A Proud Mama

Sunday, I preached in Lawra at the Bethel Society. It was good to be in Lawra again. Bethel is my Ghanaian "home church." But, I do get more nervous when I preach there. Even though there are plenty of village people who attend this church, there are more educated people attending there, too. So, I allow that to put more pressure on me. I have to keep in mind that the sermon can't be too complicated for the uneducated, but not so simple as to be "boring" to the others. Oh, why do I worry about those things? I really don't have to. If I listen to the Lord, all will be well. And it was. 

I was at the church to worship. To preach. To be in fellowship with the people of God. Yet, I also had a couple of "Proud Mama" moments. The woman who interpreted for me was Akos. (Her Christian name is Paulina.) When I met Akos in 2008, she was 12 years old. I looked at her and I thought, "Oh, Lord, she has become such a sweet young woman." She is dedicated to serving her Lord and her church. The way she lead the worship service and the singing....I am sure my face was glowing I was so proud of her and the way she has dealt with all of the challenges life had given her. (She has completed Senior Secondary School and is working in the office at the Methodist clinic in Lawra.) Akos also interpreted for me as I preached. She did an excellent job. He voice was strong. The inflections of her voice were perfect. And, she helped me to keep the attention of the people. Thank you, Jesus! I wish she could be with me in Kunyukuo!

Then, as I sat up front, facing the congregation, my eyes fell on a handsome young man wearing a long sleeved shirt and a tie! His name is Richard and he is from Kalsagri. He finished Senior Secondary School last year and is now in his first year of nursing school in Lawra. He is doing well at school and looks forward to the day when he will graduate and will be gainfully employed. When that happens, he will be able to help his family and be a leader in his church.

These are two of the "kids" the Lord has given me. When I think of them, I smile. When I see them, my heart is full of joy. And, I am grateful.

Priscilla

 

It is Wednesday morning. The temperature is only 86 degrees Fahrenheit. I am riding my bicycle to Zinka, a village close to me. I am not quite there yet, but I am wondering,"Why didn't I ride my moto?" Then I remember that I need the exercise. The top part of my dress is already soaked in sweat. As I approach Zinka, I see a small urchin with only her underclothes on, covered in dirt from head to toe. It is Priscilla. I wave and keep pedaling because if I stop, I will have to walk my bicycle the rest of the way.
 

 

Priscilla is 7 or 8 years old. Her older sister is not quite sure of Priscilla's age. And, Priscilla has Downs Syndrome. She does not go to school because she won't sit still and will run away. There is no support staff for children like Priscilla. So, twice a week, I go to her house to do some basic things with her. Sometimes she is outside of the family compound when I arrive and we have "class" outside. Then, I have to be prepared to have at least six other children and four adults joining us. The children have skipped school to farm and the adults have not gone out to work the farm yet.

 

 

The last two times that I visited Priscilla, we met inside the family compound, with her older sister helping us. What a difference! Priscilla was much better behaved, her focus increased and we were able to accomplish a LOT of work.

 

 

She loves to string beads and do sewing cards.  Her brother, Kareem likes to string beads and "fish."

 

 

When we finish, we pray, and I am ready to leave, Priscilla gives me a hug so big it seems like I will never be able to get out of the grasp of her arms. She walks out to my bicycle with me, carrying my heavy basket of toys. Then, she climbs up on my bicycle. She wants to go home with me and cries when she is not allowed. But, I tell her I will "go and come" and she is happy again.

 

 

Priscilla's station in life may not change because I am there with her, but she will. I pray that God will use me in her life...to make a difference...for Him!



 

Baby Albert

This is baby Albert. He and his mother, Lydia, are the newest residents of the Lawra Methodist OVC Centre. Albert's mother is HIV positive. Albert was tested yesterday and, praise God, his test came back negative. The problem is Albert's father and the families don't want anything to do with Lydia or Albert. They had no place to go. So, they came to us. Lydia is on medication. And, since Albert is six months old, he will be weaned from breast milk to help protect him from acquiring the HIV virus.

This morning we gave Lydia soy milk powder. Mama Ester will tell her how to prepare it. Albert may not be happy for a couple of weeks, he will want to suck the breast milk. But, he will get used to the other. And, I pray that he will have the opportunity to grow up to be a man of God, just like another Albert who has impacted my life. (Thank you, Albert S.)

Dometiere

This tiny baby is Dometiere. When the picture was taken in the beginning of September 2011, she was five weeks old.She has such a big name for such a little girl! Her name is a Dagaaba name, one given to a female child whose mother has died. Dometiere's mother died a week before Dometiere came to live at the Lawra Methodist Orphan and Vulnerable Child Center.  When Dometiere came, she was malnourished, sickly with flies all over her! She came with her "Maakum," her grandmother, her mother's mother.

It is Dagaaba tradition that when a baby's mother dies, the mother of the woman takes care of the child. If not, the spirit of the deceased will come and torment the grandmother. So, in her old age, Maakum, is taking care of Dometiere. The child loves her Maakum and wants no one else! But, tradition seems to rule in Maakum's life. She is used to sleeping on a mat on the floor. There are beds at the Centre.So, Maakum still sleeps on a mat on the floor, but is afraid to have Dometiere sleep on a bed. She does not want the spirit of Dometiere's mother to torture her.

This is a recent picture of Dometiere. Ghanaians would say, "She is looking fine. She is fat." They mean that she is looking healthy and she has gained weight, she has had enough to eat. Maakum wants to take Dometiere to the village to live. But, what she doesn't understand is that Dometiere is still a high risk child. She may look healthy. She just recovered from a bout of malaria. She has been diagnosed with asthma. If she goes to the village, chances are that she will not get enough to eat nor will she receive her medicine. Sickness and even death comes quickly to all children her, especially high risk ones. Please pray for Maakum and Dometiere. Pray that the best decisions for the child would be made. I know that God has big plans for this child. I pray she lives long enough for the to come to fruition.

A Treasured Name

This morning I had to take something to the Manse. So, I put it on the back of my bicycle and rode to the Methodist campus. As I rode past the clinic, I heard the pitter patter of little feet trying to catch up to me and a little voice calling, "Maakum." (Grandmother) Music to my ears. It was Bernard, the two year old son of one of the workers at the clinic. And, yes, I am like a Maakum to him because I teach him things that his mother may not approve of - like how to climb the clinic walls - and I let him hang from tree limbs - while I am very close by - and I always have time to play with him. Oh, and of course, I love him! "Maakum"...such a sweet sound!