Crossing the Equator

One of the things that always startles me when I return home from abroad is the amount of daylight here in Canada. Often I’m home in the summer and every night I stand and marvel that the sun is still up at nine pm. When I arrived home on Thursday, it was the opposite, I looked into the darkness and marveled that it was not yet six! At the equator, the daylight never changes: there’s always 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night. Kenya, where I just spent three weeks, is right on the equator. In fact, during my trip I’ve crossed the equator on land for the first time.

I crossed the equator while driving from the capital city of Nairobi to the western city of Kitale. On the way, the scenery was breathtaking! And we were happy to be in a private vehicle too as that allowed us to stop and photograph the view as well as the zebra herds and baboons.

The people were just as incredible as the scenery: friendly, hospitable, and incredibly welcoming! I spent much of my time working with the kids. Since there were multiple lessons going on, the kids and their teachers often ended up in the fields. It made it just a bit more challenging to teach while avoiding the cows and their droppings.

It wasn’t just the churches that welcomed us, but also the people in the communities. On two afternoons we held open-air meetings in the market square. One old man told me, “Greet your families, greet your friends, and greet your communities from us here in Kenya. We are glad you came. Come again!” 

It was an unexpected pleasure to meet up with cousins in Nairobi as we were leaving. Rhonda Hilman and her family live in Kenya as does Heidi Knowles (Matson). Here we have six Matson cousins (four of them also being Hilman cousins) and there were two more if you count Rhonda’s kids! 

I’m now home in rainy BC...and despite the rain and the short days I'm happy that I get to be home for Christmas!

Come to Kenya!

Well, it didn’t take me long to get behind on this blog again! I spent most of the month of October in South Africa. When I left, I decided to stop by and visit in the UK for one week. My cousin Stewart and his wife Mimi live there with their little daughter Sophie. I stopped by to visit them and got in on Sophie’s first birthday party and then I borrowed Stew’s car and drove to Scotland to visit some very good friends from Bangkok: Jane and Mike Fucella and daughters Rachel and Aylie. After a week in the UK, I returned to New Hampshire and I spent most of November there, except for a quick trip to North Carolina for their Fall Services.  Now, however, I am in Kenya! 

I left for Kenya last Monday with John Ruotsala and Julie Matson. We met Dennis Hilman here and were then joined by Terri-Ann Hilman. We were all disappointed when Maija Lampinen had to drop out of the trip at the last minute because she got bronchitis. She is doing better now and we thank God for that! 

We spent one day in Nairobi which included ministering at several churches there in the slums. The services were supposed to be at one and three, but because of traffic it was closer to four and six! The traffic really is terrible in Nairobi! 

On Thursday we jumped in a matatu (minibus) and headed for Kitale where we have been for the last few days. We have been attending a large youth conference here under the direction of Pastor Timothy. It started Thursday night and has just ended this evening. 

The conference has been amazing. We’ve all been humbled by the depth of understanding these people have and the hunger they have for the Word. During the conference we had some time together and other times we split and different team members worked with groups such as the pastors, the women, the youth, and the children. The largest group was, of course, the youth as this was a youth conference but there were still lots of people  in the other groups of well.

Here are a few more pictures from the Youth Conference:

On the Road Again!

Well, after my bout with malaria and a lot of rest and recuperation in Canada and the USA, I’m on the road again! Currently I’m in South Africa with Dennis Hilman. This is a really short trip…only three weeks—and one week is already over!

It’s been fantastic to be out here again…and, yes, I’ve been taking it easy. As in the last few years, I’m staying with the Malefane’s while I’m here. They are a lovely hospitable couple that have adopted me and introduce me as their firstborn! I had to laugh the other day as we were walking home from the neighbours in the afternoon and Mary Malefane asked, “Leona, are you tired?” 

“Not really,” I replied.

“Yes you are,” she said. “You must rest now!” So there you go! Anyone that’s worried about me doing to much be assured that you have an ally here who is keeping me in check.

When I am busy, it’s usually with the children, as usual, and I’m not sure you can really call that work! I’ve taught three groups of kids so far and I have two more groups this weekend. I’ve also participated in a confirmation class, visited the prison, encouraged friends, and attended services where Dennis was speaking.

