Liberia’s challenges
I have a lot to write about Liberia experiences in coming posts. I’ll go ahead and put one picture with this one that captures some of the poverty…of a couple houses by the church. I’m not picking from the worst here at all…these pictures are representative of life for all in Liberia. Sunday was incredible as we shared the day with their church family, but in this post I’d love for you to capture one of the challenges…
I underestimated a lot of things about life here. One that actually is very significant for us was communication capabilities. Having traveled a bit, I’m used to finding internet access wherever I go. Actually, I kind of pride myself on it. And, apparently scripture is true…”God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.” 🙂
From the time we landed on Monday afternoon until the time I finally got to an internet café on Saturday afternoon, I was constantly trying. Nothing was working. When I did finally get to the internet café, I got ½ of a video uploaded to Suncrest and it locked up (not my computer…the café’s internet connection). The best I could do was post a few pictures on the blog. Sure, it stinks for my trip, because I wanted to stay in touch the whole time. I was pretty confident we could pull off a live internet video feed at both campuses Sunday morning. Not even close. I don’t think there is an internet signal into the entire country that could support that!
So, here is the real challenge. How do we have a relationship with our church planters there? We want to send more teams in the future. We want to plan and strategize with them. We want to pray for them and know them. But it really can’t be done online – not only was the internet café slow and unreliable, I was there 2 hours and it cost me the same as the average daily wage for Liberians. It costs $35 for a 10 minute call. You can’t mail them a letter because Liberia has no postal service. The only way to send things is FedEx or DHL, and (of course) that is slow and pricey. In-person visits? The plane ticket cost over $2000 and outside of our trip only 2 other times in the last 20 years have Americans actually made the trip to visit their ministry in Liberia (and one of those was an “advance team” last year to prep for this trip).
I don’t have answers, but this much I know…I can relate to Danny’s frustration in trying to share about their ministry and I’m looking for answers…
.Real.Greg.Lee. 
I am praying for y’all today. During our Focus meeting today we wrote on our hand something to pray all day for. Bible League is in over 60 countries doing just what y’all are asking. They come alongside the local church to provide Scriptures and training so that people prepared by the Holy Spirit can come into fellowship with Christ and His Church. We work with the Nationals in each country to let them lead the work. We are in 14 other countries of Africa but to get to our Vision 2020 goal we will have to work in every country of Africa by then. Prayers and support will get us there with this proven model of ministry and 70 years of experience. God willing we will be in Liberia one day! God Bless y’all, Mary
Greg… surely the church planters here will understand, given the lack of anything even near “our expectations of moden technology”….there in Liberia. Can you take movie video, digital photos or even the good old fashioned camera shots…remember a picture is worth a thousand words! Whatever you can provide via internet will be absorbed and reflected on…no matter how little; the photos of the children & their beaming smiles, the abject poverty (material things) cannot hide the hope that is seen in those sweet eyes & smiles! Just take all the “documentation you are able to do” and bring it back to the USA. I know that once back home a way to share all that you saw, experienced and felt will be shown to you by God……God bless all of you!!