Ghana Update #3



The previous update failed to include the cost accounting for purchases. You will find that at the end of this message.



Monday 24th There was no water flowing to the Baby House all day today. There was only one bucket left at bedtime. I asked how they will bathe the little ones in the morning; only a shrug of the shoulders came as answer.



Tuesday 25th The seven little ones got what we would call a spit bath or sponge bath. The dirty diapers were mounding up in a basin with a dribble of water poured on them. The children’s dirty clothes were heaped in another basin with no water in which to soak. I ‘borrowed’ some water from the housemothers for the older children (2-10 year olds), enough to get the wash soaking properly.



Finally, the water started flowing (from the city pipes to the Beacon House pipes), but not to the Baby House faucet (not enough pressure as it is slightly uphill). They are the last ones to get water, but are the ones with the greatest need for water because of the soiled diapers and clothing.



I watched the older kid area faucet flow long enough for them to fill a number of large bowls and buckets, then turned off their faucet, saying it was the baby house’s turn to get water. There was some grumbling, but I stood firm and started filling buckets for the babies and toddlers. The water pressure was so weak that it took up to 5 minutes to fill a bucket. Even so, it was enough to wash the dirty diapers and clothes.



By mid-afternoon, the water pressure was sufficient that we could fill the two small storage tanks. I don’t know the capacity of the tanks, but it is sufficient for about 48 hours of normal use (bathing the 7 littles, baby house mothers, diapers, and clothing). If it must go longer, as described above, drastic cutbacks of usage must be made.



The baby house mothers do not waste the water and in fact double use much of the water … such as rinse water for clothes becomes wash water for the next batch of clothes. Wash water for clothes becomes soaking water for the dirty diapers. These are the same type procedures we were using during the 7 year drought in California in the 80’s.



A photo-op presented itself tonight at dinner. The children were all smiles when they spotted a hard boiled egg on their plates …. Yummmm!!



Wednesday 26th The water is not flowing from the city today. Isaac (the keeper of the BH water key) assures me that IF it flows, I may re-fill top off the tanks. The housemothers tell me the water often flows only twice in one week and even then, the baby house gets last crack at it. Can you guess that one of my campaigns while here is to advocate for the baby house to get their fair share of the water. Also I will look into the cost of one additional tank for storage.



Our dinner dish tonight had so much vegetable, fish, and chicken in it, the pieces were even recognizable. More ooohs and aaaahs from the children.



Thursday 27th Another day without water to the baby house and I am a little crabby!! The other two zones got minimal, but sufficient water. I have warned them that the baby house gets first crack tomorrow … IF the water is flowing in the pipes from the city. One of the baby house storage tanks is empty and the other one has only 12 inches in the bottom.



In the meantime, I am having a great time with the kids. One of my duties this year is to do some developmental assessment of the children, starting with the toddlers and three year olds. There was immediate need for data on a new girl. At first glance, she appeared to be very forlorn, withdrawn, and non-verbal. She warmed up to me, though, and I am convinced there is a lot in that little head that she is very stingy sharing; I am guessing there has been some trauma and/or deprivation in her short history prior to coming to BH. I will try to spend a little time with her each day. These children are well cared for and loved, but have little or no one-on-one time.



I spend a little time in the mid to late afternoon with the oldest girl here. She attends public school now and is struggling. We are working with reading, writing, and math at about the second grade level. If she were in the US, she would be getting some additional help from a learning specialist.



I look forward to another Saturday shopping in the Medina market. It is great to see a need and right away put into motion the filling of that need. The staff knows that money does not grow on my tree and that I must follow a process. First I must determine if the need is real. Second I ask if there is no other way to satisfy the need. Third, is the item available at the Medina market (as opposed to a western type market) and if so for how much? Fourth, I consult the spreadsheet that I am keeping of donations and expenditures to see if the item will fit. Fifth ... make a decision. Sixth, IF I get this far, make the purchase. On my list for this week are a few small items needed for the assessment process that I could not scrounge here at BH. The items will do double duty in that they will be used for assessment, but also for other uses. The baby house now has a water filter system, but needs a bucket, scoop, and small storage container to service the filter system; I will get those. An additional outdoor water storage tank is still under consideration at the second level … is there no other way of providing enough water? At the moment, it looks pretty bleak.



