for the profound impact they are making on the Kuwaa people through the training of men and women with a deep understanding of Bible interpretation. Thanks to the Kuwaa Mission, ten of the sixteen Kuwaa towns now have at least one trained evangelist, a testament to our collective efforts. We pray that every Kuwaa town will soon have at least one trained evangelist! We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Tebah Nyanku of Konjade and Mr. Joshua Mulbah of Kalata, the Kuwaa Mission’s dedicated foot soldiers, for their relentless work in finding our new evangelists. Their efforts, along with the support of the trained evangelists in the parish, have encouraged our three new candidates. We are told there were more volunteers for the training, but most couldn’t come due to the Mission’s limited capacity. Like those who came before them, Comfort, Sarah, and Aloysius are making significant sacrifices to be trained for ministry to their people. When asked about the level of sacrifice they are making, Aloysius, the only married one among these candidates, humbly shared his perspective: “No sacrifice we make can equal the sacrifice Jesus made for us. We are happy to be doing something for the good of the Gospel.” We admire their dedication.                

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prayer: God of the Kuwaa people, we thank you again for the three willing servants you have blessed us with. We pray that you remove every obstacle so their learning may be smooth and joyful. Bless your mission, the Kuwaa Mission, and all those who work to make it viable. We pray in Jesus’ name with thanksgiving! Amen!

Jensen Seyenkulo COO, Kuwaa Mission


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:  D

Donate

Kuwaa Mission, PO Box 90513, Anchorage, AK 99509

www.kuwaamission.org                          Facebook: Kuwaa-Mission

Please subscribe to our mailing list if you want to receive our update letters.