Amanda speaks at WMU Focus Sunday

Amanda spoke yesterday in the morning church service for WMU (Women's Missionary Union) Focus Sunday. She had a large display table of Liberia items including men's and women's clothing like the one she has on in the picture from Liberia in January 2004. She had an awesome powerpoint to run along with her talk.

Amanda talked about our shortened missionary tenure in Liberia, our work with de-mobilized female child soldiers in three homes with Samaritan's Purse and THINK (a Liberian NGO), our best friend in Liberia -- Dennis Aggrey, our outreach to Mama Feeta's orphans and to victims of human trafficking.

Amanda told funny stories about real life in Liberia, what it is like to be a missionary woman in Liberia, and how you get by when it's tough.

She ended with her personal testimony of how she came to Christ as a teenager. In the midst of her testimony, Amanda made this statement:

"Christianity as a religion has no power to help anyone. Christianity as a relationship with Jesus Christ has all power to help everyone. It was the incredible opportunity of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that made me want to know Christ. I was amazed when I realized that my grandmother actually talked to God every day! 'My grandmother talks to God!' I thought. I wanted that peace and relationship with God that my grandmother has still today."

Amanda was fourteen when she made a commitment to Christ.

Her final powerpoint slide didn't get broadcast on the wall yesterday (an inept tech named Gene forgot it!) Here was her final slide:

"Some like to live within the sound of chapel bell.
I want to run a rescue mission within a mile of hell." -- C.T. Studd

When we arrived in Liberia, the other NGO folks took one look at Amanda and said behind her back, "She'll never make it. She's not tough enough. We give her 30 days and she'll be back on the plane." Amanda fooled them all.

These days, Amanda's main ministry in the earth is our three children, one yet unborn. Her children are her passion and her mission, and that makes me a glad man.