There has been risk in this project and partnership from Day 1. To be totally transparent. Maybe you understood this. Maybe I have said it before or you gleaned it by reading between the lines or you have some understanding of the context in which we are working. On my first trip to Liberia, as we (the Liberian team and I) sat together, I said over and over what it would take on “my” end to get this school built. There is only one opportunity for me to do something like this - in the sense that if we fail, I would never ask my circle of people again to support any vision or project I might want to take on. Perhaps this discounts what God can do. But I think it is true that if we (the Wamahs and I) asked our friends and family and growing network for support and the school project somehow failed, I would have a hard time holding my head up. I would certainly never venture into anything like this again. There was enormous risk in starting this project but the three of us believed, and believe, it was a calling from God that required obedience and trust. And endurance!

To be even more transparent, when our Liberian partners expressed that they too were taking a risk, I discounted the notion a bit. What were they risking? They were not asking friends and family to give money toward a project halfway around the world! (I mean, it is a WILD idea!) Their reputations were not on the line in this regard. It wasn’t until this trip that I have been able to comprehend what they were getting at.

The most amazing news was received while Kelsie and I were in Liberia. The land deed finally arrived! On January 14, after school, Pastor Wesley called us all to sit under the tree of the “lobby.” We all knew he had met with the attorney but he was being elusive when I asked what happened. After we gathered, Pastor expressed his gratitude for our partnership and those who gave toward this dream. Kelsie said at that moment she knew the sale was finalized but I still waited, holding my breath. And then he confirmed that the deed was in hand by holding it up! I wept. The amount of relief I felt was indescribable. Yes, I was thrilled that this part of the project had succeeded (and I would grow more joyous over the coming days) but I think the first emotion was relief. Sending such a large amount of money to a developing nation was always going to be a risk but when it was time to send the money, the process weighed heavily on me.

Prophet said to me “Jaye, you might wonder why we are not crying with you. Trust that we are crying inside with you because we have no more tears left to shed over this dream.” Oof. I felt that deeply. I realized the risk truly was high for them, perhaps higher than for us, to enter into this partnership. Please don’t take what I am about to say as ANY kind of pat on our backs or that we are doing them some kind of favor. Our Liberian friends have prayed for more than fifteen years for a school. More than fifteen! We can discuss later how much we can learn from their diligence and astounding faith. Through our partnership, the dream has become possible. But if they failed to make a good land purchase, there is no way for them to recover that money or our trust. The dream of the school would at best be delayed, but really the hope of the dream might die in that scenario. And in this Liberian context, hope is everything.

This is all God’s doing. To Him be glory for this milestone! I am still learning to trust Him (just when I think I am, I am reminded I am a failure at this!). Whether we are “succeeding” or “failing,” He is in it all and He will use it all for His glory! And if we hadn’t gotten the land, well, He would have used that too. But praise God that He gave us the land! If it crosses your mind, would you say a prayer of thanksgiving today for the risk that was taken and and success granted?