Struggles and Stories
admin February 11th, 2009
My first attempt at a solar installation failed due to the fact that a standard of electrical construction has no value in Liberia. The house was only one year old, and the configuration was all wrong. It takes some real odd situations to fool me and this one did. The system I installed failed. At least I will be able to use it to teach solar at Mt Barclay and also charge my electric tooth brush.
The contrast between our cultures is extensive. It’s hard to tell the difference between the suffering around basic human needs like food and clean drinking water and the need to be recognized as a person of value, which the pressure of war has left most to doubt.
It’s easy for me to know which I can address personally: it’s to try and recognize each person that I do meet and listen to their story. During the war, one Lebanese man we met made friends within all the factions warring in the city. This allowed him to travel to different areas of town to try to find food during times of need. His building was destroyed, but he was one of the few able to rebuild. Remembering a time when blacks could not be U.S. Citizens, whites are still not allowed to be Liberian Citizens. And so although born here, this Lebanese gentleman cannot be a citizen of this country and he grieves that to this day. So I listened to his stories while being treated to the best dinner, and shared conversations with a University of Liberia professor and a research colleague…what an afternoon it was.
Anja and I still dream of going home on a daily basis, mainly because of the bucket baths and bucket flushing toilets. And then there is the drinking water that always seems to run out. It’s uncomfortably hot here and we are told by the locals that the hot season hasn’t arrived yet. Wow, that’s an uplifting thought…not.
Through this time we are being blessed daily. Check out my contemplative prayer blog…I hope it will stir some thoughts to pray about in your own life.
Christ be with you.
Patrick
- Dot Liberia
- Comments(1)
Hey,
Superb idea! Thanks for this website. I just came back from Liberia on a missions trip with my church. We did work in Salala. I’m interested in helping to develop businesses there. What do you think caused the failure in the solar panel construction?
Look forward to hearing from you.
Anthony