Trip to Liberia

In late January we made a two day trip to Liberia to train leaders of the stake there.

Liberia is struggling to recover from civil war that lasted 14 years. During the war, the dam that supplies water and electricity for the country was severely damaged. As we rode from the airport into Monrovia, the highway was lined with power line poles, but all the wire had been taken. Only buildings with diesel powered generators have electricity. The small hotel where we stayed fortunately had a generator, as did the stake center where our training was held. Missionaries were removed during the war and there is still no plan to reinstate them.

Evidence of the war is everywhere. There are many burned out buildings and others with obvious bullet holes.	Our hotel sign seen through razor wire that adorns many walls around Monrovia.

The Stake Center survived the war, but everything that was not cemented in place was taken, including the folding chairs. Here is the new generator.	There is full time security in this guard house at the church.

The local CES coordinator, David Harris, is the only church employee in Liberia. He, along with many Liberians, is a descendant of freed US slaves who returned to West Africa in the early 1800's. Brother Harris was one of the first people to be baptized in Liberia. He talked to us about his struggles during the war. He was able to keep his car (which he has as a Church employee) by hiding the tires and wheels, then putting the car on blocks for the duration of the war. If he hadn't done this, the car would have been taken by the rebels or the army. About thirty of Brother Harris’ relatives moved in with him, and sometimes it took all day to find food and water for them. His wife recently died of tuberculosis of the liver, and he is raising two children with the help of extended family members. A member of the stake presidency that we talked to said that during the war he thought they were going to all be exterminated.

Brother David Harris Church Education System Coordinator

The good news is there are definite signs of "Spring" in Liberia---life returning to normal. There is a strong presence of UN peacekeepers and elections are planned for later this year. There is construction, rebuilding of houses and businesses. The members we talked with spoke of increasing confidence that the war is finally over and people are now making plans for the future. It was most exciting to see two mothers with small children on our flight to Monrovia. They were leaving Buduburam Refugee Camp (see our September 2004 update) after more than a decade. One husband was already in Liberia. The other woman will stay with her family until her husband could also come back to Liberia. Church members are coming to Accra in the next few weeks for their first ever temple excursion trip. The bus ride will take about three days each way. They have allowed an extra day to travel through the Ivory Coast, where frequent military checkpoints have been set up after an uprising there in the Fall.

David Hill, Africa West Area Controller, holds a baby for a young mother who is returning to Liberia after 11 years at Buduburam Refugee Camp.

Brother Harris provided transportation for us during our stay. He was holding a CES faculty training session at the stake center the same day as our meetings. We saw the seminary and institute instructors who were attending his Inservice meetings. Twenty-six instructors were present. The Monrovia Stake only has nine units, so we found this number astounding. Brother Harris told us that each ward has at least one early morning seminary, which meets at 5:00 am using candles or lanterns. Many wards have two seminaries to reduce the distance students have to walk in the dark. Most wards also have an Institute program. Institute in West Africa is Gospel instruction for all adults, not just single members. We were inspired by the efforts the members there make to learn and grow in the Gospel. In a typical week about 50% of members over 15 attend one or more seminary and institute classes. The CES program is an oasis of gospel training for this isolated stake. The members realize the value, and take advantage of it.

We found some real treats in Liberia.

Sister Markham learned that US goods were available in Liberian stores. She brought back several packages of Chocolate Chunks which are very difficult to find in Ghana (go figure!)	President Warner, 1st Counselor, Monrovia Stake When Elder Markham mentioned his great grandmother was a Warner, President Warner started calling him "Cuz."

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