Our travel day went well as we arrived at Emmanuel Jonah’s home at quarter after 10 pm local Liberia time. We were greeted with a chorus of cheers with some of their children banging pot lids with spoons. They have welcome signs posted to me and Jenny and I’m sure we’ll see more people tomorrow morning.

We had a great meal and the best gift we could receive after a 31 hour, door to door trip…a bed with air conditioning in the room. Emmanuel and Wintee’s guest house has come a ways since our first trip, but this too is still Liberia. We will see exactly what that may mean during the next few weeks.

Cell service in their home is not as reliable so I may have to wait until morning to find a spot to post this.

Today begins our trip to Liberia. My wife, Jenny and I are making this trip alone this time, although it doesn’t feel as if this is our trip alone. From the many people participating in the writing of letters that we carry as greeting from our home church, Country Bible Church, to our children communicating through our group texts, to my brother and sister in law carrying us to the airport, to finally the many who will lift us up in prayer as we see what lies ahead.

Why do we travel to a country in West Africa? The answer is almost too simple. Sometimes God puts relationships in your life that ‘direct your paths’! If you look to the beginning of my blogging, started in 2012, you will see how the relationships grew. Now, as Jenny and I prepare to board, we do so with the excitement and expectation of seeing great friends and experiencing new adventures.

Join us as we document our experiences and share with everyone who graciously joins with us in prayer around the world.

Well, it is the morning of my first day back home after a nights sleep. My mind understands that it is just after 8:00 a.m. as I begin this blog post, but my body remembers the time I was used to. I woke up at 4:30 a.m. after the travel day and I feel very awake yet. I’m guessing I’ll start the fatigue in early afternoon here. That’s part of the adjustments whether leaving or returning. Sometimes it’s a short adjustment and other times it takes a few days. We’ll see what this return brings.

Now to reflect on my trip…

My waking up reminds me that we live in very different circumstances here in the states which doesn’t make it better or worse, just that it is very different. I love the fact that I could visit Liberia and be part of their lives, if even temporarily. This gift from God helps me to appreciate the grace that He gives us…me, every day. I am reminded of the apostle Paul when he states in Philippians that,

Philippians 4:11-13 ESV
[11] Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. [12] I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. [13] I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

In God allowing me to visit Liberia, recognizing the extremes Paul is speaking of I can’t say I experienced these differences as Paul did, but I can witness and discern that God loves His children the same regardless of how we judge that love due to circumstances. What Paul was saying is we aren’t to judge God’s love for us based on these circumstances, but based on the whole of the Bible’s message. Again Paul in the book of Philippians…

Philippians 3:8 ESV
[8] Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

I guess what I am saying in my feeble attempt to put meaning to my trip and thoughts about the trip down in words is that I am blessed to experience God active and at work in Liberia and I am blessed to experience God active and at work in the USA as well. God isn’t differentiating his blessing like we would view this, but according to His grace in our lives. Our circumstances will never dictate the amount of love we feel from God. We do that in our minds, God does not. We rationalize that God somehow loves us in the states more because of our blessing in the physical realm. If that were true then our joy would only be dependent on our situation in our human bodies. We sanitize God’s love for us to fit into our life experiences.

If that were true, real joy in Christ would never be realized anywhere that hardship or pain exists. Liberia, being one of the poorest countries in the world, would never know real joy in Christ…Tell that to the congregation that thrives on ‘Praise and Worship’ time in the giving of offerings. Tell that to the many Liberian voices raising their voices to sing to ‘Yahweh’ each worship service. Or tell that to the parents that hear their children reciting the Bible verses like these kids…

The saying that Pastor Fred Haberland once told me is realized more and more as you keep your eyes open to God. ‘Never be surprised by God, but always be amazed by Him.’

This trip to Liberia helped me to see that I cannot change circumstances in people’s lives, but I can remind them to see God’s amazing work in their country and in their lives.

My prayer is that God will continually remind me of this and use me in whatever way He chooses. To God be the glory, great things He hath done…and continues to do!! First CBC missionaries and then memories of the people.

Well, the first two flights are over for me and they went very well. I ended up having an empty seat next to me both times and on the long flight from Brussels to Washington DC I even got to sit in business class. Not sure how that worked out, but I’m thankful for a more comfortable seating.

