Planting a vegetable garden - yes, in October - the first of two growing seasons.
Monday, October 17, 2005
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Monday, October 10, 2005
Our Election Journalists On the Scene File these Reports
Election Report by Noah Reed (Age 10)
On Tuesday, October 11, 2005, Liberia will vote for a new president. The results might not come until, at the latest, October 26. There are twenty-two candidates and five seem to be the leaders. The leaders and their parties are:
George Weah: Congress for Democratic Change
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf: Unity Party
Charles Brumskine: Liberty Party
Varney Sherman: Coalition for the Transformation of Liberia
Winston Tubman: National Democratic Party
In Liberia there are 1.5 million registered voters and of that, there are 600,000 men and 900,000 women. The candidates will need at least one vote over 50% of the votes and if no one gets that they will do another vote for the top two candidates. When elected, the president will serve for a total of six years.
There are many election observers who watch to make sure the voting and election is done right, including former US president, Jimmy Carter. For additional security they have tamper proof locks on the boxes with the ballots in them, because in the past people have messed with the votes so that their candidate will win the election. Much of Monrovia and schools will be shut down because it is going to be busy and maybe dangerous.
Here is some information about four candidates:
George Weah: A professional soccer player.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf: A past politician and UN official.
Varney Sherman: A lawyer.
Winston Tubman: Son of former President Tubman
It is difficult for Liberians to get information other than on the radio. There are also accusations that candidates are bribing people with rice and money to get their votes. Plus there are signs to girls saying, “My Vote is Secret” because some men tell women to vote for who the man wants to vote for. For voters that can not read or write, they will dip their thumb in ink and put it on the picture of the candidate who they want to be president.
I interviewed two people about the election. One was Sister Amanda, the other Brother Samuel. Sister Amanda thinks that a good president is what Liberia needs. Sister
Amanda wants Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to be president because she has good International contacts. With International contacts, Sister Amanda says Ellen can get people jobs which might bring peace because people won’t steal. Sister Amanda believes the most important task for the new president is fixing roads, getting people jobs, improving schools, and getting running water. This is why Sister Amanda wants Ellen for president.
Brother Samuel’s thoughts about the election are that it’s a good exercise for Liberia to choose a good leader. He hopes that God will speak to the people’s hearts and help them choose a good leader that will help Liberia. He believes the president needs to restore water, rights for people, rebuild roads and cover potholes, and improve health. So the president basically needs to rebuild Liberia. Brother Samuel doesn’t know who to vote for but hopes God will help him choose the right person. He believes the president has to have knowledge and common sense because without those the country could fall apart again. He also thinks the president also has to have past experience with unifying things and needs to know what to do to help the country. Brother Samuel said that all the candidates are promising to unify Liberia. He hopes they keep their promise. Brother Samuel said, “This job won’t be done overnight. It’s a hard task to do but hopefully it will be done.”
My thoughts on the election are that an important task for the new president is unifying and rebuilding. I hope the Liberians pick the right president because the president will stay for six years which is a long time. I also hope the candidates will keep their promise on unifying and rebuilding Liberia. From Monrovia, Liberia, this is Noah Reed reporting.
The Presidential Elections: The Candidates, the Voters, the Process
by Hannah Reed (Age 12)
This year hosts the first presidential election in Liberia in eight years. The elections will take place on October 11, 2005 and the results will be out on October 26. In this election, there are 22 candidates, five of which seem to be in the lead. The candidates that seem to be in the lead appear to be Ellen Sirleaf of the Unity Party, George Weah of the Congress for Democratic Change(CDC), Charles Brumskine of the Liberty Party, Varney Sherman of the Coalition for Transformation of Liberia(COTOL), and Winston Tubman of the Nation Democratic Party of Liberia(NDPL). To win this election, one of the candidates must have 51% of the vote. Some Liberians say that Ellen has a good chance of winning because 900,000 of the 1.5 million registered voters are women [although some women are being forced by men to vote for who the men want. The My Vote is Secret Campaign is telling women to stand up for themselves and vote for who they want.]. The remaining 600,000 are men. 51% of the votes are 765,000 votes. This method of doing things could mean a run-off. Then the top two candidates will compete, and there will be another election two weeks later. If the voters can’t read or write, their ballot will have pictures of the candidates and they will put their thumb on an ink pad, and then press it on the picture of the candidate they want to win. To ensure that the votes won’t be messed with when being transported from separate counties, there are many security measures being used, such as the boxes the ballots are being transported in have tamper-proof locks. During the week of the voting, a lot of Monrovia will be closed. It was suggested that the schools be closed from October 3-15. Although this idea was dismissed by some schools, most government schools are closed during that time.
