Gifty is 2!

Celebrate with me!

Today Gifty turned 2 years old.

Our miracle girl continues to improve.

She is up to 20 pounds!

I am heading to Wisconsin this weekend for a visit and SO looking forward to squeezing some fat cheeks and smothering her with kisses. :-)

Free Gifty!

Here is a picture of Gifty taken today...

As you can see she is cast free and enjoying the park. Yeah!

And I love that she is covered in sand- she is Liberian after all.

Ashley was right...

I miss Momo!


Before I left the ORR house Ashley told me that, believe it or not, in a few weeks I would miss Momo. Momo is our Chief of Security inside the fence. He is a twenty-something Liberian with one glass eye, his own Liberian-English dialect. a country medicine extraordinaire (dry skin? try 'bray fruah,' brake fluid) and constant source of entertainment to the ORR gang. Oh, and he keeps us protected from rogues and the like (when he is not sleeping).

I was doing some work in my yard this afternoon. As I was mowing my lawn I realized how thankful I was to not have to do it the Liberian way- with a cutlass and my own strength. Backbreaking work. As I was using the new blower my dad bought me to rid my deck of leaves, I realized how thankful I was not to have to use an old falling apart broom. These are just a few of the many things Momo and the other guards (Emmanuel and Foday) do for us around the house.

My garbage can was full of water from the last who knows how many months of Western Washington rain. I tipped it over to drain the water and out came a very dead and stinky RAT. As I picked up the garbage and squishy rodent carcass I was really wishing for one of the guards. (I washed my hands at least 5 times and I am pretty sure they still smell like dead rat!) I can't count the times Momo or one the guys would rescue me from a dangerous millipede in the bathroom or a not-quite dead yet mouse in a glue trap.

Other things I miss about the guards- constant hammocking about the yellow book (Monday was payday and I the financial minister), fashion choices (puffy pink coat, crop tanks, girl's striped shirt as leggings, boxers and only boxers, furry hats, t-shirts with hidden messages), 4 am wake-ups from laughter or yelling across the fence, cell phone ring tones, singing along with Menitama, reminders to get more generator fuel (still not sure how that became my responsibility), always (almost) willing to help out, carry my load- whatever the need.

Thanks guys!

Ashley just told me that Momo got a new pair of rollerblades (he calls them skapes). I can't wait to see that!

Menitama in America

Last night I was at my friend Christal's house, making dinner and catching up on the ups and downs of the last few months. All of a sudden she said, "oh! I borrowed this CD from my sister, I want to play you this song I love, I keep listening to it over and over." She proceeded to play Jordin Sparks "No Air." And I burst out laughing! That song is one of about 5 songs that have made it to Liberia and everyone, everywhere, including our neighborhood night club Menitama, plays them over and over and over. After the song was over and I had dried my eyes, Christal played another song she liked off the CD- Chris Brown's "With You." You guessed it another Liberian favorite. At this point I grabbed the CD to check if it was the Menitama playlist and sure enough found "Dangerous" by Akon, which we of course played as loud as the speakers could handle. There may have been a little dancing in the kitchen and to top it all off Christal made rice to go with our soup for dinner. I was feeling right at home.

Third World to First Class

48 hours ago I was boarding a plane in Monrovia. Now I am sitting (and freezing by the way, my feet are so cold they are starting to go numb) on my couch at home in Bonney Lake. The last 2 days have been a whirlwind...


Monday afternoon I went to say good-bye to the kiddos at Frances Gaskin's. Before I left one girl, Caroline, came up to me and said, "Auntie Debbie, we want to pray for you." She then proceeded to call over all her friends and lead them in the most precious prayer for me, followed by an equally precious prayer from Jeremiah and followed with everyone singing the Lord's Prayer. While they were praying I kept feeling small, reassuring hands on my back and shoulders. Out of the mouth of babes...one of the most amazing and precious experiences of my time in Liberia.

