Redefining home

I've been in the foreign service for 3 years and living abroad for 2 years. My concept of home has changed considerably.

When a friend found out I was back in the States she texted me asking "How long have you been at home?"

My first thought was "I'm not at home."

But not wanting to get all deep on her and knowing what she meant I texted her back how long I've been on home leave.

So, what is home now?  It's not my mom's home in North Carolina.  That's hers.  My room there is fabulous but it's not my home. It's not my dad's home in California.  I know his door is always open but it's still his door (and home).

My home has become defined by two things:
1) where the bulk of my stuff is
2) where I can be hospitable to the best of my ability (whether by hosting guests or inviting friends to spend the night at a moment's notice.)

By that definition my last home was in Benin.  My new home will be here in Monrovia.

So, why is home so important?   The less stable it is, structurally or location-wise, the more important it becomes.

I can't begin to imagine what it's like for refugees or, in Liberia, a more complex population of ex-combatants, warlords and child soldiers and their families.  In Monrovia, many of them are concentrated in an area called Westpoint, an area less than a mile from where I live on United Nations Drive.  I walked near there my 2nd weekend in Monrovia.

For a quick read, check out an informative article on Westpoint, Holidays in the Slum

Hard to read?  Yes.  True: Yup. A point for prayer?  Absolutely!!!

For me home is particularly important.  When I reread my first posting I saw a common thread.  The frustrations of my first week hit home because, well, they hit my home!  I describe myself as a nester. Whether I'm in a place for 2 days or 3 years I like to arrange my environment for comfort and coziness.

So I am looking forward to settling in my new home here.  I am already praying about a new project involving the home.  New but probably not too surprising for many of you.  Though you may not know what it is, I invite you to join me in praying for God's guidance in doing it in His perfect timing and for wisdom in preparing my home for it.

Exciting!!

My Rickety Background: The Essence of Monrovia

So I set up my blog in  hurry.  The antique living room background struck a chord.  I thought "this has something to do with Liberia." I just wasn't quite sure how at that point.

Now as I look at it there's something about the imperfections, humanity, and history so evident in everything and yet the modern functionality.  It all comes together to form a lovely picture.  That is my background.  That is Liberia.


Over the past weeks I've had the opportunity to see many sides of the city:
- lush Old Embassy Compound
- makeshift housing built by upcountry refugees from the war
- downtown Monrovia
- Favela-like neighborhoods between the paved roads of Monrovia
- markets and supermarkets throughout Monrovia
- New Embassy Compound
- a school in a rural town
- my temporary home
- government buildings destroyed during the war
- young men playing soccer in the street
- children playing hopscotch

Some of it has been beautiful to behold. Some of quite gross.  Whether or not there is a home in Liberia that looks like this, the essence of my blog's background image reminds me so much of the city.

Journey to Billy Town: School Dedication

Last week I had the opportunity to represent my agency at a school dedication.  The school was funded by the Global Partnership for Education grant to the Ministry of Education. I thought of you and took lots of pictures on the one hour trip to the school site.

Nearing the school site, rural community

Old school:(

Event program with gift of a nut. Not tasty:(

NEW SCHOOL!!

Delegation from Ministry touring the new school

In this picture, note the Minister in teal green at the front left of the picture and the Country Borad representative right behind her. Also present at the event was the Deputy Minister (also a woman!), representatives from the World Bank, Global Partnership for Education, other development partners, community members, families and the blessed children themselves.

Returning to Monrovia

The Journey from Benin to Liberia

Before Liberia there was Benin.

What a blessing Benin was!! My mom joined me in Ghana about 1 month before I left Benin. In Ghana I attended an Africa region Education Officer’s conference. After the conference we returned to Benin. Honestly, it was as much homecoming for her as it was for me. My friends LOVE my mom and were happy that she came for a 2nd time. Yet my last two weeks in Benin were bittersweet. Sweet because of the time spend with colleagues and friend but bitter knowing I wouldn’t be living in Benin anymore.

