The joy of watching children receive gifts!

Friday, December 18th, was the last day of school and the event that screamed CHRISTMAS! All the students came to school on Friday to receive their box of gifts. This is a special tradition that was started by First Baptist Church Columbus, GA. On the last official day of school every student at Ricks Institute receives a small plastic tub (about the size of a shoe box) full of gifts. It is a day that so many students look forward to from the first day of school.

Elementary students did not technically have school today, but they all came at 7:30am to receive their boxes. It took about 30 minutes for the teachers to get all the boxes sorted and ready for distribution. The children were filled with excitement and anticipation as they watched us pile the boxes outside. When the boxes were ready the students waited patiently for their name to be called.

We began with kindergarten. Each student came to receive their box that was prepared special just for them. Once they received their box they had to wait again. After every elementary student got a box they were given the OK to open them. It was a long wait for those little ones that couldn't wait to see what cool things they had inside. Francis and Ben were trying to sneak peaks of all of their goodies! How cute are they?!?!!

There were lots of fun and useful things in the boxes. There were small toys, t-shirts, toothbrushes and toothpaste, flashlights, umbrellas, band-aids, candy, school supplies, etc. It brought me so much joy to watch these children receive their gifts. They felt so special and loved by people on the other side of the world. Merry Christmas!

A Long Time Gone

Four months seems so long ago and then sometimes it feels like yesterday. So much has happened since we have been here. The back to school jam, UN Day, student body president elections, trip to Bomi County, the Super Cup, senator elections, Ricks Inauguration, Thanksgiving, and exams have all come and gone. Individuals and groups have come to visit Ricks and some have done short-term mission projects around campus and in the community. I have met more people in the last four months than I can count. So much has happened!!

Four months ago the food was too spicy and I thought I was going to have to live on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Now when I eat the “special food” that is prepared for guests that come to Ricks, I miss the peppers. Some would say, “You know you are a Liberian when you prefer your food with peppers.”

Four months ago I couldn’t tell you which of the 15 counties Monrovia was in. Now when Sheik Kamara gives Holly and I a pop quiz on our way into town, there are very few questions that we do not know the answer to. We are definitely not experts, but we have learned so much. For example… If you turned left out of campus you would drive on a nice paved road for several miles. You would pass VOA Junction and Iron Gate. VOA (Voice of America) is a radio station that is broadcasted from this community. Iron Gate was a major checkpoint during the war. This road (Bomi Hills Highway) is he only road that leads to Sierra Leone. The checkpoint is now run by the national police. You will then go under an overpass that is often referred to as the Hotel Africa Junction. The road leads to Hotel Africa, which was one of the few five star hotels before the war. All that is left is the shell of the building. Once you go under the overpass, you will cross is the St. Paul Bridge, which goes over the St. Paul River. That will put you on Bushrod Island. You are now off the paved road. Now it is uneven clay/dirt roads that make for a bumpy drive. You will drive through the St. Paul Community before you reach Duala. The Duala Market is one of the largest markets in Monsarado County. Holly and I do most of our shopping in Duala. Caldwell junction is one of the first major intersections that you will come to in Duala. If you turn left on Caldwell it will take you to New Georgia where we attend church sometimes. The end of Bushrod Island is called Vai Town. Once you go through Vai Town you will come to another bridge. This is called the Gabriel Tucker Bridge (also referred to as the New Bridge) and crosses over Providence Island. Then you are officially in Monrovia! This drive takes about 1 hour because of the road condition and traffic.

Four months ago I had no idea that I was going to love Liberia as much as I do now. I was a little nervous and thought that homesickness would come and go a lot more than it has. Yes, there are still times when I miss little things about home, but in so many ways this place has become home. We are now referred to as the “white Liberians” instead of guests. Four months is a long time gone, but I have a feeling the next six will be over before we know it.

Thanksgiving and Advent!

It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving has come and gone (twice for us). This is the first time that I have been away from home on Thanksgiving, and it was a little weird. November 26^th was just a normal school day here in Liberia. Holly and I had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for our big Thanksgiving meal. I definitely missed turkey and dressing! Although the day was not full of good food and family, it was still a time when I was reminded of how thankful I am.

I called my family on Thursday afternoon and talked to everyone as they passed the phone around. After nine conversations and being on the phone for over an hour, I was exhausted. However, I loved that I was able to catch up with each of them and it made being away a little easier. I am so thankful for my entire family and their constant love and encouragement,

I also received several emails from friends last week. I even talked to some of them on the phone! I got a wedding update from Brooke, and heard all about her big day. I talked to Holly and heard her engagement story and the beginning stages of wedding plans. These conversations helped me feel connected to some of the things I am missing. I received countless emails from friends just thinking of me on the other side of the ocean. This was so encouraging! I am very thankful for my friends, who have continued to support me throughout this experience.

I have something new to be thankful for this year… my new friends and students here at Ricks Institute! On Monday we went to dinner with the girls on the basketball team. It was so nice to fellowship with the girls outside of practice. The night just added to the bond that our team already has. Check out the pictures! I wish you could all meet my new friends and see how wonderful this place is. I am constantly inspired by their stories, challenged by their perseverance, and motivated by their willingness to learn. These relationships are changing my life. I am so thankful for these people and what they are teaching me. I feel blessed to call them friends!

I learned something about myself in the last few weeks. I realized that sometimes I get so caught up in what is next and lose sight of what is right in front of me. There are already things about coming home that I am very excited about. I am looking forward to seeing my friends and family that I miss so much. I am pumped about going to the beach for vacation this summer. I can’t wait to move back to Birmingham, and hopefully get a job teaching again. I am looking forward to going back to school and pursuing what God is calling me to next. With all of this said, you can tell that there is a lot of planning and details involved. If you know me well, you know that I am a huge planner and tend to be very detail oriented. Sometimes I like this about myself and other times I do not. Although there are things about returning home that I am very excited about and have begun planning, there are things here that are just as exciting. Holly and I have been in Liberia for 105 days. In the blink of an eye 1/3 of our time here is gone. This has given me some perspective, and made me realize how much I will miss this place and these people when we leave. So much is happening here and it is passing by so quickly. I am making a point this Advent season to take advantage of today, even with the plans of tomorrow in my head. I am trying to focus on the here and now by being still and resting in the presence of God.

The other day I caught myself saying, “it sure doesn’t feel like it’s almost Christmas.” The more that I thought about this, the more it frustrated me. What is Christmas supposed to feel like? During this time of the year I imagine cold weather, lots of Christmas shopping, presents, Christmas movies, Christmas music, parades, parties, Christmas tress, decorated houses, family gatherings, and Santa Claus. Wow… that is a whole lot of stuff. I realized that I relate Christmas to all of these things, and that bothered me. For the first time I don’t have all of these things, and this time of the year seems different. I am SO thankful for this. I needed a wake up call, and a reminder of what Christmas is all about. This year I have decided to approach this Advent season in a whole new way. Yes, part of it is because I am forced to, but it is also because I want to. As I anticipate the coming of Christ, I will look for the presence of Christ in the world around me right now.

2nd period down, and 4 more to go!

TESTING TESTING TESTING... whew!

You may be thinking it is just a test, but for these students it is 50% of their period grade. It is a lot of pressure, especially for the little ones. It is hard to believe that 6 weeks out of the school year are spent taking tests. That can make you brain hurt!

My students did really well this period. However, this does not mean that everyone passed. They learned very quickly that things are going to start getting harder. First period was spent doing a lot of review, and I think most of them got their hopes up that the whole year would be that easy. Little did they know, things began to get harder, which meant they had to work harder. Some of them chose to do just that, while others developed the "I don't care" mindset. It has been a struggle motivate all of my students to work to their full potential. I wish that were something that was easy, but unfortunately that can be one of the biggest challenges as a teacher (even in the US). I am hoping that this period will serve as a wake-up call to some of them.

It became very evident to me this period that some of my students are having a hard time keeping up. I have really started to notice a big gap, and it is getting harder to meet the needs of each individual student. For example, I have 3 students who cannot read or write, and that puts them way behind the rest of the class. They have not mastered skills like letter-sound correspondence and blending, skills they should have learned in kindergarten. I have been trying to work with these students individually and outside of class, but it just is not enough. I know that the best thing for these students is to go back to first grade next semester and build their foundation, and then repeat second grade next year. Unfortunately, that is not as easy as it sounds. Repeating a grade here is looked down upon even more than in the US. It is hard to convince parents that it would be in the best interest of their child. I am in the process of talking with Olu about this situation, and will hopefully have the opportunity to talk with their parents in the next few weeks. Please pray for this situation, and that my actions and words will be seen and heard in a loving way.

