cJUd&ua^

January, 1976

dolU/^
%

Buchanan, Liberia, West Africa

The MeecesAre Ready For '76

Dear Christian Friends,

1975 was a long and hard year for us here. We were often tired and frustrated, but the Lord always provided what we needed when we needed it. That has given us much confidence. A lot of work was done, and much progress was made; so, we are looking forward to '76 with even higher hopes. This was our first year on the new campus, we had the highest enrollment ever, this was our largest graduating class, our teaching staff is the best we have had, so we feel we have the right to rejoice in the Lord for
what He has done. In addition to the work with the school, we feel that the churches

weareworkingwitharegrowingstrongerdaily. We will give more details of this later.

On December 6, we graduated 27 high school students and two college students. Our biggest class yet, and also it was the largest graduating class in our county. The school continues to gain the respect and support of the people here. We do have our

critics, especially those who cannot made the grade, but we do not believe we have*
any enemies, and we are certain we have many friends.

Thig was our fourth Christmas in Liberia, and we still find it hard to get used to. The first problem is the hot sunny weather, we are in the dry season now, and then
the Liberian customs are a bit different. Santa Claus, dressed more like a Halloween

goblin then St. Nick, comes begging rather than bearing gits. The lights and glitter of Christmas at home is almost non-existent. But anyway, we had a good Christmas
which we were able to share with friends, and we enjoyed it very much.

The three months of school vacation time, December-February, are the months we work most closely with the churches. There are conferences (conventions), youth

camps, and training meetings.

Just after the close of school, Greta and I along with

Tom Kern taught Bible classes for the conference of the World-Wide church here in

Buchanan. The theme of this year's meeting was discipleship. Wayne taught the men's class of about 100, while Greta taught about 150 women and Tom about 30 teen-age and older youth. Greta also helped some of our high school students with materials to teach the children. About 700 people attended the nightly preaching sessions of this conference. The World-Wide church is growing and becoming.more vital every day. They continue to be completely open to the instruction of the Scriptures and willing to
alter their lives and doctrine as the Scriptures lead tliem to do so.

Next week, January 12-18, Wayne, Timothy and Tom Kern will be in youth camp. We will be making one of our longest bush treks to get there, at least six hours walk. We will take two days to make the trip. There is always some delay in getting started and a short drive to the "jumping off place", so we will not get far the first day.
We have been working with this camp for four years now and are pleased with the pro gress it has made. There is no permanent campground. The camp is moved from one

interior village to another each year. This makes it possible for a larger number of youth in the inland areas to get to attend. Some young people willwalk two and three days to and from the camp. We feel that these camps give us a great opportunity to

teach simple Bible truth to the most receptive minds, the youth. It is also a great
chance to challenge and recruit young people into the Lord's service. Last year we were able to challenge two fine young men, and now one year later they are still faithful to their call, and we see them growing day by day.

Greta is finding an unlimited number of opportunities to use the old and post-dated Sunday School and Bible School material that many of you have been sending us. Much of the teaching materials we use in the youth camp comes from that source. Greta has also been able to organize a complete Sunday School program for the youth of the World-Wide church. She p.uts the material together and gives it to the teachers of the various classes. She teaches the teachers, or helps them prepare themselves to teach their classes. Most of these teachers are students from the high school. This is a far better arrangement than for us to teach the classes ourselves. In this way the class learns something and the teacher learns a lot, and also gains valuable experience
that can be used even if we are not able to remain here in the future.

Allof ourworkhereisbasedonthatprinciple-to prepare workers who can help others. It is not Biblical to make the church dependent on others. Wewant to entrust the Word "to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. " (II Timothy 2:2) Gretawillbe the only one who doesn't get to go to camp this dry season. James is in Camp Lawana on the campus of radio ELWA this week, Timothy and Wayne go to the bush next week while Beverly goes toaBaptistgirls camp withsomemissionaryfriends
near Monrovia. James and Beverly will miss a few days of school, but we feel it is

worth it for them to get away for a while on their own in a Christian atmosphere.
We again send our thanks for your faithful prayers and support. We all send our best
wishes to you for 1976.
Yours in Christ,
The Meeces

cr*

5 -

it
-1

Missionaries: Wayne Meece Family

FINANCIAL REPORT

Forwarding Agents: M/M Patrick G . Click

Se^t. 1975 - Jan. 1976

Alverda Christian Church Christview Christian Church Coinmunity Christian Church $ 50.00
200.00

