August 2010SUMMER AT LIBERIA MISSION - GRADUATIONS, VOLUNTEERS AND MORE!
Liberia Mission's St. Anthony of Padua School celebrated the completion of another successful year in late June. Over 340 children received a first-rate Catholic education at our school this year. To celebrate, they held two wonderful and Spirit-filled Closing Program Ceremonies.
Twenty-one children graduated from the K-2 class (Kindergarten 2)! In Liberia, graduation from K-2 is a very big deal and is celebrated with great excitement. An esteemed guest speaker from the community addressed the gathering, the children performed songs, some recited a poem or gave a speech, and they all received certificates. Many families took pictures of themselves with their new graduate and his/her certificate, signifying the importance of this milestone in the child's (and family's) life. For many, their young graduate is the only person in their family with the opportunity to go to school.
The second Graduation and Closing Ceremony celebrated 6th grade and 9th grade graduates, marking their successful completion of elementary school and junior high, respectively. This lively program also included esteemed speakers, songs, poems, certificates and many pictures. Thirty children graduated from 6th grade and will go on to junior high. And, in just our second year with a 9th grade, we had 14 graduates. Next year, we will have a full grade 9 with 30 students!
This summer, many of our residential children are spending vacation visiting relatives and family, while about 50 children, most of whom for various reasons do not have anywhere to go, are staying at the Mission. Our children who stay with us were delighted to receive a group of volunteers from Mission Honduras International and our friends at Teach Peace. They especially enjoyed a talent show and soccer tournament with the group, as well as all the day-to-day joys of sharing life and interacting with the volunteers - learning new games, reading books from our library, mini-choir classes, sewing classes, and free time in general to laugh, play, and share stories.
The next school year begins September 1st, when we look forward to welcoming new and returning students! We are also excited to welcome a new principal. Under his leadership, and with the help of other administrators and teachers, many preparations are being done during the summer vacation to make the coming school year even better!
Thank you for all your prayers and generous support of our children. As you can see from how many are graduating and growing in mind, body and spirit, you are giving them a never-before-possible opportunity at breaking the cycle of poverty. Thanks for all you do!
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CELEBRATING INDEPENDENCE DAY!
Monday, July 26th was Liberian Independence Day! It is a major celebration in Liberia and Liberia Mission had their own festivities, complete with games and treats!
Our children also learned a little about their history on this, the 163rd celebration of Liberia's declaration of independence and statehood. Colonized in 1821 by American "free blacks" through the financial support of the American Colonization Society and the Maryland State Colonization Society, Liberia became a center for captured slave ships to release their prisoners. The colonizers, who became known as "Congo" people or Americo-Liberians, created a rather traditional colonial society with the native tribes being second class citizens and the colonists holding the positions of power. Today, people of tribal descent are moving closer to equality with those of Americo-Liberian descent. Certainly opportunities like an education from Liberia Mission's St. Anthony of Padua School are instrumental in helping to move toward equality.
The LMI community gathered together on Monday the 26th to pray for the country and celebrate their freedom. Dr. Brian Chan spearheaded the festivities, giving a brief history lesson, and leading the field day-type games and dancing. The children had friends from the neighboring town join them and happily shared soda and cookies with their guests. It was a traditional Independence Day celebration, and the children had a fantastic time celebrating!
READ THE COMPLETE AUGUST 2010 NEWSLETTER HERE!
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June 2010
INTRODUCING THE NEW DIRECTOR OF LIBERIA MISSION!
Dear Friends,
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Mission Honduras International /Liberia Mission Inc., I am very pleased to introduce Bernardine Ileto, who will serve as the new Director of Liberia Mission from summer 2010 - 2012.
Bernardine brings over 10 years of experience in education, pastoral ministry, business, and international missionary work. Prior to joining the Liberia Mission community in May, Bernardine worked as an educator, teaching and directing programs, developing curriculum, leading teams and mentoring new teachers, and coaching sports in the U.S. and South America. She also owned a small business dedicated to health and wellness where she honed her financial, management and community relations skills. In addition to her breadth of professional experience, Bernardine has four years as a full-time lay missioner, focused on education and living and working with marginalized communities, with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, School Sisters of Notre Dame, and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambery.
