Kennett couple brings God's word to Africa

Editor's note: This is the third and final installment of a three-part series regarding a Kennett couple's ongoing efforts to educate African students and spread Christian love at Liberia. The first installment appeared in Tuesday's edition, and the second installment published in Thursday's edition of The Delta Dunklin Democrat.

KENNETT, Mo. - A city couple took their Christian love to Africa, where they watched God's hands at work.

Chancellor and Melissa Wayne's fourth trip to Liberia, Africa, was dedicated to graduating a number of students from high school studies.

And a few pleasant surprises blessed them both.

The pair were able to purchase a 125cc motorcycle to be used for transportation by a 23-year-old graduate of Calvary Love Ministries' high school curriculum, which enabled the young man named Joshua to further his education in the construction trades.

The roads between the two institutions of higher learning are less than inviting, Chancellor Wayne said.

And he issued an open invitation to that end.

“We would love for somebody to go with us who knows how to work a road grader,” the missionary said. “We can get the grader, but we need somebody to drive it.”

Thanks to donations, the couple also were able to purchase uniform shoes for all the students at the school.

“We came back and we were able to hand out shoes to all the kids on campus,” Wayne said. “We got everybody's sizes and so it's just a blessing to be able to do that.

Although the couple had traveled prior to their African excursions to spread God's words and Christian ideals, trips to Liberia for that purpose never were even considered, he told The Delta Dunklin Democrat.

“This is something Melissa and I never thought in our wildest dreams we'd be able to do,” Wayne said. “We've gone several places in the United States.

“We've done Backyard Bible Clubs here in Kennett,” he continued. “We've gone to Oklahoma and Rockport, Indiana. We've gone to a lot of different places here. But going overseas? We never thought we'd be doing that.”

The trips presented learning curves among the Kennett couple, missionaries named JoEl and Jemima, and the people of Liberia as well.

“We met more than a few people who never had seen white people,” Wayne said. “One of the funny aspects, the looks were hilarious this time.

“On the day we bought the motorbike, I'm the only one in the group who has a motorcycle license and who has ever ridden,” he added. “My wife asked how we're going to get the bike back. 'We'll put it in the back of the van,' she suggested and I said, 'No, I'll ride it back.'”

Which made for uplifting, down-home Missouri kind of comedy.

“So the shifting pattern here in the States ,it's usually one down and four up,” Wayne explained through an ever-present smile. “Over there it's all down.

So I kept shifting into the wrong gear,” he laughed. “But I had on a bright orange shirt and my hat turned around backwards, driving down the road. And over there every time you come up behind somebody or you go around them you honk your horn. So you're constantly honking your horn so that people know that you're there. But just the double, triple an quadruple takes of people seeing this big fat white guy with a Santa Claus beard on this 125cc motorcycle going down the highway was hysterical. Melissa and Jemima in the van were laughing just taking all this in.”

And they weren't the only people finding humor in the effort.

“In Liberia whenever you travel you go through a lot of police check points,” Wayne said. “At this one checkpoint, there's never a police officer there.

“On the way out of town, they were there,” he continued. “So JoEl told them, 'Yes, he's one of our missionaries and he wanted to take the bike for a test ride.' So I know wherever we went it was good to just keep going with them. I didn't stop. And the police officers were yelling, 'Oh bossman, bossman! Yeah bossman!' It was hilarious.”

Wayne noted the blessings the couple received were many.

“Seeing these kids grow up and to be productive members of society, like Joshua, is pretty thrilling,” he said. “At first he's not exactly sure what he wants to do.

“It's hard for them,” he continued. “But one of the good things about this trip, we did learn the University of Monrovia has an extension center there in Buchanan, Liberia. So if anyone wants to get their teaching certification, they can go to this university. So on our next trip we're going to be visiting that university.”

Which adds another layer of satisfaction to an already exciting voyage, the missionary reported.

“We want to make sure as these kids grow up at Calvary, they do become productive members of society,” he said. “And that they can work.

“They can live,” he added. “They can find a spouse. They can have a family. But more importantly, they can put food on the table every day that they need to, and provide a life for themselves. With God's hands all in this, those goals are attainable.”

Wayne volunteered both his and his wife's services “for any churches or any organizations out there that would like to have” speakers.

“My wife and I are more than happy to come and talk,” Wayne said. “Whether it's me or her, or both of us together for a men's group, a women's group or a whole church.

“We're starting a new PowerPoint presentation because we have new pictures,” he emphasized. “We have updates and everything else. And we'll come.”

