Wednesday, December 28, 2011

#2 - Giving-thanks, Liberian style

Let's remember to give thanks all year 'round.

Original post - November 4, 2009
"Liberian Thanksgiving"

Liberian Thanksgiving is tomorrow. As you can imagine there are no Indians or pilgrims associated with Thanksgiving in Liberia. But, unlike many other Liberian holidays it does have a meaning behind it. After the war that occurred between the native people and new settlers here over one hundred years ago the people decided to set a day apart to celebrate the end of the war and be thankful for everything they still had.

Today we celebrated by having dinner with some of our Liberian staff and friends. Eleven of us (the 4 ORR team members currently in country, Ma Mary, Piko, Alvina, Momo, Moses, Alvin and Emmanuel) joined around the table to share our rice, cassava with palm butter, fried plantains and cucumbers.


After we had all finished (Momo personally checking to make sure every dish was empty) we introduced the Liberians to the American tradition of going around the table and sharing what you are thankful for. It turned out to be a very touching time. In a country where there is so little and people are struggling daily to find food and clean water and trustworthy medical care and love, we were able to take a break and thank God for all His provision this year. As we circled the table the thanks included; work, friends and family, plenty of rice, a new daughter, the first year of marriage, money for school fees, health, healing, the miracle life of a small girl we all know as Gifty and the opportunity to serve the orphans of Liberia, as well as the promises of things to come such as going to college and many more times of meeting together in this way.

Bellies full and hearts happy... we sure do have a lot to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Monday, December 26, 2011

#3 -- Post -op.

 Children's Surgery International (CSI) has partnered with ORR in Liberia since 2010. Thanks to CSI nine orphans, from homes that I work with, have had life changing surgeries, for free! Hundreds of other needy children have had the healthcare they need as well. Besides providing free surgeries and healthcare consultations, the CSI team has provided thousands of de-worming treatments, as well as, food, toys, books and other educational supplies for children in orphanages in Liberia. They are coming for another outreach next month, and I am looking forward to partnering with them again this year.


Original post February 4, 2010

Jeremiah showing off his new belly button.

Jeremiah, Joshua and Fumbeh the day after their hernia repair surgeries. They are all doing great! Even ran across the room and jumped into my arms when I came to pick them up yesterday. They were totally spoiled by the CSI team (chocolate pudding and TV watching!) and didn't want to leave the hospital. The trip home included a stop off to visit Uncle Matt at the construction site in Cottontree, the supermarket (they were overwhelmed at all of the cracker options) and some loving from Ma Mary in the ORR kitchen. I actually felt bad taking them home, as the day went on I could see the adrenaline wearing off and the realization that they were going back to their old lives setting in. Thanks again to Lora, Anna, Jennifer, Emmi, Dr Steve and the rest of the Children's Surgery Intl team. They have been doing over 20 surgeries a day all week and changing all kinds of Liberian lives.


*Two years later the boys mentioned in this post are still healthy and doing well. Jeremiah has grown into a very inquisitive and curious 10 year old. He is always looking to learn about and understand how things work. He loves to sing and dance and his smile is contagious. Fumbeh loves football and plays every chance he gets. He always comes up and greets me with a thankful smile. Joshua was reunited with his family in August 2011.*

Friday, December 23, 2011

#4 - Remembering my Sapo adventure

Originally posted April 11, 2009
"Sapo National Park"

There is only one national park in Liberia. Sapo National Park. Some friends and I had the great opportunity to explore it. Sapo is the second largest primitive rain forest in West Africa. We had to get special permission from the forestry department of Liberia to even visit.

Our adventure began last Friday afternoon as we headed out from Monrovia with our packs, drinking water and enough food to get us through 4 days of the unknown. We found a camping spot on the beach in a town about 3 hours away. We slept right on the beach surrounded by sounds of the ocean waves and underneath a million stars. Amazing! We woke up before dawn and were sipping a delicious camp mocha when we spotted 2 dolphins playing off the coast and enjoyed watching them for a few minutes before loading up the car for the estimated 7 more hours drive to Sapo.