George Weah is popular among young adults because he is a soccer celebrity. Ellen has been in jail twice for speaking against the government. Varney and Brumskine are both lawyers. It is extremely hard to get information much deeper than this on the candidates, so the voters’ knowledge doesn’t seem to be deep about any of the candidates.
I interviewed two people about the election. The first person was Reverend Zar. “I’m satisfies with this election,” says Zar. Rev. Zar is voting for Charles Brumskine. “I like him because he likes the children,” says Zar, “and I like him for caring about their education. He has concern for the children.” Rev. Zar believes that Brumskine will have to help the people forgive. “After that,” says Zar, “unifying will be easy.” Rev. Zar says that Brumskine has experience as a lawyer and that that is good. That concluded my interview with Rev. Zar.
The second interviewee was Pastor Samuel B. Reeves. He says that he is also satisfied with the election because it is the first free, real, and fair election in a long time. He is voting for Ellen Sirleaf. “I’m voting for Ellen,” says Reeves, “because she is skilled and the world knows and trusts her. She is a very good leader and in the past, she’s worked for the UN.” Pastor Reeves says that the most important job for the new president will be reconciliation. “Everything will follow that,” Reeves says. Ellen works for the Unity Party and although it’s never won an election, it has had strong candidates in the past. “Ellen will make a good leader because she has character, courage, and she’ll be committed to her job,” says Reeves, “and since she’s a ‘people person’ she’ll work with all people, not just a few.” Pastor Reeves doesn’t know much about Ellen’s vice-president, but he trusts Ellen and her pick. This concluded my interview with Pastor Samuel B. Reeves.
As an American 12-year-old observing the election, I think Ellen would make a good president for this country. I think that the new president’s biggest job is reconciliation, then rebuilding. But both of these jobs are very important and this is not an either/or job, this is a both/and thing. Both rebuilding and reconciling are important and since one has to come before the other, then the other should come directly behind. It doesn’t matter which one comes first as long as one does. These elections are one step closer to rebuilding this country. My hope is that this new president will help heal the country and that he or she will do it peacefully. Reporting from Liberia, West Africa, this is Hannah Reed.
On Tuesday, October 11, 2005, Liberia will vote for a new president. The results might not come until, at the latest, October 26. There are twenty-two candidates and five seem to be the leaders. The leaders and their parties are:
George Weah: Congress for Democratic Change
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf: Unity Party
Charles Brumskine: Liberty Party
Varney Sherman: Coalition for the Transformation of Liberia
Winston Tubman: National Democratic Party
In Liberia there are 1.5 million registered voters and of that, there are 600,000 men and 900,000 women. The candidates will need at least one vote over 50% of the votes and if no one gets that they will do another vote for the top two candidates. When elected, the president will serve for a total of six years.
There are many election observers who watch to make sure the voting and election is done right, including former US president, Jimmy Carter. For additional security they have tamper proof locks on the boxes with the ballots in them, because in the past people have messed with the votes so that their candidate will win the election. Much of Monrovia and schools will be shut down because it is going to be busy and maybe dangerous.
Here is some information about four candidates:
George Weah: A professional soccer player.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf: A past politician and UN official.
Varney Sherman: A lawyer.
Winston Tubman: Son of former President Tubman
It is difficult for Liberians to get information other than on the radio. There are also accusations that candidates are bribing people with rice and money to get their votes. Plus there are signs to girls saying, “My Vote is Secret” because some men tell women to vote for who the man wants to vote for. For voters that can not read or write, they will dip their thumb in ink and put it on the picture of the candidate who they want to be president.
I interviewed two people about the election. One was Sister Amanda, the other Brother Samuel. Sister Amanda thinks that a good president is what Liberia needs. Sister
Amanda wants Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to be president because she has good International contacts. With International contacts, Sister Amanda says Ellen can get people jobs which might bring peace because people won’t steal. Sister Amanda believes the most important task for the new president is fixing roads, getting people jobs, improving schools, and getting running water. This is why Sister Amanda wants Ellen for president.
Brother Samuel’s thoughts about the election are that it’s a good exercise for Liberia to choose a good leader. He hopes that God will speak to the people’s hearts and help them choose a good leader that will help Liberia. He believes the president needs to restore water, rights for people, rebuild roads and cover potholes, and improve health. So the president basically needs to rebuild Liberia. Brother Samuel doesn’t know who to vote for but hopes God will help him choose the right person. He believes the president has to have knowledge and common sense because without those the country could fall apart again. He also thinks the president also has to have past experience with unifying things and needs to know what to do to help the country. Brother Samuel said that all the candidates are promising to unify Liberia. He hopes they keep their promise. Brother Samuel said, “This job won’t be done overnight. It’s a hard task to do but hopefully it will be done.”
