Christian Wolo Bethelson spent 27 years in the Liberian National Army, was trained in Libya, Israel and Romania and served as one of President Samuel Doe’s personal bodyguards. When Charles Taylor took power, Bethelson was imprisoned and tortured. He escaped and joined the rebel forces, fighting under the name, General Leopard.  After the 14-year civil war ended, he was on his way to offer his mercenary services in the Ivory Coast when he happened to meet the peace building group, Everyday Gandhis, who invited him to join them instead.    He 2010 he became the Field Coordinator for Alliance for the Earth where he has done community outreach and helped to oversee a grassroots Peace Hut building program. Bethelson has trained in mindfulness mediation in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh and now teaches mindfulness to other ex-combatants inside the Peace Huts.    He speaks 12 languages and enjoys drumming, dancing and singing. He and his wife Rebecca have 3 children and live in Monrovia, Liberia.