My little African Adventure: The End.

Well, this is my last blog from Sierra Leone. It's been a day of goodbyes and packing up life at Njala. I haven't even begun to understand all that I have learned here...but do look forward to when those revelations come to me all throughout my life. This place has touched my heart and I feel as if I'm leaving a piece of it here. I guess I will just have to come back someday!

Lexi and I are headed to Freetown early tomorrow morning to shop at a market, lay on the pristine beaches and hang out with some kiddos at an orphanage. Then, Wednesday evening I start my journey back to the States.

Thanks for following this little adventure of mine! I pray more are to come!

Enjoy a snapshot of things that didn't make the blog while I was here...

Joyful Journeys,

Julie

I FINALLY got to ride in a dug out canoe!

A "native" bridge...which is a seasonal bridge for the rising river during the rainy season.


This is the water supplied to the house from a truck...which Lexi and I saw pumping water from a river where people bathe and do laundry.


Transplanting moringa at one of Mr. Moiforay's project sites.

A sign from the women's cassava farm.

Though true, this sign made me giggle...

Sometimes I feel like I'm in a zoo...the one in the cage.

Lex and I learned to bake sweet cake using a wood burning oven. I'm excited to make this at home!

We used to run to the river which USED to be behind that canoe.

They have tall grass.

Found this in a pasture...it's used for salt blocks.

Local farmer's cows.

Rain coming to campus.

There is fresh goat meat in that sack.

This man works at the hospital lab near Njala...he doesn't have adequate equipment to do his job properly.

Sweet Margaret making fufu from cassava.

The boys who live at Mama Tijani's...they are so fun to play football with!

Dual purpose goat project at Njala...trying to create an efficient meat and dairy goat.

Groundnuts are in season.

Bananas are tiny.

The view from my office!

Lex and I did some damage grocery shopping in Bo.

Milk! Shelf stable...but I didn't mind!

Happy 4th of July! Dinner and a movie.

Canteen.

One of the many interesting toilets.

Huh....I guess I DO bleed purple!
I had a nasty blister from a bite and this is what the doctor put on it.

Sweet bread bakery at The Arc.

Sweet Isata taught us to make groundnut soup.

We ate luncheon meat too...

Working in the lab learning to produce I-2 Newcastle Disease vaccine for chickens.

Tiny lizards lived in our room.

Monkey on campus!

Roadside service selling honey.

Haha.

One of two times I ate ice cream. I paid a pretty penny but it was worth every Leone.

I love Mr. Moiforay's truck!

The women at a village meeting.

The woman to my left was the chief's wife...they let us stay a night in their home!

At one of Mr. Moiforay's projects.

Mr. Moiforay's truck...most trucks and vans have writing like this...so entertaining!

A man weaving country cloth in Kenema.

Slash and burn to create a rice field.

Learning to Give

I write this from the home of one the most selfless person I’ve met here. I sit among four young men and one young woman—people Mama Tijani brought into her home to care for. She provides food, shelter and school fees, as long as they participate in household chores and keep their grades up. The young men often make deliveries of food she sends out—Lexi and I were one of those recipients while living with Dr. Koroma.

Last week, we received short notice we needed to find alternative accommodation—but we already made plans to travel to Tiwai Island over the weekend. Mama Tijani allowed us to leave our things at her home…as we reluctantly planned to stay at the more expensive guesthouse as they always have openings. When we came back to get our stuff, Mama Tijani said, “Why don’t you stay here…save your money. You will have food and a place to sleep, but I’m sorry I can’t provide you your own room.” She insisted we wouldn’t be a burden to her already nearly crowded home—so Lexi and I share a bed in a room with her granddaughter, Rosa, and Howa, the lady that cooks. It’s like living in a resort. We have three wonderful meals a day, warm water to bathe with and even get to participate in prayer and devotion each morning and night.

Her example of giving is among numerous others I’ve encountered. Mr. Moiforay, a man Lexi and I find so dear, told us as he was offering rides to hitchhikers in the back of his truck, he wouldn’t be where he is today without help so he must pay it forward—and his does this in so many ways.

I’ve lost track of how many times my selfishness hits me like a 2x4 over the head. I find myself getting annoyed when someone asks for food, money, the bread I just purchased, or even my laptop. They see my white skin that seems to me tattooed with dollar signs. Don’t they understand that I’m a working student? That I may seem well off here, but by the States’ standards I’m barely making it each month? BAM! It hits me, again, that all my possessions, each penny to my name is not my own—it’s a blessing from God and I should use it all to bless others.

