"David´s Gbarnga Story" - or: David and "the car"!

Hello, this is your friend David who wants to tell you more about our trip to Gbarnga just recently!

Do you want to know what I want to become when I am big?
I always thought I want to be a doctor like my daddy, but I am not so sure anymore... the ship just had a long weekend for (almost) all crew and there was a group that I and Amy and Mommy joined to spend some days in the house of our friends in Gbarnga (who are in Switzerland at the moment) - but doctors don´t seem to get long weekends very much, so daddy could not come. We were a great group, and we missed him!


I might think of becoming a mechanic for cars now - for this weekend taught me alot about cars - and about how many things can actually go wrong in a car. Our rented car looked quite decent from the outside - but it really turned our trip into an adventure, and I let you be part of it!

Don´t freak out - this is NOT our car! But it is the car another group of Mercyships had rented for a long-weekend trip, and unfortunately got involved in an accident on the way. We passed them and stopped, spend time with them for they had to wait for ages till something happened, and prayed together. Just two weeks ago we learned a verse from the bible in kindergarten that Mommy mentioned when we prayed with our friends who had the accident:
"For we know that all things (even the bad things that unfortunately do happen) work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8, 28). No one was seriously injured, but even though it was not their fault, they still got blamed for the accident. So where is God´s justice? I don´t understand it all, but Mommy told me that the group experienced miracles in this - random people suddenly donating money to two of the group and the money added to the EXACT amount that they had to pay. Or good conversations with policemen that were touched by the way and the love the mercyships people dealt with it all. And everyone in the group said they learned so much through all of this. Mommy says that some things we will only understand in the future - but we always have to put our hope and trust in God who wants to use all situations in our life for our best - if we let him do it!

So... what about us?

Shortly after where the accident took place we had a flat tire! Our guys said "no problem" and wanted to change the wheel with our spare wheel in the back.I wanted to watch, for I want to learn how you do that! But.... first problem: the tools needed for that were missing! We stopped 4 cars until we finally had someone there who could help us out. Then the second problem: The spare wheel was a wrong one - not one for our car! It didn´t fit - even I could see that! So what now? Israel from our group took the wheel - jumped into a passing car that took him to the next village - it was about 9 pm, would he find ANYONE that could help him and fix the hole? We were left behind in the pitch dark, no lights on our road, and the cars that came every now and then drove in a crazy speed.


We didn´t know how long we would have to wait - so we tried to save power and turned the emergency lights on only when we heard a car approaching. One time we were almost too late and the car missed only by inches! Even though I was already tired, that really woke me up again!
In the beginning I was scared - it was a scary situation: No light around us, strange noises from the bush around us, no idea how long we will have to stay there. But everyone else started to sing worship songs and we prayed together - and suddenly all my fear was gone! I think Jesus just took it away, for the situation had not changed a bit!
So we waited ... and created a nice decoration on the street close to the car - 7 different ones! Smile.... (no one was too eager to go into the bush for that....)

A few hours later Israel came back - sitting on a motorbike with a driver that didn´t seem to know how to slow down - holding on to dear life , and a repaired wheel!
So some time after midnight we reached our destination, our supposedly 4 hour trip had turned into 9 hours, but at least we were there! As we drove the last meters uphill to the house the car started to smoke - we all needed rest!

The next morning we enjoyed it so much to be here in Gbarnga - the nice big house...


.... the beautiful green nature (here you can see two people harvesting rice - I was surprised that rice looks like that! For me it is the white kernels we get to eat almost every day on the ship!)...


...and a walk to a giant tree that unfortunately was not giant anymore - they had just cut it down (anywhere else in the world this tree would have been protected) but you can still see from the remainings what a big tree it must have been! For me it was a great climbing opportunity - but I am sad the tree is gone!


In the afternoon the went to the market to buy some bread and fruit. I enjoyed it! Here a picture for you of one of the stands so you get an idea....


