Remembering To Move Forward

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words.  But the words that pictures can speak are not just content, they are often heart, soul, connection and deep memories that have perhaps been filed away and forgotten.  Some things within us are just waiting to be re-awakened by an old picture.  I don't know how many times I've looked at an old photo and thought, "Wow!  I totally forgot about that!  What a great memory!"  This isn't a luxury available to most Liberians.


Those of you who have lost pictures in a fire or flood or some other disaster can relate to the pain of not having your wedding photos or high school yearbooks available anymore.  I've been told it feels like you've lost a connection with some part of yourself that can no longer be accessed without those visual aides.  You can probably relate to this aspect of Liberian suffering.  Liberians have lost most of their photographic record.


Not only did Liberians have their pictures destroyed in the war by having to flee and leave them exposed to bombings, fire, rain, and other forms of mayhem; some Liberians actually had to go through the painful process of destroying these memories with their own hands!  You see, to be identified with a certain tribe, organization, education level, etc. could mean that you would be put to death.  One friend of ours was killed after rebels stopped him and asked him to write his name on a wall.  When he demonstrated this ability they shot him.  It was better to destroy all evidence of affluence, connection and education than to make yourself a target.  Therefore, people burned these memories and with them part of Liberia's history was lost forever.


Several years ago I was contacted by a Liberian friend that I have known for over 35 years.  His name is Floyd Morgan.  As a child I used to play everyday with Floyd and his brothers Melvin and Garmondeh.  He is among the majority of Liberians that no longer have pictures of their past.  He had no clear recollection of what he and his brothers looked like as children.  That was about to change...


It was while going through an old shoebox of photos from Liberia I came across a picture that caused me to jump for joy.  It was a pic of the Morgan boys as small children.  I couldn't wait to email this to Floyd.  I did.  The picture caused quite a stir among their family!  They were overjoyed to have this piece of their family history restored.  They printed off the picture and made copies and showed it to relatives.  They were amazed at how they looked at that age.  They had all the same sort of experiences we have when we see an old pic of ourselves, except it was magnified many times over due to the tragic circumstances they've suffered since the picture was taken.

"Childhood Friends" L to R:  Melvin, Floyd, me, Garmondeh

I am happy to report the small miracle that all of the Morgan boys lived through the brutal Civil Wars in Liberia.  Their stories are heart wrenching and difficult to process.  The lingering trauma has to be heavy for them to carry.  This pic provided a small relief and caused them to remember that there was a time when things were better, or at least seemed to be better. They had access to those allusive "good old days".  


This picture brought some healing with it.  Perhaps this seems trivial to those of us who are inundated with image overload on a daily basis, but the power of these historical records is immeasurable and life changing. As Sando Moore, a Liberian photojournalist who lost all of his photo archives in the wars, said, "If you don't know where you come from.  How can you know where you are going?"  Indeed.  


This is why I was excited to come across Liberia77 while researching Liberia online.  This organization was founded by two Canadian boys that grew up in Liberia in the 70's (much like my brother and I had).  They also had a treasure trove of Liberian photos and when they showed President Sirleaf their favorite pic of Liberia she urged them to put out the call for more.  The president understood the significance of showing Liberia what Liberia once looked like before she was ravaged by war.  I sent their organisation some of our pictures.  One was even selected as an editor's pick!  It is a cause worth checking out and a site worth exploring.

Back to the Morgan boys.... Some 35 years after that first picture was taken I was back in Liberia and in contact with Floyd.  It was surreal to see him again and he promised to contact his brothers who were also living in Monrovia.  It was like stepping back into childhood when all three of the Morgan boys pulled up at the Paynesville home where we were staying.  They carried a printed version of our childhood pic in their hand.  I presented them with framed and blown up copies I had made at Kinko's before coming over.  One for each of them and one for their mother to remember how her children once looked.  We laughed and hugged and caught up a bit.  We also reenacted our poses from 35 years earlier.  What an amazing memory!  The power of that picture was working on us, empowering us, re-connecting us and perhaps even reaching out and speaking to you as well.

