Child of war finds peace and healing: Lisa's Easter story
Born at the start of civil war in Liberia, Lisa knew little of peace or hope as a child growing up in overcrowded and under-resourced refugee camps. While hunger, thirst and fear were Lisa’s everyday experiences, her ‘Grandma’ gave the many grandchildren in her care a special gift — and that was faith in Jesus. This Easter, Lisa, who has now worshipped and served with The Salvation Army in Auburn (NSW) for 15 years, shares her story of finding peace and hope even in the darkest times.
Literally born into the chaos of the civil war in Liberia (Lisa’s mother was physically fleeing from the civil war in Liberia back to her family village when Lisa was born on the way), Lisa's early years were marked by pain and loss.
Her father, mother, grandfather and other family members were lost in the conflict, and the remaining family found themselves fleeing for their lives to overcrowded refugee camps in the Ivory Coast, and then a second time, after war broke out there, to Guinea.
"Life in a refugee camp was very, very challenging," Lisa says. “There were 18 of us. We had to live in a tent. So many people [had] to live in it."
The scarcity of food and the prevalence of diseases like malaria and diarrhea added layers of hardship.
"Losing friends and close relatives, stuff like that. That was very, very difficult for us,” she explains.
In the midst of desperate violence, lawlessness, overcrowding, hunger, thirst, uncertainty, and fear, Lisa's grandmother Ruth faced the overwhelming task of caring for her (largely) orphaned grandchildren in terrible conditions. However, she was unwavering in prayer and her belief that God would take care of them.
"It was so hard to know hope existed,” Lisa says. “What we knew was suffering, what we got used to was suffering, what we lived, every part of our life was suffering. But she told us, 'God can change this’. Grandma had that hope year after year and taught us that.”
Australia and answer to prayer
Over 15 years ago, Lisa, her cousins, and Ruth saw their prayers answered. They came to Australia (after Lisa’s aunt, who had come to Australia earlier, tracked the family down in the refugee camp). Lisa’s aunt was connected with the Salvos at Auburn, and they supported her to reunite her family.
Grandma Ruth went on to enjoy her life in Australia, and she also worshipped at Auburn Salvation Army until COVID-19 restrictions stopped face-to-face gathering for a time. She passed away in 2022, cared for at home by her loving family.
Despite many struggles, Lisa learned English, finished high school and university, and today works as a registered nurse.
“When I finally graduated and became a nurse, it was like a dream come true,” she says.
Working a second casual job until the birth of her first child a year ago, Lisa has also managed, with what she says is ‘the grace of God,’ to construct a building for a future health clinic/facility in Liberia.
Lisa is now praying and raising funds for the necessary human resources and equipment to fill the building to bring desperately needed health care to a remote Liberian community.*
“I know that God does miracles and I’m buying some equipment little-by-little to see if we can open it … by faith really.”
She has always loved to help others, and even as a child helped the local midwives in Africa.
“There were some people we couldn’t help because of a lack of resources, [and] it just broke my heart,” Lisa says. “We also lost one of my sisters in childbirth, and I saw that. God put this dream for a clinic in my heart. I’ve always wanted to help people, because you [shouldn’t] have to die because you don’t have money.”
Finding Easter peace and hope
Lisa and her family continue to worship and serve with The Salvation Army in Auburn, where she helps in children’s ministry. Before the birth of her son, she was also part of the leadership team and involved in youth ministry.
Talking about her Salvos church, Lisa says: "In The Salvation Army, no one judges you. You can be who you are. And also, there is great support. You feel at home like a family.”
Explore Jesus’ promise of peace, even in the hardest times, this Easter at your local Salvos church.
Despite having nothing materially in the refugee camps in Africa, Lisa says Easter was still a very special time of hope, worship and celebration. Every year there were three days of re-enactments of Jesus' betrayal, crucifixion and resurrection.
“I was reminded that someone really did this for me to set me free. It was just amazing for us kids to see,” she says.
New life through Jesus
For Lisa, Easter still represents “beautiful new life”.
“God has come to set us free. I think Easter is [at] the centre of that freedom. I know that when I pray to him, he hears me, because I don’t have to do anything to earn or get his love,” she says.
“That’s because of his sacrifice. [Jesus] died on the cross, and three days later he rose again. He sacrificed himself to set us free from our sin and he saved us while we were sinners. His grace covered everything to set me free. I can live now and enjoy that freedom, knowing that hope and connection with God through Jesus.
“It’s just a beautiful thing.”
Learn more about Easter at your local Salvos
“There is a [Bible] verse I love,” Lisa says. “Jeremiah (29:11): ‘For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to bless you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'."
*To learn more about Project Liberia and contribute, please contact Auburn Salvos at 02 9646 3767 or email auburnsalvos@salvationarmy.org.au