Getting to know the functions of the blog site now (smile)  Can you read red?

Headed home. June 8, 2014
   What fun to see Hannah, one of my roomies in Yekepa from 3 years ago who is Amani Country Director. Emmanuel picked her up from the airport yesterday afternoon, and she stayed at the guesthouse with us last night giving us a ride in her vehicle to the airport this morning  but she needed Emmanuel since she doesn't think it is safe to travel alone.

Emmanuel and Wintee stayed in Peggy's room, and Peggy and I bunked together again.  Since we were leaving at 4:30 for the airport, it saved Emmanuel time traveling to get us so early in the morning.  Why Wintee came I can only speculate.  A nice bed with an attached bath?  Air conditioning? Maybe missing her husband who had been at a retreat  since Tuesday?  Whenever Wintee was around and there was food, she always ate.  She doesn't look hungry, but she seems to enjoy food whenever she gets some.  We have observed that a lot in this land.  I think this has been a trip in which we have lived closer to the way the native people of the country do than ever before.  I hope that if any of my African friends read this that I am not offending them.  We Americans don't even know how spoiled we are.  We so take our creature comforts for granted.  It only takes a short time outside of our culture to discover how much we DO take them for granted and what adjustments it is for us to be without them.*

Soon we will be touching down in Sierra Leone for the last time this trip.  Emmanuel evaluated the trip with us last night and from his perspective it was a 9 out of 10.  It will take me a bit longer to truly evaluate it.  Parts are easy.  We were warmly greeted and appreciated by all the people. Our ministry is raved over among all the groups we encountered, whether the owner of the guesthouse or a visitor from Togo.

*But this is a hard land, physically exhausting.  The airport is one hour from Monrovia in a good vehicle and going 30 miles an hour in one the needed repair took us twice as long that first night.  We were charged $10 on time for fuel to get us there, $20 for the day we missed our flight and $30 another time.  Eleazar, Christian, Julia Mulbah and Emmanuel provided us with meals or partial housing cost, but there was other times we had to feed not only ourselves but our host and his friend.  So even taking out the visa debacle I think this was an expensive trip.

Was it necessary?  Absolutely.  Franklyn has been associated with EAFC since 2008 but just now thinks he understands us.  It took personal contact.  I had taught Emmanuel in 2011 and talked to many while in Liberia that year about EAFC but he coordinated the trip based on friendship with me,  not understanding or valuing the work.  That has definitely changed.  Last night he asked what were the responsibilities of a country coordinator.  From that I took it that he is willing to function in that role for a while.  Franklyn accepted the responsibility with pleasure.

So now, we come home happy and heavy.  Happy that we have been well, accomplished what we set out to do, fond of relationships that were rekindled and new one formed, but heavy that the needs so outweigh our ability to provide.  Let me add a new "h" word, hopeful that God will give us favor with more people who can give that they want to.
To Him be the glory!!!