Not feeling too red hot...but getting the job done

I had a boil that popped up on my neck yesterday. It's this massive thing on the right hand side of my neck that almost looks like a goiter. I kinda made fun of myself for it yesterday. I mean, it was a bit sore, but mostly just gross looking.

Today, there's no making fun of this massive thing. It kept me up occasionally throughout the night, whenever I rolled onto it (that and this one mosquito that I couldn't find that kept buzzing around my face) and so I woke up a little tired.

Early this morning, I got a phone call that our staff member, Millicent, was preparing to go to her home town (she's the one we took to the hospital on Saturday), so I needed to get some things ready for the day and get ready to take her someplace so she could take a car to her hometown. When I finally picked her up (around 7:30 this morning), my head had started hurting and I was wondering how I was going to make it through the day without heading back to my bed!

Millicent and I set out and I dropped her in Alfienya (a nearby village) to take a car. On the way there, the police were out again. I knew that if I traveled back that way, I would get pulled over. I saw the same policeman that pulled me over last time still out there this morning. So, I decided to make a quick trip to the pharmacy, and then I was going to attempt to find another way back to the school.

I drove over to our pharmacy that we always visit and on the way, wouldn't you know it, there were more cops on the road! I was praying that God would make me invisible (which is difficult to do since you don't see many white women driving big cars like this here in Ghana!), but I didn't get pulled over. I got my antibiotic and made it back through into Alfienya and then took this back road to Dodowa to avoid the cops on the way back to the school. It was very round-about and added an extra thirty minutes or so to my trip, but I kind of felt proud of myself for being able to figure out a way to get around those cops and to make it home safely. I was by myself and who knows what could have happened if I had been pulled over!

In any case, I made it home, singing Christmas carols (since they don't really play them on the radio here and I want to be in the Christmas spirit!) the whole way home.

Once back at the school, it was time to get down to work. I was hoping for a little down time today so I could get home and rest, but no such luck. It was the first day of finals and so I was busy passing out exams, getting together some paperwork for the end of the term, and soon, the kids had left the school and I was still working, working, working! Crazy how fast time goes when you're busy like that!

In any case, I took Mr. Francis and the staff girls into town and then headed back home and finally got a chance to lay down. I called my mom on the road and she said that the headache and exhaustion isn't really a side-effect of the medication, but means the infection from this boil has gone systemic. She told me that if I don't get better by tomorrow, I might need to go to the hospital to get an IV antibiotic put in. I hope that I can just kick it with this antibiotic that I'm on, some extra sleep, and some hot compresses.

Praying that I'll feel better tomorrow. This is not the week to be feeling sick for sure!

Days aren't always what you think...

This morning, I took a long time in getting out of bed. I woke up at 6:30 (which is an hour later than my normal wake up call--so I get to call it "sleeping in") and just lounged in my bed, checking email, reading a book, you know...the normal relaxing type things. My thought was a take-it-easy day. This was definitely a busy week and I needed a day of just hanging o
Then, I got a phone call at 8:00 am. One of our staff members, Millicent, had been heavily bleeding throughout the night and was now feeling weak and they (some of our teachers that she lives with) were going to take her to the hospital in a nearby village. Well, I asked them what they wanted me to do and they just said that they would see what happened at the hospital at Kodiabe and then they'd get back to me. They called shortly afterwards and said that there weren't any doctors at the hospital there, so they wouldn't admit Millicent. So, I was out the door and Nosa and I made our way to go and pick them up from the hospital there to rush them to another nearby hospital in Dodowa.

We met them coming on the road and we turned around quickly to begin our journey to Dodowa, but we had to stop by their house for a short time as she had bled through all of her clothes and needed to change (apparently, it was the 4th time she'd bled through everything that day). It was really bad!

I tried to drive carefully, but quickly, and we finally made it to the Dodowa hospital. When we got there, wouldn't you guess it?? There wasn't a doctor in, so they wouldn't admit her. But, they had to go and get her paperwork before they could "refer" her to a hospital in Tema or Accra. Rediculous. We were there for over an hour before we finally left with a referral in hand. It was a back and forth game...first saying, no we can't help you. Then, next, they'd say something about giving her medicine for the pain and to stop the flow of blood. Oh, it was so frustrating! How can a hospital run without a doctor? There were probably 50 people in the waiting room...and this was the EMERGENCY ROOM! Just crazy!

