March 24, 2020 / Mercy Ministry

COVID-19 confirmed in Liberia

Liberia announced it’s first coronavirus case on March 16. Unfortunately it came via Nathaniel Blama, the head of Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency, coming back after a conference in Europe. This was the fearsome news EVERYONE dreaded!! They all remember the devastation of the deadly Ebola Virus, just 4 years ago. Liberia was hit the hardest of all the West African Nations that had a combined death toll of 11,315. Liberia, we are praying for you, asking God to protect you!

On March 20th they confirmed their third case of Covid-19. The Ministry of Health has declared a National Health Emergency. Both Montserrado and Margibi Counties are designated as infected areas. Schools, churches, entertainment facilities, hair salons etc. are all ordered to shut down. They are advised to practice social distancing. ” We are told to stay home” Read more here Covid-19 in Liberia

Provision of Hope is doing what we can to make sure our children and our widows stay safe and have what they need in this crisis. Pray for peace and not panic. More and more people are coming to us, asking for help! They need food. Mostly they are afraid. Afraid of a food shortage. Afraid of no money for medicine if they get sick. It’s a time for all of us to encourage each other and pray for this global epidemic to end!

The verse I am claiming these days for our family at home and in Liberia is ” I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until this disaster has passed” Ps. 57:1 Know this: It will pass! Until then we will strengthen each other and do what we can to help each other through this time.

Our widows received their bags of rice and oil on Saturday. Each was instructed to do the proper hand washing, just like in the days of Ebola. They did not have the benches out, nor did they gather in a large group. One by one they received their supplies and went home. They usually gather to sing and praise the Lord together. They pray and someone shares and encourages them. We hope they will soon be back to their regular meetings.

Each widow carefully washes her hands under the sanitized water.

One of our dear widows ready to go back home. The photos below are ones we took in February.

Precautions are taken serious.

We are all praying God’s protection over our widows. These are the most vulnerable. We meet two times a month with over 100 each time. We have another large group in Maryland that Dapae facilitates.