Farewell speech

Good evening all!

I would like to say that in the beginning the work here was hard. In the middle it was hard. In the end, it is very hard.

We all know that the doctors and nurses here are the front-line actors in our work here. They stand with our Liberian brothers and sisters shoulder to shoulder and have to face our uncles and mothers and children suffering sickness and even death. I like to joke and say that Logistics is the heart of the operation. The truth is that I only hope that my small effort has been in some way helpful to THEM, and the people of Sanniquellie.

I would like to say a small thanks to the logistics staff which have worked so hard to make success a reality.

David Nyanquoi, has been a tireless logistics assistant. Sometimes when I go looking for him, he is armpit deep inside the engine of a Landcruiser, while at the same time contracting fence building and designing a new clinic building, and even rewiring the generator. In the time I have been here we have completed xx contacts worth over xx USD ranging from constructing crutches to constructing clinics.

Uncle Peter has kept us running with his access to supplies. Every day he is out to try and fill all our requests and desires from food to stationary. And sometimes he can be found in the warehouse helping out during Wuoah’s absence. Thank you.

Wuoah has been meticulous in the warehouse. This is just what we need and we enjoy his calm smile in times of crazy business. We have made some great strides forward in improving our stock management and Wuoah and I believe that these changes only serve to improve the service we provide to the medical staff and ultimately the people of Liberia.

Matthew and I have grown together, and it has not been without its challenges. We have fought and struggled our way to understanding and implementing all the ‘memos’ and protocols and spreadsheets send down to us from the CMT. In the face of great adversity, sometimes we were perceived as obstacles to the enrichment of folks, but the truth is that we are just trying to do the right thing for everyone.

The drivers deserve great thanks for ensuring the safe arrival of our medical and clinic staff. We lost only a few trucks into bridges, or lost a few trucks in the mud for a bit, but we never, ever, suffered any injuries. Good for them.

And please…Olive keep smiling through the radio…we can see you.

Finally, and most importantly, our guards get my biggest thanks. They protected the compound, cleaned up after the expats, ate their way thru the food and smiled big throughout. They ‘had my back’ thru the 9 months I have been here and without their service in protecting the gate, you may have seen my back disappearing through the gate one last time a looooong time ago.