Liberia is not the only country I lived in as child, but it is the only home I’ve returned to as an adult, and it is where my heart is. My mom had a tradition of decorating our Christmas tree with something from each country in which we lived. In Liberia, she purchased a miniature brass mask, an ivory silhouette of a woman’s head, and several iron rods of what we called “Country Money.” * We hung the money from tree branches in place of icicles.
On a recent trip to Liberia, I bought three beautiful ornaments depicting Liberian women in traditional dress, performing chores such as using a mortar and pestle or carrying things. I love sitting by the tree looking at these (and many other) ornaments while listening to Christmas music.
Christmas, of course, is about the birth of Christ. It recently occurred to me that Jesus’ mother, Mary, has much in common with the fistula survivors I have met. She was a young teenager who lived in a small village. She did not have pre-natal check-ups and she gave birth in less than sterile conditions. Given these circumstances, she so easily could have suffered a fistula. Sadly, this is what happens to many young Liberians in rural villages. Our goal is to build a maternity waiting home, House of Hope and Dignity, to prevent this from happening. We hope our gift will be a blessing to many Liberian women and girls for years to come.
Merry Christmas!
*See Liberia Past and Present for more information about Kissi Money.
On a recent trip to Liberia, I bought three beautiful ornaments depicting Liberian women in traditional dress, performing chores such as using a mortar and pestle or carrying things. I love sitting by the tree looking at these (and many other) ornaments while listening to Christmas music.
Christmas, of course, is about the birth of Christ. It recently occurred to me that Jesus’ mother, Mary, has much in common with the fistula survivors I have met. She was a young teenager who lived in a small village. She did not have pre-natal check-ups and she gave birth in less than sterile conditions. Given these circumstances, she so easily could have suffered a fistula. Sadly, this is what happens to many young Liberians in rural villages. Our goal is to build a maternity waiting home, House of Hope and Dignity, to prevent this from happening. We hope our gift will be a blessing to many Liberian women and girls for years to come.
Merry Christmas!
*See Liberia Past and Present for more information about Kissi Money.
 | Kathy Beth Stavinoha Kathy Beth lives and works in Austin, TX. She graduated from high school in Monrovia, Liberia in 1977. |
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