climbing the ELWA tower

Yes, 350 feet up.  This is part of the campus from up at the top.  My house is in the top left.  Then across the bottom from left to right is the church (not the church I am working with), gym, and school. 

observations

My watchband stinks from all the sweat and sunscreen. 

African's love to sing - all of them.  And they harmonize, and clap.  It's not common to be shy about your singing voice, it;s just a part of life to sing.

Have I mentioned the visiting protocol?  When you visit someone's home they are very hospitable and most of the time will want you to eat.  They simply say "let's eat." Then the thing I love the most (but can also be frustrating if you're in a hurry) is the way they "carry you halfway" home.  They will walk with you part way, or even all the way home.  So then if they come all the way with you and visit a while, you should carry them part way.  It can be a long process.  Its beautiful though, and a real expression of love. 

Liberian time -  it's like Tiller time, only much more flexible.  You show up when you can. (I'm good at this cultural thing.)

Ok, that's all for now.  Stay tuned for the next exciting news about the adventures I've had recently.  I'm too tired tonight to tell the whole story.

Up-country

The weekend before last I got to go "upcountry" for the first time.  We went to Bomi Lake on Sun.  A former mine (iron ore) that has filled with water.  The country is beautiful.  Lots of green hills. The jungle is thick! 

Here's an old tank that was beside the road in Tubmanburg.  These are the Sacra boys. Max, Jared, and Caleb. 

BONG MINES TRIP

Then Monday we went to Bong Mines.  Took the train there and then drove back - to experience more of the country.  We loaded the vehicle on the train and took it with us.  This is a typical small village along the way - notice the termite mound in the foreground. 

Liberian Food

Thought it would be interesting to tell about the common foods here.  There is a sign along the road that says it well "Rice is life" - and then it adds, "yet all is not well in the land of rice."  You haven't eaten in Liberia if you have not had rice.  The most common thing to eat any time of the day is rice and "soup".  They make many kinds of soup - meaning sauce to add to the rice.  Some of the different kinds of soups are potato greens, cassava leaf, pumpkin, palm butter, beans, and bitter ball (small green tomato looking things). Each is ususally cooked with some kind of meat - fish (fresh, fried, or smoked), pork, crabs or shellfish, or "bushmeat" (or any combination of the above) - cooked with lots of palm oil and hot peppers and boiled a long time over a coal pot.  They also make just dry rice and fish, or check rice and gravy (rice with some greens in it, and a fish gravy).  I really like most of the food I've tried.  The only one I wasn't too excited about was the bitter ball.  The second most common Liberian food is called fufu (or dumboy).  A ball of whitish stuff made from cassava root - pounded in a mortar and allowed to ferment a little.  They eat it with the same soups mostly.  I have tried it twice and didn't like it, but if there's enough soup with it and you don't chew too much it's ok.  The Africans say not to chew fufu, you just take a piece and swallow it.  I persistently kept eating to see if it would grow on me.  It only grew worse.  Luckily it's much less common than rice, and most people assume the white people won't like it anyway.  I am glad I've developed a taste for hot food, since the soups are usually spicy.  I'm also glad I love fish!

There are tropical fruits growing everywhere.  It's mango season now - I love them!  The pineapples are great here, and there are papayas, and most of all bananas. 

These are some of the common local foods, you can get lots of other stuff, and many things are imported as well.  Since my household does most of our own cooking, we actually eat more American style food a lot.  You can get almost anything if you go the supermarket in Monrovia instead of the roadside markets - it's amazing, but somewhat pricy. 

So here's a small taste of Liberia for you! 

A new thing

Sometimes it hits me - I'm in Africa!  I was in church today singing, clapping, worshiping God with a totally African style rhythm, surrounded by African culture and with people who know what it is to suffer, and yet they are thanking God for all He has done for them.  Thankful for each day, for their life - the simple things.  We can be so dissatisfied with our lives sometimes and loose sight of the great blessings we've been given.  I was filled with joy today, just thinking what a great experience this is, all that I am learning, all the blessings I have (mostly my family and friends) and all the great potential each day has for growth, and love.  I'm excited to be here.  And time is going so quickly.  I want to make the most of each day.  I do miss home, and the people and things I love so much, but I'm doing well here and am filled with hope.  The sermon today was about God doing a new thing in our hearts, and in our church.  The Scripture was Isaiah 43:18-21.  "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old.  Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert . . . "  God is doing a new thing in my heart - helping me to look forward with hope, and not focus too much on what I've left behind, or on the challenges I'm facing.  God can do a new thing in anyone who is willing to let Him.