Ophelia S. Lewis's Blog, page 53

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Xero company Wikipedia

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If you’re looking for an accountant who specializes in Xero, you can search for an accounting advisor through their website by location and industry. Check out the new preview panel in the layout editor of all reports in Xero. This enhancement will  help you to customise report layouts with minimal effort. Fill out your training details below so we have a better idea of what your training requirements are. Fill out your contact details below and our training experts will be in touch. E) You can also drag and drop the tabs or windows to the edges or corners of the screen to split them.

Verdict: Full-Featured Accounting

If you’re trying to juggle multiple different logins, you might forget to save your work or save it in the wrong organization. This one of our Xero tips deals with a practical tool that many users miss when learning how to use Xero accounting software. Xero has an inbuilt calculator that allows you to perform basic math functions directly in certain fields.

Key Features

Xero also offers add-on features including Xero Projects, Xero Expenses, or Analytics Plus at additional costs. Given that there are several invoicing software on the market, it’s worth putting in some time to research your options before choosing one for your business. If you receive bills from your suppliers by email, you can easily import them into Xero by forwarding them to your inbox.

Create customised roles

This functionality allows you to split your screen into two or more parts and open different Xero tabs or windows in each part. Multitasking and comparing data can help you improve your productivity and efficiency. To sync your Xero data with Google Sheets, use a third-party app, such as (G-Accon for Xero).

How to use Xero accounting software?

Instead of efficiently uploading data, you’re stuck manually entering totals, dates, and bank transactions into spreadsheets. Handling financial audits for clients becomes a hassle when bank statements aren’t available in CSV format for Xero. Sync Xero with software you already love or easily find and try new apps designed to save your business time and money at the Xero App Store. We also listened to your feedback and switched the total column on by default, as well as displayed whether reports are ageing by due date or invoice date. You’ll have the option to add the contact account number to your report from the column dropdown list, too (we’re planning to add this column to other reports, so stay tuned). You can also save custom reports and can hide any rows you don’t want by using a filter.

New features to help streamline accounts payableThese tools aren’t as graceful to use—nor are the data fields as plentiful—as they are in QuickBooks Online.If you have regular invoices to send or bills to pay, save yourself the trouble of having to repeat the same process again and again with this Xero trick.The main app has an abbreviated dashboard that displays your most important numbers.In this guide, we’ll introduce the Xero accounting software and how it can streamline the financial processes of your business.

I like these apps for their simplicity and usability, and I look forward to the planned enhancements (Xero hasn’t specified what exactly these are). These templates zero in on subsets of data I haven’t seen on small business accounting sites, like Duplicate Statement Lines and Foreign Currency Gains and Losses. Some filter options are also unusual and creative, like Profit Per Item and Outstanding Tax. Customization options are good overall, and you can save your modifications as custom reports. Plus, by embedding Airwallex’s Payment Links into your invoices, your customers can pay in multiple currencies using 160+ payment methods.

In addition to adding customer data in CSV or TXT format, you can download templates for data like bank statements, budgets, Charts of Accounts, fixed assets, inventory items, and invoices. For manual entry, the record templates cover basic contact details capably but lack extras that Zoho Books has, like portal language, price list, and reporting tags. After you set up an account, Xero suggests a handful of accounting tasks to help you learn the ropes. You can play with the app using a demo company and fake data, which is the best place to start practicing.

Using this calculator decreases the chance of an entry error, not to mention it saves you time looking for another calculator to use for simple arithmetic operations. It’s also useful if you need to do some quick calculations in the service of a more complicated accounting formula. In addition to pre-built extractors, FormX enables users to create and train custom extractors using machine learning—no coding required. By automating data entry, businesses can reduce processing costs by 90%, enhance customer experience, and greatly boost operational efficiency.

A professional bookkeeper can help organise your financial records and set up Xero to make your bookkeeping process smoother, making it easier for you to manage your finances on your own down the road. 81% of accountants also believe that the use of technology, including accounting software like Xero, has freed up their time and allowed them to take on more of an advisory role for businesses. Curzon offers a sneak peek into these exciting changes, and more to come in the months ahead, in this YouTube video. The Growing plan is best suited for growing businesses, grants the same capabilities in addition to the ability to send unlimited quotes and invoices, enter unlimited bills, and reconcile transactions in bulk. Xero customers can now sell any time, anywhere, by creating a payment checkout without the need to create an invoice. Simply generate a payment link to share with your customers, and keep track of when you’ve been paid.

For example, you can create a role for your Accountant, Bookkeeper, Manager, Salesperson, etc., and assign different access levels to your Xero data. Although this Xero trick can definitely save you time and simplify your process, you should still be very cautious about working in multiple organizations at once. Even with different browsers, it’s so easy to record a transaction in the wrong set of books, and you might not catch it until the end of the year. To access the demo company feature, click the list icon to the left of your company’s name on any page and select My Xero. At the very bottom of the next screen, you will see a link to Try the Demo Company.

