Dear Santa, if you remember I am in Africa, I will do my best to figure out some cookies and milk. Deal?

 An 80ft tall coconut tree, give or take.  Can you spy the machete (or Liberian “cutless”) yielding man hacking down the coconuts.  For 10 or 15LD though, they make a nice treat.

A few pictures of the progress we have made.  The foundation is coming along.

 Let me introduce you to Liberian construction.  If you look closely you will see cement bags, sand, and crushed rock.  These are the 3 ingredients that control most of what we do.  To the right there is one “mixing spot” (we don’t have cement mixers so we do it the old fashion way with shovels).  On the far left you will see another mixing spot that the other group of guys is making the 6”cement blocks that will make up our wall.  The two blue barrels are water barrels and we have some women we employ who get it from the swamp off on the right. 

Typical worker conversation:

Worker:  Is this how you do this in America?

Me:  No, we have machines that do that.

 Tim on top of the water tower; the old house is in the background.  Again, missing its roof because the rebels took it during the war.  Harrison (or main worker), his 3 kids, his wife, his sister and his mother all live in what’s left of the basement. 

Profile picture.  No seriously… I told you I wear that shirt A LOT.

This is Emmanuel.  He is one of our main workers, doing masonry.  Currently he travels from Monrovia every week to work with us.  Recently his grandfather passed away, and local community churches sent money to his church (which I am told is somewhat customary) to help pay for the funeral.  His church decided to keep the money and thus, the family is left to pay the expenses.  The family now owes $800 and he is working to help pay his portion of that debt off.  He has never complained or said boo about it being unfair.  He shows up day in and day out and continues to be one of our best workers.

He also had heard that we have been on a never-ending quest to find pineapple.  On his travels down from Monrovia every week he usually walks through the Red Light markets.  He not only has bought us 2 pineapples, but also cucumbers, papayas and an assortment of other fruits (which based on what he makes and what they cost is a bigger gesture that I can convey in words).  Whenever we try and give him money he merely responds that, “he doesn’t see spending his money on things for us as a waste of his money.”  We need more Emmanuels in the world.

Our other masoner Emmanual, laying the foundation.

2011 Kakata CFC Team Photo

Let me go through a few of the highlights for you…

To my right is Harrison.  The top dog, who we go to for pretty much everything.  A self-proclaimed “businessman.”  When not helping us he sells CDs, tapes, and JNCO jean shorts (yep they are popular over here.  Should’ve kept my pair from 4^th grade.) 

Above Harrison to the right:  John Paul aka Poppi or Pope John Paul.  Head masoner.

To John Paul’s right in the green shirt:  James.  The workers call him the black American because his skin is about as far from the color of mine as possible.  All I know is about 3 times a day he looks at me and says, “cold water?  Cold, cold water?”  That’s it.  (Please note: we have plenty of water on site for our workers).

Below him to his right in the orange shirt:  Blue.  Old School reference and if you haven’t seen the movie, this will be over your head.  Sorry.  All I know is he is well seasoned in the construction game.

To his right in the blue shirt:  CMB.  I am not sure whether the workers gave him this or he gave it to himself (I hope he gave it to himself), but CMB is Cash Money Boy.  It’s rather appropriate.  He is our security guard (meaning he works from 8PM till morning) as well as a regular day labor work.  I have no idea when he sleeps.  When I ask him that question, I usually get, “I no need sleep,” as a response.  To each their own.

Dead center in the white shirt:  That’s “Gold Tooth.”  He has a filling on his front middle tooth.  Hey, I wasn’t creative that day, so what.

Far right on the bottom, yellow shirt:  “Famous Frank..”  Another self-given nickname.  What’s he famous for, no idea.  He raps a lot, mainly 50 cent.  He will also wear a beanie with a fairy on it coupled with some female stunna shades.  I always get a kick from him.

Above Famous Frank:  Some white guy who hopped in to the picture.

One day we learned that there were sweet potatoes being sold in the market.   So, naturally I mentioned it to Bandu (our cook).  Something like, “Bandu can we do potatoes tonight?  They sound really good!”  “Okay Justin, should I not make rice then?”  “Sure that works.”

Well, ask and you shall receive, 2,342 potatoes later.

We are heading to a town called Robertsport for Christmas.  It’s supposed to be a surf/beach town.  What that means in Liberia terms, we will just have to wait and see.  I expect to be shredding like Kelly Slater by December 26^th.  Merry Christmas and have a safe holidays with your families.