8 Months ago we began our mission.
Don had a very frustrating day. We have a well here at our apartment in Makeni that
pumps water into a 3,000 liter Milla Tank. When he turned on the spigot to fill the tank
the pump was pumping but the tank was not being filled. He called our landlord, Sahr
Doe and he sent Mr. Davis out to see what the matter was. Mr. Davis was the plumber
who did the plumbing. Mr. Davis, Don and Brother Jones decided that the pipe was too
big for the pump and the pump could not put out enough pressure to get that much
water all the way up to the tank. Then, the electrical work is thoroughly messed up so
Don called Sahr Doe again and explained the problem. Sahr Doe sent out an electrician.
Mr. Davis and the electrician had to take a taxi 3 hours one way, do their work, and go
back to Freetown. Now that's a day! Don hauled Mr. Davis and the electrician all over
the place getting parts and whatever.
Makeni is known for its sudden windstorms. We had a severe one this afternoon. All of
a sudden there was an horrific wind and things were flying through the air. People
selling things in the open markets and outside of their storefronts lose a lot of
merchandise. This is the first wind storm I have seen here.
Don and I went shopping early this morning and we had a good laugh. At one of the
Lebanese grocery stores they were selling cans of De-icer. When we got to the
checkout stand, Don asked the manager if he would sell him the one and only yellow
mop bucket that has the squeeze handle for less than the asking price. The manager
asked Don what he wanted to pay for it. It had a price of 370,000 Leones. Don told
him 170,000. The man said no 250,000. Don said no 170,000. The man said "OK, I will
make up the difference". I blurted out "out of your own pocket?" Don grabbed my arm
and pulled me aside and told the man "it's a deal". I was appalled. I told the man that
this store was now the store I was going to do my grocery shopping. He smiled so
proud of himself and said, "I am a good business man".
Don later told me he had the
same discussion the other day with the owner and the owner told him he paid 250,000
for it and would not go below that amount.
President and Sister Clawson came for dinner tonight and stayed overnight. This was
the first time they have seen the apartment from the inside. They were amazed. Sister
Clawson has a degree in interior design and she designed the complex and the
contractors made everything to her specifications. She made it something "western"
couples would want to live in.
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