Bella Casa Monrovia

... the internet was down so we got the website and can register our passports ourselves...but the site was still down tonight... We went to the Firestone Rubber farm today. Not knowing that it would take two hours to get there, we (Holly) did not use the little ladies room before we left...Jana- Lucinda had to escort me to the ...

... truly grateful that we came to help the people of Liberia. They have a detailed plan to help the children of the community including health care, foster care, a feeding program, and adoption. They are doing the groundwork. All of these services are in their infancy..it's amazing to be part of this.

... for fresh water in several cities, a feeding program to provide rice to communities, schools and at least two childrens homes, including a vocational program for older children. They learn sewing, tie dying, baking, soap making, computers, and wood carving. Dr. Braima teasingly says she never sleeps A young lady named Layal took us to ...

... about implementing water treatment and sanitation in developing areas and about ministry in relief and development situations. I've included some of pictures of my time here, especially in the past month. Like last time, if you would like a particular picture just let me know and I'll email it to you. I apologize for keeping this short, but I'm in the middle of watching the Steelers - Ravens game. Here we go!

... say hello... little kids would wave and smile and say hello... they were so cute! (i'm sure everyone was wondering what we were doing and thinking how strange we were). not to mention the post-running activities - the exercises, the initiation/naming rites (i'm not even going to type them here!), the songs... anyway, definitely 14 year old boy humor at ...

this was one day full of meetings, meetings, and more meetings... but pretty interesting. learned about a lot about USAID's work and the needs/situations in a lot of sectors. crazy how in almost every sector, the system seems completely broken... i'll have to write more later on it... i think i finally understood ...

... we had help), we made it into the apt! which was pretty nice and spacious. yup, this will be the place i'll call home for the next few weeks! all in all its pretty nice, i can't complain. lights, air conditioning, a TV, hot water - all in a place that doesn't have an electric grid or a water distribution system (the embassy trucks in all of its fuel for diesel generators and water). enjoyed our food (i am rooming with the woman i traveled with) and ...

... gency pow** supply in Monrovia. The objective is to provide electricity and especially streetlights to additional neighborhoods in Monrovia, affecting as many as 300,000 residents. The second program, the Lib**ian En**gy Assistance Program, aims to increase access to affordable en**gy supplies, in ord** to fost** economic, political, and social development in Lib**ia. The primary methods of doing this will be pilots of sustainable ...

... food. I've been eating handfuls of dry cereal, mixed nuts, and an occasional peanutbutter & jelly or tuna sandwich. I'm sticky and smelly and all I can think about is Hawaiian pizza and rootbeer floats. Now, I know that many of you are rolling your eyes because you've had longer, more rigorous trips outside of the comfort of the Inland Empire. But this is my first trip to Africa and I think I ...

... than the traffic in Monrovia. "You see all of deese poles?" John leans across me and points out my window as I sit in the passenger seat with a white-knuckle grip on the door handle. "We used to have power all over da country." I tentatively peek out and see the poles at odd angles with strings of power lines dangling into the grass beneath them. He's talking about his country sixteen years ago, before ...