From Amber

Hello Everyone!

Thank you for your prayers! Wanted to update you....We are still in the process of getting Eddie's paperwork taken care of. As of right now, we have no definite information. Please pray for his passport to miraculously show up...this would be the best case scenario! Also, for God to give Pastor Chet wisdom in this time. We know that all things work together for good to those who are called according to his purpose...

Also, wanted to let you know that the trip overall has been phenomenal! Today is the last day of the Pastor's conference. God is doing such great things...Pastor Chet said our prayers for unity, health, the success of the Pastor's conference and each of the men have been answered. They are having a wonderful trip and the ministry has been life changing. Continue to pray fervently through the remainder of their trip. There will be many God stories for all the obstacles they have endured, that's for sure. But he who is in us is greater then he who is

Facebook post from Andrea

Andrea Lowe wrote
at 10:56pm on June 24th, 2009
After speaking with Chet and reading his mail, He says he is overwhelmed by the power of prayer. He says amazing things are happening. The Liberian churches are unified in a way they have never been. Answer to prayer for unity. 300 some people are to be coming out for the preaching and teaching at these conferences these next few days. He reminds us to keep on praying. There will be another trip into the bush on Saturday. ( I cannot wait to hear from them all when they get back. For us families here, we miss them so much when they go, but hearing these reports of how God is using them for His kingdom makes every minute of missing them more than worth it!!!)
Thanks to all!

We need your prayers

Talked to Pastor Chet....

Eddie Carvalho's passport and greencard were stolen! He is not a US citizen and what is more replacing his paperwork will be potentially very challenging for his family. Getting out of Liberia (and more importantly) back into the US could be very difficult...

Please pray that:

1. the person responsible would be found and everything would be returned safe
2. If not, that the process to get a new passport and Greencard would go smooth, for the Brazilian and US and Liberia Govt. to have a blind eye to any bureaucracy, they getting ALL PAPERWORK would be an affordable, easy stress-free process

May God bless you all for your prayers,
Amber

Update from Uli

Greetings from Liberia!!!

I'm sitting in an internet cafe right now. The pastors conference started today. Be praying it's been amazing!!!!

I was invited today to baptize twelve men on Sunday on a creek...wow! Whata blessing.

Well I will be meeting with a group of young men to put together skateboards and teach them to skate so they can start a Christian Skaters here in Cotton Tree, Liberia. They have no idea what a skateboard is, so Sunday will be the first time these young men have ever seen a skateboard.

Something also that blew my mind... is I was in the bush and showed someone my ipod and they were shocked they never ever seen it before...wow!!!!!

Update from Pastor Chet

Greetings from Liberia!

We have arrived and have hit the ground running. In fact, the very first day we found ourselves on the way to visit one of our churches deep in the jungle. After a seven hour drive, one hour canoe ride, and a four hour walk, we arrived on does town at 10 in the evening. Some of us were a little nervous walking through the bush in the night, but God is faithful.

Since then, we have been breaking into smaller teams to visit the others churches and share the word with them.

Everyone on the team feels as if they are walking through the pages of acts. In that, we are walking from place to place sharing the good news of Jesus Christ! Some were joking on the road and calling each other different apostles names.

Speaking of names...we have each been given Liberian names. They are hard to spell, so you will each learn them upon our return.

We are in a place now where we may be able to call. However, please be patient as I tried to call last night and got cut off.

Everyone extends their greetings. We are tired, but our spirits are soaring.

Please pray for strength, energy, unity amongst the churches in Liberia and for God to use this experience to further His kingdom.

Facebook Posts....The guys calling in

Kate Seawell posted this on Facebook....What a blessing it was to hear all the amazing things the Lord is doing in and through the Liberia team.....yes I was SO THANKFUL to get to talk to my wonderful hubby tonight....I SO miss and love him.....1 week down...1 to go....please pray for James feet as they have been swelling a little bit :) He shared the Liberian people have such servant's hearts and have shown them such love! Keep praying!

Gina Scruby posted this on Facebook....Talked to my awesome husband tonight!!!! So good to hear from him! They are all doing well..... please continue to keep them in prayer.

Can't wait to hear from everyone else!

Where is the team?

Today I spoke to Uli and everyone is doing well. They truly appreciate your prayers. On Saturday the team split up to reach more churches but are now back together in Monrovia. Saturday, Joe F and Uli went to Bleah Town and were able to teach. Sunday, Joe C taught on 1 Corinthians 12:12 at Buchanan. Today, Ben H taught in Brewerville on how we are like many instruments in an orchestra.

Everyone is healthy yet challenged. They are being stretched in ways none of them ever imagined. They asked that we pray for them Isaiah 26:3

3 You will keep in perfect peace
him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in you.

If any of you have additional updates, please email me at info@ChristianSkaters.com so I can post them. Also, check out http://liberiamission2009.blogspot.com as Pastor Chet will be updating as he can.

