Chalk.....Who Knew?

After a day of creative art!

Grandma Judy ReCap

Overdue Journal Ramblings ... the pace of life has picked up and I have been remiss in my communications.

Wednesday 14^th … The round robin mode of teaching started today. It is still a challenge to get the children to follow directions, but much more manageable this way.

I took baby M this afternoon so Julianna could take a nap. M wants to eat every hour or two all day and night. She has no sucking reflex, so must be fed with a spoon. Julianna has 4 other little ones to manage at night … not an easy task.

I have developed quite an infection in what started as a heat rash (perhaps complicated by bug bites). My wrist is inflamed; the children keep touching it; and now I am covering it with gauze pads held in place with an Ace bandage (tape sticks to my skin only a few minutes with all the moisture).

Thursday 15^th …Went with Nurse Debby to a clinic around the corner. We took two of the numerous kids who have a rash. We also wanted him to look at my wrist. He prescribed an ointment for the children and an anti-biotic cream for me. He said to leave the area open to air; stop doing hot compresses; use the new cream. Romana is very irritated that I am leaving my infection exposed and I must stay away from all children unless I cover the area. The BH rule is that all breaks in the skin must be covered due to the number of immune compromised children here.

Friday 16^th … I went with Sarah (lead volunteer) and a little one to the public health department of the police hospital for a follow-up visit. We picked up lab results then sat in a hot, crowded hallway for an hour before seeing the doctor for 5 minutes. The child is fairly new to BH and tested HIV positive. Our task was to pick up a second test to see the what-ever count which would determine whether the child would start treatment at this time. The count is high so no treatment as yet. All HIV positive persons must register with the Public Health Department. The child will see the regular pediatrician next week if he (the doctor) is able to return from his trip abroad. The volcanic ash over Europe has really put a cramp on travel to and from Africa.

Julianna, one of the baby house mothers, came to me with a problem. She described what she does during the night with the children … change diapers of a child with diarrhea, give a drink to a healthy toddler, change the diaper of a very sick infant, etc. Communication is not easy, but she finally got across the concern of needing to wash hands between each child. The water is located outside the building. We came up with a solution of purchasing two small buckets and a soap dish so that she can put together a wash station each night.

Saturday 17^th … Rachel and I went to the Madina Market with Vero and Faustina. WOW!!! What an experience. See Rachel’s colorful description on the blog site www.monica-daileydozen.blogspot.com

We were able to find the tables and stools, buckets and wash pan needed to help organize the baby house washing and sanitation process. We will use some of the things while we are here.

Rachel started sun bathing baby M’s little bottom. It is the worst diaper rash I have ever seen.

Sunday 18^th … Went to church with Romana in an air conditioned conference hall. It was a much quieter, more western type service.

Bought an oval tub to bathe baby M in and a container for the laundry powder. I am so glad we have undesignated donated funds so that we can immediately fill some of the many needs we are encountering.

Monday 19^th … Sorted the meds, etc. into 3 boxes … BH, Mamma Laddie, and the Presbyterian Clinic (the latter two up north). I have already given Nurse Debby some of the meds.

Tuesday 20^th … Left BH at 6:45a to go with Romana and Gabriel to the US Embassy to get his exit visa. I had been warned not to bring food and that water must be left at the security station. Also my purse must be airport screening ready, which it was. First they found my USB drive, then my pen light. Are those tiny objects really capable of blowing the place up???

I took some games for Gabriel to play while we waited … and waited … and waited… over 3 hours. Romana said it would take almost as much waiting just to pick up the visa on Friday. I can almost see the wait to process the paperwork on the initial day, but the long wait to just pick it up is absurd. I’m glad I went once, but certainly it is not worth going again.

We spent the evening at Doctor Julia’s place, with Rachel practicing on a good piano until the power went out. Rachel’s fingers were delighted at running over the excellently tuned keys. The piano at BH is out of tune and there are about 5 keys that are dead. We hope to go to Dr. J’s every Tuesday.

Wednesday 21^st … Worked with Julianna to bathe baby M’s bottom with soap and water after every poop. This is a hard concept for someone coming a few weeks ago from the north where she didn’t have clean water, very little soap, and had never seen gloves.

