“Unbound” – The End of Week Three
admin January 30th, 2009
Life in Liberia is incredibly complex, and at the same time so simple. Liberian people have suffered so greatly in the war. They tell me how blessed America is and it’s true. They don’t understand why they had to suffer so much. They have witnessed and experienced unthinkable atrocities. They shake their heads and pray war never returns. Life is fragile here and I pray peace continues.
I had the opportunity for three days this week to present “Unbound ” a series offered by Renewal Ministries, to over 150 leaders of churches ranging from Catholic to Pentecostal, all worshiping together. This series teaches us how to “unbind ” ourselves from Satan’s grip that has been allowed in our lives through sins we’ve chosen, sin done to us, or ancestral sin of which we had no choice. Africa is full of witch doctors, some of whom have done unspeakable things to young girls. There is also a lot of rape, fornication and abortions.
I had the privilege of praying with young men and women individually and hear their stories and watch them as they were set free as they confessed their sin. Those who had abortions “many of them three or more” were encouraged to give names to their babies and I was able to experience the joy that is in a mothers heart at the thought of naming their aborted babies and the joy and freedom experienced when they know they are forgiven.
Pray that there would be safe places for stories to be told, and that as sin is confessed one to another, God’s forgiveness and freedom would be known.
Pat and I continue to live the life of a Liberian as much as we can. We are sleeping on a small mattress on the floor. The generator runs a few hours a night and it give us relief from the heat by way of fan. It also runs a refrigerator that keeps a few things cold and “fresh”, and fills the water tank that allows us to shower. The water is not fit for drinking, only bathing and washing clothes. We have to collect water for drinking at the local well in a five gallon container (which most Liberia women will carry on their heads), after still having it filtered with a high-tech water filter system that filters about a gallon at a time and is the final step needed to actually make the well water usable. That collecting of water and any household chore is considered women’s work. The men laughed at Pat when he collected water at the well and women asked where his wife was because it was strange for a man to be there. I can barely lift it so I will continue to send Pat.
We have a man named Prince who cooks for us (and the other five or more who live here at the compound) once a day. The local food is rice and some sort of chicken and fish stew usually spicy! Pat loves it! I’m learning…still eating mostly rice only. Prince cooks an entire meal over charcoal fire. He is a great cook who was professionally trained before the war with ovens and gas fire, but now charcoal is all he has to work with. He’s an evangelist and loves Christ. He also works at Mt. Barclay School, where he teaches women to make a living by cooking. We also have a local girl who does our laundry once a week with two large buckets of water and a washboard. She works hard and our clothes are spotless! When I first arrived I wanted to do my own cooking and especially my own laundry, but they were so offended as they saw me struggle. I was told they needed these jobs and if I did them myself I would be taking away an income for them. I struggle being served, but God is teaching me just to be grateful.
Continue to pray for us as we end our third week here.
In Christ, Anja
