Africablog: Operation Classroom '07

We met on Tuesday night with the heads of the Ganta school and hospital to discuss their needs and figure out how we can most effectively support their work. We asked some questions to help us refine how we approach the Operation Classroom packing parties and other supply drives in support of what's going on here in Liberia. They specifically expressed a need for literature from African authors -- this may be an important focus for our stateside efforts in the future!

Our final day in Ganta was terrific. We started the morning with a double set of devotional time -- one with the kids and staff at Ganta School (where we gave them some sporting equipment and other fun stuff) and one with the hospital staff (where they gave us each a beautiful hand-painted watercolor by a local artist). Bonnie conducted a continuing-ed workshop for nurses, aides, and nursing students, and others either assisted with the workshop or toured the hospital. While we know we could do so much more on a longer stay, we feel good about the relatively constructive impact we're making in a relatively short amount of time.

As we were loading up to head back to Monrovia, a group of locals gathered around the bus and we got to touch base with some of the kids and others we had met the previous day. It was great to see their smiles and shake their hands -- we'll teach you the West African handshake when we get back.

We hopped on the bus from Ganta around 11:15 a.m. and made our way back toward Monrovia on a long, but safe, five-hour trip. Once we arrived in Monrovia, we spent some time in the Red Light District -- although it's not the kind of red light district you might be thinking...it's the area of town (the only one that I could see) that had actual traffic lights, so there was, in fact, quite a bit of traffic! We actually got through it more quickly than I expected we would, and we were home in time for a nice shower and nap before dinner.

Our anticipated friends from the consulate were unable to join us for dinner last night, but we brought other friends with us. One of the folks we've met this week is a United Methodist missionary named Sue. She works through the General Board of Global Ministries, the mission arm of the UMC, and will be heading up to Ganta to stay for a couple years. (She arrived in Monrovia the same day we did, and has just wrapped up a six-year mission stay in Afghanistan.) Other friends who joined us included Anthony and Jennifer Dioh (our dear hosts here), Mary and Herbert Zigbou (who have been in Ganta for many years but who are taking a one-year sabbatical starting in February), and -- perhaps most important -- Isaac, our driver, who has faithfully ferried us from place to place safely and on time (from a West African perspective). If you're traveling to Liberia, you should definitely stop by the Royal Hotel and try the hummus -- really, all the food was quite good and we all had a great time at dinner.

HEALTH UPDATE: Most of us are feeling great! Those who still have tummy troubles are in good hands and should be OK for our flight to Sierra Leone this afternoon.