HALLS FERRY CHRISTIAN CHURCH

12105 Old Halls Ferry Road

Florissant, Missouri 63033

60.00 First Christian Church (Gillespie) 627.95 First Christian Church (Carnegie) 203.19 First Christian Church (Havre De Grace) 46.50
25.00

D. Field

J. Guerrant M/M H. Hamm Halls Ferry Christian Church Jeromesville Church o Christ Anonymous
Modesto Christian Church Memorial Christian Church L. McCormick North Tacoma Christian Church

80.00 50.00 2171.63 8.00 127.00

610.00 10. 00 25.00 170. 00

Palmyra Christian Church

Pontoon Beach Church of Christ
Pine Flats Christian Church

163. 62
240.00
125.00

Story Road Christian Church Slate Valley Christian Church

Tower Hill Christian Church Weston Church of Christ

15.00 105. 00
50. 00 120. 00

M/M B. Zuck TOTAL

GENERATOR FUND

45.00 $5312.89

Park Village Christian Church

Dee Pet Clinic

254.00
250.00

Halls Ferry Christian Church TOTAL

200. 00 $ 804.00
532.00

Generator Fund Balance Brought

Forward

GRAND TOTAL

$1336.00

<

JUd&tiO' ^(vtiUieui
Buchanan, Liberia, West Africa
February, 1976
Dear Christian Friends,

Today I will take you with me on an African safari deep into the interior of Liberia, travelling by car, canoe, footpath and footlog over some of the roughest jungle in West
Africa.

or---

_ -,

This was to be the longest trip we have made in our four years of living here in Liberia, so on Saturday, Jtinuary 10, Tom Kern, Timothy and I along with about 30 youth from the African Gospel League set out for a one-week Christian Youth Camp in the bush. The first leg of the trip was by car, open two-ton truck for the young people, over rough and dusty roads about forty miles from Buchanan to where the road
ends at the Timbo River.

After crossing the river on a raft we set out on the trail to our first stop at Bobotown which proved to be two and one-half hours walking time away. We were late in leaving Buchanan, which is usual for a
Liberian schedule, so it was almost dark when we arrived at our destination. We stopped outside the village for a short prayer meeting, giving thanks for a safe trip, before we went on to the village where we were to spend the night. The pastor of the village churchwas waitingfor us andhadprepared a rather surprising and impressive welcome program. Garlands of beautiful flowers and shrubs decorated the entrance to the town, and we were announced by a one-gun (shotgun) salute. Then we were treated to a traditional Bassa war dance. Speeches of welcome were made and Iwas given a leopard's tooth as a welcome gift. The tooth of a leopard is a symbol of strength, courage and respect. About that time I was feeling pretty weak and washed out, but I felt honored.

Early the next momii^ we were on the trail again, without breakfast, for the final leg of the journey. Eight hours later, six of it actual walking, we arrived at our destination. It was some of the hardest work I have ever done and I don't believe 1 was ever so completely tired and worn out. Most of the trip was up hill, and we had walked a total of eight hours in the two days. Perhaps you would be interested in
a few comments I wrote in my journal at the time.

"Thereis nothing romantic about walking through the jungle

like this. The path is often narrow and twists and turns on itself like a stepped on snake. Rain water often turns the

path into a narrow gully, where there are roots, stumps, and

fallen trees to step over and walk around. 'Monkey bridges'

are sometimes only a small unstable log over a deep wash,
running stream, or muddy swamp. There was not more than 300 yards of straight, level path in the whole 25 to 30 miles we walked. There is little chance to look at scenery. The

jungle path is much like the sidewalks of Monrovia, if youdo not keep your eyes on where you are walkingyouwillstep on, trip over or fall into a mess of driver ants, a tree root, or
a swamp."

"There is not really a lot to see either. The high forest towers over you, and sometimes the canopy is 100 feet up.
Thick undergrowth surrounds the path and chokes off all

circulation of air and it is oppressively hot. The humidity

is near 90%, and the temperature rises as the sun climbs in

the sky. Perspiration runs in streams, stings your eyes, fogs yourglasses and soon wets yourclothingso that it would
make little difference if you did fall in a creek. The few clearings at farms and town sites are ovenhot and the sun
An 8 ft. tall "talking drum" welcomed us.

light is blinding after the deep shade of the jungle.