We went home with Nurse Debby at 2:30 and came back to BH with her the next morning. She spends three days a week as a volunteer … something well appreciated by the BH staff. The visit with Debby, husband Ron, and the friendly folks in their complex was great. There are people from Australia, Romania, South Africa, Bangladesh, Japan, and others that I can’t remember. A very friendly, supportive group. Rachel and I very much enjoyed swimming in the pool and taking a real shower with running hot water.

Thursday 22^nd … My infected wrist has completely healed, so I am doing the baby M sun bath. Her rash is improving, but still very angry looking. I continue having a hard time getting Julianna to wash her bottom with soap and water every time she poops, which is frequently.

We are now using a syringe to feed baby M rather than a spoon. The hope is that she might start using her tongue and develop a sucking reflex.

Rachel and I went with Romana and Bernard to see the new property. There are plans in the works to build a suitable set of buildings in an area that is out in the countryside. It will be very nice and a bit cooler than in town. There remains just the task of raising some more money to add to the existing account before construction can start.

On the way back to town, we stopped at a bead making industry headed by a woman. They acquire used glass bottles, crush them, melt the crushed glass in molds to form beads, then paint as appropriate and string them for sale. Rachel and I both bought quite a few bulk strings so that we can restring them into necklaces and bracelets to use as fundraisers this winter.

We are wrestling with the details of the trip north. Rachel doesn’t like talking about it because she really wishes we had not committed to going. She does want to meet Lydia’s grandmother, but she gets car sick and it is a very long day’s journey.

Friday 23^rd … At ten this morning Dave B and his son Tanner arrived from the Pacific Northwest to pick up Gabriel. He has been so ready to go home to American. He has been looking up at every plane he sees and wonders if his Daddy is on it. This is the icing on the cake … to see a child and his/her family unite and bond.

Julianna greeted me this morning with “I washed baby M’s bottom twice last night and it is looking much better.” YES !!!

Rachel and I brainstormed what we would like to do with the donated money. We thought of some large and some small items. We will talk about some of our ideas with Romana. Her input is valued, but the final decision will be ours.

Saturday 24^th … Rachel and I made a list of pros and cons for taking the bus north or hiring a car and driver. We finally realized that in spite of the cost, the bottom line for both of us is that most likely the bus would be so crowded we would both be absolutely miserable for the 14-17 hour trip, plus have to hire a car and driver once we get to the north anyway. The car and driver won the debate. Nurse Debby will go up with us and we are delighted.

We went with Romana to a craft fair; it was fun and we saw some interesting things, but are waiting to make most of our purchases in the north. It rained in sheets on the way home. We got soaked running from the car to the baby house where we live. Wet clothes feel rather nice due to the heat.

Romana took me to task for coming up to her apartment to get drinking water. She asked if there wasn’t water downstairs in the kitchen’s filtering system. There wasn’t … the filter container was dripping, but not enough water in the reservoir to fill my water bottle. I asked the price of a filter system … 25 Ghana Cedis (about $20). I quickly consulted with Rachel and we asked Romana to arrange for the purchase. Again thanks to all who donated money for us to bring.

Sunday 25^th … It is a beautiful day … blues skies with fluffy white clouds.

Went to church with Romana. This church is inter- or non– denominational, but follows the Wesleyan tradition and is held in a Methodist owned building. We picked up the new water filter system (it is a Methodist project). It will take a couple of days to season the clay filter, but by midweek we should have a more adequate supply of drinking water. The person in charge of the water project says each system is supposed to supply only 10 people … not the 45-50 people who draw from the system in place in the kitchen. No wonder I had to go upstairs to Romana’s area to get drinking water most of the time. None the less, I am making it one of my projects to frequently check the level of the water in the clay filter; it operates more efficiently when it is full.

Monday 26^th … My projects for today are:

1. Sunbathe baby M
2. Do our washing
3. Continue checking the water filter systems; the new one is being seasoned
4. Type this journal rambling
5. Teach the kids for the round robin
6. Sort the boxes of clothes, sheets, towels, etc. for each of the children in the baby house, updating so that each box has an appropriate number of things that fit the child

The first four are underway. It is time for the 5^th. We shall see how far into the sixth I get today. Several hours later, I can finally send this after a power outage.

We will leave Thursday morning very early for the north.

