A Ghana presentation for Fay-El…

Fayetteville Elementary 3rd Graders

On Friday, December 4th,  Ken and I were able to go to Fayetteville Elementary school to give a presentation to the third grade classes.   Studying Ghana is part of the 3rd grade curriculum.  This was a special treat for us, as our son, Timmy is in Mrs. Zullo’s third grade class there!

We showed the children pictures and explained a little about life in Ghana.  We showed them pictures of the many types of homes, pictures of the city, of farming and of the schools. 

The Fay-El 3rd graders had written letters to the school children in Ghana, which we took with us on our trip in November.  They were so excited to see pictures of the Ghanaian schoolchildren holding up their letters!  The children asked many good questions, and seemed to enjoy the presentation.  We then took some time to show them some things that we have brought home from our trips to Ghana.  We showed them Kente cloth, beads, baskets, and our drum… which was definitely their favorite thing!

We look forward to seeing the Mott Rd. 3rd graders on Friday and giving the same presentation!!

~Julie

Kathy Schreiber’s reflections on the Lake Trip…

November 29, 2009

Kete Krachi/Lake Volta – 

If this was the only reason we came….. 

I find myself repeating that phrase over and over as I recall and recount our recent trip to Kete Krachi on Lake Volta.  

Four days prior to our departure for Ghana I received an email from Kofi Achibra asking permission for a couple to ride with us to Kete Krachi.  Without hesitation I said yes, not knowing who they were.  A young American couple, Ben a 4^th year medical student spending the next 2 months at the Kete Krachi Hospital and his wife Laura a consultant for Touch A Life that would be researching and writing a grant for federal funding from the US Department of Human Trafficking to support and expand the work being done on the lake, would join us on our journey.  The hours spent in conversation with them and the 4 Ghanaians we brought about culture, churches in Ghana, the Ghanaian Government and Social Work system, foster care and rehabilitative counseling were beneficial to Laura in her work.  As she put it, the time spent with all of you gave me insights that would have taken weeks otherwise.  My work here has been helped greatly by your presence and collective wisdom.  If this was the only reason we came… 

A conversation with Victoria late Sunday afternoon about what she had seen both on the lake, in the foster home and with the Achibra family and their work culminated with the following paraphrased response – The work that the Achibra family is doing here, we should and must support and encourage.  It is a good work.  But I too must go home and in my own area begin doing something.  I can make a small meal and take it to the orphanage near by.  I can share some of my own clothing, though I have little, with the women in prison that have none. –  Developing a heart of giving even in the midst of poverty. If this was the only reason we came… 

Albright was adamant while visiting the foster home, Jantsen’s House, that the children needed a “mother”, someone who was there fulltime to love them, care for them, provide rehabilitative counseling, a good role model and life skills.  He felt so strongly he even suggested that he might have to come to do this himself if no one else could be found.  When we returned to the rest of our travel team in Ho a woman who had attended the conference told me about Agnes.  Agnes told her she had retired from teaching but felt called to teach again but this time, at an orphanage.  When I relayed this information to Albright a grin spread across his entire face.  “I know Agnes.  Her application is on my desk to attend a training program.  The very program I said was so vital to the children.”  Albright interviewed Agnes earlier this week.  She has been trained in full time ministry, teaching, counseling and was Regional Coordinator for the Christian Mothers’ Association, the very thing he had said was so needed.  If this was the only reason we came…. 

A delicate, personal and intimate conversation between 2 Americans who had just met on a van 5,100+ miles from US soil occurred during the long bumpy road to Kete Krachi.  It ended in tears, prayer and the declaration from one to the other “God has a plan” for you.  If this was the only reason we came…. 

32 children that had been trafficked, beaten, mistreated and abused all gathered together with the 7 of us, the 3 people that care for them and the American couple listening together to a retelling of the story of Joseph.  Joseph, like them, had been sold into slavery by his family, mistreated, falsely accused and yet was right in the midst of God’s plan for him.  God has a plan.  This was repeated over and over, if not for the children, then for each of us.  The children were encouraged to thank God for their rescue, to forgive those who had mistreated them and then pray for those who were caring for them now.  The collective prayers were loud, intense and sincere.  If this was the only reason we came…. 

God has a plan for each of us.  For me, I want to live daily with the realization that He is ordering my steps just as plainly here in CNY as He did in Kete Krachi.  And if that was the only reason we came – it is enough.  