It took Mama Tijani’s example of giving a tip to children selling sweet corn for me to do the same at the market a few days later. It took a little girl selling me sweet cake telling me she’s hungry for me to give the snack I just bought (and really didn’t need) back to her to eat…she isn’t allowed to eat the food she has to sell. It took a few hours for me to agree to help a friend with her sick baby’s hospital bills—because I was worried she was just “using” me. (Which I’m happy to report I was entirely wrong…she has never asked for money since)

I’m so flawed when it comes to this giving thing. I mean, yes…I LOVE to give gifts, but daily being receptive to opportunities to bless others is something I am now challenged to do. Thankfully, this is a lesson I’ve been learning since arriving, and I am getting better at pushing down my selfishness—though if that 2x4 labeled “selfish” were real, I would have a least a dozen bumps.

Joyful Journeys,

Julie

PS: Though it takes only very to change someone’s life in Sierra Leone, Lexi and I are working on some ideas that will allow us to give back in a bigger way. For any of you interested in joining us…keep checking back as we hope to have some information out to our friends soon!

Freetown Frenzy

Winding streets seemingly over capacity with buzzing motorbikes weaving in and out around vehicles of all shapes and sizes instantly made me exhausted just taking it all in as I entered Freetown for the first time. Moving further into the capitol city of Sierra Leone the streets became narrower as the number of people on them increased. To my left were mountains—a beautiful sight even with houses dotting the sides. To my right I caught glimpses of the sea, offering reprieve from the business going on around me.

Mr. Moiforay, a lecturer and livestock nutritionist, had been working on a sustainable agriculture project that will help villages raise livestock intensively. Certain crops grown for the program can be used for income and livestock feed. His project partner Mark from Nigeria was at Njala for a week for them to discuss the progression of the program. They let me tag along to sites and sit in on meetings…and I was very excited to be joining them on a day trip to “Town” taking Mark to the airport. When I flew into Sierra Leone, we completely bypassed Freetown!

There wasn’t much time for sightseeing, but we did get to park and walk up a crowded street with vendors selling food and other goods. Lexi mentioned this particular off street looked like a scene from a movie and it really did! This was my first experience with a major city in a less developed country. For some reason I pictured Freetown being the frontrunner to development in Sierra Leone, instead it seemed that poverty struck hard in the city. Mr. Moiforay said unemployment is rampant, but many don’t want to move to the interior to engage in agriculture or other possible income generating activities. It means something if you can say you live in Freetown. The city’s population boomed during the war when much of the rural population fled from the rebels…many never returned. Building codes do not seem to be followed as houses are constructed on slick hillsides and in lowlands vulnerable to flood. I saw many walking around selling bread, toiletries, and other random goods…most having the same thing for the same price.

The street led us to an ATM, which I think is maybe one of two in the entire country. THAT is an adjustment. Lexi and I were able to pull out some Leones…imagine carrying around $100 worth of $1 and $2 bills…a nice little wad of cash. After taking care of business and letting Mark do a little bit of shopping, it was time to head to the airport.

Now, in order to get to Lungi Airport from Freetown, you have to cross the sea. All are not without risks. Options include helicopter, ferry, speedboat, traditional boat, or you can go around the sea by car via terrible road. On the way there we parked the truck and took the ferry. On the 30 minute ride we got a great view of Freetown from the water. First class tickets were purchased for us, which meant we were in a room with cushion seats, access to soda and we could purchase DVDs of the music that was playing way too loud. Upon docking, we had to take a taxi to get to the airport. We made it safe with no incident and said our goodbyes to Mark.

Upon arriving back at the port we learned that the ferry would not return for another two hours, so Mr. Moiforay decided we try a speedboat. Walking around the port to a neighboring beach took us into another world. There were a few stands set up and about a half a dozen large wooden boats tied to the land. One was being filled to the max with Sierra Leoneans all while being bombarded with people selling food. After a long wait and lots of negotiations (which Mr. Moiforay handled), the trio crawled into a small wooden green speedboat. Lexi and I refused help from the men around, because we learned that they expect pay for helping you into the boat! Excited and VERY nervous, I put on the orange lifejacket offered to me. Of course, mine didn’t zip, so I hoped that tying the string around my waist would do if we were to capsize. We puttered away from the shore and then BAM! Full throttle. Large waves. I was tossed off the seat a few inches. Mr. Moiforay had is arms stretched across the boat holding both sides saying, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.” I let out a few squeals and Lexi a few laughs. The “captain” decreased the speed a bit and I became more comfortable, but the seat was not less hard as we were being jolted around. After realizing I may not meet my maker that day, the ride became a thrill! Freetown from the little boat was even more of a sight…and the few other passengers got a kick of the two white girls shrieking with laughter.

We made it, and Mr. Moiforay said he would never take a speedboat in the evening again.

Joyful Journeys,

Julie

PS-I will spend two days in Freetown before departing staying at an orphanage, lying on the beach, doing some shopping and saying goodbye to Sierra Leone.

The airport...even smaller than MCI in KC!

Traditional boats in need of repair.

Lex and I hoped to ride in this!

I know it's blurry...but check our Mr. Moiforay's face behind me. :)

It was rough...

Almost there!

Our little speedboat.

Thankful for the beautiful Sierra Leonean sunset during our drive back!