Hope things are well with you all.

Judy

Day 24 of Ghana

It has been a while since I wrote an update, so this next one is kind of a compilation of journal entries. Hope you enjoy seeing what we’ve been up to!

Last night, Grandma Judy and I enjoyed “the good life” at the home of a nurse who volunteers three days a week at Beacon House. She invited us to spend the night, and we had quite the pampering. The air in her house was AIR CONDITIONED…icily, gloriously cool. Grandma Judy and I each got rooms to ourselves with beds we could spread out on without having various limbs hanging over the side. Incredible. And just think: the steps on her staircase were spaced at even intervals! We were in raptures at the untold luxuries of a swim in the pool, a hot shower, lasagna for dinner and pancakes for breakfast. And the best blessing of all—they let me use their phone to call home when their Internet would not work. So I got to hear my Mommy’s voice for the first time in over 3 weeks! Thank you Lord!

Today, however, I was back to work teaching the children. Discipline has really improved over the weeks and I am hoping that it will continue to get better. Warning to Dailey kids: Rachel is turning into Miss Minchin! (If you don’t know what that is, read “A Little Princess.” And shame on you for not being more literary). I have never been a ‘meaner’ teacher than I am to these stubborn little mischief-makers. It seems like every night at least 3 or 4 of my students (and there are only 9!) are sitting in the corner looking gloomy instead of watching the movie. They glare at me if I walk past them, letting me know on no uncertain terms that they will never ever ever forgive me…until the next morning, of course, when they are back to climbing all over me and messing with my “plenty head” (hair). And I thought Ghana would be so different from home! Not so.

After teaching, we went with Ms. Romana to go and look at the land for their new building project. We also stopped at TK Beads, where they turn recycled bottles into skeins of beautiful, hand-painted beads. Both Grandma Judy and I bought quite a bit to make into necklaces and bracelets when we get home. Very fun.

Day 26 of Ghana

The Blaskes arrived yesterday to bring home their sweet new son/brother, Gabriel! This boy is so excited to go home. Today we all went to a craft bazaar at the Ghana International School. It was very enjoyable. I purchased a few things, which is a big step for me, even outside of Ghana. My personality and training all rebel against ever buying anything which is not almost or totally free. I guess I’m sort of a miser. But I was able to release some of my tightly clenched Cedis to get a few gifts for family members (but SHHH…don’t tell!).

As for future plans and prayer requests, we could really use some prayer for our upcoming trip to the north. We are planning to leave on Thursday and get back on Saturday. Pray for an uneventful drive up (I’d rather be bored than stranded, so do NOT, I tell you, do NOT, by any means, do NOT NOT NOT pray for us to have an adventure) and safety while we are there. Also, please keep in prayer for Baby M. She is doing so much better than before, but has had a fever lately and can only be fed with a syringe. And praise Him that Gabriel is finally going home to his family!

Thought of the Day:

This country is almost too Christian. Everywhere you see signs emblazoned with things like “Abundant Grace Mini Mart” (does that mean food is cheap there?) or “Focus On Jesus Beauty Salon” (because when I focus on Jesus, I immediately feel like I need a facelift) or “God is in Control Taxis” (or even better, “Do Not Fear” across the back of a tro-tro into which people are stuffed like sardines, weaving back and forth across lanes of traffic and swerving around huge potholes) or “In God’s Time Water Supply” (which sounds suspiciously like an excuse to keep the water off as long as they want. “To God a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day”). The list of these could go on and on. I’m not sure whether to laugh, smile, or frown at them, but I’m more inclined to laugh.

On a similar note, today I saw a large, professional looking building with white letters that read “UT Bank: A Unique Bank for Real People.”

As opposed to all those other, run-of-the-mill banks for Unreal People. Good. I was really tired of having to get my imaginary friends to do all my banking for me.

And with that, I end this update.

~Rachel~

Grandma Judy's Post

Akwaaba

Upon our arrival at Beacon House in Accra, Ghana, we were greeted by many smiles and Akwaaba … welcome. The children love to sing. Two of their favorites are “Joy, joy, joy, Jesus set me singing” and “Jesus loves me deep and wonderful.” They sing in the classroom, on the playground, and any time there is a willing audience.

