February 2010LIBERIA MISSION COMES TO YOU!
Get to know the children of Liberia Mission - Bring Liberia Mission to your own home, parish, community!
This Fall, Liberia Mission Directors Jerome and Clarisa will be embarking on a three-month tour of the U.S. From September 1st to December 1st, they will be sharing an up-close and personal look into life in Liberia and the amazing children of Liberia Mission.
Are you interested in hosting a Liberia Mission presentation? We are currently seeking "host" homes/communities for Jerome and Clarisa's presentation! This is an amazing opportunity to really connect your parish and community to Liberia Mission!
The presentation will include: video, slide shows, letters by the children, art work, video messages from the children, a detailed explanation of day-to-day life, a brief introduction to the history of Liberia, and inspiring stories about how the mission is actually changing the direction of the country and the future for all of our children.
Interested in hosting? Contact us about scheduling a Liberia Mission presentation today! Email Jerome directly with questions or to schedule a visit. Or call or email Monica.
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
