Thursday, July 7, 2016 Monrovia, Liberia
 
It is a very reflective time here in Liberia.  The monsoon rains are heavy and the rainy season has just started; months more of rain to come.  Nearly everyone I know is suffering from a cold or malaria or worse – the heavy rains caused dear friend Korto to have a motorbike accident.  Transport is always an issue here; the rains make it an extreme challenge.
 
The UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) officially turned over security in this country to the Liberian people on July 1.  For the first time since peace came in 2003, Liberians are in charge of their own security.  It is a tentative time.  The Liberian security budget is US$90M/year, about one-fourth the UN’s previous annual security budget.  Despite the budget allotment, the Liberian National Police guarding the hotel I call home have not been paid for three months.  With an average salary of US$160/month, no pay for several months makes buying rice impossible.

Friday, July 1, 2016 Monrovia, Liberia
 
This is a very historic day in Liberia.  It has been 13 years since the UN Mission in Liberia UNMIL began operations to keep peace in this country after more than 14 years of senseless civil war that destroyed everything.  Former President Charles Taylor has been convicted in the Hague of war crimes against humanity, and is pray-fully living out the rest of his life in custody.  Peace has been in place here since the UN came in 2003.  Yesterday UNMIL turned over security in this country to the Liberian government; it is a time of wonderment by everyone here…
 
The monsoon rains are early and heavy now.  The one and only road to and from the international airport is flooded and closed.  As my dear friend and colleague, our FFWL COO David Beyan says, “There are no emergency services to help.”  So true.  It is a very tenuous time in Liberia in so many ways – the security change and President Ellen’s administration ending and politics for the next phase of government which will be determined in November 2017 and…