Personal Journey: Back to Africa

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Personal Journey: Back to Africa

Personal Journey: Back to Africa

Teresa Cook (right) shares her memory of family trip to Kenya with Samuel Johnson (center) and Mary Thompson while they have tea at Teresa's home. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Samuel Johnson points himself out in an old photograph from a refugee camp in Guinea at Teresa Cook's home, where Samuel and his wife Mary Thompson stay. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Mary Thompson pets Cody as they look out the window at Teresa Cook's home on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Teresa Cook talks to Samuel Johnson (not pictured) at her home, where Samuel and his wife Mary Thompson stay. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Family photographs from Kenya trip in 2006 are displayed on the wall at Teresa Cook's home, where Samuel and his wife Mary Thompson stay. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Teresa Cook's home, where Samuel and his wife Mary Thompson stay, is decorated with many African souvenirs. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Samuel Johnson prepares for a trip to Macon to see his wife Mary Thompson's family in his room at Teresa Cook's home, where Samuel and Mary stay, on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. Personal Journey : Samuel Johnson was angry and swore vengeance on the men who killed his father during the civil war in Liberia. But his mother, a very spiritual woman, warned him against such action. Hatred only hurts you, she told her son. If you stop hating and think about how you can help people, blessings will flow. And, indeed, they have. Johnson found an number of "adoptive" families here in the United States, who have offered him shelter, a loving church family and in a project dear to his heart helped in help those still living in Guinea. Johnson was urged to leave when Ebola decimated parts of West Africa, but he vows to go back to help the many kids there he befriended. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Samuel Johnson (right) and his wife Mary Thompson prepare for a trip to Macon to see Mary's family in their room at Teresa Cook's home, where Samuel and his wife Mary Thompson stay, on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Teresa Cook talks to Samuel Johnson (left) at Teresa's home, where Samuel and his wife Mary Thompson stay, on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Teresa Cook (left) and Samuel Johnson (right) and his wife Mary Thompson play with Cody at Teresa's home, where Samuel and his wife Mary Thompson stay, on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

Sam Johnson was amazed to see children playing, washing clothes and bathing in the same waters that he did.

Sam Johnson recently returned to the refugee camp where he spent several years on a mission to help those still there.

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Teresa Cook (right) shares her memory of family trip to Kenya with Samuel Johnson (center) and Mary Thompson while they have tea at Teresa's home. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM

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