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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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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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Pastor Reeves’ Family

After mourning the passing of his beloved first wife, Pastor Reeves married Garmee, and now he has a large, happy, supportive family.

Pastor Reeves with his mother-in-law (Lt) and wife (8 months’ pregnant), 2017.
Pastor Reeves’ children in their play/work clothes, 2017.
Mrs. Reeves with baby Naomi, 2018.
Baby Naomi sleeping on her mother’s lap, 2018.

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The Vision Grace School Students

Pastor Reeves sets up schools in areas where the families are disadvantaged economically and he charges (in 2017) only $20 for registration and $20 tuition for the entire school year. The students must come up with $8.00 for a tailor to sew a school uniform. By receiving donations from Building Bridges Liberia, Pastor Reeves is able to offer an education for families that otherwise would have no opportunity to educate their children.

Naomi visiting with her friends at the Vision Grace Kakata school, 2017.

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Totota Schools (Jallahmu-ta)

Jallahmu-ta was the first district in the Totota area to have a school up and running through Pastor Reeves’ sponsorship. Today it is the largest of the Totota village schools. Their staff are diligent, organized and have strong support among community members.

A strip of classrooms and courtyard with flag, 2017.
The Jallahmu-ta students gathered on a Saturday afternoon to greet & thank Naomi for her assistance over several years 2017.
Naomi presented words of greeting and biblical exhortation to stay strong in their resolve, 2017.
Naomi was presented with a white chicken and white cola nuts, signs of thanks and appreciation, 2017.
The school community expressed thanks for the library books gathered and sent by Naomi (only a few are represented here of the many barrels shipped to Liberia), 2017.
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Totota Schools (Gwee Town & Foday-ta)

Pastor Reeves grew up in the Gwee Town district of Totota, where there had never existed  a school for the village children.

These Gwee Town children had no school available to attend, 2013.
The Muslim village chief (Rt) donated land for a future school. Pastor Reeves’ uncle (Lt) paid for him to attend school when he was a boy, the only one of his 7 siblings, 2013
Pastor Reeves had gathered mud bricks to use to build a school building, 2013.
Foday-ta beginning school building, 2017.

Foday-ta children have a school to attend, greatly expanding their options for their future lives. 2017
The Foday-ta parents and children gathered to voice thanks to Pastor Reeves, to God and Building Bridges Liberia for sponsoring the village school, 2017.
Partnership in ministry…
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Upgrades to Kakata School

In 2013, the classrooms had no doorframes or doors, there was no electrical wiring, the closest water source was up the hill and the latrine was old.

The following photos are all projects Naomi was pleased to pay for.

New doors and doorframes were installed in school classrooms, 2014.
Electrical wiring added, aiding in night security, 2014.
Pastor Reeves and his wife Garmee next to the new well, conveniently located inside the Kakata school yard, covered for safety during school hours.
New latrines under construction in Kakata, 2017.
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Vision Grace Teachers

Some of the Vision Grace teachers with Naomi – Fall 2013
Teacher training workshop – Fall 2014

Teachers: the hard-working servants of the next generation of Liberians

Rural Totota volunteer teachers – 2017
Naomi with most of the main campus Vision Grace Kakata teachers, 2018.