Shades of Purple

 

Ten days ago, I was walking home with my friend, Leahy. We were talking, just enjoying each other's company. Earlier that day, we had our Special Needs Awareness Program. My knee hurt a little bit all day, just enough to let me know it was there (arthritis pain.) As we were walking, all of a sudden, I slipped and fell. Yes, on my hurting knee, but I tried to break the fall with my right hand. It was not a pretty sight! (We were walking on uneven ground that was covered with gravel.) The good news is that I was no longer aware of the arthritis pain in my knee! The bad news is that my right wrist was REALLY in pain!

 

I sat there for a moment. Leahy wanted to help me up. But, with bad knees and a very sore wrist, my big question was, "How will I ever be able to get up off the ground?" Again, it was not a pretty sight! After a couple of minutes, I did manage to get vertical once again and we finished the short walk to my house. Leahy was such a sweetheart, getting me ice and later putting an Ace Bandage on me. She even cooked dinner for me! I was planning on going to Wa the next day, so I put "get wrist x-rayed" on my Wa list.

 

The next morning, my wrist still hurt and was swollen quite a bit...did I really have a wrist in there someplace? I took the tro tro to Wa and a taxi to the hospital. I had to get a patient folder, so first, I had to pay for it and the consultation. Then, my vital signs were taken. I was instructed to go to Exam Room 6. Good! There were only 2 people ahead of me. But, ten minutes later, the physician left to go to surgery! Now what? A nurse took pity on me and took me directly into Exam Room 3. The doctor wrote an order for x-rays. I went to the x-ray department, showed them my folder. Then, I was given a slip of paper. I had to go and pay for the x-rays first. So, back to the Cashier. I paid for the x-rays, returned to the x-ray department and waited. Eventually, I was called and the x-rays taken. After they were developed, I asked the technician if he saw anything. He said everything looked fine. So, I took my folder and the x-rays to see the doctor again. This time there were twenty (20) people ahead of me. After fifteen (15) minutes and seeing that no one in the line moved, I returned my folder to where it belongs. My wrist wasn't broken. I would be waiting for hours to hear, "Take it easy. Put ice on it. Use an Ace Bandage. Elevate it. It will take anywhere from 2 to 10 weeks to completely heal." I didn't want to wait. So, I left.

 

For the most part, at least for the first few days, I followed that advice. My wrist, thumb, palm of my hand was very colorful for awhile. Now, not so much. It still hurts, but I can now brush my teeth with my right hand, with some pain. There are plenty of things that still hurt when I try to do them with my right hand. The pain is less each day. I am VERY grateful for all of Leahy's help and that my wrist did not break. I am not young anymore!!!! God is watching over me, in spite of myself!

Dee Dee

 

One of the hardest things for me here in Ghana, is hearing of the death of someone to whom I have been close and not being able to be with the family and others I have grown to love. Last night, I heard of the death of my dear friend, Dee Dee. When I moved to Munhall, PA, a very long time ago, Dee Dee took me "under her wing" and said she would be my "mother away from home." Dee Dee was much more than that.

 

Dee Dee was a woman of deep faith, prayer, and hope. She saw me through many good times. And, yes, many, many difficult times. Yet, she always believed, always hoped, never gave up. She always encouraged me to find God in each day, in each situation, no matter how much despair I was feeling. It was Dee Dee's prayers that got me through many days. And, it was Dee Dee who connected me with another woman of faith, Ava Steiner. Dee Dee and her husband, Jim, drove from Johnstown to Beaver Falls to be with me and celebrate with me when I was commissioned as a full time missionary. The day would not have been complete without them.

 

Many times, Dee Dee welcomed me into her house, made me feel at home. Sipping tea, and just talking...it brings back many memories. In her, I saw examples of such a Godly woman, mother, wife, grandmother...Christian. The last time I saw Dee Dee, she was just a shell of the woman I knew. The Parkinson's had taken its toll. Dementia was in residence. The love that her husband showed her was amazing...and, I cried all the way home - two hours!

 

I will remember Dee Dee for so many things. Part of her lives within me. And, one day, I will see her "on the other side." I love you, Dee Dee...for always! 