It is starting to hit me that I will no longer wake up to the familiar sounds around Emmanuel’s home, but will face the familiar routines of being back home. I’m very grateful and look forward to seeing Jenny, but I will miss the communal pattern of life I found myself in over there. There may be a lack of the ‘comforts’ while in Liberia that we all are accustomed to in the states, but there is a special connection to people that I will miss from Princess Kou (corrected spelling) to all the people coming to the hand pump for water.

I still have 2 more flights to go, but it is good to be back in the states.

I am on my way. First stop along the way is Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Brief stop to change crew and refuel for the longer flight to Brussels, Belgium. I had an empty seat next to me for the first flight, but now they’ll be boarding more. I’m guessing I’ll have a seat mate. Here’s hoping it isn’t a big smelly guy. 🤓

Before I left today I took a picture of the little people brigade. They were dressed alike for school.

They were not allowed to run around in the good clothes so I didn’t chase them. They did eventually get tired out. What a fitting end to a great time with them and their energy.

So many memories and such a great visit. I already miss everyone there. I’ll continue to document on my way home.

Leaving people is always difficult, but leaving friends you’ve made over the years gets harder and harder each time I leave. Today has been a good day with time to go out and pick up a few things as well as visit with some. There was nothing on the schedule today except departure time around 5:30 p.m. to head to the airport. As if saying goodbye wasn’t difficult enough the news that Emmanuel got on our way was enough to bring silence into the car as we drive to the airport. Pastor Abel Smith, the pastor we tried to visit in Kakata, but he had headed for the hospital in Ganta, just passed away. He was at the hospital and I’m not sure what happened, but the grief of his wife and others calling Emmanuel is chilling as they cry out to him and look for comfort. Please pray for Herrietta, the wife, as she deals with this and the LCMI church in Kakata as they also deal with the loss of their pastor. We know that as a Christian, he is with the Father in heaven, but the grief is always difficult, especially with a younger person. I’ll write more later, but I’ll leave this post short as I also pray for those in mourning.

My morning started before Emmanuel got up this morning. I told Elizabeth I would visit her and go to see her land again and I wanted to say goodbye to Mercy and family as well. I told Emmanuel last night that my plans were to walk to the ‘last turnaround junction’ and get a motorbike taxi and take it to Elizabeth’s home at the ‘Mount Barcley junction’. He just looked at me and asked if I was sure and I told him yes so he said ok. Well, Emmanuel was the only one that I told until it was time go leave. I told George who lives with the ‘boys’ here and then I told the house general, ‘Princess Kau’. I told her and then I left to walk to the junction and get the bike. I found out later that Princess went straight to Emmanuel’s door and told him, ‘Dad Robin just left to get a bike! He’s going to get lost!’ I’m glad she watches out for me and Emmanuel told her that I’d be fine. She didn’t like it, but Emmanuel calmed her down. Elizabeth did receive a phone call from Mother Wintee double checking my arrival. I visited with Elizabeth and her daughter Mercy for a little while and I talked to Elizabeth to find out more about her life. Every Liberian has a story to tell and I want to tell her story so I need as many facts as I can get. After our visit we decided it was time to go see the property again. We walked down to their junction and got a couple motorbikes and headed out. We arrived at the drop off spot and walked in to Titus and Mercy’s house to visit and say goodbye. After this short visit we took some pictures and said our goodbyes as Mercy was leaving to do shopping at Red Light. That is one place that I didn’t even go this year. I don’t miss shopping that much and Red Light shopping is a whole different experience. People everywhere and with me not knowing what I’m doing I would just frustrate people.

We left Mercy and headed out to the property. (Here I’ve been calling it the property, but Elizabeth just calls it the ‘house spot’. ) I was here last time with her daughter, Patience and this time with her daughter, Mercy (2 Mercy’s gets confusing).

