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After worship we would usually
help bathe, dress and feed infants and toddlers. Some mornings I would sit
and talk to Mommy (the founder of the orphanage) about the facility, as we
got the children up and dressed. After this we would usually head back to
our room which was down the road at a guest house and restaurant called
Winters. Mommy decided to separate us from the other volunteers that were
from Germany. This indeed was favor and the wisdom of God. We walked in
Divine favor the entire time we were there. God’s hand was on the mission’s
trip from the start.
Back at our room we would have
breakfast. My newly “adopted” son Michael Takyi (age 18) was assigned to
bring us our meals. You talk about a well-manner young man. He was such a
blessing. Not only did he bring our meals three times a day, but he would
set everything up on the table and clean up afterward. At one point, June
and I laughed to ourselves and said we were going to bring him home and tell
our children to “watch and observe Michael and do what he does”. Michael
also showed us around Bawjiase taking us to the market and to a couple of
dressmakers (yes, we had a few outfits made).
After breakfast we would
usually go back up to the orphanage to help out in any way needed. We
usually had the “Life Skills and Sexual Purity” class from 11:00 – 1:00
although the hours changed a couple of days.
Classes were GREAT. The ages
ranged from 12 and up. There were quite a few young adults between the
16-22 age group. That made it extra special. Even our new “adopted”
daughters Benedicta (age 18) and Yaaba (age 24) came to each
class. They are teachers at the school of the
orphanage. There were many young men in this age group also. I love the
fact that they were attentive, and gave excellent answers to the questions
presented in the curriculum. I truly believe that they were blessed and
empowered to stand strong in purity, to grow in the Lord, and to be the best
person that they can possibly be by these teachings. They were instructed
over and over that they only have one life and to live it well – just as
Joseph did.
After class we would go back to
our room and have lunch. The food was delicious, but the first week it was
going right through me. I later learned from my seatmate on the flight back
home, that eating the Palm Nut Soup can have that effect on you – and I at a
lot of it. I ate Fu-Fu, Banku, Palm Nut Soup, Ground Nut Soup, Red-Red with
sauce and Gari, Fish, Omelettes, Crepes (like pancakes), etc. Everything
was good to me!!!
After lunch we would go back up
to the orphanage and I would usually play. Yes, I am still a kid at heart.
We would play volleyball or table tennis with the older kids and they are
good. I think everybody except maybe one person beat me in table tennis,
and I had always though I was pretty good. Sometimes I would play jump rope
or a card game with the younger kids, or just hang around and talk with
them. I even taught them dodge ball and they loved it. They picked it up
quickly even throwing the ball in the air to the other thrower to get people
out quicker. We were playing dodge ball with a soccer ball (that’s what
they love playing – football as they call it). While playing dodge ball
someone hit me in the head to get me out and I felt my brains rattle inside
my head.
After this free time, we would
then go back to our room for dinner. After which we would go back to the
orphanage (yes, we did a lot of walking up and down that hill) and have
evening worship. After worship we would either watch a movie or help the
kids get settled in for bed. For the movie, they would bring out the
television and have “community movie night” were everyone sits around
watching this one television. They love watching “Nigerian movies”. It was
interesting helping them get ready for bed because unfortunately there
really is no adult supervision. Mr Osei, their gift from God and guardian
angel, does what he can, but he is only one person. Mommy wants to hire
another “mother” to supervise these kids, but funds are low. The children
know to sweep the floor (with the little short broom) and then put the
little mattresses on the floor. They do have a few bunk beds, but the
younger kids (ages 7-13) like putting the mattresses on the floor and making
one big bed.
The last day of class, which
was also our last day at the orphanage, we had a closing ceremony where we
presented Be Whole certificates, wristbands and purity pledge cards to the
students in the Life Skills and Sexual Purity class. It was wonderful. The orphanage also
presented June and I certificates for our volunteer service. We then had
closing prayer where June and I prayed with the laying on of hands over the
children. Of course tears began to flow. It was hard saying goodbye to
them, but the thing that helped was knowing that the Lord brought us
together and that we would see them again.
A couple of funny things that
happened. June and I had to wash our clothes (by hand). O.K., I admit this
was not something that I was used to or from what I can remember, had ever
done. June was a lot better at it than I was. She had done it previously
in Trinidad, but my pampered American self had never done it. The girls
were laughing at me and trying to show me the proper way to do it, but I
ended up rubbing clothes together to get them clean. Washing clothes by
hand is hard work!!! Also getting water from the well and carrying it (on
my head) was a new adventure. I’d never gotten water from a well before.
June dropped the bucket into the well. The children used a long pole to
retrieve it. These children are so strong and skilled at what they do.
That bucket of water on your head is heavy and they were carrying it with no
problem and they were much smaller than me.
I remember the first day of
class when we carried the curriculum booklets from our room to the library
at the orphanage. I put my stack on my head (yes, I practiced putting
everything I had to carry on my head trying to get the hang of it). I was
trying to balance it with one hand but it was not easy. When we got to the
road where the orphanage is, two girls came running up to us to help us.
One of the girls took my stack and put it on her head and carried it hands
free!!! This was a big stack of curriculums (about 30 books) and she was
only about 13 or 14. What skill.
The most difficult thing we had
to get used to were those “cold water bucket baths”. Yes, “cold water
bucket baths”. You see, we had NO RUNNING WATER. None in the whole town.
The water ran out of the facet twice while we were there (one
day each week). Therefore, the young men would fill
up a couple of big trash cans (clean of course) so we could have a supply.
We had a bucket to dip into the trash can and a cup to dip into the bucket.
I got the hang of it after a couple of days. It was not easy though waking
up a little after 4:00 a.m. and pouring that cold well water over yourself.
After those first couple of pours (down the front and down the back) you
wake up quickly. This is also how we flushed the toilet. Pouring a bucket
of water into the back of the toilet and then flushing it. This water thing
was TRULY a learning experience for me. Especially since I have a tendency
to just waste water and let it run when I’m showering or fill the tub to
almost overflow when taking a bath at home. I have a new found appreciation
and respect for water and for people all over the world who have to endure
these and even worse water situations.
Two things that bothered me:
(1) Lack of Black volunteers; and (2) Lack of Christian volunteers.
Something is wrong when the world is doing more to help than the church.
Things I learned: We
don’t need all the “stuff” we think we need. We accumulate a lot of “stuff”
that we really don’t need and can certainly do without. Do we have lust
issues according to 1 John 2:15-17. v.16 “For all that is in the world,
the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is
not of the Father, but is of the world.”
All in all this was truly a
move of God from start to finish and I thank and praise Him for this
wonderful opportunity. I believe the Lord led us there to be a blessing to
Country-Side Orphanage not only for that trip but ongoing as well.
I thank God for all that I
learned and experienced on this trip.
TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY!!!
-Rev. Renee Keck
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