In Liberia

I'm not going to be updating this blog as much as I wish I could. I have dial up equivilent internet speeds and I'm at the whims of my caretaker Jerry. They only have electricity between 7 and 11 pm, so right now I'm actually using the charge he has left on his laptop, but he's done using it for the day.
This is from an email I sent my family earlier. I'm doing this so you have something to read in case I have to get off soon.

I'm here safely and what not. I am forever going to be hot and oily from the hot humid weather and all the bug spray. Only time I truly feel cool is when I'm in a fast moving car and by the window.

They took my peanut butter, but I'm surviving. Kathy Cook told me to take a jar of peanut butter in case I have food difficulties when I get here. It was basically a last resort and the darn Atlanta airport took it. They are feeding me well and I really like the food. Would you like me to tell you all about it, seeing as that's what I typically do when I go out of the country? I'll just say this, lots of rice and lots and lots of cornbread. It's more like a mix between cornbread and cake, more corn less cake. But it is tasty.
Yesterday we went to a village way outside the city and there were doctors, nurses, and people with meds with us to provide them with free medical support and a number of preachers with us from around the area. The village was apparently Muslim, so the preachers talked about Jesus and said it is because of him we have brought this help and they prayed with those who wanted to. I have trouble as is speaking with educated Liberian, they have to repeat a lot for me, so I was not much help in the village I don't think. I took pictures for Jerry and helped move stuff.

Today I leave with Jerry's oldest son, Joshua, to a youth camp where I'll be speaking some.

My two biggest regrets, I didn't pack my own bag completely on my own, because it took me forever just to find a contact case, and I should have packed a book bag to bring with me. I'm always having to take so much with me everyday just for my 'survival'. I'm referring to my water sterilizer, passport, water bottles, and then if I want extra stuff like a camera, well it's a lot.

I've already had tons of moments of realization while being here, where I'm just like... "Whoa didn't expect that," though it then always dons on me that I never even really thought about it much, so I actually didn't know what to expect. The bathtub is both the sink and bathing place. It's really the only work drain in the house. But at the same time most people I have seen and met have cell phones. I'm sure it's not like that as you enter villages away from the cities.
But then again their capital Monrovia doesn't seem bigger than my home town, Snellville.

I have had encounters with some real African stuff musically from the random songs individuals will break out in, to over hearing some Outkast and Jordan Sparks on the radio. I was particularly excited about these because Outkast is from Atlanta where I'm from ( I shared this with them, they had no clue thats what they were hearing) and 'One Step at a Time' truly is inspirational. Thank you Miss Sparks.

I'm watching the two youngest of the household play Uno right now. i'm running out of things to type. I've already written about 20 pages in my journal, so clearly I have a ot to speak on, I just don't want to get into a long story right now.
I hope to upload some pictures later on here, but with this connection that could take me forever. I won't have any internet again until sometime next week.

I think the grandmother is funny, I just wish I could understand her half the time. She gave me the wierdest look today when I was stirring my water with my UV purifying device. I mean I think it's a crazy futuristic James ond type device, so I don't know what she thinks.

Jerry just told me not to tell you all that he's beating me and then he ran off while letting out his Rafiki-like (bamboo from Lion King) laugh.

Anyways, he sounds eager to eat lunch and he loves for us to eat together, though no one else ever eats with us. But I am HIS guest. So we must get to the delicious cornbread.

Keep me in your prayers people.
Till next time my readers.