Mid morning when I was preparing to head to the preaching point for service, an intense wind came through and behind it followed a severe downpour. The rain and winds continued for at least half an hour with palm trees bending, sending one my saw horses set up by the porch flying across the yard.… Continue reading GROW pains

I was dragging a bit today so I didn’t do a whole lot that felt productive. The Peace Corps young lady, Cory, whom I met on our Brussels flight (and works at CB Dunbar hospital on Gbarnga) gave me a connection to a guy named Nathan who is up in Ganta (about 45 minutes north)… Continue reading Graduation, flash cards, and cuboids

As students gathered at the flagpole for the morning opening, I seized the opportunity to grab a stepladder and climb up for a group photo. I took one with the traditional hope-they-smile look. Another where they stuck their tongues out at me. And then the shot below for your viewing pleasure. One of the blessings… Continue reading PE Friday and layer boxes

I received an early morning phone call from Rupert, the current Rotary club president, that my grant reimbursement checks were ready and could be picked up at Cuttington University where he works. John 2 had not yet arrived so I waited a bit after breakfast for him to drive me there before running off to… Continue reading Bucket babies and other Liberian tricks

The solar racks were painted a few days ago so we set up some “stepping planks” secured by ropes on the opposite side of the school building in order to scale the roof without crushing the corrugated zinc. Four men hoisted the welded frames while Isaac and I received them. The long self-tapping ceramic coated… Continue reading Jon on a hot tin roof

Randell came up from Monrovia this morning to assist with interviewing two teacher candidates for next year’s K1 and 1st grade openings. Arriving a little early gave her a chance to play with the ABC class during recess and hear how smart they are as they recited all the counties of Liberia with their corresponding… Continue reading Teacher interviews

I’m reading an interesting book called Factfulness by Hans Rosling, a book that Bill Gates recommends. The premise is that we’re wrong about the world and that things are better than we think. For example, despite the images of starving children we still see on TV, the proportion of the world population living in extreme… Continue reading Factfulness

I went to bed thinking I would wake up late, make pancakes and bacon for breakfast with some fresh pineapple, then head to church at the preaching point for a long sweaty service. When I woke up, my mind put my body in motion for a different plan. For some reason it seemed like this… Continue reading Ping pong and the banana mechanic

Today was what we call in New England a “wicked hot” day! The sun was intense but the workers kept going like it was just another day digging a three foot deep trench with pick axes and shovels. Since they had about 180 feet completed, I jumped in the muddy trough and began laying PVC… Continue reading Amphibious Lichtenstein

I’ve had several inquiries about the solar component I thought was missing from my luggage. After unpacking everything, I did eventually find that lightning arrestor. Good thing because I wasn’t sure of Plan B yet. Thanks for being concerned.