Perspective from Liberia

From the US Embassy to the coastal town of Westpoint, today was, once again, a day of contrast.

The picture below is taken from the third floor of a new school in Westpoint,
a costal community where homes are simple structures. You are looking at the rooftops of many, many homes.

There is no running water, no sanitation system and no generator to provide power the community. As we walked from the church at the “road” about three minutes into the community, we walked through bathrooms, kitchens and the front porch. No, we didn’t invade their houses, these activities were all on the path that led the way through the community.

As we made our way back to the school, there before us was an oasis. A new well was added just outside the school and the three story cinder block and cement structure, a school, stood in stark contrast to the community around us.

It’s been a joy to see how the UMC is a central part of education in Liberia, providing opportunities for learning where government education has been unable to reach. As we climbed the stairs to the third floor and peered out the windows, the view of the landscape widened. Fishing boats at sea, cars and motorcycles, and the smell of smoking fish rose to meet us. As I looked out the window at the community around us, I recognized the great gift the church and people of Liberia have blessed me with this week: perspective.

As has often happened to me when I find myself in a new place, I once again was reminded of the simple gifts of love and life, health and wholeness, laughter and livelihood and how our perspective in the USA is very different than most of the world. It’s a privilege to be among people who grant me the grace to experience the love of God in new ways.

From narrow paths winding through coastal townships to busy city streets, from being with children to learning about Liberian culture, from sitting at a board room table to gathering around the dinner table. These things and many more have offered a perspective on life, faith, and the work of the church that leaves me with only one word: grateful.

Tomorrow we will worship at one of the local churches in Monrovia, return to the house for one last meal and head to the airport. As the church in Cincinnati is concluding their worship service, we’ll be boarding a plane to Accra, Ghana and then on to Atlanta. We return on Monday to the USA. All of that to say, there might be another tweet or two from Liberia, but this will be the last blog post until we are back in the US.

Thank you for your continued prayers as we begin our journey back to Cincinnati on Sunday!