You should write a book (if you have not already). So many amazing places and experiences witnessing some of those crazy events.

While I have no personal experience with conflict or something as insane as ebola, I can relate to the lack of telephone,etc.

This is a photo of my house in Benin. You can just see my shower in the right front of the photo. I ran a clothes line from the douche to the tree in the front center. In the back left is a tree nursery I built with local high school students. The all important latrine was a sometimes LONG 100 yards away as was the well. The pump (drinking water) was a mile away. I had to learn to carry water in a bowl on my head the entire distance. It took about two trips every two days to keep my supplies up. I did have lots of space, screens and I was shaded for much of the year by the teak and neem trees. O and I had a cashew plantation in my backyard. However, my only light was my headlamp or oil lantern. I cooked on a gas camp stove and had NO plumbing including a sink nor fridge. And yet, I miss that house. It was cozy. I miss taking bucket showers under the flying bats and a sea of stars. Heck I even miss the 4 hours it took to do laundry by hand. The walking back and forth to the well and the rhythm of the washing allowed me to kind of clear my mind.

I only wish I knew more of beads when i was living there. I am sure I was surrounded by beads, but at the time, I was oblivious.