Collard greens and SPAM

We had Liberian food for dinner tonight. On the menu was Paul's favorite collard greens with spam, rice, fried eggplant, corn on the cob, pineapple and bananas.  It was delicious.  For dessert we had a treat made by a friend -- peanut brittle.  The bananas, pineapple, corn, eggplant and rice were given to us as a gift from Dr Amos Miamen who is the President of the college, and his staff. All of the produce came from ABC's farming project just across the river from the college..

Homemade Liberian Peanut brittle.  Yum.

Iron Ore

The first ore mined from LAMCO in 1963 is on display at the center of town. This is the same year Paul was born!

Liberian Dollars or "LD"

Liberia was on the Dollar standard for a 100 years, but during the "Doe" years from 1980-1990, (the self-appointed President who Ronald Reagan addressed as Chairman Moe when visiting the White House), the government started printing their own Liberian Dollars. 

American currency is still widely used and readily accessible, but holds much greater value to the LD, which is trading at 75 to one US Dollar.

The largest LD bill is a 100 dollar note, which is worth about $1.20.  As you can see below, the $5 dollar LD note gets by far the most use -- yes, they are totally worn out.

On the LD$10 note below notice the round logo on the left side that looks like two crossing pick axes. That is actually a picture of very old "country money", which the people used way in the bush enlu of coins or bills a century ago. The "country money" was made from thin pieces of iron about a foot long.

Peace

The girls and I went shopping today!  We went to Amani Liberia.  Amani means peace, which describes the community of tailors and seamstresses who work together at the Amani Liberia center. Their faith in God enables them to accept and love one another regardless of their ethnic backgrounds. The ministry was started by my sister in law. Several ABC students work at the ministry as well. The ministry uses the local cloth to make clothes and other items. You can find them online.

Victoria (on the left) and Annie (center) just graduated from ABC. Annie's (right) husband is currently at ABC.

Annabelle in her Amani dress. A perfect fit and so stylish!

A Liberian toast!

Sodas or soft drinks don't come in cans in Liberia but in bottles. These sodas traveled "up country" ten hours and most of the carbonation is gone. Here's to life in Africa! Have a coke and say a prayer for the Chinchen's today!

Cows in grammy's front yard!

I don't know what Paul's mother will say about the ABC cows grazing in her front yard and bushes. The kids loved it.  I tried to feed the baby cow an ear of corn and he head butted me! Paul tried with another one and had to run when it came after him with its head down!  Vanndel thought it was great entertainment. The five cows are part of a socio-economic project designed to help the ABC campus in Liberia feed and sustain itself. It also gives the students fresh beef. As the heard grows they can be sold in the market as a source of income to help the college budget.  There are no fences and they roam the campus all day feeding on the lush grass. Bess loves the ABC "Zoo" and is begging her daddy to start the program in Malawi.

Not the flowers!  It's so beautiful and green on the ABC campus.

The view from our front door.

Paul about to get head butted!

Baby Can

Since being in Liberia my family and I have met so many warm hearted people. But I have to admit that the one person I look forward to seeing the most everyday is baby Can :) Such a joyful little baby that always seems to have a smile on his face :) He absolutely loves eating and you can definitely tell by how chubby he is!  

Can's Mom, Maria has been tremendously helpful with looking after my family each day and doing everything she can all with her baby tied to her back. It's reassuring to know that someone like Maria is here to take good care of me and my family. I wish I could take baby Can home with me.