Below is a article recently published in the “Liberian Observer Online” in which Dr. Gwenigale forcefully dismisses the recent rumors. [If article is blurry, click it for full view]

The following pictures are of the Corn Tortillas that were sent on the frozen container - I just recently started using them.  After having them pulled from the freezer and defrosted for half a day I discovered that even though they were frozen there were ADVANCED cases of MOLD on them and I threw at least half of the case away in the trash/rubbish.  I have not looked at the other cases yet but we bought both corn and flour.

Yes, its a little scary to know the mold was advancing on the tortillas sometime before they arrived for us…especially since that doesn’t happen unless they have been thawed out and froze again.

If you try to fry these corn tortillas they will probably kill the mold culture and be safe to eat, BUT the mold still makes dark spots on the chips when frying them.

Another good way to tell mold if you can’t see it well is by smelling the product.  Mold smells, and it smells like no corn tortilla you ever sniffed or any other food for that matter.

Its really going to be a shame if the rest are that way…another unplanned trip to the ‘deep freeze’ tomorrow.  Oh what Joy!

First of all let me just say Tyrone got his first pedicure and he loved it…. enough said.

I feel like a lot is going through my head right now but I don’t have any actual stories per-say.This past weekend has been a ships 4 day holiday and has been such a time of relaxation and fun.

On friday I went out to the orphanage for a sleep over but it turned into a lay over due to the non existent sleep. Sleeping in a small room with no fan with 11 people and 1 small window that is covered by fabric. It was incredibly hot and at one point I felt something creepy, crawly on my face. We made dinner, sang songs, and just hung out. I love those girls. They are so fun and now I feel like we are getting to know their deeper side or sillier side depending on how you look at it.

Today I went down to the ward to see little Yeme and she was so sad. It just breaks my heart to see the normally smiley girl be so sad. I think she is sad because she misses her family and she said her tummy is upset. But I think maybe it was the age old “my tummy hurts” but actually there is something else going on. Her friends in the next 2 beds were moved over to A ward and I think the ache of missing her family has kicked in. We were asking her a little more about how she got here and she said that her mother sent her with her older sister to the border and she got separated from her sister but she met up with John (a guy who works in Guinea and helps patients get to the ship) who brought her to the ship. She said she was so scared because she did not know John and he was speaking french to her but she does not know French well and she said she didn’t even really know where she was going, her mom just told her to go and some Dr. would help her. I patted her head and stroked her arm and she layed there with tears streaming down her face.

As I sat at Yeme’s bed I could  not help but to sob for this little one. There is nothing I can do for her. I can’t take away her fear, loneliness, or pain. All I can do is just pray that the Lord does.

With over 30 nations represented on board there is a chance that you can experience international cuisine everyday.  We have a crew galley that is open and has equipment for multiple cooking stations and cleaning up.  During certain times of the day or week you can go in here and find many different people cooking their own ‘home’ comfort foods or ‘favorites’ from any cooking style.

Last night I was showing a lady from Ghana and Jamaica how I make bread, and bread rolls fresh from yeast, flour, salt, oil, and a little sugar.  (kind of like a home demonstration).  During this time they were also cooking their own dinner.  No, this does not offend me in the least.  I encourage it so people can be more independent of the ships galley and maybe have a better appreciation of what we do for 400 everyday.

[As a side note I have found that people who like to cook for themselves from time to time do not usually complain about the food on the ship...mostly its those who are confined to eating the ships menu everyday because they don't or are unwilling willing to cook for themselves from time to time who complain the most...or maybe they just don't like cleaning up after themselves or have time to do itl.]

Also the guys from Nepal (our security Gurkhas) were cooking at the same time.  Let me tell you, these guys are nice…yes sir, no sir, yes chef, good evening chef…it goes on and on.  They treat most everyone on the ship with much respect and are always ready to give a helping hand.  Very humble in their demeanor.  But if there is an emergency, alert, or security issue…Yes, it would be in your best interest to NOT find out what they are capable of.

