Daniel, my best friend. Daniel would tell me that I was his best friend. I would tell Daniel that surely I could not be his best friend because he has only known me a year. ‘No’, Daniel said, ‘you are my best friend’.
Daniel was one of those people who genuinely cared about you.
He would drive me crazy!!! Tyrone, how did you sleep? Did you rest yourself? Are you going to eat your lunch? Are you going to eat your dinner? Where is my friend? (asking me where my wife was)…Tyrone, Tyrone, Tyrone….WHAT?! DANIEL, WHAT!? My wife doesn’t ask me that many questions and my mom is back home in the states!
Oh Daniel would drive me nuts.
Daniel was soft spoken and truly cared about the answers to those questions.
I did have to break the news to him that I had a few best friends at home, but he would still qualify as a best friend because who said you had to have just one best friend? He was happy with that.
Daniel was sad and visually upset the day we said goodbye. He called and left me a message on my phone a few days right before the ship left…
“Tyrone, this is your best friend Daniel…”
Then he proceeded to say some funny things and make me laugh, also he picked up several of my words, sounds, and mannerisms while he was here that he portrayed thru the phone call. Daniel hasn’t answered any of my emails since we have been gone, but thats to be expected. Most people in Liberia don’t have laptops or computers, and even if they did, they don’t have internet access unless they pay a high price for it at an internet cafe…and most don’t have the money for that.
Daniel, as well as the others could write a story about living in Liberia that would leave you speechless…its hard for me to imagine.
Daniel was a hard worker going above and beyond what was expected of him. Daniel has a plan. He knows how to save money and wisely think about his future.
A year or two ago a crew member offered to finance Daniels training for him to be with Mercy Ships as staff abourd the ship (then Anastasis, now Africa Mercy) and later probably pay his crew fees and insurance when he came back, but Daniel declined. Daniel doesn’t want to leave his country…he told me he doesn’t have any big dreams of leaving and heading out for the ‘Western World’. Some would question whats wrong with him, but I applaud him for wanting to stay ‘home’ and pursue his dreams and goals in his own country. Whats wrong with that?
Yes, I will miss Daniel. At this point I miss him aggravating me everyday and that’s not easy for me to admit. I probably was the closest with Daniel. We talked about life, his plans, Jesus, our spiritual growth, prayer…and movies he’s never seen, like ‘Karate Kid’ where the main character, a young boy, was called ‘Daniel-son’ by Mister Mi-Aggi. (spelling?) This is relevant because Daniel likes karate but I think he only learned it from watching TV or Movies so I was surprised he had not seen it (they have plenty-o bootleg DVD’s here in Monrovia). Sadly enough we had the movie here in the Library but I never got around to watching it with him…
Someone in Monrovia Liberia tell Daniel to email and let me know he’s been doing alright!
Friend 4 life Tyrone.
Now are know that tear can not bring you joy but,joy can bring you tear.my heart is wet with tear I remember the day tyrone will tell are need some fat,the girl on the ward he say she is my best friend because we look the seeme.I had something on my eye so I went to his wife to chick my eye.some time he will send me to and get something are will go and go and come back saying I can anything he will say because your eye. you need go to chick your eye again. he so sweet,the word from his mouth sweet like huny sweet to the soul.because of the word from mouth it make me to work with out fear and pain because of the fun.we will forget our pass in this great future.