I will miss most the people I have met and who have impacted us here over the last 3.5 months. They struggle with so much here in Liberia, it is still hard to fathom. Yet I still witness daily evidence of cheer and happiness from so many people, and many with far less to their names than the average person in America - far less.
I have learned much as well - how to do as much as you can with the little resources we have at hand. How to accept adversity and loss, though we have had some fine successes as well. I have learned that patience, and taking the long view of the situation, help more to promote the improvements needed in newborn care here in Liberia. Liberians, medical providers, nurses etc. have had a rough time for many years here, and often their demeanor exudes that roughness. I have had to become patient with this as well and understand that it will take a few generations to change this.
As a family it has been a fun and building experience. We have had lots of laughs, humor, frustrations, and innovations come through our lives here. There have been many less distractions - no school or school activities (we did do some home-schooling here!); no sports teams or practices or games; no music lessons or other weekly appointed things to do, or getting children to numerous activities. It has been mostly family time together - all weeknights, weekends, Sundays etc. It has been a good time with just the family hanging out together.
Most days of the week, after lunch Kim and our children would return to the hospital with me and would assist in some way with the work there: carting babies out to their mothers to breastfeed; giving baby baths and teaching young mothers how to bathe their babies; teaching breastfeeding or umbilical cord care; building patient charts from the piles of paper stapled together in random fashion; Kim teaching nurses how to do a head to toe patient assessment and to give each other a good change of shift report.
Meg, GG, and MC playing with the children hospitalized on the Pediatric ward - holding them, reading to them, coloring with them, and playing with them. As a family we went once to a rural hospital to teach neonatal resuscitation skills, and every one helped in some way.
In other spare hours or days we visited orphanages, where we played with children or performed medical examinations. Just the act of visiting them, showing up to play and provide care, concern, warm spirits and some human compassion was incredibly meaningful to them. We did not have to bring anything but ourselves. And again I will observe that as long as they are generally well - most children I have seen throughout the world are happy, cheerful and will smile and play with you if given the opportunity. The same holds here in our little slice of West Africa. People are also touched if you reassure them you are praying for them, thinking of them and hoping for Liberians to be blessed by God. They have great faith as you can imagine.
Of course we have missed our family, friends and home in Washington and the USA. It has been valuable to be in touch via e-mail, FB, Skype, and even some not-too-expensive phone calls. We look forward to seeing many/most of you soon and are grateful for the support we have had while being here. And be certain we have thought of each of you often. If the FB postings, photos, blog entries have been scarce - it is just that we have been busily engaged, and you know what that can do with one's time. Best wishes to all - John and Fam
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