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| United Methodist Missionaries Are Returning to Liberia | ||||||||||||
United Methodist missionaries evacuated from war-torn Liberia in June are returning to the West African country. The process is expected to be complete in early December. “This is wonderful news,” said the Rev. R. Randy Day, general secretary of the international mission agency of The United Methodist Church. “These faithful servants of Christ and the church can at last resume their posts inside Liberia.” United Methodist Bishop John Innis of Monrovia said he was “so thankful because the return of the missionaries is a sign of hope for the people of Liberia.” Fourteen expatriates in United Methodist mission service were evacuated from Liberia as civil war spread in the early summer. They took up posts in adjoining countries such as Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Guinea, many working with refugees or medical mission programs. Henry R.N. Jusu, the area financial executive, was the first missionary to return to Monrovia in early November. He reported that people were able to move freely in the capital city but that many people were seeking assistance and that mission facilities were in need of extensive cleaning. Other missionaries are returning in a phase-in program that will last through early December. The civil war was brought to at least a temporary halt when the former president, Charles Taylor, agreed to step down and leave the country in late summer. Liberia has been wracked by civil disorder for many years. In the latest round of battles, the United Methodist hospital at Ganta, northwest of Monrovia, was almost completely destroyed. Relief specialists with the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) returned to Liberia several weeks ago. UMCOR workers near Monrovia began on November 10 to distribute a railcar's worth of health kits, layettes, and used clothing. The shipment-- assembled by United Methodist volunteers at UMCOR’s Sager Brown Depot in Louisiana— was a response to a call for basic necessities. John Distefano, acting head of operations for UMCOR NGO in Liberia, explained the plans in an email. "We are starting distribution with a group of Indian Catholic sisters who operate a hospice for HIV/AIDS children and their mothers. Then the container will move to the camp at Fendel, where there are nearly 7,000 internally displaced persons." UMCOR is also cooperating with the World Food Program to distribute food to displaced persons camps in the capital region. In a third project, workers are cleaning latrines in refugee camps. Bishop Innis expressed the deep appreciation of United Methodists in Liberia for the prayers of the global church during the military conflict and for the material assistance through UMCOR. “The relief efforts of UMCOR are very redemptive,” he said. Concerning the return of the missionaries, he said: “United Methodists in Liberia form a peace-making community, which means hope, and love and care. The returning missionaries give hope back to the people, and tell us that we are not alone.” The bishop was contacted in the United States where he had attended a meeting of the Council of Bishops. He is scheduled to return to Monrovia on November 30. Missionaries evacuated in June were mostly from other African nations. They included six regular missionaries and eight Missioners of Hope, a special category of short-term mission personnel. Eleven Missioners of Hope who are Liberian nationals and could not be evacuated remained in the country during the upheaval. All survived. Missionaries in Liberia can be supported through the Advance for missionaries outside of the United States (#00779Z) or directly through the Covenant Relationship program. Congregations or individuals wanting to support particular missionaries may contact the Mission Support Office, e-mail, covenant@gbgm-umc.org. Gifts to the Liberian Emergency funds should be made to Advance #150300 and sent to UMCOR at 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115. Credit card donations may be made by calling 1-800 554-8583. Linda Beher, communications director of UMCOR, contributed to this story.
Date posted: Nov 18, 2003 |
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