My thoughts on the election are that an important task for the new president is unifying and rebuilding. I hope the Liberians pick the right president because the president will stay for six years which is a long time. I also hope the candidates will keep their promise on unifying and rebuilding Liberia. From Monrovia, Liberia, this is Noah Reed reporting.
The Presidential Elections: The Candidates, the Voters, the Process
by Hannah Reed (Age 12)
This year hosts the first presidential election in Liberia in eight years. The elections will take place on October 11, 2005 and the results will be out on October 26. In this election, there are 22 candidates, five of which seem to be in the lead. The candidates that seem to be in the lead appear to be Ellen Sirleaf of the Unity Party, George Weah of the Congress for Democratic Change(CDC), Charles Brumskine of the Liberty Party, Varney Sherman of the Coalition for Transformation of Liberia(COTOL), and Winston Tubman of the Nation Democratic Party of Liberia(NDPL). To win this election, one of the candidates must have 51% of the vote. Some Liberians say that Ellen has a good chance of winning because 900,000 of the 1.5 million registered voters are women [although some women are being forced by men to vote for who the men want. The My Vote is Secret Campaign is telling women to stand up for themselves and vote for who they want.]. The remaining 600,000 are men. 51% of the votes are 765,000 votes. This method of doing things could mean a run-off. Then the top two candidates will compete, and there will be another election two weeks later. If the voters can’t read or write, their ballot will have pictures of the candidates and they will put their thumb on an ink pad, and then press it on the picture of the candidate they want to win. To ensure that the votes won’t be messed with when being transported from separate counties, there are many security measures being used, such as the boxes the ballots are being transported in have tamper-proof locks. During the week of the voting, a lot of Monrovia will be closed. It was suggested that the schools be closed from October 3-15. Although this idea was dismissed by some schools, most government schools are closed during that time.
George Weah is popular among young adults because he is a soccer celebrity. Ellen has been in jail twice for speaking against the government. Varney and Brumskine are both lawyers. It is extremely hard to get information much deeper than this on the candidates, so the voters’ knowledge doesn’t seem to be deep about any of the candidates.
I interviewed two people about the election. The first person was Reverend Zar. “I’m satisfies with this election,” says Zar. Rev. Zar is voting for Charles Brumskine. “I like him because he likes the children,” says Zar, “and I like him for caring about their education. He has concern for the children.” Rev. Zar believes that Brumskine will have to help the people forgive. “After that,” says Zar, “unifying will be easy.” Rev. Zar says that Brumskine has experience as a lawyer and that that is good. That concluded my interview with Rev. Zar.
The second interviewee was Pastor Samuel B. Reeves. He says that he is also satisfied with the election because it is the first free, real, and fair election in a long time. He is voting for Ellen Sirleaf. “I’m voting for Ellen,” says Reeves, “because she is skilled and the world knows and trusts her. She is a very good leader and in the past, she’s worked for the UN.” Pastor Reeves says that the most important job for the new president will be reconciliation. “Everything will follow that,” Reeves says. Ellen works for the Unity Party and although it’s never won an election, it has had strong candidates in the past. “Ellen will make a good leader because she has character, courage, and she’ll be committed to her job,” says Reeves, “and since she’s a ‘people person’ she’ll work with all people, not just a few.” Pastor Reeves doesn’t know much about Ellen’s vice-president, but he trusts Ellen and her pick. This concluded my interview with Pastor Samuel B. Reeves.
As an American 12-year-old observing the election, I think Ellen would make a good president for this country. I think that the new president’s biggest job is reconciliation, then rebuilding. But both of these jobs are very important and this is not an either/or job, this is a both/and thing. Both rebuilding and reconciling are important and since one has to come before the other, then the other should come directly behind. It doesn’t matter which one comes first as long as one does. These elections are one step closer to rebuilding this country. My hope is that this new president will help heal the country and that he or she will do it peacefully. Reporting from Liberia, West Africa, this is Hannah Reed.
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Late posts-- Renita and Election News
Internet access has been very difficult for ten days, so blog posting is catch-as-catch-can. Here are my latest posts. Many of you aleady know about Renita’s malaria, but here is the post none the less. Then a bit on the elections.
