We are Christ-centered Friends who equip and encourage all people
to respond to God's love and transforming Spirit.

Letters from Liberia

Page 3
Our fellow Christ Follower, Dr. Ken Magee, is now in Liberia with The Northwest Medical Teams
Here are some excerpts from his letters home.

July 29, 2004
Dear Jo, Circle of Friends, and other Friends,
It is always so good to hear from your direction. I am just finished with a busy day here. But also got to take an evening walk up the beach. It rained hard yesterday and as we went through the area called "Red Light,"(because there was once a red stop light there which now doesn't work) we saw people in large numbers and wearing colorful clothes crowding the streets wading through rain water that was full of mud and trash. The people here really pay a lot of attention to their clothes even though they may be very poor. You should see the girls' and ladies' hair. It is so beautifully done, generally in a variety of corn rows. Even though the land here is largely thick jungle we don't see many wild animals. They have mostly been eaten for food, just like the birds. Bugs are interesting. There are little black ones that go scurrying around on our eating table, never in a straight line, just like bumper cars at the fair.
I saw Flomo today out at the clinic at Massaquoi. He seems better, but yet has bad tuberculosis which is being treated. I hope he gets well. We see so very many interesting people but it is also a land with much sadness. I look forward to showing you pictures of the jungles. People like to eat things that I am not used to eating. Could I bring you some snail soup? I have only a few more days to work and then hope to see all of you.
Love, Ken

July 31, 2004
Dear Jo and Others,
It is Sat AM here and should be a casual day. I went over earlier to see and discharge a man from ELWA hospital who had entered with severe CHF. Thankfully he did well and we hired a taxi to take him back to his home in Massaquai, camp to the North. I will probably see him on Tuesday, the day before I leave. We only take people, kids and adults to the hospital who will likely live because of the intervention and would likely otherwise die. On the walk to and from the hospital there were nice flowers here and there and I took the opportunity to take some pictures. There was actually a flock of tiny birds, which is rare here as most tend to end up in the soup pot. The other day a critter ran across the road on the way north of Monrovia. Our driver called it a "fox", but It looked to me like something from the weasil family. A beggar came by when I was out on the porch a bit ago. It made me think about my own motives. I did feel compassion but also recognized the feelings of "I would rather not be bothered." And so I must continue on my own inner journey. One of the true blessings of being here has been the chance to look a bit more at the realities of my own inner self.
I sure do look forward to getting home. Thank you all for notes. Wednesday is getting closer and hopefully the airline will be operating. It is a tiny and disorganized place.
Much much love, Ken

August 2, 2004
Dear Jo, Tomorrow will be my last clinic day, at Massequoi, our furthest one to the North. Then the following day, the fourth, I will have the privilege of packing and heading home. My bags will be laden somewhat differently on the return trip than when I came. It has been a good stay here. Mary and Lorie have been very kind to me and they both like to cook. The evening walks by the ocean have really been a rich time of winding down from very intense days.
Yesterday, Sunday, Mary and I and and African fellow who works for a different NGO attended a different church service. There was some excellent acapella singing with lots of rhythm and the pastor had good words to say to the people. Their meeting house was a partially built one with a shed inside for a roof.
In the evening several people from other NGO's came by. Did I mention to you the German fellow who had fled 14 years ago in 1990 and now came back to try to find some friends of long ago and to sort of find closure on some issues? He is a tall fellow, reminds me of Bob. He played his way through college in Germany playing basketball. I continue to ask questions of people re causes of the wars and hope for the future.
Saw a woman today who had been bitten by a snake a while back and had a huge sloughed area down to the muscle just above an ankle.
Saw a few other unusual cases among the hoards of Malaria and dysentery. Took a couple of little tykes to the Doctors without Borders run hospital. They needed IVs and other help.
I so look forward to seeing you in a couple of days.
Much love, Ken

 

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Captured, a Story from Liberia with pictures