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!



 

Why SNAP?

A mother wakes up in the middle of the night and cries. She wonders, "Why did God give me a child like this?" There is no place for a special needs child in this culture. Parents are urged to take their children to the Fetish priest for a "mercy killing." Yet, this same mother, who cried at night a year ago, now says, "When I came to SNAP, I found out that I wasn't alone.That there are other children like mine. SNAP helps me know what to do with my child."

 

June 6, 2013, was the first anniversary of SNAP, our Special Needs Awareness Program. We will celebrate on July 3, so that one of our founding members, Sarah Gardner, could be here for the festivities. An activity that we had for the parents was to trace the hand of their child and write something that they appreciated about their child on each finger. And, if  they could not think of something, they were to write their hopes/dreams for their child. Now, most of these people can't read or write, so, others wrote the words the parents said. Parents who were full of despair a year ago now write: 

 

"My child has a nice smile. He is very interested. He knows how to read. I THANK GOD He made him for me. He makes me happy."

 

Another parent writes about their child, "He thanks God. He is always happy. I am HAPPY that God made him. He will get a blessing. I am happy to come here to SNAP."

 



Still another parent writes, "She tries hard. She is happy. She is a good sister. She is helpful. She is beautiful."

 

I thank God for SNAP. A year ago, these parents had no hope. Who knows if some of these children would have survived if the parent did not attend SNAP. SNAP give them encouragement, praise, education, health screenings, and the knowledge that their child is a unique, unrepeatable miracle of God! Celebrate our first year with us!  And, thank God for the lives of these lovely children.

 



Bura-Ang

 

Today I heard about the death of Bura-Ang, one of our special needs children. She died on Friday, May 24, 2013, in her home in one of the  sub-villages of Kalsagri. Bura-Ang was born with Cerebral Palsy. Here, she would have been called a "baby snake." As time went on, Bura-Ang was able to stand all by herself. The last time I saw her, she haltingly walked to me. She always had a smile on her face.

 

I was told that she crawled to a big iron water pot, pulled herself up, lost her footing and fell in. She drowned. It was an accident. I have seen these pots. They are HUGE! I can picture a small child grasping it and then falling if not sure-footed. Her father told us a different story. He said she was shivering, shivering, shivering...and then just died. Which, to me, sounds like malaria.

 

You see, here in the Upper West, most people are Traditionalists. Fear is a big part of the survivors lives because it is believed that these special needs or "malformed" children have evil spirits. And, when they die, where does that evil spirit go? Everyone in the family is afraid that it will go to them. Plus, a young child like this is not grieved. There is no funeral. And it is part of the tradition to bury right away, as soon as the grave is hand dug. Death is a part of life all too often.

 

As I sat with the family, I was able to share what the Bible says about "these little ones," heaven and the hope we have in Christ. I don't know if I was heard or not, but, it HAD to be said.

 

On the way home, I contemplated the paradox of this death. The mother wants to grieve. Bura-Ang was her child. Angelina (the mother) loved her. Yet, on the other hand, there is no place for a special needs child in this culture. What would become of the child? How will she live? So, a part of what is being felt is relief. Love...relief. What a combination! Yet, a part of every day life.

 

I pray seeds will be planted, doors will be opened, and just as this little girl is dancing before Jesus, I pray her family will come to know Him and some day dance before the King of kings!

A Year of Blessings, A Year of Growth

 

It would probably be safe to say that a lot of people are looking back at 2012, reviewing what took place in their lives these past twelve months. I am, too. It is good to look back and see where we have been and look forward to where we are going.

 

What I consider to be highlights of 2012 are vastly different from what Facebook says. As I look past over this year, these thoughts come to mind:

 

I celebrated my first year in Ghana, where I live, where I work and where I play. I thank God for the Ghanaian friends I have made. It has been a blessing to hang out together, share food and just enjoy each other's company. They have been there for me in good times and in bad. It has been a privilege to share in some of their deepest joys and sorrows over the last year. SNAP (Special Needs Awareness Program) was born in 2012. It is an avenue of ministering to the least of the least in this culture. God has amazing plans for SNAP in 2013! God has blessed me with the opportunity to share His word in some of the villages around Lawra. This, too, will expand in 2013. I wonder what God has in mind. In June, an amazing group of people came from Alabama to work in the villages of the Upper West. These people have become like family to me, especially my sister, Ama. I look forward to seeing them again. I thank God for the children at the Lawra Methodist Orphan and Vulnerable Children's Centre. It is an honor to be "Mama Sue" to them, to be a part of their lives, to watch them grow in body, mind and spirit. And, in 2012, I came to know, at least a little bit, the village of Kasalgri, where I will be working during the upcoming year. I pray that I may shine God's light in a dark world.

