Editor’s Note: The following article is excerpted from an extensive report written by Judy & John Gay, who served as Episcopal missionaries in Liberia from 1958-74, about a trip back to that nation in November 2001. For a copy of the full report please contact the Gays directly.

Binocular Vision in Liberia: Recovery or Collapse?
by Judy & John Gay

Liberia, a small country on the west coast of Africa with about 3 million people, has suffered under corrupt and despotic leadership and civil war for at least two decades. More than 100,000 people are living in displaced-person camps within the country due to the civil war, while more than that are still outside the country as refugees in various parts of West Africa. Missions to Liberia have been a special concern of the Episcopal Church almost throughout Liberia's history — since its founding by the American Colonization Society in 1822 and its declaration of independence in 1847. Not only has the church sent priests and even bishops to Liberia and offered theological training in the country to candidates for the ministry. It has also been deeply involved in education, through primary and secondary schools and Cuttington University College, founded initially in 1889, closed in 1929, reopened in 1948, closed due to civil war in 1990, and opened for the third time in 1998.

Rural Development

Agricultural production outside the current war zones (which we did not visit) seems to be picking up to what we remember as pre-war levels, however, mainly in subsistence crops. Very little is being grown specifically for sale, although markets seem to be full. Our impression is that what we saw for sale in the markets is taken out of subsistence production in order to earn a bit of money. We think that Cuttington can serve a useful role through its rural development major in teaching its people to achieve productive livelihoods. This is a more useful role than only providing people with infrastructure, important as the infrastructure may be.

We note a strong sense of dependency in rural Liberia, as people begin to work their way out of civil war. We feel that people are ready and interested in moving ahead, and want to put war behind them. One person we spoke with used the term "violence fatigue."

As we see it, the basic need is not for Cuttington to supply good things such as wells, schools, roads and latrines to villages, but rather to help villagers find ways to obtain these things for themselves. We note a strong sense of dependency in rural Liberia, as people begin to work their way out of civil war. We feel that people are ready and interested in moving ahead, and want to put war behind them. One person we spoke with used the term "violence fatigue."

John saw two types of rural infrastructure improvement, the one given and built by outside donors and the other built by the people themselves, albeit with some donor assistance. A very telling example was two latrines in the same village near Palala. One had been built by a donor agency for three households, and it was already in ruins, only a year after being constructed. The families had not been asked to contribute, and as a result they were not maintaining the building. The other latrine had been built by its owner, who had dug the hole, made strong mud blocks for the walls, found an old wooden door and old zinc sheets, and had then been given an already-made concrete slab to

A latrine in the village of Palala is shown by its proud builder and owner.

cover the hole. It was in good condition, and the owner was proud of it. When John took pictures of the two latrines, the owners of the former only very reluctantly gave him permission, while the owner of the latter was proud to stand with his building.

The same pattern was present in other settings. Some wells had been dug by outsiders, and villagers would wait for the outsiders to repair them when the pumps broke, while other wells were properly maintained after having been dug by the people themselves. Road maintenance using a donated wheelbarrow stopped because the wheelbarrow needed its axle replaced. On the other hand, schools were open and students were taught, even without official school buildings and salaries for the teachers. People were ready to contribute for the sake of their children.

Non-governmental organizations tend not to support ongoing projects. Rather they want to start rural development ventures without realizing that long-term support is absolutely essential. John heard many stories about various NGOs which came into villages, started projects and then left.

But this does not mean that villagers can do everything for themselves. Far from it. John spoke with primary school teachers who were trying their very best, but who were getting discouraged because their efforts were unmatched by outside assistance. It is not clear how long these teachers will continue their unrewarded, even though unremitting, efforts, were there to be any other opportunity to earn a bit of money. What the Liberian government is not doing is assisting activities which have been initiated by villagers. Likewise, non-governmental organizations tend not to support ongoing projects. Rather they want to start rural development ventures without realizing that long-term support is absolutely essential. John heard many stories about various NGOs which came into villages, started projects and then left. Follow-through and emphasis on local initiative are of the essence. We hope that a rural development project co-sponsored by Cuttington and the village of Galai will continue into the long-term future, and show how villagers and outside agents can work together to bring a better life to rural people.

Cuttington University College

A burned dormitory at Cuttington shows the destruction left by the war.

