Ma Victoria

As many of you may have heard we lost Ma Victoria to liver cancer a few weeks ago. She has been staying in Kumasi (her hometown a few hours north of here) since September to receive medical treatment. For months we heard good reports about her recovery. And in fact the only official title we heard of her sickness was hepatitis. Her husband Emmanuel Effah went back and forth between staying with her and continuing his duties as a house parent here. Georgina Nanor, the substitute house mom was filling in as mother to the kids and performing the cooking and cleaning duties over the past few months. We all thought that Ma Vic would be returning soon until a few weeks ago.

On February 10th Emmanuel called me aside to tell me that he had gotten a call from the preacher of the church they attended in Kumasi telling him he had to come right away to be with Victoria. It had been over a month since he had had the chance to go see her. He, Fred (the director), and Ma Gladys (head child care manager) all went the next day (Feb 12th) to visit her. Ma Vic’s condition had worsened, so Emmanuel stayed there with her. On Saturday the 13th we had a 24 hour prayer session over her. The doctors had said there was nothing else they could do for her, so it was all in God’s hands. We had two hour prayer slots by houses. On Sunday the 14th, half of the house parents went to go and visit her and pray over her. They came back late that night really unsettled by her condition. She was not even able to wake up enough to recognize their arrival. Sunday morning in Bible class all of the kids wrote her letters of encouragement and love. She never received the letters. Monday morning the 15th she died with Emmanuel holding her hand and praying over her.

They called a meeting of the teachers/staff at 8:00 Monday morning to announce to us. The house mothers immediately started weeping and wailing aloud. In Ghanaian culture grief must be expressed quite publicly. My own tears were silent. We all sat in shock. Not really believing it could be true. They announced to the school children shortly after. The kids were dismissed to go back to class and I was mortified at the thought of them trying to carry on with their lessons as if nothing had happened. Some teachers told the students they would not do any learning that day because the kids were too sad. Thankfully Monday’s I don’t have too many classes, so I was able to use my free periods to just sit with some of the kids who had lived in her home. Ebenezer was crying off and on all day, along with many others from the home. How heartbreaking it is to see children lose their parents for the second time! The other kids respond to those who are crying by telling them, “Sorry, don’t cry ok?” As if the feelings can so easily be dismissed.

I was able to spend a little time talking with a few of the kids from her house over the course of the week. Tommy Drinnen (the American missionary whose home I am staying in while he is staying getting his phd) came to visit and share in the grief of the VOH. He and I along with Fred and his wife Faustina traveled up to Kumasi on the following Saturday to visit Emmanuel and his family. We sat around in mostly silence for several hours at his home. Each time new visitors would come they would walk around the room shaking everyone’s hands. Then after a couple of minutes, those who had already been in the room would get up and walk around and shake the new comer’s hands again. Then they would sit down and ask the purpose of their visit. There was a steady stream of visitors—Emmanuel had been a preacher before coming to work at the VOH 9 years ago, so they knew many people. Linda, the youngest daughter was in South Africa playing for Ghana’s national field hockey team at the time. She just returned this week to the news. I sat and talked with her for a few minutes tonight, and just ached for her as tears streamed down her face. She has not yet been able to go and join her family.

Death rites and funeral customs are quite different here. Funerals usually don’t happen for 5-10 weeks after the death of the individual. There is a one week celebration held after the death when the family all comes together to set the date for the funeral. Funerals are a really big deal. Many people are invited, and much much money is spent. Tv advertisements, posters, etc. are used to promote the event. Families provide programs, a meal, shade tents, a p.a. system, cold water sachets, and take away meals for all in attendance. Some funerals last for several days, and if it is a chief it can be weeks! I learned that most funerals even have people who are paid to weep and wail. Often times these people have never even met the deceased! Many of the old traditions are fading away with education and the influence of western culture. We will all be traveling north to Kumasi in order to attend the funeral on the 27th of March.

I laugh now at the fact that when I came in 2007 & 2008 I thought Ma Victoria was Ma Gladys. And in fact many of us called her Gladys both those trips. I was able to get to know her much better this time. I keep remembering one particular morning when I hand washed her cltohes with her. I had never done a whole load of laundry by hand before. She was amused at my washing, and tried to give me the smalker garmets to wash. She had a lot of spunk, energy, and love for the children in her home. Please pray for all of the children and parents as they grieve for her in the coming weeks and months.

