Joe Patterson in Liberia February 1-14, 2006
Wednesday, February 1, 2006
Today, we went to supervise more work at the Clinic. Later, at prayer meeting, we prayed for many different topics. Amos would suggest a topic for us to bring before God and the entire group woul simultaneously, out loud, pray to God.We went and bought the window bars and began seeing the construction of the window frames. We started construction of the eve over the front door of the clinic. We had to suspend the work on the floor because the ground needed to be dug down lowere. We paid for a sign for the Childen's Home to be placed on the main road.
Thursday, February 2, 2006
We went and supervised more work at the clinic--installation of the window frames, purchase of more materials, and more work on the eve. We paid the teachers for their work at the Children's Home, gave them some additional supplies and gave them a contract them their salaries for the upcoming months.
Friday, February 3, 2006
Today is my 20th birthday. We spent most of the day the the clinic supervising work being done on the eve. Twice today groups have sung the 'Happy Birthday' song to me.
Saturday, February 4, 2006
More time spent supervising work at the Clinic. The sign post for the Children's School and the flagpole were delivered today. So, those will encourage the teachers even more.Pastor took me into town to buy some elements for the Lord's Supper on Sunday. We also bought some tiles for the clinic porch and glass for the Clinic sign. He took me into a supermarket and up some stairs. It was quite similar to an American supermarket. Upstairs was a small restaurant. I gasped at how expensive it might be. Well, they had pizza-by-the-slice from $6-$12, but we found something for $5 each. Still a luxury, but not crazy. I was very grateful and when I used the restroom, I noticed that the toilet flushed and the faucet flowed.Some people manage to come to Africa and spend time in hotels and air-conditioned areas. But I am perplexed by the contrast. Wonder why, but be thankful.
Sunday, February 5, 2006
Richard Junior remind me: Ephesians 6:1 "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." John 1:16: "And I will ask the Father and He will give another counselor to be with you forever." Richard is 7 years old.
Monday, February 6, 2006
Today, we spent the day between the Clinic site and the Hardware store. The floor is almost ready to be cast. We bought the window frames and had one of the doors installed.The tiles that we bought and the glass were put on the front wall of the Clinic and is quite a splendid sight. Pastor was pleased. Early morning I have been receiving positive emails and determine to have a good day. Now I am focusing on trying to keep an eye on God's activity for the whole day.
Tuesday, February 7, 2006
Hebrews 12 and 13: Give in to God's discipline. It may hurt but He is the Father. be content. Remember your leaders who spoke the Word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Obey your leaders so their work will not be hindered. God is a consuming fire.
Today, we worked more on the eve that will shelter the porch, front windows, and front door. The carpenter who was contracted to put in the windows and the remaining doors did not come tday.This morning Pastor Wesley and I returned to the Freeport of Monrovia, to the 'junkyard' to buy the center support pole for the eve. Tomorrow, we shoud be able to cast the floor.This evening I talked more with Pastor Wesley about his philosophy of money and ministry. He is not called to Busness; he is called to be a steward of others' earnings. He works hard--but his work benefit those who cannot supprt themselves. He is a channel through which others in America and elsewhere can bless those in Liberia knowing that the money is being well invested in eternally valuable lives.
Wednesday, February 8, 2006
Today, we spent most of the day at the Clinic construction site. We are trying to finish the floor but are running into obstacles as the amount of needed cement is more than we had anticipated--and the budget is already overspent.
Now we are just trying to get the building to a point where we can secure it and present it for consideration again. We want to show what has been done and then request additional support.
Thursday, February 9, 2006
This morning we went to meet with the new Minister of Health and Social Welfare. We are applying for the adoption license and expect the new Minister to be less corrupt and more helpful in the process. Since he is the last person to get the application, he sent us to the Deputy Minister to process the papers. She asked us to come back Tuesday after she had talked with the new Minister about adoption.
