Loss And A Supportive Community

I’ve been meaning to post another entry into this blog for a while. I was going to write about the 10-day blackout that occurs in Makeni every year and the Mpox outbreak and how much education about prevention and isolation is needed for the general population. But as many of you know, something very personal happened to me. My mom passed away three weeks ago. When it happened, all I could think about was my dad and my sister and my family and how much this was hurting them. I was so far away, and I couldn’t be there for them. I had to wait a week to go to them. And every day that week was so hard to face.

But here’s the thing; I wasn’t alone. The minute the people of Makeni learned my mom’s condition had become critical, they came to comfort me. The very hour my mom passed away, the whole community came to support me and mourn with me. I was given food, care, and sympathy. More than that, the Catholic community organized a requiem mass to honor my mother and pray for her and my family. I grew up in a small community that supports each other. But I never imagined experiencing that amount of love and support from a community I had become a part of so recently. I felt so blessed. I still feel so blessed that I was able to volunteer in such a loving community. I had come to Sierra Leone to help. But in the end, they helped me. We helped and supported each other. May God bless them.

Extended Community

 

I really feel that I’m becoming a part of the community. Every morning from my window seat in the hospital car, people will smile and wave either shouting, “Porto!” or “Sally!” When I’m at the hospital, everyone knows who I am and greets me with a smile or a nice, crisp high-five or a solid fist-bump. I even feel like I’m coming into my own as a nurse here. On Monday, a coworker brought her baby to work. The baby wasn’t sick or anything, but she had me hold him while she went to take care of a few things. I held him, and talked to him, and sang him to sleep. It reminded me that I will always be a Pediatric nurse at heart. Working with children has always been what I’m good at. I’m starting to give more medications and help with more procedures as well. The weather is much cooler, so I have the energy to do way more things as well! Everyone tells me that the rainy season is coming and soon I will be sick of the rain. I’m excited! I am ready to be sick of the rain!

I’m also starting to learn about a new kind of community in Sierra Leone; my fellow foreigners residing here long-term. Most are here working at paying jobs or internships at NGOs. They come from all over the world: England, Brazil, Nigeria, Kenya, Japan, most are from Italy. Two Italian girls live close to me in Stocco Compound. They’ve lived here for about a year, but they’ll be leaving soon to go back home. They know Father Luigi and he asked them if they could invite me to one of their get togethers. They took me to a restaurant I had never been to before called “Fishermans” to meet up with some other people from around the world. We all swapped stories of living in Sierra Leone and how we’ve adapted over time. One lady from England used to live in the house I live in now. She says she doesn’t miss it. It would get too hot because it was always directly in the sun. When I told her that air conditioning had been put in, she said that would definitely help.

The next day, the two Italian girls invited me to go with some of their friends from Bo and Freetown to hang out by a river close by. I was absolutely down! The girls from Bo were also from Italy and the girl from Freetown was from Japan. We drove out of town and arrived at some large, metal gates guarded by men demanding twenty Leones from each of us. When we were allowed to drive through, we saw a lovely, winding river surrounded by palm trees and locals chilling in the sand. I suspect the river gets very high in the rainy season so we must have come during the busy season when it’s still safe. There were families and college kids and couples all either swimming or lounging by the river. Some kids even had a wooden canoe and were standing in it while paddling it around. There was a volleyball net set up on the beach. There was also a swing that little kids would play on and jump into the water with. We didn’t get in the water. We just found some picnic tables, bought some drinks, and hung out next to the water.

That night we went to Relim leisure center. It was the same place I had gone to have a pool day. It was much busier during the night. Someone was having one heck a birthday party that night with flashing lights and loud music. There were also a bunch of Arab men smoking hookahs in their bathing suits at the table next to ours while we ate. Right as we were about to leave, rain started pouring down on us. We drove back to the two Italian girls house at Stocco Compound where they had baked some banana bread for us to share. It was so nice to talk with other people having experiences like mine. They were all getting used to how different everything is here just like I am. Of course, most of them had been there longer. They were able to give some tips on living here too! I hope I can keep in touch with them and learn more from them.

