Cattle Project

With the entire country on the run from rebels during the war, scavenging for food became your only concern besides trying to stay alive. The result of this, is a country with little to no animals. All the sheep, goats, cattle, even zoo animals were killed and eaten in order to survive. In 2005, there wasn't even a dog that could be found running around, which is really rare for Africa.

SP has a few livestock projects ongoing in Liberia, one being the cattle project. Currently, SP has the only successful cattle project in all of Liberia running! Five farmers are chosen in a community for training, in which they learn all about the health, proper cleaning, shelter and feeding of the animal. Each farmer is required to build a shelter for their animal before they recieve their cow.

One farmer recieves a bull, while the others all receive females. When the females give birth, the farmer is required to pay SP back with their first female calf, which is passed on to the next community, thus a self sustaining program.

Most times, the cattle turn into the farmers "bank"- creating funds to send their children to school, or put tin on their roofs for rainy season.

This woman just received her cow this year, and is anticipating that first calf!

This particular farmer has had his cow since 2007 and LOVES him. In fact, in the rainy season he will even build a fire inside his bedroom and let his cow sleep in his room!

ABC University Chapel is COMPLETE!

October marked the month for the final ABC team of the year to come and fully complete the Chapel! I have been waiting for this day all year- seeing the chapel come together bit by bit... and wondering how the finished product would look. I was not disappointed. Being the focal point of the campus, it is the most impressive Chapel in Liberia that I have seen!

Here are a few images from mounting the temporary cross on the building.

After the cross was hung, the end of the day came and the workers scattered. A handful of students entered the chapel to prepare for the next day's chapel service. They began to sing a Liberian song...

"Give God the Glory. Give God the honor. For you are worthy, and we Praise your name."

I couldn't help but get emotional as I thought back over the last year and a half, watching this campus be transformed physically, but also spiritually. Not only has this campus been filled with hungry Christian students, but the workers that Samaritan's Purse has been working with have been and continue to be transformed spiritually.

"Give God the Glory. Oh Lord we thank you, Oh Lord we thank you

and we praise your name"

The wonderful group of workers at ABC University!

The very first chapel service held in the completed building.

I feel so privelaged to be a part of the transformation at African Bible College University.

Thanksgiving in Liberia

Happy Belated Thanksgiving to all of you! I really hope that you were all able to take a step back and look at all the Blessings that God has showered on you. Every day I realize how blessed I am, with not only what He has given me, but where He chose for me to grow up. There are days when I am riding a motorbike up country, on the way to our projects. As I pass the mud huts that hug the dirt road, I see a woman my age, pounding rice in a mortor in order to feed her family that night. I think about how if God had chosen me to grow up here, instead of with my family in Iowa, how drastically different life would be. Would I know what a healthy, loving marriage looks like? Would I have been one of the very lucky girls to actually go to school? Would I ever leave my home village or have any idea what kind of amazing world God has created for me to live in? Would I even be alive after growing up in a malaria infested country? Would I be a Christian?

Often these thoughts bring some guilt- just knowing that I grew up in a completely safe and wealthy environment, where I was able to be a kid, not having to haul water on my head every day in order to survive. Guilt for all that I have been blessed with. But at the same time, I have learned that God places us all where we can be used for Him best. He has a plan for all of us.

I'm thankful for where God placed me in this world. I'm thankful for this amazing job that allows me to experience so much more of His world and His people, and to be a part of his growing and expanding Kingdom.

I will admit, it was tough to be away from family this year at Thanksgiving, but at the same time, I know that I am where I need to be. And I am thankful for that.

DISNEYLAND PARIS!

Last week I was able to take the week off and go to Paris with my friend Bev and her two boys! It was a blast to go to Disneyland and take a complete break from work in Liberia. Don't get me wrong, I love it here, but I was at the point of needing a small break from this wonderful country :) So, we boarded the plane on Sunday night, thankfully because when I went to check in, they once again told me that my tickets had been cancelled. After two hours of waiting patiently, I had a boarding pass in my hand, with a slightly changed itinerary from the rest of the group. But, I was free to leave.

Felix and I on the way to our hotel, just down the road from Disneyland Paris!

I don't sleep very well on planes, so I was pretty tired from missing a nights sleep on the way to Paris... it feels so good to just lay horizontal! Bev and I were talking about how the more you travel, the more you appreciate your bed... or any bed in general, and the opportunity to lay down!

