Greetings from Monrovia, Liberia – I hope these updates give you a glimpse of life in Liberia, my life serving here, Mercy Ships plans, and the ship’s visit.  I enjoy when I meet someone who benefited from Mercy Ships services – whether they were patients or training participants.  There is a general awareness of Mercy Ships in this nation – from government officials, non-governmental organization staff, church members, business owners, and street vendors.  This is helpful for the team as we meet people – just this week with the immigration services officials (who previously provided me with my Residency Permit).  Our team increases this weekend as three Mercy Ships staff are coming to look at the port/berth/water scenarios, infrastructure projects, and a general security assessment – so we look forward to hosting them.    

Always good to hear/see how some of our former projects in Liberia (2005 – 2008) are doing.  One is a medical clinic in a remote community of Tenegar where their previous clinic had been destroyed during the civil war (1989-2003) and people had to walk/travel far to seek medical care.  There was a genuine need for the clinic to be rebuilt and our privilege to come alongside them.  It is still in operation 13 years later – as part of the Ministry of Health.  During our visit, we were able to walk around the compound, meet some of the workers, patients, and locals present.  

Photo: Driving in Monrovia – actually not even driving in this photo, but stuck in traffic so I took this photo – roads crowded with cars, trucks, motorcycle taxis, three-wheelers ‘keh-kehs’, and people walking.  A challenge.  In case you are wondering, I do have my Liberian driver’s license.  

I’m doing good, healthy, getting rest, and trying for a balance between all aspects of life and living here. 
So thankful to God for his mercies and grace each and every day.    

Liberia Facts:

Literacy:  48.3%  (62.8% male + 34.1% female)
Urbanization – 52.1%
Government – Executive Branch – President, Vice President, & Cabinet
Legislative Branch – Senate with 30 (2 for each county) & House of Representative 73
Judicial Branch – Chief Justice + 4 judges
Similar in many ways to the set up in the United States

COVID-19 in Liberia: as of March 4 = 2,024 tested positive, 47 active cases, 85 deaths (only 1 death this year) and 1,892 have already recovered – total of 75,504 PCR tests performed for those with symptoms and for those traveling – required for everyone to fly out and to fly in.  For the continent of Africa, 3,932,371 positive cases with 104,842 deaths were reported.  Vaccines have started to arrive on the African continent, primarily going for healthcare workers, but millions more are needed.  Unsure when COVID 19 vaccines will be available in Liberia.  
Ebola Virus Disease:  a few weeks ago, new cases of Ebola were found in our neighboring nation of Guinea, but none in the surrounding countries – current count of 17 with 8 deaths.  From 2014-2016, Ebola devasted Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia with over 12,000 deaths.  When talking with the people here – there is a greater fear of Ebola Virus than of COVID-19.      

Prayer Requests:  *Health and Safety for me, my team and the people of Liberia  *That Ebola will be contained and not spread any further 
*God’s wisdom, insight, discernment, and guidance 
 
Serving together, Kofa Keith