Before I fully start this post I wanted to show you what we are doing now. As I am running the generator to finally get some emailing and posting done some of the little ones are here watching Veggie Tales with me. After taking this photo a bunch more have come to join us. Children in class one and above are having study time and are bummed to miss out. Tomorrow will be there night. I have to admit I do love having the little ones in here with me laughing, dancing, screaming and really just brightening up my night.Well.... things here in Sierra Leone have been interesting to say the least. I cannot remember if I mentioned in my last post our troubles with fuel. In the couple days before our trip to Mattru and Rutile finding fuel was becoming difficult. Finally starting the 24th of April the fuel stations completely such down the petrol pumps. This meant that we took the Hilux as it runs on Diesel and the jeep began it's long sit.
The stations remained closed and even closed to all Diesel for a few days in the very first days of May. During this time you could find fuel if you searched HARD but you would buy it at $12 a gallon. NOT ME. Needless to say that everything was becoming very difficult. Not only was transport hard to come by- when you could find it it was MORE than double what it was only days before, but the cost of EVERYTHING has increased- even superglue. Not that that is an item I NEED but just showing you that every little thing has gone up.
Finally last Tuesday the petrol stations finally opened- IT WAS MADNESS. The lines were ridiculously long and the fighting was scary. JK went with his honda to wait in line but as he watched the hondas infront of him lose their mirrors and turn signals he decided to leave it. I thought I would just sit it out for a few days and then we would be fine. Four days into it a friend of mine went to sit in the line for us- after 5 hours he finally walked away with around 2 gallons as they were limiting the amount you could buy. The lines have continued to be crazy and yet again all stations closed this Tuesday. We were able to get a few gallons into the jeep when our friend Jawara who is in the Military used his connections to get fuel Saturday and then again Sunday when we happened to see a somewhat short line. This lasted us until today when I went to town and saw NO line. I ran home to get the jeep and a few extra 5 gallon containers.
Some have said the crisis may finally be over and others think this is a small break. I am not sure what it is but rather than take the risk I filled up. Now we are all enjoying (well the little ones and I) the use of some of this fuel and the new generator some of you helped me to buy. THANK YOU so much for it. I have to say not only is it extremely useful and easy to use- it is even a little pretty as it is bright yellow.
I know many of you are wondering why the crisis- there could be many reasons and honestly I cannot be sure of it all- but I will tell you what I know. Right now a large portion of Africa is facing great difficulties in getting it's people what they need. I know some of our neighbors and even those on the East Coast are struggling to get food. Part of what is effecting us is the economic difficulties all around us. There is a guestion as to how much fuel we have in our country and how long it will last. This obviously is part of the reason. However even in the first days our governement sent out text messages saying their is enough fuel in the country to last 3 months and there is no reason we shouldn't be able to buy fuel and we shouldn't have to wait in line. Well that's great and thanks for telling me- however at the time they sent this out all stations wer closed- no matter what they told us I could not buy fuel so... They did admit to a bit of a shortage but then explained the following reason.
The other reason is that the government has decided to move to the metric system. We have been buying fuel by the gallon and now are buying by the liter. Many fuel stations are not set up for this. Even the fuel station I went to most is still not open as the hand pumps are not able to pump by liter. It took the stations a long time to accept this and then to be able to put it into action. Even now there is a large question as to how accurate these pumps are. We did buy 12 liters which only measured out to two gallons in the middle of all this- it was the most expensive fuel I have bought as it was $8 per gallon.
Now that things are somewhat settled fuel is supposed to be around Le 20,000 for 4 liters and this in their terms measures out to roughly 1 gallon and maybe even less (their liters are not true liters). Many times however we are buying it for Le 25,000 per 4 liters. This is around $5 to $6 per gallon and this is where it should remain for sometime. It will take sometime still for the food and other items to find their price. Many worry again about lines and such as they would like to move these items into metric measurements as well. Often now we buy rice buy the bag measured in pounds or in the market by the cup. Palm oil (used almost everyday to cook) is sold by the pint and now they also want to sell this by the liter. If any of you have been to the market here you can already see how difficult this will be.
Pray for the people here as so many are unemployed and those who are employed make an average of $50-$75 per month. With a bag of rice now costing around $35 money is gone quite quickly. Tensions are a bit high and many are worried about what happens next. The other item that is starting to come up often is the Presidential election next year. With things the way they are and elections always having high tension already- it could be a very interesting year.
This morning in our morning staff devotions as Pastor Ibrahim was talking the Fruits of the Spirit kept running through my mind. Often I can tell when I am close to God- truly spending time with him and when I am not by using the Fruits of the Spirit as a measuring stick of sorts. Being totally honest with you now- when I am not spending time with God I can tell most in my lack of patience- with myself and everyone around me. Now don't get me wrong- that is something I always have to work on but in times of distance I feel it even more. I thought about how often we tell each other to pray and seek God when things are difficult but are we really following him and desiring to be like him. If we are then we will be able to see it in our lives- and in a time like this it made me smile when I thought of PEACE. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self control. PEACE- not a peace like the world gives- but a peace that can only come from GOD. Though this time here in Sierra Leone we can know that we will ALL face difficulties- Christians and Muslims and Non-believers alike. However we can know that in seeking God he will gives us a peace through it all. Please pray this especially for the House moms here at Jonathan's House. Each day I know they worry often about the cost of food and supplies- I know they are spending their own money to give their best to the children here. This time is a huge witnessing time for our kids. The way the moms, staff and I go through this time will give evidence of where our faith is and show the children we love so much just how great our God is.
Now as the Veggie Tales movie has just ended and it is prayer time and then bed time- I am going to go as well. (However after prayer time I have to admit it just might be time for me to watch a movie of my own:))