We got into Paris on Monday, so we headed towards the parks to see where we needed to go the next day. Between the Disneyland Park and Disneyland Studios, was Disneyland Village filled with stores and numerous restaurants... including McDonalds!!!!! All three of us ran when we turned the corner and saw it! :)

YES!!!!! A Cheeseburger!!!! I'm certain the people seated around us thought we were insane by how we were reacting to simple McDonalds food.

Monday was actually the nicest day we had all week... we enjoyed basking in the sun since we haven't seen it in Liberia for a while.

This was the first day in Disneyland.... Once I passed those gates I was like a little kid again, skipping and running through the streets- so much fun!

Felix and I on the teacup ride- he was my riding buddy.

The little green men from Toy Story during the nightly parade.

The boys were hilarious... they had never seen anything like Disneyland before, and so when they saw the characters they would freeze and do these funny little nervous waves. I'm trying to coach them along here...

Meeting Goofy and Pluto

WOODY!

Checking out where to go next...

The boys' first experience with cotton candy.

One of the many foods I really miss while living in Liberia is TURKEY. So I made sure to eat a turkey sandwich everyday!

Every morning at breakfast I would take enough supplies to make us ALL turkey sandwiches for our lunch.. I was shameless...make four sandwiches and put them in my bag for later! Just like any good dutch girl would... :)

My fave ride of the week- in Disneyland Studios.

We took the boys on "It's a small world" ride... I did not have good memories of this ride from when I was in 7th grade, but I was very impressed with Paris' version of it. Maybe it is because I appreciate other cultures so much more now than I did then... But here was my "Iowa" scene from the ride.

In the Disneyland Village there was a "Chicago Steakhouse" restaurant... which of course my eyes lit up when I saw. I was so excited for a steak! The steak was a disappointment compared to dad's homegrown beef, but let me tell you, this ceasar salad was amazing! (Another thing we dont get in Liberia... salad!)
We went to a stunt show in the Studio park, where they showed how they film stunts in movies- it was amazing to watch. Notice how the red car has ramped over to the other truck.

And the man on fire...

The last night we treated ourselves to the Buffalo Bill's Wild West dinner show! It was a blast! Complete with horses, buffalo and long horned cattle... It made me feel more at home actually. It was quite funny to attend one of these shows in a French culture... they would play familiar country music and everyone was like "huh?" but still a great time.

We took a day to see a few of the sites in Paris.. here we are aboard the metro.

Hanging out with the boys at the Louvre courtyard, the museum where the Mona Lisa held.

Bev and the boys in front of the Notre Dame.

The Eiffel tower! On the way to the tower I was thinking that I wouldn't be too impressed, but I was wrong. It is a very impressive structure, and beautiful at night!

View from the very top of the Eiffel Tower.

We were coming down the steps from the very top level to find a marking for Monrovia, Liberia, 4,875 km from that point. Very cool.

Our experience in the city included a LOT more walking than we had anticipated... we didn't get back to our hotel until midnight... this is on our hotel shuttle... almost there! Our feet were KILLING us! But the boys did so well.

After we left Paris, we had a day and a half in Brussels on our way back to Liberia. Since we were there for a good chunk of time, we were able to meet up with my good friends Jeremy and Kimber Van Essen, who live in Germany!

Jer and Kimber were basically my family when I lived in Cedar Falls- they invited me over for supper my first week there when I didn't know a soul, and I basically never left! :) Jeremy works for John Deere, and is 2 years into his 4 year stint in Germany. I was able to visit them last year on my way back to the States, and now again this year! It is so great to have them on this side of the "pond", and that we are able to actually see each other with the ease of travel in Europe. Who knew, 8 years ago that we would be hanging out in Europe together?!?! It's awesome how God works.

We met in the cutest little city called Brugge... one of the most quaint little towns I have ever seen!

Grabbing something to eat! Can you tell how much I love food??? :)

Famous Belgium French Fries

Picture Perfect

Jeremy and Kimber have four kids, and the boys loved hanging out with them for the day.


We had to try a Belgium waffle while in Belgium... and let me tell you... it was the MOST AMAZING thing I have ever eaten! FRESH strawberries (another I miss), powdered sugar and whipped cream.... It's a party in your mouth!

The Belfry in Brugge... built in the 1300's!

One end of the city square in Brugge... doesn't it look like Orange City? ;)

Thanks Van Essens for a great day!

I figured this picture encompassed our vacation well.... Quick (with McDonald's fast food) Starbucks every day, Disneyland, and the airport. All in all, a fabulous trip!

Tuckered out little boys...

And on our way back to Liberia, thankfully, after every flight I went to check in for told me my ticket had been cancelled! But we made it!