Small Small Updates

Hello Friends!

Well, life has certainly picked up pace as all of us have settled into our designated places in the country (and world) and have resumed our American life. We're slowly but surely working on the documentary ...the film is such a big project that sometimes it can feel overwhelming with the 3,000+ images and 60hrs of film but we're tackling it 'bit by bit'. But I wanted to update everyone and write about a fun experience I had not too long ago, enjoy.




I was editing some images the other day at Panera and my cell phone started to ring. I looked at the caller ID and it said the number was from Michigan. "I don't really know anyone with a Michigan phone number. Hmm, this is weird," I thought. So I answer the phone and said, "Hello?" ...nothing. I hang up, shugging my shoulders and continued to edit.

It rang again. Same phone number. I answer. No one there. It cuts out. "Hmm, someone is really trying to get a hold of me or this is just an annoying mishap." It rings a third time. I walk out of the place I'm sitting and go outside to answer. Finally someone is on the other end of the line.

"Hello?"

"Auntie Amy, yes, hello!" I hear after a long delay.

I'm thinking to myself, "Holy cow, it's a call from Liberia! But who is it ...I think it's a woman. But Kofa has called me before but I don't think it's him. Who can this be?"

"Kofa? Is that you?"

"No, ............" I couldn't understand who they said they were due to the lag time on the phone and my rusty Liberian English. I couldn't catch what they said. Oh, well. I'm still talking to a Liberian whom I miss very much. I can't believe that this is happening as I'm trying to remember all my Liberian English.

We talk for a minute and then the person on the other line asks, "Is it warm in your pocket?" Oh my goodness. I know who this is!!! It's Ma B! One of the older girls I was so close to at Rainbow Town! We had an inside joke where she would always put her hands in the pockets of my cargo pants and exclaim, "Oh! It warm! They fire in pocket!"

"Ma B!!!!!! I miss you plenty! How's the body?! I miss you plenty!!!!!" I fire tons of questions now that I know exactly who is on the line. My heart fills with joy and excitment. People sitting outside of the place I was at editing images look at me with strange eyes because I'm jumping up and down and speaking very broken English. I thought it was funny.

We chat for a few minutes. I ask how she is doing and how Rainbow Town is. She asks me when I will come back to Liberia ...I tell her as soon as God blesses me with the opportunity. I tell her what I do everyday ...working by taking pictures for a newspaper. She constantly answers with a "Praise God." I miss her so much. I miss the kids. And I thought it was so serendipidous how I was editing their images, looking at their faces on my computer screen and reliving the days we had together and then I get this call from Liberia. If God doesn't have a great sense of humor then I don't know what.

It was exactly what I needed. I missed their fellowship. And even though I was only able to talk to Ma B for 5 minutes, it was the longest, most fulfilling 5 minutes of my life. It gave me a renewed sense of purpose and drive to work on the documentary. They haven't forgotten us ...nor will I ever forget them. They are my friends who live an ocean away.