Liberia Trip Recap - Bri Adcock

When I was told that we were required to write a post blog experience, all I could think about was how easy this one would be… but boy, was I wrong. Since my last blog, which was the end of week two in the Rafiki Liberia Village, a lot has happened in my life since returning and my emotions have been overwhelming at times.

The last week at the village was the fastest and most emotional week I’ve been through in my life. I tried to not think each night that the days were winding down and our days with the children were coming to an end. The morning of our last day in the village was so emotional for everyone. The children were trying to be strong, but their personalities weren’t the same at meals and when we would see them running around the village. The hardest point of the trip was going around to each cottage to say our goodbyes. The first five, I held myself together, but the last three were the hardest ones to share my final thoughts with them. The final cottage we said our goodbyes to was Cottage G (Perpetua), which included the girls that embraced me the most and made me feel as one of their own! Each day I would sit at their table for one to two meals, join them for morning devotionals when their cottage led the last week. I was constantly being invited to their cottage for nightly devotionals and some of these girls opened up and weren’t afraid to share their thoughts with me. Saying goodbye to them all, was the hardest experience I’ve ever gone through and seeing them all crying when I looked up to start speaking, made the goodbye even tougher.
 
     Since being home, I’ve learned a lot of things:

1. Don’t afraid to be who God made you to be! The children taught me to embrace myself for who God made me to be (no make-up, fitting in with others or how my hair looks). While I was there, not one person treated me any differently or brought my self-esteem down. That was the one thing that bothered me the most here in the states… feeling the need to constantly look good and fit in with society, even though I beautiful the way God created me. 
2. Speaking up for myself! I went through some difficult times in my childhood, which causes me to shut down and not have much of a voice growing up. I got the opportunity to share my testimony with the children before own of the sport lessons. The topic was on persecution and the kids were so drawn into my story. Some of the children came up to me afterwards and asked me questions on forgiveness or how to not let little things (comments, actions or looks) get to them. I told them that it took me almost 15 years to forgive the people that hurt me the most.
3. Taking one step, moment and day at a time! Life here in the states may be moving a mile a minute, but we need to remind ourselves to “KEEP THE FAITH”. Before the trip, I had faced a lot of challenges throughout my life and my faith was rocky grounds. I gave everything over to God a few months before leaving for the trip and it was the best decision on my life! The children at the Rafiki Liberia Village have gone through some terrible life experiences and they constantly have smiles on their faces and positive attitudes most of the time. I used to ask the question… “Why me?” but now I’m constantly asking, “Where do you need me?” and “How can I help you today?”. Life may seem overwhelming and dark at some points throughout our lives, but we need to take a deep breath, take a leap faith and entrust that God will carry us through!!

 
The verse that I hold close to me daily since being back is Isaiah 6:8 – Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here I am. Send me!”
 
I am hoping to return to Liberia again one day, either as the next group leader for the new MOAM’s who get selected to go or visit and volunteer my time where they need me! I cannot believe how fast the trip went, but I’m also amazed by how much my life has changed since I’ve returned to the states and I cannot thank MOAM and the children enough for impacting my life!