After several hours on the road we finally found a sign that gave us hope! Sapo was near. The roads along the way were bumpy at times and some of the bridges questionable but we made it without any problems. As we arrived in the village where the park headquarters is located, we were greeted by a town full of naked children (which I have a great pic of but don't think it is appropriate to post on a blog, watch for it in National Geographic). The park warden was expecting us and after a short inservice about what to expect in the park and meeting our guides, Alfonzo and Junior, we were introduced to the village chief and town elders. It felt so African, sitting in a Palava hut and being welcomed by the village chief just prior to setting out on a big wilderness adventure. Our departure was somewhat delayed by a brief rain storm, but that seemed appropriate, heading into the rain forest and all.

Camp Michael.
We hiked about a hour and a half to get to the place where we set up camp. After about 45 minutes we reached the river and had to be carried across in shifts by a canoe. By the time we reached and set up camp we had just enough time to cook dinner and filter enough drinking water out of the creek before it got dark. That night we took it easy, enjoyed the campfire and some great conversations before heading to bed.
Upacca tree- run here if you see an elephant.
We started our big day of hiking early Sunday morning. The forest actually reminded me a lot of home, except it was warmer (much more humid) and there were fewer (ok, none) pine trees. But overall I felt very at home there. All the lush green and foliage on the ground was comforting. Our guides were great, they pointed out trees and tracks of animals and attempted to teach us the call of the dieger (some deer-like animal). We did not actually see any great forest animals, but we did see proof of them. We saw a lot of elephant tracks, I still have a hard time picturing them living in the dense forest, but their foot prints were everywhere, often the trail we were following. We were told that we could use the Upacca tree (pic above) to protect us from an elephant if need be. We also saw the tracks of the Bonga, some huge cow like animal that as the guides described is bigger than our tent and taller than me. ah! There was also some hippo droppings (the very rare pygmy hippo lives in that area), I really wish we could have seen the real thing.
Along the trail.
About 5 hours into our day hike we came to the river. After that long of trekking and sweating through the forest it did not take long for us to dive in and enjoy the refreshment. Crocodiles? Um, don't worry about what you don't see, right?
Picture break. That is a pretty good looking group after how many hours of trekking through the forest?
We had been told that there were no trails throughout the park and the guys has come prepared with cutlasses (machetes) to blaze our own trail. There were trails. but very primitive and there was a lot of chopping of overgrowth along the way. We also had to cross countless small rivers and creeks, sometimes with only a few branches to use as a bridge. It got iffy a couple of times but we all made it without an unwanted plunge.
Love the trees!
We arrived back at camp after 8 crazy hours of tromping through the park. We did not see another person the entire time. After a wash in the creek and dinner (which I literally fell asleep while making) we all hunkered under the tarp as the evening rain storm hit. It was a great storm, reminded me of camping in WA (it is not a good camping trip without a good rain storm, right?). I think the evening gathered under the tarp in the rain was actually one of my favorite parts of the weekend. But it was not for long, by 8:30 we were all asleep.
I told you, I really fell asleep while fixing dinner, thanks Ashley for capturing it for the world to see.
We packed up early the next morning and hiked back to the park headquarters where the warden and some freshly fried plantains (yum!) were waiting for us. We did not linger too long before loading up the car and heading out because we still had the 11 hour drive home.
We made it! Everyone at the finish line. Junior, Andrew, Solo, Laura, Alfonzo, John, Ashley and I
So is 22 hours driving worth 11 hours hiking through the Liberian rain forest? Definitely! It was an amazing and beautiful experience, shared with great friends in God's creation. It really does not get any better than that.


PS- If you are interested in a different, more technical version of the weekend (including GPS positioning) check out John's blog at www.johnetherton.com.


Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Top 5 count-down begins!

