Notes from Nurse Judy:
MOST RECENT UPDATE:
(September 26, 2024):
Hello family and friends:
I can’t say it often enough: God has blessed us…. God has blessed us, even today!
Princess, Deb and myself are going to Monrovia, Liberia on November 9 and we will return November 30. I thank God for giving me people to walk with as I try to do his work. This work is not easy. It requires time, talent and money.
We have 64 students in school by God’s grace, mercy and loving kindness. We were able to get them into the first semester. Please consider helping us on the second semester.
Tuition is due December 15, and if you can give to the cause, we would really appreciate it. Either reach out to Princess, Deb or myself, or head over to our Donate page. Many thanks!
(January 8, 2024):
It’s been 22 years that I’ve been working in Monrovia, Liberia! I thank God for His sustaining grace and provision.
By February 18, Reaching Across will be looking to fund-raise at least $600. This money will be used to do the following: the 50+ students we are currently putting through school (we recently graduated 10+ students! 🙌🏾). Please consider contributing to these students’ education costs.
(January 4, 2023):
Happy New Year! 🙌🏾 🙏🏾
We are thanking God for what he has done for us! We give Him the highest praise for how He continues to provide money to share food with our families. Thank you all, as we continue to pray and listen to God. In 2023, we will be enlarging our Reaching Across services — 2023 will see another leap of faith: we will, by God’s grace and mercy, be putting three parents through a trade school of their interest!
The way this will work is to interview those that are interested & ready to fully commit to this new endeavor. On our end, Reaching Across will need to increase outside donations to cover:
- Training
- Transportation to and from the technical school
- Books and help with paperwork
- We will ensure they have money for a meal at school.
- We also will be working with others to help with studying , praying along with them.
God is in control and we are trying to do His will! Pray for leaders, teachers and financial support to complete His will. I am willing to sacrifice my time, talent and treasure to this effort. If anyone reading this can help with organizational skills, and can pick one of these families and walk with them as their cheering team, please let me know. I will be standing on busy street corners, going to churches & homes, asking for financial support.
Happy New Year 2023 for our big step towards financial change in the lives of our families. Thank You! 🙏🏾 You will be hearing more as time gets closer and helpers are in place.
Nurse Judy Sondah
(March 28, 2022):
Good Morning,
We arrived safe and sound, but with a few bumps in the road. Our plane from Grand Rapids broke down and we were delayed for hours which made us miss our Brussels flight, We ended up staying overnight, changing connections to AirFrance. We arrived without luggage for 3 nights. Praising God they arrived. Today we are preparing to meet the families next Sunday and start our Bible Support Group. Food and gas prices are up here. We are praying all goes well financially for us. Thank You,
Nurse Judy
(January 2022): Hi all. I want to let you know how things have been going in 2021 and what — by the grace of God — we are looking forward to for 2022.
As you are aware, Covid has been with us for two years now and has prevented us from doing any major fundraising. I want to thank the special people that have continued to give to Reaching Across throughout the years and I really appreciate it; I am so glad that you are coming alongside me as I answer the call of Jesus Christ.
In 2022, our main focus is getting the children back to school, continuing to feed 125 to 150 children we have every month. We are also doing some reorganization so that we can start a support group with the children’s mothers, fathers and significant others in their lives. I want to share more and more of the love of Jesus Christ that He started in us in Grand Rapids, Michigan and had us extend to Liberia, West Africa. I want to share that love of Jesus that I feel so deep down in my heart — the love of Jesus that walks and talks with me and that carries me everyday. I want the parents and supporting friends to be able to feel and see the goodness of God.
I know in my heart that I will have to live more in Liberia than I do in the United States in order to accomplish the will of our God in my life that he’s calling me to. I need your help to be able to go to Liberia and work with the families to help them to gain independence by starting farms working with Henry Pritchard — Reaching Across CDC would share the profits with the families and some will go back to Reaching Across CDC to help with sustainability. I know my major financial concern would be that I would be able to raise the necessary funds and get commitments from my fellow believers to support me for 6 to 8 months in Liberia. I am giving this request to you and to Jesus. I am blessed to have a praying & supportive husband. He too is looking forward to one day being back in Liberia and us working together. I ask that, as you read of our needs and concerns, God will touch you in some way to help us to do the will of the Lord — to make disciples of these families that we are working with. Thank you and God bless! -Nurse Judy
(August 2021): Supporters, Friends and Family: Due to COVID-19 and what’s happening here in the U.S. and in Liberia, I’ve had to change plans. Hopefully, by November, I will be able to come to Monrovia and meet with our families and work on getting the children back in school and reestablishing our commitment to the community. We will also be meeting together to start our Bible study classes and discuss joining with Henry Pritchard in farming. Currently we have a fundraiser coming up in September. We continue to feed our 50 families every month and we always welcome funds to help with that effort. Thank you to everyone who is helping us while we pray for the end of COVID-19!
(July 2020): I am so sad, due to COVID-19 and USA handling of the pandemic, I will not be able to do my missionary work in Liberia this year. We have been sending money over for food every two weeks. I thank God for all of you that have given your support for these 84 families we serve. By God’s Grace we want to continue. All 150 are out of School. Help me pray for a miracle that Reaching Across can help them get back to School when it opens.
(July 2019): I’m excited to announce that I’ve been accepted by Resonate to be a Volunteer Missionary to Liberia! I’m also partnering with Madison Church and its sister church, Providence Baptist Church, in Monrovia, Liberia.
Reaching Across Community Development Coalition is seeking new donors and financial support. We have 80 children not in school. Some have never been in school and their ages range from 6-16 years. I’m reaching out to you and your community to help us get these children in school in Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa. It takes $100 per child per year. We also feed at least 125 children daily in this Ministry. This is from 49 families total, and means each family needs $45.00 so that would enable the children to eat at least two meals per day. We will be working on getting them bread and milk for breakfast before school, small lunch with rice, and rice and meat after school. The meat and vegetables will be supplied by the parents. By God’s Grace and Mercy with your Help we will provide the rest. God bless you as you consider our Vision to touch one child life and help us change this community. Prayers are needed as we embark on this Reaching Across Community Development Coalition.
Thank you,
Nurse Judy