Highlights include support for Gusto payroll, a useful inventory management add-on, and a capable collection of mobile apps. Upcoming enhancements like full bank account reconciliation and integration with Bill (for accounts xero blog receivable and payable) should make Xero even more competitive. Transaction templates could be simpler to customize, however, so we continue to recommend FreshBooks and QuickBooks Online as our Editors’ choice winners.

Realization Concept In Accounting Revenue Recognition Principle

For most CFOs and accountants, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) are like the holy grail of accounting—mastered and internalized over years of heavy usage and application. So, it doesn’t take much for them to grasp the idea that these principles, in fact, complement, guide, and work perfectly in tandem with revenue recognition standards like ASC 606 and IFRS 15. And, thankfully, they do—because these guidelines give busy accounting teams the tools they need to correctly recognize revenue so their companies’ financial reports remain accurate and consistent. Deferred revenue represents unearned revenue that a company has received but not yet recorded on its income statement.

Accounting Transactions

This means that even if a company has not yet received payment for goods or services that it has provided, it can still recognize revenue in its financial statements. Revenue realization is an important concept in accounting and finance that refers to the moment when a company actually receives payment for goods or services that have been sold. This is different from revenue recognition, which refers to the moment when a company records revenue in its financial statements, regardless of whether payment has been received. While these two concepts may seem similar, they are actually quite different and understanding the net sales difference between them is essential for anyone involved in accounting or finance.

Why You Can Trust Finance Strategists

Certain businesses must abide by regulations when it comes to the way they account for and report their revenue streams. Public companies in the U.S. must abide by generally accepted accounting principles, which sets out principles for revenue recognition. This prevents anyone from falsifying records and paints a more accurate portrait of a company’s financial situation. The revenue realization principle is based on the revenue recognition principle — that is, that revenue is only recognized when it has been earned, regardless of whether payment has been received or not. The realization principle in accounting means that revenue is recognized before cash is received.

Understanding revenue recognition and revenue realization is critical for businesses, investors, and stakeholders alike.This translates to total revenue and cash from operations will not match.Before we can talk of realization or recognition, we need to understand what an accounting event is.In other words, a sale could be made at any time, but the revenue isn’t realized until payment is received.Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 606

This rate is expressed as a ratio and is a valuable metric that tells you how well you manage to translate hours worked on accounts into revenue. SaaS companies that utilize subscription-based models typically recognize subscription revenue over time as services are provided, rather than upfront, per the subscription term. They must also ensure that implementation or setup fees are appropriately allocated over the expected customer relationship period. On the other hand, recognizing revenue at the point of delivery means that revenue is recognized only when the product or service is delivered to the customer, ensuring the company has fulfilled its obligation. An example is Peloton recognizing revenue when its purchased product (the Peloton bike) reaches the customer’s doorstep.

According to Merriam Webster dictionary, to recognize something means to acknowledge formally.Each of these methods has its own advantages and disadvantages, and companies must choose the method that best fits their business model.Such contracts must allow the builder (seller) to bill the purchaser at various parts of the project (e.g. every 10 miles of road built).When the delivery occurs, the deferred revenue account is adjusted or removed, and the income is recognised as revenue.Regulators know how tempting it is for companies to push the limits on what qualifies as revenue, especially when not all revenue is collected when the work is complete.Analysts, therefore, prefer that the revenue recognition policies for one company are also standard for the entire industry.It’s important to note that revenue recognition can vary between industries despite the frameworks provided by GAAP, ASC 606, and IFRS.

Revenue realization, on the other hand, is when that revenue is actually collected and recognized as income. While a high profitability rate is great overall, the realization rate tells us about our earning potential, which is critical for future revenue growth. In fact, maximizing revenue realization is crucial to preserving profitability.

Revenue Recognition vs: Revenue Realization: Understanding the Difference

It measures how successful a company is in converting booked sales into actual income. It is a cornerstone of accrual accounting together with the matching principle. Together, they determine the accounting period in which revenues and expenses are recognized.1 In contrast, the cash accounting recognizes revenues when cash is received, no matter when goods or services are sold. Revenue recognition is the process that dictates when revenue can be recorded based on when the service is delivered — and not when the cash is collected from the company. The revenue recognition principle is a generally accepted accounting principle (GAAP) that identifies the specific conditions under which revenue is considered to be earned. Recognition of revenue on cash basis may not present a consistent basis for evaluating the performance of a company over several accounting periods due to the potential volatility in cash flows.

