Well, it has been a month now that we have been in Mokanji,
Sierra Leone. What have we been doing this last month? We have mostly been getting
adjusted and getting paperwork and other official stuff handled. Unfortunately,
most things in Sierra Leone do not go very quickly or smoothly. There is
protocol to be followed and official channels to take. For instance, our
vehicle: We had some small issues with bank transfers and while we have bought
the vehicle, it is still in Freetown getting paperwork and insurance stuff
completed. Even when we do have possession, we won’t be able to drive it yet.
We filed the paperwork for our driver’s licenses, but need to wait until we get
our residency permits until we get to travel back to Freetown to get our
driver’s licenses. Our residency permits may take another couple of weeks. This
would make our third trip to Freetown in about a month and a half! While some
people would think that Freetown would be a nice getaway for us, it really is not.
It is at least a 4 ½ hour trip between Mokanji and Freetown and it is not an
easy drive. Then once we are in Freetown the kids get shuttled around as we try
to get as much accomplished as possible. No fun for kids or parents!
Life in Mokanji has been great so far. Our house is very
nice and we have the amenities of gravity-fed running water and solar power. We
are sparsely furnished for now and the clothes are still in suitcases; I am
looking forward to getting the local carpenter to make us some shelves for our
clothes and books and toys so that we can be a little more organized and
settled.
The kids are adjusting well and enjoying all the outdoor
time playing with all the local kids and even learning some of the Mende
language. Sofia can even do a basic greeting and good bye in Mende; the locals
get a real laugh out of it! Sandy is doing well and feeling just fine with her
pregnancy. She is more than half way done and she and Jeneson are looking
forward to meeting this baby girl the beginning of July. The people are warm
and friendly and are looking forward to us really starting clinic. Almost every
day ladies and kids with baskets carefully balanced on their heads stop by the
house to sell local treats made from groundnuts (peanuts) and sesame seeds, various
fruits, biscuits and muffins and other wares. Mango season is just around the
corner and we cannot wait for all the mangos to ripen!
We are currently in the process of inventorying the various
medical supplies that have been donated and arrived at different times during
the past 2 years to see what we have and what we need. We are also starting to
talk with the local Community Health Officer and 2 nurses who currently work at
the government health outpost in Mokanji. We are trying to formulate how we can
work in conjunction with them and with the government and not duplicate
services or take over what they are already doing. It will be a delicate
process, so please pray for us as we navigate and formulate our relationship
with them.
Thank you so much for your prayers and support that helped
to get us here after almost 2 ½ years of praying, planning, and preparing.
Please continue to pray for us as we settle in here, get all our necessary
paperwork done, and start providing healthcare in the Mokanji area. We would
love to hear from you by e-mail and keep up with our latest and see some
pictures by following our blog: www.abrahamadventures.blogspot.com
Blessed,
Jeneson, Sandy, Josiah, Lydia, Sofia, and baby girl
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