My heart is bursting with joy! A Sunday with friends and family in Liberia! A beautiful day by the sea which began with a good night’s rest for the first time in longer than I can remember. Then quiet prayer and meditation and review of my gratitude list, most especially for waking up in my Villa #1005 in Liberia, home here for years.
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Monrovia, Liberia - I have just arrived – after seven months of ebola trauma and flight cancellations and hysteria in the world… While the world has been living in fear, Liberia has been taking care of business. Yes, too little to late – but a committed recovery and new way of being is in place. Koffa and Sylvester of our team picked me up at the subdued Roberts International Airport tonight – after more than 32 hours of travel from La Jolla to here. As our COO David experienced in January when he returned, there was not one mention of Ebola on the plane from Brussels. Back to coming via Brussel as I began my first experiences here reminded me of the awful war recovering time when Brussels Air was the only way in and out of this country; once again that is the case. Brutal journey. As with David, silence about Ebola until the plane landed – and then everyone went into “Ebola mode”- no touching, no hugging, washing hands in bleach water before entering the Arrival Hall. Bumping elbows through clothing with people who I have known upon arrive for years, who I so wanted to hug… A very different reality here in Liberia now.
Santa Fe, New Mexico - I traveled here a couple of days ago with my friend Jeanne Adams. Jeanne just finished curating and hanging an exhibit entitled Fragile Waters which will open at the San Diego Maritime Museum the first of March. She had a few days free before the opening of the exhibit so we have come to stay with dear friend Janie Davis. I love Santa Fe and take advantage of every opportunity to spend time here.
La Jolla, CA - I went to my Rotary Club meeting this morning in celebration of 30 years since its founding. Founding president George Dewhurst came from Oregon where he now lives to share the club’s history with all of us. I have been a member of La Jolla Sunrise Rotary for more than 20 years now. How did that happen?
As I make plans to return to Liberia for the first time after six months away, the longest time I have been away from this my beloved country since 2006. Please see this recent TED talk about ebola – we all must help to finish it – please no complacency and fatigue until it is eradicated and our human family stops suffering from this deadly virus. Please.
https://www.ted.com/talks/bruce_aylward_humanity_vs_ebola_the_winning_strategies_in_a_terrifying_war With love and gratitude ~ Deborah |
About the AuthorDeborah Lindhom is the Founder and CEO of the Foundation for Women. For over 20 years she has lived and worked in Africa, India and the United States on issues of poverty, education and microcredit.
"Just a quick note to say how we appreciate all that you are doing in Liberia and wish we could do more to help. We enjoy reading your newsletters which are always so well written.
All the best!" ~ Ian and Julie Allen, Africa and Beyond Art Gallery Archives
November 2023
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