Mission Statement
According to a recent Voice of America article “More
than 70 percent of Liberia’s employable workforce lives on less than a dollar a
day and most cannot read and write; up to 80 percent of its population of 3.5
million lacks formal employment.”
This is one of many reasons why Bush Hill Presbyterian Church
feels called to support BHPC members Carney and Ophelia Johnson with their
mission to restore the Presbyterian Todee Mission (PTM) in their home country of
Liberia. Founded in 1945, PTM was the first and only high school in the Todee
District, accommodating 460 students, including 152 boarders. It was supported
by the Presbytery of Liberia.
The Liberian Civil War disrupted all educational and training
activities in Todee District, including PTM, and had a significant impact on its
residents, particularly children. The school plans to provide instruction to
prepare students for college, but it will also provide training in agriculture,
construction, and home economics for non-college bound students.
Efforts are underway to restore buildings and establish basic
infrastructure such as electricity and water. In a report recently received by
the Interpretation and Stewardship (I&S) Committee, Ophelia said “We have no
materials. We need everything … we are at “ground zero”—everything unattached
and wooden in all buildings was taken … even the roof of the girls’ dorm was
removed.”
The facility does have a basic clinic, built in 1972, that is
still the only facility offering limited health care to forty-two surrounding
villages. This facility also needs restoration, but it was recently able to help
provide worm tablets and measles immunizations for nearly 1,000 children.
Though the project is in the early stages, Bush Hill
continues to look for ways in which members can support this special project and
the I&S Committee has had ongoing communication with Ophelia. We hope to soon
begin working with other local churches to accept donations of supplies to be
sent over on a container ship. However, at this point the best way to help the
project is with financial support.
Thanks in part to the
generosity of many individual donors, BHPC has forwarded medical supplies and
nearly $67,000 in
contributions to PTM. Also, a container of furniture and school supplies was
sent in November 2007. Portions of the church’s special offerings are also
designated for this mission. Anyone wishing to support PTM can continue to
make contributions through Bush Hill Presbyterian Church. Please mail your
contribution to 4916 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA 22310. The memo
area on your check should be marked “Presbyterian Todee Mission.” Our bank
will wire transfer contributions to ensure funds are available in
Liberia within days of receipt.
If you have any questions,
please feel free to contact
Bush
Hill
Church (office@bushhill.org
or 703-971-1171). Please join our church in praying for the success of the
Presbyterian Todee Mission.
Todee
Study Mission – Purpose and Needs
March 25 –
April 2
Everyone can help by praying for those who went to Todee for
this study mission. Contributions, based on your prayerful
consideration for supporting this particular mission experience,
will be used to defray the cost of the airline tickets.
For some months now, the I&S Committee, our global mission
committee at Bush Hill Presbyterian Church, has prayerfully been
considering an advance team study mission to the Todee Mission and
school in Liberia. Our sister church in Goba Town and the Todee
Mission Board of Directors, including Carney & Ophelia Johnson, have
requested we come to the mission site to strengthen our connections
with the school, the Goba Town Presbyterian Church, and the entire
community. The primary purpose of this advance study team is to make
full preparations for future mission experiences with Todee. The
advance study team includes an educational and infrastructure
specialist, Dahlia Shaewitz, from the American Institute for
Research; Rev. Eugene Eastman, a graduate of the school and a
Liberian minister, and one of his sons; Rev. Anne Troy, an
application grant writer for Todee; Rev. Paul Shields, former
business professional with construction expertise, whose Session is
excited about supporting the Todee Mission project; Dick Szymanski,
moderator of our I&S Committee; and our pastor, Dr. Rush, a member
of the Todee Mission Board.
We are sending a study team, rather than an individual,
because no one person can comprehend the health concerns, the adult
and youth educational requirements, the logistics of construction,
the cultural context—both locally and internationally, and the
importance of establishing personal relationships with Goba Town
Church and the associated mission members.
If you feel led to help defray the cost of the airline
tickets, checks should be made payable to Bush Hill Presbyterian
Church and marked “Todee Study Mission” in the memo area.
Even though the team is already on travel, donations are still being
accepted.
Note: If this designation is not listed on your check, the
donation will go to the general Todee Mission fund. Your
monetary support will be greatly appreciated.
Mission Updates
August 2007 Update (TEMPO
article)
June 2007 Update (TEMPO
article)
May 2007 Update
Monetary
donations may be sent at any time to:
Bush Hill Presbyterian Church,
4916
Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA 22310.
Please
mark “Presbyterian Todee
Mission” in the memo area of your check.
