my third entry... my encounter with a Liberia refugee

dear family and friends,

it is almost been a month since i am here in this red dirt country, Ghana. life is definitely a lot busier with school being in full swing. i might even dare to say that i study more here than back home at Calvin College. even my roommate was amazing how hard i study... haha... or more like he was surprise by how hard a exchange student can study. my roommate and i had surely established a great friendship. we study together, we talk about theology of the Pentecostal churches which he attends every weekend, we discuss about political situation of Ghana especially its far too often news of corruptions in the government, we sing and play music together... it been truly blessing to have him as my roommate and friends.
there were so much that happened since i last put up a blog... let me tell you one today and i will keep posting others later on...
one time last week at lunch, i was alone and i got my food and i saw this older gentleman sitting alone so i asked his permission and he waved his hand to a chair signaling me to sit. so i sat across him over two plate of rice and beans, and we talk, of our life and of Africa. His name is Edwin Waltler and nick name, “Inter-com”. His nick name came from the fact that he used to work for a company called “Inter-com” fifteen years so ago in Liberia. He is refugee from Liberia who now living in a refugee camp about one hour away from the university. He fled with his family of four, his wife and his two daughters after witnessing the death of his parent where the rebellion army had took over his county. His county, Nimba, is where the people of the Gio tribe live. it was his home
he now lives in a refugee camp calls Buduburum Camp and there it lives about 18000 Liberia refugees. He spoke of his journey where he escaped from Liberia to Nigeria and then to where he is now. He and his family is awaiting for their permission and money supports to go back to their homeland. at the mean time, He and his family have a farm where they grow corns and potato for their major food source. His two daughters, 17 and 19, one is at school and one is not for there is not enough funding for her to do so.
it was right there and then he told me his life story and i can’t help but notices that he repeated speaking of the phase,”God is good”. He keep telling me how blessed he is to able to make it here alive. i was amazing at his optimistic and faithful beliefs.
then it was time for me to go, and i gave him my phone number for i would love to see the refugee camp and his home and his family... i think we had become friends.
but then before i stood up and went, he ask me for 6 Ghanaian dollars for the Tro-Tro (mini bus there) fare. I hesitated for there been so many warning about people that would cheat out of your money with their well crafted stories... but i gave him the money even though i know he might be cheating me of my money ... but i did not want to question his life story, his personality and his dignity.

Then today i saw the same man at the same table eating the same food at the same dinning hall. he gave me a shout to catch my attention. i was glad to see him. after i gain possession of my food. i sat down by him and our conversation filled the air again. we shared how we been lately and he asked me when would i able to come to his home to pay a visit. I promised him that this Saturday i shall pay him a visit. then time for me to go come again so suddenly. As i ready to voice my goodbye, he start asking me for 8 Ghanaian dollars for a animals trap for his farm and the Tro-Tro fare to go home. this time i am prepare and i was ready to say no. I questioned him how so then he had the money to come and to buy food... i was questioning about he as a person and i felt uneasy. He called me friends and again called me friends and again he stressed what a friends will do for each other and he stated that he is here at the university is because he wanted to see me so it is my responsibility to pay for his ride home and how so money don’t mean anything in life and how that this would be the last time he ask for money... ...
i gave in, it is just hard for me to say no, it is hard for me to call him a liar after he had answered my questioning of his stories and him as a person with informations that i just don’t know it is truth or lies. i can pay for his trap i said, and i ask how much he need for the Tro-Tro ride. He replied 4 Ghanaian dollars... then why did he said 6 Ghanaian dollar at the first time we met... My heart drop a bit and my face heated up a bit. i felt as i got betrayed. i felt as my kindness was being use and taken for granted. but i still gave him the money that he asked for and i said it is the last time.
I don’t know can i trust him anymore... and should i still go to the refugee camp to visit him... do he even live in a refugee camp? i don’t want to question his life story and dignity... and i guess the act of trusting is an act of risk taking, a risk that worth taking.

p.s. but i will be careful... don’t worry...

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Part of trip: Calvin College Off Campus Program In GHANA

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