Lessons from Liberia—Part 1

Greetings! As you may have noticed, I’m missing a couple of blog entries. That’s because I’ve been away in Liberia, West Africa. I went as part of a mission trip with my church, Christian Love Baptist Church (Pastor Ron Christian). Our mission there was to fellowship with a local church and to distribute grains of rice in the poorest communities.

Throughout my visit, there was one Bible verse that came to mind constantly. 2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.”

“My grace is sufficient.” What a powerful acknowledgement to consider when riding over the main road and walking through the red dirt roads of Monrovia, the capital city. In a place where most homes are without electricity or running water, a majority of adults are unemployed, and many children are unable to go to school and devastatingly behind in their education…God reminded me that His grace is sufficient. It was 14 years of civil war that led to the country’s current predicament. And it will take time for the people to rebuild and reconstruct their lives.

At the Mount Nebo Baptist Church (Pastor Gallison George) where we fellowshipped—and whose loving members took us into their own homes during our stay—sufficient grace is evident. Some members have utilities in their homes, others are working, and a number of children are in school. And for those who are still striving for such things, there is hope.

His grace is sufficient.