West African Micro-Loans

Helping to remove the road blocks of poverty...

Joseph Sie Toomey Collins, Jr. is my full name and I am a Liberian. I lived in Liberia through out my life until the bloodily civil war started in 1989. It was very bloodily and dangerous. It affected thousand of Liberian including me. There was no means of living or surviving as a young Liberian during the course of the war except you join the rebel to go and fight but I was not willing to join. I always ask myself if I join the rebels to go and fight, who I am going to fight. The answer was just simple to be the same Liberian whom I consider to be my brothers and sisters so I was discouraged.

My father was shot and killed during the war and our homes were also burned down, life became very difficult in a very special way for me in Liberia.

 

 In early 2000 the government of Russia ask the government of Liberia to sent some of her citizen to study in Russia but the Liberian government will be responsible for the feeding, clothes, rent, monthly per dams or support in general and the government of Liberia agreed and promised us to meet with all of these obligations while in Russia unfortunately the government forgot us totally and we were living in Russia on our own studying without any support.

 

I was a catholic at the time I went to Russia but the way I was baptized in the Catholic Church was a big question if it was proper and my going to Russia was another opportunity to achieve higher education and also God shown me his true church which he wanted me to be a part. I met with several missionaries from the church of Jesus Christ of latter day’s saints while in Russia and among them was Aaron C. Christensen. These wonderful men and women taught me the gospel and I became a born again Christian in the LDS church and I am very proud of that.

Brothers and sisters, God is wonderful and Jesus will always remain the Christ I want to testify. My government sent me to Russia where I have no family to help me and they forgot about me but when I accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I put my problems before him by praying to him he came in with great help. Those missionaries who taught me the gospel including the church supported me throughout, most especially Elder Aaron Christensen and his family and I will always be thankful to them. I thought I was going to die in Russia but God change my situation and I got support from some of his faithful members in the church.

 

I graduated with a master degree in engineering from the Rostov state university of civil engineering on June 19, 2006 after my graduation I decided to come home hoping that I will fine job with this level of degree and qualification I have, but the government is so corrupt, I don’t have money to buy a job or anybody in the government to appoint me therefore I am still unemployed and live in Liberia remains very difficult.

 

I am a Christian and I believe in God with faith and I know that one fine day he will change my story around and I want to urge you brothers and sisters from the LDS church who will come across my story through brother Christensen that I need your prayer, support and may God bless you for your contribution to build my life. Thanks very much

 

Yours,

Elder Joseph Collins, Jr.

Joseph Collins