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Inside churches throughout the Twin Cities on Sunday, Liberians offered prayers of gratitude for the chance to live in the United States for another 18 months. On Wednesday President Bush granted the extension to those who had been in the United States under Temporary Protective Status, buying more time for about 3,500 Liberians nationwide (1,000 in Minnesota) who fled a bloody civil war in their homeland. The status was first granted in 1991. Almost every year since then, the Liberians' fate has been decided within a few weeks or days before their deadline to leave the country. For many, the extension means another 18 months to earn money to send home to family still in Liberia. Still, their future remains unclear. For more photos of Sunday's celebration, go to www.startribune.com/slideshows.