Bernardine holds a B.A. from Harvard and a Masters in Education from Boston College. Her graduate work focused on pastoral ministry, curriculum development, and developmental theory. She earned educator's certifications in early education through high school ages, as well as a certificate in Youth and Young Adult Ministry Studies. Bernardine's deep desire to do God's work and to live in solidarity with people in need prompted her to pursue this focus in her studies, work, and volunteer experiences. In addition, Bernardine's many other interests and skills will surely benefit the mission. She has traveled extensively throughout the world, enjoys hockey, running, biking and yoga, and has a wealth of experience in the arts - theater, dance, art education, and singing.
Liberia Mission and Mission Honduras International are blessed to welcome Bernardine. Her strong desire to be a presence that shares God's love with others, and her desire to integrate her faith and leadership skills in service of God's people, make her an exceptional new director for Liberia Mission. Furthermore, Bernardine's interest in sustainability, along with her organizational skills and background in business administration, project management, teaching, and pastoral ministry, will benefit Liberia Mission in the immediate and long-term as we continue to grow and be an ever-increasing resource for the children, community, and Church of Liberia.
Please read Bernardine's message below. She also introduces Brian Chan, Liberia Mission Medical Director and Bernardine's husband, as well as Amy Spelz and Mat Travis, Liberia Mission Program Coordinators. We will share more information about each of the team members in upcoming newsletters. Please join us in welcoming Bernardine and each member of the new leadership team to the MHI / LMI family!
God Bless,
Bob O'Dwyer
Board President
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MINISTRY OF PRESENCE - A LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR
Dear Friends of Liberia Mission,
I feel truly blessed to be here as the director of Liberia Mission, Inc. God's presence and work here at the mission is palpable: in the smiles of the children, the dedication of the staff, the prayers of the people, and the needs of the country. I have been here 8 weeks now and have come to embrace the mission as my home for the next 2+ years. My work so far has included meeting all the children, getting to know the staff, learning about the Liberian government and agencies, working with the mission school teachers to prepare for final exams and graduation ceremonies and to prepare for the next school year, interfacing with the Catholic Archdiocese in Monrovia, and much more. There is never a dull day here, and there is always more work to be done.
My "work" here, however, is more than merely a list of administrative tasks. Indeed, the work of being here at Liberia Mission, Inc. is one of a ministry of presence: spending time with the children, listening to the staff, building relationships with the Liberian community, sharing in the life of the people, praying and working alongside one another to proclaim the Gospel message of faith, love, and hope, both in word and deed.
Such shared moments include joyful moments playing soccer, reading with the children, baking bread with the cooks, and celebrating graduation with the students. They also include difficult times: caring for several ill children, some who were hospitalized, and mourning the death of a teacher. Through it all, what prevails is the sense of care and "place" that the children feel here at Liberia Mission, Inc. This is their home; we are their extended family, and for some, their only family.
This ministry of presence takes a community to make it sustainable. We have 27 Liberian staff who work hard to care for, educate, and keep our children safe. We also have an administrative team that shares various skills to provide leadership and support to all of the programs of the mission.
Brian Chan is our medical director (and my beloved husband). Upon arrival, he hit the ground running, caring for a measles outbreak, treating malaria, conducting physical exams for all the Liberian staff, and taking care of many everyday ailments such as cuts, injuries, infections, and headaches. He has quickly learned about the medical facilities and availability of treatment in Liberia.
Amy Spelz is our Program Coordinator for Community Development. Her background in Peace and Conflict Studies, teaching, and social justice work prepare her for important responsibilities such as further developing the Child Protection Program, fostering the academic and vocational interests of the children, and assessing the needs of the staff.
Mat Travis is our Program Coordinator for Organizational Development. He manages all the operational things that keep us running: finances, plumbing, our two vehicles, material needs, food, facilities...you can just imagine how busy and useful he is.
Throughout these next two years, I look forward to sharing this journey with you, friends and donors of the mission. We keep you in our prayers and ask that you remember the children, staff, and people of Liberia in your prayers as well.
Blessings,
Bernardine Ileto
Director, Liberia Mission Inc.
