Please Read! A Testimony!!!

The night before Jakin and I were scheduled to leave Liberia we still had not received the proper documents to leave the country. I had gotten a verbal okay that the Colonel would write up the exit clearance and we could pick it up in the morning but I have been around Liberia long enough to know that I very likely would not receive the letter til it was too late for our flight.


To be discreet and make a long story short after trying to pick up some personal belongings from our house that we have there confusion broke out between Jakin’s family and I. Prior to this in talking with Dan before the trip and what I felt like God was telling me when I got to the country was like the Holy Spirit was warning me NOT to go back to our house on 72nd. I felt such a demonic spirit or even more I felt like a legion of unclean spirits there at our house and even on the road in the village surrounding our house. The instant I got on our road I felt it. It over came me with the feeling of wanting to vomit. I should have turned back then but I did not.



That episode of being on our road that night and in our house was maybe the most horrible experience of my life and a time where I felt the biggest warning from God I have ever felt. I cannot share more details of that publicly and it is hard to convey what went on in the house there that night but it was the most demonic thing I have ever seen. I left our house with Jakin so shaken and went back to where I was staying.


I was staying in man’s house who is a friend of Dan’s ministry partner Bestman because it was a secure house with a wall, gate, broken glass, steel bars on the windows and steel doors on the Congo Town Backroad which is a pretty good area. Dan and Bestman and Jakin agreed before I came to Liberia that I would not be safe there on 72nd so Bestman had choose this place for me and Dan had given the okay. The man who owned the house assured me that he had never had problems with criminals before.

The mans house did not have one stick of furniture so we were sitting on the floor trying to process what I had just seen. I wanted to pray but I felt so bound and just devastated and in shock I could not. I knew if I could pray my way threw it I could pray this demonic activity away Dan and I had done it so many times before but I felt overcome.


At about 11:00 we heard pounding at the gate. Instantly I knew there was serious trouble. In Liberia no one goes out or goes to other people after maybe 9:00 9:30 because it is very dangerous and normally even if you come to someone they will not want to let you in their house even if they know you for fear that criminals are using a person that you know to trick you into getting inside.

It was Bestman and the man of the house very reluctantly opened up the gate first standing over the door while Bestman walked inside with a machete “just in case”. By that time I was already on the phone with Dan not even knowing what the problem was yet just telling Dan that there was big big trouble.


When Bestman got inside he told Dan over the phone that Jakins aunt and Uncle had come to Bestmans place so angry and wanted to let him know that in the morning they would be going to Star Radio and to all the Ministries saying that I had come to kidnap Jakin out of the country and that they were going to the police to have me arrested.

Dan and I legally adopted Jakin two years ago and the family had released him to us even one year prior to that so for the last 3 years I have been this childs mother and legal guardian with the families knowledge and consent and blessing.

Because there is such a massive amount of contention in the country about adoptions their accusations and suggestion that they have me arrested even though I had done nothing wrong was very very serious. That was exactly the kind of information and accusations that the enemies of adoptions in the country would love to get their hands on and knowing what I know about the country jail was a very real possibility.

But far worse than jail here I am less than 24 hours before my flight leaves Liberia with no documents to bring Jakin with me and knowing if the familiy did what they said they were going to do Jakin would not leave with me yet again.

Bestman told Dan that as soon as daybreak we would go back to our house there and beg that family to reconcile and have mercy.

Before Bestman showed up I was shaken beyond words but now words are not sufficient to tell how I felt.

Jakin and I got down on our knees and I covered my head with a sheet before I got busy praying showing whatever evil out there that I was under the authority of my husband.

I prayed like I have never prayed before. I felt like Jakin in I were in bodily danger but I could not say why. I prayed all night like that.


Begging God saying “Lord prepare me a table in the presence of mine enemies Lord.” I reminded him of all Dan and I have been through and prayed verses of truth that he had given me on the plane and I had commited these verses to memory:

Blessed is the man that considereth the poor for the Lord shall save him in time of trouble

He will preserve him and keep him alive and he shall be blessed amoung the earth thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.

