Tuesday, January 31, 2012

January 2012

I haven't been writing a lot to keep everyone updated on things in Liberia this past month so here is a summary of what I've been up to this year so far...

Christmas deliveries continued. I surprised the kids at three more orphanages and a preschool with Christmas goodies this month and still have more deliveries to go! (Check out the Christmas video here.)

I got a cat! (And had a monkey visit for a few days.)
Today, Manyeh (the cat) and Grace (the monkey) hung out for awhile on the porch.
 (add that to things that have happened on my front porch.)

I had the honor of witnessing two of my friends get married.
Congrats to Jeam and Rachel Smith!

I got to spend time with some pretty awesome kiddos-- like Massah.


I played tour guide to three separate groups of visitors and had the honor of introducing them to my world here in Liberia. One day of touring included the ever improving Cultural Presentation at Frances Gaskin's. Apparently I even inspired some of the cultural decor.

The visiting nurses from Children's Surgery International and I  gave out almost 1000 worm treatments in the communities surrounding four different orphanage homes. Here, Yamah is showing off that she finished chewing the yucky tasting medicine. Good job-- give this girl some candy!

Monday, January 23, 2012

More than just a front porch.


Today, as I was tending to a sick neighbor on my front porch, it hit me how many different experiences I’ve had there. My front porch is not just a place you pass by to enter my house. It is the life of the house. It is what makes it a home. It is where so much of life happens. The front porch is where I greet people and say goodbye, it’s where I watch the world go by. I have hired people there and fired people there. I have eaten there, alone or with friends. There I have, taken out stitches (more than once), cleaned scrapes, removed splinters, checked temperatures, packed a wound, given out tablets, treated malaria and  provided healthcare education of all sorts. I’ve read there, sang there, danced there, lectured there, and laughed there. I’ve mourned there, heard of births and deaths there. I’ve prayed there. I’ve witnessed history there. I’ve watched the sunset and the rain. I’ve been entertained by naked Liberian children, ridiculous construction workers and yelling Chinese men. There I have played games, put together puzzles and learned magic tricks. I’ve watched a fire threaten and heard gunfire there. I’ve had business meetings and family meetings there. There I have hosted dogs, cats, a chimpanzee, and a pangolin. Unconscious children have been brought there. I've entertained strangers there. I’ve yelled there, cried there, listened there and been listened to there. I have watched the lightening make the night sky shine. I’ve met God there. Friends have been made there. Family has joined there. Good memories and bad memories have been made there. My love of Liberia has grown there.

Monday, January 16, 2012

#1 - He will carry my load

Here is my #1 blog post of all time...

I know this is late in coming, but I've been beaten by the African internet connection yet again, and cannot re-upload the video. It's not as fun, but please follow this link to enjoy Varbah singing, "He will carry my load." 
Original Post - July 22, 2009

*This video was taken in November, 2008. Varbah used to live in an orphanage that was a horrible place. No adults, small children, including Varbah, doing the washing, cooking, cleaning, taking care of the even smaller children and not going to school. Varbah and her friends were always dirty, always sick, always lonely. (Gives new, deeper, meaning to He will carry my load, huh?) Finally, in June of 2010 that orphanage was closed. The children were divided into several different orphanages. Nine of them, including Varbah, were admitted to a brand new boarding school.*
Varbah, Christmas 2011.
Today -- Varbah is in school, growing, healthy, happy.