READ THE COMPLETE JUNE 2010 NEWSLETTER
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April 2010
CELEBRATING EASTER 2010 AND LMI UPDATE!
Dear friends, supporters and family of Mission Honduras International,
Clarisa and I would like to extend deep wishes of health and newness to you and your loved ones as we faithfully move through the Easter Season. In this season of renewal, redemption and resurrection we celebrate the risen Christ and His glorious defeat of death and sin. As I am sure you and your family followed Christ’s footsteps, it was no different for us here at Liberia Mission Incorporated. We celebrated a glorious week of prayer, song, Stations of the Cross and finally culminating in a beautiful Easter Sunday Mass that was as alive as the risen Christ. Monsignor Robert Tikpor, still strong and dedicated at the age of 84, reminded all of us the importance of the stone being rolled away that ushered in the beginnings of life and ushered out the dominion of death.
After the Easter Mass, Monsignor Tikpor joined us at the mission for Easter lunch, and the children took part in our annual Easter egg hunt on the mission grounds. After they had finished their somewhat raucous hunt, all of the mission children enjoyed a very delicious Easter lunch themselves of Okra Soup and rice with sweet cornbread, a typical Liberian dish. It was a very beautiful day that was enjoyed by all of those involved.
But our joy and celebration at Liberia Mission Incorporated didn’t end with Easter Sunday. Just two days later, we welcomed into our midst Amy Spelz and Mat Travis, two new volunteers who selflessly volunteered at least a year of their lives to serve the children at our mission. The children quickly took both Amy and Mat in as one of our own, and they have already made such a huge impact in the lives of the children and Liberian work staff here at LMI. In just two more weeks we will celebrate again as Bernardine Ileto and Brian Chan arrives at LMI for the next two years. Bernardine will be the new director of Liberia Mission Incorporated while her husband Brian, who is an MD, will care for all the children, workers and volunteers at the mission. To say we are going through a re-birth and resurrection this Easter Season at Liberian Mission Incorporated would be an understatement. The hand and grace of God has blessed us so much and continues to lead us to places we never thought attainable.
Our mission school, Saint Anthony of Padua, just underwent a facelift when it received a beautiful new paint job by art instructor Dominic Bah and his art class of mission boys. They worked hard all Easter weekend to make sure the faculty, staff and students had a beautiful building to return to on Monday morning. We now have our sights on our church, Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Church. It will be even more beautiful than the school when we are completed with its transformation. As I alluded to before, this Easter Season is truly bringing many new resurrections for all of us involved with Liberia Mission Incorporated.
I would like to send each and every one of you who support us financially, prayerfully or both the most humble “thank you.” The impact you have made and continue to make can’t be measured in words or deeds. You are absolutely saving lives and making an immediate impact in the lives of children who had no future before you became involved with the mission.
I recently sat down for lunch in downtown Monrovia with Monsignor Andrew Karnley of the Archdiocese of Monrovia. When the conversation turned to the mission he became very quiet and looked at me and said, “The supporters you have in the United States will never know how many lives they have already changed, I just pray that more hear the call because your mission is the cornerstone for all the other programs in Liberia.”
These are very powerful words from a very well-respected priest in Africa. And they are true.
YOU MAKE THE DIFFERENCE EVERY DAY. We love you for this. And, keeping in the Easter theme, I confess to you that each of you resurrected a very necessary mission in a very needy part of the world.
Things are only going to get better for Liberia Mission Incorporated. With Bernardine, Brian, Amy and Mat charting the course here in Liberia, I can only imagine the incredible plans our loving savior has for LMI and its children.
WE LOVE YOU!
Peace and Prayers,
Jerome and Clarisa
Directors
Liberia Mission Incorporated
Blacktom Town, Lower Careysburg
Liberia, Africa
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February 2010
Mass of Dedication and Blessing Celebrated at Liberia Mission!
On February 24th, Coadjutor Archbishop Lewis Jerome Zeigler and Monsignor Andrew Karnley from the Archdiocese of Monrovia celebrated a Mass of dedication and blessing at our Liberia Mission church, Saint Michael The Archangel. Fr. Don Halpin, OFM Conv., Spiritual Advisor to MHI / LMI who visited Liberia Mission for the month of February, con-celebrated the Mass with Archbishop Zeigler and Msgr. Karnley.
