Camp Buduburam, the first day
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 1:58PM 
We rolled into camp and headed to the Commander's office. He is the manager of the camp and is with the Ghana government. He wasn't there, so after the polite greetings with his next in command, we moved on to the clinic.
Due to the fact that Point Hope has partnered with the Ghana government to bring potable (drinkable) water, the illness and deaths due to water-borne diseases in the last year has declined. Delilah talked about how there used to be beds full of sick and dying children in the Children's Ward. This visit, there were three children in the ward, two of which were severly malnourished, one of those two was literally starving.
Turns out the 16 yr old mom had left the little girl with a "friend" who was in the same business as mom, prostitution, while mom left for 3 weeks to work. The friend didn't have formula for the baby and didn't really care that she didn't eat the whole time. We talked to her, her step-mother, who also has a baby, had recovered the child and brought her to the clinic for treatment. Teen mom had shown up and was hanging out with the baby, trying to breast feed with no milk to give, also trying to act as though she cared about what happened to the baby now, but with no remorse for how she got in this condition. A couple of days later we would see the baby was improving and hear that the mom wanted to give her up for adoption--Praise God, I pray she stays with that decision!
Next Lexy and I met with some ladies who have been trained by Point Hope in a trade--batik fabric making, sewing, beading, and soapmaking. They seemed so happy to have a trade, but had not much idea about how to start their own business. Lexy is an executive with a lingerie company. She has an amazing background in marketing and promoting new businesses, also doing PR and fund raising campaigns. God brought her along for such a time as this...she is very eager to work with the ladies now and into the future to build business and help to market in the US. In fact, she arranged a modeling show to exhibit the wares of Point Hope women entrepreneurs this coming Saturday.
OK, there's more, but the internet was down all day yesterday an the upload is slow, so I have to go the bed...sorry we are so behind the days, but it will all be caught up by the time we touch down in PDX! By the way, now that the water is taken care of, the feeding program, the farming program and the women's empowerment program (trade businesses) are the next points of focus...feeding the children and teaching the adults to be self-sufficient, giving them the opportunity to succeed into the future, using the talents God gave them...it's all about hope! G'night!
Jan Johnson-Haynes
Day 1 at Camp Buduburam, August 17th (Continued)
While at the clinicwe met Dr Joe Riverson, 
a Ghanian man who has lived around the world and most recently was the National Director of World Vision in Ghana before coming over to head up the medical team for Point Hope. This incredible man is 70-plus years young and knows everyone...in Ghana, in the U.S...we met someone in the dining room, a Ghanian man who lives in Virginia and Dr. Joe knew his uncle and used to work with him through the Smithsonian. Through Dr. Joe’s friends and connections, there were recently 22 Liberian women who were able to have life changing gynecological surgeries to remove fibrous tissues and tumors...those women met us to thank Point Hope and brought Delilah to tears. Something so simple, but so inaccessible for them without Point Hope’s help, and it has made a world of difference—one woman had bled for many years without ceasing and the surgery has cured her, giving her back her energy and her life. (Doesn’t this sound familiar? I know, I thought of the woman who came to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment for healing, too! Hearing her story gave new meaning to being the hands and feet of Jesus.)
Next we met with Jennifer,
Keith, and Delphin. 
They work with 
WISE (Women Invested Self-Empowerment), 
a domestic violence program that partners with Point Hope and the medical clinic and the Ghana social workers to counsel women in crisis, to offer trade training to women, give medical aid and to work with teen mothers. Jennifer said they do not have safe houses, so it is difficult, as they work with the women and then have to send them back home where their abusers often remain. Keith works with the Crisis Response Team (CRT). They are the eyes and ears on the streets of the camp, looking for women and children who are victims of domestic violence and helping them get to WISE and help. CRT members are volunteers and their numbers have shrunk from 72 to 8...hard work. Even with their limited financial resources, WISE has started a Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) which trains young people from early teens through mid-twenties in trade programs; they were able to sponsor 23 youths this past year.
Next I met Ida,
the latest Point Hope employee, at a meeting for the Women of Destiny Program—Point Hope offers training in and partners with other trade schools for sewing, fabric design (batik), beading, hair styling, baking, and soap-making. As I mentioned earlier, Lexy was on fire and SO excited to meet with them to give them advice in growing their businesses. Later in the day we went to meet the ladies who are a part of the Point Hope batik and beading project, 
as well as the latest sewing class (a 12 week program, they are in their 3rd week). 
Upon graduation, these ladies will be presented with their own sewing machine to embark on the path to economic freedom through entrepreneurship.
I told them about my interest in knitting and asked them if anyone wanted to learn...I found a few crocheters, but no present-day knitters....that will soon change, as many ladies were excited about having the chance to learn a new craft!
We went next door and met the children of the women in the training program. The daycare and nutrition program was full of bright, healthy faces, a sure sign that the fresh water and food are blessing these precious children of God! 
God brought me to Ghana at this place and time...perhaps He was saving me from some of the heartbreak Delilah first found four years ago...Thank You, Father, that your children are so much healthier now, I pray for their continued march to health and financial independence, whether here or back in Liberia. Amen!
While I was running around with the women, Gerald was busy meeting with the Neighborhood Watch Team (NEWAT),
trying to set up a chance to share some defensive tactics training. There are about 100 men and women who volunteer their time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to patrol the camp and the area surrounding the farm. He spent quite a lot of time there, hearing their experiences and needs, more to come on that...
He did break away (I had to send Dave, one of our NEWAT escorts through the week, to get him)
long enough to pick out a fabric so the ladies could make a shirt for me to purchase for him. You will be shocked to see the color, or course (or maybe just shocked at the lack of yellow)! 
No, not this one...this is Point Hope material...
I got some material for me, 
but it won't look like this when it is made up...the pattern is "Except for God" (Guy Nwami [phonetic] means, expect for God--unless God is present, nothing is possible) 
Lastly, we met up at the Point Hope office and went through some of the supplies we all brought on the plane with us. 
Delilah had hundreds of Point Hope t-shirts for different projects to pass out and she had brought ...watch for those pics to come as the shirts make their way around camp! We also distributed some of the school supplies that Willamette Christian Church members (public school teachers and more) and VBS kids had collected and donated 
...so exciting to see the happy faces receiving...more pics to come!
Finally, back to the van and the hour (or more) ride back to the hotel...a late dinner and bed...so happy to be here!
Reader Comments (2)
fabric???? do they sell it?
Yep, as you can tell, they do sell it!! You can order some and they will send it over or you can have them make an outfit of your choice...