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| African meds sorter |
Saturday!!! Great day in Accra. Very tropical and humid in this
beautiful country. Started off the day with a yummy breakfast. Cynthia
has served delicious meals. We are so thankful for her!
Pastor
Odai's wife Valerie, and Pastor Elvis and Peter took us out for the
day. Many hours of driving. Lots of traffic. And if there is not a ditch
across the road, then there would be a set of 3 of the biggest speed
bumps you have ever seen! We drove to the Cedi bead factory and
purchased amazing hand made beads.
Then to the Odamasi market! Where we stocked up with more beautiful African beads.
Then the
blessing of the day! Went to Girl's home in Frankadu. The baptist Ghanian convention buys these girls from the shrine! Then love and
nurture them. They learn all about Jesus here! The girls sang beautiful African songs, and then in English for us. Great motions and beautiful
smiles. Some have really been physically hurt, but all harmed deeper
than you can imagine! They learn a trade and they help them get started
in their field! We
learned a lot about them and then they wanted to know our names. Phyllis
told the story that her godmother who was raised in a group home and
learned to sew, and is quite an accomplished seamstress now. She did a
great job. Leah shared about how much Jesus loved them and then Helen
gave a talk. They really enjoyed them all!
We
got to sit and encourage them, give them soap ( which they LOVED!) and gave
them each a mosquito net. We took a basketball which they loved also!
We left money for them to get Bibles. We really enjoyed our time there.
It broke your heart, but they all appeared to believe the beginning of
their life had arrived. They were so precious, all 14-18 years old. A truly
great visit.
Sunday -- Wow!!!! Do the Africans know how to praise and worship God!!! The
church time was amazing. Pastor Odai had Helen give a mini message,
Alicia sang, we all helped in Sunday school. I was Leah's assistant, but she
got me to talk! They are all so sweet! I shared some of my story and
one of the young men in the class went home and came back to the church
with two books! It was so precious. He wrote in the front of the book
that he thought I needed the book more than he did. But that he really
needed it!
Pastor Odai asked each one of us to stand up
and share in front of the church. Yikes! Pretty scary. Not my gift but
I didn't faint! God is faithful.
I met Rev Mary who helped
me sort meds. Her husband went to heaven 1 yr ago. She has two little
girls and she is a pharmacist and a very special and kind lady. She
brought me an African dress and headress! I'll send you a picture of me
sorting in my new get up!
We leave in the morning at 5
to drive to Winneba. That is where the church is being built in honor
of Lauren. We have our medical clinic in a nearby village. Just found
out I am in charge of worming all the children!!!! It only means giving
them a chewable pill which they think is candy and make a happy face on
their hand!! Easy. Its a village of 400 so it could be busy. Pray for
our endurance. It's very hot.
I have been blessed and
blessed and blessed some more! It's been wonderful. Helen, 77 and Leah
71 are keeping up with the young ones! Nice to have two nurses with
us!!
Medical Monday - Well loved ones--- there aren't words for today. I was totally
blown away. So many sick and precious people. The children are so
darling. They stared and stared at the white ladies, and many were
scared of us. Took lots of pictures but don't think they can possibly
convey what we just experienced!
First job was the
de-worming. Went through a lot of rubber gloves! Just kidding. It was
actually fun! They swarmed us. After their pill they got a piece of
candy! Had to put a Smiley face on their hand because they kept wanting more
and more. Probably 250 kids. Awesome. Then I kind of hung out with the
little ones out under the shade tree. Played kickball. Held the ones
that would let me and just smiled at them. It was great!! The
children are so beautiful. Then in the clinic, I was the roamer and
helped as needed. Wendy brought fifty homemade dolls and we got to give
them away. They had written on each dolls tummy. "JESUS LOVES YOU." Didn't
see any other dolls or toys there. Just the one ball we kicked around
which was the size of a large orange w a big hole in it! But the
children who were healthy seemed very content. We used the name of Jesus
at every turn.
The doctors - Phyllis and Wendy. Pastor
Odai's wife, Valarie and Elvis had to go meet with the village chief and
elders to get approval for the clinic. They were involved with voodoo
and tried to shut us down. But God was faithful and walked them
through!! We waited for them two hours and were getting concerned
before they made it back. We had many patients anxious for us to start.
Would guess we saw 175 people through the "doctors". Passed out medicine,
did blood pressure, temperature. Prayed with each person at three
different times! Then gave them mosquito nets. It was a great day.
