Liberia, September 30th, 2008

Dearest Friends,

THE CHILDREN

Our hearts are so full from our time with the children. They are so happy to see us when we arrive for a show. Many follow us down the road, waving to us. This is not an easy place to serve, but as soon as we look into the children’s eyes, we forget all about the difficulties.

They have such big needs. Standing in front of hungry, sick children and seeing them smile is a gift from the Father. When we talk about heaven as a place where there is no hunger, no pain, they listen. Orphans and street children have come to our puppet programs. They listen so sweetly as they hear that God can be their Father.

Many lost one or both parents during the Civil War. Some saw their parents murdered. Again, when we speak of forgiveness, they listen. We tell them that when you trust in Jesus and are forgiven, you can forgive anyone, anything. Others have been sexually or physically abused. One little boy who came to a show had his tongue cut out.

Liberia has an ocean of children and they seem eager to come and see the puppets. Most adults and children have never seen a puppet or a storyteller or juggling. God is using these simple things to call many to faith in Jesus.

PUPPET SHOWS

We are doing shows in all kinds of places. We do programs at schools, orphanages, churches, and on the street. At our very first show, more than a hundred children could be heard praying out loud. Sometimes, the children pray silently and come to tell us after the show.

On the street, we saw a great outpouring of God’s spirit. Earlier in the day, children at a church school were shy and would not pray out loud. However, on the street, set up in front of an abandoned store front, we heard children loudly calling on Jesus to save them. Praise God!

LIFE IS DIFFERENT HERE

Life is very different here. We stopped to buy gas at a gas station, but the pumps had not worked in years. They had built a wooden shelf between the pumps and had gallon sized glass jars of gas for sale.

There are small booths everywhere where you can charge your phone. One business was named “God Forgets No One Charging Station.” Another was named “Love is Patient.” The businessman chose a good name as everything we try to do requires patience.

A Liberian does not feel he has eaten unless he has rice. We have enjoyed many different foods including potato greens, the tops of the potatoes. They love very hot peppers. Children in villages eat mice. There was a time when many people ate cattle food.

Please pray for these dear friends. Ask God to supply all their needs.

In Jesus,

Linda for

Sam Shaw
Silvana Shaw
Calah Sager

Liberia, September 29th, 2008

Dearest Friends,

THE MOST AMAZING WELCOME!!!

We drove for 4 hours across some very interesting roads to reach the pastor’s house. All along the way, we were stopped by the police and questioned. This beautiful place was ripped apart by 14 years of civil war and now they carefully watch for rebels who might come to Liberia again. With all of these stops, it is not easy to predict when you will arrive at a place.

As we drove down the road to his house, many children lined both sides of the road waving pieces of tall grass. They cheered for us and shouted “Welcome.” Many held signs. One said “Welcome Sister Linda and The Agape Puppets.” As soon as we got out of the truck they crowded around us, smiling and singing.

We were overwhelmed by their love and joy. It was like being in a Bible story. All of us were humbled by their welcome. As we drove through the crowd of cheering, singing children, I prayed out loud. I asked God to help us. Pray for us to do a good job for these precious children. Ask God to call many to faith in Jesus!

WORSHIP- AFRICAN STYLE

The music is wonderful! There is lots of clapping and drums. People sing in English, Bassa, and other tribal languages. They pray about everything.

People walked for miles to come to church and worship God. One young man used his wheel chair to get to church. Then, because there was no ramp for him, he simply crawled inside with his legs dragging under him. He found a seat and began to smile and sing. He did not let anything keep him from worshipping God. His commitment challenges me to truly love and worship God. His name is Taipe Weah. Please hold him in your prayers.

We met a wonderful lady who loves Jesus very much. She has lost all of her fingers and thumbs to leprosy, but does not complain. Please hold Borkeo in your prayers as all work here is done by hand. More, she is widowed and very old. I am grateful that God allowed me to meet this sweet saint.

FORGIVENESS

Sam preached yesterday morning and I gave a missionary report. Both of us talked about the forgiveness that God has poured into our lives and how His forgiveness had changed us and others.

This is a place in a desperate need of forgiveness. The civil war raged here for 14 years and they have only known 5 years of peace. Everyone has a terrible story to tell. Everyone has lost someone to a terrible death, some have lost many. There is so much hurt here and so much that must be forgiven. Many of the men that committed the crimes are still in Liberia.

One brother in Christ told me that he has seen many change as they have trusted in Jesus. Still, so many remain angry and hungry for their old life. I beg you to pray!

A HARD LIFE

Much is the same here as it is in my home in the United States. People fall in love, have children, and dream of a better future. The hopes are the same, but the surroundings are so different.

The Civil War stripped the people of Liberia of everything. No one has electricity, unless he owns a generator and those are expensive. There is no running water for most people. They haul the water from a well. It is very hot here, but there is no relief. This was a very western country before the war destroyed everything.

People are hungry. Children in village areas wear whatever they have. A little girl had on a boy’s dress shirt and nothing else. We have seen some children wearing nothing. Others wear rags. If it is stained and has holes, it is still good.

Always, even in such a very desperate place, a child’s greatest need is Jesus. We are doing all we can, but my heart breaks for these children. Please pray for them.

