Michael's Christmas

Seasons Greetings.

I say this with joy for it is a remembrance of Jesus birth but I also have a heaviness in my heart today. Because today we have one less little boy celebrating Jesus's birth with us.

Little Michael (whose mother died this past year) was in a foster home in Liberia. We have a wonderful family from Wisconsin sponsoring him and his little sister in that home and Michael was even able to start to go to school due to this sponsorship.

I, and others with me, enjoyed meeting Michael once again on our recent trip to Liberia. We took pictures of him in his school uniform. He was so proud. Soccer balls were given to some of the kids. (they love their soccer there)

Sad news.. stuck this past week. Michael mysteriously disappeared.

Michael and some other boys decided to play soccer after their last day of school in a near by soccer field. The ball got away from them and rolled into a neighboring yard where it fell down an uncovered abandoned 25 ft well. Michael went after it by himself. After attempting to fish it out himself, Michael accidentally feel in the well and drowned. No one was aware of this as he was by himself. All the kids thought he got the ball and went home so they did too. His foster family spent many days searching for him and asking for him. Pst Peter went looking for him as well. They involved the police who put both families under investigation for wrongdoing and neglect. I know these men. They loves these children and would give the world for them.

After several days a lady in the neighborhood made mention of an unusual amount of flies over a nearby abandoned well. Police were called to investigate and they discovered Michael's body there. Because it had been there too long for the conditions of Africa- they had to leave him there and bury him there within the well which was filled with dirt and capped. Both Pastors were cleared of any neglect.

"I am sadden, sick and confused." said Pst Peter. "The rest of the external families now continue to converge to my house daily. I am writing to all of you this way because we have been silenced for so long looking for this boy. We have traveled in Gbarnga, Bomi and Firestone in search of this boy and to just turned out to be this unfortunate way."

Michael was much loved by his foster family, his sponsoring family, his birth family, his extended family, neighbors, and others in the community. Please be in prayer as Pst Peter travels into the bush this Christmas eve to share the devastating news to the rest of Michael's birth family.

This story puts into perspective the holiday season in so many ways. We as Americans may "feel" we are struggling. Perhaps financially, or physically, or spiritually, or even emotionally. We indeed forget that we have roofs over our heads, food on our tables, and loved ones by our side.

Jesus was born for all of us. The struggling and the not so struggling. Lets remember all our family and neighbors this time of year both here in our neighboring back yards and in our International back yards. Yes hold your loved ones a little closer this holiday season and remember- we have the power to extend our love and support to others in so many other ways that will benefit the many who go with out. Michael and his sister were helped through sponsorship of one family who cared enough to get involved in their lives. To reach out in ways that helped their little lives. And in return I know this family received so much more. What a gift.

May you spread peace, love, and encouragement to others all year through,

he is asking for a widows mite this Christmas..

Dear Donna,
Best greetings and wish you all other blessings for this Seasons celebrations. I am in serious situation with my arms as a disabled. I am loosing my arms and as a result, feel a heavy pain in them. I have being donated a car that I need to buy the windshade. This will facilitate my movement smoothly. The cost for this wind shade is three hundred twenty five USD. You are the only person I seriously trust and rely on in this case to help me out. Your interest in promoting disabled people World Wide is extremely a strength. It is my plan to take this car to the garage by the 27th of December for this repair work. I am really in need of a car. Please give your widow's mite. I am grateful for this gesture.My coming to Cuttington will be a joy instead of worry and sadness. Thanks for being my help in time past and up to present.God richly bless you. Yours truly, Peter Mulubah

Dear Donna,
I am pretty glad for your concern and willingness to help in the coming months. What I have now for this worthy cause is one hundred USD. I am using that amount now to take the car to garage even before the 27th I mentioned earlier.The balance is two hundred twenty five dollars to complete the process.

Though end of the year comes with many things, I am at your feet like Mary sitting at the Feet of Jesus listening for the Word she urgently needed for her soul. That is me at the moment. Please rescue me .Your willingness to give your widow's mite will strengthen me to get my car from the garage for use. My health issue now as I speak worries me especially my difficult movement.

Coming months are really far but I can not help it because the earliest time is the best time to arrest the situation. I look forward to your good will gesture. Thanks for your love and concern for me and many other disabled people.
Yours,
Peter Mulubah

Dear Donna,
How are you this morning? I wish all is well with you and dear family.The happy Seasons are additional advantage of that happiness.

Please remember my request as you have asked me to update you on my vehicle problem. Right now the car is in the garage but the only hold on is the balance two hundred twenty five dollars. I am sure you can be a help as far as my trust in you is concerned. I am again on my way to the garage to see about other small electrical works. With the one hundred I had I am seriously working with it and I have only twenty dollars left. Your willingness to pull me out this heat will allow fresh air to blow on me as a disabled.

