Below is a description of what happened this last week. At one point I became aware of how surreal this all was; there I was with 2 soldiers with M16's laying in the bushes with the rain just pouring down. We watched as the rogues we were tracking swam with our stolen barrels, they were eerily lit up by the constant lightning flashes. I kept thinking why am I here, what is God doing with me. I know that my job is to ensure the security of the ship and crew but that didn't answer my question. Then I realized that as we catch and incarcerate these rogues, I have the opportunity to show them God's love even as we are handing them over for punishment. I explain to each of them why we have arrested them and that they are putting women and children in danger. I tell them that even though I caught them I still love them and will look out after them. I ensure that the UNMIL soldiers don't beat them and I ensure that they get fed while they wait several days in a holding cell (a broom closet). Once they have been sent to the Central Prison, I have our prison ministry team reach out to them and ensure that they are taken care of.
As all of these thoughts are going through my head, it hits me! I'm here because this is where Jesus would be. Jesus didn't live His life in the temples, he didn't spend it with the holy Pharisees, he spent it living and preaching to the thieves, liars and whores of the world. He even chose to die along side two thieves. So often we see churches here in Africa fighting over the saved souls to build their congregations, instead of reaching out to the unsaved and poor. Even as believers, as we walk closer with Jesus, its impossible not to see how much sin is in our own lives. So who am I to turn away from a thief. I stand just as guilty of sin as the next man, and it is my role to show these rogues that Jesus died for them because He loved them and wanted to offer them the opportunity for redemption. I can only do this by holding them responsible for their actions but ensuring they know that their Lord and Savior will forgive them, if they ask and turn to Him.
On early Sunday morning, I was made aware that 5-6 individuals had swum to the barge off of our pier and could be seen tearing pipes and cables from the dredging barge. In the past, rogues have used this platform to stage raids on our dock and ship as well as other vessels in the port. On March 26 the Ghanaian detachment and I was able to arrest 5 individuals engaged in similar illegal activities.
At 04:50 during a torrential downpour these rogues assaulted our dock with 5-6 swimmers. Our night watch notified the Duty Officer and me that the dock was under attack. By the time we could get on the dock the rogues had taken 6 x 55 gallon drums worth $150, 1 bicycle worth $100, 10 plastic chairs worth $100 and attempted to steal 3 motorcycle batteries. We believe the bike and chairs were lost when the rogues threw them in the water but were unable to recover them before they sank. We will send divers down to search for them when conditions allow. The chairs probably have drifted far in the tidal current and there is little hope in their recovery. The security guards witnessed the bikes and chairs being thrown into the water. The motorcycles all had been tampered with as the rogues attempted to remove their batteries. The Ghanaian detachment was notified and as we could see the rogues swimming away with the barrels as they were lit by the lightning storm.
The senior sergeant and I decided to try and catch the rogues as they made their way back to the bong mine pier area. The sergeant sent one of his men to wait at the pier while we waited in the brush on the beach as we tracked their progress.
They eventually made their way to the pier and that is where we caught one of the individuals, Junior Morris. Mr. Morris informed us that his 4 colleagues worked on the Bong Mine Pier. Junior Morris admitted to the thefts of the barrels and their work of theft in the harbor and on the barge. We were able to recover all 6 drums, 2 of which were found on the barge and were to be used to float off the metal and piping that they were stealing from the barge. We also found their tools that they were using and destroyed them. The bike if it is recovered will be ruined. The chairs are unlikely to be found. The workers at the Bong Mine Pier who assisted us came back later in the day and said they were threatened by the other rogues for assisting us. We have asked the LSP (Seaport Police) and Ghanaian detachment to arrest these 2 leaders of the rogues. I went to the LSP/UNMIL HQ and demanded that the LSP/LNP (National Police) take steps to stop these actions by arresting the ring leaders. I emphasized that Mr. Morris is a young man who was obviously a young follower and not the leader. As long as these 2 rogue leaders are allowed to go free, there will continue to be frequent thefts and attacks on individuals in this port. Mr. Morris has given their names freely and they in turn have threatened Liberians attempting to assist us. Mercy Ships requested that these individuals be made to be held accountable for their ongoing unlawful actions in the Freeport area. Monday, 24 April I was notified that the LSP made a raid on the Bong Mine Pier and was able to arrest Jones Rogers. I was called into court to give evidence to the Magistrate as to why they should be held. The court agreed and raised their charges from robbery to armed robbery because they carried machetes onto the dock. Junior Morris also informed us how they climbed past the razor wire, we have strengthened these areas.
