Agriculture Training is happening in Cheesemanburg, a rural community. Ben is taking them through a lecture phase of two hours 12:00-2:00pm and he started with the book of Genesis from the Bible, God’s creation and the land. From 2:00-4:00pm they are working in the community garden. The participants are two from each of the surrounding the villages. A local man who has his own farm, Samuel, is helping the group also. The goal is for them to be able to take what they have learned back their own villages and share with others – both the spiritual and practical.
Well Upper Cheesemanburg
We are working in a second community near Bay Town, Upper Cheesemanburg is working on their well, digging deep enough to get water about 30 feet and enough water to last during the dry season, the season we are currently in. They have around 300 residents and the well is located right next to the clay house of Emmanuel and his wife. He is one of the men helping to dig the hole to 30 feet.
Congo Town School
Congo Town School – This is one of our Community Development Services construction sites. I visited the property back in August. The church is running the school in a large rented house but it is literally overflowing with children and adults – not enough room on the benches or in the classrooms. As they have had some money they have started the construction of the school and we are partnering with them to complete the first level of the L shaped building. They have 760 students.
Bay Town Well Outstretched arms width
Fresh potable water – we had our struggles in Ghana with the well drilling, though here we just arrived and already have the hand pump on a well in Bay Town, a community of 200 + residents who previously obtained their water for a swampy water hole. The community was very responsive to the team on this one and they completely hand dug the hole themselves. The water has been tested and is of good quality. The day I visited, Dexter shared the community story and how they were rejoicing in the provision of water.
Gaye Town Medical Clinic
Gaye Town Medical Clinic has been on the heart of the people of the Gracie Reeves Memorial Baptist Church. They have been holding a medical clinic once a week in their church building, but there has been the great desire for a full time clinic. This is one of our construction sites and we should have the building done prior to the heavy rains.
Don Stephens, Founder/President of global charity Mercy Ships, announced today the world’s largest non-governmental hospital ship, the Africa Mercy, has successfully completed ‘sea trials’ bringing the hospital ship one step closer to enabling the vessel to sail to Africa. We are expecting the ship to be here in Liberia in May and we will all be out to welcome them – waving our white hankies and dancing with excitement.
Civic Reception – Liberia 21 March 07
We held our regular Civic Reception, this normally occurs within the first couple weeks of the ship’s arrival in a country. My friends Jean, Brenda and I are seating with Mr. Pewu Subah who is with the Monrovia Rotary Club. Rotary has been our partners many times over the years including a recent grant we received for computer equipment and 5 vehicles for the Africa Mercy.
Civic Reception – Liberia
This morning we had the great privilege of hosting some of the civic leaders of Monrovia, Liberia on board the m/v Anastasis. The group I am sharing with in the photo include some Liberians who are in the House of Representatives, in particular with the Health issues of the country. The Honorable Edwin Gaye shared some remarks following the speech by our Executive Director. 
Sail to Liberia
Our sail has been so smooth, I had a friend take this picture today at lunch as we are sailing to Liberia with the famous backdrop of the m/v Anastasis. During the sail, I have been working on all the final project reports from our time in Ghana and preparing for the start of our field service in Liberia and all that is planned for the upcoming 9 months.
Worship on the Bow at Sea
Last night we had an amazing time of worship on board the m/v Anastasis on the bow as we are sailing to Liberia. The sunset was nothing, but the worship to our almighty God was great. This is an event that we didn’t do on the Caribbean Mercy.