One great “find” in New Orleans was Mexican artist Rico Salas in the middle of the French Market in New Orleans.  He was making colorful and creative journals out of handmade paper.  They use fibers and recycled paper to make these delightful journals in a Mayan technique.  They were really nice and affordable -- and he was super friendly – and spent time telling me all about it!  Check it out: http://www.homemadediaries.com/  His fibers are unique to Mexico - but his process is similar to how I have been paper making in Ghana.  So exciting to meet people with the same vision - eco-friendly and creative!

Catching up with some of the people I was blessed to be able to teach paper making to, I found this blog article: http://reedsinthewind.blogspot.com/2010/07/stress-and-grace.html  It is written by a missionary family who was an integral part of our school in Accra.  Mrs. Reed has taken what I was able to share with her – to where she has been working two countries away from Ghana, in Liberia.  

Liberia has a very interesting history – which I was not familiar with until I met the Reed family.  My understanding of how Liberia was founded is that at some point, in the early 1800's, while second generation african-american slaves were being freed in the North – AMERICA, namely the American Colonization Society (ACS) decided to send these freed slaves back to Africa.  They had two motives - one to spread Christianity back to Africa and two, to prevent a slave rebellion in America (i.e. - to keep the "freed" slaves away from the people still enslaved - to ensure they wouldn't know they could be free).  Since these second generation african-americans slaves had only known a colonial master-slave relationship during their life, after they voluntarily sailed to Africa, they became the "masters" of the indigenous people and these african-american freed slaves "colonized" Liberia.  Since then, there has been rebellion and brutal civil war.  Today, they are trying to rebuild and recover.  For more specific information on Liberia: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/globalconnections/liberia/essays/history/

I also watched this documentary on the amazing women during the civil war in Liberia.  I can not even imagine the strength they had.  VERY powerful.  For sure worth watching.

http://www.praythedevilbacktohell.com/v3/

It is so cool to see how God can use every little thing we have to give – to bless so many – all for His glory - even in the midst of peace or struggle.