journal entries
“I think I love Liberia so much because it is SOOO opposite anything that is in America. It's the extreme that is saddening, refreshing and beautiful all in one.” read further
— Anna Burrows
“it is absolutely like a page out of national geographic [here]. Yesterday when we drove up all of the kids came running out screaming and cheering and laughing. it was totally priceless. read further
— Wendy Bream
Junior attends our school at 15Gate. His parents work as farmers. Two weeks before the 2008 mission team arrived, he broke his leg while playing soccer at school. There are no medical facilities in this area and his parents could not afford it anyway. They did not inform our nurse. He hobbled to school each day on a crutch.
The team was mostly a medical team and they noticed him immediately. They took him into Monrovia where his leg was re-broken and set properly using bamboo splints and cloth. He stayed with the team for a couple of days. His parents could not afford to stay home with him so the team arranged and paid for someone to look after him until he could get around on his own.
From Anna Burrows:
I'm reading a book called Blue Clay People by William Powers about Liberia. He was a NGO worker who came over in the two year break of the 7 year warring stints. This quote describes Liberia…
"…the "forth world" the black holes in the international system, the sub-third world countries that are not just poor, but environmentally looted, violence scarred, and barely governed; the places where Pandora's box has been open and cannot be closed." Liberia is a fourth world country.
It's been a few days now and the honeymoon of Liberia is wearing off. I'm not phased by the sounds of an animal (probably a mangy dog or pig I see running around) being killed at night for dinner, the smell of the petroleum in the water I use for a bucket shower, the trash strewn in heaps on the beach - ours from the day before, waking up the noise of a water bottle being used for a "football" (soccer), seeing people use the beach (and everywhere) for the toilet, the small mud huts in the rural areas, and the ragged clothes of the children barely hanging on them.
Last night, Wendy, a teammate who did medical at the 15 Gate (rural) school popped into our room just before bed to tell me about the boy who she treated that day. She said he had open wounds, little bites all over his arms. The boy told her it was the cockroach eating on his arm at night. Most of the kids we are testing are coming up positive for Malaria. They sit through class all day with 103 degree fevers…the teachers not sending them home, and they sit there with their heads on the desk. Their big eyes looking at you imploringly!
15 Gate is incredible. It's about an hour drive out there. 13 of us in a 1980s VW type van, and 9 in a Pathfinder wind our way out to the rural village named 15 gate for Gate #15 of the Firestone Tire Plantation. Don't even get me started on Firestone! On the way out, we pass small homes, mud huts made of grass, bamboo, mud and/or cinder block. Many have pieced together tin roofs. Liberian's most important part of their home is the roof, because it rains for 6 months straight…and I'm talking monsoon, hurricane down pours. The children scream and cheer when we pull into the school and instantly suction themselves to your side. We are like tall white pillars with a sea of orange around us, all looking up. (their uniforms are orange). So far, I've only worked with the 65, yes 65, Nursery class so far (5-8 year olds)…doing sponsorship. The class grew from 15 to 65 in 2 years. 65 small bodies, actually very well behaved. They are so small. Their legs are smaller than my wrists and they are no bigger than 3 year olds. They are so freaked out by us when we ask them the sponsorship form questions. I've been getting help from Martha, our housekeeper, who comes with us out there. She asks the questions and tells me the answers. Then we get to PLAY!!! Sooooo much fun. They aren't scared then, but want to come ask us questions, pet our arms, pinch our skin, look at hair. We've learned a few of their games, but we taught them hokie polkie and they ask for it now when we come…they say "pla" and then stick a leg out and shake it. It's so cute. J All the old hand motion Bible School songs have come flooding back and are perfect!
Today we stayed at the school in Monrovia for rest and some meetings. It's a much needed rest. We all hit the wall yesterday and have been exhausted. It's not been that hot though, so I'm so thankful for that! Rain has been blowing through the front room window (by window I mean, the bar grate - no glass - there are no windows of glass in Liberia. If so, the people are rich!) and they have been getting soaked. The crashing ocean waves are louder than thunder and the tin flapping on the roof is now engrained in my mind.
The team is amazing, and we haven't had any problems and are getting A LOT done! My favorite sounds are of the clapping, singing and laughter.
...Thank you for your tremendous support. I truly believe I'm here for a reason and hope the work we do is glorifying the Lord. These people have touched my life in ways I didn't know possible. I think I love Liberia so much because it is SOOO opposite anything that is in America. It's the extreme that is saddening, refreshing and beautiful all in one.
