UMVIM Training in St. Simon, Georgia

Here is a photo of our UMVIM training. Great conversation and renewed energy for serving!

Camphor Update from Paul Glaydor, Sr.

April salaries have been paid. This time, clinic staffs were paid from funds generated from the clinic. Last month, part of teacher’s salaries was paid from the school’s account. We are hoping that all projects will be able to foot part of their staff salary from funds they can generate. This assures us of a gradual movement towards the goal of financial sustainability.

Clinic:
A two weeks refresher workshop for Traditional Birth Attendants (TBA’s) was held from April 5 to 16. Over 52 traditional midwives from 42 villages in the Camphor area who have earlier been trained by the Mission as TBAs participated. Mrs. Helen Nyuma a trainer from the Ganta Community Development Home Based Life Saving Skills program served as a guest trainer. Village chiefs in the Camphor area were invited at the closing ceremonies. They all resolved to work with the Mission in supporting the work of traditional midwives in their respective communities. Some offered to construct delivery homes for these Trained Traditional Midwives in their villages.

The Motor Cycle donated by the Trinity UMC made its maiden trip this week-end to villages for monitoring activities of TBAs. Vaccination of babies is also on schedule. This week, Alvin Joe, Vaccinator at the clinic said over 100 babies were given polio and measles vaccines. Outreach for community health development is continuing on Wednesdays and Saturdays on a weekly basis. This include HIV/AIDS awareness.

Estimates of extension at 3,537.50 of the clinic was submitted to UMCOR.The extension will contain a delivery room of 22ft. by 15ft, complete with bathroom and an office. We are prayfully hopeful that funds will be made available as soon as possible to make the extension possible.

School:
Mock (demonstrative) exams were administered this last week. Sixth and ninth graders sat in preparation for the West African Examination Council administered National Exams. National Exams are scheduled for May 24th - 27th for both sixth and ninth graders. Grade Conference for 4th and 5th periods was held on Friday, the 8th. School Board meeting was held on Sunday, the 9th. Budget and programs for next academic 2010/2011 were highlighted. Budget and new fees were presented to the Board for study and could be approved next Sunday, the 23rd. A committee for graduation has been set up to plan ahead closing ceremonies for academic 2009/2010 which has been set for June 27th.

The school qualified in the first round of the Inter School Sports Tournament. Won its qualifying matches both in kickball and soccer by wide margins. We will be participating in the second round of the tournament in Monrovia shortly. Bible Blast, the program introduce by Sandy VanDuin (SP) of the East Ohio Conference has resumed. A new coordinator (Ms. Success Gbesio) was appointed because of busy schedule of Rev. Joe Giahque. Rev. Aquinas J. Kulah, Pastor of Garfield UMC, Camphor Mission and Vice Principal of the school will also provide supervision.

Agriculture:
Construction of the palm processing factory for which funds were donated by the Minnesota Team has begun we are doing both foundation and roofing before we can lay bricks because the rain is fast coming in this year. Contractors say foundation and roofing will be completed in one month. Nelson is optimistic about this. Charcoal production is in process. About one hundred and fifty bags are now being produced. We began supplying dinning hall yesterday. The rubber farm is being cleaned. An amount of USD 675.00 has been donated for rubber trees. Part of this fund will be used to replace strums that failed. From meeting with the Agriculture Department today, plantain will be intercropped with the rubber as it is being underbrushed. The area around the dinning hall is also being cleared for planting plantain for feeding the students. The chain-saw crew will be leaving for timber production into the newly located forest area by the 20th. They are targeting producing one thousand pieces of timber within one month. Part of this timber will be used for roofing of the last unit of the Judy Olin Guest House.

Jim Perry of the Edenton Street UMC Africa Sub-Committee paid a visit to Camphor Mission under heavy rainfalls that interrupted a set meeting. I later had a meeting with him in Monrovia over the week-end that focused on financial sustainability of the Mission and other United Methodist Institutions in Liberia , using agriculture. Jim has commissioned a number of micro-franchising projects into which Camphor Mission will participate and benefit from.