"35 Years Later" L to R:  Melvin, Floyd, me and Garmondeh (I had trouble getting into the same pose -- knees and hips aren't what they used to be!)

Keeping Things Clean(ish)

With not much in the way of water, sewer, electric, trash pick up, etc. one may wonder how things are kept clean in Liberia.  Sometimes they are not and this leads to health problems as sewage and refuse in the streets provide breeding grounds for all kinds of unpleasant microbes.  However, most Liberians are very clean and hygienic people (for example, the Bassa people we lived with ritualistically take two "baths" a day, one in the morning and one at night).  We could learn a lesson from Liberians who are expert on staying clean in that climate under those conditions.  

My Dad and his improvised bucket bath.  This worked because we had electric and put an electric donut heater in the bucket
if you do this "Remember to unplug the donut before turning it on or you'll get shocked!"

On my last trip to Liberia I found that whether I was in Grand Bassa, Montserrado, or Cape Mount that there was a standard ritual for keeping clean.  (If you are the type staying in the luxury hotels in Monrovia this won't necessarily apply, but you might want to be aware in case you get stuck without electric as has been known to happen.)  Water is either drawn or pumped from a well or in some cases through "tap".  It is then heated and because of the lack of electricity in Liberia it is usually heated over a charcoal stove in a metal bucket.  After reaching a boiling hot temp a portion is poured into another bucket filling it 1/4 to 1/3 full of extremely HOT water.

A typical charcoal stove on which water is heated and food is cooked.

Next, you would take your partially filled bucket to a bathroom which will have some privacy if you're lucky.  If you're back in the bush you will probably have to go behind a wall woven together with palm branches that leaves a lot of gaps in between the weaving.  I usually throw a lappa or my towel over the wall to cover these gaps.  Usually people won't watch, but a lot of times kids are interested in what white people look like without clothes.  Whatever your bathing facility may be there is usually a community barrel of lukewarm water there that is kept covered from rats and mosquitoes.  It might just be rainwater if you're in the bush.  In the barrel is usually kept a cup just floating on the water.  You use this cup to add lukewarm water to the scalding water until your bucket water reaches the desired temperature.

This is actually a classroom space for bush school, but the palm branch wall construction is typical of bathrooms as well

After you have your bucket ready you drop your washrag in the water to get it wet.  I used a chamois rag because it was easier to dry.  Next you lather it up with your preferred soap and wash as usual.  I liked Dr. Bronner's liquid soap and picked up the Eucalyptus scent as it seemed to help a bit in keeping mosquitoes away and it also worked well as my shampoo.  Speaking of shampooing, that is done by taking your cup and filling it with water from your bucket and dumping it on your head.  Once your hair is wet you just shampoo like usual.  


Now that you are all soapy you begin to take the cup and repeatedly fill it up from the bucket and dump it all over yourself.  I liked to save a 1/4 of the bucket so that after I was rinsed off I could just lift up the bucket and dump the whole thing on me at once and at least get the feeling like I was taking a shower.  I recommend doing this "bucket bathing" at least once a day and if you only do it once I'd do it in the evening as it seemed to help me relax.

If you're lucky you can get a ringer washer to help
Lookout for your fingers!

What about clothes?  Usually these are dumped in a large washtub with what is called "iron soap".  You'll hear ladies with tubs full of iron soap walking about selling these little balls of hard, white soap.  It might sound to you like they are calling "Eye yuh so!  Geh yuh eye yuh so!" and if they have bigger balls of soap it will sound they are calling "Baby eye yuh so" or "big, big iron soap".  The clothes are lathered up and wrung out just like you would clean a shirt in the sink.  It takes strong hands to do a whole load and usually a whole day is devoted to getting the laundry done.  The clothes are left to dry in the sun, so rain and potential thieves can determine how and when you do this. 

Laundry Day at the Vogel's.  If it rains they don't dry and if someone steals them their gone!

