Sunday, March 28th

I can't believe that the three weeks is almost over. Time has gone so fast and we have been so busy going from one setting to another, meeting and praying with so many people.

Waking on a Sunday at ELWA was such a dream! Worshiping my creator God with such a memory building landscape was a bit overwhelming. I needed time to take it all in.

As I watched the waves, I saw the big sea turtles bob up just before the breaking of another wave! I couldn't believe how fun that was.

Then finding the little crabs that are faster than lightening. Waiting for them to come back out of their hole, seemed like forever. But waiting paid off! Pressing the wet sand through my toes as the salt water swished around my ankles, was like a hug of nature. Little things ... treasured things ...

At lunch, Rosana Shaak came for lunch. Then we drove out to the property that she is looking to purchase for their Safe Homes. We walked about a mile from the road to the beach. There is about 8 acres of land next to the beach with a lagoon costing $4,000 per acre. They are hoping to have a school K to 12, dormitories for both boys and girls. They want to start a Clinic and agricultural program. She wants to help children enjoy their childhood.

THINK began in 2003 with Samaritan's Purse, after the UN came to enforce peace. The soldier girls and those who became wives to the soldier boys were displaced. Many were so young they didn't know where they came from. Some villages and families didn't want them back because of what they did to their family members to prove they were strong enough to join the child soldier ranks.

The Sports Stadium had 58,000 displaced camps. The Evangelical Church Union of Liberia (ECUL) with SIM prepared meals and had Bible stories and songs to connect with girls. They linked up with the Red Cross to unite 20 children with their families. Many girls came to the Stadium to escape the situation they were in. There were areas like West Point (the worst area in Monrovia) where Rosanna would go to try to encourage girls to come to safe homes and begin a new life. 8 girls came out. 5 went back and 3 stayed. ALICE fought for 12 years, had two children and is now a believer. KATUMU fought 13 years and had a 4 year old and a 7 year old. She went throught the program and now sews fashion slippers. She is on a Praise and Worship team of her church. She says sorry for what she has done, and now wants to change Liberia. KARPO is from Rock Hill area and is related to the wife of a General. She completed the course and now has a pastry shop and sells to people on the street and at schools. Many have gone on UNMIL radio to apologize for what they have done. Rosana follows each girl up twice a year to make sure they are OK.

Many young girls are raped by their teachers relatives, uncles, stepfathers or broters and are taken to the police station. Rosana receives calls for these girls. The person usually isn't charged because they would get life in prison. Usually the person is someone known to them, and they don't want to make the charge. Most girls become pregnant, keeping their babies.

Rosana's sister, Rebecca Jallah is a nurse and is working with Kingdom Care Medical Center. She is able to bring the Ultra Sound once a week to a clinic to check the new Moms. She hopes to open a maternity clinic soon.

There have been 965 in Safe Homes and juvenile homes for sexually abused. 212 have graduated from the courses that are offered. There is so much more needed to be done though.

Late Sunday afternoon we visited Eugene Peterson another one of my CWA classmates. We had Barracuda steaks, wow were they good.

When we got back to the guest house, Melvin Karnga brought his 80 year old father, Joseph Kanga who worked from day one at ELWA. He spoke of the Watkins, Thompson, Lowe, Ries, David Mayes, Brooklan, and Dad and Mom. He remember Momma always giving him cake! He said Daddy treated him with respect. He mentioned that Rose Jackson delivered his first son, John at the old clinic. He spoke of Bea Barnard, Vinicombs, David and Mary Naff. He talked about Mary and Divid Ricks. He worked on the tower fields and helped build the beach front road. Story telling from the OLD days was amazing. What a fulfilling day.