Rainstorms and Witchcraft

There are many differences between Africa and North America (which, just in case anyone was curious, is a term used exclusively by Canadians. To Americans, there is only the United States. Using the term "North America" was a completley novel idea here. Everyone also considers all the Canadians and Americans on the ship to be one big group. We try a little bit to assert our independence, but, we don't have a lot to go on.....some people try by calling us "hosers". It doesn't really hurt.)

Anyways, back to the differences:

- In Canada, a memorable Saturday night usually involves getting dressed up, and going to some sort of trendy restaurant, bar, or cafe. This weekend, it rained on Saturday night. It hadn't rained since I have been here. It is nice not to have to consider the weather when making plans. It is safe to assume that it will always be hot and sunny. But this Saturday night at midnight in Monrovia, a whole large group of twenty-somethings spent an hour standing on the deck watching the rain pour down. The stories I have heard about the relentless rain and ligitimate "cabin fever" that goes along with it have made me less-than-excited for the Liberian rainy season. That being said, I hesitate to say that we were particularly excited about the rain. But there was something going on. Something a little bit different than what usually goes on. So we embraced it and stood together on the dock and watched the rain and lightening. Party!

- In Canada, I can walk down the street and go fairly unnoticed. As far as North Americans are concerned, I would consider myself to be pretty typical in appearance. It is easy to blend. Going out in Liberia is physically and emotionally draining for many reasons, one of which being the massive amount of attention that gets constantly paid to us. Even if we are not in a Mercy Ships Vehicle, people stare. They yell things at us. They ask us for money. If they suspect that we might be from Mercy Ships, they ask us to help them with their health problems. The children wave. Sometimes they follow us for a little while. They try to touch our clothes or our hands. People try to sell us ridiculous things that we don't need. Yesterday, we went to the beach and a group of children perched themselves at the ends of towels and set up camp. They didn't talk to us, just sat and stared. That must be what it is like to be famous. I have always thought it was ridiculous when famous people complained about how hard it is to have so much attention. Don't get me wrong, I still think it is ridiculous that people think they are justified in being annoyed that they are famous, but, perhaps, I understand, just a little, how it is hard to relax and act like a normal person when people are constantly staring at you and following you like you are a freak of nature (I understand your pain Britney!.....wait.....no.....nobody understands that one...)

- In Canada, spirituality is one aspect of many people's lives. Deep down, I believe that it has the potential to be a part of every person's life. The degree to which people choose to acknowledge the role of spirituality in their lives varies widely, but I believe that we were created with the potential and an inherent desire for a spiritual connection with God. The African culture is so much more intensely spiritual. I have been thinking for a couple of days about this very blatent difference. I think that perhaps people turn to spirituality when they are desparate. We see it in our own lives and culture. Everyone calls out to God when bad things happen. When life gets tough, we remember God. Hardships in North America definaltey occur frequently and are awful, but for us, they are rare. Living in horrible circumstances is not the norm for most of us. We all have homes, and jobs, and food to eat (numerous times a day), and medicine, and clean water, and most of our family members weren't killed in a war, and we havn't been rejected by our families and communties due to a tumour on our face, and if we get an infection, it probably won't take over our entire body and kill us within a couple of weeks. People who have lived through horrendous attrocities are desparate. And rightly so. They have no choice but to believe that something higher and more powerful is out there. If they don't believe it, they have nothing. Everyone I know in Canada is loved by someone. There are obviously people who feel lonely, unloved, and sad at times, but I cannot think of one single soul who has absolutely no source of love or joy in their lives. For our lifestyles, we do not need God. Life can carry on fairly comfortably without Him. I have met people in Liberia who actually have nothing. No posessions or people in their lives to make life worth living. Spirituality is an absolute necessity. This makes for a level of intensity that I have never experienced. When people love and worship God, it is full-on. A whole body, whole life expression of devotion to someone who they believe has the power to provide them with something that this world has failed to offer them. And, although I don't know much about it, I know that witchcraft and other religions are hugely at work here as well. They go for it whole-heartedly. This intense level of spiritual presense in the country and in the lives of the people I am serving is so vastly different from anything I am used to. This makes life in Liberia both exciting and scarry. But, I came here to be thrilled and stretched, so bring it on God.