Today, I’d like to introduce Sekou (pronounced say-coo), as representative of the future hope of a nation. Sekou has been here on Africa Mercy to have release of contractures and skin grafting for healing from burn injuries he has sustained. I don’t know the details of how he received his injuries. We see many, many patients for contractures and burns. For some the injuries were sustained from falling into home cooking fires as toddlers, but for many it is because of the civil war.
Last week one night, I learned a lot about the horrors of Liberia’s civil war from two of the crew members. Perhaps in this case, Hollywood got it somewhat right in the movie Blood Diamonds. Many of those who fought in the rebellion were child recruits.
Last week one night, I learned a lot about the horrors of Liberia’s civil war from two of the crew members. Perhaps in this case, Hollywood got it somewhat right in the movie Blood Diamonds. Many of those who fought in the rebellion were child recruits.
Child soldiers – the thought sends chills through me, that evil would be so despicable to inflict such psychological torment upon mere young ones, in this case 8 to 12 year olds. The boys were rounded up from their villages and pressed into service by the rebel leaders, often induced into a state of compliance by use of mind altering drugs, either alcohol or cocaine and the likes thereof. We are reminded daily of this, as right across our dock is the skeleton of Blue Atlantic, a drug running ship, (or a “very bad ship” as the crew member talking to me called it) that was a few years ago impounded by the Liberian drug enforcement agency and off loaded of some two tons of cocaine.
Tim, the hospital pharmacist, who hails from the States, has a real heart for a special ministry that is now reaching some of these boys. His is a story of God’s providence and a thread woven through his life that goes all the way back to his high school days and ends up here in Liberia. When Tim was himself a young teen, he was longing for significance in God’s eyes, and someone from the ministry of Young Life came to his high school just to hang out and pour time into the lives of Tim and friends. It was through their interest in him, that Tim solidified his relationship with Jesus Christ, the Ultimate Significance Giver. Because of the impact of that ministry, Tim, over the years of his professional career has remained involved with Young Life, himself becoming a discipler to others in his Alabama community through the ministry. A couple years back, Tim learned about Young Life’s international ministries, and that there was a site here in Monrovia. So when he came to the ship, he chose Liberia’s Young Life, as his off-site ministry opportunity during his non-working hours.
Tim, the hospital pharmacist, who hails from the States, has a real heart for a special ministry that is now reaching some of these boys. His is a story of God’s providence and a thread woven through his life that goes all the way back to his high school days and ends up here in Liberia. When Tim was himself a young teen, he was longing for significance in God’s eyes, and someone from the ministry of Young Life came to his high school just to hang out and pour time into the lives of Tim and friends. It was through their interest in him, that Tim solidified his relationship with Jesus Christ, the Ultimate Significance Giver. Because of the impact of that ministry, Tim, over the years of his professional career has remained involved with Young Life, himself becoming a discipler to others in his Alabama community through the ministry. A couple years back, Tim learned about Young Life’s international ministries, and that there was a site here in Monrovia. So when he came to the ship, he chose Liberia’s Young Life, as his off-site ministry opportunity during his non-working hours.
Talk about a ministry of hope and healing and seeing the redemptive work of God, literally making beauty from ashes. The first year that Young Life Liberia hosted a summer camp for the kids with a capacity of only 125, less than 90 showed up, and for them it was truly an act of incredible faith, as many of the boys coming to camp were those previous child soldiers, and they were terrified as they were going to a location that was so similar to where they had been programmed to become the soldiers. Yet God’s love was demonstrated to them in miraculous ways and they left camp, changed people. The next year, the camp was filled to capacity, as word spread that this was indeed a place of goodness and light. Last summer the camp had almost 200 attempting to register for the 125 positions available. The camp directors expanded their capacity as much as possible, but still had to turn away a score of kids. Little by little, one spark at a time, being passed on to another and fanned into a flame of bright intensity, the lives of those previously so wounded and damaged are being turned about by the love of God through Jesus and the work of His Spirit.
Sekou is a bright light. I pray for his future, and would ask you to as well. He wants desperately to become a physician. He is one intelligent 13 year old right now. Last week, as I came up to deck 7 for patient “outdoor” time, he asked me to sit down beside him. He had colorful strips of paper and a glue stick in his hand. I asked what he was making, and he put his fingers on the lenses of my glasses. This I have to see, I thought and watched intently as he crafted the temple pieces, then the rims for the lenses, stopping intermittently to fit them to his head and face and to look closely at mine. Lastly, he fashioned the nose piece. When he had finished, he put them on his face, and then looking at the posture in which I was sitting, mimicked it exactly. He called one of the nurses carrying a camera over, and asked for a photo. You see the results.
O Papa God (as Liberian’s call you in humble affection) please continue to work in the lives of Sekou and others like him to reclaim for them the years of ashes, and bring your redemptive healing to them in all aspects, in their spirits, in their intellect, in their physical being, as they meet you and experience your love. May the future they view through their glasses of faith be filled with the hope of the promises you have for them. Amen!
Sekou is a bright light. I pray for his future, and would ask you to as well. He wants desperately to become a physician. He is one intelligent 13 year old right now. Last week, as I came up to deck 7 for patient “outdoor” time, he asked me to sit down beside him. He had colorful strips of paper and a glue stick in his hand. I asked what he was making, and he put his fingers on the lenses of my glasses. This I have to see, I thought and watched intently as he crafted the temple pieces, then the rims for the lenses, stopping intermittently to fit them to his head and face and to look closely at mine. Lastly, he fashioned the nose piece. When he had finished, he put them on his face, and then looking at the posture in which I was sitting, mimicked it exactly. He called one of the nurses carrying a camera over, and asked for a photo. You see the results.
O Papa God (as Liberian’s call you in humble affection) please continue to work in the lives of Sekou and others like him to reclaim for them the years of ashes, and bring your redemptive healing to them in all aspects, in their spirits, in their intellect, in their physical being, as they meet you and experience your love. May the future they view through their glasses of faith be filled with the hope of the promises you have for them. Amen!
2 comments:
Linda, You should be writer. In your more mature years maybe you can take up writing stories of your time there. Love it. You hubby is excited to see his sisters. Then of course to see you. I think he missed you. Ya think. Love ya, Grandma Jan
A week and a half left... where has the time gone? Continue having the experience of a lifetime. You're making a difference in many peoples lives with "your dance".
"Dancing with the feet is one thing, but dancing with the heart is another." ~anonymous
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