The Journey Continues...



 

The journey continues for Naamal. (Her given name is Gloria!) I visited her yesterday. She is still a patient in Comfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. The biopsy was on Friday. Her father told Rev. Job that they remover two of her teeth when in reality the took two small samples of her tumor. That , in a way, tells you her mouth is very mis-shaped! The results won't be back until the 30th of this month.

 

Naamal will be treated as if she has Burkitt's Lymphoma because the doctors are 99% sure of it. The biopsy was to confirm it. So, she will not have surgery, only chemo therapy. Her first chemo treatment was on Monday. Tuesday, when I saw her, she was doing quite well...probably a bit bored because there is nothing to do. Her mother came to Kumasi to be with her for a few days while her father went home for a few days. As soon as her mother left the room, Naamal changed her clothes & started playing with the items in her backpack. Plus, my sister sent her a coloring book and crayons that kept her busy for quite a while.

 

One of the many blessings has been Rev. Job, a friend (really, he has been part of my Ghanaian family) of mine who lives in Kumasi. Rev. Job Chewogo has kept in touch with Naamal and her parents. He speaks to them on the phone every day and visits every time he is in the area...about four times a week! He has also agreed to be the person to help deal with the financial aspects of her treatment, since I live so far away. I thank God for everything he has done for us!

 

Naamal will probably be discharged sometime this week, but I don't know for sure. Please pray that her parents will follow through with the chemo treatments. That is the only way she will get well...in addition to the prayers that are being lifted up world wide for her.

 

The next update will probably be in a few weeks. Stay tuned!

Komfo Anokye Bound

For Naamal, the journey to health via Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) began in the wee hours of the morning on Monday, August 12, 20013. I met her and her father, Joseph in "downtown" Lawra at 4:00 AM! Naamal had her best dress on, complete with holes. But, she was dressed in her best! We waited for the bus to Kumasi where we would find Komfo Anokye. We waited. And talked. And waited. Did I mention that we waited? Finally, a bus came. YAY! Oh, it was full. Now what? We took a tro tro to Wa. Then, from Wa, we took a tro tro to Kumasi. At leat the tro tro to Kumasi had more room in it. Naamal was able to sleep. We covered her with a piece of cloth (that is what people use here instead of blankets) so she wouldn't get cold in the cool morning air.

 

We arrived at Komfo Anokye around 3 PM. I tried to call Rev. Job, one of my Ghanaian family, but I wasn't able to reach him. He had told us to go to his house first & he would go to KATH with us. Since I could not connect with him, we went straight to KATH. KATH has very tight security...no one is allowed in unless it is visiting hours or an emergency. The taxi stopped at the gate. The guard leaned in to ask why we were there and he saw Naamal. "That is serious!" he said. So, without any of us saying anything, we were allowed in.

 

First, we went to Emergency. Naamal's vital signs were taken, and basic questions were asked before we were sent to pediatric emergency. There, more medical history was taken and blood work was done. Everyone was so kind! Naamal would be admitted since she lived so far away. The diagnosis from the start was Burkitt’s Lymphoma. Now, "investigations" (tests) would be done to confirm it. 

 

Joseph would stay at the hospital with Naamal since the parent is expected to care for their child. Food for Naamal would be provided by the hospital. This is very rare in Ghana. Usually the family has to provide the food, too. The investigations would begin on Tuesday.

 

The tests that were done this week were a massive amount of bloodwork, chest x-ray, bone marrow test, ultra sound on her liver since it was enlarged and a biopsy of her tumor. She was given a unit of blood on Thursday because her blood counts were low.

