Yes we are still here!

My goodness, it's the second week of August already. So here I am apologising for the long wait before our next blog entry again! I think we will try little and (more) often in future, and see how that works!

Well, it's rainy season for sure now. Actually it isn't as seriously rainy as we'd expected..after all, it can rain for a fortnight without stopping at home, and the longest we've had here is three days and nights so far. Still, some of our US friends in particular think that this is serious rain, and that they should confine themselves to the dryness of the ship! Truthfully though, it must be quite horrendous having to live in a shack with a leaky roof etc in the rains. No sewers inside or out, no piped water, no public electricity or other fuel, roads mainly made of mud and stone. Amazingly, most people manage to look perfectly clean and tidy, in fact, the ladies clothes in particular are bright and colourful. Oh, and if any of you reading this have recently spent mega- bucks for a pram or pushchair (buggy/stroller), well all you need is a 'lappa'. This is a long length of fabric which you use to swaddle/tie your baby or child to your back. They stay there while you get on with whatever, perfectly comfortable, asleep when tired, leaving you hands free. I see Mothercare profits slumping any minute now!

Of course this comes in useful when crossing rivers when carrying stuff...as you see. Mercy Ships has an agriculture training project running in a rural village about 1hr from here (or more, depends on the size of the potholes/ whether any rivers have burst their banks etc). During the school holidays, there was a summer 'playscheme' thing run, and it included a trip to the village.

On the right there is..well, just look at the sign. It was a rainy day when a party of us went to see this rubber plantation, about two hours from here. With the price of oil being so high, this natural rubber source (as opposed to oil synthesised from oil) is probably worth more than ever. Liberia has rubber, high grade iron ore, and diamonds of course.. in fact many natural resources. I hope that her citizens get to benefit from them more than they historically have done. With the Godly President that Liberia now has, I think that they might very well do so.

I'll add a few more pictures of this huge place:

The accomodation at the bottom is new, and is shared by many people. Sadly, much of it is like the other picture.

Elliot is back in school this week..it's an early return compared to the UK. He has a new class teacher, who I think will be kind but firm...which is just right for a class of more boys than girls I think. Two age groups are together, which in total is an enormous six children!!! So far, so good, he seems to be enjoying it.

Weekend off-ship stuff is church in Cheesmanburg on Sunday, where we now help out with Children's Church. There's about 80 kids, with almost zero resources, but they are wonderful! On alternate Saturdays Patricia is going to an orphanage near here with some other folks from the ship. There are many, many orphans here in Liberia due to the war and disease. They are amazing though, and, like oftentimes in this crazy, topsy-turvy place, we give a little and they give back so much more!! I'll post some pics next time.

On the left is a can of Vimto..as you've never seen it before! It was my treat a while ago, and I thought I'd share it with you.

OK, my brain is seizing up, so until next time soon, thanks for your love, prayers and support.