Romana is working on contact with Nurse Bertilda, the facilitator for the sponsorship of the three boys up north. Bertilda is currently attending midwifery school and can take phone calls only on the weekends. Hopefully she will be able to visit the three boys this weekend even though it is quite a drive for her. Things move rather slowing here; it is hard for me not to show the considerable impatience that I feel.



Another dinner (supper) loaded with veggies … this is soooo American! What is not American is the bones in the chicken and fish. That is soooo Ghanaian, so get used to it Grandma Judy!



After dinner, I went to the bookcase in the volunteer room that says ‘Do NOT take these books from the room’, to look for something to use for ‘H’, the older girl. I chose a series of beginning readers which are definitely aimed at younger children, but we will have to make do as they are what she needs in order to learn the different vowel and consonant sounds. She does know some of the sounds and some words, but it is really spotty. I also chose ‘Charlotte’s Web’ to read to her. These books will live in my room while we are using them … the privileges of age.



While sitting in one of the new chairs outside the baby house, in the cooling breeze, I was looking over the selection of books when ‘H’ walked up. I showed her the books and suggested that perhaps after going over the highlighted sound, I would read a book to her, then she could read it to me. She thought that would be good. She also spotted ‘Charlotte’s Web’; she had seen the movie, but didn’t remember the plot or the ending. I read the first chapter to her right then. We talked about how she might have to share me with my water duties after school since that seems to be the time we are able to get water when available. She agreed we could read while tending the water, leaving the math project (using base ten blocks) for days there is no water so that we can work in my room, away from the reaching hands of the toddlers.



I should send this out tonight so that you all can either pray for rain (water pressure through the pipes) or do a rain dance, but I am too tired and I know there have been many children in the big house who have prayed for water along with their prayers for families and to come to American. So … good night for now.



Friday 28th Thanks for all the rain dances and prayers … those of you who read my mind. We did indeed get water today, however not quite enough. I have realized loud and clear that part of the water problem is in the staff dynamics, so I am putting on hold the thought of purchasing another storage tank. We shall see what happens as this saga unfolds.



Late this afternoon, some of the children and I looked through the two photo albums I brought. Most of them remember Granddaughter Rachel, and the daughter of one of house mothers even remembers my three Ghanaian grandchildren. What fun we had!



9pm … ‘H’ just left my room after a very productive math session. I am beginning to see the light come on and her confidence improving.



As promised at the beginning of this message, here is the accounting of donated moneys spent last weekend.



10 Ghc $6.84 Large bowl for water storage/bathing

18 Ghc $12.32 Stainless steel bucket for water fetching and storage (will last for years)

80 Ghc $54.79 Large, but carry-able propane cylinder and regulator

24 Ghc $16.44 2 large buckets of onions

9 Ghc $6.16 Pile of carrots and cabbages

24 Ghc $16.44 3 flats of eggs

90 Ghc $61.64 30 kilos of frozen fish (enough for 4 weeks)

50 Ghc $34.25 2 water filter systems (making 5 in the kitchen & one in the baby house



My brother sent me the link for a program to reduce the bite size of my photos, but I cannot connect with Microsoft. I will continue to try so that I don’t continue to clog the Internet.


Hmmmm … no Internet reception tonight; hopefully tomorrow I can send this.


Hope all is well with you and yours.


Peace and Joy,

Grandma Judy Griffin

Another Update

Ghana Update #2



Friday 21st I did indeed to go the bead factory and oh my what fun!! I am now taking them off the strings and putting them into ziplock



Saturday … Oooops … another power outage lasting until well after bed time. …. To continue from above … I am putting the beads into ziplock bags, marking the prices as I go … a little more organized this time. On the way back to town, we purchased mangos from a grower’s roadside stand … mmmmmmmm-good!!



Saturday 22nd Madina Market Day – Hurrah!! I know that Rachel does not share my enthusiasm, but it was again a blast … very tiring, but great fun. We may have to alter our purchase plan each week due to what comes in from other donation sources. Fruit is the most readily donated and did come in yesterday, so we did not get fruit. Instead, we bought twice as much vegetables (carrots, cabbage, and onions). My purchases are over and above what is on the BH normal shopping list (only enough vegetables to fit easily in your two hands, used mostly as seasoning). We bought a huge box of fish … 30 kilos; I thought the poor spindly young woman carrying our load would surely collapse. Three flats of eggs top the list of eatables.



