Row 1 from left: Catherine Frazier holding Christian Licon who is the grandson of Anthony and Dolly. Anthony who was the principal of Njala Komboya Secondary School and his wife Dolly worked with Catherine and Richard Frazier from 1976-78 when the Frazier's were Peace Corps volunteers. Hope Law with taxi drivers in Makeni. The taxi's were motorcycles. Row 2 from left: Nina Frazier having her hair braided at the Makeni church hall. The water brigade at Makeni Secondary School. The well was 200 yards away from the school.
Each day the young children of Makeni surrounded the OC team with laughter, conversation and attention. This made our work easy as we felt that our efforts would ultimately help the most important resource of Sierra Leone, the children. Upper left: Rev. Paul Murphy-Geiss. Upper right: Judy Figi conducting an improptu field trip.
The 'OC' Teams Home Away From Home: Buyas Motel
The Buyas Motel was located about 3 blocks from the Makeni UMC church. OC team members walked to the church for meals. We had electricity from 7:30 PM to 2:30 AM most nights. The motel had a nearby well which supplied us with water.
UMC Secondary & Primary Schools
Pictures listed clockwise: [L-R] Hope Law, Allusign, Les Law and Rev. John Blinn. Allusign was the prefect [ class president] of Form III at the UMC Secondary School in Makeni. Upper primary students were eager to show us their report cards. The reports listed all subjects and the attendance records of the student. Most important, the report card had a stamp that indicated if the student was promoted to the next level. Hope Laws former school in Colorado provided uniforms for the girls volleyball team. Hope Law pictured with the Makeni UMC Secondary School Principal Mr. Barzey.
Aids Workshop At the UMC Makeni Church
Sierra Leone United Methodist Church members [ shown on the right ] from Freetown traveled to Makeni to present an aids workshop aimed at presenting information to young people about the dangers of aids. The workshop was presented in the UMC church in Makeni. Right: A workshop presenter addresses participants. Above: John [L] and Elaine Blinn[R] and Josephine [center] at the UMC church [shown below ] in Makeni. Josephine was one of the church women who prepared meals for the 13 Operation Classroom team members. Rev. Blinn delivered the sermon on Sunday, July 25. His homily was translated into Krio.
Self Help Projects
Rev. Sumaila Sesay, one of the mathematics workshop participants, has started a school in Makeni named Action For Children In Conflict. The school is open from 4 PM to 6 PM and teaches the 'street children' of Makeni. These are children who work in the markets or lead the blind during the day. His school allows these children to be given an education. Rev. Sesay was one of many examples we witnessed that saw Sierra Leoneons helping their fellow citizens. Rev. Sesay's project was operating with limited funds. Nevertheless he was carrying on God's work. Left: The crowded classroom on the second floor of a building in Makeni.
