Update for February 25, 2011

A reminder once again that we are on African time! Today we started only an hour later than planned, but by the grace of God we completed everything on our list but at a later and slower pace than anticipated. But, we are getting used to that. Today was our last full working day here in Monrovia. So much to say and where do we begin to put the right words on paper ...

Our morning began with meeting Chris at the bank. Sounds like a simple task, right? Go to the bank, open an account, deposit money, and voila! Nope. Not in Africa. Chris tried to get in the bank before we arrived, but they wouldn't let him in because there are no more passbooks (transaction books). We arrived and Chris explained that this wouldn't work today. Marsha called our contact, Saide, at the guesthouse and he said, "No problem, wait outside and I will call my friend at the bank." Within minutes we were greeted by a young man well dressed in a suit. We were escorted upstairs and then downstairs several times before sitting down and filling out a stack of papers. Now, they have a system for papers, I tell you. Where on a bank application does it ask which church you attend? This one did! We were thankful for the cool air inside but needed to use the washroom. Who's got the toilet paper? We left it in the car! Next time, don't go anywhere without it!! This restroom is shared by both men and women. Women get the left stall and men the right. No water to wash hands and no lock on the door. Both have no toilet seats ... TIA!!!

We were then off to the Red Light District again to meet with several women who we are setting up in small businesses to purchase supplies for them. We must be feeling more comfortable. We are the ONLY white people in the market. Do you think we stand out? As we waited for Chris to return to the taxi with the women who have been waiting for us since 9:00 AM (it was then 1:30 PM), we were surrounded by vendors. One particular woman caught our eye. I noticed her feet were worn and dirty with deep callouses. She was walking on the dirt ground that was covered with litter. There were empty waterbags, old pieces of paper, broken shoes, and plastic that once held food from the market. I quickly looked up and saw the sweat beads that formed on her forehead and streamed down her face. She didn't even notice. Then she grabbed her cloth and in one instant she wiped her brow, all in a day's work. The voices shout out "mineral water", then I heard a voice that shouts out even louder "white woman". I then hear long loud horns bellowing from the mass of vehicles that are waiting to pass (air-care).lol. Then once again I realize we're in Africa and this is normal...

We met two of the women to set up businesses. Comfort is someone that lives in Chris's new village and who he met at the refugee camp in Ghana. We realize this when she cannot read the invoice or understand the concept of business. Thankfully Chris and Maurice explain and Chris will continue with follow-up. She got her bags of rice, sugar, salt and oil and returned home with a beaming face, excited for the opportunities and new beginnings. Praise God! Emmanuel Richard's mother (he is one of our sponsored students) also met us but is still undecided on what her small business should be. Chris reminded her that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and she should work hard and do well. We didn't rush her into her final decision. Muni and Alisha Sharba's father (two of our sponsored girls) also met us with his requirement sheet for university. He is excited for the opportunity for advanced education. We agreed to this and he will start working on his first 21 credits soon at the University of Liberia. We then headed off to Grace Nelson's (another sponsored student) place which was not far away. They say "not far, only 5 minutes" which turns out to be one hour. From now on we will ask if it's less or more than one hour ;)

We drove down a long bumpy red dirt road with dust flying everywhere! We could feel it everywhere and got ready to cover our faces whenever a big truck passed. We parked and walked up a windy, rocky path that led to their house. It's hard to call it a house. It looks more like an abandoned bullet-ridden cynder block outbuilding. There is one door, barely hanging on hinges clinging to a wall. Grace's grandfather lives here with some of his children and grandchildren. Grace lives with an auntie and her mother lives in a village an hour away. Grace needs education so she needs to be in the town. It's sad to see a family split because of poverty. Grace's grandfather (69 years old!) was a police colonel before the war and was on the hit list by the rebel army. The bullet holes penetrating this building is eerie! We will set up Grace's mother with a small business and will help the grandfather lay some concrete in some of the rooms, especially where they sleep on the floor, and also purchase some mattresses for them. This is a very sad existence.

We then set off to deliver and surprise Joma Kulie with a new wheelchair. He has not had a wheelchair since 1990 ... he has been sitting and crawling on the ground for over 2 decades!! We first noticed him at Chris's house when we were being greeted and welcomed by his community and the widows. Between crutches and crawling, he made his way to Chris's house after a 3 km hike! We also blessed him with a 50 kg bag of rice and some oil. Now that was one happy man as his life has forever been changed!! (see picture in post below) Again, a reminder to us how God works! All things in His timing!! Praise God!

Our last stop was the most heart wrenching! A few months ago, we asked Chris to find us the most neediest family that he knows of in his village. He did just that. We drove another 30 minutes (not so far in African time) until we couldn't drive any further, so we had to walk down this dirty windy trail for about 10 minutes through the bush and brush until we finally got to the end of the path. This is where Hannah Korlubah lives. This is not a house - not a place even suitable for animals! It is called a mud hut made from mud and sticks (see pictures in the post below). The roof is old, broken and pieced together. The owners of the property have no respect and enter freely into her home as if it was theirs. Hannah's mother (they call her Old Lady) walks 40 minutes to the road to get a ride to the market to sell the few things her mother has given her. When Chris told us about this family, Nancy felt led to sponsor Hannah who is 12 and has never been to school before. She is now attending Grade One. While her mother is at work, Hannah is at school and the two younger children are home alone to tend for themselves. But most of all, they stay at home to protect the home as the door cannot lock. You can see their poverty by their pictures (pink shoes and and socks on the boy and Hannah only wears one sock, no shoes). Sad, don't you think? She doesn't ask for money, food or lodging and yet she thanks God for all she has! We are looking for a better and safer place for her to call home and will help her to start her own business in selling dried goods. We left her encouraged and grateful that we could make a difference in this family's life. She thanked God again for what she had and for each of us for coming!

Our drive home was spent reflecting on our day's activities and I could not help but anticipate washing the dust and smoke off our bodies. I wonder how many others have the same blessing of cleaning themselves at the end of each long, hard day in Monrovia.

Back at the guesthouse, we ate dinner with Chris, his girls, and our driver Maurice. I couldn't help but watch as it seemed they were stategically planning out what they would eat now and what they would save for meals to come. We are humbled and still have so much to learn.

With love,
Jackie, Marsha, Ariel