As for the grade results... I had two students make straight A's this period, and I am looking forward to taking them into town for a treat next week! I also had about 10 students make all A's and B's!! Once again, I am a proud and happy teacher!! Even those that failed certain subject areas are still improving, and that is what is important!

As a teacher, one of my goals is to build confidence and self esteem in every child. I look for small ways to do this every day. I am really looking forward to the end of the semester when I will be able to take my entire class out for ice cream. Thanks to a good friend, Emily Holladay, for providing the money for us to be able to do this! This will be a wonderful and exciting way for us to close the semester.

As for Holly and I... we are doing well. As most of you know, we both got sick last weekend, but have recovered. Stomach virus + no running water = yuck! Yeah, that was probably too much information. Anyway... thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers!

A little bit of the US, and time on our own in the city!

Yesterday Holly and I spent our first day in Monrovia by ourselves. We took advantage of the opportunity and made a whole day out of it. We left school at 9:30am and were dropped off at the US embassy, where we attended a town hall meeting for all Americans living in Liberia. The meeting was held in the Public Affairs building, inside the library. We took our seats in the room with about 40 other Americans. After about 10 minutes we were both freezing. Our hair was sticking up on our arms and we were covered in goosebumps. We tried to take advantage of the air conditioning, but we realized that we are starting to get used to not having it. The US ambassador and the consular spoke to us about the role of the US embassy, and how we would/could interact with them if necessary. Most of the information were things that we already knew, but it helped to put faces with names, and make some connections that would be helpful if we ever had some kind of emergency.

The meeting was over around noon, and we decided to walk to Mamba Point, which was maybe a 1/2 mile away. On the way we stopped and looked at some African artwork that was beautiful. We are already starting to make a mental note of some things that we want to get before we go home. As we walked down the road, with the beach to our right, it occurred to us that we were on our own. It was a good feeling of independence! We went to the Mamba Point Hotel and enjoyed a delicious lunch! We had pita and humus, cheeseburgers and fries, and dessert. It was a lot of food, and we were completely full when we were done. After lunch we stayed at the hotel for the afternoon and enjoyed the air conditioning, comfortable couches, and the consistent internet. Mr. David, the driver at Ricks, picked us up at 4:30pm. We went home and enjoyed a restful evening, still too full to eat dinner.

We do not have days like this very often, but when we do it is a nice treat. We were even reminded what a flushing toilet sounds like, although it almost seemed foreign to us. It also took be a minute to realize what was different when I washed my hands in hot water, then it occurred to me that it was the hot water, haha. The ambassador said that it generally takes about 3 months to become adjusted to a new place, and as we are closely reaching our 3 month mark, I believe this to be true. Liberia is starting to feel like home in many ways. Sometimes I forget what air conditioning feels like, or I look for a bucket of water in a bathroom that doesn't need one. There are still days when I miss some of the luxuries at home, but those days are becoming fewer and farther between.

We are the Dragons, the Mighty, Mighty Dragons!

After the first round of the Super Cup Tournament on Tuesday, October 27th, the lady dragons knew it was time to kick things up a notch. We practiced hard every chance that we got. 5:00am conditioning and afternoon practices were longer and seemed to be filled with more intensity. The girls knew that winning the Super Cup would not be easy.

Last year, the girls made it to the finals, under the leadership of Coach James Blay, who is now in the US, studying at Mercer University. They were defeated by a Catholic school in Monrovia called Don Bosco. Many of Don Bosco's girls play for the national team, so needless to say, they are really good. After winning our first game of the tournament, we were told that we would be facing this team again for the finals. The girls were nervous, but very motivated and determined to win.

On Thursday night, we had a poster making party with the girls. We made paper hats, posters, wrist bands, and even confetti (we already had the confidence that we were going to win, and would need to throw confetti when we celebrated after the game). This was a really fun time, and a chance for us to just hang out with the girls. We even ended the night with a surprise skype session with their former coach, James Blay. The girls LOVED this, and so did James. It was great motivation and encouragement before their big game.

On Friday, the school day started with the inauguration of the newly elected student council president and his officials. The excitement only increased when the assembly was over, and the girls got dressed in their uniforms. It is amazing how much this game united the student body. It reminded me of my four years in high school, and being involved in competitive sports.

We loaded in the vans and headed for the sports commission in Monrovia, where we took on Don Bosco. We got started on a rough start, although we knew we were capable of winning this game. The girls seemed nervous, and it began to show on the court. Our offense seemed off, and we were not making simple lay-ups. We called a time-out pretty early in the first half and got re-focussed. The girls fought hard for two 15 min halves, and were constantly trailing Don bosco by a close margin. In the last 2 minutes of the game, the lady dragons took the lead, and the crowed stood to their feet. The cheering was so intense that I could barely hear myself as I was talking to the players. When the buzzer went off, the game was tied 36 to 36. The clock was set for a 5 minute over time. The girls were exhausted, but they knew the prize was worth 5 more minutes. The lady dragons led the over time, and won the game 43-39!! WE WON THE SUPER CUP!!! The fans rushed the court, and we cheered and hugged. This was a huge mile marker in Ricks history. The Ricks students, teachers, staff, administrators sang the school ode with so loud and with so much pride. I felt so proud to be a part of this school family!

The week could not have ended on a more positive note. We say that Ricks Institute is the best school in Liberia, and now the rumor is that the girls basketball team is the best the country! What a great feeling for the girls, their coaches, and the entire school!! I can't wait to take the girls to receive the trophy next week!!

Swimming, Basketball, and Bible Study... What A Great Week!

After a long and exhausting week, we got to spend all day Sunday relaxing at the Kendeja Resort. We went with Ottolee, her two children, and her mother. The resort has a special on Sundays for $25, that includes all day at the pool and unlimited access to the buffet. It is a great deal! We got to walk down on the beach, swim in the pool, and eat good food all day long. It is definitely what we needed after the week that we had.

On Tuesday, we took the girls and boys basketball team to Monrovia to compete in the Super Cup Tournament. After a good fight, the boys were defeated 60-66. I was so proud of the girls, who played an awesome game, and won 37-25. We have been working so hard to prepare for this tournament, and it all paid off. The girls played their hearts out, and fought until the very end. Isatta, one of our post players, made a shot at the buzzer, and the crowed went crazy. The team ran to the center of the court and celebrated together. I felt like I was re-living my high school days of competitive sports. Coaching the girls basketball team has been a very fun and rewarding part of my ministry here at Ricks. I am really enjoying building relationships with the girls, and investing in their lives on and off the court. Next Friday, November 6th, we will compete in the finals. We are playing a very good team that the girls lost to last year. Despite the nervousness of the girls and the coaches, I think we have the ability to bring home the trophy this year!

On Thursday night, we had bible study with the other women who live on Ricks campus. This was our third time attending. It has been a great way for us to form relationships with the women. We normally start by singing two songs (some hymns and some African songs), then have a time of prayer. Sometimes this can take an hour. Then someone delivers a short message from a particular passage of scripture. We have been talking a lot about different women in the bible, and how their stories can relate to our lives. Then we take up an offering. As we give our money, we also recite a scripture verse of our choice. We close the evening with more singing and prayer. I have enjoyed being a part of this group, but there are definitely times when a 2 1/2 hour bible study can be exhausting. This is another different experience that I am grateful for, but it has definitely taken an open mind and open heart. The best part about this weekly bible study has been the friendships that we are forming with the women!

Now it is Friday, and another week is over. Only 2 more weeks left of instruction in the second marking period! I am definitely ready for the weekend, and a break from waking up at 4:40am. Next week is going to be busy, and hopefully just as good as this week!

There are bound to be bad days...

The last two days have been very emotionally and physically draining. I think part of it is that we have been here for 2 months, and the excitement of being in a new place is slowly going away. This is starting to become home, and along with that comes all the “real life” emotions. It is hard to explain, but hopefully you get my point. We are beginning to experience some of the difficulties that are a part of ministry.

