BALAMA DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE

Prayer Update: Adam Newton and Ryan Harrison are leaving Atlanta in May to spend four days in Liberia working with Jessy and the farmers. We now have approximately 200 farmers who have been interviewed and are interested in the co-op. Adam and Ryan will visit a processing facility in Lofa County, find a location for the processing plant in Gbarnga, and research logistics of construction and the business launch. They also plan to interview people for the Chief Operating Officer position in the cocoa company.

Did you know that West Africa produces over 70% of the world’s cocoa?

Liberia’s civil war devastated the industry, but Balama Development Alliance (BDA) is helping local farmers bring it back. The goal is a job-producing cocoa processing facility with a Christ-centered culture to not only sell high-quality, fair trade cocoa, but also to go beyond chocolate and make disciples as well. In 2017, BDA developed a co-operative agreement with the village farmers of Gbansue to purchase their wet cocoa at fair market value, as well as provide them with the initial tools and resources to produce a quality harvest. In turn, we will be building a processing facility in the central city of Gbarnga where the cocoa will be dried and stored for distribution. While the initial economic impact will provide jobs for the employees of the processing facility, as well as income for the local farmers, we will also provide a Christ-focused ministry to the community. Four areas of focus will be daily devotionals and mentoring, the

incorporation of ethical business practices, team building and employee development, and a family-focused work environment. All profits from cocoa sales will be invested back into the growth of the company, with a percentage of sales being redistributed to the community for educational programs, building projects, and community improvements. Economic empowerment is key to the process of developing community sustainability. This process begins with a simple cocoa bean, but the resulting impact ripples exponentially beyond chocolate to transform hearts for Christ! Our goal is to see rural Liberian villages flourish in freedom, as together we build a sustainable infrastructure to cultivate the renewal of the cocoa processing industry. Firmly rooted in integrity, we will develop ethical, fair trade business practices that will give back to the community and support the entire cocoa process from planting to distribution... and beyond! Join us today and partner in

this unique opportunity to transform Liberia for Christ, into a country that is truly “the home of the free.”

Liberian Ministry UpdateCountering Hopelessness in Rural Liberia

Spring 2017

BDA is Going Beyond Chocolate!

www.BalamaProject.org

Those who have visited Liberia under the umbrella of Balama Development

Alliance (BDA) to serve on short-term mission know this secret well. They have eaten delicious food, cooked with love, from the blessed fingers of the Coal Pot Queens, a group of widows who cook and bake on open fire to feed mission teams. For those who have not yet visited, pray for your opportunity.

The Coal Pot Queens organized themselves in 2008 to feed United States military service men and women assigned to Liberia following the civil war. Members of the original Coal Pot Queens included Esther, Evelyn, Calandra, Zita and Sarah; but the group’s membership has grown to include more than twenty-five young ladies who are apprentices. Sarah, on the far right, trains two of the younger women. The Coal Pot Queens are an inspiring model of how business and discipleship can work hand-in-hand to engage multiple generations of women with the Gospel. In the group’s formative years, Calandra trained the ladies how to cook western dishes. The ladies, on the other hand, taught Calandra how to cook Liberian cuisine for expatriates and missionaries. Through the years, they have been able to pass on their knowledge and skills to other women in their respective communities.

The Coal Pot Queens cook and bake everything from scratch using their own recipes. They are able to prepare a five course meal without electricity, pipe-borne water or the convenience of canned goods. Some of their favorites include cassava leaf and rice, potato greens and rice, jollof rice, fried chicken, baked chicken, chicken pot pie, spaghetti and sauce, corn bread, rice bread, doughnuts and more. Money generated from food sales provides income for the women and their families. In a country with more than eighty-five percent unemployment and many other challenges, the meager income generated from food sales goes a long way. To create jobs for themselves and provide skills training for alienated former sex workers and teen girls, the Coal Pot Queens are preparing to open a restaurant that will sell food and train girls in hospitality and food service. The training curriculum includes emphasis on Bible study and the spiritual formation of staff and interns. The restaurant, scheduled to open in April, will form a part of BDA’s Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) initiative under its Business as Ministry program. A compound has

already been secured along the Robertsfield Highway where the restaurant and training classes will be located.

Meanwhile, the Coal Pot Queens are calling on friends and well-wishers to partner in this endeavor by helping them raise the $12,000 needed for start-up food inventory, equipment, training materials and the business launch. They are seeking donations of used commercial-grade/restaurant quality equipment. (Manual equipment is preferred as a generator is the primary source of electricity.) These items can be donated and shipped to Liberia through BDA. Please keep Ms. Sarah and the Coal Pot Queens in your prayers as they bravely step forward into this exciting venture!

Cooking With Love: The Coal Pot QueensFrom February 24 – 26,

people from Peachtree Presbyterian Church and

all over Atlanta gathered to serve through Seeds of Hope. Together they packed 192,285 seed envelopes - exceeding the goal. That’s enough for 2+ million pounds of food in the first harvest. Seeds from this event will be used in BDA community gardens throughout Liberia to help provide nourishing meals, sustainable farms, and a future filled with hope. A single garden can transform a family from food scarcity to sustainability in a single

growing season. These seeds provide villagers with the ability to eat a healthy diet, sell any surplus to fund their children’s education, and even utilize seeds from the produce to provide ongoing food security for future growing seasons. Many thanks to Peachtree Presbyterian Church and all who supported and served this year!

Seeds of Hope 2017 - Peachtree Presbyterian Church

“He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.”

2 Corinthians 9:10

Follow Us: Facebook.com/BalamaProject

Shelli Keagle and her sons, William and Matthew.

Bill Ginn and Michelle Shevlin Ginny Nickles, Bill Ginn and Liz Serravezza.

Jessy Togbadoya in the Community Demonstration Garden

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done...”

Proverbs 31:30-31

Contact and Donation Information:

2107 North Decatur Road, Box 308

Decatur, GA 30033 USADonate Online: www.BalamaProject.org

Email: Jessy@BalamaProject.org acebook.com/BalamaProject

Twitter: @BalamaProject

During 17+ years of experience in the faith-based non-profit arena, I have observed that American churches encourage their members to go on mission trips to poor, under-developed countries because the people return to the USA with a passion for God as they experience God’s hand work mightily in such difficult places. The people who go on these trips tend to be more engaged in the mission of the church and less focused on the first-world problems of their own church and community.

BDA invites you to join us on a mission trip in 2017. Trips to rural Liberia are not easy; but this adventure will re-ignite your passion for Jesus and the work He is doing around the world through His people. Is the Lord speaking to your heart about joining or organizing a team to serve in the rural villages of Liberia? If so, please contact: jessy@balamaproject.org

Is The Lord Calling YOU To Serve In Liberia? A Note From Bill Ginn

2017 Mission Trips: June 1– 14 • June 24 – July 5 • July 4 - July 16 • Nov 3 - Nov 14