Lately

Fast Internet has come to foya!

The bull got away…

CMP latrine in Kpangesua

E and I riding the motorbikes…we are now pros 😉

Dinner at blue house

front porch of the staff house

I thought you all might like to go on a little virtual tour of my living space in Monrovia…this is the front porch of the staff house where I live when I’m in town. I love to sit in the hammock and read and watch the waves come in. And for all of you who I have talked to on the phone, chances are I was lounging in the hammock then, too. It’s so nice to just take a book and a mango smoothie out there and relax after work or on the weekends.

living room window

This is our view from the front of the house…this is the living room window — see the hammocks from the first picture?!

living room

This is our living room/dining room. It’s a pretty big area, so it serves as a gathering place for meetings and parties. We have lots of good times in this room. We got an HD projector so we are rearranging a little bit…the couches are going to be turned the other direction facing the opposite wall which is blank and serves as our screen!

eating area

hallway

Each hallway has three bedrooms and a bathroom at the end. My room is the first one on the right side. Eight of us live in the house, but we’re rarely all there except for the monthly management meeting. Only three are there on a regular basis. It’s fun when everybody is home though.  The left wall has two big bookshelves full of lots of random books and art supplies. I’ve been enjoying the paints and pencils…

my bed

Danielle is kind enough to share her room with me…we have a purple theme going on! This is my bed and corner of the room.

Well, that’s all I have today. I’m upcountry in Gbarpolu county right now. I haven’t been to Bopolu base since last summer when I was sick and had to hike out of the jungle with Joni and Nikelle. I’m enjoying the base this time around. Layblee, the base manager is wonderful. She’s a great host! I head back to Monrovia tomorrow and then Friday is a holiday — Prayer and Fasting day…

Later!

 

enjoy

i love living. i love to laugh, to enjoy and find pleasure in the little things. sometimes i’m probably a little bit overly enthusiastic about the little joys in life and i’m sure my cheery optimism gets annoying from time to time, but friends, i’ve got the joy joy joy joy down in my heart! haha, oooh, but really, i do just love to discover things and to chase adventures and try new things. some of the things that i enjoyed this week…
CLP — we started men’s classes this year! i visited one on tuesday night. it was so encouraging to see their enthusiasm. i’m excited to see how the Lord uses these classes this year — we’re already hearing exciting testimonies from the participants and i’m hoping to see lots of growth!
Goats — we have goats on our compound up in Foya and they’re kind of cute! But they’re also kind of fast…Justin and I jumped in their little pen and decided to try to catch one. it took a few minutes and we had to do lots of running around, but we finally caught one.
Pak Batt 16 — They served up some delicious new dishes and the Major knows of mine and Eleanor’s great love for his chai tea and has said that we can come and get it to go any time we want! so exciting. i went on tuesday and picked one up for lunch. it was divine! just the pick me up kind of booster that i needed that day!
Lapa Dresses — I bought some fabric the other day and took it to the local tailor in Foya. I had a skirt and top made. Ooooh it was just too much fun. It only cost about $4 USD and it turned out so cute. I wasn’t sure how the quality would be up in Foya, I have a lady down here in Monrovia who does excellent work, but is more expensive. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and promised to come back and get more dresses made. Plus, the tailors are so fun to chat with and they’re teaching me the local language.
Baking — I’m on a total baking kick right now. Cooking is so therapeutic for me. I’ve been making lots of cupcakes and cakes and dinners with Danielle. So much fun. Tonight I am baking a cake for our expat get together tomorrow night. Oooh it was so funny, I put the second layer in the oven and set the timer and after 40 minutes went back into the kitchen to find a pan full of batter. Ha, the propane had run out after about 5 minutes in the oven.
Driving — I’m getting better at stick shift! Been cruising around Foya!
Motorbike — Got a new helmet — black with orange and red flames, yes, be jealous! I feel pretty cool with that thing on. i have been riding on the back of lots of motorbikes this week. i was a little bit freaked out a couple of times on the big hill going to the hospistal, but all ended well.
New Haircut — Joni is our official SP stylist and she brought her hair cutting kit up to Foya so that she could give me and Justin haircuts…well just wait for the video, but Justin ended up cutting my hair…it’s actually kind of cute and I like it!
Dinner at the Staff House — always something to laugh about!

xoxo,
J

blue house and vai town

We tried out a new restaurant last weekend called the blue house. It was delicious! I had a smoked salmon and feta cheese salad. And we all wore our vai town dresses.

Boston Creme pie cupcakes…mmm they were delicious!

Surfing at myrtle beach…

resident

it's official

i’m a resident of Liberia now!

How the day?

Alright folks, it’s time for me to learn how to ride one of these things! Woohoo! Went on my first ride two data ago with TayTay and LOVED it…I’m excited.

This is where we have devotions up here in foya. All of SP Liberia is going through a study about the four essential components of salvation…there are even tests! Yikes!

It’s sunny and beautiful today. The Internet says its about 94, but it doesn’t feel too bad in the shade.

Ohhhh monkey had to be tied up again…

Lunch! Rice and pumpkin sauce…Liberian food is good, but oily. I can feel my arteries clogging.

xxjayjay

Foya Base Photos

This is our base in Foya. It’s the largest of all of our sub-bases…we have over 150 staff based here. There’s always a lot going on up here. We don’t have electricity or water up here, but we are getting fast Internet in April which will make life and work much easier!

These flowers are right beside my desk and I thought they were so pretty.

My workspace in Foya, yes, I must admit its pretty lovely…

ride that wave

We headed out to the beach this morning around 7am…the water was soooo cold!

…but it was a ton of fun and I think I’m hooked! I even got up a couple of times. Can’t wait to get back out there!

amigas!

sabby and jem

 

People of God

People of God | Gungor

we could have tongues of angels
we could move mountains with our faith
we could give everything away
but if we don’t have love
we’re left with nothing

we could see blind eyes opened
know all the mysteries of our faith
we could sing all the highest praise
but if we don’t have love
we’re left with nothing

people of God rise up
rise up and shine God’s love
we are the light of the world
of the world oh
we are the light of the world
of the world oh

love is the what holds it all together
love never fails, it never dies
there is no deeper truth
we know that God is love, our God is love
tear down the walls that divide us
let love rebuild and unite us
all we need is
all we need is love