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The Capital City
Perhaps one of the greatest monuments in the world is the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Paix (the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace) in the capital city of Yamoussoukro. To inaugurate our week in Côte d'Ivoire, we drove three hours north of Abidjan to reach this spiritual site.

We journeyed through rural areas, riding through rows and rows of the country's lush, green landscape, rich with palm trees and trees heavy with bananas, coconuts, mangos, and papayas, past people sowing seeds and reaping harvests, as well as small villages and towns with bustling marketplaces. When we came upon the site of the Basilica from a distance, we were in disbelief. It was breathtaking, and when we drove up to the gates and saw the enormity of it, we were awestruck.

This Basilica is the highest in the world and is one of the world's largest religious monuments, but what makes this one truly unique is its visionary. It was founded in 1985 by Felix Houphouet Boigny, the former President of Côte d'Ivoire. On September 10, 1990, Pope Jean Paul II inaugurated the Basilica, saying "O, Our Lady of Peace, keep the human family always in peace!" This monument is becoming an inspirational home of a Christian tradition that dates back in this country to almost a hundred years. This is an immense work of art, where stone and glass come together as a testament to the strength and beauty of the Ivoirian people and their devotion to God.

There is no statue of the former President in the Basilica but his likeness appears in one stained glass portrait. Though former President Boigny gave ownership of the Basilica to the Vatican, we must not lose this story of an African man building a monument to God. Every Sunday, 7,000 - 10, 000 people come to worship at this Basilica.

Sunday Services at Local Churches
On Sunday morning, the team worshipped with the Catholics at the Cathedrale St. Andre in Youpougon, with the Methodists at the Temple de Jubilée in Cocody, and with the Pentecostals at the Assemblée de Marcory. Pernessa Seele, Founder and CEO of The Balm In Gilead, and Reverend Evatt Mugarura, Director of The Balm's Africa HIV/AIDS Faith Initiative, gave remarks before these congregations with the help of translators.

"It's so good to be in Africa in church," says Pernessa, "as I am always elevated by African voices singing in church. I love the worship experience of Black people. We are joined by our faith, our belief in God, and by our praise. We praise God alike. We sing alike. Even though we are singing in different languages, we are saying the same things. Black people do Black church all over the world."

When she spoke about the role of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in black peoples' lives in the U.S., especially during slavery, the congregations were incredibly responsive and understanding often before the translation was even completed. People felt what Pernessa was saying. They understood when she said that, just like in days of old, the church must be at the forefront in the response to HIV/AIDS. They knew what she was saying was important and relevant to their lives, and they understood how important this new partnership is.

Reverend Mugarura, who preached the Sunday service for the Pentecostals, said it was a truly wonderful experience. "They welcomed me as a priest and surprised me by making me the preacher of the day. Their freedom of worship was very unique. They used African musical instruments, they danced, they expressed themselves freely before God."

"After sharing," he continued, "we discovered we have something in common. People looked at me as their brother. They came to me after the service and thanked me for the message, and they assured me that they are ready to work with The Balm In Gilead, addressing HIV/AIDS in their country."

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