About the only cool spots with any breeze at all is at the mouth of a path into the jungle near one of
theseclearings. It is almost exactly like themouth ofacave both in appearance and in that there is a cool

breeze coming out of the cool shade of the jungle into the sun-heated clearing. "

whiff of their sweet scent. Most of the time, however, there is just the dank odor of rotting wood and
fruit and stagnant water. "

"The jungle is always, even in the dry season, alush green. There areafew flowers, and at times you get a

began to feel that it was well worth the effort. One good thing, I lost six pounds which I haven't gained
back yet.

Well, all of that I wrote while it was all fresh onmy mind, and perhaps a little too dose to the event to see It as reasonably as I should. After a few days to forget the misery and discomfort of such awalk I

hadwalkedmuchfartherthenwe. 1taught aclass on the New Testament Church, andTomKern taught the

The youth camp itself was very enjoyable. There were about 50 young people at the camp, some of whom

Life of Paul. We also took Paul Tarr, one of our college students, with us tohelp with the classes Some of our students are developing into fruitful and effective witnesses among the churches.
theirtwo children are ready tocome and will probably be here by the time this letter is in the mail Also

We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of new workers by the first of March. Ken and Carolyn Vogel and
Mr. William Ayers, a retired school teacher from the Christian Church in Youngstown. Ohio, should be here any day now. Mr. Ayers isLiberianby birth, but he has lived in the States for many years and is now
an American citizen. These two new helpers will be a tremendous relief to us.

The present world money problem is beginning to have its effect on our support. Our forwarding agent, Mr. Click, tells us that a few churches and individuals have stopped
our support and that others are not meeting former pro portions. As a result we are beginnir^ to feel the pinch here on the field. I have asked Mr. Click to writea reportwhich will be included in this letter. Your prayerful attention to this will be much needed and deeply appreciated.

We have deeply appreciated the response to an appeal for

funds to purchase a generator for emergency use here when

the current goes off and for the use of the mission work in areas where there is no electrical power. We have a few filmstrips on hand and a good projector to show them, so a generator would be useful. Mr. Click informs me that that

fund is now near or perhaps over the set goal. So, in connec tion with this, there is another project that we want to put
before you. For a long time we have felt a need for a small
pick-up truck to use in some of the workat the school. Often

when we are in building projects we have to spend extra money

to transport materials to the campus. Also we have had to pay to transport overseas shipments from the port of Monrovia to Buchanan. A recent shipment of books sent as a

gift to the school cost over $100 to get from Monrovia to

Buchanan.

Village child - innocent, happy, free.

The Lamco Mining Company often sells fairly good used VW pick-up trucks for about $500, We have $200 on hand for this project and there may be a little extra in the generator fund, but we would be happy if
someone could give a little extra help.

The 1976 school year begins March 1, which means we will all be back in the "saddle" again. The "vacation" time has been a busy one this year and has passed too quickly. Wewillhave about 140 high school students and 25 college students this year. The new missionary help will greatly enhance the college program.
Personally, we are all well and happy. James and Beverly are attending the Lamco school as usqal and.are

doing well. James, who has been a bit slow in some areas, has bloomed out as a fine studnet ih' the past few months, and we are happy about that. Timothy will be taking 11th grade at Christian High- thfs year and making up some of the 10th grade, which he skipped last year, by correspondence. Please continue to pray for us: We still have 1 1/2 years to go this term. Our greetings and prayers aVe with you all. /'

/-l' - f Yours for Christ in Libff^,rf ^

The Meeces

THE MEECE FAMILY AND

LIBERIA CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

Missionaries: Wayne Meece Family

Forwarding Agents: M/M Patrick G . Click

Dear Christian Friends,

I'd like to share with you in a personal note, some

needs of our laborers for Christ in Liberia.

HALLS FERRY CHRISTIAN CHURCH

12105 Old Hails Ferry Rood

Florissant, Missouri 63033

As many of you know the Wayne Meece family left

Halls Ferry Christian Church in 1970 to prepare for a call they felt the Lord was giving them to
serve in Liberia.