Independence Day

Happy Independence from the British Empire everyone! I realize it is not July 4^th. But in Sierra Leone, on April 27^th, it’s Independence Day! This morning, I woke up to the sound of a marching band playing down the streets. Drums were booming, trumpets were sounding out their victory cries, cheering was everywhere. I had a quick breakfast and joined the Sisters in the car to take me to Holy Spirit Church, where everyone was sporting the blue, white, and green colors of the Sierra Leonean flag. I joined the choir like I usually do, feeling very out of place in my purple and yellow dress, and sat among my peers who were wearing traditional tunics and hats. Everyone was waving tiny Sierra Leonean flags and sweating like crazy in their woolen outfits. I kept letting people use my fan to help them cool down too.

During the mass, we said prayers for the country and the only songs we sang were in Krio or other local languages. After communion, the Young Adults group gathered in front of the church and began a fundraising campaign. I had no idea what was going on until one of the choir members told me it was Africana! If you read my first blog, you will remember that I had talked about Africana but had no idea what it was. Independence Day is Africana! I had no idea! Whenever I asked, people would say it was to celebrate African culture. They never said it was also their Independence Day! I felt so bad that I was so clueless. Luckily, Father Agustus was also there to explain to me what was going on.

The first thing the group did was sell ribbons and feathers that you could buy and pin on somebody. The next thing was to collect envelopes from everybody who had volunteered to give money beforehand. Everyone was cheering and laughing and singing through the whole process. It was so much fun! Praise God!

 

First African Wedding

Guess who has a new African dress and attended her first African wedding!

Me!

The Porto!

I had been seeing an invitation for a wedding for one of my coworkers at Holy Spirit Hospital being passed around and I was thinking to myself, “How cool would it be to attend?”, and the Deputy Matron Lamrana comes up to me and says, “You will come to the wedding.”

And I shouted “Really?!”

And she says, “Yeah, do you want to?”

And I was like, “Absolutely!”

So, then she says, “All right, I will take you to go buy a dress.” I have been wanting to buy a dress since I attended my first mass here and saw all the colorful dresses, so I was bouncing up and down in excitement!

We drove over to a dress shop where they had ready-made dresses. Usually, you have to order dresses beforehand and have them made to fit you. Most of the dresses they had at the “Ready to Wear” shop didn’t fit me (I was either too wide or too tall), but finally we found one that fit and it was actually a really good look on me. The red and green patterns on a white background looked good against my skin coloring. It also had laces in the back which was so pretty. The only thing they had to adjust was the length. The woman took it over to her pedal powered sewing machine and she hemmed it perfectly in under 3 minutes. Lamrana told me she had a purse that would go perfectly with the dress, and I could use it for the wedding! She helped me so much getting ready for the wedding. I was so grateful to her.

The next morning, Sandy drove me to the hospital where a group of the Holy Spirit Hospital staff were all going together in one car. I was the only one who dressed up before we left. Everyone else was wearing casual clothes and carrying their wedding clothes in bags. Most of the group piled into the back of the car while me and Lamrana got in the front with the driver, Atanzo. The wedding was in a town called Lunsar. It was about a 2 hour drive there. When we arrived in Lunsar, we got out at a house that I assumed belonged to the bride’s relatives. We all sat under a tree to get out of the sun and a gentleman brought out a large container of rice and fish. He started passing out water bottles and spoons and all of us dug in. Some chose not to use spoons at all; they just used their hands and mushed up the rice and fish in their palms and ate that. I went with the spoon. He also brought out bananas and sodas for dessert. It was such a pleasant lunch!

The ladies went inside the house to rest while I decided to stay outside. Big mistake. The wind started picking up and clouds of dust blew over me and Atanzo. We rushed into the car and sat in there to wait it out. Before we knew it, the sky, which had been clear and sunny before, was now completely overcast. The women decided it was time to get ready, so they prepared themselves. When they came out, all decked out in their beautiful gowns, we drove over to the church.