Our car seemed to work again, so we drove to a nearby river and I pretended to fish for our dinner together with my Gbarnga-friend George.....


.... but only until George discovered a watersnake right next to us! We had Spaghetti for Dinner - fish another time!



The next day we dared to challenge our car and drive the one-and-a-half hour distance to a waterfall - one of the touristic highlights of Liberia (if there would be any tourists! Smile)
We took a wrong turn and ended on a really bad road - and our car started to produce smoke... and then hot boiling cooling liquid splashed around our heads and burned Israels arm a little bit. The overheating motor happened to us twice again on our way back to Monrovia, so I know now where the motor and the cooling liquid is! Do you want me to show you?


The "right road" was alot better than the one we accidently took, still bumpy at times, but...


...we managed to get to the waterfalls, and it was beautiful!



We had a great time there, playing around and having a nice little personal Sunday service with our star guitarist Anne-Josien playing worship songs and Israel speaking about Psalm 23 - what a great place to worship God! I think I always want it like that now!


I took a bath in the river aswell (Daddy was not too excited when he heard about it) but enjoyed the nice bath tub in "our" house even more - for we don´t have a bath tub on the ship!
I am sure this will be one of the silly pictures my Mom will safe to show at my wedding... oh no!


I mentioned my friend George already, didn´t I?



He gave me a very special gift - his very own catapult! (I only had a ball as an exchange gift, but he liked it too!)
Mommy says I am too young to use it, for it can be a true weapon - but I am very proud to have it and feel like my hero David in the bible who killed the lion and Goliath with such a thing!
I promise I will never aim on people - but IF a lion shows up, I will protect my family! :-)


The following day we had to drive back to Monrovia - and we left early, just to make sure we have enough time in case our car gives us more trouble....
... and that was a wise decision!
We had to stop a few times because of our overheating motor... but about one-and-a-half hours away from our ship there was this sound that didn´t sound good at all - the gear box broke! So what now? We were experts in waiting - and luckily a friend from the ship eventually was able to come with a Mercy Ships Landrover an tow us back home!


We are very thankful to God for protecting us on the way, bringing us home safely - and for a great weekend! Also "thank you so much" to Family Elser who allowed us to stay in their house even they were gone - (but I missed my friends Salome, Rebekkah and Joshua!)



So much from me, David! Thank you for your interest! It was fun sharing this adventure with you!

Update in pictures

Sorry-o (in Liberian English) for neglecting this poor blog so much..... sometimes the mountain seems too big to start.... Anyway: I decided that I will not wait anymore for the "enough amount of time" to write these perfect articles for that never seem to come - but rather put something on the blog regularly like once every week or two weeks to keep those of you informed with pictures and little (imperfect :-)) stories who are interested and had to wait too long.... again, sorry-o!


The quickest way to update you that I can think of is WITH PICTURES - so enjoy some impressions of the last few month (it is a shock to realize it has really been that long....) - and there is more to come! I promise!!! More detailed information in our newsletter (on request).

I (Andrea) and the kids got the chance to go home to Munich this summer - a big blessing!
Here you see us with my parents and one of my brothers

What was one of the things we will not have in Africa? Strawberries - all you can eat here!


David and Amy enjoying icecream and a great time at our dear friends in Hockenheim



Dear God, thank you soooo much for your provision and the great time in Germany! Thanks sooo much to ALL of you who blessed us in so many ways during our stay there!


Middle of August we came back to the ship, reunited as family ( poor Wolfgang couldn´t come to Germany with us for he had to stay and work) and you can see that we all were very happy about that! And our family increased - yessss, we have a baby.......


.... and her name is Lilli! David and Amy are great parents - well, some of the time at least!


Here you can see them practising "adult life" by baking a great cake with our dear friend Esther for a special occasion...


for no one gets younger! This is on my 34th birthday - I celebrated it this time on the ship and not on our flight to our new season in life leaving Germany with many questions.... I am very grateful to look back on the last year, and I can truly say I see God that God has been with us during this last intense year of my life!