I reminded God of these verses and said “God I need you now your all I got!” If you deliver Jakin and I we will be delivered and if you don’t deliver us we will perish Lord! I felt like I just wrestled with God throughout the night and that He replaced the demonic activity all around me with His spirit of power and of might and a righteous indignation that I could be bold to go forward that day and He was going to fight for me.


I used the bathroom in the night and saw flashlights flashing on the wall like someone was looking for me. I heard machetes scrapping and clanging together but I don’t think too much of these things because these were somewhat familiar things of the neighborhood watch time that patrols at night for criminals.

I prayed all through the night like I never prayed before. Dan was praying back home. I had called Nicole and I knew Dan had called people and that they were praying. I felt their prayers and I felt the might and power of God.


As soon as daybreak came is was pouring rain as it is rainy season there but I just had to set out I had less than 12 hours before we had to leave Liberia and I determine to fight my son out of that country no matter what it cost me. God told Dan and I that he was ours and this time we were taking what belonged to us.

The man of the house opened the doors so I could get out of the house. It takes a long time to get out of a secure house in Liberia. You have to unlock a series of doors and once outside the house there are even more gates and such to unlock. I waited impatiently while he opened the house and when it finally was opened the door swung open to see the car sitting in front of us totally broken into and damaged. Exploring further we saw the evidence that more than one person had entered the fence armed with machetes.


At first I thought no big deal after all it was impossible for them to enter the house. Bestman came by while I was getting ready and came to my door horrified with his hand laid over his mouth “Saying Sis Stacy criminals entered this house last night looking for you come and see!” I went in the kitchen to see that a hole had been chopped in the outside of the house near the tin roof where it is a wood there and they had climed into the rafters of the house and cut yet another hole into the kitchen of the house and got inside.

In all my time in Liberia and after people telling us over and over again and over and over again. If they ever get in your house they will violate and damage the women and torture the men and they will even kill you if you do not have enough money to satisy them.


I knew looking at that hole in the ceiling that I had escaped only by God’s hands.

In thinking that over : whoever did that had planned that attack, They watched that house and planned just how they were going to do it and what they were going to do. They had taken a whole lot of time to not be heard cutting all those holes in the house making sure they were not found out so we could not holler for the neighborhood watch team (who would have killed the criminals if they were caught) Even the criminals themselves had put their life in danger to enter that house. So after they were successful and undetected they got all the way inside which was just what they wanted they now could carry out their wicked plan.

If they just want to steal usually they do not enter the house because they are professionals at getting things through windows with long hooks and even threatening people with guns through the window or whatever so they do not have to enter.

Everyone assured me that they had plans to do great harm to me. So why in the world after all of that and they get inside would they not even so much as try the handle of my door or anyones door that lived in that house????? No one in that house was aware that there were criminals there. They stole a childs backpack and that was it.


Do you know that:

The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him and delivered them.

And again:

Blessed is the man that considereth the poor for the Lord will not deliver him to the will of his enemies!!!!

God saved Jakin and I alive that night thank you Jesus and I will never cease to let that testimony be forgotten from my lips. Our God is mighty and able to save!


I still had less than 24 hours to leave the country with my son and threats of jail still loomed over my head as I ran out the door to get over to Jakins family to resolve these irresolvable problems.

I got to the house with Bestman and sat down with the very angry family and to be discreet and brief after a long time of talking and begging on my part they were satisfied with having Dans and my belongings being turned over to them including the house.

When I went there after God had filled me full of His mighty Spirit I felt zero demonic activity and I felt so strong in my spirit and so determined that God was going before me to fight for me to give me the son that belongs to us. The son that He promised to Dan and I three years prior!

Thank God I could make peace with them and as I left I had like 6 hours to get all the remaining documents so we could leave Liberia. Still a long shot!

I went down to the Ministry of Justice and after sitting in her office for about an hour behold someone came out and put the paper in my hand (Thank You Jesus!).


I grabbed Jakin by the arm and ran out the door saying let’s get out of here.

I still had not confirmed my tickets and was unsure if that meant I had been bumped from my flight. After going to Brussels and confirming my tickets (Praise God) they told me I had to pay $25 each person in airport taxes before being allowed to leave the country.