Renita was sick on and off all last week. She had a mild fever and felt lousy Sunday the 25th, but then the next day felt ok. On Tuesday she was sick again, but better on Wednesday. After doing some reading in our handy Where There is No Doctor book, we suspected malaria. We understand that malaria, if left untreated, is a very serious illness that can be deadly. We also know that if treated, it is entirely curable, and responds quickly to anti-malaria medicine. So we were attentive, but relaxed. On Thursday, when she was sick again, we elected to take the malaria treatment we have on hand, just in case. On Friday she was still queasy and feverish so we went to the nearby mission hospital, ELWA, to get tested. The tests were actually negative, probably because we had already started treatment, but the doctor diagnosed it as malaria anyway and Renita began an additional treatment. There are several varieties of malaria, and one, Plasmodium Falciparum, produces the severe and life-threatening type of malaria. Renita apparently does not have falciparum malaria.
Marlaria is a fascinating disease. It is not caused by a virus, but a parasite that hatches and grows in the gut of the mosquito after it bites an infected person. From there, the mosquito injects the larvae into the bloodstream of its next victim through its saliva. The parasite grows in 6 days in the liver and produces 30,000-40,000 daughter cells (merozoites) which are released into the blood when the liver cell ruptures. In the blood, after a single merozoite invades a red blood cell, the parasite grows in 48 hours and produces 8-24 daughter cells, which are released into the blood when the red blood cell ruptures. Unless it is stopped through any number of treatments, it never goes away, damaging the liver, making the person anemic, and even causing death. The youngest and oldest are most vulnerable. Malaria kills hundreds of thousands of young Africans every year.
Back to Renita. She is feeling much better as of Wednesday night the 5th, although not 100%. She is taking it easier, but if you know Renita, that means she lays down for a few minutes before moving on to her next task. We expect her to be back up to 100% before the end of the weekend. Like the amebic dysentery I enjoyed last month, we take this seriously, but in stride. Even with the anti-malaria medicine we take, the odds are we will each get it at one time or another. Fortunately we have ready access to what millions do not have: appropriate and attentive medical treatment.
The Presidential Election
On October 11, Liberians will go to the polls an hopefully elect a new president. Since 2003, a transitional government, underwritten by the US and the UN, has been doing a fine job keeping the nation just a few pay-offs short of complete collapse. As most of you know, Liberia is officially classified as a “failed state”, and has been in deep trouble for over twenty-five years. That is two butchered presidents, three wars, and 200,000 dead Liberians ago. So these elections come with anxious hope and a great deal of hoopla.
There are twenty-two candidates, but it looks like only four are given any real chance of winning. The four leaders are Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and old hand at Liberian politics, serving in the Doe and Taylor governments, although a dissenter in both; George Weah, the high-school drop-out turned ex-world class soccer player turned presidential aspirant, wildly popular with the young and without any experience in government; Charles Brumskine, a businessman and attorney popular with the folks from Grand Bassa and many religious leaders, and Varney Sherman, a wealthy attorney, purported to be closely aligned with the Lebanese business community who seem to own every pharmacy, retail outlet, supply store and grocery store in Monrovia. The folks around us are split mostly between Sirleaf-Johnson and Brumskine, although no candidate really seems to have a clear edge. In addition, to claim victory, a candidate must hold a true majority of 50% plus one or else the election commission will hold a runoff election. The thought of a runoff gives war, chaos and election weary observers the shivers.
The electioneering in and around Monrovia has been wild and crazy, with fights and mayhem breaking out as one loud disruptive group of a hundred or so campaigners stop traffic, then turn a corner and run into a few hundred more supporting a different candidate. The National Election Committee is buried in razor wire, and all checkpoints are building up their sandbags in the event of post election craziness. This morning, it took me an hour and a half to drive the twelve miles into Monrovia. The normally quasi-four lane road was a six lane bumper-to-bumper mass of turtle-paced vehicles, five moving into the city, with one coming back. Along the side of the street, marchers and shouters by the thousands. I’ll get pictures, I promise, as soon as this crazy blog thing starts obeying me.
Renita was sick on and off all last week. She had a mild fever and felt lousy Sunday the 25th, but then the next day felt ok. On Tuesday she was sick again, but better on Wednesday. After doing some reading in our handy Where There is No Doctor book, we suspected malaria. We understand that malaria, if left untreated, is a very serious illness that can be deadly. We also know that if treated, it is entirely curable, and responds quickly to anti-malaria medicine. So we were attentive, but relaxed. On Thursday, when she was sick again, we elected to take the malaria treatment we have on hand, just in case. On Friday she was still queasy and feverish so we went to the nearby mission hospital, ELWA, to get tested. The tests were actually negative, probably because we had already started treatment, but the doctor diagnosed it as malaria anyway and Renita began an additional treatment. There are several varieties of malaria, and one, Plasmodium Falciparum, produces the severe and life-threatening type of malaria. Renita apparently does not have falciparum malaria.
