A staff member explains it was the right thing for her to do.
*Warning: Reading this blog may make you feel uncomfortable—I was uncomfortable writing it—and that’s OK.
December, 2014—Bev, a Samaritan’s Purse staff member, recently returned to Liberia to serve as the Ebola response lead for several weeks. She is married to Kendell, who serves as the Liberia country director. They are currently working from North America and desire to return home one day with their two sons.
“Why? Why are you going back to Liberia?”
“Why do you want to be in Liberia?”
“Why do you want to go back again? Don’t you know it’s dangerous?”
I can’t tell you how many times I have been asked this question. And the rest of our international Ebola response team serving in Liberia could tell the same story. It is hard to respond. How do you put into words what you know is right?
Many times my response was “How can I not go? It’s my home.” But it goes deeper than that. It’s more than just the fact that we have lived and served with Samaritan’s Purse in Liberia since January 2005. It’s more than that the only house we call ‘ours’ is a little cement rectangle on the beach of a missionary compound outside Monrovia. It’s more than that Liberia is the only place our sons have ever lived… it’s way more.
When we left at the end of July (following Kent Brantly’s diagnosis with Ebola and a deteriorating security situation at our base), I wasn’t sure if I ever would be back to Liberia. In all honesty I wasn’t sure when I would ever be ready to go back.
Bev, Kendell, and their two sons, Felix (at left) and Isaac (at right). This photo was taken just before Bev left for Liberia this fall.
When I got back to North America I was watching the news on the Internet trying to get information about what was happening in Liberia. My heart broke seeing bodies lying on the same road I had traveled a million times. Liberia was on my mind all the time.
Samaritan’s Purse invited us all to a debriefing in early September. And after an amazing time of counsel, sharing, prayer and worship with all of those who fought with us, I could sense that God was working on my heart and preparing me to go back.
The decision to go back was not easy. However, I knew it was the right decision. The night before I left, my son was crying in his bed. I went up to see him and he said he was scared for me. My heart melted, and I questioned myself, “What kind of mom leaves their kids after what they had been through?!”
The next morning many tears flowed as goodbyes and last hugs were given. I am not going to say I was at ‘peace’ or that I felt great about going back. What I will say is that God gave me the strength to put one foot in front of the other and move forward in His direction.
A common-sense explanation
Recently, I read John Piper’s book Risk is Right, a great book that I challenge all believers to read. What David Platt wrote in the foreword really explained clearly why I was heading back:
“He (Jesus) is something-someone-worth losing everything for. When we really believe this, then risking everything we are and everything we have, to know and obey Christ is no longer a matter of sacrifice. It’s just common sense.”
Common sense. That’s exactly how I felt. It just made sense to go back to where God wanted me to be. If I really believed and proclaimed that Jesus was my life, well it was time to live it out. If I really say that my goal in life is to know and obey Christ, well Bev prove it. Are you willing to obey and to glorify Christ in life and death?
Jesus said, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13, NLT). It is when we take our eyes of ourselves and ask why are we really here on earth. As followers of Jesus, we are here to glorify Him and share with others His amazing grace and love. And here is the best part— the hope. John Piper put it this way:
“If Christ is so valuable that the hope of his immediate and eternal fellowship after death frees us from the self-serving fear of dying and enables us to lay down our lives for the good of others, such love magnifies the glory of Christ like nothing else in the world.”
Listen, I am far from living this out trust me. Following Christ is risky business, it comes at a great cost. Just ask Paul and all of the disciples, or consider the numbers of Christians persecuted for their faith around the world today. I went back to Liberia where I can freely proclaim Christ, even in the midst of Ebola. It does not seem so risky when you consider our brothers and sisters in Iraq and Syria. I am pretty sure if you asked them “Why do you go back? Why are you there?” their answer would be the same as mine. It’s just common sense.
Finding life in Christ
If you were to ask any of our international staff members who are in Liberia or wants to go back, I think they all would say their desire is to be with our Samaritan’s Purse family, our national coworkers, and do the work God wants us to do. It’s who we are; it just makes sense. In fact, I have a very hard time understanding why people, specifically Christians, question why we are going back. When we are living for ourselves, we want to control our environment and try and keep it as safe and secure as we can. But we can’t! So why live thinking we can?
When Jesus sent out His disciples in Matthew 10 He gave a pretty good indication what it means to follow Him. The key is verse 39: “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for MY sake will find it” (NLT). I, along with my fellows in the Samaritan’s Purse family, have found our lives in Christ.
Is it easy? No. Is it pain free? No. Does it come at a sacrifice? Always. I can’t explain to you the joy and the I-know- that-I-am-doing-the-right-thing-even-if-the-world-thinks-I-am-not feeling you can have when you live like this.
To those reading who understand why I went back, and I will again, you get it. To those who still are not sure, I assure you it’s OK to risk for Christ. Why? Because He risked everything for us on the Cross to be sure that when we do risk for Him, even if it costs us everything, He is there on the other side with open arms to welcome us home as good and faithful servants.
Finally, I want to thank all of those who are praying for our staff. Your prayers are a big reason why we are able to go back—we are covered by your prayers of safety, strength and wisdom. The Father smiles down on you when you bring His children to the throne. Thank you.
