Last week was our final week of instruction before exams. My students came back from the break excited about a fun week. Monday was our review day. The students were overwhelmed with all of the information they needed to study for their exams, but grateful to get it out of the way so that we could have fun the rest of the week. Tuesday was movie/game day. We watched Madagascar and played some group games outside. Wednesday was Beach Day!! The class had been looking forward to this day all semester. We spent the entire day at Golden Beach, playing soccer, playing in the waves, and eating pizza! Thursday was another movie/game day. We watched the movie Bolt and played some relay games in the classroom that helped the students study for their exams. Friday was out class party! The students brought in food and drinks, and we all celebrated together. We spent the afternoon out on the basketball court, just playing with each other. Last week was the perfect way to end such an awesome year. Check out all the pictures from Golden Beach and the Last Week of School on my picasa page.
On Sunday we went to church at New Georgia Baptist Church, where we have attended several times this year. The pastor and deacons prayed over Holly and I, our work at Ricks, and our travel home. It was a very special moment.After church Olu took us to a friends house on the St. Paul River. When we arrived, we saw several people that we have met throughout our time in Liberia. We were told that the gathering of people was a surprise party for Holly and I. We spent the entire day and most of the evening sitting on the dock, eating delicious food, and talking with friends. It was so relaxing and peaceful out on the dock. I sat in a hammock for most of the time and it was amazing! By the end of the night Mia was sound asleep in my arms. It was a long day, and we were exhausted by the time we got home.
Now we are in the middle of exam week, and making final preparations to go home on Friday. The fact that we are leaving has still not completely set in. Tomorrow will be my last day with my students, as they complete their final exams. On Friday morning their will be a closing program in honor of me and Holly before we leave for the airport. I know that will be a hard day for both of us. Saying goodbye to this place and these people will be very hard. I am trying to rejoice in the last 10 months, and leave Ricks knowing that I will be back some day soon.