In January 1971 they arrived and began the task along with the Charles Boatman family of estab

lishing an indigenous college to train Liberians to

preach to Liberians.

The work in Liberia has gone well and 1 feel our missionaries have been good steward's with the Lord's money. They only use enough to support themselves. The Liberians have provided the materials for buildings and construction of the College along with donations of material from the local mining company.
But we have a matter for prayer. On our side of

this mission work, the support has been dropping. It is a matter of great importance that we give
more support to the Meece family in their work.

Of course all the support cannot come from Halls Ferry but there may be those who would give more
if they know of this need. There are those not

involved in mission giving that might take this

opportunity to become involved. r
>

With your help and that of other concerned Chris tians in the many churches the financial needs of our missionary family can be met. Missions giving is a very good investment in world peace. Instead of sending arms, let's send tliose armed with the Word of God and preachingChcist

<

55

the Prince of Peace.

In His Service,
Patrick G. Click

Forwarding Agent
10345 Castle Drive

St. Louis, Missouri 63136

jUd&UO'
Buchanan, Liberia, West Africa
May, 1976
Dear Christian friends,

The beginning of the schoolyear is always a busy and trying time. It is a struggle to have enough teachers for all the classes, and it is a lot of work to process all the applications and grade all the entrance tests. Our school year begins in March, so we are presently well into the 1976 school year. Our enrollment is 119 for the high school
and 22 for the college. This has been the usual number for the past few years, with a slight growth in the college from year to year.

The new crew Meeces, Vogels, and Tom Kem

The Ken Vogel family arrived in early March, just a few days before school began.
They have been a personal blessing to us and a much needed addition to the work force. Ken began teaching regularly in both the high school and college the next week after
he arrived. That is the way we must do here. We don't have much time for the for

malities of orientation. Whena new worker arrives, we put him to work immediately. Ken is teaching Science in the high school and New Testament in the college. With their sons. Heath and Nathan, they have settled into their house on the school campus, and have begun to adjust to the violent culture shock that everyone receives when moving into one of Africa's most undeveloped areas. Somehow the pictures you see, the talk, and the letters just do not get the true picture across, and new people are always shocked with the real thing.
Our liberian teaching staff continues to grow, and nowthey are in the majority on the

high school Staff. This year six liberiansand four Americans make up the high school faculty. Of the four Americans, three are missionaries and one is Peace Corps. It
hgis been our plans to turn the high school program over to the Libericins as soon'as

possible. It looks like we will complete this in about two more years. All of our high school teachers have been trained in our high school or college or sometimes both.
All but one are now taking college classes, and he will enroll next semester. This

year, for the first time in the history of the school, we have a Liberian, James Morgan,
teaching college classes.

Some of you may be interested in the effectiveness of the high school in our overall program of producing trained leadership for the Liberian churches. Frzmkly, the high school does better thanwe e}q>ected. Onegraduate from the class of '75 is the minister of one of the largest, most active churches in the city of Buchanan. He is taking classes at the college this year. A youngmanwhograduated in '74 spent a year teaching in his village school suid working with the youth in his home church. Greta provided materials for his work, and he reported that more than 100 youngpeople 2u:enow active in the SundaySchool he organized there. Herecentlytold me of his interest in tredning
for the Christian ministry; so this year I asked him to be the Bible teacher for our junior high clsisses. He is also enrolled in the college. A somewhat older mein (about

thirty) who was among the first graduates in 1971, has for the past four years been the prime mover in organizing the youth camps we have been writing about. This year he also entered the college program and has expressed interest in the ministry. In addition to these, many of our high school students are Sunday School teachers, in terpreters (treinslating from Bassa to English), and youth leaders in many of the churches of the area. Mar^ of them teach in the Sunda^r School program Greta has
started.

Because we now have a quailified Liberian to do the job, Greta is no longer teaching Bible in the high school. She is using her time and efforts to promote better Sunday Schools in the area churches. At present she has two schools going with a total en-

rollntentof more than 150. Two other congregations recently approached her for help.
Greta has been using the old Sunday School and V. B.S. materials you have sent us to

keep these schools supplied with study materials and teaching aids. She actually does little of the classroom teaching, but has trained members of the local congregations (Many are our ownhigh school students.) to teach the classes and use the teaching aids themselves. On occasion she does substitute for a teacher who needs help or is out of town. The Liberian teachers do a much better job with the teaching, because they
understand and speak the local dialect, and understand their own culture much better.

