Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is Thanksgiving Day in Liberia! Since I’ll be working on American Thanksgiving Day, I figured I would take this time to list a few things I’m thankful for this year.

I’m thankful to be in Liberia. I’ve been here almost a year already! I’m thankful for this experience, my job, my chance to learn more about Liberia and West Africa, the lessons I’ve learned about development work in the field, the people I’ve met, the friendships I’ve made. Not gonna lie - it’s been a difficult year. Work has been stressful at times. My health has not been great. I miss my family, boyfriend and friends and the comforts of America. Through all those things - both good and bad, I have really been amazed by God’s love and care for me here.

I am SO THANKFUL for peaceful elections in the first round of elections last month. They were the second elections since the end of the war, and after so many years of war, many people were afraid that the elections might serve as an opportunity for people to fall into old habits. It was kind of crazy in the weeks leading up to the election. At work we had to develop contingency plans in case of an outbreak of violence. We had to think about evacuation strategies for our international staff, should it come to that. I’m not sure of the numbers, but I know that hundreds of people left Liberia out of the fear of what might happen. People (myself included) were stockpiling food like they were preparing for a natural disaster. A few buildings were burned down and a few fights broke out, but overall, things were peaceful. I’m praying the peace continues while the voting takes place and the votes are tallied this month.

I know I have complained about my apartment and all its problems when I first came, but it’s grown on me. I’m thankful for my it. It’s a really nice apartment for Liberia, and I’ve had some good times here. I’m thankful that it has electricity 16 hours a day. I’m thankful that it has running water most of the time – around 90% of the homes in Liberia don’t. I’m thankful that I have been safe there. And I am thankful that I don’t see as many bugs as I used to – still more than I’d like, but less than before J

Every year I’m thankful for food. Those of you who know me well know I love to eat! This year though, my thankfulness for food has taken on a new dimension because I’m living in a country where many people only eat one meal a day. Daily I see small children with protruding bellies, a telltale sign of malnutrition, happily playing in the dirt. I don’t want to paint the wrong picture. There are thousands of healthy, clean, well-nourished children here, but for every one of them, there is at least one who does not get enough food. I’m thankful that I have enough food to eat.

I could write a book on all the things I’m thankful for, but those are just a few. Happy Thanksgiving!