This and that...

Just some totally random pics in Liberia... mostly the non "professional" ones.. but I hope it gives you another look at my life here.


Taya and the ladies of Malawo. She is their adopted daughter and a "citizen" of Malawo.

Me and my namesake Yassa from Malawo. That is my Loma name, Yassa.

Attempting to climb the rock wall using a vine.. it's been done before but I decided it won't be done by me! It doesn't look it, but its about 50 feet tall.

Helping plaster one of the latrines in Malawo.

It keeps falling off!

STAY!

Installing a water filter in one of the homes in Malawo.

Went for a bike ride with Bev and Taya. I'm the one in the middle.

Foya lookout point. The ground is littered with bullets from the war.

Bev, Taya and I.

Our reflection in the motorbike helmet.

One of the mud bogs I had to ride through!

One of the many log bridges we have to cross.. except this time we hooked a log and pulled it right off with us!

mmmm bush meat... "that sweet meat-o!"

Tay-tay and I getting ready to go check out some water filters.

So I am always seeing the kids roll their wheels down the street, so I decided I would give it a try... it's a LOT harder than it looks!

They make it look so easy.

Supper time! Grab a spoon and dig in.

Getting ready for the hike down from Malawo.

And after we reached the bottom... ewww....

Me and Hauwa. (SP Senior Projects Manager)

The WATSAN and company office. Bev, Taya and myself. Next year I get a real desk :)

The focal point of our whole office...

My first trip up to Malawo.. taking a breather... if the redness of my face doesn't tell you how out of shape I am, I don't know what will!


Downloading pictures in Malawo. There is an open house that we have been staying in, in tents.

The sunset my last night in Liberia. Thank you, Lord!

Celebrating Bev's birthday! I made my attempt at cake decorating... don't ask what they were supposed to be!

Erin (worked with Special Projects) and Taya (Water and Sanitation Program Manager)


Janell and myself. Janell manages the Community Livelihood Program, AND her parents operate ABC, which is who I worked closely with.


Seren and Lisa. Seren runs her own organization called L.A.C.E.S, doing soccer leagues and mentorship, and Lisa coordinates our HIV/AIDS programs.

Our house on ELWA. Seven of us girls live here.

Our new office building on ELWA!

This is how you do homework when your electricity isn't working...

Golfing at Firestone Rubber Plantation. $5 for 9 holes, $5 for a caddy!

One of my favorite spots... on the porch overlooking the ocean.

Family Visit!

I was incredibly blessed to have my Grandfather, Dad, Sister and Cousin come and visit me in Liberia for 2 weeks! To say that they had a true African experience would be an understatement! Here are a few pictures of their time here.

Dad and Grampa are introducing themselves to the students at the
Orphanage School in Yekepa.

Dad and Ma Jonah, the "mom" of the orphanage. She was pretty excited when
she figured out this was my real dad!

I showed Dad and Grampa the old iron-ore mine up in Yekepa-
with TONS of old, HUGE equipment.

That's one big scoop!



One of the three tipped over trucks on the road to Yekepa. It was quite the ride!

Getting a campus tour from my good friend Dave, the project coordinator.



SP had a visiting surgeon here for two months... Dad and Grampa were pumped to be able to go in and watch a few of his operations.. little did they know what was to happen later that week...

Dad is helping wash down the Samaritan's Purse helicopter.

Grandpa posing by Franklin Graham's seat!


So midway through the trip, my cousin Anna was having severe stomach pains. Thankfully we had Dr. Cooper here with SP to come and check her out.
Me, Bev and Ali keeping Anna company in the hospital room.... I am the human IV stand.

It ended up that Dr. Cooper thought it might be Apendicitis... and Anna had to have an operation right here at ELWA hospital! Ali, Bev and I were able to go into surgery with Anna, to help keep her calm. As we were gowning up, we couldn't help but laugh at our "duck bills" as masks!

Here we are, in surgery. Anna had a spinal done, and as Dr. Cooper has her intestines out, she looks at me and says, "Has he started yet?" :) Yes Anna he has.

Obviously an overwhelming experience to have surgery, much less in Africa. I was able to hold her hand the whole time and keep her calm. The appendix came out, but didn't appear to be the problem. He did in find an adhesion to her stomach wall from a previous surgery that was causing the pain. Looking back, it was totally orchestrated by God... it is VERY rare to have a surgeon here, not to mention one of the best field surgeons out there. Thank you, Warren for all of your help! You really are a God-send!