Before the Mass began, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held to signify healing and rebirth at Liberia Mission - a truly powerful experience for all. The Church was packed with people for the beautiful celebration, filled with song and dance and prayer! During the Mass, the Archbishop confirmed twenty-five of our students in the Catholic faith. At the end of Mass, many people offered personal remarks and Monsignor Karnley shared these words:
"Liberia Mission Incorporated is the greatest thing to happen to Liberia since the end of the second civil war in 2003. There is simply no other way to state it. Its impact on the past, its impact now, and its impact in the future cannot be over stated... We are a blessed country because of this mission."
Special thanks to all of YOU who make this possible! Your support of prayers, time, talent, and treasure is making an unparalleled difference in the lives of so many in Liberia. You are truly helping to build a brighter future for children, families, communities, and a country!
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A LETTER FROM LIBERIA MISSION
Dear Friends,
I wish all of you could be here to see the growth and prosperity happening at Liberia Mission Incorporated (LMI) and throughout the country as well. Your financial support and prayers are making a huge difference in the lives of so many people in Liberia that it is hard to adequately describe it. I have received countless e-mails and phone calls from people in the United States inquiring about the mission and the children we serve, and that is a great source of strength for me and Clarisa as we labor here on your behalf.
SPECIAL CLASSES / WORKSHOPS
I would like to thank two people in particular, Clarisa's parents, Renato and Ethel Chavarria, who came to Liberia Mission to experience first-hand the joy of our children as well as the daily struggles of the average Liberian. Ethel came for a month and a half last July and conducted daily Spanish classes for the children, taking two of them in particular under her wing, Aaron Lawyee and Saytu Peter. Not a day goes by without one of them asking about Grandma Ethel. Her presence at the mission was a life-changing event not just for her but the children and employees of LMI. And last month Clarissa's father completed a 3-week stay with us during which he, too, conducted Spanish classes. He also set up and directed a Human Sexuality seminar for the older children. Based on Holy Scripture and Catholic doctrine, the five-day workshop addressed God's plans for our bodies, marriage, and the consequences of sexual activity outside of marriage, among other topics. The children absolutely loved the workshops as did Helena Gonyon and Harris Mulbah, our long-serving House Mother and Father. God Bless Ethel and Renato. Their love and dedication for the children and staff at Liberia Mission will be felt long into the future.
NEW ADULT LITERACY PROJECT
In another bit of exciting news, Clarisa and I are honored to inform you that LMI, in partnership with the governor of Blacktom Town, Mr. Tom Dennis, embarked upon an adult literacy project for Liberians. When Governor Dennis approached me about allowing the adults of the surrounding villages to use two classrooms at Saint Anthony of Padua School for night classes, Clarisa and I were determined to help him. (Since we each have a background in education, we were moved by the idea of grown-ups who had never walked into a classroom before taking steps to educate themselves.) Classes are held Monday through Thursday from 6:00 until 7:30 p.m. In my orientation meeting with the villagers, there were tears of joy and a deep appreciation to all of you and us at the mission for providing the much needed classrooms to conduct their classes. All I can say is that it is one of the most beautiful and inspiring things I have ever seen in my life. I feel that this is one way for the Liberian people to say "Enough war and violence; enough being fooled and deceived. We are going to empower ourselves!" Please pray for the project's success.
STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH ARCHDIOCESE OF MONROVIA
Liberia Mission is also eagerly awaiting response from the new archbishop, Lewis Jerome Zigler, who we have asked to visit our mission in order to offer a Mass of Official Blessing for the church and to preside at the Confirmation of a number of our children. Clarisa and I have developed a very strong and effective relationship with the Archdiocese of Monrovia and they have been more than supportive of our efforts with the children. We are blessed to call them "great and loving friends."
ABUNDANT BLESSINGS TO SHARE
We are also excited to be welcoming American Franciscan priest Father Don Halpin, one of our new spiritual advisors, who will be with us throughout February. Everyone at Liberia Mission is very excited to meet our new family member and welcome him.