Teeth are cared for by whatever you bring and your main concern will be the water that you use to brush your teeth.  I used filtered water through the water filter I brought or bottled water I bought at market in Liberia.  You'll just have to dump water from your bottle over the bristles when your done to rinse them off.  I have used Dr. Bronner's as toothpaste before as well, which cuts down on baggage space, but tastes kind of strange.  If you get a chance you can try a Liberian "toothbrush", which is actually just a root like stick that they chew on and it seems to keep their teeth strong and healthy.

The beard on week 6

As far as shaving goes I just didn't shave.  I grew out my beard which was pretty fun.  Beards are usually for older men so it kind of made me look like a wannabe chief.  Just like in the US, most women didn't like it and most men did, what matters is if you like it.  If you're a woman you can do what you like, but I would call it a shaving optional culture for women (sort of like Lollapalooza).  Most men do shave over there but if you can grow a nice one, go for it!


After doing a 6 week trip to Liberia last summer I really enjoyed just standing under the hot shower.  O, the little things!  Liberia will help you appreciate them :-)

The Gods Of Ɓǎkèɓiɖ́í

Ɓǎ "Father" at the  Ɓǎ kè dà  site
photo by Ken Vogel

The children of the village screamed in terror when they saw me.  It had been about 20 years since a kùìpúú (kwee-poo - white person) had entered this village and that was the first time many had seen someone so light skinned.  I was told that some of the children thought we were spirits as white chalk is sometimes painted on people around those parts when they transition through "Bush School".  During this time they are considered invisible, or dead to the world, or somehow in a different spiritual realm.  The secret societies that oversee these schools have 'eaten' the child and once school is over they are considered adults and ready for marriage.  Until they are finished with this school they are painted white.  Therefore we appeared to some to be walking ghosts.  No wonder they were terrified!


I was 12 when we entered this village called Ɓǎkèɓiɖ́í (Bawe kaye blee) in the Moweh region of Grand Bassa County (now River Cess).  On the trek I saw and heard a "wudu" bird that had been known to swoop down and carry small children (from what I was told) and in the village I touched electric jungle catfish.  I plan on sharing more about some of the strange creatures I've either seen or heard about in this mostly unexplored part of the world.  However, today I want to share a particular memory about this village that I'll just call Bahkebli in case your browser doesn't support my Bassa font.

Dà "Mother" at the  Ɓǎ kè dà  site
photo by Ken Vogel

The day after we arrived we were taken a mile or so outside of the village to their old sacred spot called Ɓǎ kè dà (Bawe Kaye Dawe; Father and mother (in-law)).  It consisted of two gigantic boulders that rose above the surrounding jungle.  In days past these boulders were worshiped as "Father" and "Mother" of the village.  In between the two boulders were many smaller rocks that were called their 'children".  There was also a flat rock area where they offered sacrifices.  Usually food and animals, but they spoke of people being tied there as well.  They didn't go into details and I'm not sure if it was a sort of fertility ritual between the Zo (priest) and a maiden of the village and/or if it included actual human sacrifice.  Whatever the case, these rituals where how they 'fed' their gods and kept them happy.  


Imagine that you were taking these pictures for a moment and then turned directly behind yourself 180 degrees.  There you would see a mountain rising above the Liberian rainforest.  I was told that if the proper sacrifice was not made or if someone tried to dishonor these gods (or their Zo) that they would be taken to this mountain.  There were caverns in this mountain and the offender would be forced to enter the caverns and face the power of these gods within.  The guide told me that people would get lost in those caves and go crazy.  I'm not sure how they knew that as I also got the impression that anyone who entered those caves would never be seen again.  Perhaps someone escaped at one point and was found insane?  

In the forefront is the chief of Doedehn - Old Man Droh - who led us to Bakebli
photo by Ken Vogel

Whatever the case, these memories left quite an impression on a 12 year old boy and I hope to someday go back and document and more fully verify these tales.  I have so many questions I would like to ask.   I wonder if the town still exists after the Civil War?  I wonder how the people are doing?  I remember they were happy to be out from under the fear of these hungry rock gods and the dread of those caverns of insanity that awaited any who offended their Zo. It was an amazing trek and one I will definitely never forget!