Some unexpected things have happened in the last few days that have just kind of caught us off guard. I find myself trying to be understanding and patient, but some days it is very hard.

Olu has been in the US for the last ten days, and the flow of things just seems off without him here. Holly and I are trying to deal with a problem that has been frustrating and out of our control, but fortunately we were able to get in touch with Olu for some advice. Although I cannot share this situation with you at the time, please pray that everything will work out, and that we won’t be faced with this issue again.

I am also learning that no matter where you go in the world, you will agree with some people and disagree with others. I wish we could just agree to disagree in all situations, but sometimes that is not possible. Please pray that I will be able to put myself in others shoes, and see from their perspective.

I think that these things have also caused me to get a little homesick. I think some of it is culture shock, and the fact that life really is so different here. I really thought this would hit when we first got here, but as we have gotten settled, things have become a little more challenging. Also, one of my best friends is getting married this weekend, and it is hard being away when all of my friends are celebrating together.

I knew that these things were going to happen while we were here, but there was really nothing to prepare me for it. I am learning a lot from this, but it is still not easy. Please keep praying that God will continue to show and remind us of our purpose here.

I know that I will be out of this slump soon, and that we will fall back into more slumps this year. It is a good thing that the good days make this all worth it! I guess that is just a part of ministry! Whew!

The Best of Days!

Monday was one of the best days that I have had. I took 5 of my students into Monrovia to get ice cream! These students made straight A’s for the first marking period. I was so proud of them, and told them I wanted to do something special to celebrate their hard work. So, on Monday after school we got in the van, along with Mr. Jayran and Rev. Kilby, and went to Monrovia. Even the van ride into town was a big deal to them. A few of them don’t ever get to go into Monrovia, so they were soaking it up. They moved from window to window, observing and commenting on all that was happening. They asked so many questions, and were so interested in all that they were seeing for the first time. Rev. Kilbry drove us by the University of Liberia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (where the president works), and Capital Hill. The students were so intrigued by these places.

Our final destination was the Mona Lisa, where we got ice cream. Their faces were priceless when they walked through the door of the restaurant. They were most excited about the big screen TV. We stood at the ice cream counter for about 10 minutes, observing all of the flavors. They each came up with some interesting combinations of flavors, but not one bite went uneaten. They LOVED it, and I loved watching them. We had a great time sitting and talking together. It was so nice to spend time with them outside of school. We talked about what they want to be when they grow up, and a little bit about where they are from. Most of the time they just looked around the room and commented on things that they saw. There was not a moment when we were not smiling. Several times during the conversation, one of them would say, “Thank you so much Ms. McInvale.” My heart kind of skipped a beat, and it made all of the challenging moments in class worth it.

The drive back was just as much fun. We stopped a couple of time so that Rev. Kilby or Mr. Jayran could run an errand. During one of those stops we bought some plantain chips and bagged water from a street vendor. It is so amazing to me how much the children know about buying things on the street. It is one thing that I am continuing to learn how to do.

I wish that I had the money to take all of my students out and do things like this more often. I realize that I cannot, but I think that will make the few times that I can more special.

Out of Town to Bomi County!

School was cancelled on Friday, due to the sports games being held at CH Dewey Central High School. Students from the kickball, soccer, and basketball teams, coaches, and teachers piled into vans and took a day trip to Bomi County to compete in the games.

Bomi Hills Highway is one of the only paved roads in Liberia. This highway runs all the way to Sierra Leone. We went through several checkpoints along the way. These were major checkpoints during the war, and now they are used by the United Nations Peace Keepers. The drive was beautiful. The roads were lined with rubber trees, rice farms, rivers, and villages. We went from flat land, to numerous hills and valleys. In Monrovia, the majority of the houses are made out of concrete, but the villages that we saw were not as developed. The houses/huts were made out of bamboo, reeds, and mud, with weaved leaves and branches as the roof. It was an amazing form of artwork that I would not know how to begin to build. This area was not nearly as populated as Monrovia. The villages were small, and had about 10-15 huts. When we approached a river, we saw women and children washing clothes, bathing, and getting water. The little naked children waved excitedly as we drove by. We past a few small markets, but none of them compared to the Duala Market. There were several women dressed in their beautiful native clothing, coming from the Baptist Women’s Convention. In the distance, we began to see a small town called Tubmanburg, named after president Tubman. CH Dewey Central School is also in Tubmanburg. After 1 ½ hours of driving, we arrived at the school.

As the students walked around campus, changed clothes for the games, and met other students from CH Dewey, Holly and I went with some of the teachers to Blue Lake. Some members of the Ricks staff are from Bomi County or have lived there at some point in their lives. They insisted that we go and see Blue Lake, where the Blue Lake mineral water is made. We drove for about 30 minutes, and arrived at the lake, where the water was so clear that you could see all the rocks at the bottom. We took several pictures, and walked in the shallow part of the water. It is the most beautiful place I have seen since we have been in Liberia. When the students found out that we went, they begged that we take them there. On the way back to Ricks, we stopped at the lake so the students could see it. We were also given a tour of the mineral water factory. We got to see how the water was filtered, and how the bottles were made and labeled. My favorite part was watching a tiny plastic tube expand into a water bottle as it was exposed to heat. It was very impressive!

The drive back home seemed really long, and everyone was exhausted. It rained almost all day, so the basketball game was cancelled, and soccer was played in the rain and mud. We got home around 7:00pm, ate dinner, and enjoyed sitting down after a day of standing in the rain.

Thunderstorms, Sunsets, and Pineapple... Some things are just different in Liberia!

All the students were home, campus was quiet, and there was not much to do this past weekend. Sometimes weekends like this can be relaxing, but for a busy body like me, it can get boring. Not having anything scheduled to do forced me to do a lot of processing.

Saturday night there was a beautiful sunset. The sky was a mix of blue, orange, and pink, with the silhouette of palm trees. It was a breathtaking moment, and Holly and I both got out our cameras, hoping to capture the beauty. The picture can't even begin to compare to the real thing. I felt like I was seeing a sunset for the first time, although I have seen hundreds before. Something was different on this night, but I don't know how to begin to describe it to you. There was a peaceful stillness, like everything in the world had stopped. For about 30 seconds I was in total and complete awe.

On Sunday afternoon there was a huge thunderstorm. Holly and I both sat in our room, watching the gray clouds roll in. We opened all of the curtains, and just sat in silence. The clouds appeared to be coming in from the coast, and gradually got darker as they circled around us. The thunder was louder than any thunder I have heard before, and it lasted for 30 seconds at a time. Finally, we heard the rain in the distance, getting louder as it got closer to us. Then it just poured for about 45 minutes. Holly read her book, and I couldn't take my eyes off of the storm. We have seen lots of rain since we have been here, but very few thunderstorms. It reminded me a lot of home, but yet there was still something different. Maybe it was the first time that I had stopped to just enjoy the rain, or maybe it was the fact that our windows were open and it was so loud. I don't know, but it was so relaxing and peaceful.

After the rain stopped yesterday, we were greeted with a knock on the door and a large plate of pineapple. We had heard so much about the pineapple in Liberia, and had been eager to try it for week. It is one of my favorite fruits! We mentioned this to Olu and Ottolee last week, and sure enough, a few days later, they had some sent to us. It was sliced into the largest circles of pineapple that I have ever seen. It was so sweet and refreshing! Although I have had plenty of pineapple in my life, this was better! To say that we have enjoyed it is probably an understatement. We have only had it for a day, and it is almost gone!

Somehow, this uneventful, "boring"weekend, turned into a much needed weekend of renewal. I was still very ready for Monday, but I am grateful for the experiences that don't happen very often.

Now I am off to go watch little boys climb palm trees, with their bare hands and feet, to get coconuts!

Pass or Fail?

The school year is broken up into 6 marking periods. At the end of each marking period there is an entire week of testing. The junior and senior high students take their tests on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The elementary students take their tests on Tuesday and Thursday. This week was testing week, so my students only came to school on Tuesday and Thursday. They had a test in Language Arts, Social Studies, Math, and Science. The days they do not come to school are supposed to be “study days.”