Please timely consider me and let me be happy for this World Celebrations-Christmas. May God bless you for your kind generosity with my ears open to you. Thanks
Peter Mulubah

*Is there anyone that will hear the plight of this poor man and help him this holiday season? I met him in Liberia at Cuttington University. He is disabled. Conditions are hard for the handicap there. Let me know if it is you that God is calling to help him in any way you can. Thank you.

"It isnt the size of the gift that matters, but the size of the heart that gives it"

child victims of caustic poisioning..updates..

Silas was our poster child for our caustic prevention and education campaign in Liberia. Because of the generous donations and dedication of several people, Silas has a chance at a normal life today. Just look at him! Here is an update from Karen who worked as a nurse on Mercy Ship and who advocated so diligently on his behalf.

"It looks like this will be one of my last updates on Silas. I spoke with Dr. Mike this morning . . . it was wonderful! He shared what a joy it has been to be part of God's plan to heal Silas. Dr. Mike and his wife just arrived back in Kenya a few days ago and he has been thrilled to see how well Silas is doing. He said, "he's a different child now, he's all boy. He's climbing trees, running, playing and he has gained 5 pounds in the last 5 weeks!" He has no signs of complications - they did a swallow study with contrast yesterday that showed that everything has completely healed without any scar tissue or narrowing strictures. Silas does have some trouble swallowing when he gets too much food in his mouth. He said that some of the cervical esophagus has lost its peristalsis - so it doesn't move the food in that section, except by gravity . . . so if he tries to swallow a big bolus of food - it gets "stuck" and he has to wash it down with water. Silas will just have to get used to this and prevent it by SLOWING down when he eats :). No one expected this kind of miraculous recovery (it has been 2 months since his surgery) and all we can say is, "to God be the Glory - great things He has done"!

Thank you for your prayers, love and financial gifts that have helped make this possible. My heart is overflowing with joy . . . okay, so tears are streaming down my face as I type this . . . because God has done far more than I ever hoped for or imagined! Thank you Lord!! What a joy it will be to see what plans God has in store for Silas - only time will tell.

I know that both Kemah and Silas say a huge thank you to all that helped to make this possible. Some have asked me if we still need finances for them . . . and I don't know. I am waiting to get the final bill from Bethany Kids before I can answer that question - feel free to contact me if you have any questions about this and I'll let you know once I have an update.

It will be a big adjustment for Silas when he returns to Liberia. Life will not be easy - that is just a reality. Please remember to pray for them as they transition back to life in Liberia and fly home on Monday, November 1st.

Dr. Mike attached a photo that was taken of him with Silas and Kemah. He and his wife invited them over to their home where they had a meaningful time of prayer and thanksgiving to God. Dr. Mike is confident that both Kemah and Silas are ready to go home! He shared what an incredible gift it was to have both Kemah and Silas run to greet him with a huge hugs and words of gratitude upon his return to Kenya. He said that he has practiced surgery for 40 years and rarely has he seen this overflowing joy . . . . it was all the payment he needed and more - what a special moment - when people remember to return and say "thank you"!

God is good!!!

Karen

Below are two messages - the first is from a man who just led a team to Kenya and worked at the hospital in Kijabe and the other is from Dr. Mike. The team put up a retaining wall and Silas helped them - apparently he knew how to lay mortar as he learned this from his father. It sounds like they all enjoyed each other . . .

First Message:
Hi, what a joy it was to meet Silas and Kemah, for me it was a major blessing and a reason why GOD in HIS big plan had our team and myself in Kenya. After reading the emails that Steve had forwarded to me, the only thing I can say is, isn't GOD amazing how HE puts all the pieces together. Thank You for the HUGE piece that you have done.

I am not a doctor, but from my perspective Silas is doing well. He spent almost every waking moment with us for 3 days. He ate with us, worked with us, and played with us. He is a very smart 7 year old boy full of a lot of energy. He is still on somewhat of a liquid diet, but he loves M&M and Skittles (we where his suppliers) even though he has trouble at times swallowing them if he doesn't chew them well, but a glass of water helps him get them down.

Kemah seems to be doing fine, as you said in one of the emails she loves Silas and GOD very much. She was very thankful that we reached out to Silas. I think it gave her somewhat of a break, not having to be by his side all the time for those 3 days.



Here is another little boy we were hoping to advocate more for as well with the same condition. Little Isaiah had some help from another organization in Liberia where he was taken to Germany for a feeding tube. That does not fix the problem. It just buys them time. Isaiah's time ran out. He passed away from his injuries. Please remember that there are many Silas's and Isaiah's in Liberia who need our help. Through our caustic prevention and education campaign we CAN help prevent more of this child tragedies. Contact us and let us know you too want to help! #715-415-4401 . Go to our website and learn more ...