On a random side note, while we were waiting for more information for Millicent, I looked into one of the rooms there and there was this white lady in there. It's not often that I see other white people in the area, so I couldn't help but stare a bit. She was INCREDIBLY thin, like starving thin! Her husband was with her and they looked to be Mennonite (which is actually quite common here in West Africa), but I was surprised at how thin she was and kept wondering why she was here in Africa when she was in that kind of condition. She seriously looked like pictures that I have seen of women with severe eating disorders. Scary!

Off that tangent, we finally left the hospital with nothing more than what we had come with...such a frustrating experience. So, I took Millicent home and she said that she was planning on going to her hometown as they knew about this situation (apparently, this isn't the first time this has happened--something about family planning and it messing up her body). But, she slept this afternoon and took some pain medication and the bleeding slowed down and she decided not to leave. I felt so bad for her. I know that she wasn't feeling well and just didn't know what to do about the whole situation.

When we got home today, I decided to make some pizza--upon the request of Lucy (who, incidentally happened to take a weekend this weekend). So, I whipped up some pizza dough and pizza sauce (which is easy to make, but definitely takes more time than just opening up a can like you can do in the States!) and used Velveeta (I know, who makes pizza with Velveeta, but when that's all you have, then that's all you have--and people here don't eat cheese, so it doesn't even really matter to them one way or another!). I tossed it in our bread oven and in 20 minutes...it was done! It didn't taste too bad either! Most of the kids loved it, though DK still has a hard time eating cheese and the new Mary couldn't stomach it at all either!

I also made some bread while I was making the pizza. It turned out beautifully and I'm looking forward to some fresh bread tomorrow morning for breakfast!

For dinner tonight, I tried something new. Nosa made this Nigerian soup called Owu soup and it was pretty yummy. You eat with with boiled plantain. I really enjoyed it! I was nervous to try it, but it was delish.

Afterwards, I went with Mary, Mary, and Dora and went and walked the field. After awhile, Nosa got the kids singing and dancing on the basketball court. So, Mary, Dora, Mary and I went to join them. We sang and danced and sang some more. Then, Uncle Atta (our security guard) went out and started singing and dancing again and we started all over again. After awhile, Edwin came out and joined us too (which meant after about a loop and a half, I had to carry him), but he loved clapping and dancing on my back as we made our way around and around the basketball court. It was awesome and a great way to end the day.

So, I'd planned on spending a relaxing day just hanging out at home and instead it was a bit of a go, go, go day. But, what started out as a frustrating morning, ending with a joyful end! There are pieces of my life here that I wish I could just capture for people and take it home and show them it...there are times when it is so absolutely beautiful and breathtaking to be a part of this culture. And there are other times when it is absolutely frustrating! But, tonight, was just one of those moments where I wish all my friends and family had been there to witness and join in and be a part of it. It was awesome.

So, to end tonight, all I can say is "PRAISE THE LORD" because even with all the troubles that surround us...He is still Lord!

The One Week Countdown

Today is Friday, December 9, and that means that I am ONE WEEK AWAY from heading back to the States for a little R and R and a little facetime with all my besties!! So looking forward to it! My time in the States is usually filled with quite a bit of CORM business, but it also has these deliciously wonderful moments of awesomeness with friends and family and those are the moments that I hold tight to when I'm here and missing a little flavor of home.

In any case, even though this day begins the one week countdown, I was INCREDIBLY busy today! Today was our Christmas program and it was a busy day from the time it started until...well, until about an hour ago!

Nosa, Paul, and I left the house early to go into Doryumu to find a canopy to set up on the BB court for the program. We also had to pick up chairs for the program, so two trips into Doryumu and back and it was 9 am and I had to get a bit of work done. I wrote all of Rosemary's exams and did a few other things to prepare for the day and for next week and before I knew it, I looked at my clock and it was past 12. So, I headed to the house to make my lunch (Fridays are banku at school, which isn't my fave, so I usually make my own something or other) and then, it was back to finish up a little bit more work before the program started. Once it hit 1:00, I was outside (as that was the starting time for our program...but like all of our programs...we always start late...TIA). I got the kids all set up and ready to start before parents began showing up and then Mr. Francis led the program.

