Hello my Friends and Thank You!  I have been reflecting upon the concert, my trip, the people in Liberia, you, and thanking God for all of you.  It was so great to see many of you Sunday at worship. 

I want to thank all of you who supported me on this trip.  Thank you especially for giving to the kids.  Thank you for your prayers.  There were times in our devotional time everyone morning that I thanked God for you and all the others who were at home praying for us.  There were times while we were there, when I just knew that people were ‘praying us through’.  God answered your prayers and sustained us in miraculous ways!  So I thank God and thank you!  You played an important and vital role in this mission trip.

There are many orphanages in Liberia, and obviously many children without families; there is 90% unemployment; there is extreme poverty, there are many without homes; there are families that live in structures we would not consider 'homes'; there are many without the 'comforts' that we have; there is little to eat; it is hot and humid.  Many times while we were driving from church to church (dirt floors and bamboo-woven walls), I would stare out the window and ask God to show me things through His eyes.  And as I looked out on to the people and the land, I found myself asking “What do they DO all day?  Their days must be so very long.  Where can they go for relief from this?”

Well, I don’t have all those answers, but I do know that for some of those people, you know what they Do have?  And do you know where they CAN go?  Yes, they have their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ -- our Strength, our Rock.  In fact, we learned that many in Liberia turned their lives over to the Lord after the two civil wars because they came to realize that was ALL they did have, and He was ALL that they needed. 

And as we drove along and I did see some kids doing things that made me cringe and very sad, then around the next corner, I would see and hear kids laughing, running and playing – and just being kids.  And then……. We found the ocean!  Oooooooh thank you Lord for the beach!

I saw God alive and at work mightily in Liberia!  Beginning on the plane on the way out there with divine appointments (another story); throughout our 2 weeks in Liberia (lots and lots and lots of stories); in our driver Lawrence (who now calls me “mommy (but sounds like ‘mummy’ – another story); and on the way home in the Brussels airport with another divine appointment; and finally at Hopkins airport through your smiling faces.  I saw glimpses of Hope in Liberia and I saw Jesus alive through the Holy Spirit in powerful ways.  The love we received through our friends in Liberia I will cherish forever and ever.  They are incredibly warm and loving people, and have taught me plenty.  And the kids!!! Ooooo my gosh -- they would knock us over with their welcome greetings!

So, just to recap what we did -- we visited 2 orphanages (which were also Kids Church sites); visited other existing Kids Churches at churches; trained pastors and adult and youth leaders (at the orphanage site) for Kids Church ministry and the actual Kids Church service.  We had an anointing service for the pastors and volunteers at the end of the 4-day training session.  We launched and/or conducted Kids Church services – 2/day for 4 days.   We worshipped - oooooo did we worship!  One of my favorites times during the Praise/Worship time was when Brother Paul (he’s like the director of 10+ Kids Churches running from church to church all over Liberia working 24/7 for the Lord) would say "Now let's just close our eyes and meditate on Jesus. Let's just wave to Jesus"  then we begin to hear all these sweet voices just praying/talking to Jesus.  So cool!  We prayed. We danced (the Gospel Slide!).  We visited a village in the forest where the new orphanage will be built, and prayed over the land.  Some of our team met with contractors and began to get bids.  Some on the team conducted workshops and shared testimonies with women to encourage them in many ways, one of which was to begin their own businesses (e.g., beads, baking, etc.)  We laughed.  We cried.  We were blessed blessed blessed. 

And now I'm home and God is still at work in me, and I'm still processing this incredible, awesome experience.

Friends, God has a plan for you in this new chapter "After Promise."  Maybe it's a new choir - maybe not.  Maybe it's something totally new and scary for you.  I want to encourage you to be in prayer this summer for where He is calling you.  It doesn't have to be another continent, but it may be another 'place'.  It may be a choir, or the near west side of Cleveland, or in your family, at your job, neighborhood, a mission trip, or someplace else.  Be in prayer now so you are ready to TAKE THAT STEP!  Because you just never know when He'll call on you to do His work.  And I for one can't wait to hear from you where that'll be.

I love you and God bless you,

Your sister in Christ,

"Sis Chris"