Barclayville

Today the team is in Barclayville which is in Grand Kru. They have traveled down the coast through Buchanan & Rivercress. There are 15 Calvary Chapel church plants from CCFL in Liberia. Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa also planted Calvary Chapel Fellowships. Liberia primarily consist of 16 tribes. If many tribes attend one church, this becomes a root of disunity due to paste hurts of war. As they visit these churches, we asks you to pray for the Lord to use the team as a tool to show these men an example of true unity and love in the body of Christ. We pray for UNITY (1 Corinthians 12:12-13), GROWTH (Acts 15:36), and that they may PREACH the gospel (Luke 4:18)

Day four

Phillippians 4:6-7 tells us, "Be anxious in nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Jeuss Christ."

It has been three days since the team has left. As expected, we have not yet heard from the team as they travel into the bush on a hike that will bring them to many churches along the way. Pray for the families of these men as I am sure some are really beginning to miss these fathers, husbands, and sons. Rest assured that they are in the Lords hands and He loves them even more than we do. Imagine that!

Today, we ask that you continue to pray for the team during their travels. Pray for endurance, strength, joy, health, protection, and that the Lord may shine through them. As the team sets into their surroundings, may the Lord bring them a peace as they adjust to cultural differences and may He protect the words that come out of their mouths so that they might not speak things that translate differently culturally.

If you wish to post prayers for the team, you may do so on the Facebook group. We will make sure to get these prayers to the team so that they can be encouraged along their journeys.



(Photo is a Pulitzer Prize photo by Carolyn Cole entitled FEW COMFORTS: Ester Burges, 6, Sarrah Barbar, 7, and Sabay Ndebe, 5, bathe from a bucket of cold water at the Hannah B. Williams center. the number of orphans in war-devastated Liberia now tops 10,000, officials say.)

Some Links

Here are some links about the mission:

Facebook Prayer Group for Liberia

Listen to the Liberia send off and a message by Pastor Billy V

Donate to the Mission Be sure to log in, then designate the donation for Liberia Mission

Prayer Requests

Today the team woke up early and drove 4 hours to area to minister to churches planted by Calvary Chapel many years ago. Pray that the Lord keeps them safe and uses them in incredible ways today. May their love for one another be an example to the church leaders in Liberia so that the Lord may continue to heal and mend wounds caused by conflicts and bring His Body of believers together in unity through forgiveness and love.
The men will be traveling long distances by foot for the next few days in very rural areas. We do not expect photos but will they will update us as soon as they can.

Here are some of their prayer requests:

Praying I Corinthians 2:2-5 as the men will be teaching the Liberian pastor’s and youth....“and my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

Pray for unity amongst the men to bring unity in the church and in the pastor’s conference and youth conference.

Each of the men were challenged to find one Liberian man to befriend and counsel and invest in spiritually.

Pray the men will easily adapt to their surroundings which will be rugged.

Pray for our men to have the attributes of the praying man in James 5:16..effectual, fervent, righteous and earnest.

Pray for health and protection from sickness and side effects of anti-malarial medicine, i.e. bad dreams, depression and anxiety.

Pray for strength and physical stamina during their long hikes.

Pray for them as they experience culture shock and that they would react to new experiences as “normal” – pray also that God would give them the wisdom not to make cultural mistakes.

John 13:35 says “by this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Pray that our men will have love for each other first and then for the Liberians.

Pray for the men as they are teaching; boldness and the demonstration and power of His Spirit.

Pray for the pastor’s conference and the youth conference as they will be happening simultaneously.

Pray for the soccer game outreach.

Pray Colossians 1:9-14 a personal prayer for the men of the team. Insert names and what the Spirit leads and continue to pray this while they are away.

Pray for the team's families at this time as well.

They arrived

Amber heard from Othello-They arrived safe and sound in Monrovia. The team is on their way to Buchanan to begin ministry. They were greeted at the airport by many local pastors with open arms! I know all of us will continue to be in prayer, this will be such an amazing trip! Please continue to lift Othello in your prayers. He was the trip coordinator on the ground in Liberia.

Please pray for:
Unity amongst the team
Unity for the churches in Liberia
Health, Safety, Joy, Physical Stamina, Boldness, Love for all

Check out these pictures:
Layover at JFK











On the plane to Ghana












At the Ghana airport

Liberia Mission 2009

Greetings in Jesus' name!

In Acts 15, Paul and Barnabas make the decision to return to the churches they had planted to encourage them in the Lord. Their heart was to note their progress and further disciple them in the way of Christ. Now, it is our turn to fulfill this very Scripture and return to Liberia to edify the body of believers known as Calvary Chapel.

We will be heading to Liberia, Africa visiting 16 Churches that were planted, as well as a three day Pastor's conference and Youth conference based on the call of Christ to be of one body taking scripture from Philippians, Ephesians, and 1 Corinthians, to encourage the body of believers in Liberia.

We will be living amongst the people, in the midst of the culture, but amongst fellow brethren with the same Lord. As much as we'll be teaching, we will be growing and finding what true ministry really is about. Please pray for our physical, mental, and spiritual state as we set on this journey just like Barnabas and Paul----walking by faith.