WIDOW FLORENCE FAHNBULLEH is pleading with us every day, “PLEASE WILL YOU PUT MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL!!”   I said we would try.

Since her husband’s death, Florence has been struggling even to feed her children.  On our last visit to Liberia, Sylvester Coleman, one of our college students,  took us to her room.  They had very little in their room, and no mattresses.  They needed blankets and pillows too.  Many times the children would get sick because of the cold floor.  Florence and her children live in the same house as Sylvester and John Barclay, who are both going to college because of sponsors in North America.   In Liberia many rent one room, and that is their home.  In this photo we have 3 children who would like to go to school, if only they had school fees.  Theresa K. Borlah is 10 yrs. old and in Gr. 5  Florence K. Fahnbulleh is 8 yrs. old and in Gr. 2.  George B. Fahnbulleh is 7 yrs. old and in Gr. 1.   They are hoping every day that there will be funds for them.  They keep asking.

To help one of these children to school, the cost is 75.00 for one semester.  Each school year has two semesters.   In Liberia it is compulsory to  have a pair of black shoes for school.  Cost for this age shoes is 15.00.  Cost of a uniform is 12.00 for smaller children.  Cost of a book bag is 10.00.  Copy books and pens for each child is 5.00.   The total per child for first semester is 117.00.  Second semester the price will be 75.00.    To provide for one child for the whole school year would be 192.00 USD.   The cost in Canadian Dollars would be 200.00 per child per year.  We do not have to pay for second semester until December.  Please could someone help Widow Florence to register her children to school?  She would be so happy!!   Any small donation would be most appreciated.   Many together, can meet this goal.   

I will post the people who donate to this, at the bottom of this blog.   Check back to see the names of those who pledge or donate.  This way you can see when this need is filled.   Please phone or email your pledges to Karen Barkman 250-454-9456 or email Karen@provisionofhope.com    School Registration is taking place now.  Please inform us if you can give.

FLORENCE IS SUCH  A WONDERFUL MOTHER.  She  was so blessed to have a mattress to sleep on that she could not stop thanking Sylvester for bringing us to her place.  Sylvester  has put in an application for a micro loan to run a CHARCOAL BUSINESS.  Florence has already offered to sell for him while Sylvester attends college.  She said, I have nothing to do all day, I would like to do that for you for helping me to get a mattress.  Can you imagine sleeping on the floor?   In the photo she is holding a black bag of rice that she got at the Widow’s Rice Distribution that our boys run, on Saturdays at My Father’s House.  Provision of Hope with the help of Wordsower International distributes many bags of rice each Saturday to widows on our program.  See more at http://www.provisionofhope.com/widows.htm    We want to give Sylvester Coleman a micro loan of 500 USD.  He can then split the profits with Florence.  Sylvester can go to the bush to get the coal.   This will help them all to eat every day.  MICRO LOANS ARE HELPING THE PEOPLE OF LIBERIA TO MAKE A WAY FOR THEMSELVES.   Click here to see more   http://www.provisionofhope.com/blog/2009/05/micro-loans-help-in-rebuilding-liberia/

In Canada make cheques payable to HOPE FOR THE NATIONS and mail to 101-1865 Dilworth Dr. Suite 342, Kelowna, BC  V1Y 9T1

In the US make checks payable to WORDSOWER INTERNATIONAL and mail to Box 3215 Nampa, ID 83653

EDUCATION, Micro Loans

As a REFUGEE on the BUDUBURAM REFUGEE CAMP, life is very hard.

War has adverse effects on everyone, but the people who suffer most are the women and children.

Provision of Hope Empowerment Leaders Single Mothers with children on the Refugee Camp

We can CHOOSE one or two options.  We can give handouts for food, housing and medicine or we can give them micro loans to enable them to do small business on the camp.   We have over 50 single mothers  who are all part of the Provision of Hope Prayer Group.  They gather every single Saturdayto worship and to pray.  What a powerful group of women!!  Presently we are at No. 15 on the empowerment list.  Our goal is to empower each one.

Marthaline sells used clothing Maybel Mulbah sells dry goods Cinneh Johnson in Nursing School

When these mothers can provide for their own needs, it gives them self worth and confidence.