The ceremony was just like the weddings we have in the States: the bride wore a white gown, there were bridesmaids and groomsmen, and flower girls and ring bearers (they call them “page boys”). There were a few key differences. The flower girls threw gold confetti instead of flower petals and there was also a “Little Bride” and a “Little Groom”. Why? I dunno, but it was very cute. Also, at the end of the ceremony, everyone went to the front of the church and started dancing around the new couple. It was fun!

After everyone exited the church, there was another container of fish and rice in the back of the car and more water bottles. We ate our fill, then piled back into the car and drove to the reception. We got lost at first; we almost ended up in the middle of the bush! But we got directions from everyone we passed on the trail and managed to get back on track. The reception was at a resort with a lounge and a pool. Right as we got there, it started to rain. Luckily, I had brought an umbrella (for the sun, not for rain). But there was a covered area, so we were good. There was a DJ playing a bunch of African music that I had never heard before. We stayed to dance and eat a little bit, but we had to leave early because we had such a long drive ahead of us. Luckily, we got to stay long enough for the traditional “throwing money at the couple as they dance” dance. It reminded me of the “pin money on the couple’s clothes” dance we have in the States.

When we got back to Makeni, I was so tired and dirty but so happy. I had so much fun with my coworkers, and I was so glad to experience something else that is uniquely a Sierra Leone experience.

Holy Week and Easter

 

I can honestly say that this past week was the most I have ever attended mass. I’m sure in many Catholic communities they celebrate Easter the entire week. It is Holy Week after all. But in my community, it’s limited to Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. But here, it is the whole week baby!

Granted, I didn’t attend mass Monday or Tuesday, even though they were available. I chose to work at the hospital those days. I’m glad I did. I feel like I got to practice my Krio more on those days not only with my coworkers but with patients as well. Am I perfect? No. Do people understand? Again no. But I’m working on it.

Wednesday was a different kind of day all together. That afternoon, I got to see Makeni’s cathedral for the first time. It’s a beautiful white and blue building right next to the Diocese Headquarters. It was there we had the Chrism Mass. I’d never attended one before. For those of you who are non-Catholics (or for those of you who are like me and are a clueless Catholic who is learning new things all the time), the Chrism Mass is where the holy oils used for baptism, anointing of the sick, and catechumens are blessed and consecrated by the bishop. I’d never attended one before. I was entranced through the whole thing. All the priests and other people with holy orders attended, as well as locals. Once again, I didn’t take pictures. This time not because my phone was acting up, but because the thought never crossed my mind. I was too interested in the process. Each of the holy oils were brought in front of the altar in identical glass containers. When it came time for the Bishop to perform the blessing, he had to stand there for a minute trying to remember which oil was which. I didn’t blame him. Again, they were all in identical containers. But it just reminded me of so much of some kind of comedy skit. It took so much out of me not to burst out laughing in the middle of a very serious ceremony.

I was supposed to attend the Holy Thursday mass as well, but no one was available to drive me. Good Friday had so many church services all happening at different times of the day, I was only able to attend one service. For those of you who read my previous blogs and were wondering if I was able to participate in the play depicting Jesus’s trial, I was not. I just couldn’t find a driver to take me to most of the practices. I didn’t even get to see it. But in hindsight, I think it was a good thing I didn’t perform or attended the play because it was held outside, and it has been way too hot for me to stay outside for a long period of time. But I did attend Good Friday mass later that day and it was inside, thank goodness. Sister Peace asked me to sing a familiar song with her for that service. Most of the songs we sing at mass are in Krio or a local dialect or are songs I’ve never heard before. But Sister Peace wanted me to sing the song “Old Rugged Cross” with her and that is a song I grew up singing and I happily agreed. The way I sing it sounds very country gospel. No one really commented on it, but I don’t think most people here are a fan of country gospel style singing. Though the other day I heard a neighbor down the street blasting a Shainia Twain song from the speakers in their house, so you never really know what people like and dislike when it comes to music.