We have a rental car on this trip and Dennis has chosen to leave the driving up to me. In South Africa they drive on the left, not the right which can be a bit tricky—but usually only if there’s no traffic on the road. However, since Dennis came in late, we were driving back from the airport late and several times I was merrily driving down the oncoming lane! I’ve got it figured out now, though and the worst thing I do is manage to turn the windshield wipers on instead of the turn signal.

We needed the windshield wipers earlier today! Dennis was just finishing up a day of pastors’ training when the clouds blew in, the thunder began to sound, and then the rain came pouring down. We made it from the little shack church to the car but then we had a ½ hour drive home. I’m from Vancouver—I understand how to drive in the rain, but the other drivers were going pretty slow…they reminded me of Vancouver drivers in the snow! It guess it was good they were going slow though—much of the road was covered in at least a centimetre of water and the spray on both sides was higher than the car. The storm didn’t last too long—about an hour. It stopped about the time we reached the house.

At some point during the storm, however, the power was knocked out. We’ve been home maybe an hour and the power has just returned now. The sky outside looks pretty grey though, so I think I’ll conclude this now and post in case we lose power again!

One more thought: there's a bush outside the house here that has the most unique looking flowers and the most amazing smell (check the left-hand side of the picture above)! Here are some pictures of the flowers…I’m afraid I can’t post the smell though so you’ll have to visit yourself to experience that!

Finally! FINALLY!

For the first time since starting this blog I finally have a valid reason for posting a blog late! As you know from the last post, I left West Africa at the beginning of May and headed to the Philippines. Unfortunately, after I had been there just shy of three weeks, I started feeling a bit under the weather. My self diagnosis was either dengue fever or malaria... That was the start of a two-week stay in the local hospital with what they first thought was dengue...but then they finally diagnosed as malaria. Not fun. But at least it gave me a reason to be late with this blog! :)

Most of my trip I either spent in the hospital or convalescing in the hotel, but that's not so picture-worthy. So, here are a few pictures of what else happened while I was in the Philippines!

We taught the kids the story of Joseph using small felt storybooks as well as making small Joseph coats with the kids. Here the boys are trying their own coats on Joseph.

Tamasen Tervo brought bubbles and they were a big hit with the kids! We were trying to keep them quiet during the seminars. We'd already done songs and the story of Joseph.

Here are the guys with their coconuts in Igpit. Tamasen and I were with the kids and had our coconuts a bit later! :)

We went to the island of Camigun. These kids came around and offered to jump for coins. They were good! They'd climb to the top of the ferry, I'd throw several coins and they'd dive off and come up with the coins!

Once again, like last year, we broke done on the way to Kitcharao! While they were attempting to fix the truck, Randy and Fratt were playing songs for the people in town.

Sheera (Bernie and Daisy's youngest daughter) celebrated her first birthday as well as her baptism on the beach. She is my fouth God daughter! This was just a few days after I got out of the hospital.

The kids (and the youth for that matter) thoroughly enjoyed being at the beach! I enjoyed watching and sleeping.

Now I'm going to follow in Dennis' footsteps and end this post with a sunset! This was taken the day we went to the beach.

P.S. I am feeling much better after my stay in the hospital. I'm home now and recovering quickly. In fact I feel recovered (just a bit weak) but I'm not allowed to go back to work according to my family and health consultants until the end of June!

Welcome to West Africa

I just spent a month (April) in West Africa with Dennis Hilman. We went to Ghana, Togo, and Liberia. Here is the trip in pictures! Dennis' thoughts on the trip can be found at www.foreignmissionnewsblog.blogspot.com.

Ghana

On Good Friday after our service, we visited the Liberian Refugee Camp where Amanda and I volunteered in 2010. There weren't many people left who I knew, but it still felt a bit like coming home. The refugees here cease to be refugees as of June and must integrate into Ghanaian society or go home to Liberia.

Easter morning service on the hilltop. These are some of the kids from the local congregation.

Easter Monday picnic! This seems to be the tradition at most churches in Accra. The “Botanical Garden” we went to was packed! It was a good day though: food, drums, volleyball, etc. 

These guys drummed and sang for almost an hour. At one point there was a crowd of almost 50 people singing along!

Togo

We weren't in Togo long—and mostly just for seminars. This was one part of Dennis' seminar in the little thatched church we were using.