Judy Olin Guest House
Plastering in and out of the Guest House has been completed. Finishing is on-going. Laying of ceiling in the first two units has also been completed. First phase of painting (white-washing) has begun and is on-going. Floors are been smoothening in preparation for tile laying by this week-end. Keys may be turned over by contractor Nelson within a week and half from now. The Bishop of the Liberia Annual Conference has instructed the Liberia Annual Conference Board of Trustees to donate materials to the third unit of the Guest House. I will be holding the first meeting with the Board in Monrovia on Wednesday, the 19th for this purpose. Thanks be to God that He continues creating possibilities leading to the successful completion of this project.

Staff housing.
Staff housing at the mission continues to be a challenge. The refabrishing of a former storeroom near the Garfield UMC is nearing completion. Roofing has been completed. A front porch and a bathroom was added. This single bedroom facility is intended to accomodate a teacher and his family. Another structure only at foundation level that was meant for piggery will also be converted into accomodation for staff. These are just evidences of necessity.

Jordan’s Wells
The two villages to which wells were donated are enjoying the strange experience of drinking safe water. They are still expressing gratitude to donors and Camphor. More villages are prayerfully hoping to have this experience. Many thanks to Jordan Martin and all donors to the well project.

Latrines for Camphor
There is urgent need for latrines at the Mission and its surrounding. Most of the housing units do not have toilets hat are in use. Now the rain is down, and going into the bushes may contaminate creeks that village folks are still drinking.

Donated Ambulance
The Mission has retrieved and taken possession of the keys of the used Ambulance that was donated by the Buchanan Renewable Energies (BRE). It will be moved to the District Superintendent’s house or on the premises of a United Methodist Institution by this week-end to have secured.

Funds
A total of six thousand and sixty-five dollars for scholarships ($2,000.00), rubber trees (675.00) and Mission undesignated (3,390.00) has been received. A thank you note will be send to donors. Listing of deserving students to benefit from these scholarships is being prepared to be sent to donors. We are grateful to all who made these donations. May God continue to reward you and fill your barns.

Camphor Contact Group
I have initiated efforts to organize a “Camphor Contact Group”, a group of local people (Prominent United Methodists & Others) who will spearhead local fund raising activities and promote the mission. A very fruitful meeting was held this week-end with Mrs. Barbara Ogente and Jacqueline Capehart of Reeves Memorial UMC of the St. Paul River District both of whom Bishop Innis have recommended. The first meeting was very encouraging, as these women expressed enthusiastism and willingness to serve as local people who will work towards the promotion of the Mission . A second meeting during which a formal action plan will be drawn up is scheduled for Wednesday, the 19th in Monrovia . As a first contact with the Mission , the women will be participating in the closing ceremonies of the school at the Mission which is scheduled for June 27 or may pay a visit before this time. They will be joining the rest of us in telling the Camphor Story.

Hoping that these updates will meet all you strengthened in God's mighty army as we strive to build His kingdom here on earth, I remain

Yours in Mission,

Paul J. Glaydor, Sr.
MISSION SUPERINTENDENT

Greetings from Camphor!

I have now been at Camphor for one week and it has been full of new and interesting experiences. My primary assignment is at the clinic, where I have been learning from the staff about how the clinic is run on a day-to-day basis. I started seeing patients on my own on the second day and have been prescribing treatments and medicines, which is challenging for me as a nurse from the US because I have never done this before. I am relying on the clinic staff a lot for help, as well as my medical books! The staff and students here have welcomed me heartily to Liberia and to Camphor Mission. Paul and Lucia have been wonderful hosts; Paul has taken me around to see many of the agricultural projects at Camphor such as the cassava and rubber tree farms, palm oil processing and coal-making areas, and has given me some fascinating and informative lectures on Liberian history! Lucia is a wonderful cook and has made some delicious Liberian dishes for me including fufu, palm butter, and sweet potato greens. I spent some time with the vocational students a few days ago and learned how to make soap from palm oil and how to make shortbread. I plan to spend a day “going to school” with the elementary and junior-high students some time next week, also. I look forward to sharing more with you next time!

Sarah

Long term UMVIM Volunteer to Camphor!