There are caveats, though, Wayne explained.

“Understand this,” he said. “At the end of the talk we're going to ask, 'does anybody from here want to go?'

“If you want to go, contact us,” he said. “We'll tell you what all you'll need to have and when our next trip is scheduled. And that way you can go with us. We try to have small groups. So if we need to have a couple trips a year, which is the plan, if there's a group of pastors who want to go over we can make that happen. There are a lot of different opportunities to go over.”

The trip isn't as expensive as one might think, he explained.

“The cost is per person, close to $3,000 for your airfare, for food and everything else,” Wayne noted. “But it's the best $3,000 you'll ever spend.”

And he encouraged those who might be interested to plan ahead.

“We had one lady who tried getting her documentation in, but it just didn't happen in time,” Wayne said. “Churches can sponsor people, too.

“It doesn't even have to be someone from their church,” he added. “Through Ely, or Black River Baptist Association or through us.”

And he spoke about his own fund-raising activities.

“For our trip, I sold tickets for a flame thrower,” Wayne explained. “It was one of those things that yes, we raised money for our trip.

“But I never realized how many doors that would be open for people to talk,” he shared. “People asked why we were doing this. Well, we're getting ready to take a mission trip. So we get to explain everything that goes on at Calvary Love Ministries International.”

A few bumps sidelined temporarily its social media presence regarding communication and those are being addressed, Wayne said

“The website was hacked,” he said. “Along with the Facebook page.

“So we're dealing with that,” Wayne explained. “We have someone who is proficient in computers to deal with that and get that back up and going.”

Wayne shared words of assurance for those who might be interested in offering God's words to those in need, and for those who donate.

“Whenever we invite people to go, we tell them, 'Look, we all donate to this mission or that mission,'” he said. “But do you ever know where that dollar went?

“Here, you're going to know exactly where it went,” he added. “JoEl just built a mission house. So it's three bedrooms and two bathrooms. So there's a place for you to stay whenever groups go over. Go with our group a couple of times so that you get to know the people who are going to pick you up and take you back. And then, if you want to take your own group from your own church, here's the house. It's open. And that's the whole goal. To have more or less a hub where people can go and if they want to go out and evangelize to different villages, you're more than welcome to. If you want to work on campus, you're welcome to. There are a lot of different things that you can do the entire time that you're there.”

Wayne said the trips are more worthwhile than he ever imagined, and that fundraisers are on the horizon.

“I'm already looking forward to next year,” Wayne noted. “It's definitely a passion.

“For my wife and myself, most definitely a passion,” he continued. “We donate to it constantly.”

And goals are attainable, Wayne explained.

“The ultimate goal here is to get to a point where JoEl and Jemima can live over there full time,” he said. “That's why in the spring, I believe it's March 15, we're going to have a Taste Of Africa at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center.

“We go over usually in August to Danville, Alabama to help out with the one they do there,” the missionary continued. “It's one of their big fundraisers for the year, along with people donating monthly. This is one where they do a silent auction, and you'll get some African-style food. You'll get some rice dishes and fried plantains. Instead of root beer it's ginger beer. It is a very acquired taste. If you do come and have some, make sure you get a very small amount first.”

With all that in mind, Wayne said another goal is to increase awareness for Calvary Love Ministries. “And two, to raise enough funds for JoEl and Jemima to live there in Africa full time,” Wayne said. “Here in the States, Jemima works two and three jobs.

“They have a home at Danville, Alabama,” he continued. “But their goal is to be there full time, which would be 10 months out of the year. So that whenever school is in, they're there. And that way during their summertime, which basically is our summertime as well, they can come back here to the United States and go to these Tastes of Africa at all these different places and people can meet with them and see exactly where their dollars went and what they did. As Americans, that's what we want to see. We want to say, 'Hey. I donated a dollar and it bought this.' Or 'I donated a dollar and it did that.' So this is a way you can wholeheartedly do that. And if you want to go, sign up with us.”

The travel plans include flights that depart from Memphis.

“You'll leave on a Thursday out of Memphis and you'll get back the following Saturday,” he said.

“And that way, you've got 24 hours to get used to getting back to this time zone because there's six hours' difference.

“And you'll be able to get back to work on Monday morning,” he added. “We really enjoy it. And like I said, we never thought in a million years we'd be doing this. Or that we'd invite others to join us. But here we are. And with God's help opening all these doors, there definitely are many open for anyone who wants to walk through them with us.”