Blessings in Bosomtwe & Beyond

Alabama team arriving today

It's a busy day here on the hillside of the beautiful meteor crater as we get ready for a joint team from St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Birmingham,AL, USA and First United Methodist Church in Sylacauga, AL, USA led by Father Stephen McWhorter. They left yesterday morning and are arriving in Accra, Ghana about 15 minutes from now (as I write this at (9:15am). Steve Buchele will be meeting them at the airport and bringing them up to Abono, where they all will stay at Lake Bosomtwe Paradise Resort. Steve will be fascilitating their orientation this afternoon and evening, then the group will be coming across by boat to Amakom to meet the clinic staff, begin working, and celebrate Lucas' 6th birthday.

The group will be involved in many aspects of work at the clinic. Church on Sunday will be at the 'Methodist society' in Dompa, with afternoon activities in Amakom. Monday is a work day on the clinic campus, Tuesday will start with greeting chiefs and elders in Amakom and Atafram, Wednesday will be a day of travel to Adamwaase to tour a Kente cloth weaving village, on to an Adinkra cloth village, then a wood carving village outing. Thursday and Friday are work days on the clinic campus, and Saturday they return to Accra to fly out early Sunday morning (June 1).

We are so blessed to have this group return again this year, with some of the same team members from the Feb. 2007 trip, and a few new team members.

'Doctor, We Need You'

It's 9:24pm on Tuesday evening and we're in bed. The all-to-familiar sound of the clinic night watchman's voice pierces through the night with 'Doctor, We Need You'.

We had gone to bed knowing that the third birth of the day could come anytime, but we had just gotten settled not long after watching an episode of House, MD (DVD of Season 2). Well, the call came and Juliana went since the mid-wife had gone to Kuntenase to get our monthly reporting forms and would be back early tomorrow morning.

Today was busy, Juliana and I had been setting up a new delivery room - which is being used tonight - with a new delivery table (very modern I must add and comfortable), an infant intensive care station (infant warmer), and other accessories for the room. Of course, you may remember, that Juliana is 36+ weeks pregnant herself and has worked all day on organizing, cleaning, etc. As we are waiting on the re-instatement of her medical license by the Medical Dental Council she cannot see patients at this time - she should hear news of their decision by the end of the week and can only go attend patients in emergency cases such as this tonight.

In the middle of a busy day, we had lunch (ocra stew over rice) on the floor picnic-style as our dining room table was covered with things as a sorting station during morning. I told Lucas of an email I had gotten from my mom that said that she would really like to send him his favorite home-made cake "Feathery Fudge Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Satin Frosting" but there is not enough room left for the visiting team coming this week from Alabama to bring it. I asked him if he thought he would have a cake for his birthday (it's on the 23rd) and he said, 'No, I don't think so. I can just have a popsicle for my birthday.' Oh my heart broke, it was at this moment that I wished for the biggest birthday party (Brazilian-style that his cousins have there). He didn't say it in sadness really, just realization that it won't be anything big. I'm glad that this team is bringing a cake that I bought/ordered from a bakery in Accra (the capital city of Ghana). It will be here by the 24th, and we will have 'party' with the team from Alabama, a 'family' gathering of sorts.

.... Juliana just came in for the truck keys and went out again... she said that the birth that she was called to has emergency complications, our truck has to rush her to the Catholic mission hospital that is 1 to 1 1/2 hours away (St. Michael's Catholic Hospital in Praamso).

I see the truck pulling out. I'm still waiting on Juliana to return to the house though and it's 9:51pm. May God intervene and strengthen this lady and her baby. Sustain them. I speak life and health to them in Jesus name. I come against all complications, and declare victory in the name of Jesus.

Update: Thursday morning.... we received word from the clinic driver that the baby did not make it. No details really, but the news is very discouraging.

Back at home in Amakom

We have been back in Ghana now for 18 days and it's been a wild transition back into the way of life. It's been quite an adjustment this time to get acclimated back into how things work here.

Today we are just overjoyed because we know that we are exactly where we are supposed to be, doing exactly what we are called to do and are victorious! We will see the Kingdom of God advancing in this place, in power and might, with people living and loving His presence.

We are very grateful for those of you who are praying for us, especially during this past week as it's been a bit intense re-entry. It's so very wonderful to be walking with warriors, not alone, but with a winning battalion of super fighters with us. Thank you! Thank you Jesus for the overwhelming peace in the middle of challenging situations. He is our great strength. Ju is doing very well in the pregnancy.

Psalm 33:18-22 (Amplified)
Behold, the Lord's eye is upon those who fear Him [who revere and worship Him with awe], who wait for Him and hope in His mercy and loving-kindness, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. Our inner selves wait [earnestly] for the Lord; He is our Help and our Shield. For in Him does our heart rejoice, because we have trusted (relied on and been confident) in His holy name. Let Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, in proportion to our waiting and hoping for You.

Netting Nations - Partnership with Lake Bosomtwe Clinic

Check out, www.NettingNations.org, a great charity that has expressed interest and contacted us for partnership with them for July 2008 distribution of treated mosquito nets. They are working to raise $2500 so that we can distribute 5000 nets - wow, a lot less costly that the Nothing But Nets campaign.

If you or your group could help them reach their goal we would sure be grateful!