Our trip to Marshall City

Since I haven't posted in a while, I thought I would quickly post some pictures of our trip we took today. Marshall City is a fishing community with about 3,000 people living there. It is located at the very end of the Marshall Highway. Rafiki is also located along the highway. An interesting tidbit: it took us over an hour to get there (a distance of 15 miles). Yes, dirt roads aren't the most conducive to speed.

The man from the immigration office took us around and introduced us to many people. He was very kind to take the time to do that.

Lots of cute kids!

I guess if you gotta take a nap, you just gotta take it. No matter what your momma is yelling at you.

The cutest little girl and the most handsome father in the world!

A proud grandmother.

Wildlife: all sorts

These little girls loved Mom.

I personally like this one. They look pretty confused by that big hunk of black that made a loud noise when the white girl pulled the trigger.

Our good friend Emily who is a short term missionary here at Rafiki. She is very godly and as you can see, makes a lot of friends!

That was fun. And crazy!

We went to an old hotel on the way back, which before the war was very beautiful and many people (especially people connected with the airlines) stayed there. Now it is an old abandoned wreck.

Another room which once must have been very nice.

A quick glimpse of our life in Liberia for the past few weeks...

I know I haven't posted anything in a long time. We have been very busy. This week is our third and last week of break from teaching school. We are still very busy doing crafts and teaching crochet. When the weather permits, Joe also goes and plays outdoor games with the children. We Patty children still have our own school to do during the day so we are kept very busy.

This past weekend we were blessed to take our first weekend break and go to Kendaja, a small resort about fifteen minutes away. It was a good time of rest and relaxation, and we also got to eat salad (something we don't often get around here)!

One thing I have enjoyed doing personally is getting to know some of the Liberian people and taking their pictures. Liberia is very different from Zambia not only in it's physical terrain, but the people too. It has been a big adjustment. The Liberians are a much more bitter people, which we think may have resulted from being treated as slaves when the freed American slaves were brought over, and from the many wars they have lived through. Most of them are also rather unfriendly and can't hold an American tune to save their life! But, when you really try to get to know them, they gradually start to open up. The children are precious though and we are getting to know some of the ones around the village very well!

I can't write much more now, but we will try to post more often.

~Sarah

Our new address

Here is our new address:

Rafiki Foundation, Care Of Patty Family, P.O. box 1742, Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa.

We appreciate any letters!

A glimpse of life at Rafiki Village, Liberia

Good morning says the iPhone. It is 5:40 am and time to rise and shine. The Lord has prepared another day to run the race. Alan and I get up. He leaves around 6:15 am to oversee and help in the kitchen. We (Sarah, Iryna, Joe, and myself) leave around 7:00. Our school day begins with a devotion and hymn. This is followed by a short assembly with the children. Little stocky Isaac (about 3 years old) leads the line of children to the flagpole. All Hail Liberia Hail (Liberia’s national anthem) is ringing in our ears as we walk to our classrooms at 8 A.M. to begin the school day.

Isaac leading the way to assembly

Sarah helps Mrs. Veneman (director’s wife) with the 3 year old level. Isaac, Obadiah, Austin, Anna Blessing, Janjay, and Makatee sing songs, learn letters, numbers and colors. They have a Bible story, music time, snack and games. Learning and discipline are in full working order from 8 – 10 am. Sarah then helps Mrs. Mckeighen in first grade. Julie Mckeighen is the director of education. She teaches reading to the k-1 children.

Mrs. Veneman greeting the children

Austin beating the drums

On the other side of the building you can find me, Iryna, and Joe with the four year old level. Included in this group of 12 children are 5 girls who are the daughters of people who work at the Rafiki Village. Rafiki not only provides school for the village children but scholarships are offered to children outside the village. These girls are provided with uniforms and a hot breakfast as well. There is much learning going on in our class as well. Some of our learning is slightly more advanced to prepare for kindergarten and we are in class until 11 am.

Our class

As I stay to prepare fot the next day, Sarah, Iryna and Joe hurry tackle their own school work. Joe does take one trip back to the school at 1:30 to play baseball or soccer with the kindergarten/first grade class.

Joe playing softball

Meanwhile Alan is overseeing work in the kitchen. He has a great kitchen staff. All 3 meals are cooked and served in the kitchen/dining hall. This gives the housemothers more time to focus on the children. He also helps Dave Veneman (director) with various other tasks, which often includes going to Monrovia, the capital of Liberia.

Teaching the children

Our days are full of blessings and challenges. They usually end with a 45 minute walk down the road and along the Atlantic Ocean. The rainy season is upon us as we will see yow many days we are able to walk in the coming months. On Sundays we are visiting different churches in Monrovia and going out to lunch afterwards. This Sunday we had lunch with another American family (Baptist missionaries) that have lived here since 1986. The children from the village go to several different churches depending on where their mama goes. Their church attire is very special. The mamas get dressed up as well. They walk about ¾ of a mile to a junction where they catch a taxi to church in Monrovia.

A group of boys ready for church

One of the girl's groups

Liberia is a hurting country. Poverty is everywhere and the children are in great need. As Jesus said in Matthew 9:37, 38 “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Pray for the laborers here. Pray for the harvest. Pray for the children here and the children yet to come.

an overview

As I posted earlier, we are here safe and sound and almost settled in. We are serving in Liberia with Rafiki. Rafiki (Swahili for friend) is an organization that focuses on African childcare (education, food, clothing, housing, Biblical instruction). There are 28 children at this village so far and we are hoping to get more soon. The children are young as this is a new village. Their ages range from 2 – 10.

You might wonder what we are doing here. Well, Dad is helping in whatever way possible especially in the kitchen. Don’t worry, he doesn’t cook, but he does make sure everything gets done and that the children are well provided for. Mom teaches a group of four-year-olds along with the help of Iryna and Joe. I help Mrs. Veneman (the director’s wife) with the three-year-olds and Mrs. McKeighan (director of education) with the first graders. We all do odd jobs around the place and enjoy it very much.

Liberia is in West Africa on the coast so where we are it is very sandy. In fact, we are only a half a mile from the beach, so we sometimes take some of the children to go play in the sand and look for shells. It is very hot and humid here, especially being so close to the ocean. I have found it interesting that the houses here are made out of banana leaves woven together. I guess it is cooler. Just a little trivial fact for you.

There is much I could say right now but I only mean to give an overview. We will be here for a year and I mean to post every week, so there will be plenty of time in the future to give a more detailed account. Comments are greatly appreciated too (hint, hint).

For those of you who were asking for our address here it is:

Rafiki Foundation

c/o Patty Family

p o box 1815

Monrovia, Liberia

West Africa

Thanks for checking this. I will try to post every week so stay tuned!