On Sunday, my kiwi roommate I went to the United Liberia Inland Church. We were met at the outside gate by the pastor, who hailed a cab for us, packed us into the back and rattled off to Sinkor. At church, they announced a wedding shower and a visiting preacher spoke solid words. The Christian life is a race, and you can not stop by the side of the road. Shortcuts can lead you into a trap. Stop for cold soft drinks, and you will find yourself at the end. You must run the race to win the prize. We broke bread, passed fruit juice around in the gold version of the trays we use at home, and all the while the choir sang softly about the blood of Jesus that washes clean our souls. The kids sat outside for Sunday School, and we could hear the words of 'Father Abraham' drifting through the windows as we prayed. Afterwards, everyone stood around in the courtyard and talked and laughed. We met the pastor's wife, Ruth, and one after another the kids came over to greet us. And then the pastor hailed us another cab, and we rattled on back to the ship. My favourite part of it all? Pastor John Bleah laughs just like Joel, and it felt like home.
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This is Sadiatu. She's from Sierra Leone and she came to us with an encephalocele. The operation to repair the defect is not an easy one. It involves pulling the skin of the scalp forward, pushing the brain back in, and patching the hole in the skull. Sadiatu took it like a bear. She growled and screamed and tried to smack me every time I came near her for the first couple of days after her surgery. On Thursday, she found her smile again. Yesterday evening, I was going about my business on A Ward, and I felt small hands on the back of my legs. I turned around to see Sadiatu. She had toddled down from D Ward, aimless wandering that led her right to me. And she looked up at me, eyes finally wide open, and grinned.I'm glad we're friends now.
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Sonnie is still a champ. She had surgery to release an amniotic band that was constricting her leg, and also had the two middle fingers on her good hand separated. Shes been hanging out on D Ward, terrorizing friends on other wards and banging her camo cast into whatever comes across her path. She's delightful and I love her.---
And then there's Alfred. We're practically dating. In fact, on Sunday I took my lunch down to the ward and hung out with him while I ate. I drew a picture of him with his leg up on a pillow and he drew one of me in a wedding dress. Yesterday I was his nurse and he repaid the food favor by sharing his fufu and sea monkey with me. (I still can't figure out what kind of meat sea monkey is. No one was able to explain the animal to me properly.) We hung a paper bag on the wall and played basketball with a balloon. We crutched up and down the hall, and he helped me clean and dress the incisions on his leg. He tried to speak with an American accent and failed miserably. We laughed a lot.When my shift was almost over, I noticed Alfred looking more than a little downcast. I went over and sat on the bed next to his. He turned his face away and hid under his blanket. Not typical Alfred. Concerned, I tried to figure out what was wrong. Was he feeling sick? In pain? Upset about something? Finally he uncovered his face and turned to me.
You can sleep here tonight? There are plenty beds empty.
We're so in love.