Rachel has set up a round robin of teaching stations for the midmorning one hour school session with her nine 5-6 year olds. She teaches the hard stuff, I play one of the educational games we brought, and a volunteer does circle time. We love to play with the children after nap time and I enjoy holding and conversing with the babies

The members of the staff are filled with the love of Jesus and set that example in their care of the children. They are also strict disciplinarians and run a tight ship … very necessary particularly since many of the children come from experiences that we can’t even imagine.

We are already using some of the many items provided by the Noisy Can offering and other donations. Every time there is a power outage at night which happens very frequently, we quickly bring the solar/crank lanterns out to several strategic places such as the stair well, dinning room, and baby house. We have begun teaching the lead baby house mothers how to use the little crank washing machine and they are delighted. Yesterday I gave each of the staff members a pair of ‘kitchen’ gloves with their name written on it. One of the women asked if she could have a pair for her village. Besides using the kitchen gloves for any hand washing, we are teaching them to use exam gloves for changing baby diapers. Gloves and frequent handwashing, with soap of course, are new concepts for the women who recently came to Beacon House from the north; new concepts, but very necessary considering how sick some of these children are or have been. Right now they are all looking so much better than when we arrived … praise the Lord.

The past weeks have been filled with many challenges.

• Technology/electricity issues … buy a Ghanaian ‘hi-tech’ surge protector.
• Heat rash … just live with it until it goes away
• Infected heat rash and bug bites … see local doctor and be issued prescription cream for all of 14 Ghana Cedis (about $12)
• Wobbly table for small washing machine … purchase a new table from the ‘market’ for 10 Ghana Cedis
• Communication (with everyone)… listen better, talk more slowly/simply
• Lack of running water for several days at a time … make sure all barrels and buckets are kept full when water is running
• Stomach flu … just stay in bed ‘til it goes away and hope no one else gets it

I found our Ghanaian ‘market’ experience exciting, but here is what Granddaughter Rachel has to say: There was no escape from it. Stalls, goods, furniture, umbrellas, food, and people were so tightly packed in that you could not stand still for 5 seconds without being in someone’s way. Grandma Judy was almost run over by a huge wooden cart at one point—one of the women who came with us had to pull her out of the way. A little scary, no? And talk about having people notice you! We stood out like brightly colored warts. It seemed like someone was always calling out “Tsssss! Obruni! You buy?” A very cultural experience, to say the least. Add to that heat, dust, mud, sewage, flies by the hundreds, a headache, baskets of shriveled fish carcasses, a rat in the gutter, and exhaustion, and you can probably imagine how ready I am to go back to the Madina market.

In the second half of our stay in Ghana, we will be making a trip up north to deliver medicines and supplies to Mama Laddie’s Foster Home and Nurse Bertilda’s Presbyterian Clinic. While there we will learn more about the Ghanaian culture, visit Granddaughter Lydia’s grandmother, enjoy some very dusty, bumpy roads, and visit Bright’s family in Kumasi. It will be grand!!

Hope all is well in the Pacific Northwest,

Rachel and Grandma Judy

Picture Post

A little one in his Sunday best :)
Sweet baby M..

We are on our way to church..

Just being silly...

Day 19 April 17, 2010

Well…I have now been to the market. I’ll try to describe my impressions of it as succinctly as possible, but since those impressions were negative, it could be difficult. If they were positive, my post would be far briefer. Complaining always takes more words than thankfulness.

First, though, I ought to mention that I dislike shopping. Bores me to tears. I should also point out that I can’t stand having people notice me just because I happen to look different (if it is because of some incredible talent of mine, well, that’s another matter). And as a third premise, “cultural experience” is NOT a phrase that excites me in any way.

All of these pet peeves were outraged by the Madina market. After the first two hours or so I sat down with H (one of the girls from Beacon House who came with us to help out) to watch our things because I was so sick of shopping. There was no escape from it. Stalls, goods, furniture, umbrellas, food, and people were so tightly packed in that you could not stand still for 5 seconds without being in someone’s way. Grandma Judy was almost run over by a huge wooden cart at one point—one of the women who came with us had to pull her out of the way. A little scary, no? And talk about having people notice you! We stood out like brightly colored warts. It seemed like someone was always calling out “Tsssss! Obruni! You buy?” While I was sitting with H, taxis, tro-tros, and people were passing inches away from my nose, and everyone stared at me with unabashed curiosity. One woman tapped my chin as she passed without saying a word. Another person, a man this time, had a LOT to say in a rather angry tone, none of which I could understand. Oh yes. A very cultural experience, to say the least. Add to that heat, dust, mud, sewage, flies by the hundreds, a headache, baskets of shriveled fish carcasses, a rat in the gutter, and exhaustion, and you can probably imagine how ready I am to go back to Madina.

