A new day for me.

Since my last writing so many years ago, my life has had incredible upheaval. We now have 12 children, 3 biokids and 9 adopted from Liberia, West Africa. All of my kids are now grown, except for two younger teens who are now in boarding schools. Practically all of our children have had major issues in their lives that have taken extreme intervetion. But GOD is so merciful. He has allowed them to turn around their lives. Most are still mending, but aren’t we all continuing to grow in God’s grace as He transforms us with His love.

So, this past year, I went from having 8 at home to 0. The silence is not golden. After homeschooling for 25 years, I hardly know what to do with myself. My mother moved in with us one day after our last child moved out, so I am still in a caregiving mode of life (for which I am thankful). My mother sleeps for most of the day, so I get pretty lonely. I don’t have friendships that are of the daily kind that give happiness and support, but I hope to. For the past 8 years, raising our 12 kept me away from nurturing relationships outside my home. A new skill! I need to learn it.

My steps toward reclaiming my life include taking classes at our junior college to hopefully work toward an associate’s degree. I will be taking a certification course coming up in March to become a certified lactation consultant. And I hope to get to know the ladies that God has placed near me by visiting and reaching out in practical ways.

My Lord is near me all the time.

Ending Be Still

Thank you for all of the support you have given to me and to these young men over the past nine months. My husband and I have taken counsel with trusted ministries who have a lot of experience in Liberia and Africa. We have not been able to establish a trustworthy system of communication, checks and balances in Liberia that satisfies us that everything we are instructing is being carried out properly. We believe it is best to discontinue the program, phasing it out through June.

The young men have gained so much in these past few years under Children Concerned and most recently Be Still. First and most importantly, they have heard the true Gospel of repentance from sin and trust in Christ alone for salvation. They are now holding their own Bible studies and attending church regularly. I pray that this has not just been a habit that they have developed to secure their place at Be Still. I pray that true regeneration by the power of the Holy Spirit has come to rest upon their lives. However, even if some are pretenders, this habit will follow them in their hearts and they will crave the Word of God as they see what the world holds. We pray that they will all come to the full knowledge of their need for salvation that comes only through Christ Jesus to redeem their lives from Hell.

In practical life skills, they have all learned to live on their own and mind their own lives. Most have learned a trade skill and the value of work. They are not begging Americans. Most are grateful. Our hope was to let them know that these gifts were coming from the Father in Heaven first. God was just using our hands to funnel His provision. If there was no provision through this means, then the Father is stretching them to seek Him and work for themselves.

This has been a time of great blessing to work and be encouraged together. In the future, if boys come to me individually with needs that can be verified, I will post them on Facebook or the Be Still blog. http://www.bestillonline.wordpress.com Money can be sent to Pastor Nightingale at WordSower and together we will make sure that the need is met.

If you would like to contribute through June or continue to help afterward with individual needs, just send whatever amount God lays on your heart in a check, tagged Be Still, to:
Wordsower International
PO Box 3215
Nampa, Idaho
83653
(please send me an email to let me know, so that I can help Pastor Nightingale manage the funds)

WordSower and Provision of Hope are excellent ministries that continue to work in Liberia and around the world taking care of countless widows and orphans. They have trusted individuals that manage these locales and they travel often to oversee that all is carried out according to their specifications. I encourage you to give into these ministries with certainty that all of the money sent goes to ministry. There is a particular ministry that WordSower is overseeing in Nimba County where many of the orphans from the orphanage where my children lived have been returned. This ministry is doing amazing things. Children are placed in foster homes, are being educated and trained in farming as well. If you wish to give on their behalf, send your check to WordSower, tag it Nimba County. Some of my adopted children have brothers and sisters in this program.

Thank you and may God bless you as you serve Him in Christ Jesus, the Lord.
Kaitlyn

A Hope past April ’09

The New Year has brought great changes for Be Still Empowerment Program. And better things are coming into view.

Karen Barkman of Provision of Hope returned from Liberia with pictures and a better understanding of the young mens’ needs. There have been some serious illnesses among the boys; lots of malaria and even a case of tetanus. Some of the seriousness can be avoided if they have better nutrition.

