Christmas Joy Orphan Gifts

Prov. 11:24-25 The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.

A BIG "Thank You" to all of you who helped provide gift bags to share with Liberian Orphans! We were overwhelmed with the support. Nancy Molenhouse was asked by Christine Norman of REAP http://www.reapliberia.org/ to provide 100-200 gift bags for some of the orphanages that she oversees. Nancy wasn't sure if she could get that many, and put the word out. Neighbors and friends from church kept dropping things off, sometimes just leaving them on our porch, so I'm not even sure who all helped, but thanks so much!

Then I got word that Joelle's 9th grade class at Christian Heritage Academy in Northfield, IL, wanted to undertake putting together all 200 bags! What an incredible out-pouring of generosity and love. Check them out at http://www.christianheritage.org/420151.ihtml#h_3329.

Nancy will be able to take all of the bags, and extend the project to benefit additional orphanages.  I found a YouTube video about one of the orphanages, Phebe Grey, done by another mission organization.  It will take you there, and you can visualize the children receiving their gifts.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvKRmjiuq0o

In addition to the bags, we asked for reading glasses for the many Liberians who can no longer read regular sized print.  We received about 50 pair, the majority coming from Diane Raup and Anita Baker.

We are so honored to have generous, caring friends like you.  You are indeed the hand of Christ to these precious Liberians.  Nancy and team leave Dec. 31, 2009 for Liberia.  Please be praying for them, that the travel will be uncomplicated, that weight allowance issues be resolved, that their ministry will be fruitful, and that they will be a blessing.  The team will also be assisting in well and generator repairs, a roofing project, etc.  Perhaps someday, YOU could join a team and go as well! 

ELWA Ministries USA

God bless you for giving to the poor. (Isaiah 58:6-12)

Earlier this past year, a group of us formed a new ministry, ELWA Ministries USA, or EMA+USA. It is a non-profit charitable organization incorporated in the State of Illinois for the purpose of assisting Radio Station ELWA in Liberia with its religious, educational and charitable goals in service to the people of Liberia.

ELWA has been serving the Liberian people on this campus on the outskirts of Monrovia for 55 years through their radio, medical and educational ministries.

Our purpose is to serve as a vehicle to raise, collect and disburse funds to meet the educational, medical and broadcasting needs of ELWA and the Liberian community in general. We have been and hope to continue to be supported by our ELWA Extended Family, former missionaries and missionary families, and others whose lives have been touched and moved by the ministry of ELWA, as well as people who have a heart for ELWA and the people of Liberia.

Nancy Molenhouse has written the following about their upcoming trip to Liberia the end of this month.

To you and me, water is the norm, something taken for granted. In a developing country such as Liberia, clean water is a challenge every day for most of the population. Education also continues to be a problem as the few government run schools in Liberia are extremely overcrowded. Private schools have recently raised their tuition fees in order to pay to improve the quality of education, but at the same time causing families to be unable to pay for their children’s education.

EMA+USA takes these challenges seriously, and we are partnering with organizations in Liberia in order to help in the rebuilding process following Liberia’s brutal 14-year civil war. In January of this year, our team worked on the project of digging a well at the Susie Guenter Orphanage and installed a “first in Liberia” merry-go-round well pump and water storage tank, which now provides the orphanage with clean water for drinking, cooking and bathing. The ELWA Scholarship Program was also begun in January and we currently have 31 students who are enrolled in school through this program, with more students on a waiting list.

(Judy) Currently, we need $800.00 by January to fund the next semester of school for our 31 scholarship students. It takes about $150 a year to support each student, who would otherwise be unable to get any sort of education.)

Ninth grader Emmanuel Blackie (nephew of Blackie, the carpenter who worked alongside Elzworth Balzer for so many years), says, "If I did not have a scholarship for school, I will pray to God so He can get me back in school". Emmanuel wants to be a science student in college and become a medical doctor.

We have a team of nine traveling to Liberia in January 2010. Some of the projects we will be working on are:

putting a roof on the new school building at the Susie Guenter Orphanage
doing repairs and upkeep on the well pump
repairing equipment at ELWA
meeting with the scholarship committee.

We would appreciate your prayers for the team as we travel and minister through the various projects. The team has personally covered their travel expenses, but funding for the projects is still needed. Tax-deductible gifts may be sent to


EMA/USA
PO Box 36
Wheaton, IL 60187-0036.

Thank you for your prayers and may God’s richest blessings be yours.

Serving Him,


Nancy Molenhouse

P.S. The EMA+USA website is scheduled to be up and running soon, so stay tuned!


If God is leading you, we would love for you to partner with us, spiritually in prayer and financially. EMA/USA received approval as a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt organization on April 3, 2009. All contributions made to EMA/USA are exempt from federal income taxes.