I really wanted to introduce Elizabeth to the lady I met when we ate our supper at Titus’s house. She lives in front of Titus and runs a block factory. I want Elizabeth to have all the contacts and connections that she can. I’m hoping to get the ball rolling for her to protect the property (read past blog on what can happen to undeveloped land). We walked from the ‘house spot’ and I went to where Lydia lives. She had a wall around her home and I wasn’t sure if I should just walk in or not. I asked some men outside who were selling scratch cards (for phones) and they said she was home and to just open the steel door and enter. When I say enter, it’s more of going in a compound with many buildings. I pulled the door open and called out to see if Lydia was around. A young girl went to get us chairs to sit in right away and said she’d go get Lydia. The custom here is if anyone shows up at your house you get chairs for them to sit. Lydia came out shortly and we had a great visit. I explained why I wanted her to know Elizabeth and her family and she offered to sell blocks and sand whenever it was needed once building could start. She also knows many other suppliers and that’s why I wanted Elizabeth to meet her. She was encouraging Elizabeth with the story of the faith of a mustard seed from the Bible. She even went inside and got some mustard seeds she got from Israel. If you look closely in the picture you’ll see her bottle of mustard seeds. We left with Lydia and Elizabeth getting along well.

From there we got another motorbike taxi to where Patience lives which was halfway home for Elizabeth. We stopped to see her daughter and granddaughter. I finally got the spelling of her granddaughter’s name. Georglyn George is her full name. The pronunciation with different sounds always confuses me. we visited a little while with her and had a nice cold bag of water before a few more pictures and the walk back.

The walk back to Elizabeth’s was probably a little over a mile. We walked rather than a motorbike for such a short ride. It was hot, but didn’t feel too bad until we arrived at her house and I stopped moving. Then the sweat and heat was felt. Mercy was going to ‘carry me home’ meaning she would ride the motorbike with me back to Emmanuel’s house. The two of us walked back to ‘Mount Barcley junction’ and found a driver and we hopped on. It was cooler as long as we were moving. We got back to the last turn around and walked the remainder of the way to Emmanuel’s house. Needless to say Princess was happy we arrived safely. I had lunch with Emmanuel and when I went outside Mercy was doing some dishes. She then ate some food so I guess she was working for her food. She is 16 and will graduate this year. That’s really early for Liberian girls (or boys). She’d like to go to school to be a doctor. I love to hear that she has plans. If she works like her mom she’ll be fine. She left shortly after eating to catch another motorbike back home. I teased her because she skipped school today to go to the house spot. She assured me she’d be ok at school.

The late afternoon was quiet so I was able to call my mom in Texas on a video call. It was good that my niece, Charissa, was there to repeat what mom could not hear. I showed mom some of the sites around Emmanuel’s home. We had a great visit. After that I actually came to my room to lay down a little while. I had been sitting outside dozing in a chair, but every time someone walked by they would greet me and I’d wake up. I thought I could rest a little without being woken up. I never did sleep. Just caught up on the news on my phone.

Church was good with a discussion on the apostle Paul. They are studying people from the Bible that ‘hold firmly to their faith’. Moses lead the class time. Immediately after church there was an appreciation program. I am honored that they put up with me and touched by all the kind words. I received some gifts and many thanks. I was able to talk some then and give my own thanks to many.

One last thing I did tonight (besides eating some rice) was to have a picture taken with Myay and Blessing. I’ve taken a similar picture each of the six times I’ve been here with these two I believe. They were both very young the first time I came. They are growing up.

Tomorrow will be difficult with final goodbyes. Thanks for following along and it truly has been an adventure. I’ll write more yet on my way home. Oh yeah, I’m all set for the plane ride.

Today I was awake early so I got ready and enjoyed the morning before breakfast. The same familiar sounds greeted me as I said hello to anyone I made eye contact with. I recognize that because of my color (or lack there of) I will get a second or third look even if they know me in the community. I don’t mind as I am able to strike up a conversation or at least exchange greetings. The funny ones are when the children are afraid. The older children will always laugh at the fear of the younger ones and even try to force them to come and see me. I never want to scare the children so I’ll keep my distance if they start to cry. Of course the little people brigade got over that and I’m their grandpa now. I had the chance to see them later on in the day. Breakfast was served so I came in to this nice warm plate.

After breakfast we did something we don’t do too often. We left early for Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary (LBTS). We were all ready to go so we left and ended up being 30 minutes early for the chapel service. This was a privilege to be invited to speak there and I enjoyed the experience.