 

The hardest day for me was Thursday. And, up to that point, it was probably the hardest day for Naamal. I arrived early in the morning with a backpack filled with new underwear, a dress, shorts & a top and a pair of flip flops. She was thrilled! Every once in a while, she would unzip the backpack, take out the clothes and try them on herself or on her baby elephant I gave her when she was admitted. But, the fun did not last. The nurse came to take Naamal for the bone marrow test. When her father carried her back into the room, she looked so small, she was very tired and went to sleep. Joseph was asked by the nurses to go and get something, so I stayed with Naamal. As she slept, she was whimperong. And, my heart broke into a million pieces. I tried to comfort her. She wouldn't let me. So, I held her hand and sang to her..."Jesus loves you..." At the same time, she was receiving the unit of blood. Later in the day, she was herself again. I left for Lawra early Friday morning. Rev. Job called me Friday night. Naamal had the biopsy. When he visited her, she was crying. Oh! How I wish I could help her so she wouldn't hurt. But, it is bound to hurt more before it gets better.

 

Naamal will be treated for Burkitt's even before the lab results are in because doctors are 99% sure that is what her tumor is, it has to be varified. Her treatment will consist of chemo therapy, no surgery! That is amazing to me. The nurses said that they have seen worse. The chemo will shrink the tumor! Once discharged, Naamal will have to return to KATH evry three weeks for treatment. Joseph was STRONGLY encouraged to stay in the Kumasi area as a precaution. Naamal would not be able to travel to Lawra and back every three weeks. Plus, she needs to be closer to the hospital just in case she gets sick, has a bad reaction, etc...This trip was a cultural lesson for me. The hospital is different than what I am used to in the USA. Plus, the insurance does not cover blood work, x-rays, bone marrow tests, lab reports, pathology reports, gauze, bandages, etc. Right now, to start, the chemo itself will be free because the hospital has it in stock and it was donated. But, we don't know how many times it will be available at no charge. No one would even give me an estimate for the cost, but I will keep on trying.

 

When I look back on the past week, I can see God's fingerprints all over it. He has been so good to us, caring for us all the way, protecting us and providing for us. And, I know He will continue! Thank You, Lord God Almighty, healer of our bodies and everything else we would ever want or need!

 

 

 

 

 



Sakawa - Get Rich Quick, for a Price

 

Sakawa is from the Hausa word, "sakaawa," meaning deception, as in Internet scams to get rich quick. But, it has taken on a new meaning in recent years. It now used in blood money rituals in Ghana. It is believed if you go through with the ritual, you will become rich very quickly.

 

The "sakawa" ritual involves traditional priests who demand blood from those who go to them for financial assistance. The kind of blood that is demanded depends on what kind of financial rewards that you want to reap and how quickly you want to acquire the money. The priest can demand the blood of a child, boy, girl, woman or man. This means that the "client" has to kill one of these people to get the blood demanded. I have heard stories of this in the area where I live. It is very real!

 

I know of only One Person whose blood really made a difference in the lives of men, women, boys and girls. That person would be Jesus Christ, the Son of the Almighty God. What good does it do if a man (or woman, boy or girl) has all the riches in the world but looses their soul? A person's relationship with God is the only thing that matters as one is on their death bed. Where do you have your riches hidden? In heaven or on earth? Are you ready to see Jesus?

Me? A Basket Case...Yep!

Today was one of those days...a day that as time went on, I became overwhelmed by the next "big" task that is on the horizon. I felt the fear creep in. I was ready to cry...This is the story:

 

Monday, I will be traveling with Naamal (5 years old) and her father to Kumasi. We will be going to a teaching hospital where Naamal can receive treatment for the tumor that has been growing in her mouth for three years. Today, it hit me...I have no idea where we are going, where we will stay and, I have a limited amount of money for travel and treatment. What will I do? Up to this point, Naamal's parents were not involved. No relative would travel with her. So, I didn't have to think about these things. But, now, her father is here. So, we made plans to travel on Monday. Everyone that I tried to contact in Kumasi was unavailable or didn't answer their phone. Ugh! What would we do? I am not Ghanaian enough to just travel and see what happens when I arrive. I have two other people to think about. What to do?

 

I called Razak. He would know what to do. He said, "I am on my way coming." An hour and a half later, I called him again. "Oh, Mama Sue, I forgot. I am on my way..." He showed up in five minutes. He called Rev. Job. who lives in Kumasi and could help us. No answer. He called Rev. Lawrence...he is in a meeting, will call back later. He called Rev. Dery...he will call back later.... (They are all related.) I was almost in tears because of the uncertainty of it all. What to do?

