"Something Tells Me I'm into Something Good"

Today I was a solar-powered flashlight in the darkest of night.

Completely useless.

I was exhausted from this week’s run-around on top of a late night phone chat with Mama and Papa G, which was totally worth it.

But my three hour nap today in my African princess bed really turned things around. How could it not?! I woke up right before dinner (impeccable time if I say so myself) as the MOCA team arrived from their farewell sitting put on by important people in the community. “Sittings” are glorified formal visits to important people (chiefs, hospital administrators, pastors, etc) announcing your arrival and your farewell, which also gives them the opportunity to say thank you.

Aggie was here for a little bit after I woke up, so we had a chance to talk for a bit. Bob had made a  traditional Ghanaian dish, ground nut soup, and Aggie had made rice balls. In English: peanut butter soup and pulverized rice re-smashed back into small loaves. It was quite good. Aggie said she would teach me how to make rice balls so I can take the trade home with me. I loved the idea! That’s a part of this culture I have not explored yet… a Ghanaian woman’s world.

They work so hard. I cannot even begin to tell you how much strenuous labor they do every day. They carry an absurd amount of weight distributed in a million different ways on the tops of their heads- water containers, giant bowls, large bundles of wood at least their body length, crates… anything. And they walk with such poise and dignity. I have never seen one of them flinch in fear that the massive load they are carting would come toppling down. You see tiny little girls walking with small things on their heads, so it is something they pick up on at a very young age.  At the market yesterday, I saw a woman with what looked like to me a huge gunny sack of unidentifiable crop BEND DOWN and pick something off the ground and keep walking. She never once used her hands to support the load or for balance. It was amazing.

Dad, I know you will be wondering this: They make donuts of fabric that sit on their head to act as a cushion.

All that to say, there is so much more I have to learn, and I want to know these women. I mentioned earlier the compelling collection of stories from Dr. Nickisch about African women and their tales of becoming a mother. I know they feel that is their purpose in life and certainly their identity. This I would like to crack- do they feel valued and loved for who they are? Some do I am sure, but I think there is an overwhelming population of women who do not. As for young girls, I wonder how they think and how they view their possibilities.  I wonder what their dreams are and what they want out of life. I know so many are used for their bodies and think they exist solely as baby makers and servants. What a travesty.

Dr. Jean has to be in Tamale for business, so I will have a chance to do some exploring!

I mentioned there are a few places I desperately want to go in Ghana, and one of them is Mole National Park in the northwest region of Ghana.

Well, I’m going. Details are a little hazy, but somehow I am getting there in a very roundabout sort of way. It pays to know people who know people, and Bob and Jean have a very nice network here in Ghana that I intend to take full advantage of. They have a pseudo “adopted” son like Jonah whose name is Abraham in the town of Damango (15 miles away from Mole) where he runs an orphanage I will stay at for a while. This will be fantastic. As for my time in Tamale, I will be with another doctor friend of theirs who has an AIDS clinic and in another hospital I believe. These will be eye-opening experiences both medically and emotionally. I am so looking forward to the upcoming weeks.

My awesome brother Galen wrote me the best letter ever before for plane ride here. The last paragraph reads:

“I pray it’s nothing that you planned for and everything you’re not prepared for. I pray the Holy Spirit will be all the comfort and strength you need and that your faith will take you to new heights and new depths.”

I love that. Thanks buddy. I read this daily by the way.

Anyway- these “plans” are quite vague but that is as much as I know. I have no idea what I will be walking into (common theme here!), but it will be an incredible opportunity to see a hidden part of this culture. And maybe I’ll even see an elephant in Mole or an angry baboon terrorizing tourists (please oh please).

I will keep you updated. All I know is that I’m going on an adventure set up by trustworthy people. Details irrelevantJ

Elly- you are not going to believe this. Tonight on the radio I heard a Ghanaian version of “That’s the Way It Is!!” Not at all surprising… Celine is indeed an international sensation, so it only makes since she would be played in Ghana. Please tell Deano I thought of himJ

FYI- the little girl who came in weeks ago knocking on death’s door was nowhere to be found in the children’s ward this morning when I went to check on her. She was discharged. That, everyone, is what I would call a MIRACLE. Thank you for your prayers. You need to know that your faithfulness and our teamwork have done what medicine cannot.

Prayer request additions:

Dr. Jean- this woman is something else. She is carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. She has some big decisions to make regarding the hospital as it is in financial crisis. What she needs are 5 clones of herself, but maybe God will have another idea.

PA school- this seems so stupid in light of what is going on in the rest of the world, but if I ask you to pray about, then I won’t think about itJ  I would really like NOT have to do this application process every again. I will know my fate within a month’s time.

Thank you!