Sunday, July 16, 2006
Sunday, July 16, 2006
It was a cool night and very restful.
Today is Cobbinah’s Birthday. I played the birthday song on the harp while David and Rick sang. Then we presented him with presents. Afterwards, everyone joined in singing Happy Birthday.
Ted has never been seen in a tie in Ghana. But his package today was opened on the bus ride to church. Twenty ties were enclosed! Everyone had a big laugh and a tie. In honor of Ted, I gave mine back.
As we pulled up to the church building we were witness to a joyful crowd of people pumping water from the well. It was “open for business.” An 8 hour per day, 7 day a week burden had just been lifted from the backs (or heads as it were) of the woman and children in this village. Not only that, but their health will begin to improve overnight with clean water to drink. Prior to this, the water supply was a long walk to a river used for bathing, cleaning, and “other” things. Praise God!
We held a joint worship service today. I led prayer, Bill handled the matter of the sermon, and Rick presided at the Lord’s Table. Numbers: 703 people (103 men, 218 women, 382 children) with 683,000 ceedees given.
The clinic began by 12 noon. The people with a need stayed inside the building and as they were given “cards”, they got in line to see the doctor. The translator got the story and the Dr. wrote the prescriptions after a quick check-up. The script was taken to the medicine line and meds dispensed. Another line formed behind Edwina where moms and children were given care. There was a meds line there as well. Two people were taken to the hospital for serious problems. The church will take care of the bill.
My station was packaging meds. Our bus driver joined in and counted pills as Rick and I bagged them for dispensing. David was in another area dispensing meds.
We moved the clinic from time to time as the clinic was under a shade tree. As the sun moved, the clinic moved.
After the pills were counted and bagged, my job was done. Let me see … 382 kids with nothing to do but wait around … small rocks everywhere … and me with time to play! Magic and fun have no language barrier. Yep, no translator needed. I exhausted all my slight of hand tricks and they became guessing games – which hand is the rock in? They would point and say “Na, na”. Then we played some camp games – no translator needed. Fun is universal. I hope I brought some sunshine into an otherwise long hard day for them. I know they made me feel great!
The clinic that was supposed to last until 3 ended at 7 PM. Then we were off to the compound having served 480 people.
At 9 PM we were to open Ted’s last package. We were to face north (towards the kitchen) and open it. It was popcorn. We watched as Cobbinah popped it, and we then enjoyed an evening of fellowship around a big bowl of popcorn.
It was a cool night and very restful.
Today is Cobbinah’s Birthday. I played the birthday song on the harp while David and Rick sang. Then we presented him with presents. Afterwards, everyone joined in singing Happy Birthday.
Ted has never been seen in a tie in Ghana. But his package today was opened on the bus ride to church. Twenty ties were enclosed! Everyone had a big laugh and a tie. In honor of Ted, I gave mine back.
As we pulled up to the church building we were witness to a joyful crowd of people pumping water from the well. It was “open for business.” An 8 hour per day, 7 day a week burden had just been lifted from the backs (or heads as it were) of the woman and children in this village. Not only that, but their health will begin to improve overnight with clean water to drink. Prior to this, the water supply was a long walk to a river used for bathing, cleaning, and “other” things. Praise God!
We held a joint worship service today. I led prayer, Bill handled the matter of the sermon, and Rick presided at the Lord’s Table. Numbers: 703 people (103 men, 218 women, 382 children) with 683,000 ceedees given.
The clinic began by 12 noon. The people with a need stayed inside the building and as they were given “cards”, they got in line to see the doctor. The translator got the story and the Dr. wrote the prescriptions after a quick check-up. The script was taken to the medicine line and meds dispensed. Another line formed behind Edwina where moms and children were given care. There was a meds line there as well. Two people were taken to the hospital for serious problems. The church will take care of the bill.
My station was packaging meds. Our bus driver joined in and counted pills as Rick and I bagged them for dispensing. David was in another area dispensing meds.
We moved the clinic from time to time as the clinic was under a shade tree. As the sun moved, the clinic moved.
After the pills were counted and bagged, my job was done. Let me see … 382 kids with nothing to do but wait around … small rocks everywhere … and me with time to play! Magic and fun have no language barrier. Yep, no translator needed. I exhausted all my slight of hand tricks and they became guessing games – which hand is the rock in? They would point and say “Na, na”. Then we played some camp games – no translator needed. Fun is universal. I hope I brought some sunshine into an otherwise long hard day for them. I know they made me feel great!
The clinic that was supposed to last until 3 ended at 7 PM. Then we were off to the compound having served 480 people.
At 9 PM we were to open Ted’s last package. We were to face north (towards the kitchen) and open it. It was popcorn. We watched as Cobbinah popped it, and we then enjoyed an evening of fellowship around a big bowl of popcorn.
posted by TQDivemaster | 6:02 PM
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