Since all of the boys have put forth the effort to find on-the-job training or schools to attend, I asked for assistance from WordSower ministries. They have agreed to increase the amount that the program receives for food. Pastor Jimmie purchases rice, dried fish and oil for the boys. He is assisted by four of the young men. They divide all of the food and distribute it among the 20 young men now in the program.

We hope to continue to supply their needs. The Salvation Army has established a good trade school in Monrovia that is accredited. The boys can attend if they have a high school diploma. We are hoping that the school will allow the boys to attend beginning in September on a probationary basis because of their previous training. The boys who are currently attending high school will continue on in their studies. If the Salvation Army school does not allow the boys to enroll because they lack their high school diplomas, those boys will also enroll in a high school program.

Liberia needs men to lead their nation who place God and family first. Our goal is to produce men who are leaders in the community. If they are licensed in their trades, they will have the ability to truly support families. Moreover, they will be respected members of their society. As they grow in their businesses, they will grow in influence, not only building structures, but rebuilding their nation.

Future needs include new housing after July ’09. If we can house the young men in a couple of large homes near to each other the food costs would be less. Evening life skills and business classes could be taught and their personal Bible studies and prayer meetings could be offered to a larger number of people in the community.

Please consider contributing to the needs of the Be Still Empowerment Program.
To sponsor a young man just send whatever amount God lays on your heart in a check, tagged Be Still, to:
Wordsower International
PO Box 3215
Nampa, Idaho
83653

Blessings,
Kaitlyn MacMillan

Making it work

Would you like to know how to sponsor a boy:

Ours is a trade school program. And we want to transition the guys into the real world from orphanage life. It’s not our intent import America there. I wish I could- I hope you understand what I mean. They must learn to live in the society in which God has placed them.

Initially, it was difficult to find a school in Liberia. The logistics of that process were difficult there with little electricity and no mail. We found a trade school, but it hasn’t worked out exactly as planned. Some of the boys are now in their own self-appropriated OJT because the school didn’t have the means to provide it. I actually think this shows some pluck on the part of our boys. They don’t give up. They have had to do it for themselves; work it out. Problem solving that God built into this to develop real character.

To sponsor a young man just send whatever amount God lays on your heart in a check, tagged Be Still, to:
Wordsower International
PO Box 3215
Nampa, Idaho
83653

We are sending $25 through April for the boys who have found their own OJT. After that time, we will give them a certificate and they will be ready to be an assistant to an electrician or carpenter.

Then there are a few boys who found themselves conventional high schools to attend.
They will need assistance a little longer.

I can tell you about specific boys, so you can pray over them and choose the one God brings to mind.

I will keep you posted about any changes or transitions in the program. Because the first school was not able to supply the boys with a program that licensed them, we hope to find an accredited school whose program is well established. In an accredited school they will be trained to be professionals in their trades. If they are able to receive such training, these young men can have their own businesses.

Bless you for seeing the benefit of helping these boys. The average age of a Liberian citizen is 18 years old. Most of the skilled adults either left or were killed during the war. If we can train these boys to be Godly businessmen, just think what 19 boy can do. God changed the world with only 12. Who knows, God may add to their numbers if we can work out a viable work-study program.
Kaitlyn

Making the transition – ’09

Here is the new and improved plan to get these boys on their own two feet:

There are seven boys who are doing on-the-job training. They will be paid $25 each month January through April, if they turn in a weekly statement signed by their employer and attend church with Pastor Jimmie. After that time, we will supply them with a certificate of completion of the Be Still Empowerment Trade Training Program and they will be responsible to find their own jobs to support themselves. Their rent is paid through July, so they will have a place to live for several months. If they choose to remain in those accomodations after that time, they will have to pay rent for themselves.

Ruben Gea is working in a carpentry shop for his training.
Kobort Koffa and Stephen Wontee are doing electronics in a teacher’s workshop.
Paul Barchue and Saye Gea are learning carpentry in Mr. Amos’ shop.
Obediah Zeon recently found an area for training.
Moses Taweh found an area to do his practical training immediately after the holiday seasons.

Exodus Woryonwon has found a job to begin after the holiday season, but he has a serious case of tetanus and is living for the next couple of months at My Father’s House. I would like to hold his money until the time he is able to pursue his training again. We hope to send him $15 each month for his needs until he recovers.