Marlaria is a fascinating disease. It is not caused by a virus, but a parasite that hatches and grows in the gut of the mosquito after it bites an infected person. From there, the mosquito injects the larvae into the bloodstream of its next victim through its saliva. The parasite grows in 6 days in the liver and produces 30,000-40,000 daughter cells (merozoites) which are released into the blood when the liver cell ruptures. In the blood, after a single merozoite invades a red blood cell, the parasite grows in 48 hours and produces 8-24 daughter cells, which are released into the blood when the red blood cell ruptures. Unless it is stopped through any number of treatments, it never goes away, damaging the liver, making the person anemic, and even causing death. The youngest and oldest are most vulnerable. Malaria kills hundreds of thousands of young Africans every year.
Back to Renita. She is feeling much better as of Wednesday night the 5th, although not 100%. She is taking it easier, but if you know Renita, that means she lays down for a few minutes before moving on to her next task. We expect her to be back up to 100% before the end of the weekend. Like the amebic dysentery I enjoyed last month, we take this seriously, but in stride. Even with the anti-malaria medicine we take, the odds are we will each get it at one time or another. Fortunately we have ready access to what millions do not have: appropriate and attentive medical treatment.
The Presidential Election
On October 11, Liberians will go to the polls an hopefully elect a new president. Since 2003, a transitional government, underwritten by the US and the UN, has been doing a fine job keeping the nation just a few pay-offs short of complete collapse. As most of you know, Liberia is officially classified as a “failed state”, and has been in deep trouble for over twenty-five years. That is two butchered presidents, three wars, and 200,000 dead Liberians ago. So these elections come with anxious hope and a great deal of hoopla.
There are twenty-two candidates, but it looks like only four are given any real chance of winning. The four leaders are Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and old hand at Liberian politics, serving in the Doe and Taylor governments, although a dissenter in both; George Weah, the high-school drop-out turned ex-world class soccer player turned presidential aspirant, wildly popular with the young and without any experience in government; Charles Brumskine, a businessman and attorney popular with the folks from Grand Bassa and many religious leaders, and Varney Sherman, a wealthy attorney, purported to be closely aligned with the Lebanese business community who seem to own every pharmacy, retail outlet, supply store and grocery store in Monrovia. The folks around us are split mostly between Sirleaf-Johnson and Brumskine, although no candidate really seems to have a clear edge. In addition, to claim victory, a candidate must hold a true majority of 50% plus one or else the election commission will hold a runoff election. The thought of a runoff gives war, chaos and election weary observers the shivers.
The electioneering in and around Monrovia has been wild and crazy, with fights and mayhem breaking out as one loud disruptive group of a hundred or so campaigners stop traffic, then turn a corner and run into a few hundred more supporting a different candidate. The National Election Committee is buried in razor wire, and all checkpoints are building up their sandbags in the event of post election craziness. This morning, it took me an hour and a half to drive the twelve miles into Monrovia. The normally quasi-four lane road was a six lane bumper-to-bumper mass of turtle-paced vehicles, five moving into the city, with one coming back. Along the side of the street, marchers and shouters by the thousands. I’ll get pictures, I promise, as soon as this crazy blog thing starts obeying me.
Monday, September 26, 2005
Two Months In
Hey Friends, Fam, and Web Surfers, Bob Reed here.
The past eight weeks have been the most full of our lives, with almost everyday a roller coaster of emotion. The sun rises and sets pretty much the same time all year round, and during each twelve hour period, Renita and I experience anxiety, disappointment, fear, relief, hope, and some days, elation and celebration. Lately, we’ve enjoyed more of the latter, and that makes us think we have passed into some indefinable space that says, “Home is Here.”