For another occasion I myself baked a cake:


The teenage of our teeny group at the orphanage "God´s childrens home" came to visit us on the ship! They all wore their nicest outfit - jeans and t-shirt, and were soooo excited!



They enjoyed our kids toys on deck 7 .... and a movie for the first time in their lives: we watched part of a movie on the gospel of John (what we are reading together at the moment).

Since the orphanage moved, we have to drive out 45 minutes to get to the new place - on roads that cannot really be called roads! Here we got stuck in a mud hole - and it took us 3 girls 30 minutes and lots of prayer to get out again!


Do you want to know what is happening now?


David and Amy are shouting: "Daddy needs VACATION!!!!!!"
After a very intense year of work without a break Wolfgang was more than ready to have a break now...


..... so we had the opportunity to go to Ghana for 10 days, one of the more developed countries in Liberias neighbourhood.

For a few days we stayed at Youth with a Mission Ghana...



and for 6 days at a beautiful little Pension at the beach!


Ghana is in many respects "nicer" than Liberia even though it is still a developing West African country.... only the ships seem so much smaller than ours! Smile....


Back to Liberia....
..... another "car story":


Just this last weekend ago a group of us (including David and Amy and myself) went to Gbarnga, usually about 4 hours drive from Monrovia. We rented a car that wasn´t as good as it looked from the outside - we had everything from flat tire (the spare tire was one that was not fitting), boiling motor, etc..... up to a complete breakdown on our way back so that we had to be towed back to the ship! Quite adventuresome - and David learned more about (not-so-good) cars!
Anyway, the weekend in Gbarnga was really worth everything (thanks, family Elser and Simon!)


David and his friend George from Gbarnga - and his new toy that actually is a weapon: George gave him his catapult as a special gift, and David gave him his favourite ball! (Oh boy, the ball was for sure less dangerous...)


Also Amy liked George alot (is the man of her dreams now African...?)
Or more like Juan from the Dominican Rebublic...?


To end this entry I show you this picture from some roads we took near Gbarnga - and promise to continue to take you on a trip through our experiences here in Africa! (As long as you don´t expect it to be "perfect"!
"See" you later!

Visit Monrovia!

We wanted to take you on a little picture-journey and show you some impressions of this country - amazing, beautiful, poor, torn, fascinating, full of contrasts, interesting people and culture, heartbreaking wounds of a war, and so much more. I wish you could all see it "live", but I hope you get a glimpse by just seeing a few pictures how Liberia is....



Today I show you around Monrovia alittle bit - a city that cannot be captured in a million pictures...


Monrovia seen from the ruins of a former 4**** Hotel .... you are looking down on houses, than a big slum area.... and in the far back those of you with good eyes can detect "our" white ship!


Many houses are still quite destroyed from the war - and most people live in huts and slum housing for the money is missing to restore these houses or build new ones...


Want to get around in Monrovia? Well you can walk....


....or take a taxi! They just passed a law that not more than 6 people can be transported in a normal taxi.... before that they often cramped as many people into one taxi as possible...


But don´t be mischiefed by how good these taxis look from afar - looking closer will shock you in what desolate state most of these cars are .....


.... the most extreme we saw is this taxi... driving around with only 3 wheels!!! (want to have a ride?)

New: there are some busses now driving around in Monrovia! Not in a very good state either, but an alternative... you just never know when a bus would come and how long it takes to get you to a place, especially now in raining season...



Want to go shopping?

There are some shops you can visit - nothing compared to what you are used to...


The most common place to shop is the market - there you will find anything and nothing - all on wheelbarrels and wooden stands with the ground turning into a mudbath around you in raining season...


Oh, I guess I need a new bra... how convenient, there are some!


If you want to buy other clothes you either find it second hand on some wheelbarrel (donations from America sold there????) or you buy some material (your key word that you need to know is " I want a lappa!) and find a taylor that makes you your custom made dress - it takes you about 3-4 times to go back to that taylor until it finally fits in a way that you want to wear it....