To combat this, implement a systematic approach to assess performance obligations and ensure they match revenue recognition criteria.SaaS businesses use the accrual-basis accounting method to differentiate between revenue realization and revenue recognition.Understanding the differences between revenue recognition and revenue realization is important for anyone who wants to have a comprehensive understanding of accounting and finance.Revenue realization plays a critical role in accurate revenue and profit reporting.Measurability, on the other hand, relates to the matching principle wherein the seller can match the expenses with the money earned from the transaction.Regular training and staying abreast of evolving revenue recognition standards also play a role in addressing challenges effectively.What Is Revenue Recognition, and Why Does it Matter in Sales?

For companies deferring revenue, revenue recognition is important for forecasting and regulatory purposes. Calculating the exact amount of revenue you’ve realized can be done using different methods depending on the nature of the contract or sale. Through effective communication with customers and by valuing your own work, you can enhance realization so that your customers value you too.

Revenue recognition is an essential aspect of accounting that outlines the process of identifying and recording revenue earned by a business.Get the latest research, industry insights, and product news delivered straight to your inbox.Revenue recognition and revenue realization are two important concepts in accounting and finance.By singling out where the issue is stemming from, they can then work on finding ways to improve.In other words, it is the proportion of what was actually recognized vs. what was originally booked or sold.Accurate revenue realization is more challenging when you have to recognize the revenue after you’ve received and have possibly already been using the cash.

There are several different methods of revenue recognition, including the percentage of completion method, the completed contract method, and the installment method. Each of these methods has its own advantages and disadvantages, and companies must choose the method that best fits their business model. Revenue recognition is an what is realization of revenue essential aspect of accounting that outlines the process of identifying and recording revenue earned by a business. It is a standard accounting principle that is used to determine when and how much revenue should be recognized in a company’s financial statements. However, it is often confused with revenue realization, which is the actual receipt of funds.

How to Use Shopping Bots 7 Awesome Examples

Personalized Shopping Assistant Bots: Enhancing Customer Experience And Lead Generation

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AI assistants can automate the purchase of repetitive and high-frequency items. Some shopping bots even have automatic cart reminders to reengage customers. A shopping bot is an autonomous program designed to run tasks that ease the purchase and sale of products. For instance, it can directly interact with users, asking a series of questions and offering product recommendations. This is one of the best shopping bots for WhatsApp available on the market.

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Because you can build anything from scratch, there is a lot of potentials. You may generate self-service solutions and apps to control IoT devices or create a full-fledged automated call center. The declarative DashaScript language is simple to learn and creates complex apps with fewer lines of code. You can even embed text and voice conversation capabilities into existing apps.

How Do Shopping Bots Assist Customers and Merchants?

Probably the most well-known type of ecommerce bot, scalping bots use unfair methods to get limited-availability and/or preferred goods or services. Sometimes instead of creating new accounts from scratch, bad actors use bots to access other shopper’s accounts. Both credential stuffing and credential cracking bots attempt multiple logins with (often illegally obtained) usernames and passwords. Shopping bots enhance the buying experience and enable brands to cater to the unique needs of consumers such as round-the-clock and omnichannel shopping, immediacy, and self-service, to name a few.

Currently, conversational AI bots are the most exciting innovations in customer experience. They help businesses implement a dialogue-centric and conversational-driven sales strategy. For instance, customers can have a one-on-one voice or text interactions. They can receive help finding suitable products or have sales questions answered.

Customers.ai (previously Mobile Monkey)

Businesses that provide their users with the best shopping bots sell their products more successfully. However, the utility of shopping bots goes beyond customer interactions. Considering the emerging digital commerce trends and the expanding industry of online marketing, these AI bots have become a cornerstone for businesses. These to solve e-commerce challenges, such as increasing sales or providing 24/7 customer support. The entire shopping experience for the buyer is created on Facebook Messenger.

Our software ONLY increase your chances in buying limited shoes but DO NOT at any circumstances GUARANTEE you will get them. Also, the demand for shopping bots is becoming more and more popular. For this reason, bot creators out there noticed the huge potential behind shopping bots. This is why a lot of them have surfaced recently and have been gaining popularity. This includes bots like the Walmart Bot – add-to-cart and auto-checkout shopping bot that helps you cop Walmart VERY fast. Shopping bots might be our way to more convenient and efficient copping experiences.

Recommendations

In a study of customer expectations, it was found that people are talking to brands before making purchases from them. It is a software program that can replace human conversation through message or voice interactions and can comprehend and answer consumer questions and demands related to shopping. In this article, we will delve into some of the most intriguing trends and forecasts for the future of online shopping. In this blog, we will help you learn what an online ordering bot is, why you must use it for your business, and how you can create one all by yourself. The bot content is aligned with the consumer experience, appropriately asking, “Do you?