Two days after arriving, Mercy (the lead cook) asked me if I was planning to do something for the kitchen this year, and if so, she had a suggestion. Last year they used both propane and charcoal for the cooking. Now they use only propane, but have not purchased additional tanks (the large, but totable type). They, therefore, frequently run out, making meal preparation very difficult. If you have guessed what some of the undesignated money has gone for, you are correct. We purchased a cylinder and regulator.



The water shortage (this is the Ghanaian summer) has made water storage more important than ever. Soooo … we brought a huge, heavy plastic bowl for the boys and girls wing and another stainless steel bucket (with lid) for the baby house. I bought another water storage container with my personal money so that while I am here, I will not be a drain on the baby house water storage tanks.



You should have seen the taxi that brought Vero, one of the older boys, me, and all of our stuff back to Beacon House. [Did I mention that I also, personally, purchased sturdy chairs to be used for the baby house staff so they don’t always get up to offer me their one chair?] It was quite a sight and the children and staff were amazed at the load.



Sunday 23rd Church with Romana at the Asberry Church (on Methodist property). It was a rousing good service, complete with the installation of the head elder who is elected from within the group of elders. This was a two hour service (in case Pastor Bill wants to make another hurrah!). After the service, we purchased two of the three water filter systems pledged (it is the Methodist Relief group that organizes the distribution of these filtering systems). ….. Mercy (cook) just came to my window and said “God bless you all for the new filter systems.” The folks here are so grateful for all the Lord is providing through us. I get lots of hugs!



Time to attempt to send this message. Internet service here is slooooow. I will work tomorrow to see if I can get the size of my photos reduced so it doesn't take so long. I also need to work on using a fill flash so that you can see the faces of the people.



Love to all,

Grandma Judy Griffin

Ghana Update

Ghana Update #1



The adventures begin: This afternoon (Tuesday 18th) three of the older children (8-10) were assigned to take buckets full of corn to the ‘ground mill’ … what we used to call a miller … to have the grain ground into flour for banku. I went along to take photos. The ‘ground man’ was not there and we were not far from the A & C market, so we left the grain and went shopping for two essentials … bottled water (so I would have bottles to fill with Beacon House filtered water and put in the fridge) and tissues for doing my dishes (Purel and tissues make dishwashing easy in Africa).



On the way back from the market to the miller, ‘J’ took a tumble into a drainage ditch … ouch!! We cleaned her hands with Purel and left the rest dirty. Since I wanted to get her quickly into a ‘shower’ (bucket shower), we found a taxi to take us and our flour back to BH.



Just this morning, a volunteer asked me how we showered here; she knew the actual showers did not have water flowing to them. After describing how I take a bucket shower, she asked if the children do likewise. My response was that I did not know, but thought it was also by using a bucket. I now know this is true. Two of the younger girls and I helped ‘J’ shower and I bandaged her scrapped knee. It will bleed for a couple of days, so of course, she must keep it covered … house rules.



Upon returning to BH, I realized I had opened a can of worms. While at the store, the children spotted little 8 ounce size bottles of water and I bought them to drink on the way back. A few minutes after arriving at BH, some of the other children swarmed on me asking for the small bottles. Also, one of the baby house mothers tried to take one away from one of the children to use for mixing formula. I managed to get the bottle returned to the child with the promise to buy some small water bottles for formula. However, letting the children have the bottles is not allowed, I now know, so I later had to collect them and put them in the kitchen for general use. I must learn and relearn the BH rules to avoid making faux paux!



Mama Laadi, from the north, was here when I arrive and we shared the guest room for 24 hours. It was good to see her and talk briefly about my coming up to the north and what I hope to accomplish. Now … Tuesday evening … I can move my large duffels and packer box into the room and unpack and reorganize. There is a dresser in the room and it is much better than duffel diving for things.



New rules about water: It is turned on for an hour late afternoon each day M-F and none on the weekend, so I must rush out right now and draw water for my bucket bath tonight and borrow a second bucket on Friday to store enough water for three bucket showers. On Saturday, I will purchase another stainless steel bucket, so that I have two ... one for use and one for storage.



