Waterside

This is a supposed to be a street! Under every umbrella is someone selling something!

Moving Day

It's moving day but don't forget the Christmas tree!!!

Liberian's Mimic American Life

It is so weird to see this hot dog van roaming around town!

My Favorite Picture

Baby Girl, a 14 year old Young Women comes to church early to teach Madeline (a new convert, wife and mother) the hymns so she can sing in church. Madeline is learning to read.

Another Beautiful African Sunset

Fishing boat returning to harbour.

Patrick

Here's our friend Patrick (about 16/17 yrs old).  We met him when we had been here about 2 weeks.  He lost contact with the church when his family moved.  We told him where the church was and then did not see him for months.  Then we saw him at church.  He is back to church and just a happy kid.

No Internet

No internet at our apartment for the last 5 days so no posts.  Will start posting again at the weekend.

Good Morning

Where's Our Membership Card?

African Humour

I was reading the local paper while waiting for Sister Hezseltine to come back from the airport and the paper had a "Joke" column.

A boy had a girl friend named Lorraine but he really liked another girl named Clearly.  Unfortunately, Lorraine suddenly dies.  At the funeral the boy sings: "I can see Clearly now, Lorraine is gone."

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A funeral was held for a woman who just passed away.  As the pallbearers carry the casket out they accidentally bump the wall.  They hear a faint groan from the casket.  They open the casket to find the woman is still alive.  She lives another 10 years and then dies.  They have another funeral for her.  At the end of the service the pallbearers carry out the casket.  As they are walking the husband cries out: "watch out for the wall!"

New Beach Finds

The "rainy season" is trying to end and the "dry season" is on it's way - it is really getting WARM.  There is a law that Liberian's are to paint their homes/business' once a year  and they do it after the wet season. The large majority of their paints are like a "white wash" type that don't last in the rainy season. Hence, the law and the fact that most everything is being painted now. There is a nice bar/restaurant right on the beach near the UN building where we walk.  It is the best place to find sea glass.  Today we noticed their mural.  I don't remember ever seeing it before so not sure if it is new or just new to us but I LOVED IT!  It shows all aspects of African life in beautiful COLOR.

(Fiona remember this place)

The Ducor Hotel

The main staircase in the lobby.

The pool view from the roof.

West Point from the roof of the hotel, the largest and most dangerous slum.
Read the population estimated around 70,000.

Look closely at the picture above and you will see this football pitch carved out of the slum.
Also, fishing boats and canoes. 

The Ducor Hotel was one of two 5 star hotels in Liberia before the war.  It is now a shell.  It sits atop the  highest hill in Monrovia and overlooks the city.  It was not destroyed by the rebels or the military but by the people of Liberia that looted it.  It is was leased/sold to Gaddafi. Since he died it is in limbo. They have 24/7 security that will show you around for 200 LD (100 LD for the tour guide and 100 LD for the other guard to watch your car).

They Learn Early

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As I was waiting for everyone to meet at President Wesseh's house this little girl (maybe 3 or 4 years old) was in the middle of the road trying to get her "baby" on her back.  She was struggling just a little so another little girl (maybe 5) came and helped her and gave her a tip on how to tie the baby bear securely.  She finally got it and strutted off down the street, proud mama indeed.

Local Kids in Harbel

After church we stopped at President Wesseh's house to drop off some of the chairs.  All the children from the street that he lives on always come to see us and get their picture taken.  Our truck is always so dirty (no matter how often it is washed)  the children love to practice their abc's  and creative art work on the sides.  Since the truck is white and the dirt is mostly red (like southern Utah) it makes a great "white board."  They love having their picture taken.

Fresh Coconut

Here's a fresh coconut.

You buy them on the street.  They are green but the vendor 

cuts most of the green and husk off for you. 

They leave the hard shell exposed at the top.

You tap hard around the top with a knife until  the shell cracks.

Insert knife and pop the top off.

Pour the milk in a glass.  If the coconut is young and fresh

the milk is really sweet and refreshing especially if chilled.

Otherwise throw the milk away.

You are then left with the meat.  Sometimes the meat is thick,

like this one, other times it thin.

Get a spoon and scoop it out the meat and eat. 

Tastes really good.