Depraved Indifference

Please view this video with an open heart-let it not offend but speak to you.

Cinderella .. in Liberia

Everyone knows the story of Cinderella. I want to share with you a True Cinderella story straight out of Liberia. Only the ending hasnt been written yet. This little girl's name is Princess and she is 12 yrs old. Yes it is true. Her name is Princess. Her mother basically threw her away. On one of my trips to Liberia I was riding in a taxi with her mother and she said to me that she didnt want her. She said "she is not my child. Take her. I never want to see her again." I about bawled on the spot. I wondered, how could a mother be so heartless to her own child? And to a girl who is so gentle in nature. So her grandmother took her in and that is where she lives to this day. She has nothing else. She owns nothing else. She cooks, cleans, baby sits her nephews ALOT, minds the market they run near by, and in her spare time... she goes to school. An opportunity she would have not had had it not been for Global's school scholarship program. She has gone from 3rd grade to 5th grade in one year. She strives to jump two grades again this year by working hard in school.

This girl didnt let it push her down that her own mother didnt want her. She is not the typical child who feels life owes her like children here in America. She is not behaving atypical even in Liberia by begging for her needs. She is taking what she has and doing something with it. An opportunity- an education. She knows it is her future. Its all she has.

You know what I love about her- her spirit! She has this resilient spirit to keep on keeping on. Even when life has handed her "bad deal" so early in life.

This is the school Princess attends- Helping Hands School. It is in the Rock hill community. A very poor community.

See this school? Now compare it to where you child attends school! Can you imagine? What I so appreciated about the director of this school was her can do attitude - she couldnt wait for funding or a hand out to take action and start teaching kids who desperately needed an education. So she did what she had to do to make a difference in her part of the world. And she is doing it with volunteers and with teachers who are paid $14.00 a month. (do you know a bag of rice costs 60.00 a month so this is not even enough to feed a family) And a building that is literally falling down around them. These kids have no desk or even chairs. They sit in the dirt and write on tablets in their laps. They have no lunch to eat. They dont even have clean water. They drink from a bucket of water that was pulled from a creek several yards away. Could you start a school with that kind of responsibility based on little resources?

What kind of education do you think you would get here?

And here we are outside the school. Yes they need you. And you need them! A small donation does so much. Here is some interesting notes about this school:

The School was founded in September 2007 by Madame Mary G. Jabbah. The purpose of opening the school was to help children who were out of school due to financial constraints. Also, to help disabled children who needed to be included into the activities of all the children in the nation, Liberia. The school program is extended to children who are disabled, orphans, and way war.

The school currently has 67 students, including 6 disabled, and 10 orphans. There are also 7 teachers and the number of teachers is expected to increase.

B. Challenges/Needs

The school has an 11-classroom building under construction as funds allow. There are no text books, sitting capacity for students, feeding for orphans and disabled, registration of the school with national government, etc. The need is great.

There is a need for 300 chairs which cost 10USD/chair. Also, teachers are being paid 1,000 Liberian dollars or 14.70 USD per month. According to Mary, she has to break rocks and sell before meeting her teachers' monthly salary. The reason is students are paying a little yearly tuition fee of 1,700 LD or 25 USD. Even some parents can not afford this amount. Besides, she needs 75, 000 LD or 1,103 USD to register the school with government because she wants it elevated to Junior High Level.

C. Way Forward

In this light, she would like a help of bus or a vehicle to run as transport. This will greatly help to generate funds to upgrade the school. This transport car could also bring the disabled to school. With the transport car, she will be able to fully monitor it. Unlike, power saw, generator, etc.

So you can see- they are not asking for someone to come build their school. They are willing to do for themselves. To make a way for funding. But they need your help. A good transportation vehicle to bring children to school and produce a revenue by which to build the building. You can contact us if you can help and are wanting more information. (globalorphanoutreach@yahoo.com) Just think what you could do for a school of 67 children and for this community. I know we all look at ways to give a little extra during the holiday season, Why not here? Why not help knowing your dollars truly impacted a community in a grass roots effort sort of way. And please be praying for all the children of this school and their teachers.

And Princess? Well when I left the school she came running up to me and gave me a big hug and a tee shirt from her school. Its what they wear as part of their uniform. She said please tell your daughter about me and my school. She is happy to be in school. She shared something so precious that day. A part of her. Beauty from Ashes-So Sweet! A real Cinderella come to life story.

(Here are a couple of videos from the school. You can see the condition of the school and hear from the director of the school)