North central

Fellow Members:

For the past four years, the Midwest Region has lost its distinguished stature as perhaps one of the foremost regions of Ganta United Methodist Mission School Alumni Association (GUMMSAA-USA). That stature goes back to the initial days of the founding of the Association in Atlanta, Georgia, September 2001. Miss Mao Tubman headed the Minnesota delegation to founding assembly. In the following year, Minnesota hosted the first nation-wide reunion of former students of Ganta Mission in the USA. The former Vice President and former Bishop of the Liberia United Methodist Church, the Rev. Bennie D. Warner served as the Association’s first keynote speaker, and inaugural official. 

At that time, what later became the Midwest Region comprised the States of: MN, IL, and MI with the State Minnesota posting the region’s largest membership. In perhaps one of its most successful and pivotal projects undertaken by GUMMSAA, the organization launched a Book Drive Project, and the Hospital Relief Project, for Ganta United Methodist Mission School and the Ganta Hospital. In what was perhaps GUMMSAA most ambitious endeavor to date, it turned out to be the Midwest Region’s wholly owned enterprise. For the first time in GUMMSAA existence, the two Midwestern states of MI and MN were able to network with instate local school district to achieve this remarkable project objective.

In MI, Dr. Charles Boayue, Jr, procured textbooks for (10 -12) grades and through the World Medical Relief Organization, the hospital supplies. In MN, through the good graces, advocacy, and support for our book drive, Dr. Lalugba, Mr. Alpha Lalugba spouse, procured books for grades (1 – 9) including reference book books, dictionary books, and encyclopedias.

Despite the Region’s past stalwart achievements and high concentration of members, the Midwest has had a limited participation at the national level in the last few years. Over three years ago, our Coordinator resigned in the middle of his term. This has placed the region on hard times if not the lack of enthusiasm, despite a good presence of former students and alumni resident in Minnesota. In fact, any reference to the Midwest Region today is but for (5) persons whose active participation in GUMMSAA has not been shakened. They are Mr. Henry Gaypia, Ms. Kau Kpahn, Mr. Alpha Lalugba (moved to TX), MS. Helena Stubblefield (move to TX), and Mr. Samuel Wuo.

The region lost one of its devoted and founding members, the Late Mr. Samuel M. Wehjla, Jr. He passed away March 26, 2019. Our condolences to the Wehjla Family. I attended the funeral and burial services for the late Samuel M. Wehjla, Jr. The moment was a mixed blessing. I encountered a dozen individuals GMMS at the event. Let me emphatically say that the future of the Midwest Region is promising. We are in a moment of transition and we shall rise from this time of inactivity. Presented by Henry Gaypia Act’g Coordinator, Midwest Region, GUMMSAA

Mr. Henry Gaypia

North Central or Midwest Region

GUMMSAA