Wednesday Jan. 19th: The power has been off all day and even though it is on, it is taking several attempts to send one short message. I am learning to copy the message before hitting the Send button. Saves retyping. With the Internet not behaving, I will spend my time tonight continuing to type Ghana Update #1 into Word.



The children keep asking about Granddaughter Rachel, who came with me last year. They do not understand why she is not here this time. Rachel do you feel needed/wanted/adored???? I really miss having her here. There is nobody with whom I can bounce my multious alternatives or overthink each situation!! (Last year Rachel noticed those characteristics about me.)



Some of the children have gone home to their American families, a couple of older children have been placed in schools here in Ghana, and sadly one little, very sick baby died over the summer. I was so looking forward to seeing her and hoping she had improved. Most of the children remembered me and surprisingly, I am remembering most of their names. There are a few new children so I am working on learning those new names.



Some business attended to: I spent some time (short, but productive) with Romana (Beacon House Director) and got some questions answered regarding specific disposition of the goods I brought. Bernard exchanged all my US dollars and got 1.46 exchange rate ... very good … our (mine and the donated funds) money will go farther. He has my cell phone trying to get it coded so that I can use it with a Ghanaian simm card.



The lead and assistant cooks and I conferred regarding food that I have committed to purchase. They asked that I slightly alter my original shopping list to adjust to recent donations from local folks/merchants/growers. We will be getting four weeks worth of fish this Saturday instead of chicken (they have chicken in the freezer).



Rachel, they still/again come to me for the video in the evening. The ladies don't know how to work it. Luka does it when we are not here. I will ask Romana if I may teach the ladies how or if she would prefer Luka to continue doing it. It is too hard on my knees to get down on the floor (my trifocals don't line up right if I try to just bend over).



Wooooops … the power went off again sending me scrambling by brail for my flashlight. I must remember to carry it with me after dark. The things I must relearn!!!



Some time in the next few weeks, Bernard (Romana’s right hand man and legal/paper shuffler) will take me with him when he drives out to the new land parcel. On the way he will drop me off at the bead ‘factory’. My grandchildren and I had a fine time stringing these beads, so I will bring home another load of them, to again use as fund raisers.



During my brief trip to the north, I plan to visit with the three boys we are wanting to sponsor and with Lamisi, the teenager attending the school for the deaf. Romana explained that school here is year round. There are three terms per year: Jan-May, May-August, Sept-Dec. … approximately. We (through donations) have funds to sponsor the three boys until August. Romana is reluctant to start sponsorship without good reason to believe the sponsorship will continue. I told her that I could not guarantee continued sponsorship, but would be sending/bringing home photos, stories, and video clips of the boys in hopes there might be enough interest to do so. The price tag for the boys and their blind grandmother is $82 US dollars per month to provide food, shelter, and school costs for all of them.



Thursday morning 20th: Fraught with technical difficulties, but finally have a photo of the toddlers to send. They have all grown, especially the two who were infants last year. ‘E’ has changed so much I don’t even recognize her. ‘A’ still has beautiful dimples, ‘I’ and ‘G’ still compete over everything, ‘I’ still has a runny nose most of the time (perhaps a future of allergy treatments in store), and ‘N’ still looks soooo serious.



Tomorrow Bernard will take me to the bead factory. I will shop ‘til I drop!!!



A big thanks to all who have provided the funds to shop for food and other necessities for Beacon House. The next update will have an accounting of monies spent on Saturday afternoon at the Medina Market (local, open air market used by the locals). I’m sure Saturday will prove to be another adventure!!



Peace and Joy to all until next update.



Grandma Judy Griffin

First Report from Ghana

Twelve hours after a call saying the flights look good, I drove to Oak Harbor, finalized packing, slept 2 hours, was escorted to SeaTac by Jamie, and checked in. A layover in Dulles, then off to Ghana. I am tired, sleep deprived, but happy to be at Beacon House and with the great staff and children. Many of the children remembered me!!


Peace and Joy,

Judy Griffin

She is OFF!!

Well

Grandma Judy is on a plane and headed back to Ghana, Africa. I must say I have seen a bit of envy in my lovely Rachel's eyes. We are all so happy that God has made the way for Grandma Judy to go back and continue to be a hand in His work.

She should arrive tomorrow. I will update this blog whenever I receive information from Grandma Judy.

Please pray for her strength and health and that she will be led to where she is needed.