 

Rev. Lawrence did call back. He called Rev. Job in Kumasi. Rev. Job will take care of us. Either himself or his daughter, Grace will go to the hospital with us and help us through the process. Grace...God's grace...I didn't have to be a basket case...God heard the cries of my heart...and He ANSWERED!

A Rainy Day

 

When I left home last week, to travel to Wa, the sky over my house was a little gray. The temperature was cool...a nice day for sitting in a crowded tro tro! By the time I walked into town, the sky had turned black! There were not many people at the tro tro station yet, so Habib and I went to have bread and egg at the Tea Shop. As we were eating, the Metro Mass Transit bus arrived. It is not comfortable, but much better than a tro tro. So, we grabbed our uneaten food and ran...Habib ran, I walked fast, to the bus. We were able to get seats and before long, we were on our way!

 

 

A few minutes after getting on the bus, the heavens opened up and it started pouring! I was grateful we were on the bus as most of the tro tros leak, if they have windows that actually close, and would have gotten very wet, even before getting to Wa. By the time we arrived, the rain had reduced and only coming down small (only raining a little.)

 

Now, I know that everything in Lawra closes when it rains, but, Wa is a "big" city. I really did not expect everything to be closed. Everything wasn't closed, but almost! We went to the Post Office to buy stamps. We waited an hour and ten minutes for someone to show up with a key so stamps could be sold to us! The stamp person did not go to work because of the rain! Next, we walked down to the store that sells REAL butter. Of course, that was closed, too! I knew market would be closed because it is outside, so no fresh veggies! But, now we were going to buy the drum that was ordered the week before. It was the purpose for the trip!

 

As Abu drove us to the other end of town, I was amazed...99% of the businesses were closed! A person could walk down the middle of the street and not get hit by a moving vehicle! I couldn't believe my eyes. Like I said, I expected this in Lawra, but not in Wa! We finally arrived at the "drum" store...the drum did not arrive yet. This was the reason we went to Wa! So, we called Yaro to find out where he was. We planned on  traveling back to Lawra in his tro tro. We did get back to Lawra, stamps in hand, a little damp and grateful for the much needed rain!

New Life



 

It is FINALLY rainy season. Everything that seemed to have died has come back to life! The desolate, dry farms now have the signs of yams and groundnuts growing. Maize is waist high. Farmers are busy.

 

The same is true of the small Methodist Church in Kalsagri. It has been "dormant" for several years. When I returned to Ghana in March 2013, the pastor of the Lawra Mission Circuit appointed me as caretaker of the Kalsagri church. What does that mean? It means that I am "almost a pastor." Worship services began on Pentecost Sunday, 19 May 2013. We had 59 people in attendance. Since then, out high was 102 with an average of over 80! People are hungry for the Word of God. They want a church in their village. They want to gather together to sing, dance and praise God. And, during testimony time, these same people who have absolutely nothing, give thanks to God for providing for them throughout the week! Even when we met for worship 2 1/2 hours early on Market Day, during farming season, 74 people attended!

 

The new life at the Kalasgri Methodist Church doesn't stop there...a weekly health clinic has been started. Over 70 people are given medical treatment each week. And, on Sunday, they thank God for it! Saturday afternoons, time is taken to go over the Scriptures for Sunday's service. They are read in English, explained in Dagaare and in English. The people who attend practice reading in English. Prayers are prayed. The first week, six students came for this class. Last Saturday, we had twenty students, ranging from primary class 2 to a young man who has completed Senior Secondary School and hopes to further his education.

 

Thanks to our brothers and sisters in America, the church building itself has received new life, too. A new roof, a new floor, four windows, a door, a water filter, fourteen benches, and six chairs are now at the church. The congregation has donated four brooms, two bars of soap, two pieces of cloth and a drinking cup so far. There has been a work day to clean up the grounds around the church; it was well attended.

 

People who have not heard God's word, are hearing. People who have been lost, have been found. People who have been outcasts have been welcomed. People who have been grieving have been given hope. New life comes in a multitude of ways, all given by the giver of life, the Lord God Almighty. My He continue to work through me and through others to bring about His Kingdom on earth...all for His glory!

