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March 2019 – Naomi and Noelle visit Liberia

Naomi received a white chicken as a “thank you” gift from the teachers and parents for sponsoring schools in collaboration with Protestant Principal Emmanuel Z Reeves (in white shirt). Man in blue striped shirt served well as Naomi’s faithful and hard-working taxi driver for every day of the trip.

We received an enthusiastic welcome from the teachers, students and families at this school in Gpondor. This lovely building is being rented, and grateful students attend from a wide geographic area.
Noelle visiting some of the students in Jesse Toweh’s school, Project for Children, in Kakata.
Noelle becomes acquainted with a new percussion instrument from Marwollo at Project for Children.
Noelle greets some of the students at St Christopher Catholic School, Kakata.
We brought over a full suitcase of items to donate, including this world map.
Noelle donated hundreds of pencils, boxes and bags of crayons and various types of math flash cards.
Noelle is passing on some high quality scissors, hole punch and the ever-popular crayons.
Noelle made friends with Principal Emmanuel Reeves’ youngest child, Naomi, named after Noelle’s mother.
Noelle visiting with the Vision Grace students, Emmanuel Reeves as Principal.
Women from Vision Grace honor Noelle through a public ceremony where they drape her with a new outfit purchased to express their gratitude for her kindness and generosity to them.
Emmanuel Reeves and other leaders express their thanks to Noelle.
Naomi visited the construction site of the St Martin de Porrres Catholic Community Center in Kakata. Naomi confers with Fr. Emmanuel Mbuk (priest in Kakata) and Fr. Joseph (priest in Paynesville).
Architect plans and drawings for St Martin de Porres Catholic Community Center are reviewed and discussed on site. The next construction phase will be the Caretaker’s Office and Residence.
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Liberian Life – children

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Naomi – Great Commission Global (Jesse Toweh)

Project for Children School, with Jesse Toweh as Principal, 2017.
Offering a word of encouragement at Jesse’s evening prayer service, 2017.
Naomi briefly visited Jesse’s church service on Sunday after Catholic Mass was over, 2017.
Visiting Jesse’s farm & learning about farming the Liberian way, 2018.
Naomi was a guest at Project for Children compound for the 2017 & 2018 trips.
Eating in Jesse’s common living area in his house, 2018.

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Naomi – St Christopher Catholic Church

Naomi visits St Christopher briefly in 2011.
Jane Heinks and Naomi visit with Fr. Paul Sobande MSP to deliver donations, 2013.
Jane and Naomi with St. Christopher Parish School administrators, 2013.
After Mass, 2013.
After Mass, 2013.
With members of the St Christopher’s Parish Council, 2017.
With Fr. Emmanuel Mbuk MSP and parishioners of sister parish; St. Mary Magdalene in Weala, 2018.
After Mass with Fr. Paul Sobande MSP, and other friends, 2018.
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Naomi – Totota (3 schools under Pastor Reeves)

Naomi received a white chicken and white cola nuts as a traditional “thank you,” 2017.
Naomi and grateful mothers; their children have a place to go to school! 2017
A different village school with more grateful parents, another chicken and cola nuts, 2017.
Words of encouragement to village parents, teachers and students. Pastor Reeves in the red shirt. Annie next to Naomi, 2017.
Standing inside one of the village school classrooms with school parents, 2017
Yes, the schools are named after Naomi (not her idea!) 2017.
Naomi with Jalla-mu village school students and teachers, 2017.
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Naomi – Gwee Town (Pastor Reeves’ home village)

Gwee Town, 2013.
Naomi’s greeting and brief talk were translated into Kpele (some villagers do not know English), 2013.
Meeting Pastor Reeves’ mother and father, 2013.
Seeing the mud bricks set aside for the construction of a local school (none in the area), 2013.
The Gwee Town residents prepared a flower archway as a welcome, 2013.
We ate a fabulous lunch of rice, greens an chicken, 2013.
These children have no school to attend – What can we do to change this? 2013
Naomi returned 4 years later – there is the beginning of a school in Gwee Town, 2017.
It is a poor village; only a few children could afford to pay for uniforms, 2017.
In Gwee Town where the permanent school is to be built, 2017.
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Naomi – Vision Grace, Kakata (Pastor Reeves)

