A Transition in Transition
admin January 22nd, 2009
First Employee
Well it’s been a week and a half and today is a good day. Anja is feeling much better and we have established a place we can call our own. Anja was sick for the entire first week and I have been worried about my business in the US, but things have been resolved and Anja is better. Thank you for your prayers and well wishes.
I have begun doing business. We’ve set up an office and my employee is learning to use my computer and has already designed business cards for the company.
Anja has some meetings to go to with her Catholic contacts and will be traveling the Monrovia area to visit outreach ministries through out the region.
Washing Machine
I have had to resort to American food to keep sane during these beginning times. I’ve been asked if I’m happy, or how it’s going. I don’t have an answer…I’m just here. It’s hard to be happy in the midst of this, and it’s hard to be sad being present in it. I’ve discovered my calling right now is to interact as much as I can with the Liberian people, and focus on not reverting to a “us and them” mentality.
The Liberian way of life is tough. It’s like camping everyday. With no electricity or fresh water, chores have to be done just to eat and drink. Anja and I went to the well pump to retrieve the water we needed to drink for the day. I think we cut in line, because ten or more containers were in a line waiting to be filled. We did the usual clueless expression and proceeded to fill our container. I think next time I’ll pump for others before I fill mine. They unlock the pump in the morning but lock it up again after a time to prevent it from being dismantled for parts. I wanted to fill mine early without the crowd but the pump was locked.
Running Water
It’s like the game Sim City on the computer, but real people die. I’m hoping less of the dying stuff happens. Food and medical treatment/medicine is quite the priority here and it takes money to get them. It would take an economy to provide money… so people go hungry and suffer or die. And that is what has compelled me here to contribute my drop of help.
So far, so hard, but how bad could it be…don’t answer that.
Christ be with you all, PAA (Pat and Anja)
I brought this photo back from my time in Liberia a few months ago. We met these families at the medical clinic set up at Mt. Barclay Christian School. They had come from distances to get help for their children, who were gravely ill and dehydrated. Saah Joseph, director of the school, said that “this clinic was on time.” If we were not there on that day these babies would have died. He kept repeating that we were “on time.” I believe God was present, and we were present “on time” with Him.