Back at the house, while I was preparing to head to the airport, I attempted to take one last shower. In case you don't know, we shower outside under a barrel which we pump full with water from the well. After getting in the shower I realized that it was empty. Towel on, I went back into the house to ask if we could start the generator for a bit so we could fill the shower. No problem- except that the water pump has been moody the last few days and did not want to work. So, I decided to just take a bucket bath, but there were no full buckets. I was just starting to think that I was going to have to begin my 30+ hours travelling already stinky when Andrew came up with the great idea to fill one of our drinking water buckets (which have a spout) and balanced it on the corner of the shower for me. It gave me about a half inch of water flow, but it worked. Phew! Thanks Liberia for one last "This is Africa" moment.

Matt, Mariel and Ashley dropped me at the airport. Everything went smoothly getting checked in. I was through all the stops in less than half an hour. With a little time to kill before take off I decided to check out the airport "gift shop." I use the term loosely because all that was inside were a handful of beaded necklaces, a few African dresses, handmade leather sandals, imported Chinese hand bags, local wood carvings and Irish Spring soap.

The first leg of my journey was from Monrovia to Brussels. I would just like to talk for a minute about all the bread I consumed on this flight. First they brought a small turkey sandwich on this amazing soft, sticky wonderbreadish roll. Then with dinner (lasagna I think but I did not eat it, I was so distracted by the bread) was a crusty french roll with real butter and a still warm from the oven wheat roll. For breakfast they gave me a fresh croissant with melted chocolate inside! I must admit, even with all the wonderful bread I was enjoying, I did not make it through that first flight without shedding some tears for my beloved Liberia and my friends that I will miss so much.

The flight from Brussels to Seattle (via Newark) started with an upgrade to first class (Thanks Juvy!). I had never flown first class before. My seat assignment was 2A, that is really close to the front of the plane. Almost before I sat down in my lazy-boy recliner seat they were filling my champagne glass. I had over 300 movies to choose from on my personal TV screen. The 5 course meal included salad (real lettuce, yum!) spinach and artichoke pasta, garlic bread (like I needed more bread) and ice cream with Bailey's. Talk about culture shock!

In Seattle I was greeted by my friends at the baggage claim and we headed straight to Holly's house for a Cinco de Mayo extravaganza. After a hot shower and changing into my fleece clothes, we gorged ourselves on enchiladas, tortilla chips, homemade salsa, guacamole, real sour cream, key lime bars and strawberry margaritas. I was asleep on the couch by 9:30 (I know, a real party pooper, I guess the 40+ hours with no real sleep and full belly did me in).

I finally made it to my house this afternoon (2 days after I left my house in Monrovia). As soon as I drove up I noticed new flower pots on the deck. Inside I was greeted by the scent of fresh cut lilacs (my favorite), a clean house, full fridge and cupboards, fresh coffee, gift cards, a picture collage made out of my own pictures from Liberia and a hand painted watercolor painting, all supplied by my wonderful friends. Thanks guys, I feel very loved, spoiled and welcomed home.

I guess tomorrow I should think about unpacking. . .

Home is where the heart is.

I have less than 24 hours left in Liberia. I feel like I was just counting down for my arrival here but the reality is that I have been here 7 months already. These months have been some of the greatest, yet, most challenging of my life. I have seen things I never could have imagined- crazy, funny, ridiculous, horrible, annoying, wonderful, life-changing things. I have met the most amazing people, loved on the most amazing kids, witnessed triumph despite disease, myths and poverty. I have watched a county continue to rebuild and come to life, recovering from war, but with still so far to go. I have grown personally. Discovered a world outside my comfort zone and made it my own. Learned to trust in God at all cost and rejoice in His beauty and blessings. I have experienced miracles. For all that has happened in the last 7 months, I am grateful. I have been spoiled rotten. I am thankful for every good time and for every time I wondered why. I find myself facing what comes next with a great uncertainty and unknown. There is a song lyric that sums it up- "Some say home is where the heart is, show me where my heart is, because I am scared to death." I am going home, but I think most of my heart will be staying in Liberia.