These tests make up 50% of the students grade. The other 50% is broken down by Quizes (15%), Assignments (15%), Participation (10%), and Attendance (10%). There are a lot of frustrating things about this grading system that I am still trying to understand. For example… their assignment grade is the average of 4 assignments. Assignments include class work and homework. If I have 10 assignments in one period, I am supposed to select the student’s top 4 assignments. If I have a student that gets a 100% on all ten assignments, clearly they deserve a 100% for their average. But if I have a student that failed 2 assignments, didn’t do 4 homework assignments, but got a 100% on the other 4, they clearly do not deserve a 100% for their average. This makes things tricky when I have to take the top 4 scores. In my opinion, it is not fair to the student that completes all their homework and does their best on assignments in class. I am still trying to understand this, while assessing my students fairly. So far, it has been a struggle.

I have been trying every day to find a way to motivate and encourage my students. I am surprised every day by the students that stay to get help on their homework or to ask me a question about something they did not understand in class. We spent last week reviewing for all of their tests this week. I made sure to give them every piece of information they needed to get at 100% on the test. The rest of it was in their hands. I knew that I would have some that would not study, and I continue to have some that don’t care. Although that makes me really sad and disappointed, there is not a lot I can do to change that.

Before each test the students say the honor code, which is “I promise that though out this test, I will not cheat, spy, ask for assistance, or share my answers with anyone. Any act contrary will lead to my immediate expulsion.” Yes, if they get caught cheating, they are expelled. Rick’s holds very high standards and has zero tolerance for cheating. Fortunately, none of my students cheated!

I was so nervous and excited to grade their tests. I was so proud to see so many 100’s! I can’t wait to see their faces when they get their test back with a big sticker! They love stickers!! I did have about 3 students in each subject area that failed, but it was because they didn’t study or made careless mistakes. Hopefully this will be a learning opportunity for those students, and they will try a little harder next time. Even with a few failed tests, ALL of my students passed every subject area!! I am so proud of them!

Mona Lisa!

On Wednesday night we went out to dinner with Olu, Ottolee, and the five students who ran for senior class president. The elections were last week, and very exciting to say the least. Every student at Ricks is part of one of the five political parties on campus. Each party elected a senior to run for student body president. The elections consisted of speeches, campaigns, and debates. I was so impressed with each of the candidates. The winner, Mohammad Dukley, gave a presidential address, and each of the other candidates gave a concession speech. They were all very respectful and did an outstanding job! Olu announced to the student body that he was going to take all of the candidates out to dinner. You could tell by the reaction of the room that this was a BIG deal.

We all piled in one of the school vans and went to a restaurant call Mona Lisa. It did not register to me that several of these students had never been to a sit down restaurant before. When the waitress brought us our menus, I was eagerly searching for something other than rice and beans. It was not until Olu said, “Do you all need help?” that I realized what was happening. Four of the students did not know how to read a menu. The expression on their faces was priceless, and we all started to laugh a little. I could tell right then that this was an experience they would never forget, and I felt so lucky to be a part of it.

After much discussion, we all decided what our stomachs were craving. Mohammad ordered chicken wings and fries, the other boys got boneless chicken, Rosetta got chicken fried rice, Ottolee and Samline split a pizza, Olu got a chicken sandwich, and Holly and I both got cheeseburgers and fries! It was delicious, and to top it off we all got ice cream!

The night was a lot of fun, and an opportunity for Holly and I to get to know some of the student leaders on campus. The topic of conversation primarily consisted of the elections. It was so inspiring to hear the intelligent conversations that were being had by the students. All though they disagreed on a lot of issues, they were still friends and supported one another. Mohammad Dukley will be a fantastic president, especially if he utilizes the gifts of these other four candidates.

We all had a lot of fun laughing and telling stories. I really enjoyed the Mona Lisa, and will definitely go back for more ice cream some time in the near future!

A LOL Moment turned into an Ah-Ha Moment!

Sunday afternoon Holly had a study session with some of her students in the library. I decided to walk up to the school building to use the internet and work on lesson plans. We ended up staying at the school for several hours, and decided that we would stay and have dinner with the students. As we were walking to the dining hall, in the pouring down rain, something hilarious caught our eyes. There were about 10 young boys playing on the basketball court in the rain…NAKED! It was one of those moments that we wished we had our cameras, but then we realized that would be kind of awkward, haha. As the dinner bell rang and the students began to walk to the dining hall, the boys ran to get their clothes. The fact that we were standing there, along with other students, did not seem to bother these boys at all. LOL!

They took their time putting on their clothes, and then very cautiously entered the dining hall. The boys are not students at Ricks, and live in one of the nearby villages. They took bags and crawled around the floor of the dining hall, hoping that some of the students would share their dinner with them. They scurried from one side of the room to the other, occasionally looking up to make sure no one saw them. Several of the Ricks students scooped some of their macaroni into their bags. Whenever the boys sensed that they were about to get caught, they ran quickly out of the building. This was the first time Holly and I had seen this happen, but we could tell it happened pretty regularly. I began to realize that these boys were fending for themselves – a free bath in the rain, and then the hope of some free food in their bag. The risk of getting caught in the dining hall seemed so small compared to the risk of not having food to eat. Ah-Ha! It began to make sense.

We had a good laugh! The thought of naked boys running around in the rain will continue to bring giggles and smiles to our faces. We also got a different perspective of what some of the children in the community go through on a day-to-day basis.

The Many Sounds At Ricks...

If you came to Ricks, you would hear roosters crowing every morning before the sun rises. Our first week here, we were startled and somewhat agitated by this loud noise coming from right outside our window. Now it is a friendly reminder that a new day is beginning!

If you came to Ricks, you would hear thousands of crickets chirping when it gets dark outside. One of the things I like about not having air conditioning is that we leave our windows open at night. Unfortunately this leads to lots of little critters (lizards, wasp, spiders, mosquitoes, dragonflies, moths, gnats, and many more) that sneak in through our broken screens and windowpanes. Surprisingly, we have actually gotten used to it. It really is so peaceful to go to sleep with the sounds of nature right outside the windows.

If you came to Ricks, you would hear the sounds of bells during the day. A small hand bell during the school day indicates the ending of one period, and the beginning of a new one. There is a large bell, near the dining hall, that is pulled by a rope to let the boarding students know when the meals are ready.

If you came to Ricks, you would hear a chorus of frogs in the puddles after it rains. We are greeted by these sounds every morning on our way to school, and sometimes in the evening. They are so loud! Occasionally we will even see one jump from behind the tall grass into the puddle.

If you came to Ricks, you would hear the sounds of car horns echoing from the main road in front of the school. This was a sound that took some getting used to. Everyone seems to do it. It is common courtesy, and would be rude not to. When we ride into town with people, they honk to say hello, to let a car know we are passing, or to inform people to get out of the way. There may even be 10 horns honking at one time. If someone honks, someone else will more than likely honk back.

If you came to Ricks, you would hear lots of music. Every school day you would hear the singing of the school ode, the national anthem, hymns or praise and worship songs. On Sundays, you would hear hymns being sung at church, in the school building. You would hear members of the community singing as they walk across campus. You would hear the Ricks choir practicing. You might even hear the occasional song on the radio, someone’s ipod or walkman.

My favorite sound that I hear everyday at Ricks, is the sound of laughter, encouragement, and friendly conversations. The laughter is contagious! The encouragement is inspiring, and gives me renewal every day! The friendly conversations never cease to amaze me, and because of them, relationships are being formed!

I strongly believe that I hear God every day through these sounds. I have never experienced God in this way before. I wish you could come to Ricks and hear what I hear every day!

Basketball!

After a long, exhausting, and exciting week, I am very glad the weekend is here! Basketball practice started this week, with conditioning on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning at 5:00am. Holly and I met the girls at the dorm, and we began by running a lap around the school in 2 lines. Holly is teaching the girls how to pace themselves, so that they can build up their endurance. We are hoping to increase the length of the run every few weeks. After we run, the girls run the stairs at the school building about 5 times. Holly is leading the morning conditioning practices, to help the girls learn proper ways to exercise. After the stairs, they do several sets of sit-ups and push-ups. We are trying to teach them the proper form, so that they can do them correctly. When we finish with strength training, we run a longer lap around campus, back to the dorm. This conditioning time is becoming very beneficial to the girls, and is also giving Holly and I the chance to exercise some. Aside from morning practice, we are practicing every afternoon at 2:00pm (if it doesn't rain) on the outdoor court. I lead the afternoon practices, that consist of skill training, drills, and scrimmages. My hope is that we will be able to teach them the rules, and the proper technique. They are already very aggressive, and have a drive to win! I really want to instill the importance of teamwork and discipline, things they can carry with them for the rest of their lives.

