My trip to the Toronto airport: by car to St Catharines (thank you Eric), bus to Burlington GO to union station and then UP express to airport went very well even though I had two bags, mostly because of books to be left behind. All connections were on time and for a cheap guy like me the price of less than $15 and one Tim’s Horton (for Eric) coffee made me smile. Thank you for praying.
The flight to Amsterdam was excellent
but packed with almost 400 passengers, I really like the airport in Amsterdam
and am impressed by their unique clock. Our team of 6 got to meet up
and chat for awhile before our trip to Liberia via a stopover in Sierra Leone.
This plane was also packed but many deplaned in Sierra Leone where we picked up
passengers for Monrovia and the return trip of this plane to Amsterdam after
midnight. This is the plane we will take on our return. While the plane was
being cleaned on our stopover I had an encouraging conversation with a woman.
After I told her what we were doing in Monrovia she said, “Pastors need this
kind of help”. Then she told me she led a weekly Bible study in her church and
then confessed, “I am Catholic”. I was disappointed inside and asked her, “how
does a person get to heaven” expecting a Catholic answer of baptism and good
works. But she kind of looked at me like that was an odd question and said, “By
accepting Jesus as your Savior”. Then I asked her, “not by sacraments and good
works”. No a person can only be saved by Jesus. I discovered they study only
the Bible and study sequentially through a whole book and that her priest which
she called her Pastor knows what is happening. That was encouraging. I
mentioned about the syncretism in the church and the prosperity gospel and she
said that was a real problem and rampant in Liberia.
We landed in Monrovia and made it through
customs by about 12:30 am on Saturday morning. Customs and baggage pick up were
typical third world chaos. Hundreds of people in a 30 by 40 room which included
the baggage conveyor. Once it got jammed at the opening to the public access
area with so much luggage on it that it pilled itself 5 high trying to get
through that opening and stalled requiring much luggage to be removed by hand
to get it going again. All our luggage arrived safely. Brian on our team
recognized and introduced himself to the Samaritans Purse nurse who nearly died
from Ebola and was featured in the Facing Darkness movie. We drove one hour to
the hotel and made it to bed just a little after 1:30 to get up at 7am to
prepare for breakfast at 8. I slept well but morning came suddenly. I am feeling
good but occasionally am nodding off.
The night air as we drove from the
airport smelled of cooking fire smoke. Bars were open and busy but not well lit
and people were busily moving about on this Friday evening. The vegetation
along the highway was rugged with sporadic trees and shrubs and rocky outcrops much
like Northern Ontario but the trees were larger and included Palms which we do
not grow in our colder climate.
My room is spacious and clean with a
king size bed. There is no hot water but the air conditioning works well,
except of course when the electricity goes out which so far seems to be a few
times in a day. A flush toilet and a tub with hand shower compliment the room.
I washed my hair but I need to get a lot more filthy before I will have a full
cold shower. Maybe I should make a schedule to “shower” certain parts of my
body every day. That would not be so shocking to my body. I was able to boil my
own coffee today but notice they bring us hot water at breakfast and I will use
that tomorrow to make my coffee. The power just went out and has been off for
about 5 minutes so far.
We went to Monrovia today. Our first
stop was a coffee shop with wifi because the hotel had not paid for their data
plan (it is on now but we have to go to one spot in the hotel to connect).
Internet is so important to us white dudes. We drove through the government
district, saw the president’s house and a number of embassies. We shopped for
souvenirs and then went to lunch. Enjoyed a hamburger and fries and a Pepsi. (Power
is back on now)
There are people, all over. Little
shops selling new goods, used goods, repaired goods. Vendors in the middle of
the road with everything from sticks of gum to phone chargers, from wiper
blades to cookies. With an unemployment rate of 75% many become individual
entrepreneurs. Beggars are common. Police are common as well, some dressed in
street clothes but the guns are real. All that is required is a Police vest, no
uniform is needed.
The Christian background and need is
evident in the names of the businesses along our drive such as the “Faith and
Joy Bar and Grill” and the “Trinity Hotel”. There are many churches of assorted
denominations as well as cults. Buses and trucks seek favor from God with
various biblically inspired slogans on their vehicles. Public transportation
vans are sardine cans on wheels.
Thank you again for praying. Tomorrow
I preach at a local church so keep that in mind. We are 5 hours ahead of you
here in Monrovia.
We have a great team and national
sponsor. Tomorrow I preach at a church in the morning so I will review my
message this afternoon and maybe have a short nap and then read.
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| Brian, Ron, Dick, Mark, Greg, Weyman |
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| Pastor Dyona our national sponsor |
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