Gowns and Graduations...

Seven.  Seven Community Health Education graduations over the past six weeks. It was so great to celebrate with everyone on a job well done-for many of our beneficiaries getting a certificate with their name on it is a huge highlight.  For me, it's seeing communities and people transformed by what they have learned in the passed year. Many of the CHE participants testified how they have changed-and as a result their communities are being transformed.  

At every graduation-our staff participated in the program-here are some of the people and things we are participated in...

We spoke...first graduation at Foya Dendu

 Then Elizabeth spoke at Kpalawu...

We handed out certificates...

 and more...

and more...

 Then Steffani came up and handed out more certificates...

 

Elizabeth got in on some handing out!

Sarah from our SP Canada office handed some out...

Then Kathy (pilot Roy's wife) got to hand out certificates at our last graduation.

In the end there were over 400 CHE graduates from over 50 communities. Super proud of our staff for living out in these communities and being so committed to their job.

Some of the graduates

Some more great graduates!

 Graduates marching into the church to start the program

 

Another proud group of graduates from Nyema

Then there were the gowns...You see, when you are the 'guest speaker' or one of the leaders of the program-the chances of you getting a gown are pretty good.  They came in all colors and styles-but they were all given and received with gratefulness-her is the gown fashion show!

Gown #1 the matching look...

Gown #2 the country cloth jungle green number...

Gown #3 the "wow my eyes hurt" lapa set...

Gown #4 the matching hat get up...

Gown #5 the pink diddy-that everyone seemed to really like...

Gown #6 The "body parts" lapa suit

Now you may be thinking "what is she going to do with all of those gowns?"  Well, I have brought them back to Canada to store for now-but I would love to get someone to make a quilt or two-to remember all the places and people that we have worked with.  There was also some food - some of it, well you just aren't sure what you may get-even after 8 years I am never sure what type of "meat"  will be in my bowl!

Yes, there is a chicken leg-but my question is what is that round thing on the bottom left...hmmmm...

Eating Geebee with some goat-Elizabeth actually loved it!

It was such a great 6 weeks flying and driving around to our project sites to participate in each graduation.  Our pilots were so helpful getting us to all these places when the roads were impassable-and our staff did a wonderful job planning each program.  

 One of CHE graduates

As I reflect back on all that was accomplished-I remember what one of the beneficiaries stated at one of the graduations " We have learned so much to make our lives better, we are not getting sick as much, our community is united and our church is growing."   The CHE motto is: "Changed lives, Changing lives and Changing communities."  It is evident that the program this year was a success-despite all the challenges-everyone pushed on. 

As I have said before-much like running, a lot of what we do in our projects takes endurance.  It takes commitment. It takes perseverance.  It takes a shared vision of the goal that lays ahead of you.  Words cannot express my gratitude to our staff for their hard work, to the participants of the CHE program who walked-for some over an hour or more-just to come to the weekly training sessions.  All of us celebrating together was a perfect ending to my year!  I am so blessed.

What we know and what we do...

There is a term that us field people use (not just field workers other profession as well), to describe the "gap" of what we know we should do and what we actually do.  The "knowledge-practice gap" is something that we all have experience with, in fact all of us experience some measure of this gap.  "Who me?" You might ask-well yes, you.  For example we know that exercise and eating healthy is good for us-doctors tell us, studies prove it.  However, the reality is, obesity is a national health problem in the U.S. and U.K. and people struggle to stay discipline for any length of time on a exercise program. We know we should put a few dollars away every paycheck for an emergency-but how many of us actually do that?  (If you do well done). So when something comes up that we need extra money for we put it on card and next thing you know we have more debt then we do money to pay it off...

In our work the knowledge practice gap can be HUGE.  We all know that eliminating the gap completely is very difficult.  So instead we work at taking one step at time to decrease the size of the gap.  As I mentioned in an earlier entry I have been able to go to many of our CHE graduations. I have had the opportunity to see first hand how over the past year of training, our community health education program has tackled the "gap" by providing simple skills that can make a huge difference.  For example...

Dish racks. Yep. A simple dish rack.  You see, many rural Liberians wash their dishes, pot and pans and silverware and place it on the ground to dry.  Not good.  Putting clean dishes on the ground only for them to get contaminated with the germs and animals roaming around. Participants gain knowledge on how germs spread-but then they have to put that knowledge into practice.  Our community development facilitators, who teach CHE, ask the participants to build a dish rack above the ground to prove that what they have learned has been understood and put into practice.  Some do-some need encouragement!  Ultimately, it is their decision to take the knowledge they have gained and put it into practice.

 A beautiful site...

Another household example of the "gap"-can be found in our own little Kauffeldt household. Everyone in the house KNOWS that if the water jug has under 2 inches of water in it-they should fill it back up with water from the filter.  Ahhh yes, so simple right?  And yet this seems to difficult a task for people to understand -including...myself.  So there our poor yellow, cracked water jug sits, and the water that is in it is never taken-because heaven forbid you be the one that finally empty it and have to fill it up.  Thus, our "knowledge-practice gap".  We know we should do it-we have been taught to fill.up.the.jug. But we don't put that knowledge into practice.  