Between postings all people in my position feet a fully paid ticket home. I feel like I spent 2 months planning my home leave and I thank God all went essentially as planned.

1st stop: Paris, France.

I was mom’s first time and she took it all in!! Our time in Paris included among other things: a boat tour of the monuments, shopping, going to the Musee d'Orsay, strolling through the Jardin de Luxumbourg, going to a French/English church, and seeing a How to Become a Parisien in an Hour play.

The quintessential

Famous hot chocolate and people-watching at Cafe de Flores 

Former railway station hall of Musee D'Orsay

Strolling through the Louvre Gardens

Chillin' w/ the ladies outside of Musee D'Orsay

Pics of us and the Palace at Luxembourg

2nd stop: Charlotte, NC Quality time with my mom, uncles and cousin

Cousin Fran and Uncle David

3rd stop: Chatsworth and San Diego, California, the land of my father, stepmom, brothers and a cousin

Cousin, stepmom, father and a bamboo bouquet in Japanese garden

4th stop: Back to Charlotte, NC.

I couldn’t leave Charlotte without taking a field trip with Grandma. We went to the Lazy 5 ranch. The closest thing to a safari, right in North Carolina!! So much fun!!!

Two beauties gazing upon one another

Two big guys sizing one another up

5th Stop: DC!

 I need to get more pics from friends:) I enjoyed them so much I forgot to take pics!

Last Stop: LIBERIA!

Is it really lovely?

Soon after I arrived I called Mama Brown to let her know I arrived safely.   So, there was "beautiful Benin" and now I've been calling my new home "lovely Liberia." After declaring I'd arrived, she asked "Is it really lovely?"

Part of it is true, part of it is faith.

It is lush but it is also rainy: metaphorically and literally.  And I arrived at the beginning of the rainy season, literally:)

Faith is defined as the substance of things HOPED FOR, the essence of things NOT SEEN.  So this country, by faith is going to be lovely, no matter what!! In Jesus' name!!  I say that so emphatically because my first few days have been an odd mixture:

1. I arrived on Saturday.  My luggage did not.
2. My luggage arrived on Tuesday but my brand new bag had only 3 wheels. 
3. My exhaust fan malfunctioned.  My air conditioner broke.

4.  Two (out of 5) very necessary dehumidifiers started leaking. 

5.  I discovered quite a mold problem in my home: in 2 bathrooms, on the fridge and in the laundry room.
6.  I developed a sore throat on Sunday.  By Thursday I couldn't speak above a whisper. I blame the mold.

And Friday was my birthday! Wah!!

Ok.  Pity party aside, let me move on to the praise fest.


God is so good because:

1. Before I even step foot in Liberia He assured me very directly in personal prayer time and a minister that He has positioned me in Liberia for a reason and to walk confidently and boldly. 
2. He has given me immense favor with the Housing and Maintenance staff who have taken care of issue quickly, even the same day I reported it.  They even checked on stuff I didn't report.  One worker even washed my dishes while working here!
3. I LOVE my new team and colleagues at the mission.  There are some quirks but they are still
   
   lovable. I even met someone to practice French with!
4. My guards are all super nice. . .That's a mixed blessing;)
5. There is a Zumba class twice a week walking distance from home!
6. I have the opportunity to do an overnight site visit I LOVE site visits) this week
7. I have a couple of promising churches to visit.
8. I can walk to work, even in the rain.
9. My sponsor is fabulous.  I didn't cook until Saturday evening due to all the food she bought me.
10. I have praying friends to partner with me in ushering in God's will in my life and in this country.

Thank you Jesus!!!  Aside from the abundant greenery in Liberia, it reminds me a lot of Benin, even mores of the Caribbean.  Here are some pics of lovely Liberia:

Monrovia is on a peninsula so we're never far from the water

At the end of  3-mile walk through the city this Sunday