It wasn't very organized, unfortunately. Those who up next were never ready on time and were always talking during the on-stage student's performances. It was kind of a frustrating end to all of our hard work these past few weeks because the performances just couldn't be heard over all the voices. Next time, we'll have to figure out something different. This one just didn't work out as we had planned. But, in any case, at the end of the program, we were able to give out awards to the students and provided them with a small gift, courtesy of Evangelist Sandra Riley. They were all so happy and it was such a great way to end the program.

After the program, I was off again...picking up Lucy and Portia from the market, filling up the gas tank, buying tomatoes, dropping off the canopy and chairs, taking our food to the freezer over at our old staff house, and finally home again.

It's been an exhaustingly looooooong day, so I'm going to hit the hay.

And the countdown to HOME begins...6 more days!!!!!

School Inspection

We had our school inspection today. It was kind of a nerve-wracking experience for me. I didn't sleep well the night before just thinking about what was going to happen that day. I just didn't have a clue, and if you know me, I am not very good with the unknown.

In any case, Mr. Francis and I went and picked up the ladies from their office in Dodowa. We brought them to the school and the first complaint we heard was that we didn't have any signboards up to advertise where the school was located. We told them that we've been working on that one for awhile, but getting our artist to follow through with actually coming and completing his job...that's the hard part.

In any case, they were really impressed with the grounds of the school. When we told them that we were a K-6 school, they weren't really happy as most schools here start with preschool and each year, will add an additional class. Well, we never do anything in small parts here. We jumped in fully with a preschool through sixth grade program and intend to continue on to junior high next year.

We took them on a tour of the school, visiting each class and the restroom facilities. Then, we all sat down together for a little chat. Most of the stuff that they brought up was really small and inconsequential. Sometimes, the things that people worry about here are really silly. They can be so formal and so informal at the same time. In any case, the big things that they were worried about was 1) the fact that we're operating all these classes without starting with just one class at a time, and 2) the fact that we're using international curriculum.

We talked to them about the fact that our students won't be writing the B.E.C.E. (which is the test that they take after finishing 8th grade here) and they were very upset with that. They wanted us to give them proof that the parents have approved of this and that they agreed with the curriculum that we were offering their children. They told us that we had to resubmit our application and put all of things things in our application and that we needed to decide if we wanted to offer a Ghanaian curriculum/American curriculum system in our school or if we just wanted an American school. If we want an American school, then we won't be approved by the Ghanaian government. So, we're going to have to work through this process very carefully.

You see, the thing is...we want QUALITY. And the curriculum that I have seen here in Ghana...oh, it frustrates me! Sometimes there are visible errors in the government approved curriculum and this is what is taught to their children. I want our students to learn what is taught to them and know if well. So, it's a debate for me. Yes, I want their culture in their education, but I have to be careful too. I don't want to sacrifice quality just to appease these Ghana Education Service big wigs.

Mr. Francis and I brainstormed after we dropped the ladies off and I think we came to the conclusion that we will have to have the parents sign something that shows that they have understood our course of study and that their child will not be eligible to write the B.E.C.E., but will continue through their entire senior high school program if they are accepted into our school. Then, we'll probably offer, as an option for students, holiday classes or after school classes that teach the Ghanaian curriculum. Those students who are admitted into those classes will be given the option of taking the B.E.C.E.

We'll see how the new presentation is received at their offices.

The ladies were most impressed though with City of Refuge Ministries. I told them about our work in the Volta, in Tema New Town with our single mothers, and here in our children's homes. And then we took them for a tour of our children's home and, of course, Malvin and the staff girls were all there to greet us. They were really impressed with the ministry and how far we've come in such a short time. That was really encouraging and perhaps will help us to go farther now that they've seen the progress that we've made.

I'm so glad that first inspection is over. I know that there will be more to come in the future, but thank goodness that one is over and I can worry about other things for now! So many things to get done before I leave in ONE WEEK!!!

