As we circled the airfield in Liberia in preparation for landing we knew we were in a place where peace was in process. UN helicopters, UN cargo planes, UN tanks, UN trucks dominated the airfield. Our little two-engine prop plane, with a total of 17 passengers, taxied noisily to the arrival gate missing the stop blocks on the first try. Our Russian captain did a playfully quick 360 degree turn to make another try at the blocks. While spinning around we caught a glimpse of the next Russian flight crew in their makeshift office – a rusty 50 foot container – awkwardly placed near the edge of the runway. Depressed economic conditions had affected everyone in the country even those working in professional businesses. As we disembarked a large bag of cow meat was placed in my hands by the flight attendant: “Please give this to Kessely at ELWA,” he requested accompanied by a heart warming smile. How could I refuse when meat of any kind was a scarcity in the country.

The merry-go-round plane parking event reminded us of our present revolving door experience in Liberia. 12 years ago we had to abruptly say good-bye to Liberia due to the destruction and looting of the ABC campus during the civil conflict. Those 12 years in Kenya – Del at Daystar University and Becky establishing and operating Amani ya Juu – have been some of the most stimulating years of our mission careers. Now we find ourselves back in Liberia again, full-circle.

Waiting for our luggage to make its way to us on the conveyor belt we tried to process what lay before us. Here we are, beginning the construction of ABC all over again, rebuilding the same buildings we had built 29 years ago. It would have been easy to see this work as defeating and discouraging but we knew, all too well, that this was a wonderful opportunity to view the reconstruction of the campus as a symbolic demonstration of God’s forgiveness and work of restoration. God makes all things better than new, a steady spiral upwards, through His redemptive work of transformation. As we ventured deep into the interior of Liberia to begin the rebuilding of the ABC campus, a campus which had been swallowed up by the unrestrained suffocating jungle, our thoughts turned to Nehemiah. Should we not have stayed in the King’s palace (Kenya) rather than concern ourselves with the plight of Jerusalem (Liberia)? The pull was too strong to ignore. What a privilege to be bearers of hope and agents of peace to those who had lost all hope years ago.

When the first truck load of materials arrived in Yekepa many came from the community to assist with the unloading. With silent reverence community neighbors flowed onto the campus to show support by helping to off-load the truck, carefully handling each sheet of roofing and every plank of wood. For 12 long years the community watched the jungle grow up around them while their hopes of peace diminished with each passing day. The return of ABC was a visible sign that peace had taken hold in their country. This was a sacred moment for all of us.

Emmanuel, who made it through the first two years of ABC before the war interrupted his education volunteered an entire week of his time to work on the campus. Emmanuel chose the library to clean, where 6 inches of dirt and debris had settled on the floor, with the hope that he will once again read about the treasures of God’s truth found in his favorite building. Emmanuel is not only involved in the physical rebuilding of his country but he is also helping to rebuild lives by providing counseling to victims of the war.

Many of the ABC graduates are involved in ministries that are restorative in nature: skill training for ex-combatants, reconciliation training for pastors, counseling women who have been traumatized by war, etc. Emmanuel helps restore ex-combatants back to their communities. One particular tough case he narrated to us was of a former rebel soldier who had killed someone in his own home village during the war. Emmanuel patiently mediated the entire one year process until the bereaved family finally extended forgiveness and accepted the ex-combatant back into their community.

As the reconstruction of ABC got underway many people from the community streamed onto the campus to see for themselves this modern day miracle – some bearing the gift of a pineapple and many others bringing words filled with gratitude:

“Thank you for coming!”
“Thank you for the work.”
“May God bless you for what you are doing.”
“What you are doing gives us a reason to hope again.”
“Now we are brave enough to believe in peace.”

We give God thanks, the Source of Peace, for bringing peace to Liberia!

Del & Becky

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- ABC News Update:  [Students Given Bibles]   [Updated Liberia Restoration Schedule]   [The Chinchens are back!]   [The Too-a-loo Bird]   [See us on Samaritan's Purse]   [Online Giving Now Possible]   [King Cyrus Plan]