Ammon:
We got up, and started driving to Brewerville because it was a 2 hour drive. Only felt like 30 minutes to me tho. Also, on the way there, dad apparently saw a 6 PERSON MOTO CYCLE (which was 3 adults and 2 kids). We got there and there was a big surprise, and amidst all of the chaos, mom pulled me into a gift thing and I had to take a bite out of something, I don’t even know what it was, but it tasted not too great. Then we had a 5 minute walk to their place, and it was HOT in there. So I went outside to cool off. I had a notebook to fan myself with, then a group of kids came up to me, and one of them had a pencil. So we sat down and I started drawing. Then it was over, and everyone was HOT and radiating their heat to me, so I was BURNING and had to wait 15 minutes while being roasted alive. Turned into a rotisserie chicken-human. Then we left and I got good airflow sticking my head out of the car window.
Then we got to the market, and had to shut off the car a couple times because of how backed up it was.
Then we got back to the Stop And Shop and I got M&M’s, and some Wild Berry Skittles. Then got a wrap and some chocko muffins. Half a dozen. Then got home and had a good shower. Then got in the pool, and got bored really fast, cuz there was no kids in the pool.
Pictures from Sept 27, Saturday
LaReita:
Last year when the Liberian refugee camp in Buduburam, Ghana was bulldozed, one family who had been through the FMF programs, decided it was time to go back to their motherland. Mary & Arthur Gborlie (also members of the church) began doing literacy classes in their hometown of Brewerville.
Over the past few months, the numbers of literacy students in Brewerville has swelled to 80 women and 10 men. The biggest draw is that after literacy comes vocational training. A woman pastor of a local church, made with bamboo walls and scavenged tin roof, gladly offered her location so the people in her village/town could lift themselves with literacy and vocational training.
We were greeted in the traditional Liberian style which is a bit overwhelming! Singing, dancing, surrounded by the mob of happy people. We were offered the traditional gift of white kola nuts wrapped in a banana leaf. Ammon said while we were being joyfully escorted to the bamboo church, “I’m looking forward to going home where I’m not videoed all the time, and I can be anonymous.” Yes, my son, so is your dad, and me.
As we entered the bamboo, tin roof hut church, the humidity-heat was stifling. Fortunately, Liberians are much more efficient with time than Ghanaians. There was a printed program outline, and they were brief with their comments. Dave later said he was preparing for the long-haul, but was pleasantly surprised with how quickly it went. Which was good because you could see how he was almost melting away with sweat!
Going into these situations it is important to maintain expectations. I clearly stated that I am not their Savior, Dave is not their Savior, only Jesus is their Savior. I made comments about the importance of literacy and business training before the vocational training. I introduced Dave as a successful businessman. Dave made some good comments also about the importance of continued learning. I followed-up with a statement that the glory of God is intelligence. As we are God’s children, we are also capable of increasing our knowledge, and he wants to grow our gifts (our minds) he has given us.
We presented the books to the literacy teacher (they didn’t have any books). The vocational teachers they have found were presented to everyone, and the Reverend mother stated that vocational training will start November 1s to which everyone erupted with cheers. Oh boy. She took us outside to show us the land that she will gift to FMF to build a literacy and vocational center. I smiled and nodded. Managing expectations and negotiations is an art form.
More group photos, and Ammon was going into teenager mode because it was a clear day, no wind and the heat was oppressive.
We began our drive back and when we reached the marketplace we were at a standstill for 1.5 hours. To Liberia’s credit, they are preparing to expand the roads in this northern area, which could be seen with the rubble of buildings once at the side of the road. After we passed through the crowded marketplace, we approached huge, new road equipment, and a sign that said road improvements will take 2 years. I asked our driver, “is that 2 years in USA time? Or Africa 2 years?” He smiled and said probably about 6 years because they can only do the pavement work during the dry season (Nov-March).
We stopped again at the Stop & Shop store next to our apartment and ordered $100 worth of used picture and young adult chapter books from Dave, the bookseller. We are going to another location on Monday morning. He was over-joyed!
That reminds me, a couple of days ago we went to “Orca” (their WalMart) to get plastic bins to hold the books we presented today. When we walked in the air conditioned building, and saw organized products on shelves, Ammon was thrilled! He started wandering through the aisles, followed by a store worker. This was a good teaching moment of how our bodies/minds are regulated (feel better) when we see what we consider is ‘normal’.
Ammon & I did go to the pool at the apartment. There were kids who came over to say hi to Ammon, but he barely acknowledged them. Probably because he is ready to be anonymous and not be a curiosity!
We watched Karate Kid III and went to bed. It was an emotionally exhausting day.