Maybe it was getting the generator-solar power running, despite missing a battery. Maybe it was getting the iron door built and installed, despite delays and cost overruns. Maybe it was visiting Grand Bassa and making it back without our car breaking down or receiving rave reviews from the priests after a very long workshop. Maybe it was making contacts with the folks from CHAL (Christian Health Assoc. of Liberia), LCIP (Liberia Community Infrastructure Program), World Vision, and USAID, and seeing better where I will best fit in, or even something “simple” like driving in and out of Monrovia fifteen times over the past two weeks and not getting hassled by the police. Perhaps it is because the raining season is ending early, or that we are going to make it to October after a very expensive September. And even as I ponder the shift, I see it was all of these events and more. Renita and I feel as though we’ve stepped into a clearing after entering a forest (rainforest, of course) that we had never seen before, believing it to lead somewhere, and now that we are in the clearing, we see better that there are several pathways through, that there are people here and back home who are with us, and that if we are patient and faithful, it is going to be exactly as He promised: Much more than ok. Maybe even grand and lovely.
So, we are nearly settled. Still missing so much back in Michigan, but feeling like maybe, just maybe, we can build a home here in this clearing.
And now, the news…
Item: Renita is fully engaged in Homeschooling and doing an outstanding job. Hannah and Noah are both very bright students, and Renita seems to challenge them to do their best with her. It is quite something to see on the days I’m around.
Item: Renita is also beginning her consulting activities with LEAD (Liberia Entrepreneurial Asset Development), and REAP (Restoration of Educational Advancement Program), which requires her to do some of her own driving into and out of the pothole laden wackiness that is Monrovia.
Item: We have always had some significant concerns about the orphanage on the beach. Thirteen children live in terrible conditions, in a place that has not improved since we visited eighteen months ago. Since we have been here, several children have gotten sick with cholera and malaria. We have met with the manager regarding our concerns, and if he does not work harder to gain the support of government and non government organizations to the provide food, water and medical treatment available to children, we may need to get more active in helping relocate the children to better facilities. Bad orphanages are a plague in Liberia, and the government is shutting down the worst of them, and moving the children to the best of them.
Item: I have a week free of going into town every day. Although I still need to come in to post blog updates and send/receive emails. The week will give me a chance to visit some NGOs I’m interested in and putter around the house.
More pictures soon. I want to show the solar installation and some interiors of the orphanage.
The past eight weeks have been the most full of our lives, with almost everyday a roller coaster of emotion. The sun rises and sets pretty much the same time all year round, and during each twelve hour period, Renita and I experience anxiety, disappointment, fear, relief, hope, and some days, elation and celebration. Lately, we’ve enjoyed more of the latter, and that makes us think we have passed into some indefinable space that says, “Home is Here.”
Maybe it was getting the generator-solar power running, despite missing a battery. Maybe it was getting the iron door built and installed, despite delays and cost overruns. Maybe it was visiting Grand Bassa and making it back without our car breaking down or receiving rave reviews from the priests after a very long workshop. Maybe it was making contacts with the folks from CHAL (Christian Health Assoc. of Liberia), LCIP (Liberia Community Infrastructure Program), World Vision, and USAID, and seeing better where I will best fit in, or even something “simple” like driving in and out of Monrovia fifteen times over the past two weeks and not getting hassled by the police. Perhaps it is because the raining season is ending early, or that we are going to make it to October after a very expensive September. And even as I ponder the shift, I see it was all of these events and more. Renita and I feel as though we’ve stepped into a clearing after entering a forest (rainforest, of course) that we had never seen before, believing it to lead somewhere, and now that we are in the clearing, we see better that there are several pathways through, that there are people here and back home who are with us, and that if we are patient and faithful, it is going to be exactly as He promised: Much more than ok. Maybe even grand and lovely.
So, we are nearly settled. Still missing so much back in Michigan, but feeling like maybe, just maybe, we can build a home here in this clearing.
And now, the news…
Item: Renita is fully engaged in Homeschooling and doing an outstanding job. Hannah and Noah are both very bright students, and Renita seems to challenge them to do their best with her. It is quite something to see on the days I’m around.
Item: Renita is also beginning her consulting activities with LEAD (Liberia Entrepreneurial Asset Development), and REAP (Restoration of Educational Advancement Program), which requires her to do some of her own driving into and out of the pothole laden wackiness that is Monrovia.
Item: We have always had some significant concerns about the orphanage on the beach. Thirteen children live in terrible conditions, in a place that has not improved since we visited eighteen months ago. Since we have been here, several children have gotten sick with cholera and malaria. We have met with the manager regarding our concerns, and if he does not work harder to gain the support of government and non government organizations to the provide food, water and medical treatment available to children, we may need to get more active in helping relocate the children to better facilities. Bad orphanages are a plague in Liberia, and the government is shutting down the worst of them, and moving the children to the best of them.
Item: I have a week free of going into town every day. Although I still need to come in to post blog updates and send/receive emails. The week will give me a chance to visit some NGOs I’m interested in and putter around the house.