Fun at recess, 2018.
Spending some time with baby Naomi (Georgia’s daughter), 2018.
Teaching at a teacher’s conference, 2017.
Visiting with the school teachers, 2017.
Visiting with the students, 2017.
Naomi with Annie, Naomi’s “body guard” and special helper, 2017.
Naomi and Annie, on the platform at the front of Pastor Reeves’s church, 2017.
Bible lesson to teachers in Pastor Reeves’ church, 2017.
Four chickens Naomi received as gifts (were eaten in the next few days), 2017.
Naomi and Annie before a service at Pastor Reeves’ church, 2017.
Women of Pastor Reeves’ church put a new dress on Naomi and pinned “blessings” to her, 2017.
Naomi was presented with a certificate of appreciation, 2017.
Naomi and Kakata teachers, 2013.
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Naomi – 2005 First Visit to Liberia

In 2004, Naomi’s family adopted our first African-American heritage daughter, Noelle.
After prayer, Naomi’s family adopted their second daughter, this time from Liberia, Nicole, 2005.
Twice the blessing! 2005
Twice the Love!
So much Joy!
Naomi and Nicole
Naomi’s husband, Nelson, visited Kenya twice and brought home clothing for Naomi and the girls.
Nicole catches her first fish!
Family trip to Paris, France and Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2014.
Nicole in Los Angeles, California, 2015.
2017

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St Christopher Catholic Church Parish School

2013
2013
Students with administrator, 2018.
St Christopher Parish School students between classes, April 2018.
Science Lab, 2013.
Science Lab, 2013.
St Christopher Parish School Administration staff, 2013.
Teachers assembled, All Saints’ Day School Mass, 2013.
Fr. Paul Sobande MSP, Jane Heinks and Registrar review school records, 2013.
School’s out; preparing to go home, 2013.
Leaving school for the day, 2017.
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St Christopher Catholic Church – History

First interaction with St. Christopher Catholic Church, Kakata, 2011.

Naomi donated some Catholic books provided by a friend, Deacon Mike Martin, from Minnesota, 2011.


Inside of St. Christopher Catholic Church. Naomi is not Catholic at this time, but was curious to visit this parish, 2011.

The Church interior had been updated by Naomi’s second visit in 2013.
St Christopher vestry area, 2013.
Sacristy supplies, 2013.

Jane Heinks and Naomi Hard passed on to Fr. Paul Sobande MSP donations from St John the Baptist, New Brighton, MN – Bibles, Catechisms, religious books, school and dental supplies, 2013.
Fr. Paul Sobande MSP discussing St Christopher parish issues with Jane Heinks, 2013.
Fr. Paul Sobande MSP, Sunday Mass, November 2013.
Fr. Paul Sobande MSP, required a truck to say Mass at 3 sites on Sundays; sites were at least 30 minutes driving distance from each other. [Jane Heinks exiting the vehicle.] 2013
Naomi practicing the gourd shaker (percussion instrument) following Sunday Mass. Naomi became Catholic six months earlier, 2013.
New friends at St Christopher; this woman passed away in 2017. Photo from 2013.
Ready to attend Mass on Sunday morning, 2013.
Jane Heinks making friends with two young parishioners. 2013.
Mary Yah Coleman and Fr. Emmanuel Mbuk MSP, newly-appointed pastor for St Christopher in Kakata and St. Mary Magdalene in Weala, 2017.
St Christopher Catholic Church and School, 2017.
Adoration and Exhibition of the Holy Eucharist prior to weekday Masses, led by Fr. Emmanuel Mbuk MSP, 2018.
Fr. Paul Sobande MSP (Parochial Vicar), Naomi and friends after Sunday Mass, 2018.
Adoration Chapel at St. Christopher Catholic Church, 2018.
Fr. Paul Sobande and parishioners after Sunday Mass; distribution of Catholic religious articles & Rosary beads, 2018.