We are trying to get ready for the Super Cup Tournament in 3 weeks, where we will compete against 3 other schools. This tournament is like an extension of last season. So, only the girls that were on the team last year are allowed to play in the tournament. The new girls will still come to the games for support, but cannot officially play on the team until this season starts. The four teams in the tournament are the teams that made it to the finals. The Super Cup establishes a winner for the 2008-2009 basketball season. Although it sounds more like a pre-season tournament, it is not. The 2009-2010 basketball season will start after the tournament.

Tonight we are having a movie night for the team! We are going to watch Love and Basketball in the auditorium at 6:45pm. The girls are SO excited about this! When we told them at practice, they started jumping up and down and running around the court. It was so fun for Holly and I to see their faces. The boarding students usually have a movie night on Saturday, but it costs money. The fact that we are doing this for free, and bringing snacks and soda, is a HUGE deal! It will also be a really good bonding opportunity for all of us.

"God is good all the time, and all the time God is good"

These words became my strength yesterday.

This is a very common phrase here. The worship leader or speaker says, "God is good!" and the congregations responds, "all the time!" Then he/she says, "and all the time" and the congregation responds, "God is good!"

If you have read my earlier blog posts, you will remember that there was a death in the Rick's community early this week. A tenth grade girl died early Tuesday morning, from what they claim to be chicken pox. Yesterday Holly and I, along with many faculty members and students, attended Joann's funeral. As we arrived at her house, Olu told Holly and I, "you are going to have to be strong today." It was not until the events of the day were over, when I understood why he said this. I have never in my life experienced something like this. Yes, I have been to funerals, but this was unlike any funeral I have ever been to. I have never seen so many emotions in one room before.

When we arrived to the home of Joann's family, there were screams, moans, and sobs coming from all directions. It was so loud, and I began to feel a little uncomfortable. I didn't know what to do. I felt awkward and out of place. People were falling over, being held by friends, and yelling to God and Joann. The reality began to hit many of the students, and tears began to flow heavily. We entered the house, and went to a room where Joann's lifeless body was in a casket. This was only the second time in my life that I have witnessed a viewing. Both times it was someone 21 years old. I kept telling myself, "be strong."

We walked into the church that was directly behind the house. Rev. Teba (a Bible teacher at Rick's) led the service. The Rick's choir sang beautiful hymns... Blessed Assurance, It is Well, etc. I sat on the second row. Holly was on my right, and a student (on the girls basketball team) on my left. The sobs began to grow, as the casket was brought into the church. People were falling on the ground in front of Joann's body, unable to accept the fact that she had died. As the student next to me put her head in my lap and began to weep, my strength began to dwindle. The tears that I had been holding back, began to fall down my cheeks uncontrollably. As I embraced her, I kept saying the words in my head that Rev. Teba spoke, "God is good."

The church was packed with people. The choir sat to the far left, we were in the middle, and the fathers side of the family sat to our right, along with friends. The mothers side of the family sat up in the front corner of the church. You could feel the tension in the room between both sides of the family. During a time when you would think two families would come together, they were only torn more apart. It was so sad to see how much they disliked each other and put blame on one another for this tragedy.

The service consisted of hymns, scripture, and tributes by family and friends. Artificial flowers were laid on her casket. When the service was over, we got back in the vans and drove to the cemetery. It was pretty far away, and we got lost several times. We eventually got to this old, beautiful church, and got out of the vehicles. We walked down a path to the cemetery. Several Rick's students carried the casket back to the grave, as people began to sing.

Rev. Menjay led us in a prayer and the benediction. He encouraged family and friends to leave in peace with one another. People left as the casket was being placed in the grave. We loaded back in the vans, and the tears slowly began to go away. Silence was broken with laughter. The drive was long and bumpy, but there was a peace knowing that Joann was home. "God is good all the time, and all the time God is good!" Although it is hard and sometimes we don't understand, we can rest in the fact that God is good!

Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding."

Computers!

The brand new Mac computers are officially up and running! My class was the first group of elementary students to use the computers yesterday! For some of them, this was their first time to ever use a computer. I am sure you can imagine their faces when they sat down and looked at that huge monitor. It took about 15 minutes for them to learn how to use the mouse, but then they got the hang of it. Earlier in the week I introduced a math game called Fact Dash. We came into the library and played it as a class from my computer, using the projector. Yesterday they got to play it on their own. We were short on time, so only half of them were able to finish. The rest of them will finish early next week. This game was also a great way for me to assess them on their addition. I was so impressed with how well they did. I can't wait to use the computers for more fun projects this year!!

Mamba Point Hotel!

Last night we went to dinner with Olu and Ottolee at the Mamba Point Hotel. This hotel was where most journalist stayed during the war. It is also where Olu and Otttolee got engaged, and spent the night after their wedding. The hotel is located very close to the US Embassy. Many Americans stay here when they come on business trips. The restaurant was very nice, and even included a sushi bar. There was seating inside, but we opted for the patio that overlooked the ocean. The cool breeze made the temperature just right. The menu was about 10 pages long, and had everything from Chinese food to pizza. After eating a lot of rice and beans the last 4 weeks, I was really excited about having something different. So, guess what I got? A big fat hamburger, with bacon and cheese!! It was delicious, and also came with french fries and union rings. It was a little taste of home!

The best part about dinner was our time and conversation with Olu and Ottolee. We talked about our experience in Liberia and at Rick's thus far. Holly and I were able to share some of the joys and frustrations. Olu gave us lots of feedback, which was very helpful.

We talked about the student who passed away on Tuesday. Holly and I didn't realize that she was a student this year, and went home sick last week. I don't think anyone realized the severity of the situation, and there are still many detail that remain unknown. I believe the funeral service is on Saturday, and many of the students and teacher will attend.

We also learned a little more about Liberian history, which is always very interesting. Every time we are in Monrovia, we are introduced to new places and experience different things. This country has such a rich history, and as we were driving last night, I saw more of the beauty.

Our time with the Menjay's is always a lot of fun! I am enjoying getting to know them (and their adorable children!!), and beginning a friendship that I know will last for years to come.

The Question "WHY?"

Even into my adulthood, I find myself asking this question... Why?

On Wednesday evening I started getting a cold, and got really congested. For the next four days I was all stopped up, and taking medicine. Holly probably wanted to throw something at me when I was sleeping because I was breathing so loud. What became annoying were the nose bleeds. I was having 3 to 4 a day. Why? I wish I knew. Yesterday it started gushing while I was teaching. It was a moment of frustration and embarrassment. Fortunately, I have not had one since.

This morning, during the school wide assembly, Olu made an announcement that was absolutely heartbreaking. Last year there was a 20 year old, 9th grade student that got chicken pox. She became very ill, and eventually had to be hospitalized. Her health became a problem, and she was no longer able to go to school. Olu told us that this student had remained in Liberia during the civil war, and lived in a small village. She was separated from her father. When the war was over, she reconnected with her father and brother who are now in the US. Her mom passed away shortly after. Olu announced this morning that she was at home on Sunday, and seemed to be doing fine. She was cooking and cleaning, just like normal. Yesterday she was re-admitted to the hospital where she passed away. As the words came out of Olu's mouth, the room fell silent. I felt like my breath was taken away. You could just feel the grief in the room. I could tell from Olu's face and voice how hard it was to tell everyone. Tears built up in my eyes, as that question kept popping into my mind. Why? It is another question that I will never have all the answers to. Chickenpox? I had chickenpox, my brothers had chickenpox, my friends had chickenpox... I don't know all the details, or the actual cause of death. There could be more to her situation than we were told. But I had so many thoughts running through my head. I remember when I heard about malaria for the first time. I did not really know what it was, and had certainly never had it before. I was told how cheap it was to cure malaria and that it was kind of like having the flu, but yet I was hearing stories of children in Africa who were dying from it every day. I kept asking "why?" Today it was not malaria. It was chickenpox. I know what it is like to have chickenpox, but I also know what it is like to watch them go away. Why did this girl not have the resources to get better? I wish I had the answers. I am beginning to see the direct effects that war and poverty can have on people. Is the question "Why can't we help?" or "Why don't we?"