Saturday night, I went to Conforti Church to attend Easter Vigil mass, which was also new for me. Where I come from, we do sunrise service instead of a mass in the middle of the night. I had never attended a mass that began with a bonfire, but that’s how this one started. It also started with a lot of thunder and lightning. It was very dramatic. The whole congregation stood around the bonfire while the priest tried to light a giant candle from the flame. But the approaching storm winds kept blowing it out. So, we all crowded inside to light it. Then we passed around our own smaller candles and lit those. But the church had open windows and doors, so the wind kept blowing out those candles too. Most of us just gave up after a while. I did think to take some pictures of the Conforti Church while I was there, so yay me for thinking of taking pictures this time.

The next morning was Easter Sunday! There’s something so wonderful and special about Easter morning. When I was a child, that feeling came from waking up to find my Easter basket at the foot of my bed. As an adult, whenever I’m home, I still get an Easter basket in the morning. But even being halfway across the country where Easter baskets and egg hunts are not a thing, there’s still something so magical about Easter morning. There was still a feeling of new beginnings and hope that came with the sunrise. As I walked out my front door, everyone greeted each other with “Happy Easter!” and “He is risen!” It made me so happy to find that feeling in a new place among new people.

I attended mass at Holy Spirit Church and got to sing with the choir again. The songs are pretty easy to learn because most of the songs repeat the same phrase over and over and over again. But I really don’t know what most of the songs are saying because they are in another language, or the English is just so accented I can’t understand the words. I learn the songs the way ABBA learned their songs: phonetically. I have no idea what the songs mean, but I can get the notes and sounds down pat. The church had been beautifully decorated by the Sisters and everyone was wearing their Easter Sunday best. Once again, I managed to get some pictures (you’re welcome). Mass lasted about three hours. Listen, I used to attend church services that could last about three hours (anyone from my hometown reading this who remembers Pastor Kunz knows what I’m talking about) and I learned how to last through them at a young age. But in this African heat, that was two hours too long. I went home immediately after and rested in my house. It felt weird not having a giant feast with all my family like we usually do after Easter services, but having some time myself was nice too. Plus, I bought some M&M cookies to have as a treat! I hope you all had a wonderful Easter as well! May God bless you all!

Palm Sunday

 

Today is Palm Sunday. I woke up in a freezing cold cocoon of air-conditioned goodness to the sound of falling rain. When I opened my windows, I was pleasantly surprised to find a pleasant breeze blowing as well. The outside was much nicer than my stuffy house. However, there were swarms of bugs flying around when the rain started to let up. This made the chickens and doves roosting outside happy. I sat on my porch watching them scratch and peck at the ground, which was almost blanketed with flies (I knew I saved my powerful bug repellent for something). When the rain was done, I made my way to mass.

I learned that usually the palm branches are blessed before services by the Bishop at a place called Loreto and people gather them and walk to their parishes from there. But because of the rain, the palm branches were taken to the churches before services began. In the States, palm branches handed out at mass services are usually long thin strips of leaves. But here they use honest to goodness fully leaved palm branches; the kind I believe would have been actually used in Jesus’s time in Jerusalem. People will turn them into crosses like they do in the States. I went to Conforti church this time. We all gathered outside to begin the procession. Auntie P was there in a gold dress wearing a wig and a golden head turban. I told her she looked very pretty. She said I did too. This was a lie. With all the bugs and mud, I didn’t want to wear either of my long dresses with short sleeves. Instead, I wore a long-sleeved white blouse with tan linen pants. I’m always so plain compared to other ladies in the congregation with their beautiful, festive gowns.

The procession went back inside the church after the palm branches were blessed. I got to sit next to an open door and a nice breeze kept blowing towards me as the mass continued so I was very comfortable despite wearing long sleeves. Once again, the children were fascinated with me. I love seeing them. A relative of mine once said that black babies are cuter than white babies. I’m not saying that is true, but my heart melts every time a baby smiles and waves at me in mass. When the mass ended, I walked down to one of the mini marts close by and bought some orange juice to keep up my vitamin C. I was holding my palm branch and the man at the cash register asked if it was lemon grass. I told him no and explained what it was. He nodded politely but seemed confused about what a palm branch had to do with church. I would have stayed and explained, but he had another customer to attended to.

