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A follow up on Pastor Gary Wiggin’s trip
to Liberia last October.
In March of this year (2005) Bro.
Gary came down with a delayed case of malaria and spent several days at home
recovering after a trip to the doctor to have the illness diagnosed. He was faithful to pray for the upcoming
mission trip even while sick at home.
I believe that you will find his short note below both inspiring and
proof that God loves and protects us.
From
Brother Gary Wiggins-
Blessings....any
malaria symptoms. ha. Mine is subsiding well, and really worked out good. While
in the emergency room with 104 fever the doctor ordered a brain cat scan
because my head and neck hurt severely. Ends up I have a large pituitary
tumor that will require surgery soon. If the malaria had not happened the
tumor would have continued to grow causing much problem. HE can take the bad
and make it good...Romans 8:28. gw
October 2004 Trip
to Liberia
(This article was edited from an
email received from Bro. Gary Wiggins)
As to our trip it was the most
difficult and most rewarding I have experienced in missions to West Africa (two trips), India (two trips), Mexico and the United States (several state missions). Anyway the long trip to
the bush took 26 hours going in. The Liberian men worked tirelessly for us
and did not want us to do anything....the roads were almost impassable and returning
it took 27 hours. The men cut a road
through the bush taking all night with machete and ax in order to get us
through. WOW I was sooo impressed with
the heart and diligence with no complaints. Westerners would have sat down
grumbled and cried. In the village we
received a king’s welcome. The facility as you know was adequate and everyone
was careful to try and meet our needs. I think for visiting from west
especially ladies they could do more work on shower and latrine. I would love
to bring a medical team but fear it would be too hard on the ladies. Also the school was most impressive, their
curriculum, order, etc. I trust the
new school will be a testament to God's grace. Church was great with the leadership at
hand. We had multiple professions of faith and I do not know exact number but
I would say around 35 or more. We
baptized, three of us, until we were tired, again not counting. I understood some had been baptized the
afternoon before by a Liberian pastor...some of the women requested that. The
pastors’ conference, I thought, was very successful...God gave me great
recall of chapter and verse for every question. I was in awe of His grace.
We had one of our team get Malaria but he is ready to
return. This is his second case from West Africa. Overall I
believe Shadrach has great vision and I marvel at what God has done in 4
yrs. The need of accountability is
great as is the need to complete what is started. He has a trusty team in Jeremiah and
driver/mechanic (my mind blanked with name) and the lady in Monrovia overseeing the water/ice project. The dream is alive. We westerners need to
be careful to not attempt to "westernize" everything, but at same
time bring some things that will better the ministry besides dollars. Anyway, I support and believe in what is
being done. It is the deep prayer of
my heart that greater works than these be done. By God's grace we hope to go in November
with another team.
See
Pictures of this trip (use your
browser’s “Back” button to return)
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