Life in Freetown
Life in Sierra Leone is quite an adventure full of new experiences. From the food, to the climate, to the language, each dimension presents challenges and lessons.
First things first: we eat well. Rice accompanies about every meal. The main course consists of chicken, beef, or fish in vegetables and oil. The three meats, different oils (mainly palm and vegetable), assorted vegetables, and some spices can be combined in many different permutations. A popular dish here is granut (peanut) soup served over rice. It is quite good. Soups here are more like stews in the states. The rice ensures that each meal is filling. The oil ensures that my stomach will have some aches a few hours after eating.
One of the real treats we’ve found here is frozen yogurt. Instead of T.C.B.Y., think frozen lemon Yoplait. My first treat to this heavenly gift was after a two hour walk under the hot African sun. The cold refreshment hit my lips and reminded me once again that God is real and that he loves me 
. The yogurt costs 500 Leones (about $0.16). So far I have reserved this treat for times when I can most appreciate it.
To answer many of your questions, no, the water is not safe to drink. We filter our water with ceramic filters or buy purified water in sealed plastic bags or bottles. No matter how I get my water, I can’t seem to get enough. Ay de sweat.
Ah yes, the heat. It is hot. But, come on Matt, you knew you were going to Africa. We’re entering into the hot season here. Apparently a woman scorned hath no furry like an African summer. I don’t think I’m prepared for the heat, but I don’t really have a choice. It’s coming in about a month.
Sleeping in the heat has been interesting. No longer do I snuggle up in my covers. I’ve forgone a top sheet altogether in the hopes that a passing breeze from the window will bless me throughout the night. I have not slept well in this past week which has resulted in me falling asleep during my Krio lessons and pretty much any other extended periods of sitting. While this doesn’t surprise many of you, I would appreciate your prayers for good sleep.
We started our Krio lessons here this week. The lessons are simple and good. There are ten vowels in the Krio language, as opposed to the five and sometimes six (that crazy ‘y’) vowels in English. There are also a few new consonants. We lose a few consonants too, but I never cared too much for the ‘x’ or stand-alone ‘c’ anyway … luxuries at best. We all look forward to knowing how to speak the local tongue. Only then will we really know what they’re yelling at us from the side of the road. In all seriousness, I feel like my ability to build relationships with the Lighthouse kids and other Sierra Leoneans will improve only with my improved language skills. Please pray that I would pick up the language quickly.
The living situation is going well. Ben has yet to move upstairs, but I think it will happen soon. We haven’t been there much, seeing that our first week was quite hectic. As we find our routine here in Freetown we’ll be spending more nights with our host family, the Zizers: Pastor Victor Zizer, his wife Marvel, his children Marvic, Marvin, and Marvina, and Thomas, a teenager that lives with them to go to school in Freetown. They are a very, very kind family. I feel very blessed to have such nice people with which to live.
There are more pictures up in the gallery. Enjoy!