August 12th, Kono, Sierra Leone

August 12th, Kono, Sierra Leone

Kono was a conflict area in 2000 the war has ended nearly 8 years ago. The entire town (Mohammed says it’s population is 7000, I would be surprised if it is bigger than Grand Cache) is based on the diamond trade. I perfer it here as I am not swimming in the filth, sewage , garbage & people here. It is much more laid back & the country side with its lush hills (extinct volcanoes) & rice patties is quite beautiful. Diamond moning is a legitimate industry here, the bigger operations look basically like a gravel pit. I did not get a pict yesterday as my card was full. I had to delete some photos to make room for the ones that I hop capture the feel on Kono best. If Rachell, or Wendy want some best let me know ASAP, its 10 a.m here, it is such a small place with many bombed out buildings still standing in with vegetation beginning to grow through, (one house the RUF burned 52 people alive in) poor Mohammed has been a great host, but you can only drive up & down the few streets so many times after he showed me the operations yesterday.

I am sick today. My stomach is fine, I must have caught some sort of flu. Every inch of my body aches. I am seeing the sights best that I can. To tell you the truth I was really enjoying the comfort & solitude of my room at Uncle Bens. I was thinking of hiring a car to take me back later today or tonight.I have a little diarreah that is probably because all I ate yesterday was crackers. How I am looking forward to fresh vegetables when I get home! Watermelon, nectarines, and yes I am even looking forward to juicing when I return! For some reason I’ve been craving the hutterites beets here too! And oh to eat a nice fresh salmon!!!! Can you tell that I have been living on nothing but startch???

The ride yesterday was not pleasant, and I stank!!!! Poor Africans were probably thinking what a smelly white man! The shower this morning was ice cold, at first with my aching body I thought I wanted to pass out, even here one feels much better after a shower!

On the trip here we did some restroom breaks (no lavatory on the bus). At this one little town it was so sad this poor beggar boy with a gibbled hand (limp fingers that flopped around) & rotten teeth, wanted ‘money for famm’ I understood one of the other boys (about 4-5 of them were all laughing at him & teasing him in Krio) say ‘liar! yu had no famm’ they all laughed. The boy started to tear up, it was heartbreaking, I put my hand on his shoulder & said ‘don’t listen to them’ & gave hin some coins. I understand the other boys ostrasize him as they were all selling stuff, (crackers, sodas etc.) actually working, it was still heartbreaking. I saw this poor little Mom that looked so horrible even by these standards. Her teets were hanging near the ground, without exaggeration it was the skinniest dog I have ever seen. The ribs could all be seen, the hip bones were sticking up through her hide. Although I am sure it would have been offensive to the locals I bought some bread & looked for her to ‘let a piece fall on the ground in front of her’ I couldn’t find her. One never gets used to the amount of lame, wounded & blind young men there are here…

When Mohammed returns I may go back to my room & rest for awhile, you know what its like when you’re this sick & you ache all over like this, all I want to do is rest in peace & quiet.

I miss Canada & our life back home. I have really learned so mmuch from these people though, even with so little, no electricity, running water, garbage removal or sanitation of any sort they are all still such a happy friendly group of people. Wheneever I arrive somewhere especially here in Kono I am swarmed. Initially I was so guarded thinking that they were trying to pickpocket me or trying to manipulate some money out of me (which definitely happens here for sure) it turns out though more often than not they are just being helpful, friendly & curious. For instance I met a boy, 18 or so coming home to Kono (no running water or electricity) from accounting school who offered to take me in as I waited for Mohammed to arrive. I was so grateful for him, it was a little nerve racking when I got off of the bus in small town Africa surrounded by blacks the only white, Mohammed had not shown up yet & I was beginning to wonder what I would do where I would go or stay. Even with that I must say I do perfer to be on my own, rather than chaperoned everywhere, but as one of the teachers at Rhema said, ‘Mister Spensa we are Africans & we know Africa’. I donated to the suppport the Moses family 10000 Leones (a little over 3 dollars), so little & the people here are so grateful.

Thank God we live in Canada. These internet cafes are a little bit of home here in the 3rd world

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *