In the US, PVC (polyvinyl chloride) pipes are the most common non-metal pipes used for water supply. However, in much of the rest of the world, PPR (polypropylene random copolymer) is the pipe of choice for water. Instead of PVC cement, PPR joints are heated by a special fusion tool and essentially melted together into a single … Continue reading PPR and Christmas

This week we want to talk about the secret societies which are a part of the traditions of the Mende tribe.  We thought we would write about this because Saturday night there was a celebration outside our front gate that lasted all night long.  When we inquired what it was about, we were told that it was … Continue reading Secret Societies

With the dry season upon us, and as we mentioned last week, our solar panels tend to get a coat of dirt on them nearly every day.  This impedes the sun’s ability to penetrate the panels and create the electricity that we have come to rely upon.  We wanted to do something more permanent than get on … Continue reading Snake Rubber

Kingtom Power Station in Freetown In Sierra Leone, electricity is governed by the National Power Authority, generally referred to as NP. National Power has two utilities attached to it, the Electricity Generation and Transmission Company (EGTC) & Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA).  There are also two major sources of power in Sierra Leone. The first is the oil fired … Continue reading Power

This week we thought we would talk a bit about wood charcoal, how it is made and how it is used and why it is so important here. Kingsford Charcoal First of all, understanding the history of charcoal helped us appreciate the method used here.   Kingsford Charcoal is the number one charcoal company in America and … Continue reading Some Like it Hot

We were with one of the branch presidents one day and LaDawn asked him whether or not they have vacuum cleaners here.  He got a puzzled look on his face and asked her to ask him again because he did not understand.  She again asked and he was still uncertain what the question was.  I … Continue reading Appliances of Kenema

It’s been a busy and a rewarding week.  Therefore, this week we will only focus on the highlights and I will talk about the "Appliances of Kenema" next week. Weekly Highlights On Monday afternoon, Phillip Bunduka, a man we have spoken of a couple of times in the past, came to our apartment and told … Continue reading Return to Kailahun

One of the things we miss most about living in America is the availability of fast food.  Stopping by Jack in the Box for a spicy chicken sandwich with curly fries and a chocolate shake is just not an option here. In fact, it is not even in the remotest of possibilities.  Often when I am … Continue reading Fast Food

In the government district of Kenema, there are 739 schools.  42 pre-primary (kindergarten), 605 primaries (elementary), 73 junior secondary schools (junior high or middle schools) and 19 senior secondary (high school).  The district is much larger than the city, with a population of almost half a million (the city is just over 200k).  In asking … Continue reading Literacy and Education

This week, two of the polio victims that are part of the Hope Ministries group and the Opportunity Training Center (OTC) for the disabled that we spoke with on August 23, 2018 and wrote about in our blog post that week titled Kritters of Kenema, were baptized into our church. Keifala Kamara and Ibrahim Kamara … Continue reading Eku Scotland