We did have to adhere to the mask mandate for schools…kind of. Of course I didn’t have to wear a mask as I spoke which was a plus to being the speaker. As I was speaking I was looking at at least half of the students with their masks under their chin. They were at least wearing a mask though. They were very gracious to me and we were able to take pictures with Dr. Massaquoi and his wife Layahn after chapel.

After chapel we headed back to Emmanuel’s home to have a late lunch with a stop on the way back to pick up a few things at the wood carving shop. We also made a stop at Emmanuel’s uncle’s home in Monrovia. He just returned from India where he had treatment and surgery for a cancerous tumor in his neck. We were able to visit and pray with him. He was looking good considering what he went through. I saw pictures of the tumor that I wish I hadn’t. I did not ask for a copy of those pictures. When we got back to the house Princess Kau had GB ready for us. Emmanuel and I shared the GB and shortly after we headed out to Kakata to visit a sick pastor of the LCMI Kakata church. Before we left I had time to play with the kids.

We headed out with the intent of visiting Pastor Abel Smith, but by the time we arrived in Kakata (30 miles inland from Monrovia) Abel’s family decided to take him to Ganta to the hospital. From the sounds of it he has an ulcer, but we will wait to get a report from them. They should be arriving in Ganta real soon. Getting a diagnosis and treatment is always a challenge here.

We stopped by Abraham Youndo’s house to drop off his wife, Favor, who rode with us to Kakata. Oh yea, we made a stop to buy charcoal on our way back as it is $200 LD cheaper inland where they make the charcoal. It did pack the car a little as we bought 4 bags.

We’ll arrive home soon and have a late supper I’m sure. One final stop for rice and water. They have their own Walmart’s open to pick up things they need.

Another great day.

Woke up to another beautiful day here in Monrovia, Liberia. I enjoyed a breakfast and went outside afterward to visit with Elizabeth who came to do my wash. I know that sounds so bad when I say that, but I’m very grateful that one, I can get my laundry done and two, I can offer someone a job where ability to make money is always sought after here. Elizabeth was more than willing to come as we have become friends over the years. I met her in 2016 when Erik and Amanda traveled over with me and we were later joined by Bobbi, Micah and Luke. I have been learning a little more of her story each time I visit. I was so happy that Jenny could meet her last year and as expected, Jenny and her hit it off as well. Elizabeth has had a difficult life, but her attitude and love for God are amazing. I am inspired by what she’s come through and I hope to help her in some of her goals here.

After visiting with her for awhile I had to head out to get my covid test before my flight on Thursday. Emmanuel took me to the testing site and it was over half an hour away. When we arrived I remembered I forgot my passport. The stress feeling of travel was on me already. I have not worried about a mask or any change in what I know about Liberian lifestyle while I’m here. The children wearing them to school is the only reminder I’ve had and that in itself is funny since I’ve visited 2-3 other schools in my travels and Monrovia is the only place I’ve seen them and not even all over here. I’ll never understand that I guess. Anyway, it turns out I have a picture of my passport and one of my plane ticket on my phone and that was all I needed. It didn’t take long to fill in the required form, but the wait for the test was a lot longer.

The test itself was anticlimactic as once I was in with the nurse and they double checked my case number and slammed a q-tip up my nose she just said, ‘You’re done. You can go.’ It felt funny just walking out to find Emmanuel waiting outside for me. It was organized, but I guess I was just impatient. From there we went to a wood carving guy that Emmanuel knows. Paul is the guys name and he went from carving things himself when we met him in 2012, to having his own roadside shop with carvers busy working for him. I counted 3 other carvers and one guy to run the shop. He’s quite an entrepreneur.

With the covid test and the carving shop we didn’t get back till after 3:30. When we got back Elizabeth was busy raking the yard around the church. She keeps busy all the time.

We had a late lunch of pumpkin soup over rice and it was very good. After lunch I varied my time from chasing the little people brigade as Grace and her two sidekicks, Praise and Praises showed up to play. They all call me grandpa. I gotta say I love it! When it was time for Elizabeth to go I walked with her to the motorbike junction and then came back and watched the pick up soccer game underway. They do love their soccer.

