March 14
Location: Monrovia
This weekend brought with it much to process…I arrived in Ganta and headed directly to the rural festival, located in the middle of a field was a stage and a sound system. As the music filled the air people began to form a crowd d that resulted in thousands in attendance…the message was on the only lasting hope…casting our burdens on the Lord and how He will rescue us…the message was powerful and it gave me goosebumps….the next day I traveled with a small team to visit about 30 pastors to see how their church is assisting with the refugee situation, it was so humbling to listen to the pastors discuss how they could help…”well I have 10 pants at home and I do not need 10 pants so I can give up half of my pants.” Many of these pastors were refugees themselves about 8 years ago and although they still struggle materially I was amazed at their generosity. Immediately after the meeting we traveled to the main refugee camp, which was hard, it wasn’t that the camp was built poorly, it was the expression on so many faces that I struggled with, a look of emptiness and pain. You see the camp was hot and there is little for the people to do besides wonder about their families and try to avoid the sun. This trip gave me a lot to reflect on and put the “massive” concerns in my own life into perspective, for God only know how I can struggle with perspective. The festival reminded me that there is eternity ahead of me and the camp/church vividly portrayed that I have been blessed so that I can give back…I pray I never forget these lessons.