Food and Floods

The living accommodations here at ABC are really great. I stay in a newly rebuilt home, equipped with internet and even satellite TV. Its very cush compared to the living conditions I have had previously in Africa. I definitely don't take that for granted. I am in a community that is surrounded by they poorest of the poor. At most they make $5 a day, but in a country where 80% of the population lives off under $1 a day, its not likely. And to think that a bag of rice now costs close to $40. How they make it, I don't know.

Every time I am in Monrovia and go grocery and supply shopping for my teams, I am amazed at how high the food prices have gone. Weeks back the talk of the worldwide food crisis was all over the news, and that is a very scary thought for me, especially in a place like this. Most Liberians will tell you that if they haven't eaten rice today, they haven't eaten. If rice would become even more scarce or prices continue to rise, troubles could come very quickly.

Just to give you a little idea of what the prices are in Monrovia:

a box of cereal- $8
a can of tomato sauce -$2.50
a small can of pork and beans -$2
Milk (one liter) - $2
450 g block of cheese- $9
eggs- 6 for $1

Please remember this world-wide food crisis in your prayers. There are so many places in this world that are hungry already, adding a food shortage on top of it will add even more problems. "A hungry person is an angry person."

It has also been a little strange recently, when I can turn on the television here in Yekepa, Liberia, and see images of the flooding in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on the International CNN channel. My heart goes out to all who are affected by the flooding, whether that be homes, businesses, farms and crops. I will continue to pray for you also.