Brian and Gwen

Hi All,

There they are, two of my best helpers--laid up. Many thanks to all who prayed and/or gave to help Momma and Beverly come. As you can see, their coming will be very helpful. I am 38 weeks today, so any time for me.
For Brian, a fracture was discovered in his wrist. Had it been in a slightly different place, he would have needed surgery--he was in trouble with the doctor for not coming sooner, but he maintains that it was for the best. "How would I have tied a tie or done my job before?' he said. As it is, it will make a few projects a bit difficult. He has several reports he needs to write and his typing will be very slow. Please pray. He's frustrated--4-6 weeks in that stiff plaster cast.
Gwen's ankle is NOT broken. There are ligament and tendon injuries . For now it is immobilized further and she has crutches. She sees the doctor again next week. Pray for quick healing. The bottom line and huge praise for both of them is NO SURGERY NEEDED! We are so thankful for this.
Do pray for us, though. We're feeling a little low. School was just out yesterday, we have two injured people, I'm having a baby soon, and I am NOT feeling ready. Brian and I both have school things to tie up. He has various responsibilities all break. So, again, we're okay, but your prayers, as always, are most welcome. We love you and pray for you too.

Under His Mercy,
Scharlie

Gwen's Broken Ankle

Dear Family and Friends,

About 1:45 PM Malawi time (Saturday), Gwen and I were jumping on the trampoline. She jumped up and came down "wrong" on her ankle and started screaming pretty hard right away. Within 10 minutes of the injury, we had a doctor and a nurse looking at her and they helped us get her into the car and drive her down to the clinic.

They put a back slab on her left leg and she and I will go to Partners in Hope clinic on Monday to get x-rays together. (My wrist has gotten worse and I think I will need to have something done with it as well.)

Thanks for praying. We give thanks for Dr. Jerry Koleski and nurses Becky Epperson and Carson White that treated Gwen so well and helped her out. She is calm now and on the couch getting ready to watch a movie.

Malaria, Please Pray

About a month and a half ago, I mentioned to someone that it seemed that this Malaria season had been quite light. Well, I was wrong! Since then we have had numerous people associated with the Mission or one of its ministries come done with Malaria. The most recent one is Mike Ammentorp. Mike is finishing up his two year commitment this year at the Academy and he is from my parent's home church. Please pray for Mike. He was admitted to the ward yesterday with 4+ Malaria (the highest level) to receive quinine drip through IV. He will be there for at least 24 hours and with no visitors. He will be out from work for at least the rest of this week. Pray that he responds quickly to the medicine and does not have any relapses.

ABCU Liberia

Below is an email from our Pastor's brother, Chuck McArthtur. Chuck was with the work in Liberia before the civil war and he is back working in Liberia again, but in a different capacity. In addition to the matters that Chuck mentions for prayer, I would add that you please pray for Reverend and Mrs. Chinchen. This has been--and will be--a very difficult road for them to travel as well. 

RestoreLiberia.org Hi Chip,     Rarely do the depths of grief and the heights of joy so violently collide. On Wednesday, May2,  we were all running around getting everything set for the first Senior Banquet since the reopening of ABC University. We wanted it to be just right for those 20 trailblazers-some who were actually finishing their degree that they had begun before the African Bible College closed its doors during the 14 yr civil war. It was a beautiful evening in the gym with round tables uniquely covered with bright African tie dye. The food was delicious and the singing was exceptional. Thursday began with preparations for Saturday's graduation along with meetings with the other deans who were busy orientating me on my responsibilities as Dean of the College of Biblical Studies. Then early Friday the staff and faculty were asked to come to an emergency meeting at the home of the university president. Sheree and I worked with Del and Becky 26 years ago and considered it a privilege to be reunited. They were the ones who moved back to Liberia in order to rebuild the campus that the war had destroyed. I have enjoyed a deep admiration for their faith and willingness to make extreme sacrifices. They have poured their lives into building this university for the past 6 years. Sitting in the circle were also his mother and father, the founders of African Bible Colleges who had come to celebrate graduation. Del and Becky then joined the circle and he proceeded to confess sexual indiscretions with two students over the last year. He then announced that had resigned his position and would not be attending graduation. An hour later he did the same before the student body in the chapel-all this only 24 hours before the start of the graduation ceremony. Utter shock. Deep grief. Shared shame. It felt like the sudden death of one's beloved and highly respected father who tells you with his last breath that he had been unfaithful to your mother--with two of your sisters. To make matters worse, he had been  denying the rumors over the last several months--all the while preaching the importance of integrity. We were all devastated--and still are. And yet the show had to go on. Those seniors deserved a celebration regardless of no one feeling like doing anything but crawling in a hole and weeping. The students and staff did what they had to do and on Saturday at 11am an estimated 1,000 people gathered to celebrate 20 graduates. It was indeed a beautiful celebration accompanied by great joy-and yet with an undeniable hole in all of our hearts. In just over a week the students will return for five weeks of classes. Nathan Mulba, the Vice President (a graduate of ABC and a former student of mine-am I boasting?) is in charge until the board appoints a new president for the university. It is my joy to serve under him. He is highly respected by students and staff alike. He is a great example of Del's vision of turning more and more of the leadership over to African leaders--a vision all of the faculty here believes in. Please pray for a deep work of the Spirit upon the student's return. Pray that the gospel will be understood and applied at the deepest level possible evoking deep repentance and exuberant joy with a confident hope in an unknown future. And pray for Del and Becky; we  love and appreciate them and want them to experience God's healing deep in their souls. Pray for soft hearts and gospel confidence. With humble hearts and God's power they will come through this more beautiful than ever. And pray for the board as they decide the future of ABCU Liberia. Pray that they will have the humility and wisdom to observe and appreciate the unique aspects of this campus in preparing leaders in every sector to advance the Kingdom of God. So many have invested so much and there is so much at stake in their decisions. We have a great and gracious God and so we worship and serve Him. No one loves us like he loves us. Thank you for your prayers and support! He reigns, Chuck How You Can Help    If you want to partner with us financially please email me at chuck929@gmail.com  to tell me the good news. Make your checks payable to Equipping Leaders International with "McArthur" in the memo and send it to Equipping Leaders InternationaI c/o Jenn Page at 7566 Cliff Cottage Court, Jacksonville, FL 32244. Gifts are of course tax deductable. Thank you for your partnership!!

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Missions Conference Video

Dear Family and Friends, Olivet PCA had its annual World Missions Comference last weekend. Jeff Fairfax on the Missions Committee had asked Scharlie and I to put together a video presentation that could be shown. We had a lot of fun putting this together. The link to it is below. We would love to hear what you think about it. Is there something about our time here that you would like to know more or "see" more about? Let us know Grace and Peace, Brian and Scharlie http://dl.dropbox.com/u/76020834/Olivet%20Missions%20Conference%202012.m4v

Malawi's Vice-President Sworn-in as President

Give thanks that Malawi's Vice-Presdient was sworn in as president, thus averting a potentially difficult constitutional crisis. Continue to pray for the country as they mourn their departed leader and pray for grace and peace to continue a smooth and orderly transfer of power.

May you know the power of the Ressurrction this day!

Please Pray for Malawi

Please pray for the country of Malawi. Her President the Honourable Bingu wa Mutharika has died of cardiac arrest. Pray for the country and its people as they work through this difficulty.

You can read more about it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17636393