Election Day!!!

Today is election day in Liberia!  The day that Liberians cast their vote for who should lead their country for the next 4 years.  This is the first nationally led elections since the war ended in 2003.  I was able to visit a polling station near my house today to check out the process!

I awoke to a large thunderstorm this morning, and my first thought was, "Oh no!  If it is raining out, no one will want to go out to vote!"  But I was wrong. Regardless of the weather, citizens came out and waited in the pouring rain to cast their vote.  We were advised to stay home until lunch, when we knew it would be safe to travel about, so the sun was shining by then.

After filling out ballots for president, senators and representatives, each person got their finger "inked" to indicate that they had voted.  From the inking station they deposited their ballots in the ballot boxes.

The lines were long, but everyone was in good spirits, excited to vote!  One man said to me, "eh.. Liberians were saying so many different different things about today, but everything has gone on fine!" 

Each polling station had various lines, depending on your voter registration number.  If you had a baby you were brought to the front of the line, the same with the disabled.  All in all it was a very peaceful day, praise God!

But then the Liberian Riot police showed up in full uniform.... but only to cast their vote too!

The United Nations continued to fly overhead all day long as a constant reminder of their presence in case of trouble.

The riot police were all business, but Justin didn't hesitate to ask if we could have a photo with them.  They were all smiles when we showed them the photos on the back of the camera!

The Liberian Riot Police

The UN continued to keep their presence at the forefront of everyone's mind today, making sure no one started anything.

It was a good day to be in Liberia.  Everyone I talked to at the poll was full of excitement.  There were no arguments or breakouts of fights- in any County that I heard, anyways.  Today was a day to be proud of how far Liberia has come.  Eight short years ago atrocities were happening every where you turned in this country. Brother against brother, tribe against tribe. Things that you and I can't even imagine.  Yet Liberians have been able to move forward, take steps in the reconciliation process and forgive each other.  Today, those same victims and perpetrators made a statement by putting aside their differences and cast their vote- their peaceful mark on a paper ballot- to have a say in the future of Liberia.

In two weeks time they will announce the result of the vote from today.  Please continue to pray for October 26 and the days surrounding it. Pray for humility for the losing party and that any violence would be silenced.

I know  many of you have been praying for this election process.  Today I was talking to a man who had just finished voting. He was asking how I saw the situation.  I told him how excited I was to see this day for Liberia.  So happy that there is peace and smiles on faces again.  I told him how there were many people in America and Canada praying for Liberia today, and he lit up like a kid at Christmas!  "Yes! Thank you! It is a new day in Liberia!"

It is a new day in Liberia, and I echo his thanks for praying for this nation.