The trip begins here. \240 \240The mission is to help kids in Liberia get their lives together after high school so they can go on to vocational training or college and not wind up back on the street or in the bush. \240Watch the video look at the pictures, learn and join us in this mission. Www.CLTInternational.org

Boarding at JFK New York \240on Saturday evening at 10pm and arriving Sunday to Amsterdam about 11:30 Sunday morning. Then to Lungi airport in Sierra Leone followed by Roberts in Monrovia at about 11pm. See you in the morning.

Sunday morning in Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. It’s 11:30 local time after 7 hour flight from New York ... \240next flight is to Freetown Lungi airport in Sierra Leone at 2:30. \240See you there.

After 7 hour flight from Amsterdam...Quick stop at Freetown, Sierra Leone, AFRICA and then on to Monrovia

Landed in Monrovia. \240Great hospitality and people ... really ever since I left the USA and the Africans in the waiting area and on the plane are all so nice. \240They are all very interested in our work at www.cltinternational.org

Tomorrow we meet at the US Embassy in Monrovia with Paul Hinshaw the Public Affairs Officer and others to familiarize them with the project.

Sei and Yah picked me up at the airport and I am at a hotel now until the morning.

Working the halls of the Liberian National Congress. \240Everyone knows Dr. Sei and Yah!

Arrived in Gompa / Ganta City at Sei & Yah’s beautiful home around 7pm. They have set it up for hospitality and frequently have multiple guests. On the long ride from Monrovia we stopped at many roadside markets and bought fresh fruit and vegetables PLUS we had the opportunity to minister to and encourage many people about living for Jesus and getting a good education. \240These are the nicest people in the world.

Learn more at www.cltinternational.org

At the city center, networking at the Barbershop with Sei, Chestin Polay (project manager), and Jay Skinner (me)

Getting help from Jungle Energy Power to hang sign / banner in city center

Preparing the site for groundbreaking - today is payday

This is a tour of the property and things happening on and around it

Besides making bricks / cement blocks on the property there is activity surrounding it as local villagers on the edge of the property take advantage if the development to contribute to the effort and make some money. \240Everything is in walking distance.

Team meeting at site.... making plans to locate speaker stage and accommodate the attendees.

We started today (Wednesday) by visiting the college that Dr. Buor co-founded a number of years ago. \240We visited with the current President and toured the campus including the agricultural area that had wildlife, growing areas, and fish ponds.

We arranged a public service announcement and interview with Dr. Buor and Jay Skinner (me) that will be airing multiple times between Wednesday night and Saturday morning to help grow the crowds and public awareness of our project.

Checking progress at the High School site

Visited E & J Medical Center and CLTI supporter Dr. Peter George at the medical center

Then back home and Chestin Polay came by with a hired cycle so we can go door to door downtown inviting people ... especially the shop owners. 100 flyers and many conversations to raise public awareness.

Check the site one more time for progress.... it is looking good.

What has to be a miracle - heavy metal signs loaded by hand in a big truck and transported to the property.

Apologies but this is personal. Unbelievable - this is the 2nd largest city in Liberia next to the capital Monrovia. \240Tonight Sei, Yah, and I went to dinner with the Mayor (who also is a LICC graduate) and they pledged their support to Sei and honored me as “Honorary Citizen of Gompa City”and presented a hand carved plaque of a village. All the city managers and board were there along with other employees all in our honor. It was quite moving.

One last check before heading home for the evening, the beautiful permanent signs have both been placed, the area cleared (brushed by machete’) the speaker area and audience area covered and the “ground breaking” area staged.

Friday morning - travel to the Methodist University in Gbarnga for Dr. Buor’s class. He asked me to answer some questions about Marriage and Family issues in the USA. \240The class was very engaging. The students were all pastors from local congregations of different denominations. It was a lively and insightful session.

Video with Sounds from the groundbreaking ceremony... get a sample of the rhythm and energy of the day

GROUNDBREAKING CELEBRATION DAY

The Groundbreaking Ceremony... started at 10:30AM and ended after feeding the multitudes at 2:30pm - this is geographically marked as the United Liberia Inland Church because it is the closest location on the map to the property.

4 hours of music, fellowship, speeches, sermonettes, and finally great rice and chicken for all!

My impressions of CLTI in Gompa, Liberia:

I have known Dr. Sei Buor of CLTI for about 10 years in America before he went back to Liberia about 2 years ago.

I am wrapping up a 1 week visit to help with the Groundbreaking Ceremony program. This has been a great and valuable experience. I highly recommend everyone consider a short term mission trip to Gompa to work with Sei and Yah.

Please look at this entire illustrated travel log and think about coming here some time.  http://journohq.com/journo/gompa-liberia-may-2018-21858

This is a “real Africa” missionary experience BUT Sei has it under control... enough that people like you and me can visit and not get sick, be safe, and really contribute to the effort.

They are so happy from all levels of the society to see me and have me here helping both financially and with my professional skills of sales, marketing, computers, and music. I know how to spread a wide net and build consensus between rival and sometime opposing factions in the name of Jesus. I know you have gifts too that could contribute to building this program.

If you have time to get to know Sei I encourage you to email him and explore this option. sbuor@cltinternational.org 

Tips and information about taking a trip are here and I will be updating it soon https://cltinternational.org/planning-a-mission-trip-to-liberia/

Everything about this program is exactly how you see it presented in the live presentations and on the web site. Sei, Yah, and the entire CLTI team are sacrificing comfort and convenience for the youth of this poor country that is on the brink of a great economic turnaround .... which God is bringing about using CLTI and others with a heart for Liberia. The goal is to keep Liberia Christian and empower the youth to become great leaders.

Sincerely,

Jay Skinner

PS.

If you would like to donate you can do that easily here: https://cltinternational.org/donate/