We hope this news will refresh you a little 😉 It’s rare for it to be warmer in Switzerland than in Liberia, but it seems to be the case at the moment!

We are grateful for the wonderful weeks we spent in France and Switzerland. We were able to recharge our batteries and spend time with our family. We really enjoyed the Drôme region: kayaking, swimming, the library, and board games. A family camp called “family of faith” in the Verdon Gorge helped us rebuild our family relationships. Throughout the week, the image of the garden was the common thread. What do we want to plant in our family garden? What weeds need to be pulled up? Who will water these new seeds and how? How can we celebrate harvest time?

We also had a wonderful time reuniting with family and friends in Switzerland. These moments always seem too short, but they do us good and allow us to connect heart to heart, face to face! What a blessing! We are always sorry that we were only able to see a very small number of you! Please know that it wasn’t for lack of desire!

The wheel turns at the dental clinic

We returned on July 30. Our dog Stella gave us a warm welcome, and seven chickens were missing! The children quickly reconnected with their friends and are about to go back to school. Nicolas has resumed his role as full-time director of SIM Liberia, and as for Melvina, things are going to change a bit for her!

Her role in the leadership team is still relevant but a little more limited. She also continues to lead their team in devotionals 1-2 times a week. At the dental clinic, the wheel is turning: Simon and Grace, who served in Liberia for eight years, have passed the baton and returned home to Great Britain. They are the founders of the dental therapist school, among other things. Renju and Serin (dentists from India) were here for two years to support the dental ministry. They returned home in June. Renju taught the students at the school alongside Simon. Melvina will now take over the students for their second year! This is a new challenge that she is looking forward to taking on. Fortunately, reinforcements have arrived: James is an English dentist who will take over part of Simon’s role at the clinic. Eddie, a Liberian studying in Kenya, will graduate as a dentist at the end of the year and will return to join the dental clinic’s management team!

Goodbyes have been part of our lives for the past seven years. I (Melvina) was asked the other day if it gets easier with time. I replied, “Unfortunately, I would say no!”

Progress at ELWA

The major discussions about the crisis are continuing and taking up a lot of time. But we hope that in our next newsletter, we will be able to give you more concrete news. Thank you for your patience.