(AND the bill for EVERYTHING was only $245! Can't beat that!)

Ali-Bali and I at the lookout in Tubmanberg.

Grandpa and his grand-girls...

The five of us (before the surgery)

Underwear Town. Apparently the man who built this town did most of it in his underwear. Hence the name :)

We went to see some of the SP projects in Bopolu.
Dad and I decided to take the motorbikes instead.

One of the main reasons I wanted my Grandfather to come to Liberia. He spends most of his time working at Hope Haven in Ireton, building wheelchairs to send overseas to the disabled. Samaritan's Purse, Liberia distributes some of those chairs. He was able to meet one of the beneficiaries and see a chair that he made!

Me and my Pa

The five of us on our front lawn.

Grandpa's in AFRICA!

No, this was not posed...


It was a great trip and I thoroughly enjoyed having each one of them come and experience a little part of my life here in Liberia. Even though there were unplanned medical issues/scares, it just proved once again that God's hand is in everything- big and small.

just need to vent...

I'd like to think that I am a person who rarely complains... so therefore that is how I am justifying this post... :)

Our power situation for the last month has been consistently inconsistent. For example, here is the usual power schedule:

Monday-Friday : 6am to Midnight
Saturday-Sunday: 6 am to noon, 5:30pm- midnight.

This is what it HAS been:
Monday-Friday: 6 am- 7am.... 7:50am- 10. 6pm-7:00pm...... 8:40-10:10.... 10:35- midnight
Saturday- Sunday: non-existent.

i'm sorry, but its starting to get OLD. FAST. the situation? people don't pay their rent, thus the organization who gives us power, has no money to buy fuel. Even though we are the ones who consistently pay our bills on time.

Do you know how hard it is to get ANY work done when you have no consistent power, to power your computer, much less your INTERNET? and speaking of internet, that has been pretty unreliable lately too... there could be a single cloud in they sky to interrupt the signal... remember the days where you had to wait 30 minutes for ONE PAGE TO OPEN??? yah... welcome to Liberia. (believe it or not i am not exaggerating on the 30 min-)

Don't get me wrong, I love Liberia, and yes, I choose to be here. I just wanted to take this opportunity to vent some recent frustrations I am having.... as I try and get into my email account for the 15th time tonight....

so as you read this on your super speedy internet connection back home.... and enjoy that AC at 2 am... ENJOY IT FOR ME. Thanks :)

There is a CELEBRATION going on!

There are times in life where God works so mightily, you CANNOT help but stop wherever you are, and praise Him for what He has done!

“In the same way, I tell you, the angels of God
rejoice over one sinner who repents.”
Luke 15:10

My friends, I have one of these experiences to tell you about. Over the last few months SP has been praying and working hard in the village of Malawo. Over 30 water filters were installed, two community latrines built, a school feeding program started, along with more plans for the future. A month ago, the women gave up their devil bush- to be used to build a school, community center and possibly a church in the future! That is just a taste of what is going on spiritually in Malawo.

Ever since the opportunity arose to enter Malawo, the question by our ministry team has been, “when is the right opportunity to make an invitation to follow Christ?” Too soon and the community may kick back. Miss the opportunity and it may be too late. Two weeks ago our ministry team arrived with the intention of showing the Jesus Film, along with the God Story. The plan was to show the first part of the Jesus film on Sunday, discuss it, and show the rest of it on Monday and continue to discuss. The whole community came out for “movie night in Malawo”, and insisted that they watch the whole Jesus Film on Sunday night. They again requested it on Monday night. Tuesday night, they were shown “The God Story.”

After the film, the ministry team felt God was telling them that the time was right to present an invitation. Bypassing the ritual of “close your eyes and raise your hand”, they invited those who wanted to accept Christ to the very front- under the screen, to stand in front of the whole community to make their commitment.

To their surprise, THIRTY-TWO adults, THREE VILLAGE ELDERS (including the chief), and DOZENS of children walked forward to make their stand for Christ! This is truly a MIRACLE! They were asked if they understood what this meant- that they were to turn their backs on the devil bushes, sacrifices, etc. They all said YES!

Last week they had the FIRST EVER church service in Malawo- with 50 adults in attendance. Just now we received a phone call that yesterday there were 73 adults in service!

I don’t know how to convey how incredible this is- to see what God is doing in what has been the “devil’s home” for so many years! Please pray for the village of Malawo. I have only been up that mountain twice, but I am attached to the people there, as is our staff. God is working, and angels are CELEBRATING!