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You can also give a name for your chatbot, add emojis, and GIFs that match your company. We’re aware you might not believe a word we’re saying because this is our tool. So, check out Tidio reviews and try out the platform for free to find out if it’s a good match for your business. They can identify products that meet eco-friendly criteria, such as being made from recycled materials, having a low carbon footprint, or being produced using environmentally responsible practices. According to the office of Representative Paul D. Tonko (D-NY), the bill’s sponsor in the House, 50 percent of all web traffic is generated by some form of bot.

Hence, having a mobile-compatible shopping bot can foster your SEO performance, increasing your visibility amongst potential customers. It enhances the readability, accessibility, and navigability of your bot on mobile platforms. Essentially, a mobile-friendly bot doesn’t make your customers squint their eyes, poke the wrong buttons, or lose patience with bot responses that don’t fit well into their mobile screens. Given that these bots can handle multiple sessions simultaneously and don’t involve any human error, they are a cost-effective choice for businesses, contributing to overall efficiency.

Pioneering in the list of ecommerce chatbots, Readow focuses on fast and convenient checkouts. The bot offers fashion advice and product suggestions and even curates outfits based on user preferences – a virtual stylist at your service. Focused on providing businesses with AI-powered live chat support, LiveChatAI aims to improve customer service.

Footprinting is also behind examples where bad actors ordered PlayStation 5 consoles a whole day before the sale was announced. By the time the retailer closed the loophole that gave the bad actors access, people had picked up their PS5s—all before the general public even knew about the new stock. A leading tyre manufacturer, CEAT, sought to enhance customer experience with instant support.

Sometimes instead of creating new accounts from scratch, bad actors use bots to access other shopper’s accounts.Take a look at some of the main advantages of automated checkout bots.Searching for the right product among a sea of options can be daunting.Retailers who offer limited time offers run the risk of reseller bots, which can complete the online buying and checkout process instantaneously to purchase goods in bulk the moment they go on sale.The rest of the bots here are customer-oriented, built to help shoppers find products.

Read more about https://www.metadialog.com/ here.

General journal description Entries Example

Our writing and editorial staff are a team of experts holding advanced financial designations and have written for most major financial media publications. Our work has been directly cited by organizations including Entrepreneur, Business Insider, Investopedia, Forbes, CNBC, and many others. We follow strict ethical journalism practices, which includes presenting unbiased information and citing reliable, attributed resources.

General journal description Entries Example

Understanding double-entry bookkeeping will help us learn about debits and credits and the role of journal entries in recording business transactions in the accounting books. General journal accounting is called the book of original entry, where accountants record financial transactions of the business as per their date of occurrence. The pages are divided into columns where items like dates, serial numbers, debits and credits are recorded in the double entry book keeping system or format. Journal entries are a key component as well as the first step in the accounting cycle.

Overview of the Accounting Cycle

Here is an additional list of the most common business transactions and the journal entry examples to go with them. After an event is identified to have an economic impact on the accounting equation, the business event must be analyzed to see how the transaction changed the accounting equation. When the company purchased the vehicle, it spent cash and received a vehicle. Both of these accounts are asset accounts, so the overall accounting equation didn’t change. Total assets increased and decreased by the same amount, but an economic transaction still took place because the cash was essentially transferred into a vehicle. While these have been in practice since record-keeping was done, with advances in technology, nearly all companies, and even small businesses are using general journal format software.

The Double-entry Bookkeeping is a system of recording transactions that involves recording at least two accounts that will result in a two-sided entry in the journal.Common examples include adjusting entries, closing entries, and compound entries.There could be more specific journals, but the four accounting areas that these represent contain the bulk of all accounting entries, so there is usually no need for additional journals.In the detail of the journal, key information that should be included is a line of the journal, date of the transactions, name of the account, and description of transactions.The general journal is the book that entity firstly records all of the daily financial transactions in it.This means a new asset must be added to the accounting equation.Compound Journal Entry

The same as a general journal, the special journal is used in the manual accounting system only. If the entity uses a system to records its accounting transaction, there is no special journal use. We discussed the use of journals in recording the Company’s transactions and its use in general journal accounting.

Examples of General Journal Entries

Below is an illustrative example involving several common business transactions and how to record them in the general journal. A well-designed accounting system can contribute to the timely and efficient preparation of financial statements. Whether you use physical books of account or an accounting software, you must ensure that it suits the particular needs of your business. Notice that the combination journal includes a miscellaneous column. This column, which is also referred to as a sundry column, is where you’ll be listing the accounts of transactions that occur less frequently.

How to Test Completeness of Accounts Payable

Most journals are formatted the same way with columns for the transaction dates, account names, debit and credit amounts, as well as a brief description of the transaction. Manual journal entries were used before modern, computerized accounting systems were invented. The entries above would be manually written in a journal throughout the year as business transactions occurred.

