Monkey Island

After much work, we headed back to Monrovia with a stop at Monkey Island, a group of islands on Farmville River that house former monkeys that were used for medical research. Now, they live a posh life of pineapple, coconut, cassava and peanuts, milk and cake, all which are brought to them every other day. It was so crazy to see them so close! All have names (the oldest is 47 named Annie) and all are afraid of water and cant swim so stay put. They were so close, seriously no more than 10 feet away!

Kokoyah

Monday we hit the ground running, ready to see the teachers work. We (and Jacob!) told Peter, the principal, that we would be there at 8am for devotion and to watch the teachers. Kathy and I both watched the teachers and took some notes from about 8:30-10am. Then, we began! After seeing what they were doing we asked the teachers if they would like to learn and get some help concerning their school (management of the classroom and school) or the small group teaching that we had planned. They consulted each other and Kathy and I stepped out. They chose the first option. So, we discussed what they wanted in a community and a graduate of GeinWhen. They made an amazing list including honest, self-reliant, motivated, healthy, having a sense of belonging, love/care, courage, and critical thinking. So amazing. Then we asked them what the barriers to that are for the children. I so wish we had done this activity with Massaquoi as the answers were so interesting and true to all we have seen in Liberia over the past 6 years. They spoke of the teacher not understanding the content or the plight of the students, fears of punishment, friends mocking, boring teaching and even language fears. This was an amazing conversation and I wish I could share with you the depth they shared. Even moving the desks into a circle made an impression I think! So good! We spent the rest of the day talking about how they can overcome those fears. What does it take to be courageous, how can a teacher promote the welfare and safety of the children with which they work, and how can the school support such goals.

Oh, internet, where art thou?

So, while my writing about the trip is coming along, the ability to post said writing is sorely lacking! So, I am going to post now that jet lag is subsiding and the internet (back here in Texas! lol) is dependable. I am so psyched to share the happenings from the trip! Last time I wrote we were leaving Monrovia for Kokoyah. Loaded with Kathy and I, Enoch, Daniel (the driver), and two giant boxes of books, donated by Massaquoi and by a teacher friend of mine here in San Antonio. I want to give a wonderful thank you to Pastor Luo of Massaquoi for his generosity in this venture. His tiny, cane and tarp school and library donated copies of textbooks in 1st -4th grades because "when you give to another, God's wealth shines down to all involved." So, we (the books and all) headed down the bumps and single board bridges to the school. The first day there is Sunday so we went to church with Sarah and Pinky (Lydia's daughter) and had a great time listening to the choir sing in Pele, the preacher speak in Basa and a translator help us understand in English. It was awesome to listen to the dialects and to know when to say, "Amen!" Gorgeous. The children in the church were enamored with the Americans in african clothing (Kathy and I have been to Liberia before so we have dresses, of course). Many of those in the community make offerings to the church in food and thus, we left feeling loved and with dinner! Sarah rosted the corn and we ate (as always) well. Later, we sat around the thatched kitchen and talked to everyone who wandered by, which SO many did! We played with the children (okay, mostly I did), but I learned new rhymes (my reading professor self was in heaven!)...I hear it now, "Last night, the baby's born, 24 hours to learn it all..." It was great to enjoy the children and to hear them try to teach us the rhymes and games.