April 2006 - Fourth month in Monrovia, Liberia

Greetings from Liberia!

We've been in Africa for three and half months now, time flies! This last month especially feels it as we celebrated Etienne's second birthday and Julien's thirty fourth (disclaimer he's really twenty years old with fourteen years' experience :)!) We've lots of news to share but it would make this newsletter endless, so please email us for specifics (e.g. what we do in the evenings, what we eat, is it safe to travel, how does it feel like not to have our own washing-machine/kitchen/car etc :)!). This newsletter will share more about Liberia :).

Liberia is often in the World news now, CNN and BBC broadcasting on Mrs Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf ('Mama Ellen'), the first lady president in the african continent, her visits to the US and Europe, and now the arrestation and trial of Charles Taylor, the former dictator of Liberia responsible for the atrocities and civil war not just in Liberia but also in neighbouring Sierra Leone. The ship security officer follows UNMIL (UN Mission in Liberia) and national developments closely and we are still free to travel around the town (going out for dinners or to the beach). But please keep Liberia in prayer as Charles Taylor owns part of Liberia (stolen is the word) and still has lots of supporters (cronies is the word) so there is always a potential for riots (although France is not free from that either). Liberia is actually a rich country (which unfortunately invites greed and corruption), very green, blessed with good rains and soil, and was before the war the most developed country in West Africa. We see changes already from when we first arrived, how the roads are getting better, shops and other buildings shooting up, hopes accumulating.

However 14 years of war has left a generation devastated, young people not educated and not used to working (a kalachnikov is so much more effective in getting what you what and many forced child soldiers don't know otherwise), so recovery and healing will take time. There is still no electricity (so those who can afford it use generators), no water (only Bushrod Island has piped water at the moment, helped along by the ship's engineers work at the water station and ship relief teams digging holes to lay pipelines), and no phone lines (so cellphones are used but they are more costly). Unemployment rate is around 85 percent, average pay about 2 to 5 USD a day. Life expectancy estimates at 38 years, malaria and AIDS are huge problems, malnourishment almost a norm. Mercy Ship Anastasis is helping in many spheres: adult literacy programs, surgical medical dental care, water sanitation, HIV/AIDS education, building bridges and more. Since statistics often overwhelm, I would like to share a story instead about how God can use an ordinary couple to change lives of abandoned old folks here.

Again Jesus reminds us, He touches individuals, His approach is personal, He reaches one to one. And every person is precious.

Here is the story of Jacqui and Roy Bath, told by Jacqui :).

'How funny (that this newsletter is going to friends in France)... I was a street child in France until 8 years old. I was brought to England to live with Roy's family and later adopted by his auntie and uncle. Roy and I grew up together and got married when we were 20, we have 2 children and 5 grandchildren (oh we are both 58 years old), I am a housewife, Roy drives big trucks for the Royal Mail, and we took 2 years off to serve with Mercy Ships. On weekdays I work in Crew Services cleaning the ship: I told God I don't mind washing the toilets but really I need more to keep my brains working, so the weekends God leads us places. Roy works in the Ship Shop with Chuck Dodgen who told us about the Old Folks Home.'

Chuck helps a group of catholic sisters working in the Ganta leprosy colony (for full story see the link http://onamercyship.com/albumlepersone/ or email me for the 1.3 MB pdf file from our internal newsletters). One day the sisters told him to visit the poor old folks abandoned in a home nearby. He and his wife Sondra (a nurse on board) and Roy and Jacqui did just that one weekend, and were deeply saddened by what they saw. An old folk's home that used to have 23 residents had only 8 left, the last few who really had no where else to go. Out of the 8, those who were still mobile would beg on the roadside, and with what they get buy food for the day for everyone. One of the bedridden old men Saa past away 2 weeks ago, so they are 7 now.

