My Journey with Orphan Aid: Liberia

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Linda

Seeing, Hearing & Doing. My Journey with Orphan Aid: Liberia

by Linda Stricker

 

Our 12 day mission trip began by spending time with the children at Orphan Aid Liberia’s first orphanage in Balama founded in 2008. Mother Elizabeth and the children greeted us with song and praise filling our visit with laughter and joy. We played with bubbles, painted, made crafts, ate popcorn and PBJs, as well as prepared 2 large tubs of spaghetti for lunch—a tradition every trip!

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The Cooper Firm so graciously supplied backpacks filled with coloring books, crayons, bracelets and candy which were such a treat. Both adults and children accepted them with happy smiles exclaiming ‘thank you plenty!’

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From Balama, our team traveled to Buchanan Liberia to distribute monthly supplies and begin the process of de-worming local orphanages.  While in Buchanan, our team traveled in three canoes dugout of cottonwood trees to the nearby village of Edina. We tried not to “rock the boat” as we traveled a good distance across 3 rivers converging into the mouth of the ocean.  It was beautiful! Our worship did not end as we stepped out of the boats and took a short walk to Thomas King United Methodist Church, which was founded in 1833.  Pastor Simbo’s Sunday morning church service was incredibly heartfelt, powerful and challenging for us all.

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Leaving Bucahanan we returned to work in suburbs of Monrovia, where we were guided to an orphanage in Barclay Farms in dire need.  Mother Bindu Vah lost her husband, a pastor and father figure in the orphanage, to Ebola.   The boys and girls dorms were in desperate need of new roofs as the rainy season was just around the corner.   Through the power of prayer and social media, we were able to raise enough funds overnight to supply them with new tin roofs as well as 20 new mattresses before we departed!

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Largely, our mission trip focused on de-worming both adults and children at 90 orphanages, as well as providing food and supplies for families fostering children orphaned by the recent Ebola crisis. We were overwhelmed by the spirit of the people of Liberia.  No matter their conditions, we were greeted with excitement and enthusiasm.  It was clear that our presence was met with joy and gratitude beyond measure.

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This was my third mission trip to Liberia Africa.  With each journey I am blessed, feeling overwhelmed with the Spirit of Our Lord and Savior.  It truly is an honor to work with Orphan Aid Liberia. However, our work is never finished as the needs of His widows and orphans are our responsibility.

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James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

To learn more or to support the efforts of Orphan Aid: Liberia, please visit their website or Facebook page.

SAVE THE DATE: The Cooper Firm will host a charity event and silent auction benefiting Orphan Aid: Liberia the evening of Saturday October 15th. More details to follow.

 

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