" Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can bring rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Are you not he, O LORD our God? We set our hope on you, for you do all these things?" Jeremiah 14:22
Well, its been almost one month now in Liberia. It is a stark constrast from Ghana, as you found out from my last entry. Over the past couple of weeks I've had some really interesting walks and talks with the people of Liberia.
Sometimes I'm scared to ask their story, afraid of making them relive the terrible events that affected everyone in such a deeply personal level. But I am finding most are willing and appreciate an ear to share their pain. There are many stories of families torn apart, savings to start up again stolen without justice, disease & death of many loved ones...
but among all the crap i feel like i'm wadding through there are stories of Hope:
~ there is a nicely dressed woman in african cloth with 6 children who tells me on the street, everyday "by the grace of God" all of her family is fed. I have heard this countless times from others as 80% of the country has been unemployed for many, long years. God provides for their daily needs faifthfully.
~ this week on the ward, after a random friendship began between a crew memeber & a patient, a rare connection was made after a realization that the crew member KNEW the patient's daughter... who the father hadn't seen in 18 years due to the war..and didn't even know if she was alive. Yesterday he was reunited not only with his daughter but his 3 grandchildren for the 1st time. You couldn't get a smile off his face all day.
~ Last week a group of 14 patients where flown in from a very remote part of Liberia from the Red Cross to Mercy Ships ...who had no idea what a t.v, cars, or concept of what a glass door was (one of the patients ran straight into it!!) ..to have removals of neglected tumors and repairs of cleft lips fixed. One of my patient's mothers was able to see her 2 sisters & mother after 5 years of being separated by distance, soley because of no monetary means to get to one another, just focusing on surviving day to day.
These are just a few of the things that have helped me to find glimpses of hope and that God is a big God, able to repair what seems like a hopeless cycle of a fallen & broken nation.
" Rejoice in Hope, be patient in Tribulation, be constant in Prayer" Romans 12: 12
I would like to ask you to help pray for this Nation.
"He delivered us from a deadly peril. On him we set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessings granted us through the prayers of many." 2 Corinthians 1:10
* For the ongoing task of creating a new, reformed, non~ corrupt police force
* For President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's humble leadership in Liberia.
* For the few educated people of Liberia to STAY and help take OWNERSHIP of rebuilding the economy.
* For Liberian based healthcare facilities to start to run again... NGO's will be pulling out in the next 1-2 years, leaving them to care for their own, with little resources.
* For anger, rage & pride to be replaced by love & forgiveness
* For the Education system as a whole... teachers, money for enrollement fees, parents to not be so dependent on their children for selling products on the street to make a living, keeping them from a chance at education.
* For the Church to continue to play a huge role in the reformation of the country, instilling genuine Godly principles into the lives of former rebels and corrupt leaders. For the healing of broken trust, families, and a generation of childhood lost.
* For God to give me daily, divine appointments with the people here...and the wisdom and strength to respond appropriately.
" For to this end we toil & strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe." 1 Timothy 4:10
Thank You.
