| | Dear Praying Friends,
We're back! On December 2 at 11:30 we started the 24 hour, three legged journey from Minneapolis to Chicago to Brussels, Belgium and finally, Monrovia, Liberia. We arrived early to the airport in Minneapolis, the flights were all on time and uneventful, and all of our luggage arrived. Without a doubt people were praying for us because in the history of our travels it has never gone more smoothly. So, thanks so much!
Another "first" in our mission work is to be able to move into the same house we left before our home assignment. (That's "furlough" for any who don't know the new lingo.) We arrived to find the city electric off (surprise, surprise) and no candles or matches, but were able to secure those easily enough and could then proceed. It has been an adventure fixing what is broken, replacing what is missing, and generally getting all settled in again.
Back with us to Liberia are Melodie (24), Heidi (14) and Jared (12). Melodie is a short-termer with Baptist Mid-Missions. She will be involved with counseling of women and children, volunteering at an orphanage and starting an encouragement program for MK's (that's missionary kids).
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Heidi (a budding photographer) has already started an herb garden and Jared has been helping with fixing screens and other projects.
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John-Mark (26) has been here in Liberia the entire time we were gone and, needless to say, was quite happy to see everyone again. We had a wonderful week with him, and then Sunday night (12/14) he left for the U.S. where he will be attending a linguistics training program for the next two years.
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Nathan (24) has been the only one not here. He is in his senior year of college and looking forward to graduation in May.
Last Sunday I was asked to speak at Bethlehem Baptist, a large Bassa/English church here in Monrovia. It was our last church service with John-Mark for a long time.
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A BIG thank you to all who gave of your goods, your financial resources, and of your backs to help us fill our container. We are thrilled to be able to share with the Liberian people the clinic supplies, school materials, Bibles and Bible study materials and other items we were given. We had originally planned on a 20-foot container, but when our home church saw the amount of materials we hoped to put into it, in addition to the Mitsubishi Montero (the same one we drove on furlough), they suggested we go up a size and order the 40-foot container and they would pay the difference. Due to some circumstances in and out of our control, the packing of the container ended up being delayed. This, in combination with the additional 20 x 8 x 8 feet of space, allowed us to be able to bring some furniture and appliances we had not planned on bringing, as well as a number of shelves, filing cabinets and other materials which our church has been storing in a basement for months or years. These materials will be a huge blessing to us and our churches and Bible schools. So, a special thank you to Oak Grove Church of Golden Valley for the additional funds for the container and all the work moving the materials and loading the container. As of this week (12/18) the container is now in the port, so it appears that the ship made it across the Atlantic without accidental dropping it from off the massive stack of shipping containers. From a distance they look like so many Legos!
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Please pray for the following requests:
1. We would be able to get the container out of the port with a minimum amount of hassle - and cost.
2. God would protect and guide John-Mark as he starts his new life in the States.
3. God would grant safety and wisdom as we minister at two big conferences upcountry in December and January.
4. God would give wisdom to know which ministries to pursue.
Thank you once again to every one who has had a part in our return to Liberia either through financial gifts, physical gifts, or prayer. May God grant each of you a wonderful Christmas and a blessed new year.
In His service,
Mark, Nancy, Melodie, Heidi and Jared Sheppard
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| | Posted 12/18/2008 9:23 PM - 82 Views - 0 eProps - 2 comments
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