Sheppard March 2005 Update

Dear friends,

He is risen! What a wonderful time of year as we remember Jesus' death and
resurrection.

Wow! What has happened to March? We've had a good month. Exciting things are
happening. The church we are working with is a real blessing. Our whole
family is enjoying getting involved in a place where we are actually there
enough to begin to recognize the faces and learn names. (During the 8 months
we were here just before furlough we were more "on call," visiting places as
we were invited.) It was especially enjoyable to spend Easter Sunday with
people to whom we are feeling closer and closer.

I have been preaching on some of the basics for the church: salvation,
Christian living, and most recently giving. A few Sundays ago we started a
"Parable of the Talents" (Matt. 25) project where we distributed to about 25
of the church members a bag of flavoring cubes used commonly here in
cooking. Each participant is supposed sell the cubes and then reinvest it to
see how God will bless. In about a month we will have a special service to
report on how God has blessed as they dedicated their "market" to Him.

The church reconstruction projects continue. Again we thank each who gave to
the project. The two chainsaws are really getting a workout. Roofs and walls
are going up, and buildings are being painted. The pastors and church
members are very appreciative. There still are many more churches we would
like to help, so if you are considering giving, the account ("Liberia
Recovery") is still open at the mission (see address below).

We continue to meet new and interesting people. A German woman, Bonnie, with
three children came and visited us at our house. She is living with a German
man who is here with the UN. She desperately needs the Lord. The United
Nations mission here in Liberia has brought in a wide assortment of people
and has presented us with an entirely different type of missionary
opportunity.

We are going to have a full house for the summer. Our oldest son and
daughter, John-Mark (22) and Melodie (20) are coming back to Africa as well
as another young friend of our family, Eric Thompson. For one month during
July and August a missionary from Jamaica will be with us. John-Mark
graduates from Cedarville University in May. He plans to stay in Africa and
find work here, rather than returning to the US with the other young people.
We are doing some more renovation work on the house in anticipation of the
summer.

Please remember the following items in prayer.
1. Please ask God to provide the money needed for our summer gang to make it
   here (plane tickets and other expenses).
2. Pray God would be honored as we interact with the many people here with
   the United Nations, as well as foreigners here for business. Pray for the
   salvation of Bonnie and her children, Raafat, Jamil and Ranya.
3. Pray for revival. Most Liberians honor God with their lips, but not with
   their lives. They must repent before God if there is to be lasting peace.
4. We need wisdom as we schedule. There are unlimited opportunities and only
   twenty-four hours in a day.
5. The ongoing corruption in Liberia has the potential to produce violence
   among the people. Rice, gas, cement and other basics have recently
   sky-rocketed in price due to the market being cornered by a few
   government officials. Please pray for our safety and the stability of the
   country.

We thank God for continued good health and the strength for the job He has
called us to. We appreciate your prayers for us. We know it is God alone who
brings the fruit for our labors.

In Christ,
Mark and Nancy Sheppard

Serving with:
Baptist Mid-Missions
7749 Webster Road
Box 308011
Cleveland, OH 44130
http://www.bmm.org