More pictures soon. I want to show the solar installation and some interiors of the orphanage.
Friday, September 23, 2005
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
Hey Gang,
We continue to make good progress getting settled, although we seem to be getting tested on every turn. For example, we reinforced the generator room, but the guy who is reinforcing our door still has not shown up with the door we have paid for-- three days overdue. We get our container, but it is missing a few key items. We get a good quote on our solar power-generator hybid system install, but the same day that good news comes in, we mishandle our remaining laptop and break the screen.
Which bring us to the issue of communicating with you all. Because now we have no functioning computers at home, any emailing and blogging is much more cumbersome, and especially for Renita. I can do blog updates from the college as I am today. And I can do a few emails as well. But Renita will be more limited. She does not come in as often. We have not yet figured out what to do until November, but if there is anything we are learning here, it is that being flexible and adaptable is an absolute must.
Anyway, a lot is happening here. Renita and I are both very busy-- me with the priest workshop and the mental health task force meetings, and Renita with homeschooling and community work.
Enough for now. When I figure out how to send pictures from this computer, I will do it. We shall overcome!
By the way, yesterday was my mother, Lucille's 77th birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! We love you and miss you!
We continue to make good progress getting settled, although we seem to be getting tested on every turn. For example, we reinforced the generator room, but the guy who is reinforcing our door still has not shown up with the door we have paid for-- three days overdue. We get our container, but it is missing a few key items. We get a good quote on our solar power-generator hybid system install, but the same day that good news comes in, we mishandle our remaining laptop and break the screen.
Which bring us to the issue of communicating with you all. Because now we have no functioning computers at home, any emailing and blogging is much more cumbersome, and especially for Renita. I can do blog updates from the college as I am today. And I can do a few emails as well. But Renita will be more limited. She does not come in as often. We have not yet figured out what to do until November, but if there is anything we are learning here, it is that being flexible and adaptable is an absolute must.
Anyway, a lot is happening here. Renita and I are both very busy-- me with the priest workshop and the mental health task force meetings, and Renita with homeschooling and community work.
Enough for now. When I figure out how to send pictures from this computer, I will do it. We shall overcome!
By the way, yesterday was my mother, Lucille's 77th birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! We love you and miss you!
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Monday, September 12, 2005
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Ebb and Flow
By now most of you know that the generator theft is last weeks news, and this week we are back on track. Most of you got an email with the details because the blog has been acting up.
I am co-teaching a group including most of the nation's priests on counseling skills and trauma work, and traveling with the college staff to areas where they are doing conflict transformation work in the schools. Renita is engaged in business and community development work with business, church and community leaders. So we are begining to do what we came to do.
The kids are great. More pics soon. Any photo requests?
Bob
I am co-teaching a group including most of the nation's priests on counseling skills and trauma work, and traveling with the college staff to areas where they are doing conflict transformation work in the schools. Renita is engaged in business and community development work with business, church and community leaders. So we are begining to do what we came to do.
The kids are great. More pics soon. Any photo requests?
Bob
Monday, September 05, 2005
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Pace and Patience: A conversation between Bob and Renita
Hi. Being here has meant much more frequent and steady communicating between Renita and me. We always have viewed communication as a pillar of our relationship, but I think we are talking and listening now more than ever. The enormous change in our lives makes it absolutely essential. Here is a somewhat reconstructed but typical conversation between us about what we are learning.
Renita: I remember once being wisely advised not to pray for patience. The danger being that praying for patience means being tried over an extended period of time. So I have stayed away from that prayer. It has dawned on me recently however, as we complete our first month here in Liberia, that I did ask several of the folks back home to pray that I would adjust to the slower lifestyle here. I remember stating that, in my typical desire to be busy and get things done, I feared I would find a way to make the slower pace of my life in Africa speed up.
Bob: I remember that too. And I see the tension it produces in you. You are being tried.
Renita: Yes, that particular prayer request is being answered, much to my chagrin. I have not been able to speed up the slower pace of life; I have realized that Liberia won’t be sped up.
Bob: Nicely put. Accomplishing single tasks take much more time than in the US. Three hours just to withdraw money at the bank! C’mon! I’ve always heard that the African pace of life is slower, but I could not get a handle on that in previous visits. Now, honestly, I think from my American perspective I’d say African life is less efficient. And as I say this I realize that efficiency itself is a product of privilege and access.