The Fanti Towns Of Liberia

Inside a Fanti Boat in Fanti Town, Buchanan, Liberia - note the Ghanian influences

Fanti (or Fante) towns have established themselves all along the shores of the Liberian coast and they do business with the Liberian people mostly through their fishing enterprises.  There is nothing like walking along the beach and gathering around a Fanti boat full of fresh creatures from the sea and placing your bid on some fish.  You never know what you might get:  I remember eating hammerhead shark, barracuda, grouper, snapper, & sea turtle to name a few.  If it is in the ocean the Fanti have probably brought it up.

The "Ebenezer" - a Fanti boat in Fanti Town, Buchanan, Liberia

Dugout Canoes are often used for both fishing and
for selling fresh fish right on the beach

While not originally from Liberia, in 1974 the Fanti were so numerous in Liberia that they were included on the Liberian census as a Liberian ethnic group.  The Fanti are originally from Ghana and still keep ties there.  They are from the Akan group (the same group as the Ashanti).  One of their most famous sons is Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the UN.  They have long done business in fishing and historically provided a middleman function between trading Europeans on the coast and the interior tribes of Ghana.  They are recorded as doing business with the Portuguese as far back as the 1400's and they also traded with the Dutch and the English who ultimately destroyed the Fanti Confederation in the late 1800's.  I assume that this event helped to scatter the Fanti people all along the coast of West Africa and today they are mostly found in Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia.

Fanti Boats in Fanti Town, Buchanan, Liberia

I have always found their communities intriguing and their customs very similar yet slightly different than Liberians.  They have usually been very friendly and I remember riding my bike through the middle of Fanti Town in Buchanan as a small boy and receiving nothing but broad smiles.  What really sticks out in my mind though are their beautifully decorated boats.  If you're into photography a Liberian Fanti Town would yield a treasure trove of beautiful images.  You can find these towns on the beach in most of the larger coastal communities of Liberia like Monrovia and Buchanan.  Enjoy the pics and the following video of a Fanti boat that I was invited to enter and photograph by a friendly Fanti man.

A Bit Of The US South In Africa

Americo-Liberian Home in Edina, Liberia
photo by Ken Vogel

Liberia is an African Republic with towns that have US sounding names like New Georgia, Virginia, Kentucky and Louisiana.  The reason goes back to our own US history when the US government funded an organization called the American Colonization Society (ACS) to purchase land in Africa to send "free people of color" back to Africa.  What was some of the reasoning behind this?

"Congo-style" house, Robertsport, Liberia

Ever since the Haitian slave revolt many slaveholders were terrified of the idea that their slaves might also revolt.  Seeing or hearing about these "free people of color" walking about might give slaves the motivation they needed to revolt.  So many Southern slaveholders joined the ACS and many had the intention of sending any slave they freed back to Africa instead of being allowed to walk about free and proud in the antebellum South.  There are also claims that some of these freed slaves were children born to master's through their slaves that they wanted to hide away from their community by sending them to Africa.  This was one line of thought in the ACS.

"Congo Home" Edina, Liberia
photo by Ken Vogel

The ACS was also joined by abolitionists who surely made strange bedfellows with the slaveholders.  Their reasoning was that it is not safe for a "free person of color" to stay in the US.  A freed person would have to carry around paperwork proving they were free and could be stopped at any time simple due to the color of their skin.  The opportunities available to a person of minority skin color were also very limited in the US and many who opposed slavery didn't just want people free they wanted them to be able to thrive in a viable society.  Many of these people foresaw the decades upon decades of integration issues that would surely follow after emancipation and wanted a better life for those who were freed.  They thought, "perhaps in going back to Africa they will have a better chance of living freely."  

Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Robertsport, Liberia

Many of the "Free People of Color" were fairly skeptical of the whole ordeal, but some saw the same opportunities that some of the abolitionists had seen.  In fact, it was a free person of color and devout Quaker "Paul Cuffee" that helped lay the groundwork for the ACS.  Many of these groups of freed slaves that returned to Liberia were also sponsored by churches to evangelize Africa.  The reasoning was that someone of the same skin color would be more effective in this missionary work, what had perhaps not been considered was that culture is not a matter of skin color.  These Americo-Liberians, as they are called, brought the South with them and converts were Americanized just as much or perhaps even more than Christianized.  One tragic part of the South that these freed slaves brought with them was that some of these Americo-Liberians enslaved the native Liberians to work on their plantations!   

Americo-Liberian Plantation, Edina, Liberia
photo by Ken Vogel

What I'm sharing with you today are some of these Americo-Liberian homes and/or plantations and churches that sprung up all along the coast of Liberia.  I find them quite beautiful even in their deteriorated states.  The native Liberians call the Americo-Liberians "Congo" and call these houses "Congo Houses" so that is why they are sometimes so captioned.  To someone from the US they definitely resemble old Southern architecture and it is rather surreal to see the US South standing in the middle of a tropical rain forest in Africa! 

Congo Home, Edina, Liberia - photo by Ken Vogel

Memorial to Americo-Liberian and Liberian president Joseph Cheeseman in front of
US Southern - style home, Edina, Liberia
photo by Ken Vogel

Congo Homes in Robertsport, Liberia

Congo Home in Robertsport, Liberia

Congo House on a Hill - Robertsport, Liberia

Congo home in Robertsport, Liberia

If you'd like to see some more pictures of these Liberian Congo-style homes you can check them out on this interesting site I found here.  

The Woman Who Brought Me To Liberia

Mom with a Liberian girl - 1976

Happy Mother's Day!  I am so blessed to have a simply amazing woman as my mom!  Today I share a few pics of her just being a mom and care giver in Liberia.  They only tell of a small fraction of her amazing-ness, but just seeing her in action should tell you the kind of outstanding woman I am so blessed to have as my mother.  Not only is she the one (along with my dad) who first brought me to the beautiful nation of Liberia way back in 1976, but she also taught me how to show love with action.  I'm so proud of my mom!

Cleaning up her messy boy beside our super cool baby blue Renault

Our First Christmas in Liberia - 1976

Mom in Doedein, Grand Bassa County (now River Cess), where she was doing medical training c. 1985

Mom with one of two severely malnourished twins c. 1985
(She was able to nurse them both back to health)

Mother of the twins.  She was so happy to have her twins back healthy!

Mom giving a shot at clinic she helped start in Camphor, Grand Bassa County

Mom with one of the medical teams she helped train c. 1986

Mom with baby in Liberia c. 2007

I returned last summer (2011) to Liberia with my mom.  My mom had already been returning to Liberia for years, even before it considered safe to travel there (whatever safe means).  She is braver than I!  She is planning on returning again this summer and on and on for the foreseeable future.  Her love for Liberia is contagious and I'm glad I caught that from her!  As you'll notice from the pics, she has consistently shown love for Liberia and been a true "Ol' Ma" to her people!  Did I say I was proud of her?  Love you mom!

An Introduction To Liberian English

postcard we sent to our grandparents in the States in 1984

English is the official language of Liberia.  It is true that there are still many who only speak in one or more of the many indigenous languages.  For example, we had to use translators when visiting certain villages.  However, many people do speak English, even if it is a style of English not familiar to US ears.  I've been told it can be difficult for some in the US to understand.  Having grown up in Liberia I've always found it surprising when watching a film or TV production about Liberia and there are actually subtitles used when a Liberian is speaking in English!   

I guess Liberian English is an acquired sound to US ears, but I believe many from the US would probably understand most Liberians when they are speaking as long as they don’t start speaking too fast!  I would say that the same is true with us and speaking fast.  I've had many Liberians tell me that they thought I was speaking a different language when I speak freely with my US friends!  Talking slowly at first will help both parties until you each get an ear for one another.  

