Since I last wrote, my life has been so filled with adventure and blessings. I am nicely settled into a three bedroom house next to the wonderful Consolata sisters on the Ganta Leprosy and TB Rehabiliation grounds. This is only a temporary place for me as I will be moving soon to a small apartment. But for now, I am living in luxury as I have running water as long as the well holds out and electricity twice a day for a few hours each time. This house is used for visitors, so for now I am sharing it with a visiting Consolata sister. The first week Sister Rita, the in charge person here, kept me busy writing reports and letters for her trip to Mozambique for a conference. She is from Italy and has some difficulty with these things, so I am happy to help. She introduced me to all of the Leprosy and TB patients and I toured the Rehab. It is a well run facility with a woodworking shop, shoe making shop, arts and crafts shop, piggery, fish hatchery ponds, rice paddies, chickens, and vegetable gardens. These activities employ the patients that are well enough and provide food, purpose, and meaning to their lives. There are houses on the property for the leprosy patients to bring their families and live together in community. Some have resided here for many years. The town chief and the key people were introduced to me.
Each day begins and ends with daily prayer, for the sisters and me at the convent and for the patients at the Rehab. So, we are centered in Christ here. There is a real spirit of community and each family helps the others. Some are Catholic, some Baptist, and many are Methodist among other faiths here. The patients come from all over Liberia and even Guinea. They are from 8 to 90 years old. Many have stubs for fingers or toes and some are blind, others are in wheel chairs. These are the poorest of the poor so in need on anything that we can do to help them. As I get closer to these people I will learn more about their sufferings and needs. Sister Rita wants me to do a survey of the population, so I am busy designing the questionnaire.
Last week I spent three days in Sanniquille at the SMA fathers’ house, an hour upcountry from Ganta. Sanniquille has no running water and only generators for electricity, so services are limited. I visited the Youth Development Program, the Agricultural Development Center, the Catholic school, and met key people. I did a presentation for the church teens on social work as a vocation with an explanation of what a lay missionary does. From Sanniquille, Fr Donatien and I made day trips into the tiny villages. On Thursday we drove to Zorgowee for an election mass of 13 catechumens that will receive baptism on Easter Sunday. The road was dirt and filled with crevices. Parts of it were missing. It was the worst road that I have ever travelled on! The infrastructure is one of the greatest problems in Liberia now. Wait til rainy season when we will have nothing but mud on the roads! Anyway, the celebration was held outside in the hot sun under a canopy of palm fronds. The local people were mostly dressed in brightly colored traditional garb and sang beautifully in their native dialect. A catechist translated as Fr. Donatien said mass. He explained the consecration as this is part of primary evangelization. During the offertory, since money is limited here, many gave from their harvest, e.g. pineapples, bananas, papaya, and yams. Then after mass, the town chief presented Father with a live chicken. So, we carried it home in the van. Sadly for the chicken, it became our next day’s dinner.
The next day we drove to Yakepa where again we visited the Youth Development Program and the church. It is such a beautiful setting high in the mountains with beautiful vistas. Mt Nimba is the highest mountain in Liberia at 11,000 feet and is clearly visible from here. We took a side trip to Guinnea across the border and we accompanied by a border crossing guard to assure our safety. The village of Thuo was very quiet and quaint with cone shaped thatched roof abodes. I so enjoyed seeing the children. Many photos were taken these two days, so I will share some with you.
The fathers in Sannequille asked me if we could help out with the purchase of musical instruments for their Angel Choir. Please anything that you give will be so appreciated. Please send to SMA Lay Misionaries, 256 Manor Circle, Takoma Park, MD 209123. Please mark the checks for Ann Sannequille instruments. During the war, all were stolen by the rebels.
Please know that you are in my heart and in my daily prayers. Your prayers are so appreciated by me, too. Blessings. Ann