I just read about an idea that I love! Over the last 10 days of this year, I am going to re-post some of the most popular blog posts that I've had over the last few years. What a great way to reflect --  this is going to be fun!

#5 - Originally posted December 11, 2010
(This one is appropriate as we are making our Christmas bundle deliveries, including an apple of course, this week.)

"An Apple Means 'I Love You'."


One of my favorite things about Christmas in Liberia is delivering gift bundles to the children. After weeks of planning, collecting, sorting, and wrapping, I get to see the shining smiles of the kids as they open their presents (usually the only one they will receive), try on shoes, and model new clothes. Originally, we included an orange with the Christmas bundles. A piece of fruit seemed to be a smart addition to the other sweets that are often included in Christmas celebrating.

However, last year, that changed. Throughout the year, we noticed that, every time a child was drawing an apple, they would start with a heart shape and add a stem. If we were giving out heart shaped stickers, they would thank us for the “apple” sticker. There seemed to be a distinct connection between apples and hearts. We started to wonder if the children in Liberia see apples as a sign of love, like children in the US see hearts as a sign of love.

To put our theory to the test, we substituted apples for the oranges in the Christmas bundles. At each home, the children’s names were called and bundles distributed so all the children could open their gifts at the same time. As the bundles were opened we started hearing gasps of joy. The gasps were not over the candy, a Hot Wheel car, or new tooth brush; they were for the apples. Faces lit up as children held their apples up to show their friends.

I then asked the kids, “Do you know why we put an apple in your Christmas bundle this year?” At every orphanage, they were quick to reply, “Because an apple means love.” 

They got it! 

Apples are definitely being included in the Christmas bundles again this year.
Follow this link to help spread some apple-love this Christmas.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Bundles!

Today I made 153 Christmas bundles to distribute to Orphanages this week. If you are curious what the rest of my week might look like watch this video from last Christmas.



Christmas in Liberia 2010 from Orphan Relief and Rescue on Vimeo.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Three Things

1) I was originally going to entitle this blog entry; "I'm fat, I'm fat... I know it."

I've been back in Liberia for a week now, after 10 amazing, wonderful, relaxing, cold, eat-everything-American-I-can-get-my-hands-on weeks in the states. And ok, yes, I put on a few pounds. This is something that every Liberian feels is their personal responsibility to remind me of. Of course here it is a compliment, they are telling me I look healthy and they are happy to see me again... yada, yada, yada. It is one of those things I know in my head, but every time a --wanting to do well-- Liberian mentions my weight, something inside of me recoils. The American in me can't let go of the stereotype. I want to laugh it off, often I can, but sometimes it really stings. Posting this is my attempt to laugh it off, so I am going to share some of the things my Liberian friends have said to me, in welcoming me home this week--
-You're fat-o!
-You looking fine.
-You really got fat in America.
-I'm enjoying your body.
-You really got body-o!
-You're coming up.
-You're ready to bust.
And my personal favorite--You're really trying to expand! (Apparently I'm not only trying to, I've succeeded. ha!)
 
2) Arriving back in Liberia the first week of December can only mean one thing-- CHRISTMAS!!!

I've already started sorting, organizing and planning this year's Christmas deliveries for the orphanages. Wanna help? Ok-- go to the Orphan Relief and Rescue Christmas page and donate a Christmas bundle (or two) to help bring Christmas love to an orphan in Liberia this season. As of today, we have 185 bundles donated, our goal is at least 250.

If you are looking for other options to give this Christmas, check out my friend (and fellow ORRer) Ashley's on-line Christmas sale. She is selling all kinds of hand made Christmas gift options. Believe me, they are beautiful and worth checking out.

3) And, I can't leave you without some new pictures of my kiddos. Here are a few of my favs from my first week back--
(My parents got me a new camera as an early Christmas present and I am pretty much in love with it!)


Some of my Danny Feeney girls.

Miracle!

Practicing the grand-finale of the new and improved Frances Gaskin Cultural performance.