Well, Chuck, Sondra, Roy and Jacqui were adamant that something must be done. So they went and did something. They appealed to the ship's crew during offering and collected 4000 dollars (yep, a bunch of crazy people from all over the world paying to work and still tithing and giving love offerings). They emailed and called anyone and everyone they could think of back home and raised more. They went out and bought a plot of land (and was given half a plot more), collected building materials and now a new home is being set up. In the short term they have been able to provide food and clothing and medical help to the old folks, and in the long term hope to build a place so that the elderly can live out their last days in peace, and most of all, in dignity. And you know, all this starting from four people. It never ceases to amaze me. There are more stories than I can tell here, but literally I meet (and live and eat and work) everyday with someone who has done the something they can do, and changed a life or more. Again I am humbled and honoured to be able to witness this.

[Please email me if you would like to support the Old Folks Home project. Thanks!]

So we are entering our last month of service in Liberia, and will be sailing end of May to Ghana. Here's where the plans change. Originally we were leaving Africa in June to move to the US to the Mercy Ships headquarters. Instead we have now been asked to stay in Ghana with the Anastasis until its retirement (postponed to November). We will meet the new Africa Mercy (AFM)on her maiden voyage to Africa, work side by side with her on her first service together in Ghana, then as AFM leaves for Liberia Anastasis will have her last sail. We hope somehow someway to fit in a home visit to France, and a visit of kae's parents (either to the ship or to France). So watch this space for more updates!

On life on board in broad strokes: Last month was more hard-going as we settle into the reality of how intense life can be in a community setting, how hard it is to separate professional and personal relationships when you eat-work-live-have kids in the same nursery, and we also went through Lent as we started missing people/space/food from home. But Easter has come and we are rested over the holiday weekend, and indeed Christ is risen :)! We celebrated Easter Sunday on the dock, doing the Anastasis traditional cry of 'Christ is risen' in greek, three times, and feeling quite sentimental as this was the last Easter celebration on board before Anastasis' retirement. Etienne hunted for easter eggs with other children on the bow during the 'open house (cabin)' evening (another ship Easter tradition), and thoroughly enjoyed himself, ate loads of chocs popcorn cake, watched the captain demonstrate the voice phone from his cabin to the bridge (an old metal tube linking the two places and it still works!).

Workwise, Julien is much relieved with the arrival of our friend Wolfgang from Germany, who will be IT manager for two months to let Julien concentrate on one job as system administrator. Kae has been offered the post of pharmacy manager with Mercy Ships and is getting involved with pharmacy issues and policies not just for the Anastasis but for the organisation as a whole, as well as helping out from time to time at the pharmacy. The second edition of the essential medicines formulary for Mercy Ships is ready, printed and distributed, and she will be doing related training for medical crew soon, as well as being fulltime mum to Etienne, who on turning two has become more and more vocal about what he wants and what he does not want. He does want to play all day and watch Bob the Builder and jump in the pool and throw sand over himself and make cakes for tea parties with PlayDoh. He does not always want to go to bed or walk up stairs or get down from the go-cart after an hour on it around the dock. His negotiation skills broaden by the hour as does his vocabulary. We have started spelling in our parental communication ('can he go to the d-o-c-k', 'hide the c-o-o-k-i-e-s before he sees it'). He is quite all encompassing in terms of ages for friends, he plays with peers but will also happily disappear with adults for an hour or two, he is especially comfortable with the african single guys on board, he would go to their rooms and they would play cars with him or watch Veggietales (kiddie cartoon) with him or drive him around the dock on the go-cart. He is having the best time amongst the 3 of us!

Lastly, an update from our last newsletter, our water situation has improved (we are touched by your letters of support and empathy in trying out 2 minute showers!), Don and Kathy Golden are doing well but have left Mercy Ships as Kathy recovers from her heart operation (thanks for prayers for them). Thanks for prayers and cards and emails and we were very touched by the video sent by our home church in Lyon FAC, bises et bises :)! Wishing you all a blessed Easter,

Kae, Julien and Etienne :)
Monrovia, Liberia.