On a more positive note... I had three students stay after school today for me to help them with their homework!! This is a HUGE deal!! I have been telling my students over and over again to please see me during recess or after school if they need help. Several of the students never turn in homework, and it is really hurting their grade. I have realized that some of the students never do their homework because there is never anyone at home to help them. Some of them don't have the time or the resources to do it at home. So... I have made myself available during recess and after school. I was talking to the first grade teacher about this, and she said they will never come during their free time. I asked, "Why?" She said, "because they don't want to spend the extra time in the classroom." I have been determined to motivate and encourage them to come. This afternoon, as I was packing up my things, one little boy in my class came up to me and asked if I would help him with his homework. I almost started jumping up and down. I sat down with him and we did it together. There were about 10 children watching from the window. Some of them even came in the room to see what we were doing. After we finished, I was locking my door, and two more boys in my class came up to me. They asked if I would help them too. I unlocked the door and we went back in the room. I was sooo excited! They each left with a big smile on their faces and thanked me on their way out the door. The really exciting part is... this is the first homework assignment that two of the boys have ever turned in this year. As I was leaving, I went by the first grade teachers room and told her. She was shocked, and asked me what I said to get them to stay and ask for help! It didn't take much... They just needed an extra push. I was so glad that the day ended on such a positive note.

Another little piece of my heart!

How can this little face not make your heart melt? I see faces like this one countless times every day. On this particular day, I was sitting underneath the porch of the clinic on campus. It was pouring down rain. I decided just to sit down and wait a little while for the rain to let up some. Four little girls ran over to me, soaking wet. This little girl just clung to my side. They were laughing, and smiling from ear to ear. We sang songs, and talked about school. The girls were all fascinated with my hair. The four of them divided my hair into 4 sections and played with it for about an hour. I just sat there as they all pulled in opposite directions, my head moving from side to side. I told them a number of times to be easy or that all my hair would fall out. In response to that, the little girl in the picture above said, "no, your hair is plenty". I laughed. As much as it began to hurt, I couldn't make them stop. Their giggles somehow made the hair falling out my head not feel so bad, haha. After my hair was in about 8 braids and ultimately one big knot, they decided they were finished. They sat down next to me and became very intrigued with my camera. They loved seeing themselves on the screen, after I took their picture. It has been the moments like these that have really left an imprint on my heart. 

Telling stories, taking pictures, a small piece of candy, playing with my hair, singing songs, coloring, using a computer, reading a book, a hug... These things light up their world. It is the joy in the children's faces that completely leaves me speechless. Even with so little, they are so happy. It doesn't take the newest Vera Bradley bag, Wii game, or name-brand clothes to make them happy. Some of these children wear shoes that are 4 sizes too small and clothes that are torn, but they are happy! This happiness is something that is hard for most of us to understand. It is not based on money or material possessions. Most of these children don't have a lot of either one of those. It is based off relationships, individual attention, and LOVE. And it is so REAL! The spirit of the children is so contagious. It is so genuine and authentic. Every time I hold them, play with them, teach them, sing with them, and talk with them, they take another little piece of my heart! 

Back to School Jam!

Today was a very long and exciting day! School ended at 10:55 am, which is when Recess starts. The students, teachers, staff, and families that live on Rick's campus, all made their way to the sports field. Today was the kick off of all the sporting events at the school. The old students played the new students. This is a tradition at Rick's Institute. We started with the girls kickball team. Kickball is played a little differently here, and is very competitive. The girls were so much fun to watch. The new girls actually won! Right as the boys soccer game was about to start, it began to rain really hard. So... soccer and basketball are being moved to Monday. I am really excited about watching the girls play basketball. Hopefully this will give Holly and I an idea of where to start with our first practice. 

After a long day of sports and rain, Holly and I ate lunch with the students in the dining hall. I enjoyed meeting more of the older students. After lunch we came back to the house, and I took a nap. 

At about 7:00 pm, the party started! Tonight was the Back to School Jam! The students paid $20 Liberian dollars for their ticket. This is roughly equivalent to $0.30 in US dollars. The auditorium was packed with students and teachers. We danced and sang for hours. It was very much like a talent show/school dance. The teachers participated too. Holly and I taught everyone the cupid shuffle. They loved it! Tonight was kind of the ice breaker for me. It was a chance to just kick back and have fun with the students. I felt like I was back in middle school. We were up on stage dancing most of the night. It was a lot of fun, and a great work out! Now I am tired, and ready for the weekend!

My Typical Daily Schedule

7:15 am- Students and teachers begin arriving at the flag pole in front of the school

7:30 am- Students line up by grade level to say the pledge, sing the school ode, and sing the national anthem

7:40 am- Students and teachers go into the auditorium/chapel for devotions and announcements

8:15 am- 8:55 am -1st period: Language Arts

Currently in Language Arts we are working on basic phonics and phonological awareness. We have been learning about vowels, and the difference between a long and short vowel. Next week we will begin word families. We are also talking about sentence structure, and how to write a good paragraph. This week we focussed on capitalization and punctuation. The students are doing a lot of creative writing, and we are talking about the difference between fiction and non-fiction books. One of my main focus points is comprehension. We are learning how to make predictions, re-tell a story, discuss our favorite part, and what the book reminds us of. 

8:55 am- 9:35 am- 2nd period: Math

We are going back to the basics! We are reviewing doubles, and doubles + 1. They have a quiz tomorrow, so we will see how that goes! I have also introduced even and odd numbers. The students seem to be catching on pretty quickly. We have also been reviewing place value. I hope to get into double digit addition next week. 

I have introduced several Math games to the students. Most of the games are played with dice and playing cards. The students love the games, and ask every day if we can play them. Tomorrow I am introducing some computer games. The students do not know how to use the computers yet, so we will be playing the games as a whole class, using a projector. They are really excited about this too!

9:35 am- 10:15 am- 3rd period: Science

We just finished covering the 5 senses, and are now doing some fun activities to review. I gave each student a piece of hard candy. They had to write about what it looks like, smells like, feels like, and tastes like. Of course, they love the tasting part! They have a quiz next week, and they are going to use fruit snacks! I can't wait to see their faces when they I show them!

10:15 am- 10:55 am- 4th period: Social Studies

I have really enjoyed teaching Social Studies! We have been talking about communities and neighborhood. They have talked and written about themselves, and their families. We also have started talking about maps, and map skills. I showed them Monrovia and the school on Google Earth. This was such a neat and new experience for them. Awesome! Next week we are going to talk more about community service. The students are going to write letters to the security guards, custodians, farmers, the nurse, etc. to say thank you for all that they do for the school. 

10:55 am- 11:40 am- RECESS!

 This is basically unsupervised time where the students can play, buy a snack, get caught up on homework or studying, or get help from a teacher. It is also used as detention sometimes... I have already had couple of students experience this. This is normally seen as a break for the teachers, but I am getting ready to start using it as an opportunity for more individual time with my students. My goal is to make a schedule so that every day 2 students can stay in the room with me. This will allow me to help them with anything we are covering that they don't understand. I will also be able to introduce them to activities on the computer. It will be good quality time for us!

11:40 am - 12:20 am- 5th period

On Monday we do an Art activity, Tuesday and Wednesday we have Bible, Thursday we go to the library, and Friday we have PE. I really like this period at the end of the day because it is fun! I have really enjoyed teaching Bible, although it is very hard to grade. It is a great way for me to encourage and empower the children. They love going to the library on Thursdays. Right now we have just been reading with partners, but hopefully the computers will be up and running soon. I am hoping to do some fun projects this year! I love that we end the week with PE. This is a great way for us to bond as a class. We play all sorts of games, and do team building activities. 

At 12:20 the school day is technically over for elementary classes. I am realizing how hard it is to cover all of the material in just 3 1/2 hours of school. I am so used to 7 hour days in the US. However, I have students that come visit after school and soon I will have study hall and tutoring available. This also will allow me to have more one on one attention with them. Basketball season is also getting ready to start, so we will have practices in the afternoon. Holly and I are also trying to go eat lunch with the boarding students a few days a week. Lunch is at 2:00 pm. There are lots of other school and extra curricular activities in the afternoons/evenings!