As you can see, the blessings from God are coming in faster than we can process them. Hopefully we can share many of these personal blessings and stories about the mission children directly with you later this year as Clarissa and I begin "touring" the States starting in September. For more information about that tour or how to bring Jerome and Clarisa to your community, please email or call us.
A CHILD'S REQUEST
To close I will relate a little story about one of our children named Zinnah Sackie, who asked me, "Uncle Jerome, if I write a letter to everyone in the United States saying thank you plenty for the sweet food we eat you can mail it for me?" I told him that I would try and get his message to as many people as I can. Please know you are truly making a difference.
Until next time, we leave you in peace and prayers,
Jerome and Clarisa Cabeen
Directors
Liberia Mission Incorporated
Liberia, Africa
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January 2010
Dear Friends,
A HUGE THANKS from all the children at Liberia Mission to all the donors who helped make Christmas extra special this year! The kids were thrilled with their gifts, and your generosity made a very positive impact in their lives!
Celebrating Christmas and welcoming 2010 was a very special time here at Liberia Mission Incorporated.
This year Santa Claus came to the children here at Liberia Mission, but he looked a lot like Clarisa! She spent almost an entire week inside our storeroom arranging gifts and treats for both the boys and girls who live at the mission. Because of her love and dedication – and the kindness of donors - our children all had a very Merry Christmas morning!
We celebrated Christmas Day Mass together in Saint Michael The Archangel Catholic Church on LMI grounds. Afterward, I cooked a turkey and dressing meal and Monsignor Robert Tikpor, our mission pastor, Clarisa and I shared a wonderful Christmas meal. The children were very happy because we slaughtered a pig and our cooks made a special Christmas Day meal for them of Pepper Soup and Pork, which they all said was "SWEET!".
We all rang in the New Year by celebrating 11:00 PM Mass, which took us into our new year as we were celebrating the Eucharist. It was the first nighttime Mass our Church has ever celebrated, and the kids, although sleeeeeepy, were excited to celebrate the Mass at night. We had a tough 2009 at LMI, but God and Love have prevailed, and the children have never been happier!
We are so excited as we know our God has incredible and wondrous things planned for us in 2010. Thank all of you so much for all of your prayers and financial support. The personal emails you have sent to Clarisa and me have been the juice that has kept us going. We love you and we ask you to keep supporting LMI through your prayers and financial assistance.
We wish each and every one of you a HAPPY and BLESSED 2010!
Peace and Prayers,
Jerome and Clarisa
Directors, Liberia Mission Incorporated
Liberia, Africa
Read the complete January 2009 Newsletter here!
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November 2009
Dear Friends and Supporters of Liberia Mission Incorporated,
It is with heartfelt gratitude and appreciation that I write this letter to you. Liberia Mission was blessed to host their first-ever medical mission here in Africa.
Our group was lead by Jake Schroeder who has a long and respected record volunteering in Honduras. The group he brought to Liberia was made up of members from Florida, South Carolina and Montana.
I first met Jake several years ago while I was the Volunteer House Director for Mission Honduras International in Honduras, Central America. So when he contacted me about the possibilities of bringing a medical mission to us from across the Atlantic both Clarisa and I were quick to accept.
Jake's group arrived on Sunday night, October 18th and they returned to the United States on Monday October 26th. What happened between these dates was INCREDIBLE. Jake's group held a clinic on Liberia Mission grounds on October 19th and 20th. On the 21st they were able to tour both Saint Joseph's Hospital in Monrovia and St. Benedict Menni Clinic in Paynesville, Liberia. On Thursday, October 22, in conjunction with the Teach Peace Foundation, the group made their way to the Our Lady of Fatima Rehabilitation Center and worked all day addressing the medical needs of severely handicapped and disabled children. Throughout the entire medical mission, three Teach Peace staff members proved invaluable assistance with crowd control and translating the indigenous Liberian dialects.
Liberia is a country that is still reeling from the atrocities of not one but two civil wars in which more than 300,000 people lost their lives. Since 2003 when the second civil war ended, Liberia has been slowly showing signs of recovery. The sad fact still remains that the majority of the 3.5 million people who live here still suffer from a grave lack of education and medical services.The medical mission that Jake brought to Liberia literally served human beings that not only had never been served by a medical doctor, but also had never been in the presence of a white person before.
