An unassuming trio; three guys by the name of Justin, Geoff and ... ummm, myself, travelled up to Ganta last week, a town at the very North of Liberia, right on the Guinea boarder.

On the outskirts of town is a small quaint mini-town, called the Ganta Leprosy Rehab Center. It is inhabited by around 150 leprosy and TB patients, and around 300 of their family members. The facility is definetely a big operation. There are multiple mud huts that house ex-patients and their families, and there is a hospital on site that treats leprosy and TB patients. The facility is funded by private donors in Europe, and the European Union; and the facility is also somewhat self sufficient through its huge piggery, fishery, rice plantation, and sales of crafted wood fashioned by the patients themselves.

Our adventure started around 2pm, at which time we left Monrovia along Somalia drive, heading North along one of the few paved roads in Liberia. We had a 6 hour drive ahead of us, and reports of decimated sections of the road; but we had a trusty rental vehicle, charismatic company, an ipod filled with bopping tunes, and a pleasant overhead African sun.

We got around 30 minutes down the road, and experienced our first near arrest. I was at the healm, and was pulled over by one very opportunistic police officer (standing in front of me in the blue). He had stood in front of the car and waved me over, explaining to me that it is illegal to travel without a rear number plate. As I marvelled at his intuition (the fact that he knew there was a fault at the rear of the car even though he had pulled me over whilst he was standing in front of the car), I let pass the niggling feeling that I had been pulled over because of my skin colour. Instead I explained that I was travelling in a rental vehicle, and that he was more that welcome to impound the car if it was necessary.

"How long have you been in Liberia?"

"Six months"

"So you know how to communicate?"

"I do know how to communicate, but if you are asking for money, I am unable to give you any as I represent a Christian Organiasation."

Shocked and dismayed "I would not ask you for money, its just that my recharge card for my cell phone has expired."

Some more argument back and forth, a total refusal to pay a bribe, and we were finally allowed back on our way.

Driving through the country side was amazing. It was so nine to FINALLY get out of the capital city, and the countryside of Liberia is definetely beautiful.

We passed UN checkpoints, UN convoys, countless people trudging countless distances along the road, and awesome towns and villages. This was one Internally Displaced Persons camp, where displaced people from the war have made their temporary home. Quite basic conditions.

The Ganta Leprosy Rehab Center is run by 5 nuns; 3 Italian, one Kenyan and one Argentinian. They are truly amazing individuals. Between them they have over 100 years of experience in Liberia. Three of them were in Liberia from the start of the first civil war (at that time they were not in Ganta yet), and they have experienced more than you or I could imagine. One night we sat around hearing their captivating stories, as they recounted multiple robbings at gunpoint, hiding from rebel soldiers, and 3 UN evacuations from the country. During one evacuation the nuns decided to turn around, refusing to leave the country they had worked so hard for. They returned to find that their entire village had fled, and the town was occupied totally by rebel soldiers. Daily, and often during the night, rebels visited the monastry demanding food and supplies. They were often without any food themselves, at one point for 6 days due to the scarcity of supplies. They now call Ganta their home, and they care for the leprosy patients with limitless love and compassion.

We woke up on the first morning to find that our journey the day before had successfully punctured two of our tires.

We did a fairly good job at fixing the problems, but at one point needed the assistance of a true African missionary, as one of the nuns crouched under the car to make some necessary repairs.

Half a day later, and the car back to driving condition, we walked around the village and caught up with some of the patients that we had operated on at the Mercy Ship. They became our trusty tour guides, and they showed us around the colony and around Ganta.

They first took us up to the hospital, where we visited with some patients and checked out the medical facilities.

We then ventured down to the fishery.

Geoff made a good friend....

Who soon grew bored of him and returned to her responsibilities.

2007 - Never actually finished this post....but it was a cool trip. thanks for reading this far though.