Appreciation

 Tuesday, August 07, 2007            

   By Tewroh-Wehtoe Sungbeh

                           Bishop Augustus B. Marwieh

                                             The Man and His (E.N.I.) Mission

                                                              1928-2007

    I had just returned from Jadaepo’s Doodwicken Mission located in Sinoe County in 1973, after what I thought was my last foray into mission school life when my late father who had earlier refused to let me attend E.N.I Mission finally honored my previous request and allowed me to enroll and live there.

     It was a dream come true for me in 1974, when I finally entered E.N.I as a 9^th grade student, especially after admiring and observing that campus from afar believing E.N.I Mission was the best thing to ever come from that part of the country other than the other mission I previously attended on the left bank of Sinoe County.

     I did not know anything about Bishop Augustus B. Marwieh when I asked my dad to send me to E.N.I for school; and I was unaware of the fact that the Bishop was the man behind the mission and its success. All I knew was I wanted to go to E.N.I to learn and be a part of that mission family.

     For some reason, I was always impressed with the brand name E.N.I, and was also impressed with the students whenever I came across them during football matches in Billobokree, Juarzon where I once lived and during the annual national examination in Greenville, or when individual students were on their summer break in anywhere, Liberia.

     I admired the students and thought they were cool, they carried themselves with dignity and represented their respective families and the mission well making me more anxious to be a part of that special group and a special place called Plahndiabo.

     Not a single person on campus ever told me what those three letters, E.N.I meant during my one and only year on campus. Not even Bishop Marwieh, who, when he wasn’t traveling did not miss one daily morning (thirty minutes to an hour) of devotional and inspirational session with students and faculty members, (before we even got ready for school), ever said a word.

     But when we students gathered we would often chat, some would say argue among ourselves about those famous three letters, E.N.I, and its meaning I later learned was “Elizabeth Native Interior,” which did not make any sense to me at the time and even now.

     However, Augustus B. (Gbartoe) Marwieh who died on July 28 of an apparent heart attack in Monrovia was the man behind the success of what is known as the Elizabeth Native Interior Mission, a school he took over from his mentor and sponsor the American Missionary Eliza Davis-George in 1965, after he served as principal of Ricks Institute, was dedicated to its mission of producing young men and women to be decent people ready and willing to use their training in religion, agriculture and academics to reach others.

    Except for one’s own parents who were giants in their own eyes, Bishop Marwieh was a giant among giants in a country where giants are endangered species. Bishop Marwieh was principled, tough as steel, stubborn in his beliefs and dedicated to his wife of 46 years, Othelia Marwieh, his five children and missionary work.

     At a time when some of his fellow countrymen and women failed to give back to people and country and where aggressively chasing employment in government, or were seen running for president in every election, the much educated and knowledgeable Marwieh, who could have worked in government in any capacity did not work for government but chose instead to do God’s work to the end.

    Bishop Marwieh, who directed E.N.I mission when I was there was a trailblazer and a visionary. He inspired, mentored, trained and saved souls for Jesus Christ through his many missionary projects, and was absolutely thrilled to see during his lifetime the positive impact E.N.I mission had on kids and their parents all over Liberia including the rural population of Plahndiabo located in the heartland of Sinoe County.

      With the help of his able and loyal assistant the Rev. John W. Chichen, Bishop Augustus B. Marwieh brought attention to the sleeping town of Plahndiabo where E.N.I mission is located and took it from its proud but quiet image to that of a jewel surrounded by a pristine environment, a rich rainforest, a rich culture/history, the proud and humble people of that town and the exotic animals that called that area home, in a county with potential but like all other areas in Liberia were deeply affected by the age-old evil policies of a national government whose evil deeds and obvious lack of a vision saw many areas like E.N.I. mission crumbled before our naked eyes.

.    Too bad I was never too close to Bishop Marwieh to learn from him and to know his secret to longevity. My one-year stay at E.N.I mission was the end of a sheltered mission life, and the beginning of a new life in the real world.

     I was fortunate to share my small 1974 9^th grade class with individuals such as Mary Pulor Tarlue, who sang duet with me during our junior high graduating ceremonies in Baffu Bay, Sanquien, Sinoe County; McCauley Jarbah, Fred Kugmeh and brilliant minds such as the late Farrington Jah, Brown S. Cheddar and others whose names I cannot remember at this time. It being that long, my people?

     Bishop Augustus B. Marwieh has done his part and is no longer with us. Those of us whom he inspired and whose minds he molded are left to do our part.

     May his soul rest in peace.

 

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