A "Spring" in my step...

This month and into November-I am out and about at our Bases in Foya and Bopolu.  The main reason is to be at our Community Health Education graduations that are let by our Community Development Facilitators (CDFs that I help oversee)-which I will talk about in another blog post.  When I am at our bases I am also trying to go out and see the projects that are in the community development sector that I also oversee.  These projects are WASH, CLP (literacy) and AF (Active fellowship)-I LOVE these programs! 

I leave for home leave in a month I want to get out and see as many projects as I can that are near completion.  It also gives me a great opportunity to thank our amazing staff and be encouraged how God has blessed us this year.  You see, at the end the year I am a bit...well, 'testy' or maybe more 'crusty' than my usual self and my tolerance tank is running on fumes.  So, when I was in Foya last week I jumped at the opportunity to get on a motorbike (doesn't take much!) and go out and see our BIGGEST Spring protection box Taya and the WASH staff have built thus far..it was amazing!

 After a long 90 min bike ride we headed down the hill to the spring (photo by joni).

The dutchies in their awesome rubber boots!

 The Langbama spring...it is massive and full of beautiful, fresh water- the box holds 7000L!!

 

 I was soooo hot from the trip I just couldn't resist!

So refreshing! (photo by joni)

 We had a great time snapping photos...

 

 And watching the water flow...it runs at 87L/min!

 But, it was time to go as we had a long trip home.  So the kids loaded up with their water with the help of aunty Alisa!  Note the little girl in the pink dress with the green water basin on her head...

 Her basin fell of her head half way up!  So aunty Alisa waited for...Aunty Taya to the rescue!  She ran down and filled her basin back up...and carried it up half the hill...

  I took it for the rest of the way...(photo by joni)

And sent her on her way!

It was a great time had by all.  We drank the fresh, CLEAN water, some of us wet our heads to cool off-and we all went barefoot and let the cool water cool us down.  Taya and her staff started the spring in May and finished sometime in July. I cannot express to you how much work one of these springs are-but, surprisingly they are very inexpensive.  This spring was just over 1500USD!  that supplies a whole village clean water for as long as that spring keeps running-probably forever!  Super proud of Taya and her staff -with the help of Phil Outram our water engineer from the UK that was a huge help in finishing this spring.

As I hiked up the hill back to our bikes I was refreshed in so many ways.  The tiredness of the end of the year had been replaced by a freshness and joy of seeing the reward the hard work of our staff and the smiles of the children as they collected their water.  My end-of-the year pessimism was replaced with an awe of what unity in spirit and deed can accomplish.  God is good.  He reveals himself in so many ways-in His amazing creation and in the blessings He pours over us.  I did have a little 'spring' in my step when I returned from seeing this project.  Kinda like when my legs feel fresh on a run- as if I could run forever!

On the way back we were riding in the late afternoon Africa sun-and the beauty that surrounded us was breath taking.  Of course we had to stop and capture the moment on our bikes, looking all hard core-field worker type! HA!

 If you look closely or enlarge this pictures the smiles on our faces say it all! (photo by joni's camera-:))

Although we fought the mud, bugs flying into our faces (and down my shirt...) and staying on our bikes over the crazy roads-we had a great day.  One of those days that reminds me, (even when I am at the end of my year and can be a 'negative ninny') that God has me here for so much more than I deserve.  My heart can't help but be a spring full of joy.

 P.S.  I would like to once again thank Joni our professional photographer for capturing the true emotion in each one of us as we do what we love.  Her pictures never lie...look into our eyes, her photos capture that joy so perfectly.  Thanks buddy-we are so blessed by your God given talent!

A hodge-podge of events...

So I haven't posted for a while so I thought I would give you a little run down (mostly in pictures) of what we have been up to lately.  Apart from the normal crazy, busy work that we are involved in there are have been a few highlights of the last month.  So let's get started...

 With the departure of Justin :( we were on monkey babysitting duty for a few days...

 She loved banana's of course.

Not to be out done by a monkey-the 'animal kingdom' of Liberia did not fail to make my year with the capture and killing of a huge 12 foot Boa from the swamp behind our yard.

 The Boa that ate our poor neighbors dog...

As I posted in my last blog, a bunch of us SP Liberia girls decided to go to a race in Ghana.  Everyone trained hard for their distance, some for the half, others for the marathon relay (about 10km each) and Alisa trained hard for her full marathon.  However, before we left we celebrated the great year we have had with Eleanor.  Eleanor got engaged in late August will be getting married this spring-she did so much for the CMP program and will not be forgotten.  Here are some photo's of our send off for her..

 making cookies for the party

 Taya holding baby Kennis- Ken looking curiously...

 Isaac loved being able to hold the baby's -mom was freaking out...

 

Eleanor and Alisa showing off our race uniforms!

Well, the day finally came when all of use headed out to RIA airport to head to Ghana.  But the weather was terrible and we were delayed a good 5 hours...thus was the beginning of a crazy, fun running trip!

 We waited... (tay and I checking out the best of Saskatoon on the internet)

 

 We shopped..

 We shopped some more (Lebanese lady that Jo knows-so cute!)

We carbo-loaded...

 And then we ran...Elizabeth during the half

 And we ran some more...Taya and Eleanor

 And we ran until we ALL finished...Alisa finishing the marathon under the power arch!

 Then we got rubbed down...well, Joni did!

 Alisa iced...

 Danielle slept...

 Steff drank coconut water...

We all rested our weary bodies...

We have been busy with getting budgets and proposals into SP headquarters, which has meant some tired people! But we also trained for a race, enjoyed some wild life and celebrated a staff member.  I am reminded during times like this how incredibly thankful I am for such a great group of people that I share my life with. This thanksgiving weekend-be sure the be thankful for those who are closest to you, who go the extra mile with you during the tough times and joyous times of life.  I know that I would not have lasted in Liberia as long as I have without every single person that has come into my life while here.  

We will miss you Auntie Eleanor!!!