The people came from the "bush" villages that are prevalent throughout Liberia. Many of them only spoke the Bassa or Kpelle dialect and those who spoke English spoke in the thick Liberian patois that often needed to be interpreted.Still the 15 members of the medical mission plugged on in the name of love and in the name of God. They were working 12-14 hour days under stressful conditions and yet they were determined to love at all costs.
One of the most dramatic moments for me came on Friday, October 23rd.
I was walking the fence line of our newly built chain linked fence and I noticed a young lady trying to "throw" something over the fence, which is topped off by two large strands of barbed-wire. When I arrived I realized that the bundle that was caught on the barbed wire was a baby. The mother told me that her baby was very sick and she thought if she "chucked" it inside the compound it would have a better chance of seeing the doctors. This is the desperation that the Liberians face everyday. The good news is that both baby and mother were seen and treated a few hours later and both are fine.
In the end, as I was speaking to head doctor Santiago Rosado, he mentioned that the medical group had seen over 2,000 people during their time here in Liberia. What an incredible gift of love and faith Jake, Santiago and the rest of the group were able to give to the people of Liberia.
As usual our beautiful children of Liberia Mission were ecstatic to have our visitors and our visitors were equally moved to be in their presence. On Sunday, October 25, Father Hediberto and Monsignor Robert Tikpor co-celebrated our mass at our church, Saint Michael the Archangel. It was a very moving celebration of the Eucharist and at the end of mass our mission boys choir sang two beautiful songs in honor and praise of the wonderful people who had just brought so much hope and care to Liberia. Personally for me and Clarisa it was an honor and a blessing to once again work side by side with Jake's group.
So to Jake, Santiago, Father Hediberto, Sue, Janet, Teri, Al, Bo, Jenea, Denise, Janet, Karla, Jim, Mike and Lorenzo, the road wasn't always easy.... in fact the road wasn't always there! But how proud you made all of us; and how you blessed all of us.
Thank you so much for all you did. Thank you for loving Liberia and its people enough to come, and thank you for hearing Christ's call.The children and we already miss you and your presence here!
Peace and Prayers,
Jerome and Clarisa
Liberia Mission Directors
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October 2009
LIBERIA MISSION INCORPORATED - “A Place where Love Lives”
Greetings and love from Liberia, Africa!
Clarisa and I just returned to Liberia for our second “tour of duty”. We arrived on Monday, September 21st and were stunned at the greeting the children and the staff gave us as we drove up to the mission grounds. Our souls were lifted so high by all the children who threw their arms around us and were hugging us with all their strength. Before I was able to get to my room I had about 7 kids hanging off me, screaming and carrying on. It was absolutely incredible and it told me without a doubt Clarisa and I are exactly where we need to be at this point in our lives. It is so hard to believe we have already been here more than a year!
Of course the work started at once so we didn’t have time for jet lag; we just had to work through it and press on. The mission was in such great shape when we returned and we owe a HUGE debt of gratitude to both Kevin Rockensies and Joanie Fabiano for sacrificing time out of their lives and making a 6,000 mile journey to make sure the mission was well cared for while we were gone. Kevin is working for the wonderful organization “Teach Peace Foundation”. “Teach Peace” was founded by Dave Dionisi, who was founder of our own Liberia Mission Incorporated and he graciously “loaned” Kevin to us while we were gone. Kevin had already made several trips to Liberia so his familiarity with the country was a big plus in keeping the mission strong and steady. All of you know, or should know, Joanie Fabiano. Joanie is the Executive Director of Mission Honduras International, and like Kevin, she had made many trips to Liberia and the mission so she was a natural at running things in our absence.
This only goes to illustrate the quality of the people we now have in place at Liberia Mission Incorporated. Clarisa and I are blessed to overflowing proportions to be able to work with people like Kevin, Joanie, Dave, Tom Teeling, Joan Agosto, Monica Desmond, John and Sue Dewan and Bob and Kathy O’Dwyer. These are the faces and names that remain stateside to build the very best mission we could have here in Liberia. Their efforts, sweat, tears and prayers have made Liberia Mission Incorporated the huge and growing success that it is today.
