06 December 2020 – Ya Hello-o – common greeting in Liberia.  “Ha yu been keeping?” = “How have you been doing?” as ‘keeping’ is used often rather than feeling or doing in inquiries about one’s health.  Liberia has their handshake, in which two people shake hands in the conventional Western way, but end the handshake with a mutual press of the fingers that creates a “snap” sound.  I tried in previous years but not always successfully – though due to social distancing, I have not had the chance to practice.  

I am encouraged to be back in Liberia.  The people here are excited that Mercy Ships is returning.  Thankful to be at the Mercy Ships Team Apartment in Monrovia and for those who have been here before it is located in Sinkor – just down from Royal Hotel – actually between 14th and 15th Street and a fun fact I grew up on 14th Street on the West Side of Indianapolis.  We have electricity most of the time and running water, though not safe to drink, and security in the complex.  I feel safe and secure here, though I am aware of our surroundings.  Plus we have three Mercy Ships vehicles already in country.

As Country Director, I lead and oversee all of Mercy Ships activities in Liberia.  We are already working with the government (Ministry of Health, Offices of the President and Vice President, Immigration, Foreign Affairs, Transport + Port / Airport), church and missionary communities, and non-governmental organizations.  I am in contact with former patients, crew, day crew, and partners.  I won’t be alone but will have a team, but the number of team members will vary over time.  In 2021 we will host medical capacity building training teams, have infrastructure projects, work with the port and water company, relationship building, and everything needed in advance of the ship coming in January 2022.  So I have moved to Liberia, I don’t have an apartment at the Mercy Ships base in Texas neither do I have a cabin currently on a ship.        

Liberia Facts:
Money:  Use United States dollars and Liberian dollars also known as ‘LD’ or ‘Liberty’
Ethnic Composition: many people groups Kpelle, Bassa, Grebo, Grebo, Mano, Kru, Loma, Kissi, Mandingo and others
Languages:  English, Liberian English  (though there are words an English speaker has not heard before or recognizes the word but used in different ways) and over 16 local languages
Religious Affiliations:  Christian, Muslim, and Traditional Beliefs
COVID-19: as of December 3rd = 1,676 tested positive, 83 deaths and 1,358 have already recovered.  I came with my negative COVID test results.  Masks and hand washing and social distancing when possible.  Last week, they have put in some new regulations to avoid a second wave and now all incoming travelers are required to be tested at the airport and self-quarantine for 14 days and monitor symtoms via an app.  This did mean that the four experts I had coming for December, I had postponed them to another time.  We are thinking creatively about how to proceed.  

Prayer Requests:  * Safety and Health *Relationships and Connections with People *Improvements for Port and Water Situation  *Our Team *Best Strategy to identify surgical patients and training participants *God’s wisdom, insight, discernment, and guidance
 

Kofa – my Liberian name, from the Kru people group, name given to me by two pastors in 2007 and is the same people group as His Excellency President George Weah.  Many Kru make their living on the sea as fishermen.