Great friends, Good times

I was privalaged to have two great friends of mine out here to teach VBS for 7 weeks! Alison and Lisa definitely roughed it by serving and teaching deep into the bush each week, Monday-Friday. SInce the area they were working in has no road access, they were flown in and out by our SP helicopter. They experienced some deep cultural issues and darkness, but also were able to see over forty children enter into the family of God!

Alison and I on our beach the day before she left... one ONE sunny day we had all seven weeks!

Hanging out with the kids...

Using the handpump that SP had installed for clean water.

Once their rice is harvested, it needs to be beated and sifted... I tried my hand at sifting it but I didn't have the right rhythm!

Typically when you go to these villages, you have a following of 20 kids watching your every move. During the first week of VBS I went in with the girls. As they were preparing for the first session, I was trying to keep the kids away from them... So I attempted to teach 100 kids how to play duck duck goose in a language they didn't understand! It basically ended up being kids chasing each other around the circle... but it kept them entertained for a while!

We took a guitar into the bush for a week, the kids liked to sit around and listen to the strumming.

My buddy Felix.

This little guy would come and sit on our laps and sleep- anytime of the day! So cute.

Rice and Sauce time... our one meal a day besides our oatmeal packet at breakfast.

Hanging out at our bonfire on the beach, back in Monrovia.

We met this older lady in Gbarngay who was telling us her story about how she knows President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and had helped her out of jail back in the 70's.

I was finally able to see the little baby I had named after my dad- 7 months later, here is Dean!

We finally had a non-rainy night on a weekend in Monrovia, so we celebrated with a bonfire on the beach!

Taytay and I

We had a great visit with MaryLou Fisher, our SP health expert... we had been talking and learned that she grew up in LeMars! Then I had gone to the grocery store and actually found Wells Blue Bunny drumsticks... so to celebrate 4th of July, we splurged and treated everyone to our Wells Blue Bunny treats! She was so excited.... at $12 a box!

Our ride back to Monrovia, loading up the chopper.

Felix and I hauling our stuff to the landing sight to load up the chopper.

The hard working VBS team!

I got home and a guy had this chimp, asking if I wanted to buy him.

The ladies on their way into the bush for the week.

Setting up our little portable water filter for the week.

Brushing my teeth in the bush. No sinks here!

This is our shower stall

Our Latrine, freshly painted.

Alison praying with the new believers in Morequaleh!

260+ kids stuffed into this church. And all sitting still and quiet.

Lisa and Al praying with the new believers in Gbarngay.

Scars on a little two year old girl from the bush society.

Their sins are nailed on the cross and covered with the blood of Christ!

These kids have never had the experience to color a picture... so coloring time was a highlight!

Thanks Lisa and Al for sacrificing your precious summer to spread the Good News in Bokamu! We miss you around here!