First Aid supplies and other stuff

I am amazed at the offers of first aid supplies. A family has a large stash of supplies left over from home care and they are donating it. Another family has donated money for me to purchase supplies. Others are bringing things in to the school. I am humbled by all the support. I will likely need to take a separate suitcase for the supplies and,if so, that expense has been covered by a donation. I feel so fortunate to be in a position to make this trip. At times I have wondered if I was running away from my life for a bit, but right now it feels like I am where I am supposed to be at this moment. That is how I want to feel going into this: doing the right thing, at the right time, with the right people.

I heard from Clare Levin in Sierra Leone (a Canadian working with CIDA and Peaceful Schools) about the plans to pick us up at the airport. The chief is making arrangements for our pickup. He offered us accommodation with relatives the first night we arrive but it is late and we have elected to stay at the Gateway Guesthouse. We will get to take the ferry across to Freetown the next morning as the road to Mapaki is much better from Freetown than Lungi where the airport is. That will be quite an adventure in itself from what I can gather. Tempted to pack my own life jacket just in case but will resist the urge- that is my 'Scaredy Squirrel' Be prepared for any possible complication speaking.

Clare is going to speak to Thomas to ensure that duplicate arrangements aren't made for our arrival and travel by cdpeace and the chief. Between them, they have the only 4 wheel drive vehicles in the region and it would be a shame to have both of them sent for us. The itinerary for our first week of travel with cdpeace has been sent to Thomas. He arrived in Sierra Leone early this week and I look forward to hearing from him either directly or via Clare after she meets with him next week.

Sierra Leone just got a major hydroelectric dam- Bumbuna- up and running after 30 years of starts and stops- electricity is coming to Freetown at least. And another exciting bit of news: oil was just discovered off the coast of Sierra Leone. Big announcement in the international news although not every one is sure that it will necessarily be a good thing for the country. Depends how much of the development occurs with local input vs foreign exploitation of the resource. So many positives, so much potential and so many challenges ahead of them to get there.

I have included an address that links to Mapaki, Sierra Leone in the news. Amnesty International was there the end of September promoting womens health and reduction of deaths during childbirth. As many of you may know, 1 in 8 women die in childbirth in Sierra Leone currently. It has one of the highest child mortality rates in the world as well.

livewire.amnesty.org/2009/09/28/joining-in-the-dancing-in-mapaki-in-sierra-leone/