Independence Day

Today I had one of those “what did I get myself into” moments.

Soon after we got to the orphanage this morning, Mama Betty sent the girls off to cut firewood for the kitchen – women’s work in Liberia. I figured they’d just walk along the side of the road and chop off some branches here and there and then we’d be back. So I asked to go with them. I should have known something was up when they handed me a “lapper” (a long, African cloth made into a skirt) and a long sleeve jacket. So about 10 of the girls and I, with machetes in hand, start walking down the road towards a nearby mountain. About 15 minutes later, the girls stop, look at me, say, “let’s pass,” and start pushing their way through some bushes nearby. As I follow, I quickly realize that we aren’t going down a nicely cut path through the jungle to find firewood. The girls in front are pretty much cutting their own way with the machetes. When I prayed for the Holy Spirit to lead me where I could ever go on my own, this is not what I had in mind! The girls laugh at me as I start gingerly walking through the forest, making sure not to step on any hidden snakes or get attacked by preying spiders. But seriously people, we’re in African jungles, what else do you expect!? Anyway, after a good 10 minute walk into the forest, we stop at a tree and the girls look at me, say “Sis Bekah, wait here” and then scatter in 10 different directions, leaving me in the middle of who knows where with not even a machete or a big stick to protect myself if some man-eating creature attacks me! After a good thirty minutes of waiting by this tree, too afraid to sit down or touch anything, and wondering if they had forgotten about me, finally one of the girls (Josephine) returns for me. She’s carrying an arm-full of big sticks and proceeds to take off her lapper (she has a skirt on underneath) and uses it to tie up the big bundle of sticks. Then, she puts the whole 40 lb bundle on her head, balances it (with no hands I might add), and walks back the way we came in without hesitation. I am embarrassed to say that I was the only one walking out of that forest without a bundle of sticks on my head (even the 5 year old had a smaller bundle) and the only one who fell walking down the muddy, slippery slope. I am definitely American.

I would end this story by saying, “at least I didn’t get bitten by some crazy African spider,” but the hard, red, egg-sized bump on my leg is telling me otherwise. But hey, at least I didn’t see it bite me… right?

My beautiful Josephine!

I got bored waiting so I carved my name in a tree

A few of the girls

Do I look African Yet!?

Today was also great because it was “America’s independence day.” To Liberians, their own Independence Day is a big deal, almost like Christmas, so we were prepared a small feast for lunch at the orphanage! Rice, bitter ball soup with pork, foo-foo (a form of Jebee), pineapple, and sugar cane! Almost every child at the orphanage came up to us at some point in the day and wished us a “happy America’s independence day). What made the day even greater was we (Tim, Shane, Charlie, and I) celebrated not with fireworks, but with Pancakes! Shane and I made pancakes with bananas, cinnamon, honey, and peanut butter for dinner!

However, the absolute best part of my day was when Shane and I accidentally stumbled across the ice cream cart! Besides being with the kids, I don’t think I’ve been so happy since we got to Africa! So Shane bought me this little cup for 50 Liberian Dollars (about 65 cents in America). This picture definitely doesn’t do justice of the smile I had on my face the whole time I ate it! Definitely a simple pleasure and a blessing from the Lord today. Needless to say I went to bed one happy girl!