A Busy Week

 

 

One of my favorite times of the week is Sunday morning, between 7 and 7:30, when I drive my motorcycle out to Kasalgri. The air is still fresh and clean and crisp. Hardly anyone is on the road, only those walking the long way to the Catholic church for mass. My body gets a bit chilled. Ahhh...Then, I arrive at church where at least 20 children are waiting for me. Francis, an 18 year old student has already picked up our benches from the chief's house. He has our little church ready for service. He will teach one Sunday School class to those who are in their teens and older. I will teach the younger ones.

 

We wait until 8:15 to start class. There are 40+ children. Benches are carried out under the big trees and we sit in the shade. With the breeze blowing, it feels almost perfect! I teach the Creation story, saying a few things in Dagaare. I am so grateful when the words come to me! Next, worship service. There are close to 100 in attendance. We are trying to work out how to best arrange benches to allow for dancing. Francis interprets for me. He is learning. (We meet with some other teens on Saturdays to prepare for the service.) The preaching is up to me, with help from the Holy Spirit. After church, people bring me their sick children and their questions. Next, we visit a small girl with a tumor in her mouth. We are hoping to get her the medical attention she needs. I go home and rest before I visit people in the late afternoon.

Monday, is a day of preparation. Fortune, the woman who comes and does some work for me comes in the morning. Anokye will come this afternoon with the water filters for distribution tomorrow. But, mid morning, I receive a phone call from him. He is already in Wa! So, I hurry to Priscilla's house to work with her. I want to have that finished before Anokye arrives. I call the pastor to inform him that Anokye is only 1 1/2 hours away, at most. When Anokye arrives, it seems like my day is finished because I am busy making plans for tomorrow or doing other things, preparing for later in the week.

 

Tuesday, Razak comes on the pastor's motorcycle, I take mine and we drive out to Kasalgri. The pastor is with Anokye and Mary, Anokye's daughter. We visit two communities, greeting people, preaching, telling them of friends in America, showing people how to take care and use the filters and finally, we distribute the water filters. Lunch is served at the pastor's house. Yum! Fufu! Then, I arrive home, mid to late afternoon, exhausted. It looks like rain...

 

 

Wednesday is a health clinic in Kalsagri, the first one. There are challenges...no tables, no chairs, no anything! Everything has to be brought from the chief's house where some of those things are stored. We work without other things. Seventy-seven people are seen today. Most have insurance, some don't. Boy, I thought I was tired yesterday. That was nothing compared to what I feel now!

 

Thursday was SUPPOSED to be my day off...but, I have an afternoon meeting. So, I sit at my desk with several Bibles open and prepare for Sunday's service. I attend my meeting and mention that I was planning to go to Wa on Monday to renew my visa. I found out Monday was a holiday. After the meeting, I rush home, prepare a letter for my pastor that needs to go with the visa documents. He approves it. I get it signed and arrive home about 3 minutes before the rain comes! It only rains a short time. but it did rain!

 

Friday, I got up and got ready to go to Wa. I left my house before 6:30 in order to get back from Wa by mid afternoon. I arrive at Immigration by 9:30, documents, passport, and fee in hand. "Please, God, let everything be acceptable." At 10:30, I leave the office, passport in hand, stamped with my new resident visa. "Thank You, Jesus!" Now, market and home! I do walk in my door before 3 pm.

 

Saturday, I finish preparing for Sunday. I also prepare for our "English" class...going over Sunday's Scripture and Bible study with the Junior high school students. I don't get home until 5:30 or so. It has been a VERY busy week. Lots of things have been accomplished. Mostly, I am tired and am looking forward to a Sunday afternoon nap!

Water Filter Distribution...A Story Not Quite Finished!

 

Once upon a time, in September 2012, a missionary spoke at a church in western Pennsylvania. The missionary was nervous, as this was her home church and people have heard her speak before. Will the message she had this day be heard?

