September 21, Liberia

Yesterday afternoon went on a walk along the beach. It was empty of fishermen, their boats all pulled up out of the surf. An incredible sky of pink and blue clouds, with lightning flickering in one far off. It rained hard all last night. We saw a giant (I mean the size of my hand) spider in the bathroom while teeth brushing, and a large green praying mantis in the hall. The roof leaked in a few places, but no damage. This afternoon it is glorious and sunny, there is a pick up soccer game out in the sand in front of the house. Went on a walk in to town with Essie, the cook, to the market for cucumbers and okra. A very moving talk along the way about the empowerment of women, her particular life story (amazingly, no one in her family was even injured during the war, but she saw many terrifying things happening), and our plans for raising chickens at the house and starting a garden nearby. So good to connect with a woman here. In Mali, the language barrier was usually too difficult to overcome since most women hadn't gone to school.

Then a trek in to the forest to a stream where Timothy collects water in plastic jugs for bathing and cooking. Tropical trees and plants overtaking the path and stream. So beautiful and lush. We walked in the stream up the hill a ways, Timothy says far up the hill the stream just gushes out of the ground. Some day we will go all the way up.

Alphanso, one of the Fellows here, recited from memory two of his original poems for me out on the balcony while we were having lunch.

Nik is making lots of friends, boys come to the gate and when they see him shout, "Nik! Nik!" One of his friends got a serious leg wound during a soccer game and Nik brought him up for first aid. I learned my lesson yesterday about giving away books to the neighborhood, (everyone clammering around asking for another) so I had one of the Fellows patch him up so I don't get a reputation as the local free nurse.

Friday we go in to Monrovia to shop for food and pick up the other Learning Circle Guide, Timmy Ogene from Nigeria. Looking forward to starting to teach next week!

Enough for now! Check out my new photos on the Liberia photos link.

love,

Rachel