School Ode

Every morning we gather around the flag pole at 7:15am. The students line up according to their grade level and say the pledge, sing the school ode, and the national anthem. Holly and I have had the school ode in our heads for the past few days, and I thought I would share it with you. It is definitely much more exciting when the students are actually singing it...

Hear ye our voices sons and daughters, excelling with the chams of the day:

Resounding with echoes around us;

With melodies cheerful and gay;

Oh hear ye the sound in the breezes, the trills of our music sweet;

Thy children's grateful voices thee, another dawn to greet.

REFRAIN

Stella polaris, O Rick's Institute

Thy way to greatness and prosperity

Yee we point to glorious Ricks for fame and victory

With God before us, success we are sure,

Upward and upward the victor we go;

Therefore with uplifted eyes

We are sure to win the prize

Let us shout, let us sing songs of praises;

Of the saints of the founders of Ricks;

May our echo resound to all races;

Of the earth, for the noble and brave;

Thanks to heaven for this great creation;

Thanks to God for the church and the state

May our banner lofty float, In radiant skies of fate.

Challenges to Possibilities!

It is hard to believe that we just finished our first week of school. It was full of many mixed emotions. I was so excited to finally have students, exhausted from all the work I have put into my lesson plans, and frustrated that I have not been able to overcome some of the challenges. This summer, as I was making plans for this school year, I began to develop a lot of expectations. I am going to be honest... I think I had actually convinced myself that teaching at Rick's Institute was going to be easier than teaching in Alabama. After completing this week, I have no idea how I ever came to that conclusion. This experience has already become one of the most challenging experiences of my life, and I am just getting started! 

Part of the challenge comes from the language barrier. Surprisingly enough, I feel like I have been a fairly quick learner, although I still have a long way to go. It has taken me all week to learn the names of the students in my class, and I am still working on pronunciations. I have also realized that it is just as hard for the children to understand me, as it is for me to understand them. I try to be very intentional about talking slowly, because that really seems to help. I struggled giving assessments this week, because I couldn't figure out if the students didn't know the material or simply couldn't understand what I was asking. It took several attempts and rewording questions, but finally the connection was made. I knew the assessment was important, because I really wanted to see the individual academic levels. This is a very new concept at the school. Currently teachers teach toward a standardized test, and expect all students to be on the same level. However, Olu (the principal) has done a very good job of encouraging teachers to look at the "whole child." I am glad this first obstacle is accomplished, and now it is time to meet each child on his or her level for the rest of the year.

Another challenge is the age gap. I have students ranging from 6 to 13 years old in my second grade class. This is also a result of the testing. Each student tests into a specific grade level when applying to Rick's. Although that puts them on a similar academic level, there is still the social and physical development that tends to get overlooked. I am trying really hard to empower some of my older students to be leaders, both in the classroom and out. We have talked a lot about our class being like a family. I want every student to recognize their gifts and use then in a variety of ways in the classroom. The students do a very good job of helping one another to accomplish tasks and assignment. Then we face the issue of cheating (or spying, as they call it here), which is a serious offense that can eventually lead to expulsion if caught during a test. It is a tough balance, especially with second graders. 

My toughest challenge so far has been discipline. The students respect me, but it is taking me time to realize how they show it. Here is another moment of honesty... I think I had this thought that the students would be so grateful to be in school, and to have a teacher from the US, that they would sit like stone statues and listen attentively to everything I said. HAHA! Yeah, you are probably laughing at me right now, and I am somewhat embarrassed to have had that mindset. But this experience has been all about learning, and I am definitely learning! I learned that kids are kids no matter where in the world they are from. I walk into the room and they want to hug me and cling to my side, but when I tell them to be quiet or stop doing something, they don't. This was very frustrating. If a Liberian teacher walks into a room, they are frozen and don't make a sound. I had a very hard time understanding this. I even tried yelling, which I don't normally do. I am really just searching for a balance, and had a hard time finding one this week. Part of this also has to do with corporate punishment. I knew going into this experience that Rick's uses corporate punishment, and I was really worried about how that would play out for me. I felt relieved when Olu told us that only the administration can administer it, but realized this week that is not always the case. I have learned a lot of things about this culture, and one is that they are very disciplined. But it is all in love! The faculty loves what they do, and they love the children. The students have a tremendous amount of respect for the teachers. I have just had a hard time finding my place in the mix. Thursday afternoon I was almost in tears. I had a very hard time falling asleep last night because I wanted to figure this out. At about 1:00am it clicked. I thought about what would happen if a teacher from Liberia came and taught in Birmingham, AL. I thought about how different and difficult it would be for that teacher to learn how school was operated. And then I thought about how the students would react with that teacher in their classroom. It all started to make sense to me. I decided that I was going to go in this morning with a positive attitude, and just be myself. I did not yell one time. I talked to them about what my expectations were, and told them I needed them to help me so that we could learn and have fun this year. We played games, read books, solved math problems, sang songs, etc. The kids were learning! I was happy and they were happy! We accomplished so much! Today I did what I love with no reservations, and I was loved in return. The challenges are beginning to turn into possibilities!

We made the National News!

Check out the article on the front page of the Liberian Observer!

http://www.liberianobserver.com/node/1206

The First Day of School!!

Today was the day that I have been looking forward to for the last 6 months. Holly and I were up before the sun, eating breakfast in bed, trying to predict just how amazing the day was going to be. We walked up to the school at 7:15am, and the students gathered at the flag pole at 7:30am. They lined up according to grade level and the entire school body recited the pledge to the flag, and sang the school song and the national anthem. From there we all went into the auditorium, where we had devotions and several announcements from Rev. Menjay (the principal). This is standard procedure for every morning at Rick's Institute. 

Normally first period begins at 8:15am, but this morning the assembly went until about 9:30am. When the students began trickling into the classroom, my heart began to beat with excitement. The 26 (soon to be closer to 30) students sitting before me, were wide-eyed and ready to go! I felt this amazing rush of emotions, and couldn't help but smile. At that moment I knew that I am in the place that God wants me to be. 

I spent the next hour doing introductions (it is going to be a challenge to learn all these names), and going over rules and procedures. I also did an initial assessment in Math and Language Arts, just to see the instructional level of the students. From 10:55-11:40am, they went to recess. This is a time for them to go play with their friends, go get a snack, or catch up on any school work. This is also a break for the teachers. After recess, the elementary classes just have one more period. I spent the last 40 minutes of the day getting to know my students. I read the book You Are Special, by Max Lucado. I wanted each one of them to leave the classroom today knowing that they were individually created by God, who loves them for who they are. They each wrote down 3 things that make them special. The students shared these with the class, and we hung them in the room. I told them that those things are what make our 2nd grade class special. They enjoyed being a part of decorating the room, and I hope they left empowered. I can't wait for tomorrow!

Healing on the Sabbath!

Healing on the Sabbath? Yes!

Yesterday we had our first faculty meeting. Yes, a faculty meeting on a Saturday! It was 4 hours full of great information, with a little humor thrown in every now and then. It was a great time for Holly and I to meet everyone, and become familiar with the basic rules and procedures. The first 15 minutes Olu (or Rev. Menjay, as people refer to him at school) did a devotion. He read from Luke 13:10-17, when Jesus healed the crippled woman on the sabbath day. He talked about how Jesus did the unusual or the unexpected, because it was unheard of for there to be healing on the sabbath. Olu said that he wanted our goal and dream this year to be to heal on the sabbath. He wants the faculty at Rick's to dream big and set goals to do the unusual or unexpected. It was a very powerful devotional, and one that made me feel even more empowered!

Today we went to church! It was our first Liberian church service, and it was amazing. Holly and I went to New Georgia Baptist Church with the Menjay family. Olu and Otolee have a 2 year old girl named Mia, and a 2 month old boy named Q (Olu's middle name). Their children are beautiful! I held Mia as she slept through the whole service. She is precious! The service started at 10:30 with choir singing as people came in. We arrived at 11:00, and the choir was still singing as the congregation worshiped. The service consisted of singing hymns, clapping, dancing, announcements, offering, scripture reading, a sermon, and an invitation. This may sound familiar to a lot of baptists, but there was something different that I cannot really explain. I saw worship in a whole new way. It was so real and genuine. They said "God is Great!" and "Amen!" so many times, but it was never over said and it never lost meaning. As I held Mia and looked around at the people, I almost started to cry. I want to be more like the people here in so many ways. I saw God today!