 

 

The message was spoken. Prayers were prayed. Then, a time for questions. A man, I'll call him Russ, seemed to be really touched and concerned for the lack of clean drinking water in the village in which the missionary would be working. So, Russ took it upon himself to raise funds for 25 water filters. He spoke to his Sunday School class. They were in Unity. Yes, they would support the project! Next, Russ went to the entire church. Would people be willing to provide water filters for people half way across the world? They were in one accord - Concord! (Please pardon my puns!) Not only did Russ raise the money for 25 water filters, he raised enough money for 150 water filters! All in a matter of three weeks!

 

Fast forward to February/March 2013. The water filters were purchased. A date in June 2013 was set to deliver the filters to communities in Kasalgri, in the Upper West Region of Ghana. Next, the missionary began to meet with the chief of the village. The local Methodist church was revived. And, now it was time to figure out which communities would receive the filters and how many would be given to each community. How will they be distributed? The missionary, the pastor, and a Ghanaian friend visited with the chief. He called the sub chiefs together. A task was given to them...how many family units were in their community? It was decided to go by the head of the household for now...by the husband. But, how will the sub chiefs count? They didn't know how. So, it was decided that a list of all the heads of the households would be made, with the number of wives listed next to the husbands name. Someone in each sub village, who could write, was found. The lists were made. They were "fixed" so the number of people to receive filters did not exceed 150. The distribution day was quickly approaching...excitement was brewing.

 

Finally, the day arrived - the filters were at my house. But, wait, there were only 100! Due to circumstances beyond the missionary's control, the filters needed to be delivered in two parts. That worked out fine. The lists were re-worked. Only two communities, instead of three, would receive filters the next day. The others would be delivered at a later date.
 

 

The missionary and friend drove their motos to the villages while the pastor went with the driver of the truck that carried the filters. The chief's community was first. How fun! What a blessing! The Word of God was preached, lessons on filter use and cleaning were given and filters were distributed.

 

Next, a new community. Since we did this once, putting all the needed pieces together was much easier and a LOT faster! At this community, along with the preaching, a prayer focused on asking God for rain was prayed. There were plenty of Traditional believers there. The filter "lessons" were given and the filters distributed. All went home happy and feeling quite blessed.

 

 

That night, it rained. Oh! An old, blind man was heard to say, "I now believe in the God of the pastor. For, the pastor prayed for rain, and his God answered!" Many people of his community felt he same way.

 

The missionary continues to pray that God will continue to water and grow the spiritual seeds planted during this water filter distribution. For, it is because of Him that we live and breath and have our being.

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!



 

Culture Check

 

Two weeks ago, a woman came to the Kalsagri church with her grand-daughter, Naamal. She said that this wasn't her church. But, could we please help her grand-daughter? Naamal's parents don't want her because of the growth in her mouth. So, they sent her to Kasalgri to live with "Maakum" (Grandmother). Maakum is old. She can't do much for the girl. She said that others said they would help, but no one has. So, I took her picture, sent out a few emails. She might have a Burkitt’s lymphoma tumor, I don't know. But, what we did find out is that she has to go to the local hospital to get a referral to the Wa hospital. Then, at the Wa hospital, she has to get a referral to a teaching hospital in Kumasi. This would be a great hardship for the family.

 

Since I didn't know the girl's surname, guardian name, birthdate, age, etc., we went to visit the grandmother today. After we greeted her, we asked all kinds of questions about Naamal. The grandmother did not know the child's surname or the father's surname. She did not know the age of the child. We were told that Naamal was not born this way. This growth/tumor has been growing for three years. She was taken to the local hospital by her Maakum. The doctor wanted to give her a referral. But, Maakum told the doctor to wait until Naamal's father came back from down south. Someone did eventually get a hold of the father. He refused to come. There is an uncle who lives at the family house. But, he cannot speak. So, when asked who would take responsibility for Naamal, if we could take to to the various doctors, the answer was there is no one locally. We tried to call both the mother and the father. Neither one answered their phone. So, our hands are tied as we wait and continue trying to call the parents.

 

I couldn't help but think that this would never happen in America. I wonder what will become of Naamal. Will she ever see a specialist? Or will she die before she gets the chance? Lord, give me wisdom!

 



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.