-Kathy 
 

http://picasaweb.google.com/kasokie/LakeVoltaKeteKrachi?feat=email#

Ghana get together Sunday Nov. 22 @ 12:30 in Building 10

Please join us at 12:30 on Sunday November 22 @ 12:30 at EHBC’s building 10 (Next to the administration building) to see pictures of our trip and ask questions.  We are excited to tell you all about it!!

Day 9, Nov. 20… Home, safe and sound!

We all received wake up calls at 5:30am… and met in the hotel lobby for breakfast at 6am. 

Packing the bus to head to the airport... saying good-bye to our friends.

We piled all of our luggage back into the bus and headed to the airport around 7am.  We quickly said good-bye to our Ghanaian friends and headed inside.  After checking our bags and numerous security checks, we climbed the stairs onto Delta flight 167 heading to JFK.  We left the Accra airport at 9:55am, Ghana time, and arrived at JFK at 3:45pm EST. (almost 11 hours!) We retrieved our bags, rechecked them and then headed to gate 23.  We all boarded at about 6:30pm, and arrived safely in Syracuse around 8pm… to a huge crowd at the airport waiting for us!

Thank you all so much for all of your prayers and support.  This trip would not be possible if it were not for you!!!

More pictures are posted on the picasa link…

http://picasaweb.google.com/jakaiser8/GhanaNovember2009?feat=directlink

~ Julie

Day 8, November 19, 2009

Today we woke up, had our last breakfast at the Freedom Hotel Restaurant, and packed up our bags to head to Accra.  We said some tearful good-byes to our Ghanaian friends who would not be traveling with us.

We packed all of our belonging into the back of the bus, and loaded up bus and van and headed out.  I was in the van, behind the bus and it was funny to see a large bright orange “Syracuse Lacrosse” duffle bag in the back of the bus!

Ken, Kathy, Francis and Albright headed directly to Accra in Francis’ car for a special  meeting with The Great Commission Movement of Ghana, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ, Intl.

The rest of us drove “very far” to the town of Keta to see Fort Prinzenstein, an old slave fort on the coast of Ghana.  It is crumbling and 2/3’s of it has been washed into the sea… but many of the dungeons where slaves were kept are still intact.  We had a wonderful guide who explained the journey of a slave from the fort to the slave ships.  It was very sad, and very humbling.

One of the walls at Ft. Prinzenstein that is still standing.

 

A story written on the wall....

 

2/3 of the fort has been washed away by the sea.

We also had a brief visit with Pastor Daniel’s daughter, Rejoice, who attends school in Keta, and stays with extended family there.  She is a beautiful, intelligent girl, and I was so happy to have a chance to see her again.

Julie with Rejoice, Pastor Daniel's oldest daughter.

We then continued on to Accra, and arrived at the Shagri La Hotel close to 5 pm.  We quickly checked in and piled on the bus to go to the market.  Darkness was quickly approaching, so we only had a few minutes to make purchases.  As soon as we entered the marketplace, we were surrounded by shouting salesmen and salesgirls pitching their products and banging on drums to demonstrate.  It was very overwhelming!  With the help of Johnny and Wilson, we quickly made a few purchases and headed back to the Hotel.  We ate a quick dinner at the Chinese Restaurant there, and piled back in the bus to head to Pastor Thomas’ church (right in Accra) for our farewell church service.  We returned to the Hotel around 10pm.

Dressed in our Ghanaian garb at the church service in Accra

~ Julie

Day 7, cont…

After visiting the villages of Sanyi and Worta Eta Kope, we arrived back at our hotel in Ho for a brief swim.  We then piled back into the van and bus for a quick ride to Pastor Francis’ home.  It was already dark when we arrived.  Several tables were arranged in the front yard, lit up only by the electric lights on the front of the house.  We were served a wonderful dinner of rice, chicken, vegetables, potato fries and goat meat.  It was delicious and served with love by our Ghanaian friends.  After we ate, we mingled with our friends and enjoyed playing with the children and babies.  We were excited to meet and hold 2 month old Kobla Francis, Pastor Francis’ first grandson.

Julie with baby Francis, Pastor Francis' first grandchild

 

Lizzy and Kelsey with babies wrapped on their backs.

We were all given gifts… beautiful dresses for the women made by the sewing school students… and shirts for the men, also made by the students.  Some of us put on our dresses and modeled them for our friends… they were thrilled.  Perry and Linda sang a beautiful hymn… and we sang our Ewe songs that Pastor Samuel had taught us.  It was a wonderful time of fellowship.  We returned to the hotel to prepare for our long journey to Accra in the morning.

Kelsey, Lizzy, Rachel, Amber, Jes and Julie model their new dresses

~Julie

Sybil, November 17, 2009

(Sybil spent the first few days of our trip at Kete Krachi with Kathy, Scott, Felicia, Victoria and Pastor Williams and returned Monday Nov. 16th)

Greetings to all of you!