Got hungry after all this shopping?

Why don´t you stop at the food section at the market and spoil yourself with some real delicacies... fresh snails!


Now you wonder how you take all your new goodies and possessions home to the ship? Well, try the african way...


Enjoy trying!

Next time we will leave Monrovia and discover the beauty of the country as soon as you leave this big loud smelly city!

Princess - is now with the king!

I wanted to share the story of Princess with you - a beautiful name fitting to a lovely, precious 9-year-old girl that God allowed us to meet!


Wolfgang saw Princess the first time about 2,5 months ago in a hospital he sometimes goes to because he can help big time with his skills in ultrasound - making better diagnosics possible and helping many children and grown-ups to get the right treatment, often life-saving!
Wolfgang would love to see not only as many patients as possible being helped through his skills but also to train others to use it, for there are about 3 ultrasound machines in this country. Standing in the corner and collecting dust for no one in Liberia knows how to use it!


Princess was in the hospital because of severe weight loss and excrutiating abdominal pain - and Wolfgang "found" a huge tumor in her liver, hoping it would be the fast growing kind - a so-called burkitts-lymphoma - for that is the only kind of malign tumor that can be treated with chemo here in this country. They started the treatment without biopsy hoping it would make a difference, and knowing that medically speaking that was her only chance anyway.

Princess came to the ship about a month later and Wolfgang did an ultasound again - hoping so much that the tumor would have gotten smaller as a sign of being burkitts`....


The tumor was the same size - and Princess´s belly had the size of a watermelon now - but her arms and legs were thin like sticks. Her aunt brought her to the ship for her mother had abandoned her, not able to cope with this suffering. She left and went to a different african country, trying to run away from her inability to deal with the situation of her daughter.


We were all struck by the realisation that medically there was no hope for Princess - that we will have to see her die unless a miracle would happen.
We see many miracles happen here - children that are expected not to live through the night and get well after praying for them ... we believe that God is doing so much in the lives of these people, so much that exceeds our limited possibilities by far!
We don´t have answers to why we can sometimes experience God´s intervention in a miraculous way and at other times we don´t see it or experience in the way we would want it. But miracles are so much more than healings: For me it was a miracle to see her Aunt take such wonderful care for this abandoned child, telling me about the deep love she suddenly feels for Princess and that she is even able to forgive Princess´s mom despite the anger and even hatred she felt in the beginning...
The biggest miracle for me was to be able to pray with Princess and see her put her trust in Jesus, asking him to come into her life and becoming the daughter and princess of the king of kings! It was nothing I imposed on her - she wanted it!!! She felt that there is more than just us and our short time on this earth...


I was able to go and visit her a week later at her Auntie´s house and her Aunt told me how much Princess changed after that: Even though her physical status got worse, she had so much peace in her, was smiling often despite the pain and said that all her fear is gone!

Last week Princess died.


Someone from the ship was able to be there when she passed away - and told us that right before she died , her face lit up and was suddenly shining, and she lifted her weak arm and pointed to the ceiling as if there was something incredibly beautiful - well, not visible to our human eyes... She died very peacefully and we know that she is with Jesus. You might not believe in Jesus and trust him with all the important questions in life - but let me tell you: when you experience something like the life of Princess, you stop asking why she had to undergo such sickness - you are amazed to see that obviously there is a better life waiting for us when we place our trust in the only one that can give us this peace, this life in his presence that is so much better than anything awesome we could ever have on this earth. Oh, how much would we have loved to see Princess be healed. But we know that she is doing so well now, not having any pain or need, and experiencing the fullness of the goodness of God - something that we can get a glimpse of here already and don´t want those moments to pass.
Can you read what truth this taxidriver wrote on his old, beat-up car?


Better days ahead!!!

Let me tell you, we learn sooo much ourselves by being here! I hope we can let you be a tiny part of that by sharing our experiences....