Long road to recovery for women in Liberia

Liberia's civil war is over, but many of its effects remain. Much infrastructure was destroyed--but, in some ways, this is the easiest problem to fix.

Up to 10% of children may have served as soldiers. Up to 75% of women were raped.

Unfortunately, the type of mentality that caused/was produced by 14 years of conflict is not easy to change, and Liberia's women and girls, in particular, are still facing its effects.

Rape, even rape of young children, is widespread. The government and NGOs are taking measures to change this, but there is still a long way to go. Check out Nicholas Kristof's opinion column in the New York Times for more information on the situation and the progress being made.

A team from Hospitals of Hope will be headed back to Liberia in a week and a half, where they'll be caring for patients at a couple of hospitals and working to refurbish the emergency room at John F. Kennedy Medical Center, the referral center for the entire country.

Pray for safety for our team as they travel, and pray for the patients they will see. Pray that they will be able to demonstrate Christ's love to those they serve, and pray that God will use them to bring a measure of healing in Liberia.