Dedication Day, Praising God for Reconstruction

In just 3 years,  this campus has gone from jungled RUINS to a beautiful testimony of God's reclaiming, restoring and reclaiming lives for His Glory.  March 23 will stand out in my mind for many reasons.  First of all it was for a Public Relations teacher an event to marvel at.  This event was masterfully carried out, and is such a living testimony to my students of how to work hard and execute well.

Though the service was to begin at 10:30, it was after 10:45 before Franklin Graham's helicopter landed.  He was met by the President of the College and his wife and escorted to their home for a reception.  I have so many pictures because Becky asked me to take candid shots of the events for her.  Besides Dr. Graham and others from Samaritan's Purse, I got to meet Carney Johnson, the brother of Liberia's President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.  He is also on the Advisory Board for the College.  Liberia's Vice President, Joseph Boakai and his wife and daughter were dignitaries here as well.

Eleazar Gbengan's daughter, Angel with us after Dedication Service

The program got started late and was not over until 1:45.  Many, many dignitaries "made comments" many of them seemed like speeches.  Some were real interesting; others were just long.  The Vice President didn't sound at all like a politician but a very humble man.  Dr. Graham gave "two speeches in one". The first part he stuck close to his script and noted how many U.S. colleges were founded on Scripture only to be shadows of that today.  THEN he "switched" gears and began a passionate evangelistic message with lots of eye contact that reminded me of his father, Billy Graham.

Those ladies from the Pentecostal Church in town were really good entertainers.  They performed by the tent where dinner was served.

Three men from Ganta, are all interested in EAFC.  The one on the right I met in Nairobi many years ago when Del and Oscar Muriu introduced us.  The EAFC introductory video shows that meeting.  Now Anthony has returned to Liberia and is working with Christian and Eleazar.  It'll be fun to see how this relationship develops

                            Magdalene, a college freshman, met Peggy.  She's got a long way to go before she becomes the doctor she desires to be, but she's making the grades now so that she could get in.  She's here now because she's been in the hospital since Sunday with either malaria or a blood infection.  EAFC is working with her church to see if we can develop a relationship so that together we can partner to pray for, mentor and raise funds for Magdalene to become a doctor, something quite rare in this country for a female to be allowed to do.  Her Dad is the Vice President of the College.

                          In black is Liberia's VP Joseph Boakai, listening to the entertainers.

                   Nimba County's Superintendent and other guests  at lunch after the Dedication.