As I came back after the second rise of the dough (which were formed into rolls after the first rise) my wife and I were offered Curried Chicken (Curry was a Jamaican blend and it was cooked with coconut milk) & fried Plantains by Joyce from Jamaica.  And she was in collaboration (preparing food and rice to share) with Comfort from Ghana and she offered us Jasmine Rice with home made Shito.  During this time we were offered a stew of sorts (I don’t know any Nepalese) from Ganesh & Chitro from Nepal.  The stew was like a Brunswick Stew (minus the meat) mixed with some Indian & Thai (?) spices (best I know how to describe it not necessarily what it was)…Wow!  Although it was spicy hot, it was VERY flavorful.  I could feel the beads of sweat literally popping up on my forehead as I ate more.

Several groups actually get together no matter how big or small and do certain country/culture foods from time to time.  You just need to know when to be ‘hanging out’ in the vicinity of getting fed.  Timing is everything.  And if you have mastered that ‘hungry look’ then you should apply it here.  The invitation will usually materialize soon after!

Last night we served chicken tortilla soup with fresh chips (corn tortillas cut in wedges and fried & salted) and salsa, a friend of ours Kathy L. came and made it at my request.  And an excellent job she did too! (I will save the salsa recipe/making for another post later).  We also served rice but at home I usually do not make rice for this meal.  Other condiments were shredded cheese, sliced Jalapeno’s, avocado, etc…

I won’t bore you with the bulk preparation but walk you thru a recipe that’s close to mine that is from allrecipes.com: chicken tortilla soup  (click on any of the pictures below to make them bigger) –>

INGREDIENTS

• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 teaspoons chili powder

I omitted the chili powder and use chipotle peppers or roasted cumin instead — much better taste I think

In order to spice things up consider crushing or using powdered chipotle peppers.  Chipotle peppers are smoked & dried Jalapeno peppers, not as hot but great smoky taste.

Also consider using a non-stick pan, dry, heated up for toasting some cumin seeds to add whole to soup or grind up…this develops a greater taste than just adding some cumin powder.

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes

Alright, last I checked these following products started becoming more available in grocery stores, I prefer Muir Glen, but I have not tasted the Hunts brand Fire Roasted Tomatoes.   *Or see below how to ‘oven-roast’ your own

• 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed chicken broth
• 1 1/4 cups water
• 1 cup whole corn kernels, cooked
• 1 cup white hominy

If you are not a hominy person, leave it out

• 1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers
• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 boneless chicken breast halves, cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces
• crushed tortilla chips

In an earlier post I noted Chili’s chips are a good pickup option without costing much and being ’same day’ fresh

• sliced avocado
• shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• chopped green onions

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium stock pot, heat oil over medium heat. Saute onion and garlic in oil until soft. Stir in chili powder, oregano, tomatoes, broth, and water. Bring to a boil, and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.
2. Stir in corn, hominy, chiles, beans, cilantro, and chicken. Simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Ladle soup into individual serving bowls, and top with crushed tortilla chips, avocado slices, cheese, and chopped green onion.

The way I like to eat it is to put some chips in the bottom of the bowl, put the soup on top, a little cheese, slice of avocado, then (if you have limes) a fresh squeeze of lime juice over the top.

*  Oven Roast your own tomatoes!  Preheat oven to 250°F (120°C). Cut tomatoes in half, toss with olive oil to coat, and place, cut-side down, on a baking sheet. Roast for 1-1/2 hours, until the tomatoes are soft and have just begun to exude their juices. Cool, remove the skins, and pack into a container. They keep for several days, refrigerated.  I am sure you can find several uses for them!

Lately we have had some bad media here locally in Monrovia Liberia.  The rumor that was published locally is that we are abducting and killing people on the ship in order to sell organs to the USA.

Unfortunately the rumors have not died down and administration - leadership has been doing all it can within its power to ’squash’ these rumors.

Some of our local day workers have been given a hard time for coming to work on the ship, people have been shouting at our vehicles when we are out driving, and other ‘things’ that would bring you to a heightened sense of the situation.  And we were warned by local government to be alert of possible problems that may arise.

Hopefully after a scheduled press conference and The Minister of Health’s visit today (bringing along media) in order to help educate the public here more about what we do on board everything will die down and get back to ‘normal’…Whatever that is!

The Minister of Health has been on board before to thank us for our work, and he profusely thanked us again today and hopes that will quiet the bad media these rumors have spawned.

(this is my paraphrase of what is going on).

SIGH.

Spiritual warfare is a constant battle.  Keep us in your prayers!