Monrovia - After months of being home here, I am awe-stuck by the daily reality of members of our human family in Liberia. Friend Emmanuel, who is a lifeguard here where I live and who I consider a son for years now, saw me Saturday and said, “I have a small problem at home – that’s why I have not been here lately.” He then proceeded to tell me that his older sister had just died giving birth, not at home alone but in a hospital. The baby girl lived, Emmanuel’s sister died. Really?? I asked him if he was now taking care of the baby, and he told me his Mom has her; an African grandmother now raising an infant. He then told me that even though it is almost the end of March, he has not received pay for February – so he has had to stop credit in his phone to find transport money to work – even though he is not being paid. I expressed my sincere sympathies as he walked off saying, “All will be OK Mom.” Really?
The conversation haunted me for hours, until I had to go look for Emmanuel who was resting by the beach, beyond exhausted. I passed him some small-small money, as one says here, and told him to put some credit in his phone and buy some food for his Mom. My heart is broken for so many reasons… that this is the accepted reality here… really…
My treasured friend and our FFW Liberia COO David Beyan called me last night once he was on his way home from the airport after welcoming his brother Alfred who had just arrived from America for a month-long visit. He expressed concern about the road to town from the airport, which I have traveled so many times, “treacherous” was his description. This morning we all learned that an elected member of the legislature came traveling shortly after David and plowed into a parked truck David had noticed on the road – no lights, no warning. Died, just after he was returning to town after celebrating his birthday.
And today my staff person Calvin in response to my inquiry this morning, “How was your weekend?” The community generator that supplies power to his home died on Friday – no power all weekend. All being supplied by this community power source needed to pay two months in advance in order for the supplier to buy a new generator. That was US$20 for Calvin and his house – and he was not sure when he would have the money. Really? Having no power, especially at night, is not safe here. I passed him $20 and said please find the man to get the generator tonight – please I beg you, be safe, no power at night is not good.
As Calvin drove me home tonight, we had a very dear and special conversation about how we, he and I, are family, so much more than our biological families. He is my dearest brother; I am his dearest sister. Family forever. As is our FFW Liberia team and their families and so many here in Liberia…
Please meet and know your family members Emmanuel, the representative who died suddenly last night after slamming into a parked truck on the airport road with no lights, my brother Calvin – and all here in Liberia… may we one day hold hands with each other and understand we are indeed one human family…
And as I was blessed to connect tonight with my treasured sister Louise here, one family – so love you… family indeed forever…
With love and prayers for all beings from Liberia,
My treasured friend and our FFW Liberia COO David Beyan called me last night once he was on his way home from the airport after welcoming his brother Alfred who had just arrived from America for a month-long visit. He expressed concern about the road to town from the airport, which I have traveled so many times, “treacherous” was his description. This morning we all learned that an elected member of the legislature came traveling shortly after David and plowed into a parked truck David had noticed on the road – no lights, no warning. Died, just after he was returning to town after celebrating his birthday.
And today my staff person Calvin in response to my inquiry this morning, “How was your weekend?” The community generator that supplies power to his home died on Friday – no power all weekend. All being supplied by this community power source needed to pay two months in advance in order for the supplier to buy a new generator. That was US$20 for Calvin and his house – and he was not sure when he would have the money. Really? Having no power, especially at night, is not safe here. I passed him $20 and said please find the man to get the generator tonight – please I beg you, be safe, no power at night is not good.
As Calvin drove me home tonight, we had a very dear and special conversation about how we, he and I, are family, so much more than our biological families. He is my dearest brother; I am his dearest sister. Family forever. As is our FFW Liberia team and their families and so many here in Liberia…
Please meet and know your family members Emmanuel, the representative who died suddenly last night after slamming into a parked truck on the airport road with no lights, my brother Calvin – and all here in Liberia… may we one day hold hands with each other and understand we are indeed one human family…
And as I was blessed to connect tonight with my treasured sister Louise here, one family – so love you… family indeed forever…
With love and prayers for all beings from Liberia,
Deborah Lindholm
RSS Feed