I spoke with Pastor Andrew a few times since my last update.  I will speak with him again tomorrow to give him details about our latest funds transfer waiting for him at Western Union. (Sent this evening.)  We were able to send him a total of $653.  From that amount - $303 specifically for the care of the children of the Refuge Home (your monthly sponsorships) and an additional $350 from the church for other ministry needs.  Thank you for your participation and prayers in helping the children and the cause of the Gospel in Liberia. 

 

You’ll remember that Pastor Andrew had opened a Public School at the beginning of the school year.  The children of the Refuge Home have always had their own school but Pastor Andrew, seeing the need for formal schooling for the other children of their communty, wanted to open their classes to the public.  In Liberia, public schools are not provided free to students by the governemnt.  Each student has to pay a monthly tution.  Consequently, many children don’t go to school because they can’t afford to.  Pastor Andrew was charging a very low tution to the children of the community. 

 

Though they are not operated by the government, like they are here, a “public school” has to be licienced by the government.  In the process of getting licienced as a public school, the government officials inspected the school.  They approved his application and gave him the OK to start the school.  They also gave him a list of some changes to the physical structure of the school that needed to be made and a requirement for some sort of financial account that needed to be established.  I believe the money is required as proof that the school is solvent and able to meet the normal financial obligations – like paying qualified staff. 

 

Pastor Andrew was able to complete the changes to the physical structure.  However he was unable to fully fund the account.  He was short by $800. 

 

At the end of the first semister, the government authorities that oversee public schools returned to inspect the school.  They found the school building met their requirements but the financial account still lacking.  They gave Pastor Andrew a few weeks of grace to raise the funds and allowed the school to continue to operate.  Eventually, the grace period ran out and the school was ordered closed – until the funds could be raised.

 

So, the public school is not currently open but, by God’s grace, it will open again in the near future.  Pastor Andrew told me that they could continue to operate the school but that would “offend” the government.  He is confident they will open the school again…when the needed funds are in hand.  (Of course, the children of the refuge home are still being taught, as usual.)

 

In my last conversation with Pastor Andrew, he told me the children were all doing well – all healthy.  He said their church continues to grow.

 

Of interest - - I stumbled upon a blog that posted an article entitled “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Liberia (And More)”  It has audio and video, a ton of good information and links to much more.  (The surfing video is cool.)   I would encourage you to take a look at it if you have the time and inclination.  Here’s the link…

 

http://el-oso.net/blog/archives/2009/03/18/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-liberia-and-more/