Our impression of the college itself is that it has made a remarkable recovery over what John remembers from the assessment mission in November 1997. At that time Cuttington consisted only of partly looted and partly destroyed buildings. The return to campus life is nothing short of miraculous, and the college administration must be given high praise. Donors also must be thanked for all the assistance they have given and continue to give. The signing of a contract between USAID, Cuttington and a contracting company for rehabilitation of the electric system is very welcome, and augurs well for the future. It is expected that a similar contract will be signed in the near future for rehabilitation of the water supply. Several houses and dormitories still need reconstruction and rehabilitation, and it is hoped that concerned people, in particular the alumni, will take this task to heart.

However, we have to say that the academic situation is nowhere near as well advanced as we had hoped it would be. The students are eager to learn and care deeply about the future of their country. But they are in general poorly prepared and are not being challenged to the extent we think necessary. There are few materials for them to study, and they are thus not giving as much effort to their studies as we think is necessary. One important improvement that Cuttington needs is access to the Web for all students. At present there are very few satellite dishes in order to get access to the Internet on the campus. If there were another couple of satellite facilities, linked to computers in the library and the dormitories, then students could find resources which the library could never obtain.

It is true that the library is recovering, but it is a very slow process, and many of the books which survived the looting of the campus are of little real value. Of course, we would like to see the library built up again to its pre-war status, but that will be difficult and costly. Another source of help for students, therefore, would be for books and articles to be photocopied and reproduced in multiple copies for students to use in their classes and study. A good high-speed durable photocopier and binder would be a great help.

Church Life

The Rev. Abeoseh Flemister and the Rev. Dr. Judy Gay celebrate mass at the cathedral in Liberia.

In her visits to Episcopal churches in and around Monrovia, Judy found a lively, active church and met people of deep faith rebuilding after the devastation of years of civil war. The Rev. Abeoseh Flemister, who bears the responsibility as coordinator of the bishop's office, was most helpful in Bishop Neufville's absence. The efficient organization and friendly spirit of the diocesan staff which had just moved back into rehabilitated quarters on the fifth floor of the church building on Ashmun Street is impressive. There is no elevator and minimal furniture, but there are skilled people with computer, phone, fax, e-mail, photocopier, financial control, daily worship, and office space for all diocesan departments and organizations.

The pastoral care and congregational life of the cathedral, parishes and chapels which Judy was able to visit seem to be functioning reasonably well. There were enough clergy to fill the posts around the capital, but diocesan reports indicate a great shortage of clergy for the more remote and still unstable parts of the country. Much effort has been given to repairing damaged buildings and replacing looted church properties. St. Thomas’ Church in Monrovia had to replace stained glass windows, church woodwork and furnishings, and then re-consecrated the sanctuary because of the destruction and killings which took place there in 1998. Behind St. Peter's Church in Caldwell a big diocesan conference center was bombed and completely destroyed in 1990, but the church has completed a new Sunday School building and an elementary school is under construction.

Almost every person we met told of war-related loss of property, death of loved ones, physical or sexual violence, and families divided by periods of exile. No doubt there is still much need for ministries of healing and counseling and rebuilding of lives in such post-traumatic stress situations. But there is also violence fatigue and a strong desire for peace and stability.

Rebuilding lives and communities is much more difficult. The war caused the depopulation of many rural and suburban areas, great growth of Monrovia itself and of refugee centers where thousands of internally displaced people urgently need emergency housing, food, clothing and medical care. Our own Episcopal church is active in this relief work. Almost every person we met told of war-related loss of property, death of loved ones, physical or sexual violence, and families divided by periods of exile. No doubt there is still much need for ministries of healing and counseling and rebuilding of lives in such post-traumatic stress situations. But there is also violence fatigue and a strong desire for peace and stability. With very high unemployment and even those with jobs not paid regularly, there is a continuing eagerness for education, skills training and assistance with small income generating activities.

In addition to the reconstruction of Cuttington, the Episcopal Church is trying to expand primary and secondary education and strengthen theological education. But it is important that they have the resources to maintain high academic standards. There is a mushrooming growth of small Pentecostal churches, schools and fundamentalist Bible colleges in and around Monrovia, often supported by American evangelical churches. Other mainline churches have also greatly expanded their educational institutions, some of excellent quality but some having little to offer except certificates.

Theological students at Cuttington.

