Day 12

Being in Yekepa is like being in Stephenson compared to Milwaukee when thinking about Monrovia. The weather up here around the mountains is also at least 10 degrees cooler. It is so pleasant in the morning and even later on, although it’s like a hot summer day back home, it’s not so unbearable like it can feel in Monrovia.

This morning I woke up early with a headache, but I didn’t come out of my room until just after 7. I think it was 7:06. Leo was up in the living room along with Emmanuel. I came out in my shorts and T-shirt and Emmanuel says, ‘Are you going to chapel?’ I started to say he didn’t tell us for sure if we were and I just asked what time. He says 7:00 o’clock. Leo and I looked at each other and I went to the bedroom to put on pants and a collared shirt with shoes (I am normally in flip flops). We walk outside and wonder where Emmanuel went. We are right across from the chapel, but I don’t hear anything. It is around 7:20 and then we see Kenneth Williams, an American teacher on campus, walking towards chapel. We walked down by him and I asked if he was speaking today. He said he was and I asked when chapel started. I thought the college would be more time controlled. He said 7:30, so we were good. I wasn’t sure if Emmanuel didn’t know, or he gave an earlier time in case we acted Liberian. Either way, we made it to chapel on time and we really enjoyed this 30 minute service.

After the service we got introduced or reintroduced to so many people. They are all so friendly. I have a picture for the first team members that traveled to Liberia on 2012. Look at the picture for recognition before reading the name below.

After church we had a good breakfast with fresh rolls, pineapple, papaya and cucumbers left from supper last night. They were even good for breakfast. Emmanuel, Wintee and Renee headed over to WOP training again while Leo and I visited with Britta and Milton. Milton was formerly from the orphanage as well and he pastors a church nearby. It was called New Yekepa Baptist Church. I believe they’ve changed the name, but I don’t remember what it is. I’ve had the privilege of visiting his church before and speaking while Mama Betty (Emmanuel’s mom) served as a translator to speak my sermon in Mano language. Bobbi Buckley also shared her testimony another time at this church with Mama Betty translating for her as well. We had a great visit. Before we were ready to leave, another man, Nathaniel, stopped by because Britta had arranged for us to carry a computer along from the states for a student here. Nathaniel was that student and Britta presented it to him while he thanked all.

After this Leo and I started our walk to WOP. It was a beautiful day to be walking and at 10:00 AM it still wasn’t too hot.

We arrived to check on Renee, as we met Emmanuel and Wintee as they drove back to the guesthouse. Renee had everything under control. Leo and I decided to walk to a local store and while Leo bought a cold drink for both me and Renee, I purchased some suckers to hand out at WOP. Both were a hit. Leo and I got a chance to sit and talk while checking in on Renee every now and then.

Leo and I could tell Renee had things under control, so we decided to walk back to the ABC university. We walked around the grounds and I explained what I could remember about the campus to Leo. We were really impressed with the pigs and how large and how many there were. I can remember when they just had a few pigs and they were very skinny. Here’s a few pictures of the different pigs that were there.

After the farm walk we stopped in our guesthouse and got some water and headed back to the WOP. Renee was still guiding her flock. Lunch was ready so we all took time to eat.

The afternoon consisted of going to WOP, dropping off Renee and Wintee and we headed to the market to again buy more lapas for materials. Renee kept running through it because the ladies all enjoyed the project.

When we arrived at the market, Moses, our past nurse for the CBC Clinic, drove up on his motorbike with his son, Caleb Robin Saah. I am privileged to have a namesake in Liberia. He stayed with us quite a while and would hold our hands, but he was a little shy to speak.

We headed back to the WOP building and Renee was just finishing up. We saw and bought some finished products. The ladies were so happy to do this project with Renee.

Afterwards we headed back to our guesthouse and relaxed for the night. We thought we were done, but we had a knock on the door from Sharon, Emmanuel and Wintee’s niece. She asked if we wanted to ‘witness their choir practice’. Renee was busy cutting more cloth for class in Ganta tomorrow, so just Leo and I went over. They will be singing in chapel tomorrow morning. They are so good to hear. We came back and told Emmanuel we weren’t leaving until AFTER chapel. He laughed and agreed.

It’s almost 11:00 and everyone else is asleep. I need to get up for chapel tomorrow to hear the choir again.