I was not going to get into a boat and go out on Lake Volta, but Gearge Achibra from Jantsen’s House had a different idea.  I went.   It was awesome!

We returned to Ho from Kete Krachi on Monday, and Tuesday we visited Felicia’s school and gave the books to them that were made by the FM school children.  We also gave them school supplies and letters written by other FM school children.

Then Kathy and I met with women who had received microloans.  We were enthusiastically greeted by Keaka at her business at the market.  She was among the first group of women to receive loans.  She has done well.  Bernice has expanded to three locations.

Elizabeth told us that in her village, women who received loans… even small amounts of $150.00 or less… divided their money with other women so that more had opportunity.

Dora just received her loan.  While very thankful, she expressed the need for a larger amount because it is a very  small start.  I asked Dora if there was $10.00 more to be split between herself and two other women, what would she do?  Her response was that she would give it all to them so they they would also have opportunity.

You, as you have given, have made a difference in these women’s lives!

Akpenawo (Thank you!)

Sybil

 

Day 7, November 18, 2009

Well we woke up this morning and it was hot and sunny and humid.  Another beautiful Ghanaian day.  We left the hotel at 9am or so… hey, this is Africa so no one watches the clock too closely.  Our agenda for the day was to stop at a village to visit and give meds, then on to the village of Worta to dedicate a bore hole that EHBC funded from the Advent Conspiracy last Christmas.  After that it is dinner at Pastor Francis’ house in the evening.

The first village we stopped at, Sanyi,   was not full as it was market day… so many people were not there.  We exchanged introductions, had some drum music, handed out meds for parasites, and mosquito nets.  We were only in the village for about 2 hours.

Next on to Worta eta Kope,  this village was one of 5 bore holes funded by EHBC from last Christmas fund-raiser.  As we pulled into the village there was a grass shelter (which was a temporary shelter) constructed in a square with the center open for sunlight and dancing.  The music and drums were all ready rocking.  The children met the bus at the very entrance to the village.   I have spent most of my time at the conferences and not in the villages, but this village looked different from any other I had seen.  The houses were farther apart, and there were more cement houses and fewer mud houses.  It looked cleaner in some way, although everything was clay?  The bore hole was roped off with a ribbon and the pump sat ready to go into action. 

We entered the shelter and found our chairs as the women danced to the amazing rhythm of the drums.  You just can’t keep your feet still with those drums.  The next major thing was the entrance of the Village Chief and other Chiefs of the village and the villages around Worta eta Kope.  They were led in by what looked like a VooDoo witch doctor.  He had a hat of small skulls and horns and stabbed at the ground with a large knife as others danced around him.  They said he was clearing the bad spirits away so the Chief could walk.  They sheltered the Chiefs with two large umbrellas that were bright red and orange.

 

We went through the usual introductions and prayers to start of the meeting.  Then they picked the Chairman of the Meeting, which is a great honor.  Then Doug Bullock, gave a short speech and scripture lesson on “living water”.  He also told how this village was selected after a visit by Ken and Kyle Pipes two years ago.

"Chief of Developement" Doug Bullock, along with the village chief and Doug's newly appointed advisors... Kathy Schreiber, Mark Hebert, Ken Kaiser and Mick Keville

The next exciting thing was that Doug was made a Chief of the Village, Chief of Development!  They took him around the building and he dressed up in the typical African robe and got a crown and came back into the shelter led by the village soccer team (which was wearing Cazenovia soccer jerseys).  At this time now Doug sat with the Village Chiefs and not with the rest of the mission team.

There was a lot more dancing and even I got up and into the middle to dance to the drums (Doc Reed made me to it!)  As a part of the celebration, Perry Morgan and Lynda Morgan sang a song and as soon as Lynda sang out and they heard her voice they all reacted and it was soo nice!

Then the Chief of Development and the Chief of the Village went to cut the ribbon and dedicate the well.  We pumped some water and Kathy Schreiber was the first to drink from the new well.

Cutting the ribbon...

Then we handed out the medicine and nets and this was the first time for me to do this.  What a feeling of giving life to someone?  It is too difficult to explain but I feel blessed to be a part of it.

On the drive back to the Hotel, a Ghana friend asked what I would tell my friends back in the US about Ghana.  I said I would try to tell them everything, but knowing I cannot tell it as richly as I have lived it.  This is truly an amazing experience and has enriched my life greatly.

