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)

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

The Big Day is Here (and now over)

A brief update on our walk today......
We had amazingly beautiful weather and a really great time!  I will be downloading pics and finishing up final details of the walk.  Thank you to all who helped this day be a success!

Meet the Speaker

Last year we had the privilege of hearing Pastor Ben Kangar speak at the walk.  Ben is originally from Liberia, West Africa but now resides in the U.S. with his wife and children.  We enjoyed our time and Ben did an excellent job speaking about school in Liberia and his experiences growing up there.

This year I invited Frank Glenn Traub to come speak for us.  He is also from West Africa.  Glenn has authored a book called "And It Shall Come To Pass."  You can find the link to his book at Amazon.  This book was written during his teen and young adult years while he was growing up during the Liberian war.  Glenn will be speaking about the war and its affect on Liberia's school children.  Glenn is bringing his book to sell at the walk and will be selling it for $20.00.  If you are interested in a book and cannot attend the walk, send me an email and I can grab one for you while he is here with us.

Hope to see you there!

Walkathon Shirts

For those of you going to go on the walkathon, your shirt is covered in the cost of attending.  For those of you who just like the shirt and would like to order one (or more), this is what they will look like:  (click on shirt for a larger view of shirt)

The cost for the adult shirts is $20.00 + shipping.  I will be updating with all the shirt prices, including children's sizes.  Leave me a comment if you think you are interested.  Thanks!

Meetings on Both Sides of the World

The blog has been pretty quiet lately. That is not from lack of material to post, we definitely have that. We're just doing some 'behind the scenes' type of stuff. Like planning meetings for our literacy program. We have meetings going on from both sides! This is the group of people planning the 2nd annual walkathon. Well, minus two or three. We had a very productive meeting with a lot of input and discussion on ways to make our walk even better this year. I was really impressed with our kids who showed up and offered their help! They came up with brilliant ideas! I love 1 Timothy 4:12... Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. These kids are a shining example of living out their faith.

Then, across the ocean, our program director in Liberia is holding another meeting. He is bringing parents together to discuss how the children are doing in school and making plans to help ensure they succeed in their classes. Also discussed were work related issues addressed to the school and how families can volunteer time, which, in turn, makes our families and schools stronger.

Here's a picture of Stephen with some of our parents of school children. I want to add here that Stephen is an amazing director. He is the core of what we are doing there. He keeps the program going in an organized, efficient manner. This program could not have been blessed with a better person for the job!

I believe this is an exciting time for the Liberian Literacy Program! We invite you to ask questions or better yet, come get involved with us, the rewards are priceless!