On the other hand, Grandma Judy had a rather enjoyable time. People, this woman is amazing. She was able to find pretty much everything we needed (a metal bucket, veggies, short tables and stools for the baby house), trekked all over that muddy market, pushing her way through hot crowds of people for upwards of 5 hours, and refused to declare herself tired until we were back in the comfort of our room. Not only that, but she is organized to the point that it annoys me. I can’t whine about it though, because she has saved my bacon too many times (not to mention that I was the one who left my bag behind at the food court in the mall twice and had to go retrieve it). And there’s no need for you to remind me about cleanliness, Mom, I am watered and soaped and sanitized constantly.

To get back to my story, when it was (finally) time to leave, one of the women and I took most of the groceries and things in one taxi while Grandma Judy, H, and the other stayed behind. I will never forget that taxi. The driver’s name, as I learned later, was Stephen. All I know is that Stephen has got to be an angel. Either that or God picked up our car while I wasn’t looking. Because only a miracle could have turned that vehicle around it what looked to me like an anthill of people walking around us. When the driver was backing up, people would hit the car to let us know when we were about to run over someone. Not to mention that two lanes of traffic (and I am using “lanes” in its loosest sense) were coming toward us head-on as we were turning.

I guess at this point I should say it was quite an adventure and I’m glad now I went.

It was quite an adventure and I’m glad now I went. There. Happy now?

Thank you Lord for being so wonderful and sending me such a wonderful grandmother. And for reminding me that people are beautiful and broken everywhere.

Sending love your way,

~Rachel~

Day 18

Day 18 of Ghana

On Saturday, we are going to the open-air market in Madina. Everyone who hears me say that gives me the same look--a very expressive look. Having seen it on so many faces, I think I can now translate pretty accurately the complex message it contains.

It goes something like this. "You, dear little naive obruni, have NO idea what you're getting yourself into."

After sending me this telepathic encouragement, most people then proceed to offer advice in the more standard form of communication. As a result, I usually leave the conversation with a fluttery butterfly in my stomach, tapping out yet another message in what I guess is Morse code on my intestinal wall. I don't know Morse code, but I have a feeling translating it would be less than helpful.

At any rate, we are going. We had planned to get to the market by tro-tro, which is the cheapest transportation here, but Grandma Judy saw what one actually looked like when she went to the hospital with Baby M yesterday. We are now taking a taxi. Speaking of Baby M, she is doing much better now, but could still use lots of prayers.

On another note, I had a moment of deep and unmerited pleasure today. It happened in the evening, after yet another grueling game of football. I was talking to Grandma Judy and Ms. Romana about various things when someone (I wonder who?) brought up food. Many tantalizing delicacies which are not easily available here were discussed. These included such extravagances as broccoli, salad, spaghetti sauce, and margarine. I mentioned that I had an insatiable craving for fruit, particularly oranges. "Oh, you can get those here!" Ms. Romana was quick to reassure me. "They don't have the nice thick peel like you are used to, but you cut them and, you know" --she then began to eat an imaginary orange, bending back the peel and sucking the "meat" inside. I could almost feel the juice dripping down my chin.

Did you all know that God is good? He is. REALLY good. Because after our dinner that night, we were walking past the kitchen back to our rooms when Mercy (the cook) stopped us. "Would you like some?" she asked, holding out a slice of something light yellow and juicy and wonderful. An orange. Of course. And what an orange! The BEST slice of fruit I've ever tasted. A small pleasure, you might say. Except that a pleasure is not measured by its size, but how much you want it. And in that respect, this was no small thing. Oh yes. He is SO GOOD.

Happy birthday Jeremiah! You are an awesome brother! Enjoy being 8.

~Rachel~