Angels Everwatching
One family's testimony of God's protection and mercy
Introduction
We've often been asked if the story of our time in Liberia has ever
been written down, but alas, not one of us has endeavoured to
complete this mammoth task. We've made tapes and notes, recounted the
story countless times, but never taken the initiative to actually
document the events that took place at the end of October 1992.
Having written some stories now for our grandchildren I (Rosemarie)
was encouraged to record this account as yet another story to add to
their collection. At the same time, our son Timothy decided it was
time we wrote the story of our experiences in Liberia. This was more
than mere coincidence, and since Robert and I were both at home with
malaria it seemed an excellent time to begin.
We have written this book, therefore, as a family venture where I
transcribed Robert's dictation as well as my own, with Timothy
writing his story from the perspective of a young teenager and adding
a whole new dimension to what happened.
It is not a thrilling story, but as accurate a record as we can
remember that extols our Lord, and His grace, mercy and loving
protection in what was potentially an incident of international proportions.
In the writing process it has become evident that we were more than
once alerted to the fact of God's divine protection and also His
angels being ever present with us. I'm quite sure we will never see
angels manifested in this life in all their glory and splendour, nor
do I desire to since reading John's, Ezekiel's or Daniel's accounts
of them, but they are messengers from God and spiritual beings that
we take all too much for granted. It is therefore good to recall that
He does have "His Angels Ever Watching" over us.
Having just found some of my old notes from Liberia I have been
interested to read of the contrasts I had made between the childhoods
of our own children and of those amongst whom we lived. We are born,
for example, in a nice hospital bed with the best medical care and
good hygienic facilities, about which we would soon complain if they
were lacking. If we need emergency care it is there, including oxygen
and incubators. Our friends in Liberia, however, are born on a dirt
floor in a mud hut and left quite alone until the placenta is also
delivered, and even then the child is not really considered a person
until he or she can walk behind his or her mother and call her name.
Hence if they do die at birth or in infancy not too many tears are
shed and the child is buried in a termite hill so it can be eaten
well enough (by the "bug-a-bugs") so as not to return again.
All we have to do in our western world is to enjoy our newborn child.
However, for Liberians there are the many superstitions, putting the
bloody blade on the baby's forehead a certain number of times, not
taking the babe outside for a certain number of days, having
witnesses to the burial of the placenta in a defined manner, the
presentation of the child&ldots; It would take a whole volume to
recount these many traditions, including all the situations in which,
interestingly, the number 3 is used for a woman and number 4 for a man.
Our childhood is an enjoyable one of play and schooling when of a
sufficient age. Here the child is often left with its grandmother or
other female relative on whom it may suckle when hungry. Then,
growing up, it is not long before children are carrying small tins of
water on their heads or even younger siblings on their backs. They
learn to cut wood and from an early age, to chase the birds from
their rice farms and other such tasks within their ability. Their
playtime consists of fishing, catching small animals to roast and
hunting with a slingshot (known to them as "rubber gun").
Schooling is rare, or nonexistent, especially for girls.
As a child I was brought up under the sound of the gospel whereby
from my early years I understood and believed in the death, burial
and resurrection of Jesus Christ for my salvation. Many in Liberia
have heard the name of Jesus Christ, but have no idea who exactly He
is, and even less what He has done in His great love for them.
Liberia's motto has always intrigued me, as it states, "For the
Love of Liberty brought us here." It has always been their boast
to be the first African nation that was free, all the others having
first been colonised. Actually this has been to their disadvantage
since they had no strong Western influence to educate, support, and
give them a good basis from which to work and grow. To the contrary,
they have always been a poor nation, proud to be free, but wholly
enslaved to the animistic traditions which they tenaciously hold.
Again, the contrast is striking when compared to the rich wealth of
the more developed countries in the western world. True riches and
freedom, however, are found only in Christ our Lord. How we long to
see those of West Africa brought under not just the sound, but also
the true understanding of the truth of His Word and plan of salvation
for a lost world! We who are free in Christ may live to serve Him who
died for us and rose again. It is our prayer that in our doing so He
will be pleased to use us to the saving of many of these dear and
precious souls to the glory of His name.