Big problem : I did not have $50 for taxes. Where am I going to get the money for that in about 5 hours time? I had a few things that were worth a little money and I sent Jakin and Bestman out to sell them so that we could get the money in time. Thank God they were able to sell the stuff get the money and get back just as we had to leave for the airport.


I could see that God was totally going before me and preserving me and Jakin and parting the Red Sea for us. He was fighting for me. All I could think of as we raced for the airport was the Devowes and others experience of being turned away at the airport and all the warnings I heard form other that the airport is where they make problems.

I held my breath and refused to allow myself to even think I might get him out of the country. Instead I just watched and prayed.


We got to the airport, we went through the checkpoints they never questioned and meerly just glanced at my documents. Before I knew it Dan and I saw the completion of a miracle and the plane was flying high above and out of Liberia. Praise our Jehovah God!

Satan did not want our son to leave Liberia but God had other plans for Jakin blessed be the name of the Lord.

Some of the hard truths about Liberia. This child that is covered with clay is being inititated into the "Secret or Poro Society."

Friendly kid though - stayed right on my heels all the while we visited and loved my camera!

Here is the picture of Dan sharing the gospel and discussing the needs of (blind) Abraham. This is also the picture from the pencil sketch below.

-Stacy

Blind Abraham

Edited into a sketch. This was in Liberia in a little bamboo shack of a blind man. We are trying to help him rent a different place to live as his conditions are deplorable. You can see him here in the corner.

The Marie Sandvick Center

Friends of ours the Jorgenson family singing down at the Marie Sanvick Center. The Jorgensons have 11 children and attend our church.

Preaching the gospel at the Center back in January of this year.

The Marie Sandvick Center is a homeless ministry located in downtown Minneapolis.

Preaching in Liberia last month

Bestman and I preached at Bannersville Junction on this last trip. There were many listening and attentive ears.

Preaching in Black Jena.

Bestman and I preaching at Bannersville Junction.

Edison Sworh, Me and Bestman preparing to preach across from a mosque in the Black Jena area in Liberia last month.

My wife Stacy, Jakin our son and I at the beach.

Jakin and I at Elwa beach in February.

Preaching outside of the Salvation Army and Catholic Charities in Minneapolis. I aim to use all scripture in my preaching.

Street Preaching in Minneapolis

Preaching the gospel in the States is a whole other world than preaching in Africa. I have come to appreciate aspects of both.

My children listening to the preaching and handing out gospel tracts.

Kakata Central Prison September Trip

This picture is from my trip in September of last year. Although I preached regularly at Monrovia's Central Prison this was my first time at Kakata Central Prison.

The road leading up to the prison.

The wall surrounding the prison.

Here I am with Paye, Pastor Richards and Pastor Bestman Todawiah.

This is my 15 year old son Jakin who enjoyes mistering to the prisoners also.

Sharing with the prisoners.

My Call to the Harvest

January of 2005 my dad died. I was convinced that he was softening over the years and that he would get saved. It really shook me up that he died without Christ. I went into a shell after this it was a dark time in my life. The first death of anyone really close to me. I was so sure that he was going to get saved. I wondered did I do enough, did I do it the right way? It’s hard for me to pinpoint how this affected my call to missions but I know that it did. Pondering eternity and hell…

Another thing that happened was in Aug ’06 I quit my job as a machinist. I simply just had it too good at that job. I left a good paying job, senority, excellent benefits, and a supervisor position to be a nobody at another job. I was too secure in this job too comfortable. The Lord had been telling me for years to leave this job but I just didn’t do it. I had too much faith and trust in this job and it should have been in the Lord. Quiting had an enormous impact in me and I just think it was the Lord building into me after my obedience to Him. I could think now and it relieved the intense pressure I felt from the Lord telling me to quit. It renewed my vision and desire for evangelism.

