Click on the links to read about their journey and getting settled into life in Liberia. I have copied Paul's article about their time in Buchanan below - as you can see, they had a lot of opportunity to interact with the children, staff and parents. Click on the link above to see more pictures and larger versions of the ones at the bottom of this news item.

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After spending some time in Monrovia, Justina and Paul went to Buchanan to spend some time with the foundation’s school. They spent more than a week in the port city.

While in Buchanan, they met and discussed with the staff and parents and interacted with the students in various ways. It was a time interestingly spent.

Upon arrival at the school, Justina and Paul, on behalf of the foundation, presented to the school some items taken from Poland for the kids. The items included footballs, volleyball, volleyball net, football pump and so forth. Mr. Samuel Nimely, Principal of the school, received the items and thanked the foundation for the presents.

The kids were excited about the gifts and expressed gratitude to the foundation. Some of the students excitedly played a short volleyball match with Justina and some of the teachers. For the kids, it was their very first time playing volleyball. They threw it here and there, and jumped here and there. It was a period of great fun and togetherness.

In the parent-teacher meeting, the Principal, Mr. Nimely, introduced the two guests – Justina and Paul. The parents welcomed them and thanked the foundation for the great assistance rendered their children. The parents then appealed to the foundation to do more for their children and other children in the community.

Speaking on behalf of the foundation, Justina thanked the parents for their presence in the meeting and their cooperation and involvement in the school. She assure the parents: “I am happy to be in Buchanan and to see you. It’s good that I have seen you, seen and heard what some of the problems are. I can now take the message back to Europe and see what we as an organization can do to continue to help you and your children.”

In the staff-only meeting, which brought together administrators, teachers and support staff, Paul indicated to the attendees that he has returned home to help take the school to the next level. He also encouraged them not only for them to work with him in the interest of the school, but also to suggest ideas that will help improve the school. “I don’t know all the answers. I want us to work as a team in moving the school forward,” Paul said.

Justina then encouraged the staff to cooperate with one another , and also to work in the interest of the school. She said, “We understand your point that the money you are making is not much; however, we would like you to do your best for the school. The children’s future depends on you a lot.”

The staff appealed to the foundation, through Justina and Paul, for an increment in their salary, so as to help them cope with the high cost of living. They also suggested some ideas to help make the school a better place for the kids. They talked about showing children’s movies once a week, fixing new and more desks, sending some of the teachers for training, conducting teachers’ workshop twice a year, issuing identification cards to students yearly, building a school building, introducing more vocational programs and so forth.

Besides Justina’s official visit to the school, she also used her stay in Buchanan to get to know the city and its people and to socialize, worshipping at the New Life Jubilee Fellowship Church, visiting clubs, walking the streets, making new friends, visiting the famous Bacoli Beach in Buchanan, etc. She swam in the ocean and rested on the beach.

At one point, Justina saw a group of First United Methodist Church members marching on Tubman Street in Buchanan. Instantly, Justina joined the crowd to march with them to their delight. They held her hand as they marched.

Justina could also not ignore the food in Buchanan – fried plantain gravy, goat barbecue, yam gravy, papaya, young coconut, young coconut water, boiled cassava, etc.

After spending more than a week in Buchanan, it was time for Justina and Paul to depart the city for Monrovia. They left the city on Friday, December 3, since Justina’s departure time is December 10.

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