Trouble with the Past

We've been facing some challenges lately with one of our kiddos. Abigail came to us over a year ago and when she arrived, we knew that she had faced a really rocky past. She had run away from her slave-owners three times and we knew that she had a past history of stealing. All of that came with her when she arrived, yet a year ago, we noticed a change in Abigail. She stopped stealing, started really enjoying living her life with us, and was so much happier than when she had first arrived.

But, this week, her past caught up with her in a big way. I don't even remember how it all came out, but it was one thing after another until a whole list of problems came up, all having to do with something missing and it all involved Abigail.

We found out that she had been stealing from other students in the school, from us here, spreading rumors about different things...all kinds of trouble. It really confused me because I had seen such a great change in Abigail's life, and all of a sudden, she was returning to where she came from.

So, we addressed it in a big way! Abigail lost a lot of priveledges, gained some extra chores, and ultimately, lost a lot of trust in the house. Saturday, after finding a few more things in her possession, I went through her whole cupboard and came out with half a large Ghana-Must-Go bag of stolen items. Even some things that she took from me...socks that she must have taken from the clothesline...so much of the stuff was really strange for her to take.

In the end, the staff girls and I talked with her for a little while and she finally admitted to the stuff that she had taken. She had previously been making up a lot of stories about where the stuff had come from. And finally, when she admitted to it, we realized that this is really something that has come from the past and is just so difficult for Abigail to break off of herself. I could tell that she felt bad, but she didn't know how to stop.

So, the staff girl's and I just prayed over her. We prayed that the enemy would take his hands off of Abigail...that Abigail would hear the voice of the Father over anything else...and that God would speak to her of HIS LOVE and her identity in Him.

I'm continuing to pray healing over Abigail and will trust that with all the healing that we've seen before, she will be healed completely from this problem. The past doesn't have to control her any longer!!

Saying Goodbye to the Omorefes

I have been in Ghana for a year and a half (give or take a little bit), and I have had the absolute priveledge to travel home every 6 months or so. It has been a welcome relief and such a blessing to be able to see my family and friends for a little interm break every so often. What a joy! This next trip back will be my last for an entire year. I’m a little nervous about being here for a whole year without returned back home (as I so enjoy my break times with my friends and family and crave that relational time!), but I am looking forward to what will happen here with CORM this next year.

John and Stacy and the rest of the Omorefe family left yesterday (Saturday, December 2) for the States. It has been TWO WHOLE YEARS since they have returned home. They have made so many sacrifices for their family so that they could move here. I’m often in awe of the things that they have chosen to do instead of the way that they could have lived back in the States. But, when God calls you into something, you have to listen (I know this from experience!!).

I’m so excited for them to get the chance to go home. I’ve been praying that they will find the time to REST amidst all their traveling and responsibilities. I also know from experience that traveling home is not always easy! Sometimes, it is as much work as being here and doing the ministry work here. There are certain things expected of you, and in so many ways, and so many different time, you just have to be ON. That part is difficult. Sometimes it seems like you simply can’t be yourself, but you have to be City of Refuge Ministries. I’m praying that they’ll be able to manage that back and forth time—know how to set boundaries to rest so that they can come back here refreshed for more time of ministry.

And I’m praying that JJ, Caleb, and Justice will simply ENJOY time with Grandma and Grandpa Corbin. Justice won’t even remember them, so it will be such a special time for them. JJ has been talking about snowmen for weeks now, so I know I’m going to see some tanned Omorefe children out in the snow on facebook sometime soon.

In any case, now that they are gone, we are here by ourselves now and have to kind of fill in these big shoes. Nosa has been amazing and runs the place with a quiet efficiency. Aunty Lydia has gotten the house in tip top shape in no time flat and everything sparkles by 8 am. I try to step in where I’m needed—a little time with Malvin and Edwin usually helps Lucy and Portia out a bit—running errands in the car, entertaining kids with basketball games, etc!

Out of the Omorefe children, the transition is a little different. They are moving from a house with 22 kids to a house with 3 (now that Justice, JJ, and Caleb are gone, there is only 3). I think Miracle feels lost the most though. He had to fight for attention (in sometimes really crazy ways) this past year, and now that we are in one home again, I think he was expecting to get all this attention by being the youngest of the Nigerian Omorefes. We’ve had to kind of lay down the law with him, and with Rosemary (about kitchen rules) and Paul (about working with the other boys when there are jobs to do), but for the most part, the transition has been pretty easy.

