And Just Like That, Some Things Come to an End

Hello friends and fellow Liberia-enthusiasts :)  I hope you all are well!  Sorry my posts have been a bit scarce lately.  As mentioned, this period in school has been a short but busy one! 

You know, time is a funny thing; in some ways I feel like we have only just arrived, and in some ways I feel like we have been here forever!  I know our time is starting to add up, however, when we start to experience endings along with new beginnings.  This past Friday marked one major ending - the ending of teaching for the first semester.  We still have to proctor exams next week, but I am done with instruction for the year 2009.  Wow.  Second semester is a little longer than first semester, but it's in moments like these that I feel like I am going to blink and then find myself on a plane bound for the US.  It is unbelievable. 

This past week has also marked the presence of the first large group from the States on campus since our arrival.  The group from Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, TX (in addition to a couple folks from Texas Baptist Men) arrived last week and left yesterday (Friday).  During their time at Ricks, they did so much wonderful work: they painted the outside of the school building (a big job!), worked on improving the campus water system, distributed backpacks to almost every student in the school, gave out shoes to some of the younger kids who desperately needed them, taught nightly Bible studies, visited a local orphanage, and helped train elementary teachers in using a new Bible curriculum and resources. 

In addition to all the work this group did for and with the school, they also ministered to Ann Elizabeth and I through their friendship, fellowship, and food!  They invited us over to their house each night to enjoy a home-cooked dinner prepared by the team cook; we enjoyed cheesey potatoes, chicken macaroni, butter chicken, rolls from scratch, cherry pie/cobbler, brownies/cookies, and so much more absolutely delicious food.  I know it seems superficial, but sharing food - especially familiar food that reminds you of "home" - really can be a powerful ministry.  We enjoyed sitting with them each night, eating our meal and hearing their stories from the day.  It was fun to feel like we had become the experts on life in Liberia and at Ricks specifically.  We were sad to see them leave - another ending - yesterday.  There will be more groups coming throughout the year, and we look forward to sharing in their experiences in this amazing place we have come to call home.