Can a brick change the world?

Larry Stanton thinks so. 

One of the first projects my husband Larry will lead at the Ricks Institute in Liberia is the operation of the school's Vermeer BP 714, a compressed earth block-making machine.  This amazing machine can make building blocks out of 94% local earth and 6% Portland cement.  The goal is to build Ricks a new chapel and gymnasium/auditorium and improve other structures on campus.

Pastor and author John Michael Helms purchased the machine for Ricks from the proceeds of his book Hoping Liberia.  Astonished by living conditions in Liberia post-civil war, he established an organization called "Bricks for Ricks."  Dr. Menjay, principal at Ricks, introduced us to Rev. Helms, who asked Larry if he could go to Iowa to be trained on the machine.  At the end of December, Helms called back with good news/ bad news:  the training would now take place in Pignon, Haiti.  A whirlwind of travel arrangements and Larry was on a plane January 6th.  As Helms said, "Larry never dreamed he'd be going to Haiti in order to do God's work in Liberia."

Larry spent two invaluable weeks with Haitian and American business leaders whose beautiful goal is to restore impoverished nations by empowering small business owners and stimulating the economies of 3rd world countries with jobs, quality housing materials, and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

This machine is coming to Ricks in November, and the fervent prayer of Dr. Menjay and ours too, is that we are on the ground by then.  Please join us with prayer and financial support that the Holy Spirit makes the improbable possible.

May Christ, the Cornerstone, born of an earthen virgin and still passionately loving the children of Ricks today, be glorified whenever we get to go serve him in Liberia.