Seven days into the adventure and I am ready for a hot shower, air-conditioner, and well...to be really honest....America.
Tonight I was able to talk to my dad for a short bit and he asked, "is it what you expected?"... There is no way I could have predicted this, though I do love it here. I very much wanted to ask my dad to pray for my safety and peace in Liberia but did not want to frighten him.
After going to the church this morning to get things to prepare for the conference, we decided to stop at the shop on the left side of the road to buy some wood carvings. We parked on the right side, Vania placed Lucas on her back, and we prepared to cross Liberia's crazy street. This in itself would be a risk.
We got to the half way mark alive (there is no turn lane) and waited for traffic to stop. People definitely were turning their heads at the sight of three white women and a baby. One truck stopped for us to pass, and so the car beside him did also... the car behind did NOT and smashed full force into the back of the truck - directly in front of us (as in a few feet), while we were in the middle of the highway in the worse traffic I have ever seen. Have you ever seen a wreck, where a car was completely compacted, yet did not sway left or right in any way? This would not make since to happen right? Well....by the grace of God it did happen...and I am alive.... I did not even get ran over! : )
People then began shouting everywhere - we finished crossing the street and attempted to aid the shaken women who stumbled out of the car, with blood running down one women's head. Thank God, no one was too badly injured.
Many people blamed us for being a distraction. Apparently we should have known this would happen... I mean we were white. duh. Though I guess us white women did in fact cause this wreck...it was not our fault. I have to admit .... when the police can... I was terrified. I imagined myself in some sketchy police office again... the police man was kind and forgave us.
The interesting part is that the same truck crashed into was the same truck that kindly toad the car away. Apparently Liberians always solve their differences quickly.
Not everyone solves their problems with peace though... back to the reason I wanted to ask my dad to pray for protection...
We had somewhere to be at 5pm so we began to leave the compound around 4:30, when we got a call not to be on the road - to stay at home. We did not know why but later we learned this...
A few weeks ago the government hired students to clean up the city and do other odd and end jobs for two weeks. They were each said to receive $100 usd at the end of it. Because of the lack of technology, names of those hired were not properly recorded and people who did not work were claiming to have worked, and receiving money...also the government only paid half of what they said they were going to pay.
This may not seem like a huge deal - but here it is - $100 usd is more than most people make in a whole month!
This scenario caused a HUGE riot. People were blowing up cars, catching a ton of buses on fire, throwing stones, blocking the streets with trees they were chopping down..... Dennis was on the street and had to escape to a back road. Tomorrow night the entire town has a 6pm curfew.
I am praising God for my safety! Though it is a little frightening, God said to "fear not" so that's what I will do! I am blessed with His peace tonight, and am praying these riots end asap!
"The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe. " -Proverbs 29:25
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