Following is a short glossary of a few Liberian English words and phrases.  In reality you have to hear it to get the rhythm and the accent.  The best place to do that is in Liberia.  

BRIEF GLOSSARY OF LIBERIAN ENGLISH

Area/your job, domain, or responsibility, area of specialty  

   "My area to drive taxi.  Not my area to make market."

Bug-a bug ate his brain / someone is not all there in the head

   "That man crazy!  Bug- a bug ate his brain."

Bright/lighter skinned, caramel colored 

    "That bright man say he want to beat you."

Carry/to take you somewhere, to walk with you

    "I will carry you home." (i.e. I will walk home with you)

Chunk/to throw                               

    "Tell them children them to stop chunking rock at the taxi-o."

Da how I looking/This is how I behave

   "If and you don't respect me, I don't respect you.  Da how I looking."   

Dammit/Wow!  (This phrase is acceptable even in church and is not viewed as offensive as it is by some in the US)

    "Dammit!  That was a good sermon!" 

Dress/to move out of the way or "excuse me"  

  "Dress small, my man."  (To add 'small' is to be polite when saying, ‘excuse me’ to someone who is in your way)

Dry/thin, skinny                                

    "That dry woman need to eat some cassava."

Eat (money)/to use money that isn’t yours          

     "I gave him the money for the Old Pa but he eat it."

Fat/healthy (this is actually a complement!)

     "Aye fine girl.  You looking too fat-o!"

Fini/ finished, all gone                    

    "He fini eating all the fufu."  or "My money fini-o."

           

Hada day/ How are you doing?  How is the day?               

     "Hada day, my man?"  a common response ---  "I thank God."

My heart cut/scared, startled     

      "When I saw the snake my heart cut straight!"

Old Ma/ Mother, title of respect for older woman.  (It is respectful to call an older woman 'Old Ma' unlike in the US.)  

    "The Old Ma makes good fufu."

Old Pa/ Father, title of respect for older man      

      "Old Pa, I beg you, listen to me yah."

Pekin/small child, pre-adolescent, subordinate or someone under your protection (pronounced somewhere between "pee-key" and "pee-king")         

      "She take the pekin to market everyday."  or "That my pekin.  You leave him!"  (as in don't mess with this guy.  He is under my protection)

         

Reaching/leaving, heading out towards my destination                 

    "Good night.  I reaching."  (as in I’m going home)

Rouge/thief (this is yelled aloud and repeatedly if someone is caught stealing.  Be careful as a mob will usually ensue to deal with this thief.)  pronounced ‘Ro!’

   "The people them beat the ro."

Sabu or Sabu head/bald         

   "That sabu head pekin there can be too frisky!"

Show myself/to reveal your strength usually by spanking, beating, fighting, or somehow using your authority.

    "Aye, my man!  Take yourself from here!  You don't know me?  I will show myself to you!"

Stranger/Guest   

    "This man my stranger.  He came to my house last week."

Them/Used for the phrase “and others’  (pronounced ‘then’) 

    "Peter then are here."

Trying/In good health, in response to How are you? How the day?  

   "How you doing?" ---- response  "I trying."

Vex/Angry            

    "I vex with you –o!"

Yah/okay?  (Used to soften what you are saying, or be polite.)             

   "You will bring me some rice yah?"

Waste/spill something or pour something out    

    "Why you waste the water on me?  I will show myself to you-o!"

That's just a few words and phrases of Liberian English.  Hope you enjoyed!  Now find some Liberian friends and practice!

Part II of this introduction has been recently added here.

Willie Power Town Is Calling

Author with horn from Willie Power Town, Grand Bassa County, Liberia

During rice harvest (or rice bird) season many of the able bodied are in the rice fields either bringing in rice or keeping rice birds off the rice.  What happens if the village gets in trouble when so many are away?  How will the village be protected and helped?  Enter the horn.  As you can hear from this video these horns can be heard a long way off.  If you were working out in the fields and heard this sound you would immediately rush to the aide of your village.  So it was with great significance our family was gifted one of the horns of Willie Power town in 1985.