Next, we went to visit several large organizations (UNICEF, World Vision, and others). Most of them require written proposals, appointments, etc. or have specific areas, capacities, or approved groups that they work with. They were not very interested in assisting a small clinic--even if the flor is almsot finished.
Friday, February 10, 2006
Today the porch on the Clinic was worked on and the carpenter began doing some work on the doors. I took the opportunity today to send many letters home and to update church members on the progress of the Clinic.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Today at the Clinic, the carpenter is putting in the Clinic doors and window frames. I spent much of the day resting and playing with the Wesley children. I learned a new game from Priscilla--similar to Tic-Tac-Toe--using six rocks. The grid was drawn with coal on the cement slab.I am looking forward to going to church tomorrow and seeing the new doors.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Today was a nice service at the Greater Love Bible Baptist Church. The message was on Psalm 100 and the importance of being joyful. This message is especially important for us to focus on when we are confused, depressed, or do not feel joyful. We can take comfort in knowing that the Lord is God. Tonight, I played some songs for the Wesley children on the piano. One was about how God is still Holy and Sovereign, even when we are confused, unbelieving, and far from him.I am thankful for a Great Big and Powerful God who is always in control and works no matter how I feel.I am beginning to teach Ruth Wesley the basic 3 note chord construction--both major and minor chords.
Monday, February 13, 2006
My spiral bound copy has background information on each of the children at the Greater Love Home. Those names were sent with photographs. These individual photos are being made in preparation for the paperwork which was unable to be completed durin gthe war and other circumstances.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Today I helped Pastor Wesley hook up his scanner and we prepared some documents. One was an application for an addition to the Children's Home and another was a year-end update on the progress of the Children's Hme. One of the realities of working with limited resources is the need to be gaining assisatance from many different groups that specialize and have interest n different aspects of the ministry.World Orphans, for example, will offer some funds for the building of a home, bu do not involve themselves in the funding of the Home. Other groups are only interested in funding of the Home. Other groups are only interested in funding and would not attend to ideas of construction. I am glad when I can assist Pastor to keep a necessary donor like World Oprhans satisfied.
Today, we went to supervise more work at the Clinic. Later, at prayer meeting, we prayed for many different topics. Amos would suggest a topic for us to bring before God and the entire group woul simultaneously, out loud, pray to God.We went and bought the window bars and began seeing the construction of the window frames. We started construction of the eve over the front door of the clinic. We had to suspend the work on the floor because the ground needed to be dug down lowere. We paid for a sign for the Childen's Home to be placed on the main road.
Thursday, February 2, 2006
We went and supervised more work at the clinic--installation of the window frames, purchase of more materials, and more work on the eve. We paid the teachers for their work at the Children's Home, gave them some additional supplies and gave them a contract them their salaries for the upcoming months.
Friday, February 3, 2006
Today is my 20th birthday. We spent most of the day the the clinic supervising work being done on the eve. Twice today groups have sung the 'Happy Birthday' song to me.
Saturday, February 4, 2006
More time spent supervising work at the Clinic. The sign post for the Children's School and the flagpole were delivered today. So, those will encourage the teachers even more.Pastor took me into town to buy some elements for the Lord's Supper on Sunday. We also bought some tiles for the clinic porch and glass for the Clinic sign. He took me into a supermarket and up some stairs. It was quite similar to an American supermarket. Upstairs was a small restaurant. I gasped at how expensive it might be. Well, they had pizza-by-the-slice from $6-$12, but we found something for $5 each. Still a luxury, but not crazy. I was very grateful and when I used the restroom, I noticed that the toilet flushed and the faucet flowed.Some people manage to come to Africa and spend time in hotels and air-conditioned areas. But I am perplexed by the contrast. Wonder why, but be thankful.
Sunday, February 5, 2006
Richard Junior remind me: Ephesians 6:1 "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." John 1:16: "And I will ask the Father and He will give another counselor to be with you forever." Richard is 7 years old.