This is what justice looks like in Liberia, oh yeah the judge asked me for $40 to transport the prisoners to prison. So I threw them and the sheriff into the back of my Land rover and drove them myself.
As I was dealing with this a woman walked onto the dock with a baby stuck in her after 36 hours of labor, now it was Zana's turn. I have never felt more certain that God has us right where he wants us. Everyday is a new adventure, where we get to show the love of God and in turn God shows us His love for us.
As all of these thoughts are going through my head, it hits me! I'm here because this is where Jesus would be. Jesus didn't live His life in the temples, he didn't spend it with the holy Pharisees, he spent it living and preaching to the thieves, liars and whores of the world. He even chose to die along side two thieves. So often we see churches here in Africa fighting over the saved souls to build their congregations, instead of reaching out to the unsaved and poor. Even as believers, as we walk closer with Jesus, its impossible not to see how much sin is in our own lives. So who am I to turn away from a thief. I stand just as guilty of sin as the next man, and it is my role to show these rogues that Jesus died for them because He loved them and wanted to offer them the opportunity for redemption. I can only do this by holding them responsible for their actions but ensuring they know that their Lord and Savior will forgive them, if they ask and turn to Him.
On early Sunday morning, I was made aware that 5-6 individuals had swum to the barge off of our pier and could be seen tearing pipes and cables from the dredging barge. In the past, rogues have used this platform to stage raids on our dock and ship as well as other vessels in the port. On March 26 the Ghanaian detachment and I was able to arrest 5 individuals engaged in similar illegal activities.At 04:50 during a torrential downpour these rogues assaulted our dock with 5-6 swimmers. Our night watch notified the Duty Officer and me that the dock was under attack. By the time we could get on the dock the rogues had taken 6 x 55 gallon drums worth $150, 1 bicycle worth $100, 10 plastic chairs worth $100 and attempted to steal 3 motorcycle batteries. We believe the bike and chairs were lost when the rogues threw them in the water but were unable to recover them before they sank. We will send divers down to search for them when conditions allow. The chairs probably have drifted far in the tidal current and there is little hope in their recovery. The security guards witnessed the bikes and chairs being thrown into the water. The motorcycles all had been tampered with as the rogues attempted to remove their batteries. The Ghanaian detachment was notified and as we could see the rogues swimming away with the barrels as they were lit by the lightning storm.
The senior sergeant and I decided to try and catch the rogues as they made their way back to the bong mine pier area. The sergeant sent one of his men to wait at the pier while we waited in the brush on the beach as we tracked their progress.
They eventually made their way to the pier and that is where we caught one of the individuals, Junior Morris. Mr. Morris informed us that his 4 colleagues worked on the Bong Mine Pier. Junior Morris admitted to the thefts of the barrels and their work of theft in the harbor and on the barge. We were able to recover all 6 drums, 2 of which were found on the barge and were to be used to float off the metal and piping that they were stealing from the barge. We also found their tools that they were using and destroyed them. The bike if it is recovered will be ruined. The chairs are unlikely to be found. The workers at the Bong Mine Pier who assisted us came back later in the day and said they were threatened by the other rogues for assisting us. We have asked the LSP (Seaport Police) and Ghanaian detachment to arrest these 2 leaders of the rogues. I went to the LSP/UNMIL HQ and demanded that the LSP/LNP (National Police) take steps to stop these actions by arresting the ring leaders. I emphasized that Mr. Morris is a young man who was obviously a young follower and not the leader. As long as these 2 rogue leaders are allowed to go free, there will continue to be frequent thefts and attacks on individuals in this port. Mr. Morris has given their names freely and they in turn have threatened Liberians attempting to assist us. Mercy Ships requested that these individuals be made to be held accountable for their ongoing unlawful actions in the Freeport area. Monday, 24 April I was notified that the LSP made a raid on the Bong Mine Pier and was able to arrest Jones Rogers. I was called into court to give evidence to the Magistrate as to why they should be held. The court agreed and raised their charges from robbery to armed robbery because they carried machetes onto the dock. Junior Morris also informed us how they climbed past the razor wire, we have strengthened these areas.
This is what justice looks like in Liberia, oh yeah the judge asked me for $40 to transport the prisoners to prison. So I threw them and the sheriff into the back of my Land rover and drove them myself.As I was dealing with this a woman walked onto the dock with a baby stuck in her after 36 hours of labor, now it was Zana's turn. I have never felt more certain that God has us right where he wants us. Everyday is a new adventure, where we get to show the love of God and in turn God shows us His love for us.