 

The year brought sadness, too. My dear friend and neighbor died this past year. I wasn't able to attend her funeral. I know we will meet again on "the other side." I have seen children die of preventable diseases. I have seen unauthorized use of money, and mismanagement in many areas. I have seen people lie and cheat and argue...I have seen that people (including me) need the Lord. More now than ever! I, along with many, many others, have experienced malaria. Sickness is rampant in my area.

 

Don't let me end here, though. CHIPs, Childrens Health Insurance Program, is providing health care for the children in the Lawra area. Funds have been raised for water filters for Kasalgri. The word has been sent out about what is happening in my area of Ghana. And, people have responded most graciously. Many, many children and adults will benefit because of their generosity. I have been able to visit family and friends. I've taken a class that has challenged me in more ways than one. Plus, there were trainings, too. Lots of travel took place in 2012. God provided me with transportation, a place to stay and took care of all the details! And, it has all been good.

 

God has blessed me so much in 2012. It was a year of trust and watching God work. A year of growth in my spiritual life and in my personal life. I am not the person I was a year ago. Praise God! Good-Bye 2012, Hello 2013!

SNAP (Special Needs Awareness Program)

In the Lawra area, there seems to be a lot of "malformed" or disabled children. There are several reasons for this...poor nutrition during pregnancy, self medicating during pregnancy, no or poor prenatal care, alcohol/drug abuse during pregnancy.

There are those who have challenges because of an accident that may have left them with a handicap, or maybe health care wasn't received when the child had a serious illness. (You have to understand that medical care is a lot different here in Ghana, especially in the north where facilities that have the ability to do even simple things such as x-rays are few and far between. Therefore, if a child is seriously ill, there is a good possibility that the family cannot reach the proper health facility in a timely manner. Transportation is always an issue as well as cost of transport, food, etc.) Serious challenges may be the result of a very high fever.

As a result of the "communication workshop" that was such a great success, an executive committee was formed to plan our next steps. How do we reach these children, many of them not being welcome at school. There are not special needs schools in the Lawra area, and teachers assistants and therapeutic staff support are unheard of here. So, a child may spend years in the same class or grade in school because they don't have the ability to learn like their peers. They always fail the exam to proceed to the next grade.

SNAP was born late in May 2012...Special Needs Awareness Program. It is an enrichment program for children with special needs in the Lawra District and their families focusing on health, education and socialization. SNAP meets the first Wednesday of each month. 

We begin each meeting with breakfast for those attending. It is a simple one, porridge. Many of the people coming to the SNAP meetings are from villages and travel a distance. Plus, the poverty level is extremely high, so this is just one small way we can help.

Those who attended the July 2012 program were able to have free health screening for their children...

including having a vision test! The parents received free HIV screening, too.

There is plenty of time for the children to just hang out and be kids...playing with blocks, puzzles, and having books read to them.

Another part of July's meeting was a sign up for the children's health insurance at no cost to the parents. It is a program being offered through The Mission Society, through a special account for the Lawra Integrated Health Project.

Each meeting has a speaker geared towards helping the parents cope with their special needs child, or it may address a health concern, safety issues or to teach a skill to the parents (basic sewing is on the agenda for an upcoming meeting). A simple lunch is provided. And, youth from the local schools volunteer to help; they are part of the Lawra Youngsters Association.

We hope that the community would come to a point where they see these children as worthwhile, as gifts and not as a curse. We hope that some day there will be an educational facility in the area to help the special needs children receive an education, learn a skill...to give meaning to their lives. We hope that parents and the community will see these children as unique, unrepeatable miracles of God. May God give their parents wisdom and grace as they lead their children through life!