The HODGSONS... Then and Now!

In the 1980s our family lived in Liberia in River Cess County at Po River Beach. The last 7 miles to our rather remote location were traveled SLOWLY by motorcycle along a bumpy trail that wound across sandy coastal savanna, through wet rain forest, over slippery stick-and-log "bridges", and up and down steep hills severely eroded by Liberia's heavy rainfall! This picture was taken in early 1989 as we were getting ready to start "the trip". There seemed to be only one "seating plan" that worked for us: First Dad and Mom would get on, then Andrea (2 years) would squeeze in between us, next Nathaniel (4) would scramble up right behind the handle bars, and finally Stephanie (6) would try to get comfortable on the gas tank in front of Dad! We all agreed that not having to walk 2 1/2 hours in the hot sun (or sometimes in the pouring rain) was well worth any discomforts of the ride! In fact, Nathaniel found the trip so relaxing that he would often fold his arms across the handle bars, put his head down, and fall fast asleep! (Did I mention that our overnight bag was usually secured over the taillight and that a few other belongings in plastic bags were slung from both handle bars?)
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Eighteen years later in January 2007, Paula and I were back in Liberia for a visit and we crossed the Cess River by boat, as we had done so many times before! We were on our way to Po River Beach where we had taught for 10 years before the war and where we had built so many family memories! This time, however, there was no motorcycle on the other side of the river and we had to walk!
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In January of this year, I was back in Liberia again, this time with an American team, to visit the land in Buchanan that had recently been purchased for a new Pillar school campus. This freshly-planted property stake seemed to mark the beginning of an exciting new venture in Christian school education for Liberia!
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The natural beauty and quiet solitude of this place would seem to make it an ideal setting for a school. So far, however, there is not a single building on the land... but hopefully this will soon change!
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Students from the overcrowded Pillar school facilities in town joined the Pillar visitors from the States to view this spacious new property. No doubt they were anticipating the day when this relaxing scene would mean that they were taking a welcome break from their busy classes!

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Paula and I are seriously considering the possibility of making an extended working visit to Liberia (perhaps as early as this summer) in order to help get the first building project on this land organized and underway! We will keep you posted, right here on this blog!

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PROJECT BUCHANAN is being funded by interested groups and individuals whose tax-deductible donations are being channeled through special Pillar Missions accounts and go in their entirety to the project! If you are interested in learning more about PROJECT BUCHANAN or would like to know how you can help to make this new school campus a reality for postwar Liberia, email me at: ghodgson2003@yahoo.com