Journal can be of two types – a specialty journal and a general journal. The process of recording transactions in the journal is referred to as journalizing. The general journal is the repository for transactions that a firm cannot specifically record in a particular journal. Thus, the general journal is an intermediate repository of information for some types of transaction, on the way to its final recordation in the general ledger.

Sometimes, an accountant or bookkeeper might decide not to records the journal entries of certain kinds of financial transactions in the general journal. But the record that kind of financial transaction in their own journal. These journal entries are then used to form a general ledger, and the information is transferred into respective accounts of the general ledger. The ledgers are then used to make trial balances and, finally, the financial statements. However, these journals were more visible in the manual record-keeping days. The general journal is simply the book of original entries in which bookkeepers and accountants record raw business transactions in chronological order as they occur.

You’ll learn what a general journal is for, how to complete an entry in a general journal, and more. Companies use many different journals depending on their accounting system and industry, but all companies use the general journal. For information pertaining to the registration status of 11 Financial, please contact the state securities regulators for those states in which 11 Financial maintains a registration filing. This posting is shown by noting both the controlling account number in the post reference column and the subsidiary ledger account number.

Traditional journal entry format dictates that debited accounts are listed before credited accounts. Each journal entry is also accompanied by the transaction date, title, and description of the event. Here is an example of how the vehicle purchase would be recorded. As you can see, each journal entry is essential bookkeeping tips for your photography business recorded with the date and a short description of the transaction. Also, the debits of each transaction are listed before the credits in each transaction. As Blur Guitar, Inc. buys inventory and makes sales throughout the year, it records all of the transactions as journal entries in the general journal.

LimeFX HF Markets Review: Key Features, Pros, And Cons

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We tested the platform with LimeFX and except for some personalised branding, MT4 with LimeFX has all the features we expect to see. This type of account is certainly for more advanced traders, and if you’re just getting started in the markets, could be a good thing to strive for in the future. LimeFX offers two interesting types of accounts which differ from the traditional trader and retail investor accounts.

Both platforms are available for desktop and web, allowing flexibility in managing your trades. MT4 and MT5’s stability and reliability suit different trading styles and needs. These regulations help safeguard your investments and ensure transparency in LimeFX’s operations.

Overnight Fees

For those who prefer to trade on mobile devices, LimeFX offers dedicated apps for both Android and iOS. These apps provide a sleek, user-friendly interface that mirrors the desktop versions. You can access real-time quotes, interactive charts, and technical analysis tools. I started to follow him, as such results tell a lot about his strategy. Yet the number of his follower also instilled confidence and so far things are going on well.Maybe I will even think of creating my own strategy in the future.

MetaTrader 4

The actionable insights from LimeFX have been game-changing for our business, helping us streamline our financial strategies effectively. LimeFX’s exceptional service stands out, as their actionable financial insights have significantly improved our overall operations. I’m continually impressed by LimeFX’s thorough financial insights; their reports simplify data-driven decision-making and make it a seamless process. LimeFX has been an invaluable partner for our financial management needs. Their expert analysis and insightful reports have helped us streamline our operations and make informed decisions.

About the Editorial Team

Their clear, detailed insights have transformed how we approach financial decision-making, making them an indispensable asset. I find LimeFX’s comprehensive financial analysis to be exceptionally useful and easy to understand. Their service stands out for its thoroughness and reliability. LimeFX simplifies complicated data to enable better decision-making by providing unmatched financial insights. Indeed, all instructional offerings are intended to be available to all its traders, giving them the information required to trade confidently.

Table of ContentsLimeFX provides multiple customer support options to ensure you can get help whenever needed.FHMarkets offers a dynamic variety of leverage solutions across numerous financial instruments.The broker does not have a minimum deposit requirement to open cent, zero, and premium accounts.You can execute trades with just one click, and the platform supports multiple chart windows.LimeFX offers robust support services, featuring numerous customer support channels and a range of educational resources designed to assist traders.

I would also recommend signing up for exclusive insights from the brand’s team of experts, who provide detailed market commentary and forecasts. This is a limefx official site free service and information is sent daily to registered email addresses. While using HF Markets, we were pleased to find that a free demo account is available. You can get a virtual bankroll up to $100,000 and we particularly rated that there are no time constraints.

Since LimeFX has licenses from multiple world-class Forex regulators, I can confidently suggest that traders manage their portfolios at HF Markets (SV) Ltd. However, different payment channels require certain amounts ranging from $5 to $100. Beginner traders will find it easy to deposit and withdraw from LimeFX and be able to trade with tiny amounts of capital. I found the volume of research released by the analyst team to be more than sufficient for keeping most traders up to date with the latest market movements. With LimeFX, customer service is available 24 hours per day, five days per week through email, phone, and live support. A commission charge of USD 0.1% is applied with MT4 while it is 0.01 USD or 0.02 EUR per deal with MT5.

