ganta update

While I'm in Ganta, I'm going to be volunteering at one of the local high schools, Ganta United Methodist High School. Ganta has a strong Methodist missions presence, and in upcoming posts, I hope to tell you more about the Methodists' history here. It is very interesting. Today, the United Methodist Church supports a hospital, a school and a missions compound in Liberia's second largest city.

I'm volunteering three days a week at the high school as a teacher's assistant/tutor (Mondays and Fridays) and a guidance counselor (Wednesdays).

Yesterday and today I met with some of the English teachers and learned more about their needs. Because of the war and the poor educational system in Liberia, many students are far behind in their classes. It is common to have 20-year-olds or older in high school classes. As a teacher's assistant/tutor, I'll be helping students with grammar and composition.

Yesterday, I was promptly handed a red pen and then began grading essays! I sat with the teachers in the library, and we talked about the classes and future lessons as we graded. It was inspiring to be among educators who are committed to Liberian youth and want to see them succeed. I also want to see these students improve their writing skills and to become confident writers. I'm looking forward to learning from the teachers here and helping them with tasks that will make their jobs easier.

(And Bobbie, if you are reading this, I think about you every time I'm on campus. You would be unbelievable here. The teachers don't have lesson plans, and you could do so much to encourage them and to pass along the resources you have. And you would just fall in love with the Liberian children. God gifted you with the ability to reach out to those who have been left behind, and the children of Liberia have been left behind for so many years. We need you here! There is a grade school on campus. You can volunteer there. I will volunteer in the high school. Just come for a month! Bring a team of teachers! It would be so fun! The school also needs basketball coaches, so Kyle can come, too, if he has time off!

On Wednesdays, I'll be working as one of the high school's counselors. I'm really looking forward to this opportunity. Working in postwar Liberia has really shown me how great a need there is for counselors. Many Liberians have not explored all the trauma they have been through, and although not diagnosed here, thousands of people are living with post-traumatic stress disorder.

I spent time talking with the other school counselors about some of the issues many children face here. Among them — poverty, parents who aren't at home because they are gone all day selling goods at outdoor markets, a lack of role models, discouragement and anger because of what happened to them during the war (the latter applying to young adults who are still in high school).

I have volunteered as a youth counselor before, but I definitely don't feel qualified for this volunteer position, and I'm just hoping that I can listen to students in need, encourage them, pray with them, and just be there for them. The school has given me a small room (no electricity in the room but two windows for light) to meet with students. I'm planning to set up the room to make it as welcoming as possible. It's in pretty bad shape. Ideas?

Comments

[Tiffany]

I know you were talking to your friend Bobbie, but do you really think you could use teachers in Liberia? I went to India to do some teacher training on a self-created service trip, but I didn't feel like we were that helpful. Would you think differently about Liberia? I've had a heart for Africa, but somehow I ended up in China. Anyway, I'm about to move back to the States, so that may or may not increase the likeliness of me being able to go to Liberia, but I just thought I'd ask. Let me know!