Back from Africa!

Although I was hoping to post updates of our trip to Liberia in a timely matter, there was no internet access available for us. But now I am back in Phoenix and nearly over the jet lag. It's hard to know where to even start to give you an idea of what we experienced, but I will try.

We started the journey with flights from Phoenix to Washington D.C. then on to London, where we had a ridiculously long layover, but it did allow us to see the sights and get in some much needed walking after sitting so much on airplanes. Here's a picture of a few of us in front of the palace.

After four long flights

and an eight hour van ride, we were thrilled to arrive at ABC University in Yekepa, Liberia. Three years earlier, my husband, Scott, had been there on a construction team that completed the first rebuilt building on the ABC campus after 15 years of civil war had left it completely destroyed. Now there are 11 buildings up and running with 80 students on campus and much more to come. It was amazing to see the transformation. Here's a picture that Scott took of the chapel three years ago when he was there(bottom), and a picture I just took (top) to show you the difference.

Thankfully, all of our equipment arrived, and we spent the first day unpacking and setting everything up. We sat through the student's chapel on the first day, and were amazed at how beautifully and loudly they sing and praise God. There were no observers, only participants. We also discovered that Americans have no rhythm. We had a hard time clapping along to their music. That night the college held a prayer meeting for our team and it was humbling to see so many turn out to support us and fervently pray for God's power and protection over us. Day two we shared some of our music with the ABC students during chapel and spent the afternoon teaching a few of our songs to the students who would be traveling and singing with us, Rosetta, Isabella, and Andronicus. The best part was getting to learn a few of their songs. Samuel, their keyboard player, taught me a bit of their style and eventually I caught on and was able to accompany their singers. It was really fun to cross over into new musical territory. Day three started with the pastor's conference. I was able to lead them in a closing hymn of "It is Well with my Soul." Again, I was overwhelmed at how loudly and wholeheartedly they worship. That night was our first concert. There is no central power in Liberia, so every building that has power has a generator. Miraculously, we were able to get everything working, despite having to convert the power from 220 to 110. The Open Door Theater is where we played and by the time we were a few songs into it, the place was packed. At the end, Palmer and Eliazar, the ABC campus pastor, gave an invitation for people to accept Christ, and many came forward. Many of our team prayed with people and collected contact info. to pass on to the local pastors. That about sums up the stay in Yekepa. It was a very encouraging start.

I will close for now by sharing some of my first impressions. I was amazed at how easy it was for me to love these people. From the time we got off the airplane, I felt God impressing on me His love for the Liberians. Things were different, but as we experienced new sights, new handshakes, and new smells, I felt God speaking to me: "Those are the hands of a people I love. That is the smell of a people I love..." It's not hard to see why God loves Liberians so much. As we got to know them, I realized that they don't just call themselves Christians. They worship wholeheartedly. They don't hesitate to say, "Praise God!" for everything. They leave their homes, friends, even families to follow God's calling on their life. They believe in the power of prayer. I was totally humbled by them. It was a far greater honor for me to spend two weeks in their presence than for them to spend two weeks with me. I have much to learn. More soon! One other picture:

At the first basketball game in Yekepa. The kids were so friendly. The two girls standing next to me, Princess and Fatia, would not leave my side. They held on to me the entire game. Precious smiling faces!