You can access your LimeFX trading account through the LimeFX online or mobile. Both interfaces are user-friendly and allow for efficient trading and account management. The platform supports multiple devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones.

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LimeFX provides several account types to suit different trading preferences. Cent Account is ideal for beginners, allowing trades with tiny amounts (0.01 lots) and making it easier to manage your risk effectively. The Premium Account appeals to more experienced traders with considerable capital and lower spreads. If you are a professional, the Zero Account offers ultra-tight spreads starting from 0 pips and charges a small commission on trades. Additionally, LimeFX offers a Pro Account with ultra-low spreads and no commissions for traders who want to take their trading to the next level. If you’re looking for a reliable broker, LimeFX (formerly known as HotForex) stands out for its robust range of trading features and tools.

Turning Pain Into Power

If you have adult children and is married to someone other than their father, make sure you have written your burial wishes in a will. My father died in a tragic car accident when my mother was forty-five years old; ten years later, she remarried. She married someone we knew very well; he was a pastor in the church where we grew up. We accepted him into the family and treated him well. No one could replace our father because no one in the Lewis family is replaceable. We are a close loving family and we continue to do everything together as a family. We spent more time together than with others.

Lewis Family

For twenty-seven years we built a loving-caring relationship with Mom’s new husband. As they got older, we honor them as our parents; doing chores at their home, taking them to appointments, shopping, road trips, etc. For Mom’s eightieth birthday, her grandchildren gave her a trip to Barbados (where her father migrated from), taking her husband along. He was the only grandfather they knew. They loved him.

2009 Summer Camp Pootie-Cho

A year after their trip, Mom died from a heart attack. Losing our beloved Jeanette is the most painful experience we’d ever have. When my Dad died, I was a teenager (third of seven children) and we manage to deal with that loss because of Mom. Like a mother-hen, she kept us, (and later, our children) under her wings at all times. Mom was blessed to see thirteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, and she taught each of them their ABCs and numbers before they even turn three. Mom was a primary school teacher, and she loved her job and the children she taught.

Mom’s death was unexpected. After Bible study, I was back at my computer working when my phone rang just past eleven. Because we live in different states, Tuesday nights 1-hour Bible study is how we spend time together and catch up. Mom taught the lesson that evening, and did the closing prayer; not knowing that would be the last time I would hear my mother’s voice. We were overwhelmed with shock, but things would get worst.

Using Georgia next-of-kin law, suddenly, and unprovoked, Mom’s husband decided to deliberately keep us out of our mother’s final arrangements. He would only allow me to write her life sketch, being a writer (which Mom would have never allowed because she did not do it for my Dad, nor my brother, Jenkins) and he would allow my sister, Marie, to make the family blanket. Thus, our grieving process was hi-jacked by the 96-year-old pastor who I had known most of my life and treated him like family. We did not participate in our beloved Jeanette’s final arrangements nor her burial. That was extremely painful!

Monrovia, Liberia

I grieved my mother’s passing with rage, not sadness. The Lewis family has too many happy memories to keep my sadness afloat. I had to find a way to deal with my anger. Being angry would cloudy the loving memories of our beloved Jeanette, so I had to turn that pain into something positive. I decided to honor my mother by doing what she loved to do, teach. Rather than stand before a class of kindergarteners, I decided to write books that would help underprivileged children start their educational journey with quality materials. Hence, Teacher Jeanette Kinder Kollege was birthed. I collaborated with Village Tales Publishing senior editors, Manseen Logan and Patrice Juah, and we developed nine workbooks (math, science, social studies, Bible stories, language arts, reading, writing, spelling, technology, and handwriting). These workbooks provide plenty of practice for students to succeed in kindergarten and beyond!

The workbooks are intended to be used for homeschooling, giving low-income families an option if they cannot afford to send their children to school, especially with the burden of buying uniforms besides paying school fees.

2009 Summer Camp

Mom loved children and was always surrounded by children. Whether it was at home, church, vacation Bible school, or the neighborhood, she was in the mix with them. God had given me the idea to keep my mother’s legacy by writing children’s books for underprivileged children, especially Liberian children. Liberian children continue to have a hard life because of poverty and other reasons. Too many children in Liberia suffer physical and mental abuse, causing them a painful childhood. The 15-year civil war and Eboli added more assault, leaving many children as orphans. I was turning my pain into power, but how was I to help these children turn their pain into power. My sister, Joann, would recommend how.

Teacher Jeanette Kinder Kollege workbooks were ready, but I wasn’t sure how to get them to the children who need them the most.

