School visits Part I

On my agenda while in Liberia has been to visit some established and high functioning schools. Pastor Wesley has made that happen this week. It has been enlightening, encouraging, challenging, intimidating, overwhelming, and well, I'll be honest, it has felt a little like a whirlwind celebrity tour - which I will get to.
Our first stop with Calvary (K-12)- within walking distance of CMA. This is where Eddie's father, Pa Wamah (seems everyone calls him that!) has worked for many years. In fact, if I understand correctly, he was a part of the original group of Liberians who started the school. He is the finance guy and the cashier sits in the exterior office. We talked for a long while. It was also my first time seeing him. He was very animated in telling me all about the school and it's humble beginnings. The school first was held in a rented building, then it was held in a portion of a building - as I have seen in every school. They operated on the lower level while building the second story. We talked about tuition, government schools and buying land and all kinds of other things. Then he took me to see the classrooms, as I had asked. It was so encouraging to see a thriving educational environment. There is hope for Liberia, but so many more schools are needed. Each classroom we

visited was not unlike a classroom I see at home. Bright colors, posters on the walls, teachers and teacher aids, workbooks and curriculum. It was a little bit of a relief to see things functioning so beautifully!
Pa Wamah walked us over to the church to see the nursery and preK. Of course, they were all adorable and they look at me like a deer in headlights. White woman alert! As we were leaving I made the mistake of asking one child if I could tie his shoe. And then every shoe was suddenly untied and after being tied by the visitor, became mysteriously untied again. Hawa said they will all talk about how the white woman tied their shoe. It feels a little wild at times to be so interesting.
The next school is Best Brains (in Thinking Village no less!). Anita, from the CMA board, is the kindergarten teacher here. This is a school I noticed last trip because of not only the name, but the entire building is painted bright purple! I mean PURPLE! Here in Liberia, when we commit to a color, we commit. The uniforms are purple, the school buses are purple, the teachers all wear the same purple fabric tops and dresses. It's actually quite a pleasing asethetic, or at least it fun and cheery. Anita also takes me around to meet all the classes. And in every school and nearly every classroom, the children all pop up as soon as I walk in the door. They have a singsong welcome they do that starts with "good morning, visitor. How are you today?" And I answer. And then they look at me as if I am the most fascinating thing

they have ever seen - or maybe the scariest? It is the unknown. Nothing special about me.
Class after class of this is alot...not for the faint of heart or the extreme introvert. I feel like I have to say something in return and explain in 3 seconds or less what I am doing standing in front of their class randomly. With the littles, I just take to "shaking" hands or fist bumping each one of them. But I do kind of laugh (to myself only) that this feels like Jaye's national tour - kissing babies and shaking hands. I am so blessed and feel so spoiled every moment I am here.
Yesterday, we visited ELWA Academy here where I am staying and then Virginia Christian Academy on Bushrod Island where the Wesleys live. I found out that yes, it is named after the US state. The classes all felt a little more chaotic but I kind of expected that as my experience on "the island" as we call it, is a rougher crowd. But still so hopeful, so much productivity happens in a space dedicated to learning. Textbooks and ABC posters and the tools needs to teach, structure, investment from families, meal programs and kitchens and playgrounds. We at CMA have a long way to go but the vision and my understanding of Pastor has been saying to me is becoming clearer. God is faithful and we will start much smaller than anything I witnessing. But that is how they all started. And I am trying to be

careful to neither let my mind race ahead nor get discouraged.
Today, Thursday, we visited Prophet's school (Moses from the CMA board). It is called Tenecephloh - which is the school we competed against the first day I was here. The school opened in 2018 (and they are pink and brown uniforms in case any one is tracking) so it was nice to hear from the principal who has been there since the beginning. So much work and sacrifice those first few years. You actually have to get students in the doors once they are open! I also got the grand tour and visited every class. One of the best moments was giving little handshakes in the preK class and when I got around to the last student, he just ran to me and looked up, "like pick me up." He just grinned!
I will write a part II. I needed to get some of this put down on paper so to speak. I have so much to process and yet very little time to do so. I am glad Eddie and Greta are arriving tomorrow. But hopefully this gives a visual of what these well-established schools look and feel like.
Prayers:
*Safe travels for Greta and Eddie
*Peace for them as they have been frustrated time and again with

obtaining their son's passport and ultimately he could not join them on this trip
*Vision and clarity in what lies ahead
*Relationship building
*Thanksgiving for energy and edurance! God is good and I feel good.