Day 2

As I write this post it is 10:15 p.m. another long day with its own interesting things happening. One thing I just realized, the power didn’t go off today. I think this may be the only day it didn’t go off in all my trips here, or if it did I was gone and didn’t experience the shut down.

I knew Renee would be especially busy in her first day with Women of Purpose. That turned out to be very true, but Renee just stepped in and kept going. We all watch out for one another, as the heat here is not normal for us and we need to watch out for letting the heat get to us. Even though we have power, air conditioning isn’t as available. The Fred Haberland Training Center does not have air conditioning. In fact we picked up a floor tower fan and a ceiling mounted fan to be used in there to keep air circulating. Leo and I started our day after breakfast with devotions with the ladies of WOP (all future reference to Women of Purpose). I was able to hold a little boy of one of the women attending. I’ll take that any day.

After the devotional time we left Renee and the group of women alone so we didn’t get in the way.

Leo and I headed out with Emmanuel to the hardware store to pick up the fans and other items needed for WOP. Both Leo and I were surprised by the assortment of items at the Liberian Home Depot. We found the fans, handsaw and masking tape needed. At a stop down the road at another store we found some nails and a hammer needed for a loom of sorts that Leo is making. We also stopped along the road at a crude shop making desks and other furniture. We asked about some 1×2’s for the frames needed. They were able to cut them for us so Leo has everything he needs to make these. He will simply do his best to make these looms with the materials he now has.

I forgot to mention the set of barbells that we found at this furniture manufacturer. They were made from concrete in a coffee can with the bar set in place in each can.

Leo loved the amount of vehicles on the road from cars, to motorbikes , to K-K’s, or 3-wheeled carts. it is always chaotic out there. Not to mention all the people.

We got home and Leo set out to work on the loom frames and I went to study more for my first Biblical Counseling training. I was still feeling a little tired from our travels and the heat and I laid down after studying with a timer set for 45 minutes. The timer I got was a little boy named Thaddeus (mentioned in an earlier trip), who walked in and said, ‘Dad Robin, Mother says the food is ready for you now.’ Although he surprised me, I couldn’t help but smile at him and tell him I’ll be right out. It was around 1:30 and I wasn’t thinking about eating. Well, we all took the time to eat and it was some form of Lentil soup over rice with fruit and cucumbers. All in all it was very good.

After the late lunch, both Leo and I told Renee not to overdo it in the heat. She enjoyed the time to teach these ladies. Leo also called it quits on the frames as the afternoon is the hottest time. I took a shower and prepared for the class that started at 4:00. At about 4:20 (Liberian meeting time), the class began. We had probably about 10-12 people in attendance. When we finished at 6:30 I counted 23 people. One man showed up at 6:10 for the class that was scheduled for 4-6. This too is Liberia.

I didn’t get any pictures during my training, but Renee shared some from hers.

After my training time that Leo also attended, the garden guy (Aloysius), had Leo come out to care for the plants.

After talking to the kids for a while I decided to show them the elephant video from Thailand we took a few years ago. I got my iPad out and the video drew a crowd. 23 kids laughed at the elephants squirting water at the people.

I will do a special segment on all the kids here. Leo and Renee are enjoying them as well. So many children.

We finally ate a late dinner of omelette and fried plantains. We talked, unwound and decided it was time to head to bed. I needed to do this blog so I laid propped up in the bed to begin when someone knocked on the door. It was Emmanuel saying that he is counseling a young married couple and he wanted me to come out and speak with them. (this too is Emmanuel 🤪)

I guess I need to practice what I was teaching. The couple was very sweet and accepting of my ‘American’ but Biblical advice. I pray that this couple continues to work through the difficult times.

Now it is 11:20 and I will get some rest. I am unsure what tomorrow will bring, but it will definitely be another busy, but enjoyable day.