October 2023 Newsletter
Caring for the Lesser Things
This newsletter is one month late because I was procrastinating on the topic.
The topic is on some of the struggles we experience here. The past few months have been challenging, to say the least. Last July, I contracted Malaria for the first time. The medication had an adverse effect on me, causing me to vomit every two hours. I felt so terrible that I cried out to God that I don’t want to be a missionary anymore; but go back and live the ‘American Life’. I was down for three weeks, and one week after I recovered, I was hit with Typhoid for the sixth time since moving to Liberia. This was all on top of living in a different culture and a developing country.
During this time of illness, we had ten missionary youths from South Korea and Liberia stay at the guesthouse for one night. At the end of August, Caleb’s step-mother passed away. Family members came from as far away as Freeport, Sierra Leone and around Liberia. We lodged 26 people at one time for a week. They filled the guest house, our house, and the room over the generator. We were responsible for breakfast and dinner. This put a tremendous burden on our finances! We were blessed to have my mother hereduring that time; that helped us with all the guests.
I am not writing this newsletter to complain. We all go through trials, hardships, and difficulties; it is part of life. Trials can break us and cause us to give up or we can learn from them and grow stronger.
How do you handle your struggles? What do you do when your marriage is falling apart? What do you do when your child rebels against you? What do you do when you are faced with a serious illness?We rely on the Word of God for guidance, strength, and wisdom. Some have said the Bible does not apply to us today, but I would strongly disagree. Holding onto key verses has helped me get through these past three months. For instance, when I was ill but still had to serve guests, I relied on “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. When I feel alone, there are three key verses:
“Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you” Hebrews 13:5 “Cast your cares upon the Lord, because He cares for you” 1 Peter 5:7 “He who knew no sin, became sin that we might become the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus” 2 Cor. 5:21There are many verses, stories, and examples in the Bible for us to follow. I encourage you to trust in the Word of God and Jesus to guide you through life. He really does love you! He died on the cross for your sins, how can He not care for ‘lesser things’!
We Appreciate You!
October is Pastor’s Appreciation Month, so we want to honor Pastor Jon Ulm of New Hope Christian Church in Manassas, VA.
Our home church is small, but has a BIG HEART! They sent us out as missionaries six years ago, this month. They support us financially, emotionally, and spiritually. We are in regular communication with them and give complete reports each year.
Pastor Jon has visited Liberia twicw with a team of volunteers. He has held conferences for church leaders and Bible teaching in the Interior of Liberia. The team has also helped with plumbing and structural issues in the house. They helped fix our well when the pump went out. There were also the women of New Hope that came one year to do Vacation Bible School for hundreds of children!
We really appreciate and love New Hope Christian Church!
By Grace,
Monika and Caleb Sannoh
Donations
We are a non-profit “missionary couple.” We rely on donations from friends, families and folk like you. Your gift helps our mission to bring the hope and grace of Jesus to Kakata, Liberia.
We are thankful.
Takes you to the New International website to donate