Tour of Pillar Elementary School! (Photo report of Liberia Trip Jan 2009: Part 2 of 6)

After breakfast, a 15-minute walk through town would lead us to the Pillar school where we could meet students and staff and observe classes in session!

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The loud rattling call and brilliant blue plumage of a Woodland Kingfisher (a common dry-season visitor to Liberia)

caught our attention as it flew up into a tree!

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Soon the school on the hill came into view!

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Until about 15 years ago, this building was Pastor Jacob's home in Buchanan. But when the civil war forced the Pillar school in River Cess to move "up the coast" about 50 miles (80 km) to Buchanan, Jacob moved out of his home so that teachers and students could move in!
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Today the many small "classrooms" in this building are overcrowded, and there is not enough room on this property to build a larger, more adequate school facility.

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Rob Cruver (center) visited with students, while

Gabriel and Robert looked on.
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Larry Rutter (bottom left) and the rest of the team met informally with students and teachers...
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...and also visited them in their classrooms!

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Mary Ann talked to students while Larry adjusted his camera!

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Mary Ann stopped for a picture with students...
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...and also admired their work!

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This cheerful young man...

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...and this quiet learner...

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...and this thoughtful boy--
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...all these eager students have the potential to make a positive difference in Liberia's future!

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The kindergarten class paused for this "photo op" with

Mary Ann Lawrence and Rie McGroarty.

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Rie, who has training in curriculum development,

admired this teacher's lesson plans...
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...which included an art lesson (left) about "Mr. Spider"

of Liberian folklore fame,

and a science lesson about "The Five Senses"!

Team from US Arrives in Buchanan! (Photo report of Liberia Trip Jan 2009: Part 1 of 6)

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In January of this year (2009), Rob Cruver (far left), Robert Saydee, and 5 others from the United States visited Liberia. The first few days were spent at the annual Pillar church conference, which this year was held at Harbel (not far from Roberts International Airport).
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After the conference, the team traveled about 60 miles (100 km) by road "down the coast" to the port city of Buchanan (pop. 34,000).

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The highway from Monrovia into Buchanan continues as the "main drag" through town, with pedestrian traffic and numerous markets along both sides of the road.

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The streets of Buchanan were filled with children playing.

I wondered:

"Where do they go to school? Do they even go to school?"

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At Pastor Jacob Tequah's home, there were cold drinks and fresh bananas waiting for us! Seated (from left to right) are Rie McGroarty with Terry, Rob Cruver, Mary Ann Lawrence, and Gordon Tiner.

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It had been a long day for everyone, including little Terry who made friends quickly with Rie... and then promptly fell asleep!

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Jacob Tequah is former Pillar Field Director for Liberia and retired Pillar pastor in Buchanan. His son Gabriel is now pastor of the church and principal of the Pillar school in Buchanan.

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Martha, Gabriel's wife, cooked us some great Liberian meals!

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Here she is at work in her "outdoor kitchen area".

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A favorite Liberian dish is "palm butter rice", served with chicken or fish!

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Palm butter is made from the rich orange fruits of the oil palm,

a tree that grows everywhere.

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Jacob is always making home improvements (note the unfinished two-story construction). Just before we arrived, he had installed the water tank on the roof (top center) to serve a new guest room and adjoining bath below.

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This lizard (a familiar species on rock piles and around concrete structures) was clinging to the side of the building,

head-bobbing in the early morning sunshine!

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