Teachers In Action!

What do I do here in Nigeria? That is the question that everyone asks me . . . and it is a good question, but a hard one to answer. As Auntie Nicky would say "plenty of bits and pieces". She is absolutely right. There are ALWAYS things to be done here . . . little things that take BIG amounts of time. What you could get done easily in a mornings time at home, take a full day here . . . if not two days. For example mailing a package from the post office, or getting a few sheets of paper printed off (click on this link to read a great blog written by Nicky about her post office ordeal: http://brandnicky.blogspot.com/2008/09/parcels.html), takes almost a full day . . . and by the time you have your package mailed or your photocopies made, you are so exhausted from the stress that you feel you have completed a whole days work even if it was only two hours . . . Anyways, this blog isn't about post offices, photocopies, or how God is teaching me to be PATIENT in this culture, it's about something we have accomplished, with God's provision and the help of many people. . . . It's about building a school!!

Now when I say building a school, I don't mean building the actual physical structure (that was last years project . . .). Now that the building is standing, it needed to be filled with desks, benches, clocks, white boards, and alphabet posters! All the little things that make a classroom a classroom.

Due to the fact that the primary school in Gyero is so rough, we have created additional classes of our own for our students to supplement the education they are getting at the village primary school . . . the village school is always on strike, the teachers don't get paid very much, or paid at all, so often they show up to class late, or don't show up at all (although praise the Lord we have a new Christian headmistress who is doing a great job, so there is hope).

So Nicky and I spent this past week helping Uncle Sunday setup the school in Gyero. We went shopping for school supplies, created class lists, found teaching materials, moved desks, moved benches, sorted through stacks and stacks of papers and books, created reward charts and hung up alphabet posters! It was incredible to watch the transformation of these stone rooms. In just a few hours they went from messy, dirty boring rooms, to organized classrooms! The boys were a big help, and I enjoyed getting to know the boys more as me moved furniture and worked together.

A huge thank you to all of you who responded to our appeal for school supplies, because not only did your money go to help setup these classrooms, but also helped pay for school fees for all of our children. It is incredible how far even small amounts of money can go here! If you are interested in helping support these children's education (we have only paid for their first term so far . . . we have two more terms to pay for . . .) Please go to the following link: http://www.gonigeria.org/ and denote on your check that your gift should be used for education. Any gifts are greatly appreciated and go to a good cause! I can tell you from personal experience! :)

So . . . this is a day's work here in Nigeria! Setting up a school . . . among MANY other things!