Independence Day!

Day 8 Thursday July 26

Today is Liberian Independence day!  We really had to adjust our schedule to accommodate for the holiday.  The business group went to the school to wait for loan applicants and begin the interview process with them.  No one showed up until about 11:30 which was when we needed to leave for lunch.  TIA (This is Africa).  We think they may have been timing it so they could come interview and stay for the championship soccer game later in the afternoon.  Unfortunately, everyone planned that way which put a lot pf people there all at once with little time to interview before lunch.  We told them to come back tomorrow before lunch and we would be able to meet with them.  Ernie Sizemore and I took advantage of the time we had with some of the children who always seemed to find us whenever we were around the village, the orphanage, or the school.  We played Frisbee with them while we were waiting.  Mark Barlow and Richard Archer used the time to talk extensively with Jessy about the plans for the wholesale distribution center to be operated by BDA and/or the community.

Ernie preparing a great throw

stick and wheel, a great toy for all!

Not being able to do teacher training due to the holiday the ladies stayed up at the orphanage and were able to spend time with the children there. I had been praying for more opportunities to spend intentional time with the children at the ministry center.  I am thrilled that was able to happen.

Lora with the girls

After lunch we all headed down to the game.  The children from the ministry wanted to go to the game as well as to town to spend their "26." Tradition has it that you are to give the little ones 26 on the 26th.  But, now it is just a gift of a small amount of money or small items.  That "26" was burning a hole in their pockets and soon many of them had little packs of candy or some other treat.  Most of the children didn't stay for the whole game so different ones of us walked back to the center with the kids.  The rest of the team played with the chidlren either at the school or the ministry while I stayed at the soccer pitch to film the action.  All in all it was a very tiring day.  For the first day of the whole week the sun was high and hot.

Richard with some friends

playing kickball at the ministry

little soccer fan

soccer fans

all dressed up for the 26th

Champions!

Mrs. Goumo, Joanne, Mensa, and Chris with Fatiah (4yrs.)

On the way to the Waterfall, a 26th tradition!