These post-dated or old materials that many of you have been sending us have provided a most useful and fruitful ministry, and we encourage you to keep sending them.
Materials for teenage level and lower are the most useful, so we ask that you not send adult material. Most adults in the churches do not read, and the material is "over

the head" of most who can read a little. So please keep the youth material coming.
We are sorry that Mr. William Ayers has not been able to join us yet. He was to have

come in March, but he was not able to do so because of financial problems. Mr. Ayers is a native of Liberia who has lived in the U.S. for many years and is now a U.S. citizen. He has planned to return to Liberia after retirement from his teaching position in the Youngstown, Ohio, school system. Please pray that his problems will
soon be solved, and that he will be able to come back to Liberia.

Apsirt from the usual minor aches sind pains of the tropics, we are all in good hesilth.
We are too busy to get homesick, bored, or lonesome. We have many friends. Our

house is always busy, and never a day goes by without a visitor usually several. Sometimes it gets to be a problem when so many people come that we have no privacy. Last Sunday afternoon Greta counted eleven different family units and individuals who came to visit. There were so many that she ran out of glasses for refreshments.
In a hot climate like this, it is almost an insult not to offer a visitor a cold drink. -

We appreciate the many gifts and letters we have received recently. All of us have had birthdays since January; so to those who remembered, we say "many thanks. "

Your prayers continue to be our most useful blessings. We pray for you too I Love
to ^1.

Yours for Christ in Liberia,

The Meeces

jUd&icO' C'iwUtiM ^olie/^

Buchanan, Liberia, West Africa
September, 1976

fii k

Dear Co-Workers,

Greetings from Liberia in His strong name. It is time we brought you up to date
on the news from here.

While some of youhavebeenexperiencir^ extremely and unseasonably hot and dry weather, we have been having our coolest and wetest weather. Last night (August 30) was so cool we slept under a blanket. Recently Greta recorded a period of eleven days of almost constant rain day and night. More is to come with Septem ber and October being heavy rain months.
During our mid-term school vacation we made another trip to the bush that I want to tell you about. It seems that each of these trips has its own unique situation and experiences. This trip was no exception; the Liberian bush is full of surprises. The trip was as physically demanding as it was spiritually reward ing and fruitful. We were able to take part in the dedication of a new church building and minister's home; helped make contacts for the opening of a new village to the preaching of the Gospel with the strong hope that a new congre gation will soon be established there; observed the response of ten persons to Christ and their subsequent baptism, and rejoiced in the Lord as Liberian Chris tians made strong and decisive moves toward a more Biblical approach to the Christian Ministry and regular observance of the Iiord's Supper.

The occasion for this trip was the minister's training conference of the WorldWide Missions of Liberia. From the beginning of our work, these folk have been the most active and responsive participcints in Liberia Christian College and any related programs of Bible study and teaching.
The conference was held in Deetown, Rivercess Territory of Grand Bassa County, about 60 miles inland from Buchanan. The first part of the trip was by motor

road but it was not necessarily the most pleasant. In fact the last few miles of the road had been newly constructed, and the recent heavy rains had turned
the new road into a river of mud. From the end of the road we walked six hours
to reach Deetown.

Injuly we traded vehicles. We sold our car and bought a Toyota Land Cruiser, a jeep-type vehicle especially designed for bad roads. It has four-wheel drive. Well, we found out what it would and would not do. We "baptized" it figuratively
and almost literally. By the time we arrived back in Buchanan both the jeep and

its passengers were muddy from head to foot or top to bottom as the case may be. We got stuck, four-wheel drive and all, and had to literally dig it out
of the mud with our hands. It was night and we had been walking since noon, so we were dead tired, but eifter we looked at each other wallowing around in the

knee-deep mud we began to laugh. The tension and fatigue went away, for a while anyway. Soon some men from a nearby village came to help, and with a little extra effort we got out. We made it home without further mishap, but the
wives did not welcome us home with the usual enthusiasm. In fact it wasn't

until we had a good bath that they were sure they had the right men back.

Carolyn Vogel later commented that after her first look at mud-coated Ken, (It was 10:30 at night) she hoped there had been some mistake. Did you ever
kiss a mud fence? Yuck!