From Wendy Bream
We finally got to the internet cafe. It is reallllly hot here today. The weather has been rainy, cloudy with a great breeze. So, today, sunny and hot. 2 Nights ago, it was raining and blowing so hard that the rain was literally hitting the opposite wall in our room! It was crazy! I got up to try and put the screen back in the window and move the curtain so that the rain wouldn't blow on us and all of the girls in the room were laughing hysterically cause I was like some woman possessed, and soaked to the bone! It was really funny! Ester has nicknamed me 'captain Ahab'! She wants to give me a sharpie marker tattoo with that on it! Speaking of...We treated a child soldier today with tattoos all over his arms.
We are having a great time. I'm working with the medical team. We have worked very quickly, and gotten thru all of the kids each day. We have spent each day, except today, out in the bush, at 15 gate. It is absolutely like a page out of national geographic. Yesterday when we drove up all of the kids came running out screaming and cheering and laughing. It was totally priceless. When we left, they ran with the car to the end of the road. So far, I don't want to take them home, but I do love on them. I've spent a lot of time playing hand games, teaching the hokey pokey, London bridge, etc... Anything...They love it. The really funny thing is how the kids in 15 gate touch my skin, rub it and then smell it! They are fascinated by the white, and the ability to see my blood vessels! They also like to touch my hair. I have also taught the kids in the classrooms songs about various things...The teacher stuff. Some of the younger kids are terrified of these white women!
We got to stop and look at rubber trees and the man explained the process. It was very interesting. We stop each day and buy fruit at roadside shacks. The fruit is to die for. I got an African basket made by a lady in the bush for $2. So very exciting! :-)
Our team is what I call the 'dream team'. We are all getting along very, very well...It is kind of like a huge slumber party. A lot of talking, honesty, sharing of hearts, & very united. When we go to get something done, we are like an 'organized tornado'. We are all highly organized, and motivated to accomplish our mission. Everything is going much better than we had expected. Sara is absolutely amazing. She is very wise, mature, flexible, understanding, yet firm with decisions. I am so impressed by her, and we all love her.
Almost everyone has been somewhat sick. Mostly the runs. Steph and Heidi have thrown up. Steph had a fever of 100+ this am. She is feeling better now..We brought enough drugs!!! It is also great having an all female team. Sure makes the bathroom situation easier!!
We stayed at Sinkor school today. It was great working with the kids there. I think the reason I love the medical team is because we can fix what is wrong. Liberia is a country of impossibilities-- corruption, malnutrition, poverty, etc.. Makes it impossible to get ahead or solve problems. So, helping kids get well, or clean sores, or treating fungus is very satisfying. There is a girl that came today that desperately needs to see a dr. Which costs $30, so we are arranging a dr. Visit & paying for her to go. There is a boy who most likely has TB, and needs a chest x-ray. We will pay for him if we have to . And a girl came in with a dog bite. She might need a rabies shot which is $60. We will also come up with that $ between us.
There are several woodcarvers that come to the school gate each evening. They do custom things for us. We will go to the market on sat. I've purchased a few cool things.
My senses are basically on over load. The sounds, smells, people....so many of them. The whole African thing....all amazing. I'm keeping an incredibly detailed journal...(Doug, no one will ever read it because it is so long!!) I want to remember everything, and be able to process it all. We just listened to the kids choir sing, and it made me cry. (So much makes me cry). They were singing about the war, and how god will wipe their tears away... The harmonies are amazing.
The schools are good. So many great minds. The world feeding program came to sinkor yesterday to do a head count. They are considering starting the feeding program again. They did a head count and it was only 5 off from the # we gave them, so they said that they trust us. They were coming back today to do a count of the am class. These kids really need to eat. I think they see the drastic malnutrition since they stopped feeding the kids. That is a big prayer request..That they will supply food.
So, all is good. There is so much more that we can tell you later. Please be praying for our safety. We are truly sitting targets... White women = $. Our security is good, altho, a couple of the guys are mad at us because they kept asking us for $ and we told on them...They got in trouble. Now they won't speak to us. So, if that continues, I'm going to suggest that Sackie hire some other people. I don't feel in danger at all with the guys.
We are off for ice cream or at least a cold soda. We might go to an African/American dance off tonight.... Where we teach each other how to dance. Yeah....I'll be standing watching!! I'm so hip!
Lots of love and hugs to you all. Scott, thank you for emailing. I wish you were here with me, altho, I'm not sure you would like it. :-) Have a great time fishing. Glad the weather is cooperating.
More later.
Xxxooo
Wendy
