Dear friends,

Hello from Liberia! I am doing well and eager to share the ways the Lord has been using me these past two months.

Praise God Acres of Hope has come through the crisis I mentioned in my previous letter. The little one I was caring for is healthy again and is back at the Acres of Hope Orphanage. My family still cares for two other babies who are waiting to be adopted.

As I mentioned in my last prayer letter adoptions are currently suspended in Liberia. One of the reasons international adoption is suspended is because new adoption laws are being written to improve the adoption process. While I support the new laws and think they will be beneficial to the country, we who work with adoptions are concerned about the length of time it is taking to come to a decision about these laws as there are many needy children waiting for adoption, including those with urgent medical needs. Since I believe adoption and the care of the orphaned and needy is a biblical concept, I have felt called to advocate for adoption in Liberia. Because I am an independent missionary, and not employed with an adoption agency (but have adoption experience from my previous work with Acres of Hope) I have had the chance to speak out where someone officially with one of these organization may not have been able to (as I have nothing to gain from international adoption). I have had several opportunities to have an influence on the adoption situation in Liberia. I have helped to write letters to various officials, spoken on the radio, met with government officials, and participated in a press conference, which was written about in the newspapers and aired on TV. Additionally, a government official requested my input on adoption and how it relates to Liberia. In response I wrote a 22 page (single spaced!) research paper that was given to this man as well as many other officials involved in writing the new adoption laws. I have been given more influence in this area than I could have asked for and pray that God blesses my efforts - not for me, but for the sake of the many, many needy children in the country who would benefit from adoption.

Counseling has begun and I have been reminded again of how much I love working one-on-one with women! What a priceless privilege to be able to share hope and the keys to living a godly life with African women in their own cultural context, speaking the Liberian English they speak. I am currently counseling two young ladies. M is 17 and has some trauma in her past, but I believe is a born again Christian, and A is a 24 year old single mom with 2 kids who recently lost her 3 year old daughter to a medical condition that would have been correctible in many other countries. The Lord has blessed me with the opportunity to bring hope to these women in the midst of some very trying life circumstances. I am so pleased to share that A just accepted Jesus as her personal Savior last week! Although only my same age, A has already seen so much heartache, but by God's grace she has taken hold of the only hope anyone has in life - the hope of Jesus Christ. I meet with M once a week and A twice a week, according to what works for their schedules.

I have hosted several gatherings for the older missionary kids in the area, including a big birthday celebration and sleepover for my brother Jared's 13th birthday. I can tell the kids really enjoy the get-togethers and it has been a joy hosting these occasions.

In March I went to for a long weekend to Yila where one of our Baptist Mid Mission's stations is located. I went with my sister Heidi, Martha (a graduate from our Bible school in Yila), and Eveline (who grew up in Yila and is one of our Pastor's daughters. I also discipled her a few years ago). We had the chance to visit the station and relive some memories of when we were all there years ago, as well as hold a class for the young ladies on the mission encouraging them towards purity and godliness (most of the teen girls already had babies out of wedlock). We thank God for a safe trip in the chartered taxi. On our way to Yila we witnessed a motorcycle accident and were the first ones on the scene to help the injured.

My older brother will be getting married in June so I will be traveling to the states for the occasion. I knew when I came to Liberia last December I would be returning at some point during the summer for the wedding. My family will also be going back to the states but I will be leaving a little earlier to attend another wedding. We will be returning to Liberia together at the end of June.

Please join me in prayer for the following requests:
1. That international adoption would reopen in the country and the new laws would be accommodating to those already in the adoption process.
2. That the ladies I am counseling would be bold to live lives of godliness amidst many negative influences.
3. That I (along with the rest of my family) will have safety as we travel thousands of miles this summer.

Thank you again for your continued prayers and financial support. It is such a blessing to be here now being used by God.

In Christ,
Melodie

Dear friends,

Hello from Liberia! I can hardly believe I have already been here two months! It is so wonderful to be back in Africa and an added blessing to be with my family. A lot has happened these past weeks, but not necessarily what I had planned.