After I got home, Auntie P came over and said she had brought me some rat poison to help with the mice. I was so grateful! I hope it gets rid of them soon. I’m tired of finding droppings and seeing little shadows scurrying into corners.

I feel lonely sometimes, but I truly am blessed to be here. I count my blessings and hope I will make more friends while I am here. May God bless you all!

Lenten Pilgrimage

After Amie left, my days felt pretty ordinary. I would go to the hospital, then come back home. When I was off work, I would go to Father Gabriel’s and learn more Krio. The days felt as if they were blurred together. Ramadan has ended, so everyone was out celebrating the end of their fast. It’s kind of like the Muslim equivalent of Easter. I could hear crowds and music and a whole bunch of celebrating. I don’t really know anyone well enough to go out and celebrate with them. I felt so isolated, hearing the celebration and fun, but not knowing where to go. The celebration felt almost like far off event that had nothing whatsoever to do with me, even though I was in the middle of it.

The only day that stands out is Sunday before last. I was (again) unable to go to Holy Spirit. So, I went with Sister Peace to the Mobonga church service in the bush again. I was able to take pictures this time! While service was going on I noticed something flying around the rafters. At first, I thought it was birds. But no. It was BATS! At night I can always hear bats flying around outside my house. And that’s where they belong; outside. Everyone else didn’t seem to care. But it took a lot of self-control on my part not to run out of the church like Ace Ventura in “When Nature Calls”, screaming, “They’re in my hair! They’re in my hair!” (I’ve had my rabies shots though, so no worries there).

It seems that nature keeps showing up where it doesn’t belong. My house has now become a den of cockroaches and mice. I’ve taken the appropriate precautions like buying containers for my food and avoiding leaving dirty dishes out. Sister Peace says she’ll help me find traps and other ways to get rid of them. But the venders that sell the stuff keep moving around so we have to find them first. Until then, I’m armed with my broom and flip flops. FEAR ME VERMIN!

Last Saturday was interesting. After the stations of the cross on Friday, Father Luigi told me about a pilgrimage that the Catholic community was participating in. Everyone was going to meet at 8:00 am at Conforti Church then walk to every church in Makeni while doing the Stations of the Cross. I didn’t think I’d be able to do that, but Father Luigi said he can’t really do that either, so he offered to drive me to the final location. The pilgrimage would end at Bishop Bob’s house where a mass would be held in his garden. I was ready on Saturday. I made sure to wear a hat, moisture wicking clothes, and comfortable sandals. When Father Luigi and I arrived, I found a spot to sit under a tent where the Sisters were sitting. The Bishop’s Garden is more like a grove of trees, so it was very shady. Plus, there was a nice breeze blowing, so it didn’t feel too hot. I really liked the Bishop’s sermon. He talked a lot about how the people need to pick up their garbage and not just throw it in the street. “It’s filthy!” he said. “You should be ashamed.” As someone who was raised to never litter, that sermon got my Woodsy Owl seal of approval. It got much hotter later. I was relieved when the mass was over.

Later, Father Agustus from Holy Spirit Hospital Management came to visit me to see how I was doing. He felt how hot it was in my house and asked me, “Would you like air conditioning in your room?” I told him that would be lovely, but that would probably be very expensive. So, then he said, “I’m going to call someone to install air conditioning.” Now usually, most things here don’t exactly run like clockwork. If something is delayed or takes a while to get done, most people just shrug and say, “It’s Africa.” It has the same energy as someone from Brooklyn saying, “Eh, it’s New York.” But this was not one of those times. The very next day, the air conditioning crew came promptly in the morning, and I now have very effective air conditioning. I live in my room now. The rest of the rooms in my house are just places I visit occasionally. God is so good. I am so well taken care of.