But we need another face and another name included in this group to make our vision even more effective….YOURS!
For us to continue down the road we are on, a road of literally re-building and re-shaping an entire country through Christ, education, love and protection, we absolutely need you on our team. Let me update you on some of the great things your support has already helped us achieve.
- The children are eating a better diet than they ever have while here at Liberia Mission Incorporated that includes, fish, chicken, rib meat, chicken feet and eggs. In fact Harris Mulbah, our long serving house father tracked me down a few days before Clarisa and I left for our vacation. He said “Uncle Jerome, look at this belly that Sam Sumo has. He is eating plenty and he is healthy. The children are so happy with their food now.” He then raised Sam’s t-shirt and sure enough his little belly was popping out and he was smiling.
- We have been able to supply the mission church and mission school with electricity for the first time and although it is October the Liberians are ALREADY planning their first mid-night mass here at the mission.
- We have been able to make improvements on the school and also give our teachers a raise in pay.
- In the past week we had 25 new desk tables built for the school that will provide seating for 100 children.
- There now exists a very strong and durable chain-link fence that surrounds the compound and provides added security for all of us at the mission. This is part of our “Child Protection Program” that assures that each and every child in our mission will be taken care of and protected.
- There is a new mission sign, BIG and BOLD, sitting in front of our property that lets all of Liberia know who we are.
- Every child at the mission has a brand new mosquito net for their bed that gives them protection from the malaria carrying mosquitoes that continue to plague Liberia.
You are giving them that chance and our prayer is that you continue to support our efforts and then….bring a friend along to support us.
We love you so much. I know so many of you and I miss all of you. My time that I spent with many of you in Honduras is what keeps me going here in Africa. My memories of you and our time together in Honduras is a big part of my motivation here in Africa. Just know that no matter what you can give or if you give at all the greatest thing you can give us is your prayers and your intercessions. Jesus calls us to great and sometimes difficult challenges but this is a challenge we gladly accept because our kids at Liberia Mission Incorporated are that good, that deserving.
They deserve a chance at a peaceful life.
And rest assured, beyond a shadow of a doubt, when I go to the rooms tonight to hug the kids, and pray with the kids and to high five the kids at lights out, YOU ARE GOING WITH ME, YOU ARE THERE.
May the wonderful God who loves us all and keeps us in His hands bless you and your family with peace and love and may he bless Mamma Liberia.
Peace and Prayers,
Jerome and Clarisa
Directors, Liberia Mission
View the full October 2009 Newsletter Here!
Are you a FAN of Liberia Mission?
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Summer 2009
Dear Friends,
I wish I had enough time to tell you about all of the great things going on here in Liberia, but that would take hours, so I will give you a few highlights.
As for my students, I want you to know just how proud I am of my kindergarten 2 class. For weeks they were refused a spot in the school football (soccer in the States) league because they were only in kindergarten. The other classes laughed at them for wanting to participate....well, they laugh no more! Finally, after convincing the school administration to let my boys play against the first grade, my class overcame a 1-0 deficit in the last 6 minutes of the match to tie up the score.....Then we won the match in a shootout 4-3. As I said....They laugh no more. I am so proud of my boys!
We would like to thank Dave Dionisi, Mary Wind, and the Clement Chiang family for their incredible generosity to all the children here at Liberia Mission. Dave and his crew visited the mission over the new year and really made such a wonderful difference in the lives of these children. Also hats off to extraordinary volunteers Kelly McInhill and Matt Hayes! These people went beyond the call of duty in bringing hope and joy to the poorest of the poor. God bless them all.
My friends, we hold you in our prayers every night. Please continue to support Mission Honduras International - Liberia Mission spiritually, physically, and financially.
You are making such a difference and we need you more than ever! My eyes see for you and my hands have hugged these children for you; you are all with me every time I hold one of these African children or say a prayer with them or go to Mass with them. Your prayers keep us going and the love you have for the missions is felt everyday.
Thank you and God bless each of you. Please remember us in your prayers and intercessions.
Peace and prayers,
Jerome and Clarisa Cabeen
Directors, Liberia Mission
