The last few weeks in November

November has never been this warm for me. The rainy season ended over a month ago, and it's becoming warmer and warmer. The temperature reached 29C today, and the humidity made the air heavy.

This past Saturday, I was planning on going to the Bong Mine. It’s was a profitable iron ore mine before the civil war, and hasn’t operated since the conflict started. Our ship is next to the ore dock that loaded the ore on to freighters. A 80km rail line links the mine to the port. As has been done previously by many others on the ship, we drive to the train loading area and drive our Rover’s on to the train car. People can stay in the vehicle or sit outside, usually on top of the truck. Unfortunately, the train had broken down at the mine the previous day. Here more information on the Bong mine area. http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/trains/liberia01.htm

A small group agreeing that we all need some time off the ship, so we visited the one million acre Firestone rubber plantation, Wuliku Farm, and finally Elwa beach.

A few pictures while driving around:

A gas station. There are a few modern fuel stations, however all around are stores as this. They sell the fuel in the small jars you see on the concrete.

There is lots of furniture for sale - it's usually made right behind the main street store front.

Wikipedia states:
Firestone Rubber Company
In 1923, the Firestone Rubber Company explored the possibilities of establishing a rubber plantation in Liberia. In fact, the conditions in Liberia are ideal for rubber trees. In 1926, the Firestone Rubber Company obtained a concession which gave it the right to lease up to 1 million acres (4,000 km²) for 99 years. With this leased land, Firestone created the world's largest plantation at Harbel, Liberia. Exportation of rubber from the new Firestone plantations began in 1934 and rubber quickly became the backbone of the Liberian economy. This was a great economic boon for Liberia due to the creation of 25,000 jobs.

Lunch break

I don't know how the plantation has changed through the years, I was told there are now 100,000 workers. The rubber from the trees drips into a bucket, much as maple syrup would. The Firestone plantations use a special bucket to hold the raw rubber. The bottom of the bucket has a dent rising upward. This is done to ‘mark’ the raw rubber chuck as property of Firestone and reduce stealing. It’s illegal in Liberia for any other plantations to use such a bucket. Oh, also the rubber in this raw form smells like rotting flesh.

Wuliku Farm

This animal farm, to us it’s a mini zoo.

Elwa beach This beach is a favourite beach among the crew. The currents are slow, and the water clean. The water was at least 80F.


Today I’m helping a crew member, Carl, build an orphanage. He and his wife have decided to live in Liberia and opening and then operate an orphanage. My first trip off the ship was to an orphanage. It is hard to see, talk, and interact with so many children that have no mother and father (we brought colouring book sheets and crayons to play with). To make matters worse, recently an investigation has been launched to close some orphanages that have been operated more to make money for the caretakers and staff, than use funds to provide food, shelter, care, and schooling. The UN estimates that there are thousands of orphans in Liberia, and during the civil war 20,000 child soldiers.

Quote from Mike Tidwell’s The Ponds of Kalambayi:
“Like most people who go overseas to do development work, I did so expecting to find out what it’s like to be poor… That’s not what happens. Instead you learn what it’s like to be rich, to be fabulously, incomprehensibly, bloated with wealth.”

I’d add that beyond the material and financial riches he is referring to, there is different wealth to be cherished in our alive and loving families, and thanks given to our forefathers for instilling firm beliefs of basic right and wrong. These are just two of many ideals to be thankful for this Thanksgiving .

This past Friday we had a Ceilidh - a Scottish barn dance. It was a hoot - everyone was there to have a great time.