Hello!
My name is Sarah Forsyth, and I am coming from the state of Maryland in the USA to live at Camphor for two and a half months starting next week! I will be there from May 14th until July 31st. I found out about Camphor through the UMVIM General Board of Global Ministries Individual Volunteer Program. I felt the desire in my heart to serve the Lord on the continent of Africa for the last several years and when I heard about the Camphor Mission, I knew it was the opportunity God had in mind for me! I am looking forward to getting to know you all and living and working at the mission. I am a registered nurse by profession and I will be working at the Camphor Clinic. My background is in emergency medicine and I have worked in a hospital emergency room for the last four years. I have seen and heard about the great things you are all doing at Camphor from the Mission website and from talking to the Dickriedes and Paul Glaydor. I hope to contribute to life at Camphor Clinic and in other areas of the Mission as well. I love to be outdoors and to help build things. I also enjoy music, especially writing some of my own music, playing the piano and singing with others.

See you soon!

Peace,
Sarah

Words from Bishop Innis

I am very pleased with Paul Glaydor's work performance. In a short space of time, he has brought great transformation to Camphor Mission. I am satisfied with Paul's leadership with the support of the students, teachers, parents, nurses, the St. John River District and its District Superintendent, Rev. Goah and our donors. I went to the Camphor blog and read every piece of information he has provided for Camphor. Great job! Keep it up and may God bless you and your family and those committed to working with you.

Also, I am grateful to Kathy and Danny for the sacrifices they made during those months they were at Camphor. They really worked hard. They exposed Camphor Mission globally especially in the United States. I am happy that while in the United States, they will continue to advocate for Camphor Mission. I am thankful to the Garfield Memorial United Methodist Church of Pipper Pike, Ohio, for their support. The Garfield folks have been long time friends of Camphor Mission. From Rev. Dr. Larry Kline's leadership to the present leadership of the Church, great and good things had and continue to happen in the interest of Camphor Mission and its ministries. The recent visit of Sandy made a big difference. Their sister Church, Garfield is putting up a new look. How great and wonderful to be in Jesus Christ.

I am also deeply impressed with the work being done on the Judy Olin Guest House. Many thanks to Dr. Gary Olin, Dr. Matt, and all who made the trip to Liberia, especially for the quality time they spent at Camphor. They were followed by Linda Koleman and her team from Minnesota. Providing a gift of $10,000 for the Guest House project and at the same time using their hands and skills are means of expressing their love of Jesus Christ with the Camphor Community. We rejoice in the name of Jesus Christ for the work of the people called United Methodists in Liberia and the United States.

May bless all for doing good always in the name of our Lord and Savior. Paul, continue to lift the spirit of the children so that will love and appreciate the gift of a Christ-centered education.

Bishop John G. Innis

Class of '64

Classrooms Connect

A fourth grade class in Idaho is connected with the fourth grade class at the JF Yancy School at the Camphor Mission. Teacher Rochelle Killett from Idaho and Abraham Roberts from Liberia have been having their students write letters to one another. Hand delivery by volunteers traveling back and forth is the only way to make this happen. The students are learning about one another. No smart boards, computers, or other advanced technology needed. Just a pen and paper and a willingness to make a new friend all the way around the world.

"They were so excited. To get a response from letters they'd written and sent so far across the world was wonderful. Last year we had sent letters via regular mail and apparently they never arrived which was a huge disappointment. Now we have the letters in a three ring binder in the library to share with all the students in our school," says Rochelle Killett.

Construction of the Judy Olin Guest house is well on course. We are keeping a close eye on the time-line of completing and dedicating the first two units by mid May, 2010.

Plastering internal and external walls is ongoing. Mr. Gbarr, masonry contractor says plastering will be completed this week-end because he is only left with the external walls of both units. Interior walls of both units have been completed. Windows and door frames have been installed. Doors, jealeusy window sets complete with louvers and breaker bars will be installed on the first unit early next week. The electricians have commenced the final phase of electrification and hopefully will complete by the week-end. Running of water pipes in the building has also been completed. Laying of tiles will be the next and final phase of the masonry contract. First phase of painting (whitewashing) could begin next week.

Balance funds in account up to date are USD $5,066. Provision for floor tiles was inadvertently omitted. We however had to renegotiate (cut back) all labor contracts in order to save funds for tiles. We were successful at doing this. We have funds available for tiles.

Do keep us in prayer. Yours in Mission, Paul J. Glaydor, Sr. Mission Station Superintendent and Principal