Chicken Dinner

Its Tuesday. Monday seems a lifetime ago. Time sometimes seems to stand still. This past weekend we all made a trip up to Gbarnga in Bong County. James claims it is a 3 hour drive. I believe it is closer to 4. It was a three hour drive when the road had a regular surface, and not pockmarked with potholes and ditches. By the time we were out of the city on Friday night, it was already dark, which always makes driving even more of a challenge, as its harder to see the potholes coming. There was 8 of us, so we had to take two vehicals, we had the girls in the Jeep and the boys in the car. It was great to have leg room, and not having someone sitting on my lap like last time. On our way through Red Light, a very muddy, congested market area we met up with two large UN tanks. Of course my camera batteries died, so they were gone before I could take a picture. Its not often you get stuck in traffic next to a tank. We made it into Gbarnga at 10:30pm, had some rice and soup for dinner, and headed for bed. Heather and I lucked out with a room all to ourselves. I slept great, no kicking, no teeth grinding. The next morning we had pancakes for breakfast at the Catholic compound where we stayed, and Heather and I learned the art of sucking oranges. Yes, that is right, sucking oranges. Its the freshest orange juice you will ever have. You start with an orange, with the outer rind peeled off, but still with the white pithy part on, then you bite off the bottom, or is it the top.....we had a very long debate which end was which. Then you squeeze the life out of the poor little orange, and suck all the juice out. Its a very satisfying experience. Heather claims this is how she will eat oranged from now on.
After breaky, we got ready, and Josh, James, Heather and I headed for the village of Pilliloweh (no idea how to spell that). First we bought some candy to give to the kids there and some water, then we were off. first we drive on a back road to the village of Dematah where we parked, then we walked into the village. Its a nice 30 minute stroll through the trees and grass. On the way we learned that a man had been bitten by a snake that morning and died. I suddenly became a bit more aware of my feet and the surrounding grass along the path. When we arrived at the village, we learn that the snake was caught in his trap, and assuming it was dead, the man picked it up and it bit him on the arm. By the time he returned back to his village, it was too late, and the venom had done its work. People are not taught how to properly treat snake bites or other problems, but instead, turn to “country medicine”.
Our time in the village was spent mostly eating. They fed us bananas, and fresh roasted corn, sugar cane and something called country bread. It is new rice that is roasted and pounted into a powder. I walked around, took photos, talked to people. James twin sister killed us a chicken and made us rice and soup. They don’t use cutting boards. Try to imagine cutting up a chicken with no cutting board. I had never thought about it before, but it requires different techniques. James worked some magic, and managed to get them to cook him a second chicken. It was his uncles rooster, a pretty white one that found himself in the pot. Earlier, the rooster has been walking into the house where we were sitting, and Josh told it that if it kept coming in the house, he would be dinner. His prediction became true.
A boy in the village found a baby rat....so Honey, James niece was walking around with it on her head. I asked her what she was going to do with it....she said, play with it. Not alot to do in the village. Definately a different way of life. On a happy note, I believe Heathers fear of chickens is lessening.
Sunday morning we went to a local baptist church. The sermon was in English and Kpelle, the local dialect. It was on how to be a good baptist. Not being a baptist, I admit to drifting in and out...I know, what a thing to admit to.
After church, we had lunch back at the compound and headed for home. I got to drive as Kathleen was sick. We made it home in one piece I am happy to say, and didn’t get stopped by any immigration. Thank you God.