We got back to the hotel (after rescuing a woman and her child from a motorcycle accident) in time for quick swim before dinner.  We ate at Francis” house with all the other FIGA Pastors, wives, and church members that wanted to come.  Again we prayed, we had singing and we enjoyed each others company.  Gifts were given to everyone to end the night.

What a great day in Ghana, God is Good!!!

Perry Harvey

Welcome address by Torgbui(chief) Kekeli Dzokoto

As is the custom, the presiding chief had prepared a formal speech for our introductions and provided a copy of the speech to us.  I have done my best to accurately transcribe the hand written paper… /Ken

Welcome address by Torgbui Kekeli Dzokoto of Dufia Adakulu-Ahunda and Senior Division Chief of theAdaklu Traditional Area on the occasion of the visit of medical team from overseas.

 

JEHOVAH is to be glorified for the opportunity given us today on the occasion of the visit of the medical team from oversaeaswho are here to diagnose and treat my people of various diseases on humanitarian basis.

 

You are WELCOME – “MIAWOERZOR”  Ours is a poor rural community s. So your humanitarian medical assistance today will go a long way to save many fdrom rushing to their graves for lack of funds to meet high medical bills.

 

Your laudable assistance in this direction will definitely supplement government efforts.  We are very very grateful to the team and wish you God’s bountiful blessings.

 

I seize this opportunity to request that your church build a clinic for us as we are far away from the regional capital hospital at Ho and as such many lives are lost during emergencies.

 

This community built a dam and a water treatment plant which provides potable for the people but unfortunately the quality of the water is very poor so we need your helpto better the water source for us in order to save us from water-born diseases.

 

THANK YOU AND FARE YOU WELL

Day 6, November 17, 2009

Happy Birthday Michael Hebert!!! 

Today we were blessed to have all of our team members together again by the end of the day!  The Lake team returned yesterday afternoon, and the Conference team returned today from Togo.   Everyone is well and happy.

We started our day by visiting Felicia Tachie’s school.  We were welcomed by the Head of the school and the teachers.  The children were very excited to see us.  We spent some time with them, and then presented the teachers with many books donated by students from FM High School, some school supplies, books made by the Mott Road students, and letters written by the Fayetteville Elementary 3rd graders.  Everything was received with much joy and jubilation!

Presenting the letters from the Fay El students

 

Felicia's student's show off the letters and books

 

Kathy presents the books from the Mott Road students to the teachers.

Kathy and Sybil stayed with Felicia at the school so that they could meet with Felicia and Abraham, the FIGA Women’s pastor about the micro-loans we are helping the FIGA women with.  They were also able to interview a boy in Felicia’s class who was rescued from the lake.  He would like to grow up to help rescue more children off the lake.

The Village Team, plus Scott, went to 2 villages.   We traveled very far on very bumpy roads.  The ride seemed short because Pastor Samuel taught us several worship songs in Ewe… we sang them over and over until he was satisfied that we knew them!   Then we sang worship songs in english.  It was wonderful!  The first was Aziedukope,  a VERY remote village.  Daniel told us that when he started going to that village a few years ago to do his health teaching, there were no Christians in the village.  Now there is a very big church!  The villagers greeted us with songs and drums and dancing.   We gave out the anti-parasite medications and the mosquito nets.  We sang one of the songs Pastor Samuel taught us and the villagers were thrilled to hear us singing in thier language.  I was very happy to see a 2 year old boy named Nicolas.  When I visited 2 years ago, he was not quite 2 weeks old, and had an open spina bifida.  We were not sure that he would survive.  He is very much alive and healthy, although he does not have use of his legs.  His mother has taken very good care of him!  The open sore is closed, but looks fragile.

Julie holding 2 year old Nicolas

The next village we went to was Ahunda,  Daniel’s home village.  We met his mother and several members of his family.  We started our visit by sitting down to eat a delicious lunch of rice, chicken, and cooked vegetables that was prepared for us!  We then gave out the anti-parasite meds and the mosquito nets.  It went very smoothly, especially considering what a large group it was.  Rachel enjoyed singing Ewe songs with the children.  Amber and Scott were given some drumming lessons.

Pinapples and papaya... gifts from the people of Ahunda

 

Dave is "helping"

We sang our way back to Ho, and arrived at 6pm.  We ate dinner and then were blessed to have visits from our friends Albright and his wife Olivia, and also from Felicia.  We are looking forward to tomorrow when we will attend a special well dedication.

Thank you for all of your comments!!  We really enjoy reading them each day!! 

Look for more pictures here on this link…

http://picasaweb.google.com/jakaiser8/GhanaNovember2009?feat=directlink

~Julie