March 2012
Beloved Friends,Praise the Lord for a quarter gone by for this 2012 year. It seemed to me that only a week has passed since Christmas last year. Praise God that He is outside time, and when we enter eternity with Him, we will be stepping outside of time. That sounds scary to me, yet, I long to spend eternity with our Lord Jesus Christ.
ACTIVITIES
I spent January visiting individuals and some churches, creating awareness about my counseling ministry. Some church leaders quickly assured me that our nation, especially their congregation, was in great need of such a ministry. I inquired about their own personal need for counseling. The common response was that they were basically fine, but it can significantly benefit their congregation. Even the few who believe they need it were “not prepared” or “not in a hurry” to engage in the process. Individuals I spoke with from those congregations also took the same position – they were basically ok, but there were many who could significantly benefit from the counseling ministry. The bottom-line – people feel counseling is needed in the country, but they are okay personally, and do not feel the need for it themselves. The reality – their need for counseling cannot be overstressed. In February, I found myself inactive as I painfully processed the reality of present day Liberia. I have struggled with the changes in my own country. This is discussed in a little more details below.
March began with some degree of internal calmness as I found strength in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. After committing my internal struggles to the Lord, I stepped out again in an effort to connect with individuals and groups.
I have rented an office for the ministry. It is located in a suitable place in the city. It is now ready for use. I am trusting the Lord will send users.
My vehicle, a Nissan Pathfinder, arrived at the end of January. It has been a huge blessing! It has made movement easy and comfortable. It is a necessity in every respect.
The reality of present day Liberia is tragic! I was born and raised in Liberia. I lived here all my life until 1996 when I fled to Ghana as a refugee, and eventually to the USA. Liberia was changing all that time, but there were still good and moral values that were still highly regarded. Therefore, coming home, I felt I knew the culture and the society, realizing there would be some changes. Moreover, I was in contact with relatives and interacting with other Liberians who were traveling home all the time. But the shock and disappointment I experienced was more than I can put into words especially on this page. The disappointment led to serious discouragement, which produced resentment, hatred, anger, and bitterness toward the prevailing culture, society and people. I found myself praying for some kind of tough discipline from the Lord for the country to help bring some sanity and the fear of the Lord to the hearts and minds of people. I realized that the civil conflict was some kind of tough action or discipline, but it has driven people to take so much pride and glory in their shame!!! In my prayers, I realized that I had many unwise responses during my struggle with PTSD in the United States. I also realized that I recognized I was wrong because people around me were not traumatized or thoughtless like me. But after 14 years of savagely killing or watching people being killed, hearing or constantly living among such people, individuals were traumatized and began to act according to how their neighbors acted. These traumatic behaviors became accepted as a way of life. Many bad and evil behaviors became rationalized and “acceptable” to the society. The tragic aspect is that to refrain from engaging in some of those behaviors is now the “unacceptable” of the society. If there is any difference between the Christian and the non-Christian communities regarding this negative change in society, it is very minimal.
This is making my ministry very difficult. I am calling some of this society’s “acceptables” awful behaviors that needs to be rejected and unlearned; and some of their “unacceptables” good behaviors that need to be embraced and practiced. And the way the society is programmed now, survival in it is heavily dependent upon going-with-the-flow. To do otherwise is to pay a high price. In short, I am calling on people to pay a higher price to honor the Savior who paid the highest price for us!
My discouragement and frustration have turned into trust in Jesus. Nothing and no one can bring the needed help and healing except the Lord Jesus Christ. As I concentrated on the hopelessness of the situation, I realized that the result of work or ministry is not the most important, but obedience to the One who sent me. The Lord powerfully reminded me if I have any idea why, after being delivered over and over from death, I have come home at such a time. “And who knows whether you have come to the kingdom [home] for a time like this?” Esther 4:14b. Now, I am more than ever encouraged to serve the Lord and according to His leading even if it means helping only one person.
I have had a few counseling sessions with some people. For this to happen, I had to meet them in their places and times of choice. One of them strongly cautioned me that during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), an organization that was set up by the Liberian government to investigate war crime during the civil conflict- investigation, people were urged to forgive and let “by-gones-be-bygones.” And that to revisit the past is to bring tragic and terrifying memories which, they assert “will be NO good!” Many people are convinced about this as I used to be, which is a huge challenge, but these challenges are proving to be ladders for me leading to faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.
I am still in need of prayer and financial supports. Spiritual, mental, emotional and physical attacks from the enemy are constantly occurring. I highly appreciate your prayers to help me continue to lean on the everlasting arm of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I now have an office. Rent and office supplies are needed. Rent is $100 US dollars a month for the space. Some renovation works have been done, but more work remains to be done. The rent was priced at the above amount for the first six months because of renovation works that needed to be done. The office also needs furnishing, supplies and equipment such as: computer (desktop or laptop), printer, a video or voice recorder. If the Lord leads you to be financially involved in this ministry, for tax-deducted receipt, please send donations to:
Ripe for Harvest
P. O. Box 487Monument, CO 80132
| Contributions are solicited with the understanding that Ripe For Harvest has complete discretion and control over the use of all donated funds. |
Contact info
Mailing address:
P. O. Box 1270
1000 Monrovia 10 Liberia
West Africa
Mobile Tel. 231-880-301933 (from the USA, dial: 011-231-880-301933)
Email: yallahkawala@gmail.com
Skype: yallah.kawala
Blogspot: yallahkawala@blogspot.com
Hope to have Internet use beginning April; will likely be very slow, but will to function, even if minimally
Praises – Praise the Lord for:
- His light that shines and expels darkness- His sustaining power, protection and grace
- Exposing my heart issues and delivering me in His grace
- The prayer, financial and moral support He continues to provide
- Providing an office space for rent
- Challenges and what the Lord Jesus is turning them into
Prayer – Please pray:
- That I will always trust Him and rely on Him totally- For wisdom and understanding to recognize and follow His leading
- For continual protection, good health and necessary financial support
- That the Lord will lead me to those He has prepared for counseling
- That the registration of the ministry will go well
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