Good Advice

While Darrell drove the Sheppards to the airport yesterday, there were 2 men here, Pastor Peter and John Sackie (whom everyone calls Sackie [pronounced Sahkie]) to divvy up some things the Sheppards had left to be given away.  After they worked a while, they came to me with some advice: yes, we lived here a long time ago but this is a different Liberia, so before making any major decisions or changes, they said we should talk with them, especially Sackie since he lives here in Monrovia. (Not sure of Sackie's official title, but he is either administrator or president of the Bible college where Darrell taught when we were here in 2010.) I thought that was excellent advice and was very pleased that they shared their concern for us.
It definitely is a different Liberia! Darrell and I were wondering today how in the world we could share this country with you.  We decided there is no way, not even with a video camera.  There is just too much to capture.
Darrell wasn't too sure before we got here that he really wanted to drive around town, but he has already driven quite a bit and found out it isn't as bad as he thought.  It certainly is different, however, with LOTS of traffic, NO--I repeat NO stoplights, LOTS of pedestrians--some pushing wheelbarrows or carts with things to sell, and in the midst of all this "at least a million" motorbikes weaving in and out and between lanes of traffic.  As we were walking across the major boulevard, Darrell said something about the "quick and the dead"--in this traffic, one is either quick or dead!  Well, we made it home safely, so I guess we must be quick! God is good!
Sackie went in town with us to start work on our residence permits.  We had to get passport-type pictures taken, make some copies of our main passport pages since we have to leave the passports at the immigration office, etc., etc., etc.  Then he started work on our Liberian drivers licenses.  Our US licenses will cover us until we get them. 
I haven't decided yet if I will get brave enough to drive here or not--and that is spoken by a very confident driver.  (Are you getting the picture of how different it is here?) I will feel better knowing that I have the Liberian license just in case I really need to drive.  And who knows, I may turn out to be braver than I think!  I'll let you know when I start driving, but don't hold your breath!
I could go on forever, but I don't want to make this too long.
Until next time.....