Liberia was an amazing experience. No place I have ever been compares to being in Yekepa. Although there are more remote places, this one is right up there on my scale of remoteness. Hours of flying and layovers and then a 7 hour jeep trip to get to the University. There is almost nothing left in this part of the country except lots of ruins and evidence of the war. People live here and eck out a living somehow. The school is here and rising restored out of the jungle. It is amazing to see God at work in this broken and battered place. What a blessing to be a small part of what God is doing at A
BC University.Here are a few of my pictures from the trip. I didn't take very many so there are gaps in the story but here goes.
This was a lunch stop on the way to Yekepa. Doug and Brad are conversing with a group of children walking home from school.
On the right is a 'gas station'. Just pick your bottle of gas and they pour it in your tank.
Caleb spent most of his time cloistered in this room setting up the computer lab. It was exciting to see students using these computers on our last day there after many long hot hours of getting it ready for them. A satellite dish and generator make computer use possible in this outpost of Liberia.
Dad and Doug discussing where all the books should go. It seems logical to place them on the shelves.
It took hours of work and lots of help from students to move all the books from the temporary library to this new space.
It was exciting to see the library take shape, be filled with books, desks, computers and eventually students. We all felt priviledged to be a small part of getting this accomplished.
There was both sadness to leave and eagerness to head home when our two weeks came to a close. We made friends at the school which were hard to leave but we also were eager to get back to our loved ones here.
James asleep in the airport in Brussels. It was a long time getting back to the US. We all took naps on these couches.
In case you ever wondered what Doug and I look like after almost three days of travel, well here you go. Pretty huh!!
Before leaving for Liberia I really wondered what I had allowed myself to be talked into doing. There were things that I was unsure if I could handle well. How would I do in the heat and humidity without the aid of a good shower? What about snakes? Would I ever be able to relax? Would I be able to interact with the students and staff at the school and be an encouragement? What would God teach me through this experience? There were lessons to learn. God can take a city woman and use her in the jungles. I never stopped looking for snakes as I walked across the campus but I did walk across the campus, alone. It was hot and the showers were cold. It was very humid. I slept great and managed to function regardless of heat and humidity. There were some great times with the students and faculty. The times with Del and Becky were precious. They are great friends and it was good to be with them where they are serving God. God taught me, once again, that He is faithful and I can trust Him. It is good to go where God leads.