First I would like to give glory to God for provided above and beyond my financial needs for this short-term missions trip. The money was trickling in VERY slowly, but in the very last days of being in the states it all came! I am thankful for God's provision for me and believe this is a real confirmation that I am where he wants me to be.

My family and I arrived in Liberia December 3rd. Since my family had been on furlough we immediately began getting settled back into our house. A few days later I spoke with the director of Acres of Hope (the adoption agency I had previously worked for) about how I could be a help to them. I was able to take pictures of the children and gather information for updates to be sent to the adoptive parents of the kids. I have also been spending my mornings playing games and telling stories. It is a joy and pleasure to touch the lives of these little ones and to be an encouragement to the families who are working so hard to bring them home.


I celebrated the birth of our Lord at several Christmas gatherings. It was so wonderful to be here in Liberia for Christmas since, in light of my upbringing, Christmas doesn’t' feel like Christmas unless I am Africa!

Every year God shows me something new about Christmas. This year I was overwhelmed with the hope that Jesus brought to a hurting world when he came to earth as a tiny baby. Through his death for our sins, and resurrection, every lost and hurting person is given the chance at hope and a new life of freedom and peace.

“ The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the
gospel to the poor, He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed;” Luke 4:18

(Please visit this address at my blog to read my Christmas post on Jesus, our hope.)

A few days after Christmas my family and I headed up country for the Baptist Mid Missions New Years conference of the Mono and Gio tribes. I had the opportunity to teach the young ladies and girls. My theme was "The Blessings of Following God". I was encouraged to see that the girls were so attentive, but it was sad that many of the young lades already had children out of wedlock. I pray that God uses the words I spoke to help these ladies get on the road to freedom and hope in Jesus.


(My sister Heidi with the girls, waiting for class to start.)

January I had anticipated beginning to prepare for my counseling certification. I still have to complete the exams before I can begin the mentored counseling. Those plans are temporarily on hold as I have felt lead to assist Acres of Hope in a crisis, which includes the fostering of some of their needy children. My family now has three foster babies and I am completely responsible for a little boy who is severely handicapped. While I am anxious to begin the counseling, I can see God has me here for "such a time as this" since this little guy may not have made it had I not been available to help with his care.

At this time adoptions have been suspended in Liberia. They are supposed to reopen after new adoption laws are set in place. We are praying this happens soon as there are many children in the orphanage who are waiting to be united with their adoptive families (all overseas adoptions, mostly to the US).

On the first Friday night in January I was able to host a dinner and overnight for 10 missionary kids. Everyone had a blast, especially my sister Heidi(14) and my brother Jared (12). Again another Friday two missionary kids and two of my friends (a young lady I have discipled in the past, and a young lady I am planning to disciple) came over for another overnight. At this time I am hoping to use several Friday nights a month as a time for fellowship and encouragement of the missionary kids and some of my Liberian friends.


In the mean time I would like to start at least one Bible study with a teenage girl I have known for several years now. I am eager to be involved in the lives of the women of Liberia and excited to teach my friend about being a Godly young woman.

Please join me in prayer for the following things:

1. That the children I am caring for would improve daily in their health.
2. That the Acres of Hope crisis would be resolved
3. That adoptions would soon reopen in the country
4. That I would have the chance to begin the preparations for my counseling certification.
5. That I would be able to begin at least one Bible study
6. That God would use me to be a blessing to the missionary kids

Thank you all for your financial support and your prayers. I wouldn't be here without them. I am blessed to be called to serve God in Africa and blessed by your prayers and financial gifts that make it possible.

In Christ,
Melodie Sheppard

Today we are leaving for a conference up country! We will be staying in Tappi, a small town in Nimba County for 5 - 6 days. My parents always teach at this conference and this year I have the privilege of teaching as well. I will also have the opportunity to get many amazing pictures. Please keep me in your prayers and expect a really great post when I get back.

-Melodie