New kids on the block

(written several weeks ago)

We now have over 30 new children. Most of whom live in the newest house, the Linary House. The new house parents are Samuel and Betty Affriye. They have three sweet children of their own in addition to all of the new children they will be caring for. I spent some time with the new kids last week on their first day in the house. The electricity was turned on just last Tuesday. I came and helped them to clean. I cleaned the louvers (the windows). The kids were a little taken aback at first at a white girl cleaning in their house, but I wanted to make sure they knew I am here to serve. They proudly showed me their new rooms and wardrobes (which were being unloaded that day from town). One little guy opened up his wardrobe and beamed as he pointed to the few small clothing items that sat there. It was so precious to see how proud he was of the few things that he owned. As I was cleaning I heard Ma Betty giving the welcome speech to some new children that arrived as I was cleaning. She sat them down and told them that they would be loved and cared for here. She told them that they could call her Ma, but that they also had so many mothers and fathers at the VOH. She told them that they also had many brothers and sisters. She did a great job of welcoming and assuring the children they were in a safe and wonderful place. I can’t even imagine the thoughts swimming in the heads right now, overwhelmed by this new place and all the new people. Some children were digging for food in garbage cans before they came, and now they are fed three full meals a day! What a transition.

I walked to the bath house with the kids, and showed them where to fetch water for their baths. One sweet girl, Abigail (6 years old) clung to my hand the whole way hardly saying a word. She is the one in the picture. Many of the kids cannot communicate in English. I am working with many of them in reading classes on basic skills such as alphabet recognition. Several of them are very skinny- in need of nutrition. Some are quiet and reserved, while others seem to feel right at home already.

Already I have seen a drastic change in several of the children. Evans and his sister Eunice came about a week before the other new children. Evans refused to go to Bible class and worship one Sunday morning. He just sat on the ground away from everyone else until his house dad came for him. He wanted to go back to his hometown. Now, he follows me everywhere. He wants to be a part of everything going on at the village and is generally quite happy. He almost got in a fight the other day with another child who was teasing him because he was jealous that some other children were holding my hands, so he just held onto my arm as we walked. I am so thankful I have the opportunity to be here with these children as they learn and grow. What a unique opportunity to witness the power of love, community, and Christ in a child!

I apologzie for my lack of communication over the past 6 weeks. I did not have a source of internet access until this week. I have many stories and experiences to share since my arrival back at VOH from Christmas. My heart and mind are overflowing with many things. I hope to share some of that with you. It may take some time in order to be able to process and write down for you the many things that have been going on in the past few weeks.

I feel the earth move under my feet...

I’m quite sure all of you are more than familiar with the terrible earthquake that occurred in Haiti. Heck, if I know about it in Ghana I am sure everyone in the whole world knows about it. The Ghanaians heard about it all right. And for some reason, someone decided that Ghana was next on the earthquake hit list. A mass panic started one particular night (a few weeks ago now) that the earthquake was coming to Ghana that night. And in some places, it wasn’t an earthquake but some form of explosion that was imminent. During the middle of the night, the house parents here were getting phone calls from people telling them they had to get their children out of the house. In town, families were waking up to knocks on their doors to get out of the house. Whole communities didn’t sleep all night for fear of the impending disaster. Many sat around and listened to the radio waiting for some news. From some reports, apparently some people went so far as to claim the earthquake had hit Accra and various small towns between here and Accra and that it was headed our way. The whole panic was spread by mobile phones-no radio or tv report ever spread the story, and yet everyone across the entire nation heard that some tragedy was coming. All while I slept unaware of the mass hysteria sweeping the country. When I woke up at 4:30 to go jogging with the house parents I noticed in Fetteh that many of the people were awake earlier than usual and listening to their radio, but didn’t think much of it. It wasn’t until I arrived at school that I learned about the whole situation. The director, Fred Asare, was receiving phone calls all night long from concerned individuals begging him to evacuate all the guests and children. I found it quite amusing the next day to learn about the sleepless night due to the unfounded rumors about earthquakes in Ghana.

R.I.P.

Last Saturday I was walking to Fetteh with Isaac Ayensu. Isaac needed some new slippers (flip flops) so we were walking to the village to get some. Along the way we passed several funerals. (I heard later there were 5 funerals in Fetteh that day!) The funeral procession were walking somberly down the road carrying on their shoulders the brightly painted SHARK coffin of the man who died. It was almost comical for the mourners to be so serious, and the coffin so blunt. What made the whole thing actually comical was on our return trip. We walked by the gathering once again, this time at the graveside. They were standing around arguing and talking animatedly. I glance over and noticed their predicament. The grave was not big enough. And to make matters worse, they had put a small cement lining around the hole. The argument was over which part of the coffin (SHARK) to cut off in order to make it fit. Ha ha! Man what a funeral! RIP. Rest in Pieces.


