Greetings from Liberia with the motto ‘The Love of Liberty Brought Us Here’. January is my third month in Liberia and I am learning every day more about the people, relationships, processes, understandings, culture, and so much more. I believe I will continue in a state of learning. I do wish to share with you more about Liberia and Mercy Ships’ engagement/involvement in this nation.
On each Sunday, I am attending a new church and there are many churches here in the capital city. My list is growing of ones where friends and partners attend and also as I meet new people here, they share about their church and extend an invitation to visit. This Sunday, we will visit a church where one of our contacts at the Ministry of Health is the pastor. One needs to be ready to greet or share a brief encouragement in case you are called upon during the service. 
Caption: With my friend Bonda and his family following the church service. Bonda was a maxillofacial patient in Guinea in 2019 who I befriended.
During 2007 and 2008 while serving on the Anastasis and the Africa Mercy, I often was invited by a friend to visit a children’s home in New Georgia. So over those two years got to know the children and teens living there. Now in 2021, they are no longer children but older teens and young adults. I received a gift in 2008, a book with their photos and short notes, so when I first visited, I brought the book for them to find their page and then one of them took their photo. The last Sunday of January, I will attend the local methodist church where many of them attend and are active.
Daily life in Liberia is difficult – different for those in the city versus those in the countryside. As with many of the neighboring nations, subsistence farming is the main occupation. Plant, care for, harvest, sell for cash and save what you need to feed your family. Parents are concerned for their children’s health and schooling – paying school fees, supplies so that their children have a better future/opportunity than what they have. As I build relationships, people share more about their lives, their circumstances, dreams, prayers, and wishes. I pray that I can and my team can love and serve others here in Liberia – living out Mercy Ships’ Core Value #2.
As part of my responsibilities as Country Director, I have the privilege to facilitate the donation of PPE – Personal Protective Equipment to the Ministry of Health – 14 pallets – 74,300 pieces, N95 masks, gloves, gowns, caps, googles, and shoe covers for distribution by the Ministry of Health for their nation’s ongoing battle to continue medical care and keep healthcare workers safe. I also have the opportunity to meet with other missionary organizations and non-government organizations serving short-term and long term in this nation – here in the capital and those working in one of the other 14 counties of Liberia.
Liberia Facts:
Employment: Labor Force by Occupation – 70% Agriculture, 8% Industry and 22% in Service. In Agriculture beyond fruit and vegetables, their main products are: rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava, palm oil, and sugar cane.
COVID-19: as of January 19 = 1,901 tested positive, 103 active cases, 84 deaths and 1,714 have already recovered – total of 61,954 PCR tests performed. Most cases are here in Monsterrado County which contains the capital and port city and the largest population (+1 million). Some are following the advice about wearing masks and hand washing and social distancing but others are not. We wear our masks, and when entering a building, wash our hands, and often someone is there to take your temperature.
Prayer Requests: *God’s wisdom, insight, discernment, and guidance *Facility we can renovate and use for off-ship housing for patients and caregivers coming from outside the port city – the pre-COVID potential site is no longer available, so we need to find other options. *Health and Safety
Kofa Keith