New York City - I arrived at 2:30AM this morning after traveling from Kauai and San Diego. I checked into The New York Plaza Hotel, into a room on the 47th floor. I am here for the annual Women Moving Millions Summit. And once again I am in utter awe of the contrast between the lives of members of our global human family. The extraordinary splendor of this hotel vs the housing for the majority of people in Liberia. The bed with fine linen, the working shower and all possible amenities vs a simple mattress on a dirt floor in Liberia.
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La Jolla, CA – It has been some time since I last posted to the blog which I began writing in Liberia in July 2014 as the Ebola crisis was escalating in West Africa. So much tragedy… so much suffering… so much fear…
 I awoke this morning to an email from dear friend David in Liberia – Ma Frances passed yesterday Wednesday, August 13, 2015 at the age of 96. I have loved Ma Frances since the moment I met her nine years ago this summer in Los Angeles. She is love – and my role model – I want to be just like her.
Letters for Liberia: Meet Foday Gallah, one of TIME Magazine’s PERSON of the YEAR 2014 recipients8/8/2015  La Jolla - I was to be in Liberia today for this very special day. One year ago today, the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency due to Ebola, August 8, 2014. I was the last person to leave the Kendeja Hotel in Monrovia that day – leaving abruptly, having options when so many around me had none, leaving all my belongings behind – certain I would be back shortly… doorman Michael asked me to pray that they would all be alive when I came back… tremendous fear…
La Jolla, CA. - As we celebrate here in America:
Dear Iyabo & Deborah, Greetings from Liberia! Here we are again with new cases of Ebola Virus Disease in Liberia. The source of the EBV is being traced to a dead dog eaten by 6 people out of whom 2 people were dead already, 2 have been tested positive and the other 2 are being followed up. The village where the re-emergence of EVD started is being vigorously monitored. With the experience of the past outbreak, I think this one could be easily contained before it spreads all over the country. We are back to counting up from the beginning again. Thanks so much for your continues support and collaboration.. Best regards, Angela Benson MD, MPH, FWACP - BENSON HOSPITAL Paynesville, Liberia La Jolla, CA - I received an email from a member of the Vice President’s office in Liberia on Thursday. Arthur said they were monitoring what was happening in Charleston, South Carolina and praying for all affected and for America. Liberians and Liberia playing for Americans and America. We have so much to learn from Liberians. The members of 16 different tribes, the people of 15 different counties all came together to defeat Ebola and have kept Liberia Ebola free since May 9th. Holding hands together they stopped an unprecedented crisis which is still in place in Sierra Leone and Guinea.
La Jolla, CA - The full moon is a few hours away here in California – am watching it rise – and reflecting on the millions/billions of people viewing it tonight… what are their circumstances… what are their stories…  After being in the TED-bubble for the last many days, I watched Aljazeera news this evening after meeting with my Course in Miracles circle of women in Coronado. After personally witnessing around the globe what our human family experiences for decades now, they are all part of my constant human reality. Tears… What ISIL has done to millions… Head of UN help in South Sudan expelled… Millions displaced… So much suffering, overwhelming suffering for so many members of our human family. I am committed forever to help sharing their stories, their voices. I intimately know what it feels like to have no one hear my voice. I want no one to feel as I have...
Sundance, Utah - I am here on retreat with members of my Women Moving Millions tribe, fellow passionate social change activists in support of women and girls as the way to make a better world. An extraordinary time! And the people and country of Liberia are here with me – as I continually invite their energy into the conversations, our human family sisters and brothers. I have asked for help with documenting their stories in the film we are producing due to the unprecedented Ebola crisis. I have asked them to join in the conversation and stand with us – as we begin another chapter of our human family reality; all joined together always. Gratitude and joy – and great hope from Utah and our entire planet Earth. Thank you ~ Deborah
La Jolla, CA - Liberia’s Ebola Eradication Day is just 8 days away, now set for May 9th. I was in Liberia when the last Ebola case was diagnosed on Friday, March 20th; the woman sadly died one week later. Since then there have been no new cases, thanks to the vigilance of the Liberian people. They have come together, joined with each other, committed with each other to end this deadly crisis. And they are succeeding. There is respect for Ebola and a commitment to constant washing of hands in bleach water, checking temperatures, and a change in many cultural practices, including honoring of the dead.
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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
September 2024
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