Day 2 in Camp Buduburam, August 18

(I couldn't post these sooner, so I am just pasting in the write-ups I did for the day along with the pictures...Ghana's internet isn't as reliable as Amsterdam's!)

  

Wow! We started our day by going to the Point Hope farm, New Paradise. The farm is located on five acres of land, which also includes a cottonwood tree planted by God

     

and a tilapia and catfish pond also populated by clams, all God created, but the pond is man-made.      

Gerald wants to come back with a cane pole and go fishing!! There is going to be a chicken coop built on the opposite side of the pond for egg production and poultry meat...the carpenters trained through Point Hope’s Carpentry Trade Program will be starting it soon!

It started to rain, but (unlike WA or OR) it was so warm that it felt kind of refreshing...

Lexi and Delilah opted for rain gear...sissies!!  LOL! The weather and temperature so reminds Gerald and me of New Orleans!

There are two brothers growing the farm right now.

 They have planted collard greens from the US (which grow very well), peppers, cabbage, eggplant, corn, cucumbers, white potatoes, sweet potatoes, and other local crops.      

Delilah introduced them to the concept of composting, so they have been doing that, and while they have been pumping water out of the pond to water the crops, there is a new water tower being built which will have a poly-tank sitting on top and it should make watering easier.

But the farm should be bigger, doing better, producing more...I’m putting the call out here: ANYONE WHO HAS A GREEN THUMB, AGRICULTURAL BACKGROUND, AND WOULD LIKE TO COME TO GHANA TO BRING THAT KNOWLEDGE TO A PLACE IT IS SORELY NEEDED—CONTACT ME ASAP!!!!

Okay, that being said, pray for the farm, please! It has potential and could be a great help in bringing nutritious, affordable food to the camp.

When we left the farm, we took young Daniel with us to receive medical treatment for malaria...his father said he has it (again) and isn’t feeling well; has a fever and his eye is a little yellow...I said eye because one of his eyes is a glass eye. When Point Hope first found Daniel he had a diseased eye and it needed to be removed to save his life.

He looked very happy and grateful running toward Kraig as we first got to the farm.   

After the tour, we went back to the camp, took Daniel to the clinic and checked in on the malnourished/starving baby, little Michelle. Rachel is holding her here; Michelle has trouble keeping the formula down and was on constant IV.  Keep praying for her! 

We also made friends with little baby Delilah and little girl Delilah...guess who has impacted the lives of their mothers’ and how the ladies showed their gratitude? Cute, cute girls!

   

We stopped to buy diapers at one of the market stalls, Dave negotiated for us.

   

Rachel is adopting baby Delilah’s big sister, Princess, so she is having the opportunity to bond with her now. So very cute, but has had malaria so many times that she now has seizures regularly and if she gets it again, it may kill her. Rachel is praying her home before that should occur, so please pray with her!

   

What next?  Gerald went back to the NEWAT (Neighborhood Watch Team) area

 and Rachel, Lexi and I went over to check in with the Trade School ladies.

   

The beaders and batikers (which I know aren’t really words, but should be!), talked about their dreams for the future and we talked with them about changing up their designs to make their wares a little more appealing to the American market. They were excited at the idea and wanted to know how soon they can start production and selling! Such nice ladies, most of whom know and love the Father, which makes it even more of a joy to build together! Lexi made further plans to help the ladies host the fashion show on Saturday; I can’t be here for it, bummer! But I did see where someone was already advertising for models in the camp....

Next we walked through a different section of the camp, took in the livestock (the dog is laying next to one of the Point Hope fresh water pumping stations),       

and made our way to the Harmony House’s School for Disabled Children, also partnered with Point Hope.

    

While there we found out that they weren’t getting the daily hot meal supplement, so Point Hope will be getting that to about 20 students and teachers daily. The school will also be moving to a larger room in a Point Hope building so they will have room to do more activity. These volunteer teachers have been working with these kids for years, making incredible changes in the lives of disabled children. Many of the children couldn’t walk, sit up, look with eyes straight ahead, speak, focus on schoolwork, etc, as shortly as 6 months ago, but now, they are leaving their walkers at the door, sitting up, learning, seeing with uncrossed eyes...God is performing miracles daily through the devotion of these women and men. God Bless you, my sisters and brothers, I love you with the love of the Lord!! (Two of my sisters are going to come learn to knit with me! One of them crochets now, so I gave her some different sized hooks I brought with me for the person I found who knew how to crochet...God already knew her, I just had to figure out who He was pointing me to!!) (BTW, There is no physical therapy equipment here, so the teachers just make do...if anyone has some simple equipment and/or the time to go help with this endeavor, hit me up with your info!!!)

So many times the people are ashamed of their disabled children and hide them in the house, never letting them out. This little girl couldn’t sit up by herself,never saw the light of day a few months ago. 

The kids sang us a few songs and were just a delight to talk with! The school could really use some educational posters and other teaching materials, if anyone has any that they would like to donate, I can get whatever you have to these wonderful people!

 

Oh, I have to show you a few photos of Naomi...since I have a Naomi at home, you know I had to spend a couple of extra moments with the sweetheart over here!

 

As we were headed out of camp for the day, I met little Joyce who’s mother, Ruth, had been enrolled in the Point Hope trade program and graduated, then started a business with Point Hope’s help. Joyce received nutritional supplements and medical help; she had meningitis and still has some problems, but is getting better as she gets older.

  

We went to dinner with Winifred, the woman who first wrote to Delilah about Camp Buduburam and her three starving kids/siblings, resulting in our being here four years later...God is amazing!

The local restaurant is very colorful and has an interesting name...XXX...which doesn't mean the same here as it seems to back home...

 

We didn’t drink the water, but I did have fufu...nope, no pics of it, you’ll have to look it up—but it’s kind of a doughy blob, eaten with a spicy soup (dumpling-ish, but not cooked in the broth). A very long day, I went back to the Fiesta Royale, fell into bed, off to sleep...until 1 AM Ghana time...yeah, I’ll be tired tomorrow (or later today!)