There are four boys who have found their own means of conventional schooling. They need support monthly while they are attending school. I will get more information about the school term, but would like to supply them with $25 each month from January through May. They can receive funds if they turn in a monthly sheet signed by a teacher or principal stating they have been in classes and they attend Pastor Jimmie’s church. If they find jobs through the summer and resume classes in the Fall, we can hopefully supply their rent and monthly stipend. This depends on their progress at school. We could try to find them a better opportunity at an accredited trade school if there are funds available. I would love to help these boys to learn a practical skill that can earn them real money.

Mcpher Koffa is doing all things possible to end this school year at the St. Francis High.
Darvin Darlieh is also in school trying to get a conventional education.
Joshua Keamue sells for a lady at the market site and he will begin to attend a conventional school again after the holidays.
Jason Wisseh works cleaning a school building in trade for his education.

Two boys have jobs and are supplying their own needs. To stay in the rooms, they must continue to attend church every Sunday.
Nathan Taweh is selling for himself.
Joseph Sackie is selling over-the-counter medicine for a pharmacy shop at the market.

Five boys are not prepared at this time to receive funds. As above, to stay in their rooms, they must continue to attend church every Sunday. Pastor Jimmie will report to me weekly about this.
Timothy Nusorn is finding it difficult to get an area to cut hair.
Randall Doegmah, Francis Darlieh, Lougon Wombia and Michael Gbahn are trying hard to find areas to work for on-the-job training. If these four boys find situations, they can contact Pastor Jimmie and we will add them to the program for four months under the same guidelines.

In total: This requires $290 monthly for Pastor Jimmie to distribute for the boys. The change is that the boys must now manage everything personally.
This $25 monthly is for each boy’s food, medical needs, and personal items like clothing, etc. They can pool their monies to purchase food together in their rooms, or use it as they see fit individually. I encourage them to spend it carefully, as no more money will be sent until February. If they can, they should save a portion of this money to help when the program is finished while they look for a job. They should also begin to think about the future cost of rent if they plan to stay in their rooms after July ’09.

I am pleased with the progress being made. The boys are learning to supply their own needs and regularly attend church. We pray that they will acknowledge Christ in all their ways. He will direct their paths.

Merry Christmas From Be Still!

Made by my son David.

Welcome to Be Still

This is the online journal of the Be Still Empowerment Program based out of Monrovia, Liberia in West Africa.

We were blessed 18 months ago when God allowed us to adopt six children from Liberia, West Africa. Our three oldest boys, Will, Mark and Josiah (age 17) lived in the Shepherds Village Orphanage for older boys in Monrovia, Liberia. While they were at the orphanage, I was able to talk to many of the other boys living there. I developed a real heart for these older, motherless boys.

Shortly after our African sons arrived in the USA, Shepherds Village was closed. This summer in July, the temporary home that had housed the boys had to be closed as well.

With the help of only four other families, I was able to place ten boys and one girl in trade school in Liberia. Nine other boys are living with the students, working or attending other schools as they are able. The 19 boys share six rooms. Pastor Jimmie Koffa attends trade school with the boys and oversees their activities. We call this endeavor the Be Still Empowerment Program.

Liberia is in a terrible state after their fourteen year civil war which ended in 2003. The average age is 18 years. Liberians who had skills and education were either killed or fled the country. We hope to empower these young men to become Christian leaders with a heart to deliver the Gospel as they work to rebuild Liberia.

The focus of Be Still Empowerment Program is to provide the boys with the means to learn a trade while mentoring them in their walk with Jesus Christ. The boys are supplied with basic needs. They are required to attend Pastor Jimmie’s church and to work to help provide for their own needs. So far, this has been done for about $5000 US.

Karen Barkman of Provision of Hope and Jason Nightingale of WordSower International have agreed to be my consultative partners in this project, as I administrate it. Please see my links to their ministries.

The funds we had available when we started the Be Still Empowerment Program are now exhausted. If you feel an interest in assisting these boys, you may sponsor a boy for any amount or give a one-time gift. There are also needs such as funds for medical attention, tools for on-the-job training or helping to send me and one of my Liberian sons to Liberia to help the boys with their practical needs.

The progress among these young men is remarkable. The boys are learning to be self-sufficient. We are so thankful that God has provided new opportunities and possibilities for these boys. He is training these boys to be His own workers who will lead their families and their communities for His glory.

Thank you for considering these needs.