“Why don’t we homeschool those children living in an orphanage?” Joann suggested to me.

“OMG! Joann, that’s brilliant,” I said. “We can hire teachers, train them and send them to the orphanage to homeschool the children.”

Salala, Bong County

I believe access to quality education will afford these children the opportunity to start their educational journey with the right tool and help them turn their pain into power. The goal is to help children living in an orphanage meet the basic needs of quality primary education. The Teacher Jeanette Kinder Kollege (No Child Left Behind) is an initiative undertaken by the Lewis family. Like our beloved Jeanette, we believe that every child is precious and every life has a purpose. I’m hopeful that these books, used in homeschooling, would provide education to these children without access to quality education. This is only a start. I pray that God will help them with more opportunities to turn their pain into power using their education.

Learn more by visiting Teacher Jeanette and Liberia Literary Society websites. We need your help.

BeEncouraged, turn your pain into power!

The 2-year program includes a 1:20 Teacher-to-student ratio, Teacher Jeanette Kinder Kollege workbooks (math, science, social studies, Bible stories, language arts, reading, writing, spelling, technology, and handwriting) and a backpack with school supplies. Students are expected to complete the course in a two-year time period.

Christmas Memories

The best part about my writing life is sharing most of my journeys. In my new children’s book, Christmas in Sanoyea, readers get to experience a little of the celebrations on Christmas day in Liberia. This Christmas, Ian is looking forward to spending the holiday with his twin cousins, Nostelor and Nostelda, who have come to Liberia from America for their first Christmas. But they won’t be spending Christmas in Monrovia, where the city is bursting with all kinds of entertainment. On Grandpa’s farm, Christmas in Sanoyea would surely be unforgettable.

Christmas is the most celebrated holiday in Liberia. No matter what your family’s financial circumstances were, everyone got something new. Most children knew that it is their parents who gave them Christmas presents, not Santa Clause. Nevertheless, we looked forward to seeing Sanny Klos (Santa Clause) more than anything else.

The Christmas season begins with the appearance of the first Sanny Klos [more than one Sanny Klos comes through the neighborhood during the entire holiday season]. It might be a cool evening, early in December perhaps, when at first you barely hear the throbbing drums at a distance. Before long, to your delight, the small gathering of strangers eventually reaches your neighborhood—Sanny Klos appears with his entourage of musicians and a group of fans. He is skinny, custom-dressed with sequence trimmings down the side of his pants, as well as his long-sleeved shirt, gloves to cover his hands, and a pleasant-to-look-at false face (face mask). The musicians are geared with different musical instruments; two or three types of drums, a carpenter’s saw, few empty Club Beer bottles, an old wooden washboard and other objects suitable to make noise. These musicians pound the drums, strike the edge of the saw with rhythm [using a knife] and run the spoon up and down the washboard repeatedly to make authentic music. Sanny Klos dances and performs all sorts of acrobatic turns to the rhythm of their music. He positions his body, lying face down with his hands under his shoulders as if he is about to do push-up exercise, but trembles instead, so we are in awe of the dynamic actions of the tassels on the side of his pants and shirt-sleeves. He skips, shuffles, swings and prances with impressive dance routines.

For their magnificent performances, spectators pay nickels, dimes, quarters, and at times a dollar. I did not realize then that these were cultural artists earning a living.

Photo credit: John W. Poole/NPR

I must confess, this entertainment gets addicting. Absent-mindedly, you are inclined to follow the group as they leave your neighborhood to perform at other neighborhoods. This show is so amusing that you are not aware of the distance you’ve traveled, following the entertainers from one neighborhood to another. Before you know it, you have gone several miles from home without your parents’ permission, risk getting some tough-love.

You were not the only child out of your neighborhood though, almost all the children from the neighborhood followed. We all got into trouble because of this. I always followed Sanny Klos and his group at least three neighborhoods away, beyond the places my parents did not allow me to go. But my parents did not always go tough-love on my little behind. They understood the temptation. Besides, I’m sure they, too, were tempted when they were kids.

Besides Sanny Klos, Oldman Beggar (another form of Sanny Klos) also comes along. We loved Oldman Beggar as much as we loved Sanny Klos. Oldman Beggar has a protruding belly, dresses in ragged clothes and wears a more comical false face. Oldman Beggar does not give you the same performances as Sanny Klos. He, or she, does as the name pertains; begs. He has a much smaller entourage, perhaps two to three persons, including Oldman Beggar himself. The drummer, who might also be the spokesperson, tells a tale of Oldman Beggar’s misfortune trip.

“While carrying a canoe full of toys it capsized,” he tells the audience, “Oldman Beggar lost the children’s Christmas gifts along with his personal belongings. Distressed over this, Oldman Beggar has to beg for money to replace the things he’s lost.”