Renita: Whatever it is, inefficiency or pace, it has impacted me spiritually. Even the basic tasks of living at home won’t be sped up, at least not on our budget. As I do various home chores, I find myself grumbling about whether this is an effective use of my time…sweeping out the continual flow of sand that seems to rain in our house, doing endless chores relating to water, starting coal pots, in which the simple process of boiling water can take close to an hour. And I think about how the just the job of living is time consuming here. Not something I had to think about in the US. Is this what God has called me to? Is this how He wants me to spend my time? I want action. I want to report to our supporters the good work being done here. I want to see God in action through us, in the lives of Liberians. And, of course, I want to see it now. But when I stop and think that with all the modern efficiencies in the US, was I that much freer to be a better person, to use my time the way He would desire? So many people, including ourselves, complain about busyness in the US, with all the modern conveniences to make life easier.
Bob: As I listen to you I know we both know the answer. He has never called us to accomplish tasks or reach a certain level of efficiency, but to “make the most of our time, because the days are evil,” and to seek a certain kind of relationship with Him in the midst of that. And from that perspective, we work on our earthly task here: to simply be good neighbors. To love others as Christ loves us. Where inefficiency hinders productivity, love clears the way with patience and grace. Where ease of access and the luxury of privilege create a false sense of self importance and privilege, love demands justice and humility before others.
Renita: In the stress and busyness of the last few months, I have felt myself simply in quiet companionship with God. I am beginning to have the energy to ‘draw near to God’ once again, and look forward to Him drawing near to me, to continue a more active relationship. As this happens, I quickly feel reminded of the analogies between the work for clean water here, and the promise in John 4:14: “but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (I also can relate better to the Samaritan woman who responds by saying, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming to draw water”J).
Bob: Man can I relate to that lady now! Seriously though, I think just recently I am giving myself permission to slow down and meet African life on its own terms. And that’s hard for a guy like me who wants what he wants when he wants it. It means more time with conversations that we would have never had before, like with Mason last night or with the neighbor kids every day. Maybe He wants us to be ok with doing less and being more, as in doing fewer things in one day and being peace whenever we can.
Renita: Our wedding verse comes to mind, ‘Be still and know that I am God’ (Psalm 46:10)
Bob: What an odd coincidence.
Renita: Shush. And so, as I struggle with a lack of American-style productivity, I begin to realize that I am exactly where God wants me to be – learning to be satisfied with Him and myself as I do simple tasks; and taking the opportunity while performing these tasks to be still, drinking from this Well, replenishing my thirst in Him.
I don’t know what I have to offer Liberia or Liberians. I truly don’t. But I’m beginning to catch a glimpse of what Liberia has to offer me.
Bob: Couldn’t have said it better my self, m’dear. Now, when do we eat?
Bob: As I listen to you I know we both know the answer. He has never called us to accomplish tasks or reach a certain level of efficiency, but to “make the most of our time, because the days are evil,” and to seek a certain kind of relationship with Him in the midst of that. And from that perspective, we work on our earthly task here: to simply be good neighbors. To love others as Christ loves us. Where inefficiency hinders productivity, love clears the way with patience and grace. Where ease of access and the luxury of privilege create a false sense of self importance and privilege, love demands justice and humility before others.
Renita: In the stress and busyness of the last few months, I have felt myself simply in quiet companionship with God. I am beginning to have the energy to ‘draw near to God’ once again, and look forward to Him drawing near to me, to continue a more active relationship. As this happens, I quickly feel reminded of the analogies between the work for clean water here, and the promise in John 4:14: “but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (I also can relate better to the Samaritan woman who responds by saying, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming to draw water”J).
Bob: Man can I relate to that lady now! Seriously though, I think just recently I am giving myself permission to slow down and meet African life on its own terms. And that’s hard for a guy like me who wants what he wants when he wants it. It means more time with conversations that we would have never had before, like with Mason last night or with the neighbor kids every day. Maybe He wants us to be ok with doing less and being more, as in doing fewer things in one day and being peace whenever we can.
Renita: Our wedding verse comes to mind, ‘Be still and know that I am God’ (Psalm 46:10)
Bob: What an odd coincidence.
Renita: Shush. And so, as I struggle with a lack of American-style productivity, I begin to realize that I am exactly where God wants me to be – learning to be satisfied with Him and myself as I do simple tasks; and taking the opportunity while performing these tasks to be still, drinking from this Well, replenishing my thirst in Him.
I don’t know what I have to offer Liberia or Liberians. I truly don’t. But I’m beginning to catch a glimpse of what Liberia has to offer me.
Bob: Couldn’t have said it better my self, m’dear. Now, when do we eat?
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