Fistula Survivor’s Name:  Rebecca Kollie
Interview Date:  September 4, 2018
Interview Location:  Phebe Rehab Center, Bong County, Liberia
Interviewers:  Kathy Beth Stavinoha and Kathi Gutierrez
 
Rebecca Kollie is 45 years old.  She has had a fistula for 31 years.  She had one fistula repair surgery.  She is improved, but she is not dry.  “The pee pee is still coming.”  She needs another surgery. 
 
Rebecca was born in Phebe and lived in Gbarnga.  She has no one to help her.  She has no children.  She gave birth to one child but the child did not live.  She is alone.  Her mother is old now.  She has no husband.  No one.  She had six brothers but three died.  She has one brother but he is not around her.  He is the one who brought her to the Phebe Rehab Center.  She has a sister in Totota.  None of her relatives will help her.  Her family hated her. 
 
She got sick and was always wet.  She spent a lot of time washing clothes.  Every day.  For 31 years.     
 
She is learning pastry making.  She can bake bread and cake.  She can make doughnuts, cornbread, and shortbread.  Doughnuts are her favorite. 
 
Rebecca is “trying small small by the Grace of God.”  She is a fistula survivor.  Hear her story in her own voice.

Fistula Survivor’s Name:  Jestina Doty
Interview Date:  September 4, 2018
Interview Location:  Phebe Rehab Center, Bong County, Liberia
Interviewers:  Kathy Beth Stavinoha and Kathi Gutierrez
 
Jestina Doty was born in Maryland County and grew up in Harper.  She has no parents.  She has two brothers but they are not doing anything for her. 
 
Jestina was in labor for four days.  Her brothers would not help her.  Her friends stayed with her and helped her.  She  went to the CRC Hospital, the “company hospital” (Cavalla Rubber Corporation).  They took the baby out with their bare hands; they did not use gloves.  Her child is dead.  She got “the pee pee,” but did not know why.  Her clothes would get wet. 
 
She got her fistula in 2007.  She heard about the fistula repair over the radio.  She had her surgery at Phebe in 2018.  She has had three surgeries but she is still leaking.  She is resting before having any more surgeries.  She has been at the Center for one year.  She would advise her friends to go to the Rehab Center. 
 
She was not scheduled to graduate in September, but was going to stay at the Rehab Center.  She took Cosmetology as her trade.  She wants to plait hair in the market to earn money.  She also learned soap making.  She wants to sell things in market. 
 
She will open her business while waiting for her next surgery.  After graduation, she will go to Harper, Maryland to set up here Cosmetology station. 
 
Jestina is a fistula survivor.  Hear her story in her own voice. 

A group of Dignity Advocates is traveling to Liberia in March.  For several years, these ladies  have sewn and sent feminine hygiene kits for the women in Liberia.  Now they will teach them  to make their own kits; thus, helping them to become more independent.  This trip will give the team a unique opportunity to work with the Phebe Rehab Center and girls from Lott Carey Mission Baptist Missionary School.  Read their individual goals for this trip below:

Vickie Ingram
Kathi gave a Dignity:Liberia presentation at a “Women on Mission” meeting in 2016 that I attended.  Linda Thornsberry is on the board and we attend the same Bible Study.  Linda learned of my history with mission work yearly since 2010.  In 2017, I had the opportunity to support these wonderful women, never dreaming my sewing skills would be a special need.  Everyone has a special skill.  Don't underestimate.

Vicky Sutherland
When I am not spending time with my six grandchildren, I can be found in the local fabric stores, planning my next project.  Anything from Easter dresses to embroidered tee shirts for my family pops out of my sewing machine. 
 
This will be my first organized mission trip and I am looking forward to witnessing what God has in store.
 
Linda Thornsberry
I look forward to my third trip to Liberia and spending time with the girls at the Fistula Rehab Center, seeing the new classroom building in use, and enjoying the new palava hut with the girls.  This is a special opportunity to help introduce my friends and new team members to what Dignity:Liberia does and the reality of life in Liberia.
 
Martha Griffin
I heard about the Dignity:Liberia program through Linda Thornsberry, who is a member of my church Bible Study Group.
 
Kathi visited our study group and told us about the work Dignity:Liberia is doing in that country.  I really enjoyed her testimony and desperately wanted to contribute; however, I didn't commit to actually taking the trip to Liberia right away.  For the last couple of years, I helped out by making personal hygiene kits and dresses for the girls there.
 
After thinking about my involvement in the program over the past couple of years, I decided to jump in all the way and commit to going to Liberia to help teach the women how to sew the kits.  I feel like God has blessed me with both the means and gifts.  This is an excellent opportunity to put both of those things to good use.  I thought that if I didn't go now, I might never go, so I decided a couple of months ago to make the journey.
 
I am excited to see what God will do with me when I am actually there.  I have seen pictures of the Liberian girls wearing dresses I have made in the past, but I know it will be even better to see them in person.
 
Susie Calaway
I am a retired corrections officer.  I have done missions in Alaska, Illinois, and Nicaragua for nine years now.  I love being the hand and feet of Jesus.  I am anxious to see what He is doing in Liberia and join Him.
 
I once had the opportunity to join my church ladies group in sewing dresses and making hygiene kits for Dignity:Liberia.  Kay Green invited me to join in on this trip.  We enjoy traveling and doing missions together.
 
Kay Green
I am a retired math teacher and play the roles of mother, wife, and volunteer.  I first heard of Dignity:Liberia in the WMU MOSAIC MAGAZINE in July 2013.  Kathi came to the Baptist Home in Chillicothe, Missouri, to tell us about Dignity: Liberia and help the ladies start sewing dresses for the project.  When delivering their dresses and meeting Linda, my church involvement grew.  We sewed many more dresses and hygiene kits and sewed on site with First Baptist Church of Lee's Summit, Missouri. 
 
I have done missions work in Belarus, Taiwan and Nicaragua and am very excited to arrive in Liberia, work with Dignity:Liberia, make new friends and help empower the Liberians to new heights and dreams, all the while giving credit to God for this opportunity.
 
Kathi Gutierrez
This trip will be special because for nine years these ladies have been making dresses, hygiene kits, and book bags for the Fistula Survivors.  I know they have made over 700 dresses and I am excited for them to finally meet the survivors and teach them how they make the things they make!  They are a representative group of seamstresses that have worked so hard for Dignity:Liberia so I think it will be very satisfying.  We are getting closer to purchasing land for the maternity home and that is very exciting.