Pastor Nick

Things have finally slowed down for me a bit. My birthday week was so much fun, but I was exhausted by the end of it. I've been working evenings this week, so life has been a bit quieter because during the day when I'm off, everyone else is working. It has been less rainy lately, which has been welcome. However, I don't mind the rain because it cools you off quite nicely. On Monday a few girls and I went to the tailor which is a 10 minute walk away. It was lightly spitting when we left, but definitely raining by the time we returned. We were soaked, but happy. I'm finally learning my lesson about flip flops. They should never be worn in the mud here! They flick mud all over your backside when you walk! You get completely covered in red/brown mud!
I'm excited to go back to the tailor to get my two skirts and a dress! I'll take pictures for you all!
Yesterday I got to work on B ward, where there are a bunch of little adorable kids. One little boy is irresistable! He reaches up to you and looks up at you with his big chocolate brown puppy dog eyes, and you can't help but love him to pieces. He has his own "Mercedes" - a cardboard box someone made with a rope in front to drag it around on the floor. He even has a little pretend steering wheel and a license plate!
I haven't been working with my friend who was teaching me Kpele, so I still only know "pago mamy". He looks so much better. He's really healing well.
This week we had a man named pastor Nick here. He's originally from Australia. He was born without arms or legs. He literally has a head and a torso, and a little appendage he calls his "chicken drumstick", which is sort of a foot. He's an evangelist and is traveling to ten countries in ten weeks all over Africa and different places. On Wednesday there was a large gathering at the stadium here in Monrovia. I went to it with Katelyn and Lanita. We squished into the back seat of a taxi to get there African style. It was really fun. It was definitely on African time though. It was supposed to start at 4 pm, and even though we were late, they were setting up the stage still and nothing started for another hour. When things did start, it was another hour or two before pastor Nick came on.
It was amazing to worship the Lord loudly, singing with thousands of African voices lifted up in a stadium. Everyone was dancing, clapping, and praising the Lord. It was awesome.
Pastor Nick gave a very good message, especially for the Liberians. In much of Africa, people with disabilities are looked on as cursed. If that was true, pastor Nick would certainly be cursed. However, he is such a living testimony of God's goodness and plan in spite of much difficulty. God has helped this man to rise above depression, ridicule and trials, and be an amazing witness of His love and mercy. You probably won't believe me, but I've seen pastor Nick dance with my own eyes! He can swim, use a computer, answer the phone, wheel himself around on his motorized wheelchair and really have a great time. He was up all hours of the night laughing and talking with crew members on the ship. He really was an incredible man to meet.
If you want to learn more about him, go to http://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/ or google "life without limbs" or "Nick Vujicic".
Well, I'm off to work. I hope you are all well!!!