Monday, December 01, 2008

But 2-year-olds are pretty much the same

By SUE NOWICKI
snowicki@modbee.com

last updated: August 08, 2008 03:12:18 PM

When Dave and Babs Veneman told friends they were leaving their comfortable life in Modesto after 50-plus years to work for at least two years in a Liberian orphanage, they received support, but also an almost universal question: Why?

Their answer: We know for sure that God has called us to this work.

Nearly three months since they arrived at the nonprofit Rafiki Foundation complex in Liberia, the Venemans said they've experienced many new things, including lots of giant bugs, snakes, sweating in the rain, meeting the country's president and falling in love with the orphans who live there.

Here are excerpts from their e-mails and blog (daveandbabs.blogspot.com):

"Here are a few things we have learned so far, after one month at the Rafiki Village Liberia:

- You cannot kill a medium-sized spider with a screwdriver.

- When the ground is covered with ants, keep moving.

- Two-year-old children have attitudes no matter what country they live in.

- It is difficult to distract 10 children waiting outside a medical clinic for their turn for an "injection" (immunization) while the 11th child is inside the room and not happy with the situation.

- Screaming at a large spider (make that an XL spider!) does not make it disappear.

- God is good ... all the time."

Good names, honestly!

On June 8, Babs wrote:

"Starting to get to know the native staff workers here on the Rafiki compound. Last week, I was introduced to a guard whose name was Honest. I was kind of hoping for 'Bruno,' 'Hefty' or 'Bubba,' but 'Honest' is a good name for a guard, too. Later I discovered that his name was really Earnest! This was after several days of calling the fella 'Honest!' As you can tell, I do not understand what the locals are saying much of the time. 'Earnest' is a good name for a guard, too, but in my head, he will always be 'Honest.'

"I do enjoy the names of people. There is a child here named Anna Blessing; the laundry gal is named Comfort; Sunday is a groundskeeper; Patience is a hospital administrator; two children being considered for placement here are named Hope and Grace (not sisters). I think this is a wonderful idea. Maybe if in the States, people would stop naming children after actresses and entertainers (who usually have questionable lifestyles) and consider naming their kids after the (biblical) fruits of the spirit, well, maybe children would have something to live up to. ...

"The kids are afraid of geckos! I am feeling pretty good about myself, as this is about the only thing in Africa that I am not afraid of. Probably because of those commercials on TV with the talking gecko selling the insurance. He seems so friendly. Now don't get me wrong -- I will not TOUCH a gecko, but at least I don't hyperventilate when I see one. Anyway, there are geckos sometimes in the children's bathrooms at school, and that can be very disruptive. Eight kids freaking out." Spicy food, light challenges

And on Wednesday, Babs wrote this:

"We are doing well. Still not sure how it is possible to be sweating in the rain, but coming to grips with the fact that we DO sweat in the rain! We are both busy, busy; as busy here in Liberia as we were in California. And maybe more tired at the end of the day than back in Modesto. Once again, I blame the humidity, but then I blame the humidity for everything (i.e.. size of spiders, abundance of ants, sneakiness of geckos, misbehavior of small children, etc.).

"I have been put in charge of the kitchen/dining hall staff, and the cleaning and laundry girls. I am learning the names of fruits and veggies and what goes into Liberian recipes. Very interesting. They love food spicy hot! They use little chilies that are like habanero; too hot for this mouth. Even the youngest children like their food spicy.

"Dave is doing ... well, whatever is the most pressing need at the moment. Could be someone pulled a faucet out of a shower wall, or there is no hot water in the kitchen. Whatever is top priority, he is on it. The lights here are a continual challenge, both outside lights (for security purposes) and inside lighting. We are close to the ocean and things corrode very quickly.

"So, we are doing OK. We are experiencing the goodness of God daily, as he delights us with awesome sunrises, sunsets, and incredible cloud formations coming off the ocean. The children are wonderful. We love each different personality and they are continually a source of joy (Well, usually. However, when someone pulls a faucet off the wall, it's hard to find the joy in that)."

Babs signed her latest e-mail "Missing Modesto, but living life quite fully in Liberia."

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