The nation of Liberia, Africa, continues to rebuild following 17 years of devastating civil wars and unrest. Gbarnga is a city with surrounding villages of a population comparable to the greater Wausau area. As a result of the civil wars, public building, schools and infrastructure were destroyed. At present, only two elementary schools are in operation in Gbarnga. A mission project has been initiated to provide a Lutheran school on a 15-acre site provided by the Lutheran Church of Liberia.
Maggie Baysah and her daughter Sando fled from the conflict in Liberia, after hiding in bushes while their home was burned to the ground. Along with several thousand other Liberian refugees, Maggie and her children settled in Providence, RI. In her words, “I fled from the civil war in Liberia. I arrived in American on Jan. 12, 1991, with nothing but a pair of slippers and three children to feed. God gave me the strength to create a life in a country where my children would have the opportunity to realize their fullest potential.” Maggie’s faith in Jesus Christ was nurtured by her parents. She and her children are members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Providence, RI.
Maggie will give a presentation describing her experience as well as an update on present conditions in Liberia at St. John Lutheran Church on Saturday, Oct. 26, beginning with a BBQ lunch at 4:30 p.m., followed by the presentation at 5:30 p.m. The presentation will also be given at 9:15 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 27, and again at Trinity Lutheran Church at 6 p.m. the same day. The public is invited to attend.