I like everything in its place, and if it isn’t, I put it there. I like things spotless, and if they’re dirty, I clean them. I like things working, and if they are broken, I fix them. I believe in getting things done and getting them done right. So it was no surprise last week when Nancy laughingly told me, “Liberia is the complete opposite of you!” 

After decades of war, Liberia is continuing to rebuild, but it is slow going. The power is sporadic, and there is no garbage collection. The heavy rains this time of year pound the roads into countless potholes and huge craters. There are too few paved roads and even fewer traffic rules. There aren’t many places to buy items to fix things. You get the picture. We’re still waiting for our shipment from the U.S. to arrive with most of our clothes, teaching supplies, tools, toiletries and other small necessities. All we can do is laugh at the way life is in Liberia, as we came from Maine, where the state motto was: “Maine: The Way Life Should Be.”

Nancy and I had a bit of a reprieve as we went to Ghana for a few days to attend a Mission Leader seminar. It was amazing to step back into civilization even for a little while. Accra, the capitol of Ghana, has a downtown district with modern stores, fast-food restaurants like Burger King and KFC, and we heard rumors they have a Costco. It has comparatively orderly roads, clean cars, nice buildings, and it felt more like a modern city, but it also has a very large share of poverty (in regions we didn’t visit) as the city sprawls outward for miles. We stayed at a very comfortable hotel in Accra’s financial district with eight other mission leader couples from the countries of Sierra Leone, Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria.

The purpose of our visit was to be instructed and trained under the direction of the new Area Presidency and to meet many of the Church’s support staff in Ghana that we interact with by phone. For a couple of days, we were shuttled to the Church’s complex next to the Mission Training Center. The meetings were instructive, unifying, and uplifting, and the food was excellent. (We shared a pizza and a salad one day, and I don’t know which we enjoyed more — the pizza or the fresh vegetables!) A highlight was attending the temple together and being reminded of life’s purpose, which is the whole reason we are here. The grounds at the temple are always beautifully kept.

As we returned to Liberia and landed at Roberts Airport, we saw the stark contrast from just a couple hours prior, but Liberia felt familiar, and oddly we felt like we were home. Liberia’s land is quite beautiful. The green rainforests and hills are breathtaking. We enjoy when we get away from the city traffic to see such beauty. My favorite part of Liberia, however, remains the people. Liberians curiously stare at us as we pass by, but a simple wave or friendly gesture usually causes them to break into a bright smile. It is heartwarming. The kids love to be acknowledged, and the adults most always do too. We realize you don’t need a lot of possessions to wear a smile and be happy. And the cream of the crop people that we meet through the Church, both missionaries and members, are truly remarkable. We love to meet with them in Sunday meetings, zone conferences, and one-on-one interviews.

We are doing our best to put order and planning to the mission work and the Church here, like our predecessors before. I learned in my career that lasting change usually takes years and not months to implement. With that in mind, we’re looking at how we sustain the Church and what is needed for the coming decade, long after Nancy and I are gone. We have 23 branches and groups right now under the Mission (including one district of six congregations). We also support six stakes in and around Monrovia. In addition to the 172 missionaries assigned to the Liberia Monrovia Mission, we have 63 missionaries from the local branches that are now serving throughout Africa or are getting ready to serve. (They are assigned to Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Cape Verde, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, and many other countries.) These Liberian missionaries are our responsibility to ready for service. The Church is growing rapidly and doesn’t look to slow down on this continent. The people of Liberia are deeply religious, predominantly Christian (85%) and some Muslim, and those that learn about the Restored Gospel latch on quickly, and it changes their lives. People here are looking for hope and meaning and the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ brings tangible results. So many of our young African missionaries have told me amazing stories of how their lives have radically changed since joining the Church, as they’ve learned honesty, integrity, and service to others — all principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They’ve seen first hand the difference in their lives, as the gospel brings happiness, teaches correct doctrines, and changes behaviors of individuals and families for the better. It is incredible to hear again and again and again and again… 

The Church does so many good things to help throughout Africa, and we see results here on a daily basis. This past week, the Church in Liberia held a youth conference for six days, with over one thousand church members, age 14 to 18, attending “For Strength of Youth” or FSY for short. They had educational programs and spiritual classes, dances and talent shows, and a variety of fun learning activities.

The Church also sponsors many other efforts to support healthcare, education, community service projects, and clean water. Below, you can see some of our missionaries in yellow vests doing cleanup in the city. I don’t know if things like this ever really make the news in the U.S., but it has a positive impact here. I received a call and a thank you note from the head of the LNWBA (Liberian National Wheelchair Basketball Association) the other day, thanking us for the many wheelchairs donated by the Church. He shared pictures of some of their recent tournaments. The LNWBA was extremely grateful that we help disadvantaged Liberians. Likewise, while I was in JFK hospital helping a missionary recover from surgery a few weeks ago, nurses saw my name tag and thanked me for the wheelchairs and equipment donations from the Church, given before we arrived. I know even more are on the way.

Life continues for both Nancy and me at a 100+ hour work week. We don’t really have a P-day (dedicated prep day). We squeeze in study, grocery shopping, and phone calls to home whenever and wherever we can, which is often in the car. My experience of simultaneously being stake president in Maine, working as vice president at IDEXX, and earning a master’s degree at MIT was a good warm-up for this assignment. (Ha!) We are dealing daily with life changing events, health matters, and growth and organizational challenges in a rugged environment. Still, we remember that this is not our work alone. We know who’s work it is and we’re grateful for the Lord’s sustaining support.

We were blessed to have our good friends, Terry and Trish Blanchard, from Fort Collins, Colorado arrive recently to serve with us. They’ll be here for two years. They are remarkable people and already are lifting much of the load. There is a lot to be done, but it is more fun to do it together as they assist in the office and in capacities working with church members. We have additional senior couples coming soon and we are thrilled they’ll join us.

I can’t really capture a hundredth of everything that is happening here – there just isn’t time to record or describe it all. It is challenging and rewarding. We love being with these amazing young missionaries. They are hardworking and faithful, and trying to move both their lives forward while teaching others of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Never before have I seen the Lord’s hand so directly in so many people’s lives. I wish the rest of the world and also church members who struggle with their faith could see the gospel’s impact at this level. It is astounding and remarkable. I will aways look forward to returning to a more orderly place, but we are happy to be helping for a season and having an impact on the lives of some of the most amazing people.