Liberia

Well the year is starting out with a bang. I have volunteered to go on a trip, organized by Heidi's Grandpa, to the country of Liberia to help rebuild a library at the African Bible College in Yekepa, Liberia. The library is being named the Lois Lindley Memorial Library after Heidi's grandma, who passed away last summer.

Del and Becky Chinchen, family friends of my in-laws and the school founders, are in the process of rebuilding the whole college after fleeing the country almost 20 years ago in the midst of a civil war. They were asked by the new Liberian President to come back to Liberia and rebuild the college, and have been organizing the rebuilding process with churches and various ministries.


It is quite amazing to see what has been accomplished already as they are reclaiming the college from the jungle building by building. The photos included in this post were taken by my father-in-law on his trip last summer, when he went with a team from Granada Heights Friends Church to build a computer lab on the campus. On an aside you should check out his web site if you've never seen it, he's quite the photographer.


I am excited and a bit overwhelmed by the potential of this trip. I know I am being trendy (going to Africa and all), but I have always wanted to do a trip like this. To have a chance to get out of my comfort zone and my culture for a bit, to see how I can help and change someone else's circumstances and be changed myself as well. I also wonder what can I truly do to help out, but I am open to see what I can do.

Right now all I can think about though is how there is so much I still need to do before March and how am I going to get it all done. I will post more on this as the weeks unfold. In the meantime please prayfully remember Heidi and I as we prepare for this upcoming trip. Especially since she will be home two weeks without myself, her parents, or her grandpa; and 7 months pregnant.