"God is answering our prayers!"

I just got off the phone with my Liberian Ma, Mary. I do not have the words to describe how much this woman means to me. Throughout my years in Liberia she was my confidant, teacher, chef, shoulder-to-cry-on, cultural interpreter, prayer warrior, movie-watching-buddy and friend. I miss her more that anyone else I know in Liberia, sometimes so much it hurts. So, when I heard her giggling, happy voice this morning over the scratchy phone line, my heart was happy. I was talking to her from the cozy comfort of my American bed-- she is in the middle of a war-zone-- yet I could hear the light in her voice and it lit me up all these thousands of miles away. 

Mary and I together in the streets of Monrovia in 2012.

Mary and I talked for just a few minutes-- she assured me that even though she had to move to a different community because of so many people dying of Ebola in her own, she was safe and healthy. She even had a friend from church die of Ebola and now her entire family is in quarantine. She said that the Liberian president made an announcement this week that "Ebola is reducing in Liberia" and that "God is answering our prayers." Yet she went on to discuss how Liberians need to continue to be vigilant in keeping up health and sanitary standards so that this outbreak does not see a resurgence. She said that even though rainy season is coming to an end and the hot Liberian sun is burning down, everyone in Liberia is wearing long sleeves and pants to keep safe.

This is the story of so many in West Africa right now. I love that Mary can see the hope in the middle of the storm. In faith, she is praising God for answered prayers even as people she knows, her own life, continues to be affected by this disease. She can see the big picture, the thing I have to keep telling myself-- God is bigger than Ebola. 

The WHO did announce this week that the number of Ebola infections in Liberia seems to be slowing. But this does not mean we stop our vigilant prayers, miracles are still needed and this fight is not over. But today, I choose to rejoice with Ma Mary-- God is answering our prayers!

something scarier than ebola

I have been quietly sitting back these last few weeks-- watching the world react to the latest Ebola news-- at times frustrated, at times entertained, at times humiliated. It is mind-blowing to me, how uninformed, dis-compassionate, and judgmental people can be. We are talking about our human family here. West Africa... South Africa... Canada... Europe... America...Texas... all are human beings, members of a global family. We bleed the same and hurt the same and care the same and are all equally vulnerable to a microscopic organism that has the world on alert. But there is something scarier than the Ebola virus. Something that is taking the world by storm and unfortunately up to this point, I would say it is winning.

FEAR.

Four little letters that when joined together bring panic, judgement, and rash behaviors.

Fear is scarier than Ebola. We can not let an epidemic of fear paralyze us. Jeremy Writebol, the son of Ebola survivor, Nancy Writebol, said, "Compassion must proceed fear." Yes! Ebola is scary, but we have the tools to combat it. Reacting in fear and panic makes things worse, not better. In fact, I would strongly argue that, reacting in fear and panic is when the most awful mistakes are made. As a nurse I am trained in critical thinking, in standing back and assessing a situation, in gathering the needed data and acting on it in a practical way. Sometimes (most times) you don't have the answer or know how things are going to turn out, but you cautiously walk forward. When we are truly knowledgeable about a situation-- not flying off the hype of the most recent panic-inducing news report-- that is when we can react in confidence. We know there is a risk. We know there is a big scary world out there. But we don't have to react in fear. Fear is not going to fix anything.

I've said it here before and I still believe it-- God is bigger than Ebola. The Bible says that, "perfect love drives out fear." If you find yourself drowning in fear today, I urge you to ask God for help. If you are not comfortable with that, ask me, or a friend you trust to pray with/for you. Worry and fear do not add a single minute to your life. Walk forward in the knowledge that God is in control. Even if it feels that way, the world is not spinning uncontrollably.

Get the facts, make a plan, be cautious and take precautions, but do not let fear be the controlling factor in your life.

Below are some related links--

Don't let this guy's quirky style distract you, he's got some good things to say--
Ebola: What IS Terrifying (video)

Don't Worry, Be Rational: Why Extreme Fear of Ebola is Bad For Your Health

Threats to Americans, ranked (by actual threat instead of media hype)

the latest radio and TV links to Ebola info

Listen here to hear the latest from Orphan Relief and Rescue in Liberia. (My Liberian Ma, Mary, is even interviewed!)

 Here is a first hand look at a day in the life of an ebola ambulance worker in Monrovia, Liberia.

My friend, Kent Bubbs Jr, was interviewed on Canadian TV about his role and thoughts on Liberia.

And I absolutely loved this news anchor's response to the ebola panic in America!

Stop the Traffic!

I just want to take a moment to address another great need in West Africa. It is not one that we are hearing much about these days. Getting buried under all the ebola news is an ongoing problem-- In Benin children are being sold into slavery... by their parents. Desperate mothers and fathers, at the end of their rope with no money or way to provide for their children, are doing the unthinkable. Convinced that they are doing the only thing they can to save their family, they are selling their children to into slavery for mere pennies.

Orphan Relief and Rescue has an anti-trafficking team that is out in these villages, educating and advocating for these vulnerable children. Officially they are not orphans, but they need to be rescued. Our team there has identified 160 children who are at risk for being trafficked right now. We have been able to raise enough money to save some, but 114 of these children are still at risk today. If we can not find the money to help them, next week they may be gone forever.

Only $360 can save a child from slavery for a year. This will keep them with their family, well fed and in school. For only about a dollar a day you can literally save a life.

Please consider helping.

The orphan crisis in West Africa is growing.

Below is Orphan Relief and Rescue's response to the growing orphan crisis in West Africa. Please join in praying with us for wisdom in how to combat this need and serve the vulnerable. Thank you.

Orphans of the Ebola crisis: Why our job in Liberia is growing

Yes, we are still in Liberia, even with the Ebola crisis. Children still need to be fed and taken care of, and we are not about to ever abandon them. We have over 120 children that we are feeding on a daily basis, and there are an additional 100 kids from our graduated orphanage homes that, though self-sufficient, are still part of our regular check-up schedule so we can ensure they also have what they need to be protected. Our mission continues to remain strong, even in the face of crisis.

Our Liberian staff are doing an amazing job making sure all the children on our programs continue to get the care they need to be healthy. We are so grateful for that. We call them daily, and not one of them is feeling alone through this. Our Liberian employees and children all know they are a part of the ORR family and because of them being taken care of, they are able to help their neighbors and those around them as well. We have been keeping everyone stocked with food, diapers, formula, bleach, sanitizing materials, medicine and many other necessary items to ensure everyone has what they need to be safe and protected.

There are many needy kids that have or will become orphaned due to Ebola, and because of this, we know the magnitude of our job in Liberia is only going to grow. We are now in conversation with key people to prepare for the big influx of children who are and will soon be coming into the system due to losing parents. Having a partnership already established with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare with our Transitional Safe Home, we are the organization the government is already looking to for coming up with answers on how to help these children. This is no easy feat, as a place of quarantine has to be established before kids can safely be put into our Transitional Safe Home or another foster situation. We are putting plans together to safely and lovingly care for those who have just lost parents and who are coming into the social welfare system.

More than ever, we need you to stand with us in these efforts to fight for these precious kids lives through this unbelievable hardship of loss in Liberia and the other nations affected. Extra donations towards these efforts are appreciated. Please consider giving today.

Written by Rebecca Pratt

www.orphanreliefandrescue.org