“I feel like I am somebody, with meaning and purpose to my life”  “ I can feed my children and that makes me very happy”   These women have come alive with HOPE and a FUTURE.

Our Vision is to pray together, to seek the face of the Lord together, then follow His commands.

Single Mothers waiting for our needed help

We will empower women both spiritually and physically enabling them to provide for their own family needs, then go beyond themselves to help the needy in their society.

We were just there in Ghana with these women, and we saw for ourselves what a difference this is making.  Many times they go to bed hungry, or their children are sick with no medical help.  We also know that handouts are not the solution to their poverty.

MICRO LOANS ARE BETTER THAN HANDOUTS!

If you would like to donate to assist these single mothers through our Single Mothers Empowerment Program,

Contact:  Karen Barkman 250-454-9456 or email karen@provisionofhope.com

or go to our Donations Page

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Take a minute to read this FANTASTIC story!!

JANJAY DYEGA a 29 yr. old young refugee was someone I met in the Buduburam Refugee Camp in Ghana,  in 2008.  He was having pain, from a hernia, and needed surgery immediately.  Provision of Hope provided the funds for that, and helped him to a nursing school in Ghana, after his Gr. 12 graduation.  The camp was going through alot of unrest, and the nursing school was closed down.  It was at this time that  Janjay voiced his desire to go home to Liberia.  “How would I get home?  I have no money.  I am not registered with the UN, and where would I go?  I have no idea if my parents are dead or alive!”   He had no contact with his parents since fleeing from Liberia, during the war.  He assumed they were all killed.  Janjay’s parents thought the same about him. 

 United with family after   years of  separation during the war!

Janjay, his father Otis, and Karen Barkman in January 2009.

Janjay gave us the names of his parents, sibblings, school he attended, and the name of their local church in Buchanan.  In no time we found his parents.  They were both alive!!

I knew from Janjay that his dad Otis, was a nurse, and assisted a pharmacist before the wars.  His dream was to run a pharmacy, if he had the funds.  In a small way he was attempting to do just that.

This is Otis Dyega in his pharmacy located 45 kms from Buchanan in Liberia, West Africa.  With his profits he raises the orphaned children who live with his family.

Otis is a man with integrity, who helps the poor in Buchanan.

In 2008, Provision of Hope,  first loaned him 650.00 USD.  He was the first Liberian to pay me back 2 months ahead of schedule.   I SAW HIS HEART, TO HELP THE POOR!   I was amazed at what he had already accomplished on such a small loan.  With my right hand, I received his first payment of 300.00 .  I thanked him and honored him for early delivery. 

AT THAT MOMENT I was so overcome with GOD’S HEART FOR THE POOR, I could not help myself…I took the money, put it behind my back, then I said, “Otis I want to give you a gift!  You have the very heart, I want to invest in”  I took the money he had just given me, and told him to take it, and give it to the many who come to his clinic, who cannot afford drugs for their sick children.  “GIVE IT TO THE SICK CHILDREN!”   Otis has a dream to expand his pharmacy and clinic.  Right now it is very small.   He is qualified to go to the next level for a loan.   Otis Dyega has a home full of orphaned children.  These are the kinds of people we come along to assist.  Those who have a heart to help children at risk and are already doing something about it, are the people we partner with.   We are looking for people who would donate towards this cause. 

With our Micro Loans  we  help people to help themselves and fulfil the vision God has put on their hearts to accomplish. 

If you can help with this vision, by donating towards this micro loan, or that of another, we would appreciate hearing from you.  If everyone did one small thing, together we can CHANGE THE WORLD!!  BE A WORLD CHANGER AND START TODAY… that is how I got started… I reached out to one… YOU CAN TOO!!  You are welcome to call me, Karen at 250-454-9456 or email me at provisionofhope@yahoo.ca  for more information, or how to get started MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN LIBERIA.    

 Please request photos of Otis’ orphaned children.  They could use help with school fees this coming September.  Otis and Marthaline his wife have 13 children that live with them.  Janjay their oldest son is hoping to go to nursing school and come back to Buchanan to help his dad.  If you can contribute towards this family please contact us.

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