MONROVIA, Liberia - When Lt. Col. David Bowlus, 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division chaplain, Joint Forces Command - United Assistance, thought about his next deployment, he assumed it would be to a combat zone. Over the past 20 years, this Soldier's deployment experience involved risks like bullets flying and insurgent attacks. Virus outbreaks were one of his least concerns.
After receiving the order, he would serve his ninth deployment in Liberia. He was surprised and had some anxiety over the Ebola outbreak.
"Deployments have always been the occasions for the most spiritual growth in Soldiers and chaplains so once I came to grips with it, I became excited," Bowlus said. "The U.S. military brings resources and support that the Liberian government doesn't have on their own so it's a blessing to offer that."
In the midst of temperatures reaching past 90 degrees Fahrenheit with 100 percent humidity, service members deployed in support of Operation United Assistance sat together in the bleachers of the Barclay Training Center, Monrovia, for church service on Sunday morning, Nov. 16. The tent originally reserved as the chapel had to be used to house incoming Soldiers, which left spacing limited for the chaplains.
"In past deployments, the living situations in Iraq and Afghanistan were more mature than in Liberia," said Bowlus. "There were chapels and chapel offices established with books and supplies. Over here, it's not just the chaplains but everybody is trying to find space to conduct their jobs. It's been a challenge finding worship space and adequate space for counseling, but I feel like we've been supported. I feel like we've been able to still accomplish our mission."
Despite the challenges of serving in an underdeveloped, deployed environment, Army chaplains continue to adapt and overcome to accomplish their mission. They serve as the commander's subject matter expert on religion and the morality of the unit as well as provide worship services and counseling. The chaplains also bring those same services to Soldiers deployed to outlying camps in more remote locations.
While the Army chaplains are here to service American troops, anyone who is cleared to come onto the BTC can attend the worship services to include the Armed Forces of Liberia and local Liberian contractors.
Milton Lomax, a driver and Monrovia native who attended on Sunday, said the service was nice and well conducted.
"It brings the two nationalities together and we introduce different cultures, songs," he said. "It's awesome."
The American chaplains have been working with the AFL chaplains who have taught them a lot about life in Liberia, said Bowlus.
"We've been meeting with the AFL chaplains to learn more about Liberia, religious customs and holidays," he said. "That's helped us out a lot. The AFL chaplaincy is very young and they're trying to get it established. None of their chaplains have been through seminary yet so we've shared some tactics and procedures as well as publications and manuals we use in the American chaplaincy."
Although Bowlus, a father of two, said he knows there's still fear and anxiety in a lot of hearts back home, he believes the U.S military brings hope to the people of Liberia.
"The one word the Liberians say about us being here is hope," said Bowlus. "By us coming and standing with them, it's brought them hope whereas before we came, they were losing hope very quickly. I'm very proud we're here."
"It would be easy for us to deploy to Stuttgart, Germany, and do leaflet drops over Liberia telling people how to be safe, how to find the closest [Ebola treatment unit]," he said. "Instead, we landed boots on the ground to come beside the Liberian people, and I see that model as exactly what God did with us."
Lomax believes the U.S. military's support in eradicating the Ebola Virus Disease is a blessing from God.
"We believe and worship God," he said. "Our trust and our hearts are placed in Jesus and because of our constant prayer, today you people are here. God answers us."
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