On the drive home we stopped at the market and got corn, boiled peanuts, and bananas. Otolee, Mia, Holly and I ate the peanuts in the car, and Olu ate his corn. We sang songs on the radio, laughed, and told stories as we drove. We went and had lunch at the Menjay's home. They also live on the Rick's campus. We had rice with potato greens, and plantains. The potato greens had fish, chicken, and peppers in it. It was very good, and spicy! After lunch we played with Mia, and Olu showed us a video of some exciting events at the school. It was an exciting afternoon with our friends!

Giggles and Smiles!

My classroom is officially ready for school to start on Tuesday! I had lots of little helpers today. Steven, Patience, Mariah, and Leah helped me carry things from my classroom down to storage. This was a big job. There was a lot of stuff in the room that was just taking up space. In about 4 trips, with lots of help, it was out. Some of the stuff was quite heavy, and the kids showed us up by carrying it on their head. After we were hot and sweaty, they taught us how to play some hand clapping games. This brought back memories of my elementary school days. Holly and I eventually got it, and we had a lot of fun. We laughed for over an hour as we played. The kids also loved playing with our cameras. They were definitely not camera shy either, haha. Today brought me so much joy! 

The Porch

The porch of our house has become one of my new favorite places. There is never a time when we are on the porch that we do not have visitors stopping by to say hello. This has been one of the best ways for us to get to know people here. Holly said, "I feel like a celebrity here sometimes" and it is so true. Everyone here is so friendly. We don't ever see someone on campus without a "hello!", "how is your day?", "how are things?." The people here are genuinely interested in how we are doing and always want to know what they can do to help us. Marcus and Dukuley have been frequent visitors to the porch. Both of them are high school boarding students. Marcus has been responsible for helping us get settled in the guest house. He has helped us with water, hooking our gas up to our stove, and even takes out our trash. Yes, we told him we could do these things ourselves, but he has insisted that he wanted to do it. He told us that hospitality was his way of ministering. We have loved listening to his stories. Dukuly stops by during the early evening just to talk for a little while. He has helped answer a lot of our questions about what boarding life is like, and what a typical school day looks like.

When I came to Liberia I expected to invest in a lot of lives, but I was not expecting to be invested in. These are some of the most sincere people, who care more about others than they do about themselves. What an awesome example of what we are called to do as christians! Something you will hear a lot at Rick's is "It is not about what you got, it is about what you do with what you got." I see my friends here living out that quote every day. We all have a lot to learn from these amazing people! That is why we sit on the porch!

Pictures!

Ok, so... Everyone has been asking to see pictures, and I realize that not everyone has facebook. I have created an album using Picasa. You will find the link to my pictures on my blog homepage under "helpful links". I will try to keep these pictures updated and post when I add new albums.  

A little update...

Things are going very well. Holly and I are slowly getting adjusted. We went into Monrovia today with Olu to do some shopping, and see some historical landmarks. Liberian English is becoming easier to understand by the day, and we are constantly meeting new people. Mally is a high school student here at Rick's who is going to help us learn to cook Liberian food, and wash our clothes in a bucket. We are very excited!

Look forward to more pictures soon!

Party Time!

Well... the party on Saturday night was really cool. It was a farewell party for Meg E. Riggs, who works at the US Embassy with education. The party was in the Embassy compound at Hannah and Graham's house. They also work for the US Embassy. The compound was right off the Atlantic coast, and we could hear the waves from the porch. This was a neat experience, and one that allowed Holly and I to meet some Americans who are living in Monrovia. They were all very friendly. Some of them had a hard time understanding why we would come to Liberia voluntarily for a year. Holly and I enjoyed telling them our story and why we are here. They have all heard of Rick's Institute, and speak very highly of the school. Meg and her husband, Gib, have been here for 4 years. They are moving to Washington DC for 6 months for language training before they begin their next assignment. We stayed at the party pretty late, and were exhausted when we got back to the guest house. 

On Sunday we slept until almost 1:00pm. This allowed us to catch up on all of our lost sleep from traveling. We came over to the school at 2:45 for Closing Convocation that started at 3:00pm. This was very much like a graduation ceremony, only without the diplomas. In Liberia, promotion is based on standardized test scores. There is a rule in place that no students are allowed to graduate until the test scores are received back by the school. So legally Rick's Institute was not allowed to hold graduation, since they do not have the test scores back. Olu was telling us that by having "Closing Convocation" it was like a protest. The students were each presented with an empty diploma cover, the senior class president gave his speech, and the ceremony went on like a normal graduation would. Olu and many other expressed their frustration, to the overly crowded room, about the law concerning the test scores. The argument is that the test should not be the only standard that determines if a student can graduate. Some of the students are A students but do not perform well on the tests, and therefore are not allowed to graduate. I will be interested to see how the testing process works this upcoming school year. 

Closing Convocation was an amazing experience! Holly and I were guests of honor, and we sat on the stage with the guest speakers and faculty. I spent most of the 3 hour ceremony "people watching" from my seat. From my seat you would see the graduates on the left, the school choir on the right and rows and rows of family of friends in the audience. People were so dressed up. Most of them were all in their native dress. The clothes are beautiful! We sang hymns, listened to speeches, and heard an amazing performance by the school choir. As people left the convocation, most of them were dancing and singing in their native language. It was so cool! I feel like this day formally began our time here at Rick's Institute!

This is my life now!

WOW! We are finally here, and thank God that all of our luggage made it too! We left Orlando at 12:40pm on Thursday, August 20th and arrived in Liberia Friday around 7:30pm via Chicago and Brussels. We were welcomed at the airport by Olu Q. Menjay, the principal at Rick's Institute, and his wife. We drove about 40 miles into Monrovia, where we ate at a Lebanese restaurant inside a hotel. Holly, Olu, and myself all ordered Chicken Liberian Style. That means Spicy! haha. It was actually very delicious. We got to Rick's around 10:30ish, and immediately got settled into the guest house. Holly and I unpacked a little and went to sleep. It had been a long 24 hours of travel and we were exhausted. However, it did take time falling asleep with no air conditioner. We are learning very quickly that life here is very different than what we are used to at home. 

This morning Holly and I woke up at 7:45am. We realized in a matter of minutes that there was no running water. This meant taking a "shower" with a bucket. This was definitely a new experience, and a challenging one. We also had an encounter with a HUGE spider. After about 15 minutes of getting over our fear, we finally killed it. We both laughed at the thought that we were already freaking out about a spider. It will be interesting to see where we are 10 months from now.

We met Olu at 9:00am and were given a tour around campus. We had seen many pictures, but it is amazing how different it looked in person. Later this afternoon we were taken to the grocery store in Duala Market. This was an experience!! People crowded the streets, going from vender to vender. Taxi's cut in and out of lanes, and police officers guided traffic. I have never seen anything like it. I will honestly say that I was a little scared, or maybe way outside my comfort zone is a better way to say it. 

Now we are back on campus, getting ready to attend a farewell party of a friend of the Menjay's. I will try to update again in the next few days, when I have more time.

Commissioning at College Park Baptist Church

Sunday was an amazing day! Friends and family were in town for the weekend, and I was commissioned along with 3 other people from CPBC. My grandmother reminded me that I was the 4th generation to be a member of College Park Baptist Church. This church family has made a huge impact on my life in so many ways. I am very grateful to have grown up in a church that values missions as a top priority. On Sunday I had the honor of being commissioned to Liberia by this amazing church. It was a very special day. I feel so blessed to have family and friends that are so supportive of my calling. 

My step-cousin Katie came from NC! Love her!

My mom and brothers!

My dads side of the family!

It is hard to believe that Holly and I leave in 3 DAYS! We are both very excited. On Sunday, I gave the church several prayer requests that I would like to share with you all as well. 

1. Pray for mine and Holly's health and safety while we are gone.

2. Pray that I will have patience and an open mind to learn in a culture that is very different than what I am used to. 

3. Pray that the Liberian government will remain stable

4. Pray that Christ will be seen in me as I build relationships

5. Pray that God will be the center and focus of all the we say and do.

Thank you so much for all of your love and support!!