One final implication of this sad analysis is that probably Cuttington and the The Seth C. Edwards Theological Institute coordinated by Dean Hart meets a very important need, training both men and women for lay and ordained ministries in the Episcopal Church. There are about 40 students and half a dozen part-time teachers who conduct classes from 4-8pm in dark, noisy classrooms of the B. W. Harris High School. There are no textbooks so teaching depends on notes and photocopied handouts. There is no library or place for students to study, although a shipment of theological books and other items is being sent from the states this month on the initiative of the Rev. James Yarsiah, who has been at the cathedral in Nashville this year. The Theological Institute would certainly benefit from financial assistance, student scholarships, additional relevant books, and occasional short-term personnel to assist with teaching, organizing a library, cataloguing books and other activities.

The Nation

We have a serious problem trying to reconcile the micro-view of Liberia with the macro-view. At the micro-level, we see individuals and groups recovering… And yet at the macro-level, we see the country going downhill into tyranny, corruption and malpractice.

We have a serious problem trying to reconcile the micro-view of Liberia with the macro-view. At the micro-level, we see individuals and groups recovering. We see the church ministering to people. We see crops being produced, roads being repaired, wells being dug, teachers hard at work, shops open, markets full of buyers and sellers. And yet at the macro-level, we see the country going downhill into tyranny, corruption and malpractice. The government is still fighting a civil war against dissidents who won't go away. Sanctions have been imposed because of Liberia's role in the conflicts which still continue in the region, and their implementation is hurting the economy. Civil servants are not being paid, taxes are ignored by the wealthy, and the security forces seem to have a free hand.

We see one set of phenomena, as it were, with the left eye, and perceive that the country is recovering. We see the other set of phenomena with the right eye, and perceive that the country is near to collapse. Binocular vision means bringing the two together, and that is very tough.

The present administration may have to stay in power in order to provide enough stability to allow reconstruction and rehabilitation to take place. On the other hand, Liberia cannot be the nation it could rightly be as long as the present government continues its harshness and corruption and its destabilizing influence on neighboring countries.

The closest we can come to binocular vision is to see the president and his political party as both the problem and the solution. If they were not in power, they would be in the bush continuing the civil war. Now that they are in power, they may be able to prevent the killing, maiming and destroying which marked the civil war, mainly because their militias have been absorbed into the government. Moreover, they probably have enough firepower to ward off disgruntled rebels who have chosen to continue fighting because they did not win the civil war. The present administration may have to stay in power in order to provide enough stability to allow reconstruction and rehabilitation to take place. On the other hand, Liberia cannot be the nation it could rightly be as long as the present government continues its harshness and corruption and its destabilizing influence on neighboring countries. Liberia has immense natural and human resources, but under the present administration it is unlikely they will be used for the benefit of the nation and people.

Episcopal Church have to accept the status quo, if they are to play a role in the long-term rescue of the country. Cuttington's graduates may not be able to do much now, but if they are well trained they can be available for the future when once again democracy and justice will be possible. It is true that the Catholic Church, under the courageous Archbishop Michael Francis, continues to speak prophetically, but then it has the international backing and the resources to do so. Unfortunately, Cuttington and the Episcopal Church might just be destroyed if they take too prophetic a stand.

What can all of us do who are outside Liberia and still love the country and the people? We learned that remittances from friends and relatives are what keep many people and institutions alive. Any help of this kind, which enters the country quite independent of government circles, would be useful. In particular, Cuttington University College needs all the help it can get. Money can also be sent to the Association of Episcopal Colleges, 815 Second Avenue, New York NY 10017. Assistance to the Church can go through Bishop Neufville's administrative assistant, the Rev. Abeoseh Flemister, whose US address is 6051 Trowbridge Way, Columbus OH 43229. As we said above, much of the infrastructure of the church was damaged in the war, and any contributions toward rebuilding, salaries or theological education would be greatly appreciated. Friends of Liberia is also a good conduit for funds to many different good works in Liberia.

Finally, of course, we ask your prayers for Liberia at this critical time. As we write this letter, we hear from the BBC and Jim Gray's daily news reports of more rebel incursions in Lofa and Gbarbolu counties, as well as increased tension in Monrovia, where checkpoints are appearing once again on the streets. God bless Liberia, her leaders and her people in this difficult time.

Dr. John and the Rev. Dr. Judy Gay were sent as missionaries to Cuttington University College in 1958, where they served until 1974. They continued to serve as missionaries in Africa in Lesotho until their retirement in early 2001, and they retained their interest in and love for Cuttington and Liberia. Following 40 years of ministry in Africa, Judy and John now live in Cambridge, Massachusetts. They may be reached by email at judyjohngay@attbi.com