“Those who win the victory will be clothed like this in white, and I will not remove their names from the book of the living. In the presence of my Father and of his angels I will declare openly that they belong to me.”
Rev. 3:5

Malawo

Malawo is a small village in number, but large throughought Liberia. It has been known as the mecca of witchcraft, with many people traveling there to receive their charms. Even a past Liberian president has made the trek by car to the base of the mountain, and hiked over an hour to the top. Their history is full of human sacrifice and laws, such as women are not allowed to wear anything on their tops, or no one was allowed to wear shoes or sandals in the village.

In 1993, things started to change. Malawo was burned by rebels coming through, and many villagers fled to refugee or Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camps. With their village burnt to the ground, and the exposure to Christianity and the Church in the camps, their belief systems were a bit shaken.

They returned to their homes after the fighting was over, only to go back to their old ways. Samaritan’s Purse was able to seize an opportunity for ministry. Kendell, (our Country Director) and local evangelist, were able to go up to Malawo to visit. To their surprise, the elders met them at the top of the mountain with the news that they were allowed to wear their shoes. Things haven’t been the same since.

After seeing their situation, they heard about how another NGO previously had visited, promised latrines, and never fell through with the promises. Kendell then promised that by the end of August, every home in Malawo would have a water filter installed.

It is nearing the end of August, and as I write this, every home in Malawo has a water filter, a latrine is being completed, and every home is being measured for new tin on their roofs.

Women are wearing blouses. Everyone is wearing shoes. The women met for four days last week and decided to clear out their “devil bush” in which they believe most of their powers come from, in order to build a community center, school and a church! The villagers are even asking for the Jesus Film!

God is moving so quickly in the people of Malawo.. and we are just along for the ride! With Malawo being so well known in Liberia, it is making huge impacts across the country. Those hours away from Malawo are saying “If this is happening in Malawo, it can happen here.”

Please pray for the people of Malawo. The community has been wonderful and receptive, and we pray that as the Jesus Film is presented, hearts will be changed.

I will be returning to Malawo this weekend to photograph more of the progress. I look forward to fellowshipping with the people again… not so much for the hike, but the people and the view make it worth it! ☺ I am truly honored to even be able to take a small part in this project.

    The crew (aka Bev and Joni) packing up the land cruiser before we head out.

  

  On the hike up.  Most of these guys are carrying 50 pounds of cement or sand on their heads!

At times it was wide open. At other times we were walking through water. Other times our walking path was an 8 inch crevice.

At the entrance of Malawo.  This is the big tree and women's devil bush that they cleared out. This is the tree that they believed held so many powers... now it lays over the path into the village, powerless.  

One of the many 'gateways' to the devil bush. 

(no worries , bev is not going into the devil bush here!)

The sunsets and views are amazing from up here! 

 This will be the new posterchild for water and sanitation. :)

One of the supply trucks had arrived with more sand, cement and supplies. We carried down the water filter molds to meet the truck, and carry supplies back up the mountain.

Almost the whole village of Malawo made two trips down the mountain to help carry supplies up! These people are TOUGH!

The chief of Malawo.

Hammy

One day I was busy working at my desk when Kendell, our Country Director called me downstairs. I reached downstairs to find him and a young woman sitting in the lobby. The young woman’s name was Hammy. Kendell wanted me to spend some time with Hammy and photograph her. Hammy was a child soldier. She was forced to carry a gun and fight during the war, barely a teen-ager. After the war was finished, she attended Samaritan’s Purse THINK home for girls- a nine month long program where ex-combatants can come and be rehabilitated, ecucated, and taught a skill. Hammy learned how to bake. With the skills that she left the THINK home with, she started her own little shop, to raise money to continue her schooling. She has been self-sufficient and has been able to pay all of her school fees with the money she earns from baking!

Hammy had stopped by our office that day to show her report card to Kendell. In that report card were only A’s. Kendell wrapped his arms around her to give her a big bear hug, and to tell her how proud he was of her. She shared that the teachers have allowed her to skip two grades in the past two years because she has done so well. She will be starting the tenth grade this year. Kendell pointed to her forearm, where a tattoe of her fighting batallion is still embedded on her arm. She quickly turned her arm away, shook her head and said, “That is the past.”

There are so many young people in this country that have gone through more than I can imagine. Some have been able to rehabilitate themselves, others are still out causing trouble. To see someone like Hammy encourages me more than anything. She has overcome her past, is moving on and excelling. Thanks for being such a great role-model, Hammy.