Theconferenceitself was a great success. There were fifty ministers, elders, deacons and church leaders present for a week of training and Bible study. The
theme for the week was Church Growth. Ken Vogel and I were to do the major part of teaching the Bible classes each day. Ken concentrated on Church Growth Through Evangelism, using the conversion stories of Acts and Jesus' Kingdom parables as a base. I used the theme. Church Growth Through Christian Unity and Education. The men responded eagerly to the Bible truths we were able to help them see.

During the business sessions of the conference a decision was reached that was particularly meaningful. The Ministry in most Liberian churches follows the

typical denominational pattern. So most congregations cannot have the Lord's Siqpper unless there is an "ordained" minister present. During past conferences and training sessions we had tried to present the Biblical approach to some of these problems. Consequently the men decided to greatly simplify the com-

munion service and designated men in every congregation, not necessarily ordained ministers, to see that the Lord's Supper was celebrated regularly. The Word had gained another victory without the need o organizational pres sure being applied.

Near the end of the conference a delegation from a village three hours walking
distance from Deetown arrived with an invitation for World-Wide Mission to

open a preaching station in their town. Ken Vogel went with the survey team that was dispatched the next day to look into the situation, I stayed behind to continue the teaching program. They found several believers already living in the town and about 40 people interested in working with a new congregation. It was decided that an evangelistwould be sent to begin preaching sessions there immediately. The minister from the Buchanan church was put in charge of this new field. There is a strong hope that a thriving congregation will soon be established. Later a school and perhaps a clinic will be built that will enhance the work. This seems to be a strong mission approach. It is good that the

church is able to bring schools and clinics in its wake. To start with a school in hopes of a church growing out of it seems to me to be "getting the cart
before the horse. " The former is a testimony; the latter is a bribe.

The work with the Bible schools has grown rapidly in the past few months. Carolyn Vogel has been helping Greta with the work. August 15th we visited
Dolostown, near Robertsfield, about 60 miles from Buchanan by motor road.

We helped organize a new Bible School there and have been supplying teaching
materials. There are about seventy students in two classes meeting in the

Gospel League Church. Plans are also under way by the same group to begin a
school in Monrovia.

As these schools grow and multiply, the need for used or post-dated Sunday School and V. B. S. materials grows with it, so we continue to encourage you to send this material to us. It is needed and we will put it to the best possible
use.

Beverly and James have returned to the Lamco International School on August

26th. Bev is in the ninth grade (She will graduate this year.), and James is in the eleventh grade and is also doing correspondence work. We are all well and happy. Daily we thank the Lord for his blessings and for you who make it possible
for us to live and work here.

Yours in Christian Love,

The Meeces (/

Missionaries: Wayne Meece Family Forwarding Agents: M/M Patrick G . Click

Anonymous
C. Alcom

FINANCIAL REPORT

JANUARY-AUGUST 1976
?325.13
50.00 50.00 40.00
20.00

Alverda Christian Church

Frank Barr Family

HALLS FERRYCHRISTIAN CHURCH

M/M W. S. Barr
Christview Christian Church

12105 Old Halls Ferry Road

Florissant, Missouri 63033

300.00
60,00 225.00 28.00 125.00 255.00

Community Christian Church

Colchester Christian Church

First First First First

Christian Christian Christian Christian

Church Church Church Church

(Havre DeGrace) (Jacksonville, Illinois) (Carnegie, Pennsylvania) (Gillespie, Illinois)

1,198.07
50.00 50.00
126.55

J. Guerrant

J. Hill

Halls Ferry Christian Church (VBS Marching Funds)

Halls Ferry Christian Church (Vehicle Fund)
Halls Ferry Christian Church P. & J. Kern
Modesto Christian Church P. McDonald

175.00

5, 221.06
50.00
758.65

17.00 270.00 125.00 179.14

Pontoon Beach Church o Christ Pine Flats Christian Church

Palmyra Christian Church

Park Village Christian Church

M/M W. Shaw
P. Senter

255."00
100.00 50.00 543.70 50.00 120.00 45.00

St. Louis Christian College Woodbridgfi Christian Church

Weston Church of Christ (Ladies Missions)
M/M B. Zuck
TOTAL GENERATOR FUND

$10, 862.30

Halls Ferry Christian Church

$195.00
50.00

Halls Ferry Christian Church (Lydia Circle)