Love in Jesus,

Linda for

Sam Shaw
Silvana Shaw
Calah Sager

Liberia, September 27th, 2008

Dearest Friends,
We are so excited to see how God has answered all of our prayers. The airline received all of our luggage even though some of the tubs were over sized. Everything has arrived safely in Liberia. We had no trouble at customs and were not even asked a single question. Praise God!
This is the last of the rainy season. Please pray that this will not cause us difficulty in doing the shows as many of them will need to be outside. As you know, we just came home from Ireland and thought we had seen allot of rain. However last night, it seemed that we would wash away the rain was so hard.
Please pray for the children of Liberia to come to faith in Jesus. Ask God to make us wise, kind, and sensitive to the needs of this culture.

Love in Jesus,

Linda for

Sam
Silvana
Calah

Liberia September 25th, 2008

Dearest Friends,

LIBERIA

Please hold us in your prayers as we begin our trip to Monrovia, Liberia today.  This country has had 10 years of civil war and all the horrors that normally accompany such a time have been experienced by the children there. Many have been terribly hurt and many adults are far from well. Please pray for the Father to heal the hearts of all those who hurt.  Please ask Him to call many to faith in Jesus. Please pray for our equipment to arrive safely and for our personal safety. Liberia is known for having trouble with government corruption.  Our passage through customs is a big concern!

Please pray for us today as we go to the airport and ask God to make us a bright light for Him.  We are flying an airline that we have never flown and are very concerned about all of the bags. The need is so great in Liberia and we have 12 large bags plus all of the carry-ons.  We are carrying Sunday School material for 39 teachers, books for a pastor, supplies for our friends there, and an enormous pile of puppet equipment.  Please ask God to send us someone who will be kind to us and helpful. Whatever happens, we will thank Him and respond with His love.

This is not an easy place to live, as most people have no running water and no electricity.  Imagine your life without running water and electricity! More, it is an extremely expensive place to travel to and work in because few people travel there.

We need your help.  We would be very grateful if you could help with this trip by sending a check to The Agape Puppets at 6550 West Armuchee Road   Summerville, GA 30347.  Please pray about this need first and know that it is my heart's desire that you only respond if the Lord is speaking to you. Thank you for praying about this need and thank you for praying for us.

Please hold the children of Liberia daily in your prayers!

In Jesus, Linda Summer for Sam and Silvana Shaw and Calah Sager

Ireland, August 31st, 2008 #10

DEAREST FRIENDS,


PAUL’S STORY

Last night, after we finished the program, a young man named Paul came to speak to me. He told me that he was an atheist and that he had learnt that from his father. He questioned everything about God, his word, even his very existence. He had a lot of questions, but most of them were aimed at distracting himself from the most important question. Desperately, Paul tried to avoid any discussion about his own sin and his need for Jesus.

Please pray for Paul. Last night, before he left, he promised to do two things and I believe he will keep his promises. First, he promised that he would read the Bible. We gave him an easy to read translation that he was very excited about. It was one that we had brought home from Cameroon, Africa and was cartoon illustrated. He loved it and was very surprised that we would give it to him. He had read that books of many other faiths, but he had dismissed God without even looking at His book.

His second promise is the one that excites me the most. He promised to go home last night and get down on his knees. He promised to tell God, “God I don’t believe you exist, but if you are real, show me.” I promised him that God would absolutely prove His existence to him. His name is Paul and I expect to receive an e-mail from him telling me of the amazing way God has revealed Himself.

AMAZING STORIES FROM THE STREETS

Today we will be sharing in two churches but I confess to you that my favorite place to be is the streets. I love being with all the people that will not come inside the church buildings, hearing their questions, and seeing God moving in their lives. The following lists of stories are all from yesterday and last night.

1) We arrived at the place yesterday where we planned to share and found a large crowd of Muslims. They had set up a table and were passing out literature, trying to persuade people that Islam was a good choice for their lives. All of the men in the group even had matching t-shirts proclaiming the goodness of Islam. Several of our friends had incredible conversations with different members of their group. More, all of these Muslims listened for two hours to the Gospel presented through song, testimonies, puppets, and Bible stories. They would have never chosen to come to church and hear this message, but God placed them on the street where they had to listen to the hope of Jesus.

2) Silvana had an opportunity to share with three different people from Brazil. One of them stayed for every show that we did, and all three talked with her about really serious problems they had that only Jesus could solve. Please pray for them as none of them are Christians.

3) One young man from the Sudan was very excited as he listened to Sabina as she presented the Gospel to a group of Muslims.

4) Two people who claimed the Baha'i faith also heard about how Jesus could meet all their needs.

5) A young man from China came to both sets of shows yesterday and was very happy to receive a CD from the band. He has been living in Ireland for three years studying to be a priest, but he does not believe in the existence of sin. Please ask God to show him the reality of his sin so that he can see his need for Jesus Christ.

6) A homeless man named John came to the programs. For sixteen years, he has been living on the streets. He was badly hurt as a child and his heart never mended because he never met Jesus. Please pray for John to trust in Jesus so that his broken heart can be filled with love and forgiveness

These are only a few of the stories that we heard yesterday. It seemed the whole world showed up on the streets of Ireland. Please hold all these people in your prayers.

In Jesus, Linda for

Sam & Silvana Shaw
Yeva Zarova
Sabina Kasperczyk
Sam Rodgers
Jade Rodgers
Toby Simmons
Malachi Armstrong