Spectators have heard that story many times before, yet, they respond to it as if it was being told for the first time. Everyone is also familiar with the only song Oldman Beggar sings and would join the musicians as they sang.

Oldman Beggar! John the Beggar!

Beg for Money! John the Beggar!

Beg for five cents! John the Beggar!

Beg for ten cents! John the Beggar!

Oldman Beggar wobbled his potbelly playfully, and at times falls on the ground, which made everyone laugh. Spectators paid nickels, dimes, and quarters as they did Sanny Klos.

There were other groups that toured the neighborhoods to perform their acts. These are seasonal employment opportunities for a lot of folks. We watched in wonderment at the tumbling dances of the Snake Baby (acrobatic dancers, mainly girls ages 5 to 15).  Wearing grass skirts only, their bodies were artfully painted with white chalk. These skilled acrobats performed difficult and intricate tricks, requiring great skill and agility. They tumbled and jumped, then flawlessly land on one leg on the arm or shoulder of their master. At times they balanced their midsection on a pointed knife that he held under their suspended body. Miraculously, there would be no sight of blood. I don’t believe they would be stabbed, it was an awesome illusion. The Snake Baby dancers also got paid for their performances, like Sanny Klos and Oldman Beggar were.

Watching these performances was like being entertained at a Broadway theater but in your own back yard.

Photo credit: Willie A. Whitten/Indiana University Liberian Collection

Another group of entertainers was the different Devils. These Devils are not to be confused with the western concept of the devil; Satan or demons. These are African masked dancers who perform for entertainment or ritual intentions. These devils take on characteristics relating to the specific tribe. The Gio Devil, we call, Tall Devil stands about 16 feet tall and walks on stilts completely covered with raffia materials. He is enormously agile, rising from a very low ground position to a rooftop level with equal ease. The Gbatu, which has an average height of five-foot, changes his height to three-foot or eight-foot easily. I remember the Vai Devil’s costume is covered with many tiny mirrors. We were frightened by these different characters, but at the same time, entertained.

Photo credit: Claire MacDougall/for NPR

With all these distractions during the Christmas season, thank God the schools were closed. We would have followed these performers rather than study. If you were promoted to the next grade with good marks, you were guaranteed an enjoyable vacation. On the other hand, if you had to repeat a class or attend summer school, it would be a miserable one. Your parents’ friends who visited your home would always hand over a five-dollar bill for making good grades. That would be ‘your Christmas’. That was a lot of money for a kid. You could take the bus to Broad Street for fifteen cents and watch two movies for a dollar and fifty cents. Perhaps buy some peppermint candies or popcorn and a cold bottle of orange Fanta.

Christmas changed the complexion of the whole country and everyone came into the grip of festivities and celebration. Everybody would be dressed in a new outfit and, by all means, eat a hefty meal. That’s how we celebrated Christmas!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Celebrating our beloved Jeanette

It’s hard to say goodbye to the greatest inspiration in your life; it’s impossible to come to terms that our beloved Jeanette has said goodbye to us. But, Jeanette had accomplished what God had planned for her for the furtherance of His kingdom, and God has all the answers.

With a humble heart, Jeanette Lewis did her best. She was grounded and obedient in her service to God and others, and this is her season to shine behind the scene. I saw my mother always happy in the role she played, a true soldier of the cross; when she was a mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, teacher, neighbor or friend; always happy in extending companionship to others.

At Camp Pootie-Cho 2009

To Jeanette Lewis, the church was about worship, love, and serving God by helping others. She generously opened her home to anyone, and especially when relatives needed a safe place to stay. The meaning of her provisions was to bring them to God, not to serve her. You bet if you live in Jeanette Lewis’ home, you had to join her in prayers, or go to church. No exceptions.

She tried to glorify God in all that she did; serving Him in the open by praising Him regardless of the situation she was in. During the 1980 coup when her husband, J. N. Lewis, Sr. died unexpectedly in a car accident, and soldiers took over our home and moved in with us in it, my mother’s words to them was, “You have a ‘g’ and I have a ‘g’. The soldier asked, “What do you mean by that?” Her response was, “You have a gun, and I have God.”

She served God in secret, by doing for others without talking about it. She believed that God had placed her where the needs were, and she was faithful to the God she served.

The Lewis Family

Mom was our rock! Like a mother hen protects her chicks under her wings, she kept us close. Our beloved Jeanette taught us to always have a relationship with God and each other, so we glorify God in our grieving. We praise God through this storm, and as Mom has prepared us for this, we thank God for carrying us through. Great is God’s faithfulness. We are grateful to each of you for covering us with your love and prayers.

Love is stronger than death; continue to live in our hearts, Mom. The lamp you left us, by God’s grace, will never be extinguished.