We started looking for new ways to minister along with our family of then nine children and reach the lost. I started going out street preaching/witnessing with another brother downtown in the warehouse district. I always had our boys with me as it is my desire that my family is my mission team. Sometimes we all would go and sometimes Stacy would wait with the little kids in the car. The more I went out the more bold and confident I have gotten in doing it. We even attended some A.A. meetings in an attempt to reach people. I did a little investigating about starting a church downtown or just a bible study with converts from the street. I didn’t really feel “called” to do any of these things, I knew that God had something He wanted us to do and we were just trying to stay busy doing “something” while we waited on Him to show us.

I found that as I ministered to these people I had great compassion for them in realizing what bondage they are in just like I was. I wanted to see them set free like I had been set free. This also caused me to go to God’s Word even more so I could minister to them.Another thing that really changed my heart was seeing that my children were getting older and feeling a heavy burden for their souls. I would think about what kind of people did I want them to be? What kind of Christians did I want them to be? I wanted them to want to serve the Lord and love Him with their whole heart. This desire for missions also has stemmed from my desire to love my children and teach them to seek the Lord.Other things that were imbedded deeply in me- What is this life worth? What are we doing here? Trying to cling to jobs, careers & schooling….

Back in January Stacy had written to some orphan boys and when she asked me if I wanted to write to them I said “no.” Then in March she got the letters back. Stacy read me the letters. I was still really closed. In my mind I was thinking “It’s a big job getting’ by with 9 kids and a wife.” I didn’t give it a second thought. It was however brought to my attention the horrible stories that were coming out of this orphanage that this boy was at. I felt at least that it was an item to be brought up to the church for prayer. At church one morning I decided to read the letter that Aaron wrote to us. At that point we were not giving serious consideration to adopting him but I wanted to alert people to the cry of these orphans and help in whatever way God led. I could not finish the letter. God just broke me. When I took the time to hear what this orphan boy was really saying I could not ignore it. In my heart there was a huge change. I started planning a trip to Liberia. I didn’t know why I was going but I felt that God just wanted me to go there and I was just following His calling.

I started talking about going to Liberia as a long term missionary. This was the time too that our house was sold. I had previously offered myself up to God for whatever ministry He wanted as soon as I was out from under the bondage of debt. My house sold three weeks before I left for Liberia. It was amazing how God timed the sale of our house with the planning of this trip. I was a new employee with no extra vacation and was worried about taking 3 weeks off. I was prepared to be fired over it. I wasn’t even sure of God’s plan for selling our house at this time other than it was good to get out of debt and my desire to spend more time with my boys. It was a miricle that we sold our home in this shakey market. The buyer even offered to buy out of the purchase agreement.

In Liberia I met Aaron and I decided we would adopt him. Visiting the prison in Liberia was a powerful experience. I had told Stacy over and over throughout the years usually every time she mentioned missions that God hadn’t called me to foreign missions but I felt He did want me to minister and preach the gospel in the prison. I have felt that way since I got saved 10 years ago. So here I am in a Liberian prison. There was no doubt to me that God was moving very strongly there. I saw that the Liberian people are just ready and hungry for Jesus. I have come to the point that I am sure that God is calling me to go to Africa to the prison there and to those orphans.

When I came home we didn’t talk of living in Liberia for a while even though we had talked so much about it before. We proceeded in our adoption process. I don’t know how else to describe this other than I did not feel peace in my heart at all. I tried to figure out where all this disquiet and tension was coming from. where had I gone wrong- I thought I was following the Lord but somewhere I had taken a wrong turn.Then it came to me that “I should be preparing to live there.” The adoption process worked totally against that. I knew that was wrong for our family-in America anyway. Strife ceased and the unrest in my spirit ceased and was replaced by a peace that I was in the will of God. I had a time of stuggle as I tried to make sure that this was really what He was telling me to do. I have asked the Lord to close the door if we are out of His will in any way and the doors are opened wide to us. Every time Stacy and I have stepped out in faith, many ways over the years, people always said we were nuts. Our christian friends would say “your type of people once you get saved usually swing all the way to one side…but you’ll come back to the center eventually.”God has met us every single step of the way. We have tried Him and seen that He can be trusted. We know that He will meet us there and He is meeting us there in our hearts and the hearts of our children as we prepare together for this new chapter of our lives. Jesus says “my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matt 11:30

Written 9/14/2007