 Count all those dish racks!

 

The "gap" in this village is getting smaller!

A common mistake by us in the developed world is to misunderstand those who don't wash their hands after they poo-poo or those who drink dirty water.  "Why do they do that?"  "Don't they know that drinking that water is bad for them?"  Actually, they do know but they may not have an option or maybe they don't know because they never had access to education. They have never been told our taught that washing their hands is good for them.  The ironic part is that in the western world we DO know what is good and bad for us, we HAVE unlimited access to education to learn and gain knowledge to help our health.  And yet we still choose not to do these things-hmmm, so I ask you this, "who has the bigger knowledge - practice gap?"

To take it a step further let's look at some personal things... I know that I shouldn't do certain things-like get overly frustrated and angry at -well, let's pick taxis.  I even tell my boys that mommy is trying to work on not loosing my temper and saying things I should not say. But then I am driving and one cuts me off -or randomly stops in front of me in the middle of the road, and off the handle I fly! Sigh...let's take it to running.  I know I need to work harder on a work out to get better-to want to achieve a goal, like qualify for Boston, but I don't.  The days leading to a big run I know I should drink more water to stay hydrated - but i don't, I drink more coffee or I don't drink at all.  Gap (and i ain't talk'n the clothing store!).

 Speaking at one of the CHE graduations on how to keep using the knowledge our participants have gained. (picture joni)

If you want a great example from the Bible look at Paul's ongoing struggle in Romans 7:15-20.  Mercy-now there is a knowledge -practice gap!  But much like the village with all the dish racks there is hope.  Hope that when knowledge is attained, hearts are changes-the gap gets smaller.  Little by little we make better decisions that not only help us but our families and communities. I leave you with this challenge:  What areas of your life is there a knowledge - practice gap?  The fact that you can think of one should tell us that we too can take small steps in shrinking it.  Go ahead-build a dish rack...

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!!!

 

Somethings never grow old...

Unlike me, many things I get to experience over and over never grow old. There are many times I mutter "I am too old for this.." usually after a long day-when I am frustrated about something or just plain tired.  I feel that way some days with my training and work outs-"I am too old to try and do 10 chin ups!"  But the experiences and opportunities that God gives me every day never grow old. Here are some examples of many of the things I have done many times but never grow old! 

I still get excited to get on the chopper and fly over the vast Liberian jungle...

How can this view ever grow old?!

 



Going out to the field to see our staff and hear from them and how our projects are changing lives-that, trust me, NEVER grows old! 

 

Sharing and hang'n out with our staff having some laughs!

 

 

I am pretty convinced if these type of things, these opportunities, these diamonds in the ash heap-if these moments start to become "same old, same old..." it's time for me to re-evaluate why I am here.  That maybe sounds a little 'severe' but the excitement and joy that I still feel seeing a new latrine or hearing from a community chief how thankful they are to SP and our staff-is still like a a fresh cool breeze and warms my heart.

 

 

I have visited many communities and I have been traditionally robed and given many gifts.  I still get a little shy and embarrassed-I still stand up not sure how to reply and I am still humbled at the generosity of people with so little.  Moments like this never grow old...

 

"Listen mister goat, no funny moves!"  Check out that traditional cloth gown-it's hot and it's heavy!

 

Seeing and experiencing God do amazing things despite me-never grows old-and my people, I get to see it everyday.  I get to share it with my boys-and make 'old' things like going to the Foya look out, special.

 

Hang'n out at my favorite spot with my favorite boys...

 

 

This time of year it is easy to get run down just like the rain soaked roads.  It is easy to see everything as the 'same old' things-after 8 years here.  That is the farthest thing from my reality!  Everyday brings with it some of the same things but they never grow old-they are a new adventure, a new challenge and a new opportunity to show God's love, be the living Gospel and do it with some amazing people.

 

 

I feel the same way with starting up training again.  Training and running never grows old to me!  OK, maybe the loop around ELWA does, but not the feeling that running and working out brings.  The newness of a new program-it's like I have a clean slate to build my body back up again-set new goals and push myself farther than the last time.  Many of our staff are running again too!! WHOOP!WHOOP!  Some would say misery loves company, but not I-oh no I love seeing our staff (and husband) and my friends out there running hard.  Us SP Liberia women are running at the end of Sept. in the Accra Marathon, half marathon and marathon relay.  Alisa, is finally injury free to run a marathon-Elizabeth and Eleanor are going hard at the 13.1 distance-and Danielle, Joni, myself and Taya are running approx. 6.75 miles each in the marathon relay.  Diana and Steffani are going as our support and cheering squad-It's going to be legendary!

 

Training run...on the highway to the airport

 

 

Somethings never grow old...this is one of the many things I love about doing what I do-whether it is in my work, running or just life in general.  Never loosing the excitement and gratefulness and STILL finding joy in those things we do over and over...