Author: Frances Swaray

Welcome to the September 2023 Koinonia Trust Newsletter Issue No 11. This issue contains all the latest news and reflections from Momo and Frances. We have updates from Momo’s visit to Ireland and the latest on funding. There are also updates for the Football Teams, Community Sewing Class and Trauma Healing Group.

Reflection from Momo

Psalm 30 vs 12:“..I will sing your praise and not be silent, O Lord my God I will thanks to you forever”.

God has been faithful to me. Who is like him, who took me thousands of feet above the earth flying like an eagle, and carry me thousands of miles from my seashore to another land? I will not be quiet for the Lord is glorious. God favored me in Ireland, I was loved, cared for and accepted by all of the people that came in my path. The Ireland visit was a time of meeting our sponsors, friends and those who have shown interest in the work in Liberia. For me my journey to Ireland is summed up as a beautiful country with loving people it was truly a refreshing time for me.
To God be the glory, great things he has done.

Reflection from Frances

Philippians 3 vs 13-14: “Brothers I do not consider that I have made it my own, but one thing I do forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”.

We are starting afresh, we have re-grouped and it is daunting, sometimes terrifying. I have to take encouragement from Paul’s words, his emphasis here on moving forward to what lies ahead. The yesterdays are gone, the familiar, the victories, the disappointments and the failings. None of these things should derail our focus on what lies ahead. I want to finish well and fulfil God’s purpose and plan here on earth for my life. So, if you are finding yourself in a new situation and maybe sorrow fills your heart from time to time as you reflect on the past, take some comfort and courage from God’s word today and embrace the future.

Click below to download the Newsletter Issue No 11 PDF

Welcome to the March 2023 Koinonia Trust Newsletter Issue No 10. This issue contains news and updates from the Building Project, the latest funding update, Pastoral Care news and the latest on The Koinonia Trust Football Team, along with some prayer requests from Frances.

Reflection from Momo

Psalm 30 vs 12:“.. I will sing your praise and not be silent, O Lord my God I will thanks to you forever”. God has been so faithful to us and to keeping His promises.

Work started on the compound 12 months ago and now I am living here. We thank God so much for His provision and His perfect timing. We had to leave our existing compound and indeed would have been homeless. God has a timetable for every part of our life. Praise His name.

Reflection from Frances

Jeremiah 29 vs 11: “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans for welfare, and not for evil to give you a future and a hope”

As many of you know I have been struggling with health issues concerning my heart and I thank God I am now stable and on the right medication. A big thank you also goes out to my local gym BMS in Bundoran were they are trained and qualified in Cardiac Rehab. God’s provision is sometimes in the unlikeliest of places and he certainly provided the team there especially Patrick to get me active again restoring my quality of life. I have been studying the book of Ruth with fresh eyes during this period. It was indeed timely as I read about the losses these women experienced and their journey in trusting God despite their challenging circumstances. Faith is trusting God’s sovereignty when we are in deep despair, lonely or abandoned, our story is in His hands. As Ruth and Naomi’s story unfolds so does Gods plan
and purpose for their life. Fresh hope and restoration arises out of the ashes of their brokenness. It is a lesson in never giving up and keeping trust in a God who has a plan and purpose for each of us.

‘God’s heavenly plan is always bigger than our earthly circumstances’ Lisa Alvin Meyer.

Click below to download the Newsletter Issue No 10 PDF

The October Koinonia Trust Newsletter Issue No 9 contains updates om the Building Project, funding, Pastoral Care and the Koinonia Trust Football Team.

Reflection from Momo

Psalm 148 vs 1: “Praise you the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of Saints.”
To God be the glory for the great things he has done. We, at The Koinonia Trust, have every reason to praise the Lord, for he has been our provider and keeper and has kept the work in Liberia going.
Who is like unto our God? With all the crises in the world, God has continued to provide the necessary funding for the work. Therefore, we are grateful to Him. He that trusts in the Lord is like Mount Zion who cannot be removed. Our trust is in the Lord for his goodness and blessing toward us.

Reflections from Frances

John 10 vs 27: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me”.
As I am homebound presently for want of a better word, I have had plenty of time to soberly reflect on my own walk with God and develop new habits and new rhythms. This verse from John reminds me of the two-way communication God invites us to have with Him, not just talking to Him but learning to keenly listen for His voice.
I am learning more and more to listen for His voice and to ask the hard questions that sometimes I/we avoid. Perhaps the questions I am asking is something you also need to ask. Take the time to ponder over the next few questions…What in my life Lord is not sustainable? A commitment, pace of life, a relationship. Lord what are the things I need to let go off/or lay down? Lord what do I need to do to deepen my roots with you and develop listening ears for your voice?

Click below to download the Newsletter Issue No 9 PDF

Welcome to the Koinonia Trust Summer 2022 Newsletter issue No 8

Our Building Project

Thanks to Liberia Mercy Partners and individual donors we were able to start our building project this year on land that was purchased a number of years ago.
At present we rent and maintain a compound that is not just home to the ministry but houses 5 adults and Frances when she is on site. In the long term this is not financially sustainable. Within the next 7 years we would have spent $38,500 USD as a Trust on renting, maintaining and on electricity for our existing compound. This is not even allowing for price hikes that we have been advised that will be implemented in March 2023. Outside of the financial investment, having our own homes and ministry base means we will have security and peace of mind.
We have two phases to our building project and we hope to complete phase 1 this year.

Phase 1

1. A community well (Complete)
2. The ministerial building which has our office, male and female bathrooms, our tailoring workshop
3. Momo’s family home providing security as he ministers and leads the project
4. A water tower to service all the buildings (Started – needs to be completed)

The first part of the building was the well so the builders could access water. The well is 30ft deep and was dug by hand and the cement covets that line the well were all
made on site. Making them onsite saved a huge amount of money on transport. The water tower supports and the casting on top was assembled on site. This will supply
the buildings with water in the future.

As you can see from the photos there is no fancy scaffolding! the building went up very quickly to roof level. We will have an office, male and female bathrooms and a
large tailoring workshop.

Building Project

Download the Newsletter Issue No 8 in PDF to read more…