Every morning, the entire staff of NEA gather together under their big gazebo to pray for one another and pray for the day ahead before they begin their work. We were all invited to join them this morning. After a time of singing, an elderly woman named Lucy from Carpenter village walked slowly to the centre of our gathering and thanked our team for the kindness that had been extended to her people over the past 10 years. She told us she was a poor woman but she needed to return the kindness so she worked and planned all year in able provide us with a gift from her farm. Her gift was a bowl of 10 very large yams and 9 guinea fowl — a gift we might expect from a village — not one woman. The significance of the value of this gift was not lost on any of us.
David Mensah shared a passionate message from the book of John in the Bible. He told us the story of Jesus healing a man who had been ill for over 30 years at the pool of Bethesda. None of the disciples wanted to go to that place of suffering except for John. He explained that to his people, we have become a pool of Bethesda — a house of mercy, hands of healing. He then gave examples of patients he has met with in recents months. A man whose daughters would have been orphans if not for the emergency surgery performed by Magdi’s hands of healing; a woman who can now thread her needle to make income from sewing thanks to the “tall man” (that’s Martin McDowell, our lead optometrist); a man who can now “crack bones with his teeth” due to Kyle’s hands of healing; a child saved by the IV placed by nurse Joan’s healing hands years ago. The examples kept coming as David walked around the gazebo … Charlie’s healing hands, the pharmacists’ healing hands, the nurses’ healing hands. You could have heard a pin drop in that gazebo.
After omelettes, porridge, fruit, beans and Tim Horton’s coffee, all of the newcomers went on a 30 minute tour of the NEA compound with David.
Two hours later, that group came back stunned and amazed and so excited about at what they had just witnessed. NEA’s integrated development projects from fish to rabbits to peanuts to ostriches left them speechless. Caitlin, who is studying international development in university, said that everything she has been learning just came to life. Whilst (love hanging with UK friends) the tour was going on, Kim worked with our local hosts to train the translators and volunteers who will be collecting our registration and important stats for the Leyaata program.
After lunch the surgeries began and by dinner, 20 surgeries were successfully and safely treated. I popped my head into the Brenda theatre mid afternoon to hear Ashley’s voice announce “Welcome to Theatre Awesome!” Awesome it was with the glowing faces and healing hands of Emilia, David, Dan and Ashley cheerfully going about their work. Our young Canadian nurse Emilia was definitely keeping those three British chaps in line! All of them were wearing brand new scrub hats donated to the team by Esther, a local seamstress.
Hands of Healing in Theatre Awesome
While surgeries were being performed an amazing sea of white shirts provided care to the NEA staff and their families as the medical, dental and eye teams kicked into action along with their translators and volunteers. I couldn’t believe how smoothly it went for a first clinic — especially with half of our team being there for the first time. Despite a few hiccups, such as losing power to our automated pharmacy, problems were identified and fixed with great speed.
Our dental team’s modified uniforms …
After another awesome dinner, awesome stories of the day were exchanged by our awesome team leaders while Eric, our Ghanaian anaesthetist, told me he could write a book on all he learned in one day from Dr. Perry. We love our Ghanaian colleagues and are thrilled that a new Ghanaian physician graduate, Dr. David, and a new nursing graduate, Rita, will also with working with us for these 2 weeks.
We all headed off to bed leaving Dr. Toylin, our ophthalmologist in deep conversation with Abraham and Soale, our local leaders, about a life-threatening case involving a young woman with a very large tumor behind her eye. We need great wisdom to discern the next steps to help her in her great suffering.
The surgical team headed back to their residence for a team debrief and the medical team unwound under our gazebo with a good dose of journalling, puzzling, colouring, very competitive banagramming and playing some euchre. My daughter Amelia was amused by how health professionals choose to unwind.
Off to a village tomorrow — our day begins at 0545!
Trevor says
Wonderful blog Jennifer, we are posting them in the Christ church website and so look forward to your daily update.
God bless
Trrv
Bob says
Wow! Thank you for the fabulous updates! Amazing to see God working in and through all of you. Will continue to pray for all of you…especially the woman with the tumour. Blessings to all and hugs for Kathleen!
Amy says
It’s always a privilege to read these updates. Praying for the team and patients. Love from the Hurlburt siblings
Tanja says
Another amazing update! So inspiring!!! Thank you!!!
Marjorie Miller says
Thank you for the up dates, it’s nice to be able to read about the good work your all doing,
It makes people like me feel part of it all.
Peter says
As always simply amazing reading! The only newspaper I need today is this blog. You are truly an amazing group.
Rebecca ferguson says
It’s like a whole week packed into each day! A perfect example of Gods grace on you all to accomplish immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine!!!
Love to all of you.
