Musu's New House

You will no doubt remember that our attempts to build a house for our dear old friend Musu (and her twelve dependents) earlier this year were in vain - a man claiming to be the owner of the land chopped down the half-built house, and ended up in prison. Well, today we went with Musu and some friends who are helping us with this revised project, to Musu's family's land in Bensonville, half an hours drive outside Monrovia (6° 26' 06.91" N, 10° 35'56.72 W). Her family has owned the land ever since Liberia's records began, and we met Musu's cousins, nieces and nephews, and other distant but close relatives and friends, and saw the remains of the house which was built by her father in the 1930s or 40s, but which was torn down during the 1990 war. Musu's hope is that we will rebuild the house, and one of her son's has already started cutting back the thick undergrowth in preparation. She will then grow fruit and vegetables and rice on the property to support her and her huge family. Next stop - quotes for the building supplies and labour. More later. Olly