A Message from Liberia

A new school year is upon us.  So many challenges and exciting things happening.  We want to just say thanks for sponsoring your child/children in Liberia.  Thanks for praying for them.  Thanks for sending the letters to them.  Thanks for all that you do.  I means the world to them.

I received an email from Liberia today and I wanted to share it here with you.

Dear our Great Sponsors,

I do not know how to thank you for your continual support towards my little brothers and sisters in Liberia. Had it not been for you, I do not know how these kids would go to school. I know that some could have just ended up in the streets selling for their parents. We are so glad that you came our way. God bless you bountifully as you sow in the lives of these children financially to educate them. 

We also want to encourage you to ask others to join you in sponsoring our little ones in school. There are thousands of children here that are not in school at all. They are either selling in the streets, playing in the neighborhood all day long, etc. 

Again, as we begin another school year, we thank you so so much for all you are doing.



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A Couple of Updates

So things have been crazy around here lately and blogging has been slow.   I am finally settling in to a new routine.  I have taken a full- time teaching assistant position for special needs children at our local public school system and I still have my part-time driving job as well.  With a large family wanting/needing my attention on the after school hours, life can be kinda crazy!  And though things have been quiet on the blogging end, we have been busy with getting our kids enrolled again this year, collecting the end of year report cards, switching some kids to new schools, etc. etc.  Stephen is back at it again, working towards updates for our sponsor families and we will be updating each one of you.  I just want to take this time here to mention that the last time I spoke with Stephen he wanted me to share with you the thankfulness from each family.  Some have expressed how much stress has been taken from them knowing that their child is in school and fees are paid, now they can focus on how to feed their children without the added pressure of paying for school.

If you've followed the blog before, you know that Stephen's sister had passed away leaving two babies behind.  They have been sponsored by a family here in the US and the babies are doing fabulously!  They are growing by leaps and bounds and have remained healthy since birth.  Such a blessing!  AND, Rebecca gave birth to a healthy baby girl just recently and they named her Monconjay.  She is totally adorable.  I cannot wait to see her.  Stephen and Rebecca have alot going on and I would ask that you cover them in prayer.

On another note, Donna will be taking a trip to Liberia in November.  At this time we are sending over the previous letters and items that some of you have sent a few months back.  Differing circumstances had made the past trips needing to be re-scheduled.  So, if you have not heard back, you will next month when Donna comes back from the trip.  I am hoping that all of you received your letters and/or drums from Liberia from the last trip.  If something was missed please let me know!  I am working on a return trip to Liberia during the beginning or ending of this coming summer.  My date has not been planned yet because we have a graduation and a wedding within a month of each other.  I will keep you updated on that as the plans unfold. (Keep it in the back of your mind and if there is something you would like me to do while I am there please email me.) If you wish to send another package or have not yet been able to and want to, this would be a great time to get something to me.  By the end of October I will be sending everything to Donna to take with her.

One more quick update...Global Orphan Outreach has been working hard to make the website easier to navigate and understand.  Go here to see our changes that we are making.  Now on to some pictures for you.

The twins.

Such little cuties.  We are having fun watching them grow!

Yonjay is off to school this year.  Look at his cuteness in his uniform.

And after a very long wait the arrival on Monconjay finally came.  This is her dedication.

What sculpture is to a block of marble, education is to the human soul. ~Joseph Addison~

I will be doing some posting on our walk with some more pictures soon. For now, here is a group picture of those who attended minus a few people, including our speaker.

He Had A Dream

"I have a dream that one day little black boys and girls will be holding hands with little white boys and girls." 
  Martin Luther King Jr. (I Have A Dream)

The function of education is to teach one to think 
intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education. 
                                                                        Martin Luther King, Jr. 

A Message From Frank G. Traub

I first heard about Global in January of this year when I was invited by a friend to accompany her to a workshop being hosted by the organization. When I returned home I immediately got in touch with Pastor Ben and told him that there was something very different about Global. As a Liberia I’ve seen the workings of humanitarian organizations in my country; and believe me when I tell you, a lot of them do not account for much. It saddens my heart to see people pushing their own agenda under the guise of helping the needy. However, with Global there was just something different. As I looked into the faces of couples present and heard them talk about my people with so much passion, I knew that these people, while not the wealthiest donors, where making the most sacrifices. I saw and talked to husbands who stayed home as their wives did what their hearts told them was right.

Fast forward to June and I’m invited to speak at a walkathon planned by Global. The objective: that people here in America (especially their children) will have an idea about how most children in Liberia walk to and from school (and many a times on empty stomachs). If I was surprised in January, I was blown out of my mind on Saturday, the 25^th. I saw kids who were so enthusiastic about what their parents were involved in. I saw families of the organizers rally around them in support. But more than that, I saw Liberian kids who had been brought over to America either for medical care or to be placed in proper homes with love and care. In any case, these kids were being given the opportunity to dream again- the opportunity to have hope in a world that they’d given up on.

My only regret was that it was held so far in Wisconsin where not many Liberians are; and I thought a lot of Liberians should have the opportunity to see what’s really being done to help us as a nation. So if there is a possibility of a program being held in Minnesota, I would gladly welcome the idea. The hearts and the motive of the people involved are too pure to not be allowed to touch and encourage others. So on behalf of the Liberian people, I say a big THANK YOU! And may God continue to bless the works of your hands!!!

Yours truly, Frank Glenn