Rebecca and Bryan Ferguson
Gillian Ashworth says
Please pass on our best wishes to team Northampton, with a special shout out for Ashley Gayton (keep those steps up for the Glitterati!). Fantastic work, well done to the whole team. Stay safe and take care, Gill and Fiona
Phil Zeidler says
We come home from school and the first thing we do is go to the blog. Brilliant, inspiringand wonderful to feel we have some sort of a connection with ‘Dr Anne’ . I have shared the link with the whole family (and I mean all 100 of them!!!) and have had so many e-mails marvelling at what you are all doing – so, so proud of you all, and of course specially my gorgeous wife! (Screens gone a bit bleary!!!!)
News from home is we are all great, everyone has got to where they needed to be on time every day, eaten well, done the home work etc dogs are alive and walked and the washing pile is under control so far! We got your text and replied but you didn’t appear to get that (the main thing is Sam won at Settlers of Catan on Sunday!!) We love you, we miss you but we wouldn’t want you to be anywhere else in the world but where you are xxxx
Sandra Stark says
Lots of joy and happiness in these stories. Such a great counterbalance to all the ‘other’ news.
Stacy W says
Love these updates! My heart is squeezed as I try to imagine what is being written about….I often read through teary eyes and a heart filled with praise and thanksgiving, marvelling at how God has established the work of your hands…all those precious hands:) Psalm 90:17.
James McDowell says
Great news! This is the “tall man”‘s older brother, cheering him and the rest of the team on as science, faith and generosity combine to produce some cool miracle stories. Finding my way around the website is a good education about this outreach. Glad to pray for you all. Former neighbor of Brenda’s ages ago and distant cousin of Grandma Ollie W.
Judith Gooding says
I am enjoying these wonderful blog reports.
Susan Fockler says
It is truly baffling that Pharmacy always has power issues on day one! Hang in there Pharm team – your system will run more smoothly every day!
Throughout the day I think “T+ 5 hr” – what is the GHT doing now? and I pray for you
Susan
Maureen says
Am so enjoying the daily reports. Lovely to hear all that you are accomplishing! Keep up the good work.
Hotel Manager says
What an amazing story – truly inspiring. Coincidentally, we are hosting a Ghanaian congregation at our hotel and I got a chance to converse with the pastor briefly. I mentioned to him that I had a friend traveling on a medical mission to Ghana – going to Carpenter.
He said “What the heck are they doing all the way in Carpenter?!” followed by “God bless their hearts.” This made me realize how remote that area must be and all of the people who would otherwise have no access to health care.
My name would not ring any bells, so I won’t leave it. But my friend will surely know who I am. Keep up the good work, make us proud and get home safely!
Young Yoon says
It’s so amazing to read updates!
Glad to see the photos as well!
God bless all of you!
Tisha says
Thank you for the updates 🙂 Emilia we love you and miss you, but don’t worry Tim got mom popcorn this time around 🙂 we are praying for all of you, please be safe and God Bless you all!!!!
Dawn Beyers says
Team Northampton, you guys are amazing, God bless each and every one of you . Thank you for having our son (Aaron Beyers ) along to enjoy this amazing experience with you all. Nicky please look after yourself and keep an eye on him..lol..
Stay safe everyone and keep up the fantastic work. Great leader Mr Hicks.
Brenda Fleming says
It’s a race to see who can get to the computer first. Your updates are so informative it’s a pleasure to read how busy and unique things are there. It’s been a rainy, windy day so your not missing that i’m sure. Take care of yourselves so you can continue to do the outstanding job, appreciated and needed by so many it sounds like. A special hello to our Renee and Esther. Bless each and everyone of you!!!!! Safe travels. xo xo
Andrea Baynton says
Thank you so much for your wonderful updates of the experience you are having in Ghana. It is a pleasure to read about what is happening there. God bless.
Carolyn says
I am thoroughly enjoying reading about all your experiences in Ghana. I am so proud of David Hunter and all the teams carrying out such exceptional work. It sounds such a challenge yet I’m sure rewarding seeing what you are accomplishing on a daily basis. I hope you all stay safe and well.
(David I miss you lots and look forward to hearing all about your experiences when you get home. Love you xx )
Desiree says
Love reading all these daily updates and hearing of the wonderful impact this trip is having on everyone! Sending lots of love!
Ps. Love you Amy, auntie Mimi
Love Des jeff, Laylah and Evan
Ian Gayton says
I’ve now just caught up with your fantastic work out there in Ghana. Such a pleasure to read something good happening in the world for a change. I’m just one of the many who have family or friends out there who are so proud of the way you are giving freely of your dedication, time, love and use of your skills to aid others in need. Unnoticed, Unsung and Unpraised by the masses. To use a word in a text message from Ashley Gayton, in respect of his experience out there, “AWSOME” seems appropriate in what your achieving!
On a lighter note I’m pleased I have the week off following your return, as a “normal” phone call with Ashley can last up to two hours, I can dedicate a few days for him to relive his experiences out there.
We’re so proud of you all, see you soon “Ash” love Dad and Marie