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Welcome To The Kuwaa Mission

 

The Kuwaa Mission is a partnership of the Lutheran Church in Liberia and ELCA and LCMS congregations, groups, and individuals who want to help the Kuwaa people in Liberia, West Africa.

The Kuwaa mission is envisioned as holistic with the goal of serving people spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically. With God’s help we will join hands with the Kuwaa people in restoring their hope and standard of living. A majority of Kuwaa people are Christians.

 

Liberia is located on Africa's west coast. It is about the size of Ohio and populated by just a few million people. The population is made up of mostly indigenous tribes and Americo-Liberians (descendants of freed slaves who returned to Africa under President Monroe).  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberia  “The history of Liberia is unique among African nations, due to its roots as a colony founded by freed slaves from the United States. These freed slaves formed an elite group in Liberian society, and, in 1847, formed a government based on that of the United States, naming their capital city after James Monroe, the fifth president of the United States. This government was overthrown by a military-led coup in 1980, which marked the beginning of a period of instability and civil war that left hundreds of thousands of people dead and devastated the country's economy. Today, Liberia is recovering, and despite its poverty and lack of adequate infrastructure, it has experienced economic growth.”

 

The Kuwaa People

The Kuwaa (or Belleh) are one of the indigenous tribes of Liberia. The Kuwaa Chiefdom is located entirely in the tropical rain forest of the Loffa County in the remote northeastern part of the country. The Kuwaa people live about 100 air miles north by north east of Monrovia, the capitol of Liberia. They live in the jungle of the Gbarpolu District. The Kuwaa people suffered severe brutality and devastation at the hands of the different rebel groups during the 14-year civil war leaving them in tremendous need for our help. 50% of the people were murdered or died. All of their homes and farms were destroyed.

 

 

The Kuwaa Mission will operate by the Vision, Plan and Faith Statements that God has given us.

 

VISION STATEMENT

The Kuwaa Mission exists to holistically help the Kuwaa people reclaim their hope, dignity, and destiny as God’s redeemed people by helping them to rebuild their lives, homes and communities.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Kuwaa Mission provides an open and loving Christian atmosphere in which expatriate volunteers and Kuwaa people work together to reestablish the self-reliance and self-esteem of the Kuwaa people. We will do this by empowering the Kuwaa people to rebuild and restore their lives and standard of living under God. It is our mission to work towards making God’s rule evident among them.

PURPOSE STATEMENT

The purpose of the Kuwaa Mission is to help the Kuwaa people to rebuild and live dignified lives under God. We will accomplish this goal by working together with the people of each village to provide safe drinking water and improved sanitary conditions; by rebuilding medical clinics, schools, and churches and meeting any other community needs. Self-reliance will be insured through training and mentoring and is a vital aspect of the mission.

 