Things are running…it’s different these days, but it works. I think that part of the reason that it’s working so well is the very reason that we DID live together for the past 13 months. We saw each other on good days and bad days, sick days and happy days. We kinda figured out how we all operate and we are now a team. Sometimes, it wasn’t easy to forge the team. We definitely saw our share of not so easy times, but we are working it out and I’m pretty proud of my Ghana family. When the going gets tough…the tough gets going…that’s how the saying works right? And we’re living it out for sure!

The Big Move

Without electricity and without internet, well, it leaves someone a little behind when it comes to updating her blog. So, I am going to be writing some blogs on my computer and posting it whenever we decide to get our internet up and running again. In any case, I wanted to update my blog for those of you who follow and know that we were planning on moving to our Children’s Village site this week, even though we don’t have electricity yet.

Our lease on our current place ran out at the beginning of November, and that put us in a bit of a predicament as the ECG (Electric Company of Ghana) have been dragging their feet at giving us numbers. It’s been extremely challenging and John had his hands full as he was back and forth between Accra and Tema and our own Doryumu in the weeks before our move. We were really trying to get here on the site before Thanksgiving, but Thanksgiving came and went with no move towards electricity. And with the impending lease (here, even if your lease is expired, you are given three months to move out), we knew that the move was “better late than never”.

So, we packed up everything and we moved out. The 29^th of November was the last night that we spent at our old home in Downtown Doryumu. And when I spent my first night in our new house here at the Children’s Village site, I was reminded about that first night that I spent in our old home. I remember that we had moved very late in the evening from Tema and we didn’t arrive until pretty late at night (like after 10 pm) to our new house. I remember driving in through the bush and thinking…what have we got ourselves into. Then, piling everything in my room and hoping that I would be able to sleep. Our beds were just mattresses on the floor and the electricity was only at half-current that night, barely moving the fan in my room. I remember waking up in the morning to the sun shining through my window and thinking, “Now, I really am in Africa”, with this beautiful sunrise coming up over the hills behind the house. It was scary, and exciting, and unknown all at the same time.

And that house held a lot of memories! That is where we lived with Baby John and Baby Princess, whom both have gone to live with their families. And that is where we hosted hundreds of volunteers in the 2011 year…Australians, Americans, Chinese, Bristish, Ghanaian…you name it, it feels like the WORLD came to us this last year. And that house is where I spent 8 months taking care of my boy Edwin. It was a difficult, and beautiful, season of my life. In some ways, I miss the time that I got to spend taking care of him, but in other ways, I’m seeing the blessings of boundaries in ministry. That house is where I kissed my boys goodnight every night, and prayed for our kids, and joked and laughed, and even shed some tears. It’s where Katie came to visit me, and my mom, and Brianna, and Chris came. It’s where Christy and Victor lived out their time (even without me there). That house held a lot of joy…and a lot of people!! At one point, we were over 40 living in one house.

And now, we’re here. Only 13 months later, we have 2 houses and a school built (well, part of a school!). And isn’t God good? It’s amazing to see what he has done in that time. Just amazing!

And my first night here, well, it held a little trepidation. I wasn’t sure about the “no electricity” thing. I mean, how would I deal without computers and my phone and internet and all of that…but we figured out a system. We use the generator for a couple of hours every evening to charge things up, and by 9:00 pm, we’re in bed and the generator is off. I thought it would be miserable at night without the air of the fan, but the weather at the site, for the most part, cools down at night. It’s a little buggy, but it’s been beautiful!

I’m looking forward to heading home to pick up a few things to decorate my room. I got some curtains when I came last time, but they don’t quite fit my windows, so I might be looking at doing something else…we’ll see! But, in any case, for some reason, this room really feels like my own place. I’m looking forward to making it mine.

So, here we are…making it, without electricity! I don’t think I ever would have thought I would be in a place like this, but here I am…and I’m realizing, yet again, that what I thought was impossible, well, it really is possible!