Second Update

Update No. 2: April 3, 2010
~Greetings to Everybody from Ghana~
Things are going well here. Rachel continues to enjoy finding out which teaching and discipline techniques work best for her classroom. Grandma Judy loves to learn new things about this incredible culture. Yesterday, she gave a bucket-bath to E, our “day-time baby,” and pronounced it as a two-person job for the future! We eat with the children every day, and spend most of our volunteer time either talking or playing with the children, or holding babies. Rachel also likes to relax and listen to “The Screwtape Letters” or Pastor Rick’s sermons on her iPod.  Yesterday also brought another first: doing laundry without a washing machine or dryer! It’s a new experience seeing all your clothes hung up on a line for everyone to see.


From Rachel:
One of the favorite subjects for conversation around here is “America.” It seems that I get asked at least twice every day where my home is. One of the house mothers asked me some very interesting questions about it. Some examples are: “Your home is very far…is it close to London?” ~No...~ “Is it close to Japan?” ~No…~ “Do all of the children in your house work now?” ~No, only my father works. ~ “But you say it is cold all of the time there. How do you heat the house with all of the children in it?”
The Beacon House kids have some humorous misconceptions as well. Today, I spent some time trying to explain that in America we do “punish!” They wanted all of the details about this—Who gets punished? How do they punish in America? Do you punish? Can your grandmother punish you? Later, I even had one child say: “America or heaven. Which do you choose?” I felt a little better when all of the others chose heaven as well.
I also have some new ideas I am trying to employ for morning school time. We will be doing some memory work outside—months of the year, alphabet, and a Bible verse—and inside I will be teaching basic concepts with numbers and letters. I am learning quickly!




From Judy:
Several of the children have brought me their photo albums given them by their adoptive families. They are very excited to share their new families with me. It is good they are talking about them; it makes these families more real even though they are a world away. One little boy bound for Western Washington asked when his father was coming for him. I reminded him that his family was waiting for paperwork, but they would be here soon. Actually it is his father who is bringing the last of our donated goods … hopefully in a week or two.
I shared my photo album and some video clips with Mama Shelter who remembers Grandchildren Lydia, Jeremiah, Maria. She felt so good about seeing them thrive in their new homes. I will eventually share the photos with the children, but it is hard to do so without being totally overcome with little arms, legs, fingers, and toes.
With Romana (American BH director) gone, communication with the house mothers is often difficult. I will be glad when Romana returns … 3 days, but who’s counting … and we can get some responsibilities clarified. I have a bit of a learning curve to know how to take care of the two little ones who are part-time in my charge.
We really appreciate all of your prayers and thoughts as we continue on this wild ride!
~Rachel and Grandma Judy~