FAITH STATEMENT

We believe that we of the Kuwaa Mission are called and chosen to be effective witnesses in word and deed to God’s love and to be change agents to bring communities under God’s rule through Christ Jesus, the Lord and Savior of all people. (Matt. 28:19-20; II Cor. 5:16-21; Deut. 16:20; Psalm 82:3; and Is. 56:1)
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Liberia, West Africa
* The Kuwaa people live about 100 air miles north by north east of Monrovia, the capitol of Liberia. They live in the jungle of the Gbarpolu District. Suffering severe brutality and devastation under the different rebel groups during the 14 year civil war left them in tremendous need for our help. 50% of the people were murdered or died. All the homes and farms were destroyed and burned.
* Mr. Olsen and Rev Kowula recently completed a fact finding tour into the Kuwaa chiefdom. Dr. Seyenkulo met with various groups in Monrovia to understand how to prioritize the needs of the people.
* Immediately we need to advocate for Liberian Government funds to be released to repair roads into the Chiefdom. Good roads will help the Kuwaa people in many ways. It will help in getting supplies into the Chiefdom to rebuild the infrastructures. It will allow people to travel for medical help, attend meetings and event. It will allow people to transport their goods so that they can be sold.
* Logging companies built the current roads before the civil war started. 20 years of neglect and tropical rainfall have left them almost useless.
* Priority number one provides potable water systems in each village. To build one potable water system takes about $2,800. As funds allow potable water systems will be erected in the 16 villages. Most of the villages will take more than one system, if not three or four.
* Next in priority is the building of medical clinics, schools, and churches.
* At least 3 medical clinics need to be built. To build one clinic building takes about $5,000.
* Each village needs a school. The average cost of a school building is $3,500.
* To rebuild a church costs $3,000.
* There are other projects that need to be undertaken as soon as possible. The Kuwaa people need to develop alternative protein sources for their diets. Fish farming and livestock husbandry are being considered.
* Agriculture is receiving attention for providing income for the people and the communities. Alas, until the roads are repaired, most of these project will be very difficult to accomplish unless the people are willing to do the arduous work of carrying everything from the end of the road to the villages.
Officers of Mission
1. Rev. Dr. Richard B. Thompson, CEO
2. Rev. Dr. D. Jensen Seyenkulo, Board of Directors Chairman
3. Mr Stan Olsen - Anchorage, AK
4. Rev. Rod Pasch - Bethany Lutheran Church Pastor, Slidell, LA
5. Mrs. Lolitha Shepard - Shreveport, LA
6. Mr. G. Edmund Stelling - Lake Forest, CA
6. Mrs. Diane Stelling - Lake Forest, CA
7. Rt. Rev. Sumoward Harris - LCL Bishop, Monrovia, Liberia
8. Rev. Chris Kowula - Kuwaa Pastor & Field Director, Liberia
9. Mr. Michael Odendahl - Webmaster, Clinton, LA
Mission Information
ADDRESS:
Dick Thompson
67158 Diamondhead Dr. E.
Diamondhead, MS 39525
PHONE:
228-332-1380
EMAIL ADDRESS:
revdrthompson@aol.com

Volunteer Information
ADDRESS:
Diane Stelling
24921 Muirlands #165
Lake Forest, California 92630
PHONE: 949-768-6586
EMAIL ADDRESS:
kuwaa5diane@sbcglobal.net
Donation of Time,Talents, and Treasures Information
Financial donations can be sent to the following address:
Bethany Lutheran Church
627 Gause Blvd.
Slidell, LA 70458
Bethany's Website is: www.welcomehome.tv

Make out checks to Kuwaa Mission and send them to Bethany Lutheran Church.

PRAYER & PRAISE ITEMS
PRAYER ITEMS:
1. Pray for God's blessing and direction as we serve the Kuwaa
people.
2. Pray for the Kuwaa people who are suffering terribly from the
effects and horrors of the 14 year civil war.
3. Pray for Stan Olsen and Jensen Seyenkulo as they travel to
Liberia and up country to the Kuwaa Chiefdom.
4. Pray that we will be able to make wise decisions from the
information they gather as to what needs to be done and
where it is to be done.
5. Pray for short term volunteers, who would be willing to help
with the restoration and rebuilding of each community in the
Chiefdom.
6. Pray for volunteers who would be willing to serve here at
home with the various aspects of the mission.
7. Pray for funds to help with the restoration and rebuilding
of the Kuwaa villages and lives.
8. Pray for Rev. Chris Kowula as he continues to minister to
the Kuwaa people, serves as our Field Director, and revises
the New Testament translation.

PRAISE ITEMS:
1. Praise for giving us the opportunity to serve him and the
Kuwaa people through the Kuwaa Mission.
2. Praise for opening new doors and giving us new contacts.
3. Praise for Wheat Ridge Ministries as they partnership with
us.
4. Praise God for the Christians who are helping the mission
already with time, talents, and treasures.
5. Praise for the prayer warriors and supporter than have
already joined our team.
6. Praise for God's guidance on keeping us focused on the
mission of restoration, redemption, and rebuilding.

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