Follow the adventures of our family around the world

March 9, 2006 We seem to be in a time of constant change in plans.  But in this time we continue to enjoy Liberia. I spent the morning working. We are doing plastic surgery and eye surgery at the moment.  I begin the day doing rounds with the surgeons and setting up a schedule for the day.  We are up to about 30 patients, children and adults. It blows my mind the number of burn victims here. There is no electricity or running water in the country, so there are lots of candles and kerosene lamps. So lots of people get hurt.  And I look at these huge burns, and realize the country really does not have pain medication and cannot imagine what these people have gone through.  It is a moment when I close my eyes and thank God for the privilege to be born in a land that is free and so wonderful. How did i get to not be born here. How did he choose me to be special enough to be an American? How do i get the right to not live in the dark, among people who so devalue women and children. These are some of my random thoughts on any given day.

Liberia thought for today: yesterday was a holiday. "Decoration Day" , From what we understand, it is the day every year when the people go out and clean off the graves of their loved ones, paint them, and redecorate them. They also cry and mourn for them for the entire day. This is the only day they spend crying over dead loved ones. So everything was closed and the streets were quiet.

A wonderful friend sent us a little package with some snacks. It made me laugh as we opened the package with all of us gathered around. We pulled out small packs of these Oreo cracker things, teddy grahams,  and the crowing glory.....Brownie bites.  We portioned them out and the girls began to pick snack they wanted for the upcoming days of school. We were laughing and hooting and so excited about something that is probably so ordinary to you. The girls were so funny and meticulously laying out there week and lecturing each other and us not to touch their treats.  Teddy grahams on Pajama day at school were a hit.  it is funny, if you had asked me if these type of things would be good, I probably would have said an unenthusiastic yes, but these packages our friend sends have become exciting times around the table pulling goodies out one at a time.  I am on call this weekend, so it will be a time on ship. Sometimes i go several weeks without leaving the ship. It is just very busy.