On Tuesday we went traveled into the bush to a village called Kpeletayama. This is where Pst Peter is from. From the pictures you can see us traveling further into the bush/jungle to get to his village. This was one of the "bridges" the vehicle had to cross although this was nothing compared to some others. We were headed to this village to dedicate a water well that was put in with funds raised by two wonderful families. This well was put in by Global Orphan Outreach and we hired Global Front Foundation to oversee the implementation of it.
There were giant ant hills along the way. We marveled at how well they construct their home and thought with their efficiency they should be hired to build our houses! :0)
Going deeper in... This road in was built by the men and women of the village. Using machetes and shovels, it took over 2 months. They built this road 18mos ago in hopes that Someone would come and bring them clean water. How is that for faith? Couldnt believe we were walking on this road that so much sweat and tears were shed to make it in hopes that someone..anyone would hear their need.
We were greeted by Little Jeremiah Flomo (McClure's) grandmother who was ecstatic that we were there. She literally started dancing in front of the vehicle and Peter had to waive her on so we could pass. She is a wonderful person. Joy just radiated from her face. As we passed you can see the children chasing the vehicle in excitement that we were there. We were the first "white" people to come to that village they say.
Our continued walk down their road...
A balancing act of crossing their bridge...
Another balancing act to walk across the bridging going into the village. The water below the bridge is the water they used to drink, bath in, wash clothes, etc...As we were getting nearer to the village we could hear the drumming of drums. Excitement was in the air.
Can you imagine drinking this water?? I couldnt imagine bathing in it what alone drink it. It is understandable why a water well was so desperately needed.
This is the welcome committee! As we came into the village women were dancing and tossing grains of rice in celebration of our arrival. This felt like something you see in movies. Drummers drumming, rice flying, women and children dancing, the singing and welcomes were everywhere. It was Awesome and overwhelming to say the least.
We met under this shaded area where there was poles stuck in the ground with leaves thrown over it for shading. Then they tied two poles together and stretched across for us to sit on. It was maybe 6 inches across.. I was afraid to sit on for the fear of breaking it and embarrassing myself..haha. However it turned out to be very sturdy as we all sat on this. There were around 200+ people there all gathered under this covering as the village chief and elders talked. Peter started the ceremony by giving a small talk. He was in tears as he talked. He said this was a day that was making him teary in the eye as he couldnt believe this day had finally come. He had told his people that help would come to this village if he was persistent enough and finding the right people who understood the plight of this village and would come help. People were over joyed and very emotional as they took their turns to talk. We had all we could do not to cry. It was so humbling to be there. I wanted to say- we are no one..just people willing to help when need was brought forth. But I knew it was important to not take away from their moment. This was truly their time to celebrate in what they had waited so long for.
Here I am given a bowl with some grains of rice, 2 large seeds, and some sort of puffy material. It was meant as a gift to me from the people. Can you imagine?? I hope I can in some way paint a picture of how real this was. That you can experience the sights and sounds along with the pics I post here. The emotions we felt and the excitement of the people. The gratitude they had for having CLEAN drinking water.
This was the village chief talking and Pst Peter interpretating. 
I was asked to give a few words- I shared with them about how honored we were to be so welcomed into their village. And how they truly were an inspiration to us all. I told them that I represented little Habakkuk whose sponsor family wanted him remembered by having a well built in their village in memory of him. (Habakkuk died from Cholera. He was a foster child living with Pst Peter and sponsored by a family in Wisconsin. When Habakkuk's grandfather died, relatives took him and his brother to the village for the burial. While there Habakkuk got Cholera from the bad water and died) I also represented Little Jeremiah Flomo McClure who was adopted by a family in Tennessee and they remembered the need of his village. I shared with them how much the McClure family wanted them to know that Jeremiah is being taught to not forget his village and people and that this well was from him too. I told them that I would take back with me all that we have heard and seen and share it with others. They listened so patiently as Peter let them know what I was saying. They remembered both boys well.
This village chief and wife wanted us to also know they had other needs of the village. They have no latrines for going to the bathroom. They go in the jungle. They have no access to medicine. When someone gets sick, they carry them by hammock to the to the road and wait for a ride to Phoebe hospital which is several hours away. Most of the time, they said, they do not survive and die. They also have no access to education. No one in the village is literate. There is no one with an education willing to live in this village and educate the children. They had no clean water until this well was put in. They have basic needs not being met. (when I think of our basic needs- I think of internet, air condition, cell phone. Water, medicine, education- we take those for granted and dont think twice about it as this is basic rights we already have) When Pst Peter told me this was a village of nothing... I thought he was just saying that. But until you are there where you see.. they truly have nothing. Then you understand. I am not saying they are not a people of hope and joy with family bonds. They dont lack that. I am saying they lack basic necessities that we all have access to.
Here is little Jeremiah's grandmother taking the first drink of water from the well. What a momentous occasion. For her to see her village receive such a gift. Peter had me "present" the water to her. Then the rest of her family joined her. It was very HOT that day. The coolness of that water... wow! the clearness of that water.. wow! 
This is George Gibson who works for Global Front Foundation. They over saw the water well project.
Then I presented the water well as a gift to the village chief.
Peter talking to the masses...
And of course I couldnt get out of there without pumping the water well... :0)
These are the guys in charge of overseeing the care of the water well. And the women next to them are in charge of them! (as it should be-haha)
The next several pictures are of FACES FROM THE VILLAGE. There were so many beautiful children that I couldnt resist sharing some of their beautiful faces!
This little girl's name is Sunday Girl. She is an albino child.
These are the women involved in what is called the Orphan Grain project. They have worked hard to grow rice which is waiting to be sold. (they lack a vehicle to get the rice to market to sell it) This rice will be used to feed orphan children in Pst Peter's foster homes and the rest of the funds will be used to start a cassava business. This cassava will feed the village and give them much needed funds for other things. What generous women to help children that are not even from their village!
Tanya loving on the children.
And yes she was busy handing on the yummy suckers to the children!
Village life..
Little boy dancing in celebration.
This man was begging me to take his 6 yr old daughter to the states with me. I told him I already had 10 kids. He laughed and said I need to still take her. I told him it was against his government's laws for any child to be adopted at this time. I dont think he understood...
Tanya and Joephus looking for a cool place to stand. No such luck.
Here- Christina, Josephus, and I were being interviewed by UNMIL radio which covers the entire country. We spent time discussing the work we are doing in Liberia. One of the things we pointed out was- that we are adoptive parents who came back to Liberia to contribute to the needs there. That while we dont handle adoptions.. we do advocate for the continue need for them. And that there were many adoptive parents like us doing the same thing. It is an honor to work with the Liberian people to solve some of the issues. We are not the answer just part of the solution.
To the people of Kpeletayama town- from Jeremiah Flomo McClure and in memory of Habakkuk Mulbah. This was a temporary plaque while a metal one is being made and cemented into the front of the well.
This is Jeremiah's grandparents.
As we left the village...they all followed. What a day it was. And now because of this well, there will be less disease and death. I would say that in itself is something to celebrate.
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