This evening it was nice to have a long talk with Jenny. I also was able to speak to Papa Mike when Emmanuel passed his phone to me earlier in the day. It was nice catching up with Mike since he knows what is going on here.

Tomorrow I speak at the seminary for chapel as my last official duty here in Liberia. I did work on that some today as well. I am already dreading the good byes.

Another great morning this morning. I woke up and read through and updated my message for today. I then took my shower and got dressed for church. I came out of my room and it appeared everyone was a little slower getting ready this morning. The challenges of getting ready in Liberia from still needing water for the home to getting your Sunday clothes ready and maybe needing to iron your clothes with the coal iron, things just take longer. I feel very privileged to have my needs met as they go out of their way over here to make sure I’m watched over and anything I need is taken care of.

From my morning relaxing here on to Sunday school where we discussed Simon Peter. It was a good discussion of how God used him even with his shortcomings.

From SS we moved directly to the worship service. Today was special for me for two reasons. One, I was able to preach again and two, I was able to sing with the LCMI choir. I want to give a special thank you to our music team back home and especially Erik for preparing a recording of a song I hoped to teach the choir here at LCMI. Even though I was in Yekepa I left a copy of our practice time at CBC on a phone with Wonder, the choir director, and asked if she could teach a new song to the choir. When I returned late Friday night I didn’t want to ask if they had a chance to work on the song. It wasn’t until Saturday as Blessing was doing her wash next to my favorite spot to sit and she started to sing the song I brought over. I was excited and said, ‘Yay, you guys learned the song!’. Blessing just smiled and shook her head yes. As she started to sing the song again I joined her and pretty soon Abraham Youndo came out of the house singing and we all sang the song through. I knew there was a choir practice on Saturday night and I found out I was able to sing with them. The practice went great and I looked forward to today to sing with them. They have such strong and great sounding voices, so I was intimidated to sing with them. As we went through the service with the choir singing just before the sermon I felt nerves and excitement as I would be able to sing and preach. What a great opportunity.

One other thing that I was able to share, with Jenny at least, is I was away from her for her birthday so the congregation sang Happy Birthday for Jenny as I recorded it and later sent it to her. She was here last year for her birthday and they wished she could be here again so they wanted to wish her a Happy Birthday in song at least. From singing I went right up to speak on Daniel in the lion’s den. I pray that the teaching encourages people here.

After church and lunch we rested a little as we visited in the living room and I even recorded Wonder and Matthias singing a few songs. Then we headed out to visit. This time it was Wintee’s sister, Anti and her husband, Samuel. I’ve met Anti many times, but today was my first time meeting her husband. We had a great time of visiting there and before long it was time to leave and Anti, Samuel and Kristie, Anti’s daughter who I met on past trips, headed out. I had no idea where we were going as Abraham drove us around. Before long we pulled up to Princess’s house. Princess, who now goes by the name Success, was one of Jenny’s favorite funny people who could always make Jenny laugh. It was there I FaceTimed Jenny to wish her a happy birthday and it turned into everyone there singing to her. It was then Jenny got a special singing of happy birthday by Success (Princess). It was great because Jenny got to remember what she always liked about her.

Shortly after my call to Jenny Emmanuel got a call from one of the kids at his house and found out Titus and Mercy were at his house waiting to see me before I leave later this week. We hurried back and had some tea and cake with them. It was great to see them again before I leave.

After Titus and Mercy left I was able to meet the parents of two of the little people brigade. Praise and Praises parents.

Tuti told a great story about the twins when they were sick one time and she ended up giving 2 doses of medicine to one of the twins thinking she was giving one to each. She couldn’t imagine why one twin slept so good and all night. At least it didn’t hurt the one who had the double dose.

To end the night I went outside to find a game of Uno going on. That is always a must, taking some Uno cards, as they love to play the game. I always tease them that they cheat, but maybe that’s just because when I play I never win.

Tomorrow I have to start to plan for my return trip already. I need to go to get my Covid test 72 hours before leaving. Another $75 to be able to travel again. I still plan on enjoying my remaining time here. I’ll keep sharing.