February 2007

The Arrow

Volume II, Issue 1

We hope this newsletter finds you enjoying the fruits of the new year. With all that is going on in the world, we can be thankful that we know God remains in control of the affairs of men, and that whatever happens to us, no matter how it feels, is for our good. (Romans 8:28)

Special Shoutout

THE SHOT

A True Story

During that week we met many students who attended the high school at the mission station. One of them stood out from the crowd. Mosoka Fallah, a 17 year old junior, was intelligent, diligent, and inquisitive. During the day he worked with us as we painted and made other repairs to the buildings on the premises. Then, he kept us up late into the night inquiring about American culture, history, and politics.

I stayed in contact with Mosoka upon my return home, and was actually making plans to have him come to Arizona and live with me while attending college when the civil war broke out in Liberia. I lost contact with Mosoka, and assumed I would never hear from him again. I even feared he might have perished in the fighting that had consumed his country.

Imagine my surprise in October, 2006 when I received a phone call from a strange number in Kentucky. It was Mosaka. He was calling from the University of Kentucky, where he was in the second year of a PhD program in molecular biology. I invited him to spend Christmas with me and my family, and he spent eight days with us in Arizona. During that time he told me his story.

Mosoka obtained a college degree in Liberia. It took him ten years, because they closed the school ever time the civil war broke out. Also, there was no electricity in Monrovia during this time. Mosoka studied by candlelight, scrounged for food, evaded the warring factions, on two occasions ran for his life, and still obtained his degree. What a lesson in perseverance for some of our children, who can’t be bothered to go to class if they don’t have the right clothes, or if it looks like it might rain.

Through the providence of God Mosoka discovered a scholarship for a masters’ degree program at Bowling Green University in Ohio. He managed to make his way there and enroll in the program. During his first year there he heard about an opening in the PhD program at the University of Kentucky, applied there, and was accepted. He finished his master’s course work in ten months and then left for Kentucky. He finished his master’s degree requirements, including his thesis, while attending the first year of classes at Kentucky, and was awarded his master’s degree in 2006. Currently he has 2-3 years left in his PhD program; his goal is to work with either the Center for Disease Control or return to Liberia, perhaps under the auspices of the United Nations, and discover cures for infectious diseases, including AIDS.

Mosoka is a committed Christian. During the holidays he walked around our house humming familiar hymns. Despite his circumstances, his conversation is peppered with references to the grace and mercy of God. His spirit is inspiring and contagious.

Mosoka has a need. Although he is loathe to complain, he does not have a car. He is required to walk several miles to make his way around campus and to see his professors. Although he has friends who can and do give him rides, his sense of independence prevents him from asking to often. It was only after I prodded him on several occasions during his visit that he finally revealed his need for a “second-hand” car.

My wife and I are so impressed with Mosoka and his accomplishments that we are committed to assisting him. We believe Mosoka needs $4000.00 to purchase a vehicle. We are prepared to contribute a minimum of $500.00. We are looking for other individuals and churches to join us in this endeavor. Any contributions made will be used in their entirety to help Mosoka purchase a vehicle. Contributions can be sent to Bullseye Ministries, PO Box 24362, Tucson, AZ 85734. I thank you in advance for any contribution you are lead to make.

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