Road through Willie Power Town
photo by Ken Vogel

Willie Power town is more than likely named after someone named “Willie Power” as are so many villages in Liberia so named after their founders or chiefs.  It is located in the Moweh region of Grand Bassa County and like so many of the villages we have visited I can’t find it on Google maps.  This sort of reminds me of the old and sometime irreverent Graham Greene travel book on Liberia "Journey Without Maps (Penguin Classics)" to which this blog title pays homage.  (Note:  He's is not coming to Liberia with a worldview I would personally endorse.)  Much of Liberia still remains unmapped, undiscovered and beautiful beyond description. I actually hope certain people never discover this beauty as I'm sure they would try to take advantage of these generous people.  As of now I’m not sure how much, if any, of this village exists after the horrors of the Liberian Civil War, or if it can still be found even by word of mouth, but I want to share with you what they shared with us nonetheless.

Willie Power Town is surrounded by tropical forest.  Mom stands by a tree for reference
photo by Ken Vogel

Pekin in Willie Power Town
photo by Ken Vogel

Why was this horn given to us?  Here is the significance:  We were told that their village needed help and they were in great need.  Like so many places in Liberia they needed schools, clinic, clean drinking water, opportunities for commerce and enterprise.  And so we were charged with taking this horn from Willie Power Town and blowing it so others might hear of their need and come and help.  It is a call to come in from your harvesting and protect the people.  In this powerful and poignant Liberian symbolism they are crying for help.  Who will come back from the fields and answer the call?

Willie Power Town.  Notice 'Bush Girl" painted white on the left.
photo by Ken Vogel

A church building in Willie Power Town
photo by Ken Vogel

Small Pekin in Willie Power Town
photo by Ken Vogel

One of my Loma brothers has told me, “You are not even from this country and you come here to help.  Your actions should convict the Liberians in the States to come to us.”  I am not here to create feelings of guilt or manipulate anyone.  As best I can tell my actions are based on my love for the Liberians with whom I have shared life since a small child.  I consider Liberians my people and call them Old Ma, Old Pa, brother, sister, daughter, son and pekin and they in turn call me brother and son.  They gave us this horn so I have to remember my people.  If the horn of Willie Power Town calls you who might today be harvesting away from the village, perhaps in the Liberian Diaspora, that is between you and your people.  I will continue to do what I do whether anyone else might come to help and let the horn call whomever it may call.  As Jesus often said, “He who has ears, let him hear.”  Willie Power Town is calling.  Liberia is calling.

Children in a kitchen in Willie Power Town
photo by Ken Vogel

Woman 'Running Water"
Willie Power Town
photo by Ken Vogel

The Horn of Willie Power Town

The Robertsport Sandbar

A mangrove plant growing on the Robertsport sandbar.  Cape Mount is in the background.

On Robertsport Beach you can walk out onto a sandbar that divides the beautiful Lake Piso from the Atlantic Ocean.  At the very end of this sandbar the Atlantic and Piso converge as this 360' video shows.  (The video starts with the Atlantic Ocean and pans right revealing the Sandbar and then Lake Piso and Cape Mount as it makes a full circle...)

My descriptions of this place won't do it justice and neither will these pics but they will give you a bit of an idea of how beautiful this place is.  Standing out on the Robertsport Sandbar you are surrounded by water on all sides.  You feel like you are in a different world as you watch the waves of the Atlantic as they sometimes crash into smaller waves coming out from Lake Piso.  A perfect place to sit and just "realize".  I'll let the pics and captions do the talking for the rest of this post... Enjoy!

The Robertsport Sandbar - Atlantic Ocean to the left; Lake Piso on the right

View from the Robertsport Sandbar back towards Robertsport and Cape Mount.  

"Dependable God" Canoe.  Lake Piso is in the background

Walking back towards Robertsport on the Robertsport Sandbar

Lake Piso and Cape Mount in the background

Lake Piso