TOTAL

$245.00

GRAND TOTAL

$11,107.30

'Ex
e.
o

oCd&UO' ^JvuUiajn
Buchanan, Liberia, West Africa
November, 1976
Dear Co-Workers,

Greetings from hot, wet, rainy Liberia where the longest and heaviest rain season of
our six years here is finally showing signs of yielding to the dry season. Afew weeks
^

ago heavy rains flooded the capital

city of Monrovia, about 90 miles from where we live in Buchanan, causing extensive damage and

leaving hundreds homeless^. A few

overflowed, and springs suddenly

pf^piP"

\
Flood water in in Buchanan

sprang up everywhere, even in the

streets, roads andhighways. Cars

and trucks sank into quicksand sink

holes caused by these springs in the
, road. _ _, . . On one unpaved street near

our house, the children counted nine vehicles stuck in one of these holes in one day.
The street was closed for several days. On top of all this, we got an over-night

deluge of more than twenty inches of rain; and for the first time in our experience
streets were flooded, roads were blocked, and one road was completely washed out. We took a few pictures which we will send along with this letter.

The 1976 school year is rapidly coming to an end. The high school ninth and twelfth

grade classes have taken the national examination which is requiredof all students to pass those grades. Commencement is scheduled for December 5, and, depending on the
test results, we will graduate about eighteen high school students. One student has

completed the two-year junior college ptogram and will be granted an Associate of
Science diploma from the college.

...

For about a month now we have been

working our way through the maze o government red tape to get a
residence visa for Ron and Shirley

Ayers, who are due to join us soon

after the the

^
" lu *
'

one more trip to Monrovia should along with George Wacaser were the first
missionaries from the Christian

Churches to arrive here in October, 1970, will return to the work with

Shirley, his bride since August,

_, , , j ^ T Flooded road to Lamco after earning a Masters Degree ^ from Lincoln Christian Seminary,

Lincoln, Illinois. Itwillbe good to haveRonbackwithusagainandtomeetandgettoknowShirley. We anticipate a strong working partnership with them as well as covet the greater Christian fellowship they will add to the Christian community here. Wewillalso put them to work. Shirley has talents in the Business field as well as Bible college.
Another family who is presently seeking entry into another country, has expressed interest in Liberia as a second choice if they cannot get permission to work where they had first planned. Presently it looks as if they will come to Liberia at least on a temporary basis until they have some definite, final decision about their visa. No

missionaries have been granted

the present it would be both unwise

and improper for us to use their

names. Until matters become

clear, pray for them; it is a trying

Beverly and James inspect a washed out street.

After schoolcloses inDecember, we will begin almost immediately what promises to

be one of our most eventful dry seasons of work. We have a church conference (con
vention) scheduled in Monrovia during the Christmas season. (The children, wives too, I think, are a bit upset by the date; but we did not plan it.) On January 9th we will

teach a youth camp in the interior. All of us, including the children, will go on this
trip, and we hope Ron and Shirley Ayers can get here in time to join us. There are at least two Minister's training conferences planned for the month of February, some where in the interior. The work of preparing for the beginning of the next school year also demands a lot of our attention and time, so you see, school vacation usually turns
out to be our most hectic time.

Greta has not been in too good health lately. She has had two serious attacks of malaria in the lastmonthandisstillweakfrom the lastof these. She says thiat the treatment

is almost as bad as the disease itself, leaving her weak and with no appetite. As of this writing (November 15) she is considerably better, but still weak, and we request that you pray for her particularly that she may not have a relapse or recurrence.

for her teeth to be stra

One of our newly organized Sunday Schools near

Robertsfield, sixty miles from Buchanan

xim is attending Christian High

mission school) and

taking correspondence courses from the University of Nebraska on a high school level. Beverly and James attend the international school at the Lamco Mining Co. This year Beverly will get some very practical on-the-job training.and experience through the school. This week she is working as a secretary's helper in one of the main offices at the mine. Next week she will help in the hospital. She is all excited about it.
Wehave been lax in our letterwriting lately and have missed hearing from some of you.
We will try to do better, but we would still like to hear from you. We send our love and prayers to you and covet yours for us in return.

^ I

Because He lives,