Monday, February 6, 2006
Today, we spent the day between the Clinic site and the Hardware store. The floor is almost ready to be cast. We bought the window frames and had one of the doors installed.The tiles that we bought and the glass were put on the front wall of the Clinic and is quite a splendid sight. Pastor was pleased. Early morning I have been receiving positive emails and determine to have a good day. Now I am focusing on trying to keep an eye on God's activity for the whole day.
Tuesday, February 7, 2006
Hebrews 12 and 13: Give in to God's discipline. It may hurt but He is the Father. be content. Remember your leaders who spoke the Word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Obey your leaders so their work will not be hindered. God is a consuming fire.
Today, we worked more on the eve that will shelter the porch, front windows, and front door. The carpenter who was contracted to put in the windows and the remaining doors did not come tday.This morning Pastor Wesley and I returned to the Freeport of Monrovia, to the 'junkyard' to buy the center support pole for the eve. Tomorrow, we shoud be able to cast the floor.This evening I talked more with Pastor Wesley about his philosophy of money and ministry. He is not called to Busness; he is called to be a steward of others' earnings. He works hard--but his work benefit those who cannot supprt themselves. He is a channel through which others in America and elsewhere can bless those in Liberia knowing that the money is being well invested in eternally valuable lives.
Wednesday, February 8, 2006
Today, we spent most of the day at the Clinic construction site. We are trying to finish the floor but are running into obstacles as the amount of needed cement is more than we had anticipated--and the budget is already overspent.
Now we are just trying to get the building to a point where we can secure it and present it for consideration again. We want to show what has been done and then request additional support.
Thursday, February 9, 2006
This morning we went to meet with the new Minister of Health and Social Welfare. We are applying for the adoption license and expect the new Minister to be less corrupt and more helpful in the process. Since he is the last person to get the application, he sent us to the Deputy Minister to process the papers. She asked us to come back Tuesday after she had talked with the new Minister about adoption.
Next, we went to visit several large organizations (UNICEF, World Vision, and others). Most of them require written proposals, appointments, etc. or have specific areas, capacities, or approved groups that they work with. They were not very interested in assisting a small clinic--even if the flor is almsot finished.
Friday, February 10, 2006
Today the porch on the Clinic was worked on and the carpenter began doing some work on the doors. I took the opportunity today to send many letters home and to update church members on the progress of the Clinic.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Today at the Clinic, the carpenter is putting in the Clinic doors and window frames. I spent much of the day resting and playing with the Wesley children. I learned a new game from Priscilla--similar to Tic-Tac-Toe--using six rocks. The grid was drawn with coal on the cement slab.I am looking forward to going to church tomorrow and seeing the new doors.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Today was a nice service at the Greater Love Bible Baptist Church. The message was on Psalm 100 and the importance of being joyful. This message is especially important for us to focus on when we are confused, depressed, or do not feel joyful. We can take comfort in knowing that the Lord is God. Tonight, I played some songs for the Wesley children on the piano. One was about how God is still Holy and Sovereign, even when we are confused, unbelieving, and far from him.I am thankful for a Great Big and Powerful God who is always in control and works no matter how I feel.I am beginning to teach Ruth Wesley the basic 3 note chord construction--both major and minor chords.
Monday, February 13, 2006
My spiral bound copy has background information on each of the children at the Greater Love Home. Those names were sent with photographs. These individual photos are being made in preparation for the paperwork which was unable to be completed durin gthe war and other circumstances.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Today I helped Pastor Wesley hook up his scanner and we prepared some documents. One was an application for an addition to the Children's Home and another was a year-end update on the progress of the Children's Hme. One of the realities of working with limited resources is the need to be gaining assisatance from many different groups that specialize and have interest n different aspects of the ministry.World Orphans, for example, will offer some funds for the building of a home, bu do not involve themselves in the funding of the Home. Other groups are only interested in funding of the Home. Other groups are only interested in funding and would not attend to ideas of construction. I am glad when I can assist Pastor to keep a necessary donor like World Oprhans satisfied.
posted by pastorob at 11:02 PM
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