Dysfunctional One

Two neighboring West African countries, Liberia and Sierra Leone were caught up in nasty civil wars: Liberia in 1989 to 1996 and again in 1999 to 2003 while Sierra Leone from 1991 to 2002. Both civil wars caused displacements of over four million people. Warring factions attacked villages, towns and cities, causing people to lose their homes and their lives as dreams and families shattered forever.

John Davies grew up in these two countries. Coming from a dysfunctional family and left to cope on his own at a very young age, his life was filled with turmoil.

John was no stranger to hard work and difficulties. But when the two countries were caught up in civil wars, his resolve and faith was tested to the core in the midst of it.

Coping with the oddness of a deeply dysfunctional family – and striving for survival from the slums of refugee camps to the heights of the political scenes in Freetown and Monrovia, to the plights and challenges faced by English speaking West African refugees in francophone Senegal, John treads on slippery slope tides in a bid to protecting and keeping his family safe. Did he fail, succeed or triumph? Strangely, the answer to the question is left with you (the reader) to determine.

Join John Davies as he recounts his life from the conflicted lands of Liberia and Sierra Leone to the free states of the United States.