On Sunday I ended up teaching Sunday School. There were tons of kids! Here I am singing a song with them. :) 

The group of kids I taught...you can just see Karen Goddard in the background! A lot of them are holding paper whales...we did the story of Jonah and made whales as part of the lesson.

Liberia

We spent most of our West African time in Liberia. A day or so after arriving in the capital of Monrovia, we were off to Zwedru—normally a 11 hour trek on bad roads...unfortunately it took us 34 hours and three different vehicles! Here's the first one that got left under the mango tree on the side of the road.

These are some of the kids that belong to the couple we stayed with when we finally arrived in Zwedru: children, nieces, and nephews of Christian and Patience Bowah. I think I finally got the names, ages, and relationships figured out the day I left! From left to right: Angel, Evon, Ezekiel,  Michelina, and Princess. Michael is at the bottom. Michelina and Michael are both the children of Christian's brother Michael. There were also two older boys (sons of Christian's brother Gilbert) who were both named Gilbert.

Some of the older boys playing football. No, I didn't play, but I did play kickball with the kids once...and managed to mangle both feet. Not badly, but they hurt for a few days. The kids were playing without shoes, so I did too... I think I need to toughen up my feet.

Christian, Dennis, and I on Christian's motorbike! Christian and Patience's house was only really accessible via walking or motorbike. There's just a small trail. However, amazingly, when we first arrived the taxi actually drove right to the house! Whenever we took the motorbikes after that we marveled at how the car made it!

The local congregation is building a new building! :) You can see the old one is a bit, well, old! It didn't take them long—four days from nothing to the full roof up! This picture is from day three.

This photo is in Monrovia. Monrovia is built right on the beach. I couldn't leave without at least visiting. I love the beach!

I'm now in transit from Ghana to the Philippines. I should arrive in the Philippines on May 2nd...and will meet a team from the USA on the 3rd. 

A week off in Ghana and Togo

I arrived in Ghana at the end of March a week earlier than Dennis Hilman who I will be working with for the next few months. I came early to arrange visas as well as to visit a friend in Togo.

I was looking forward to couchsurfing during my week alone. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, look up couchsurfing.org. It's a great organization. My couchsurfing host family was wonderful! Edem, his sister Victoria, and her two daughters (seen here) Juliet and Fidelia were all welcoming and lots of fun. Another treat was meeting fellow couchsurfer Stephanie who is currently volunteering with an NGO in Ghana. (We had all just eaten green candies and were showing off our green tongues!)

Edem also works for an NGO and while I was staying he needed to go out to the field and asked if Stephanie and I wanted to go too, which we did! Edem was helping to administer baseline surveys to see which villagers would participate in a farming program. Meanwhile, I wandered around and played with the young children, joined in on a school volleyball game, or hung out with the people fillingout the survey. The highlight forme was that I could join in on a middle school volleyball game and actually hold my own! :)

We managed to squeeze in some touring through the Eastern Region when Edem was finished working. We took in the "biggest tree in West Africa", Aburi botanical gardens, the Buti Falls (which were unfortunately dry since it's only the start of the rainy season), the Umbrella Rock (where local villagers get in on the tourist trade by charging visitors to climb their ladder to the top of the rock) and a few other sites. The drive through the Eastern Region was itself a treat! The scenery was fantastic.

As soon as we returned to Accra, I was off to Togo! A good friend of mine, Karen Godard, is serving there with Mercy Ships. The tro-tro ride to the border was uneventful, other than the two hours it took us to get out of Accra due to traffic, and I met up with Karen in Lome with no trouble.

The weekend was fantastic! We couchsurfed, wandered through the market, ate lots of great street food, toured the ship where she lives, went to the ballet, toured Lome, rode around on moto-taxies, helped cook fufu, ate fufu, and generally enjoyed being in Lome. We also had birthday brownies for my birthday...a bit belated, but who cares!

Monday as fun--I went to the Dental Clinic with Karen to help out. I never would have thought I'd enjoy being at the dentist office all day, but I did. I helped clean up after each patient, I held the light for the dentists, I found and handed out tools, I even got to pull a tooth! Maybe if I decide to get a job again sometime I will consider dentistry...well, no, actually I'm lying, but I WOULD help out in a mission outreach again in a heartbeat! :)