P.S. I should put a disclaimer that certainly most funerals here are a little less eventful and a little more sophisticated that this particular one.

I'm Back!

Sorry for the delay in posting...there has been a change in the internet situation.

I was met at the airport by Araba, Leticia, and Dana with huge hugs and “happy new years!” It was so great to have my own welcoming committee. From the moment they greeted me outside the doors I felt a certain sense of peace return. They didn’t just send a driver for me, they wanted to come and meet me. Araba listened to her beloved classical music and Dana fell asleep as he and I were crammed in the back with my luggage. It was a great feeling to be back! We didn’t get in to VOH till midnight, so I didn’t see the kids until the following morning. I came late to assembly at school Monday morning and saw all the kids there for the first time. I stood in the back because I was late, one by one kids would glance back and see me and I got to watch the smiles spread across their faces. I loved it!

The first week back was quite rewarding. I kicked off the new positive behavior incentives program this week, along with the new library check out system. I have felt good about the reception to both thus far. They are the first school-wide things that I have implemented besides the reorganization of the library. I feel more comfortable all the time in my teaching routine. It still certainly has its challenges. There is much that needs to be improved, but only small steps are achievable at a time.

It is quite interesting to watch the groups that come and go. Right now there is the largest group here since August. Each group seems to bring their own personality, goals, and types of relationship with the kids. Some seem a bit lost and don’t know where to start, some jump right in and serve at the school/clinic. Some can go a whole week and barely know two kids’ names, while others know the whole village by the end of the week. I find it fascinating to hear people’s perspectives on the VOH and the kids here through their eyes. My perspective has continued to develop over my time here, and I can’t even begin to try and explain it. If you notice most of my blog entries are about events and things that have happened. I can’t begin to philosophize about the culture and my emotional and spiritual journey here. And I feel to try and explain it I would fall quite short and cheapen it all together. When I sit down to even journal I feel lost for words at the experience of living & working here. I may not be able to fully comprehend or vocalize life here, but I do know it is exactly where I want to be right now!

The Last Week

Tuesday morning's school assembly was quite memorable. For several reasons. First, because three of the boys were caned for fooling around during the recitation of the Lord's prayer. The kids were all watching intently. I had to look away. That was the first time that I have witnessed caning at the school. I know that it is a part of their culture, and that it doesn't happen often, but I hated it. I can't imagine every caning a child. It made me shutter. During the caning some awful crying came from the 1st grade section. Everyone laughed. Then Mr. Awuku, the libraian started a speech about the new book check-out system I have created. The crying started again. He looked over, and realized it was in fact a goat under the stairs crying. Next up for the announcements was the headmaster, and he presented that same goat to the teachers as an appreciation gift. I was standing there in awe of the fact that they were holding this live goat upside down and handing it to the two assisstant teachers as a special gift. I've never seen a more original teacher gift, sure beats those mugs, pencils, gift cards, apples.... ha ha. It was quite funny.

Thursday afternoon Emma & Isaac came over to help me deep clean my house. Things get dirty so quickly in Ghana. Ma Matilda came over to teach me how to cook some Ghanaian food. It was real fun to cook with her. I am supposed to teach her some American dishes when I come back in Januray.

Thursday night (my last night before leaving) Leticia (the guest's cook) and Araba (chief operations officer) came over to watch a movie. It was so great to have them over and feel like I have made progress in my relationship with both of them. I felt like I had to really earn their friendship and respect. And I am so glad that I have come so far with them in the past few months. They hurried back from their errands on Friday so they could come say goodbye.

On Friday, all of the VOH kids (except the high schoolers who just came home for the holiday) went to the Kakum rain forest and Elmina Slave Castle. I was really dissapointed that I was not able to go with them, but had to stay behind in order to catch my flight that night. Emma (Emmanuel) and Isaac decided not to go with the rest of the kids so they could accompany me to the airport. How sweet are they? So Friday morning, all of the high school kids came over to watch a movie at my house. Then after lunch I took them to the beach. It has been at least a year since they have been to the beach, so they were quite excited. It was me and 12 boys, I am not sure why none of the girls came. They were so excited to swim and play in the sand. They hardly came out of the waves the whole time we where there, even when I bought them all a mineral (pop).