Samaritan’s Purse medical teams have performed hundreds of life-changing cleft lip and palate surgeries in Liberia. Sadly, though, some Liberian children born with this condition never have the opportunity to receive such medical treatment. Sometimes their lives are snuffed out at birth or shortly thereafter by family members or midwives just because of the severe…
Rebuilding Liberia’s Communities Through Its Churches
For decades, residents of this Liberian village have anticipated Sunday morning ringing from the church up the hill. A young church member takes a metal rod and strikes a steel plate suspended between two wooden posts. It can be heard for more than a mile all around. But today’s ringing signals something new on the…
Hope for Liberia’s Prisoners
William couldn’t remember a time, even before his arrest, when he had felt free. Now he languished in loneliness and guilt in an overcrowded Liberian prison. The crime, he said, was committed to protect his sister—at least that’s how he remembers it—but not even she would visit him. “My family has abandoned me,” he said,…
Samaritan’s Purse Sends Medical Team to Liberia After Fuel Tanker Explosion
Dozens were killed and scores more were burned when a gas tanker exploded late Tuesday, Dec. 26, in the central Liberian town of Totota. An estimated 40 people died and more than 80—at least—were injured, health officials said. About 20 of those injured were taken to ELWA (Eternal Love Winning Africa) Hospital in Paynesville, Monrovia,…
Restoring Sight in Liberia
With one hand outstretched and the other gripping a walking stick, Morry stumbled forward as a nurse led him to the operating room. Before surgery, Morry offered the same prayer he’s repeated for the last seven years: “God, please make my eyes free again.” Morry was among the 181 patients who recently received surgery during…
They No Longer Call Her Cursed
Editor’s Note: Joni Byker, Country Director for Samaritan’s Purse Liberia, recently visited ELWA hospital where Samaritan’s Purse surgical teams provided corrective surgery to cleft lip/palate patients in Monrovia, Liberia. She wrote this moving account. The work that we are able to do here in Liberia is not without its challenges. Daily we are faced with…
Come and See
Early in the morning, Emmanuel arrived with his toddler daughter Deborah at our clinic in Monrovia. He explained the challenges and joys of the last three years of his little girl’s life. From her very first weeks, it was obvious that young Deborah’s curiosity and intelligence drove her to explore her surroundings and everything she…
Fighting COVID-19 and Providing Relief in Africa
Samaritan’s Purse teams based in our seven country offices across Africa continue to help alleviate suffering during the COVID-19 global pandemic, finding critical ways to support men, women, and children during this uncertain time. Our teams are working hard to help train medical professionals and equip healthcare centers, to create awareness programs for communities, and…
Shoebox Gifts Go Even Where There Is No Road
Sixty bare-chested men started running towards Dian and Sandee. The group’s leader was waving his rifle in the air and yelling. Among the throng was a man carrying a black cooking pot and more men brandishing their rifles in the air. The two women froze. But to their surprise, the horde ran past them and…
Though In Prison, He Is Free
Pastor Emmanuel, 48, has spent the past 10 years in a Liberian prison, often overcome by grief mixed with anger at where’s he’s ended up. Hopelessness can spread as quickly as disease in the overcrowded, unhygienic cell blocks. Many of the inmates can wait years even to understand why they’ve been locked up. Trial dates…