Hi family, friends and supporters,

We pray for each of you special people. We’re aware some have poor health so God’s special blessings for you from Liberia.

It’s a month tomorrow since we left New Zealand. We started with a small glitch, leaving a day late due to a cancelled flight.

Our first stop was arriving in Johannesburg in South Africa. We spent ten days there on a tour which included visiting Kruger Park, Johannesburg and Cape Town. It’s a truly beautiful country, lush with spectacular scenery and animals. We spent time studying in museums and visiting both rich and poor areas, including slums, while trying to understand the South African history and cultures.  Oh, what power, land and money issues can do to humankind! Praise God he is in control.

We then flew into Zambia and were picked up by Lucky (husband of Dorothy) from the Youth Centre to go back to Choma. We were very encouraged to train amazing young people with some micro counselling skills. Sunday night was a time of wonderful African worship with dancing, and a sharing of how the Choma Youth Centre has transformed their lives. The Centre has the potential to grow with more space including sports areas, and with added opportunities for micro enterprise and training.

We travelled to Lusaka (Zambian capital) where we met SIM Zambia people at the guest house and had breakfast with the new Zambian Director and his wife. We also heard from Cindy Lou from the USA about a new ministry in trauma and healing counselling through Zambia and a centre to be bought in Lusaka. We also met up with a few people from the time we spent there seven years ago.

On we flew to Liberia to be met by Rob, Katherine and Abigail Barr.  We were missing a bag, which thankfully arrived three days later. Thanks for your prayers.

SIM Liberia is on a 130 acre compound on the beach that was initially outside Monrovia but has now merged into the city. They have several ministries here and they also host other organisations onsite e.g. Samaritans Purse, Liberia Evangelical Church (which we and the Barrs attend).

Ministries include a primary and high school, a radio station, and a large general hospital employing 320 staff. A theological training college, which partners with the Dallas theological seminary, is also onsite.

The hospital began as a small clinic which then became a small hospital. A funder then gave a sizeable donation 15 years ago which resulted in the large general hospital it is today. This required a sizeable increase in staffing with a resulting increase in necessary finances.

The hospital has worked through an Ebola crisis and COVID, so has supported the local people immensely.

However, currently the costs involved in the size of the hospital and staffing, and the need for good financial systems, have meant a SIM Crisis Management Team was appointed 18 months ago. This is to provide support for SIM Liberia to address the issues.

There remain great ministry possibilities for SIM Liberia here on the compound, especially as most Liberians don’t have basic health or education available. The SIM team is hard-working and committed.

Paul assists the finance team as they seek to bring financial records up to date and seek greater clarity around their finances and related decisions going forward.

Jocelyn is doing some hospital projects- statistics, diabetic protocols, quick book entries and helping with other tasks e.g. cleaning and hospitality when needed, while trying to listen and support.

Tough decisions need to be made towards an ongoing and sustainable vision and mission on the compound. This will likely involve some significant changes to some ministries.

Please pray for the Liberian Director, his wife and children, and the SIM leadership team for ongoing courage, clarity and wisdom in the crisis.

A meeting was held last week with the Board. Over the last few days similar presentations have been held with ELWA (Eternal Love Winning Africa) Management, and with hospital management and staff. People have been asked to pray and share their ideas.

We are trying to support with listening, prayer and options going forward.

The SIM missions team is a positive one which meets for prayer and study twice a week. We enjoy getting to know them, along with paid staff who live on site e.g. security, maintenance etc.

Praise God for:

• Settling in
• Building positive relationships
• Good health
• Beach setting with warm water
• Great neighbours- the Barrs from New Zealand

Please pray for:

• Nicholas and Melvina and the leadership team for courage and wisdom
• Rob as CFO and Paul and the financial teams as they work for clear financial processes and books
• Ways to encourage and teach improved processes, both clinically and financially, that are appropriate for Liberians
• Good listening skills
• Clarity around new options as they are explored
• Courage and skills to impart options to others
• For staff who feel anxious about their jobs

Blessings in Christ,

Jocelyn and Paul Johnstone