This morning began under the newly renovated NEA gazebo, where the staff invited us to join them for morning devotions. This is part of NEA’s daily routine when they gather to sing, study the Bible, and pray for the day’s needs before their work begins. Being present for this foundational part of NEA’s work is always an honour. The pastor shared an inspiring lesson from Romans 12: 3,4.
After a beautiful breakfast of oatmeal, omelettes, beans, and fresh mango served by Patience and her team, we walked to the Carpenter village to greet the chief and elders. The chief recalled a time when his people had to walk 72 miles to purchase a tablet of acetaminophen. He remembered the many women from Carpenter who died in childbirth. He told us about the men and women who went to hospitals for care but had to remain there for an extended time to pay their debt to the hospital.
I reminded the chief that in the early years of our mission, I was discouraged and expressed to him that our work felt like a tiny drop of help in a vast ocean of need. His response back in 2008 was to remind me that even though the ocean is massive, it still accepts every single drop. Today he reflected on the ripple effect that our Ghana Health Teams have had leading up to this historic hospital opening. It was a symbolic and emotional gathering as Dr. David Mensah acknowledged that he would be remembered as the chief whose reign brought health care to this region. The entire meeting was translated from Deg to English and then to Twi.
Our team then walked in a procession to the Leyaata Hospital. I could not hold my tears as we walked through the massive gates and up the drive to the majestic front entrance. The dream NEA has been working towards for so long now stands before us. We toured every room and touched every piece of equipment. Our health leaders stood proudly at the entrance of their departments: administration, emergency room, labour and delivery, neonatal intensive care unit, surgery, laboratory, and pharmacy. Dr. Ben said best: “It is surreal—like I am in a dreamland.” While I would love to provide you with wonderful details and photos of the hospital, these are being kept top secret until after the commissioning.
Before dinner, our team met together to plan our work day for tomorrow. We will be rolling up our sleeves and diving in with whole hearts to help with the final set-up of our respective departments before the crowds descend on Carpenter for the commissioning on Sunday. I asked Patience, the lead cook, how many guests they were preparing to feed. Her response, “Dr. Jennifer, I have been asked to prepare for 5,000 to 7,000.” I then asked her when they would begin those preparations, to which she responded, “Saturday night—we will cook all night.” As Cheryl said, never again will we worry about cooking Christmas dinner.
Tonight, I asked our team to give one word describing what they were feeling after our first full day in Carpenter. So I will close with their list to provide a glimpse of how we are all doing: impressed, excited, ready, inspired, refreshed, welcomed, chilled, overwhelmed, emotional, humbled, privileged, optimistic, astounded, and enthused.
I want to send a load of love from all of us to all our former GHT members who we are honoured to represent here in Carpenter. You are all remembered here by your Ghanaian brothers and sisters, and they send greetings to every one of you. Your fingerprints and the impact of your service are everywhere. As Carpenter Chief said, “Your work has been positive and permanent.”
And thanks to all of you for your comments. Graham reads them to us every night at dinner and we love hearing from home!
MD CCFP (EM) DIM&PH FCFP
Director of International Partnerships Canadian Consultant for Family & Emergency Medicine
Leyaata Hospital, Carpenter, Ghana
Abubakari Mohammed says
Waw, thus it great. I can’t wait to be part of this hard working team
Nichola Patterson says
I am so enjoying your updates every evening, and not jealous at all that i missed this mission (clearly a fib!) Such an amazing change and opportunity for so many people. Awesome job! Love to all from Nichola xx
Claudia Wilson says
Miss you guys! Can’t wait for Sunday!
Keep it up queens!
Love Clauds
Dave Cressey says
“5000 to feed on Sunday? …, When will you start? …Saturday night”…. and there is no doubt it will be done in time. The Ghana Can-do attitude left me in awe when I was there and continues to inspire me. “Build a hospital in that scrub land during a world pandemic and then staff it?”….”sure, of course we can!!” And what a result! I can’t wait to see the pictures.
I and do so hope to be able to see it for real in the future if the chance comes again to work with the Leyatta family.
If you need any ?MacIvoring ? (I’d call it tinkering) with the new hospital equipment (though I hope you replaced the Little Sister sterilisers or perhaps got the “Big-Matron” steriliser going) just give me a call and I’ll be there in a heartbeat!
Wishing you a wonderful day on Sunday. Assuming I can work out the time differences I plan to be tuning in!
Sending much love to all,
Dave Cressey
Olle says
By the grace of God, his mercy and love this amazing achievement is coming to fruition by the commitment and obedience of Medical Teams travelling from Canada and the UK to Northern Ghana for fifteen years!
Thank you Jennifer and all the teams for your love, care and medical expertise which have made this dream possible. What a wonderful testimony to all Ghanaians and the rest of the world.
Love Ollie
Earl and Christine Harding says
Reading the Toronto Star front page was not good news. Reading your email from the team and the updates was good news. Thank you for your email. Thank you Ghana Health Team, for each and everyone of you have helped bring this health care to Carpenter and area. We were so impressed with what Patience is doing for the opening. Enjoy Sunday.
Andrea Baynton says
What an accomplishment your team has done and the excitement of opening the new hospital. Your drops in the ocean have become buckets and growing. I love the photos you have posted. I can understand why Leslie has returned to Ghana to help the team and patients. Thank you for sharing your long of what you have done. It is amazing.
Barb and Dan says
Oh and so happy to see that Graham has been promoted !!!!
Andrea Bayi says
What an accomplishment the Grid/NEA team has done to finally open the new hospital. I am overwhelmed at the dedication of your team. I can understand why Leslie keeps going back to Ghana. Thank you for the wonderful photos and the description of your long day. What a difference you are all making. Your drops in the ocean are now buckets. Well done.
Susan Phillips says
Oh so exciting to see all the news and familiar faces in the photos.My love and hugs go to all the team ,GRID and NEA and the wonderful new hospital staff as you prepare for the opening .
My heart aches to be with you all and so there in spirit.
With great love
Sue Phillips
Barb and Dan says
Sending tons of love and admiration for this very special mission. Dan and I are reading every blog with such heartfelt anticipation and cant wait to watch the Commissioning live !!
We feel such excitement for the Hospital opening. What a day, what a celebration…oh what a lot of people to cook for !! Amazing !!
Hello to everyone and love seeing the cut throat ucher games continuing !!
Michael Salem says
I really like this exchange and the wisdom of the wording:
“ our work felt like a tiny drop of help in a vast ocean of need”
The reply was priceless:
“ even though the ocean is massive, it still accepts every single drop”.
Its like 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish that fed 5,000 people. When Gods hands are involved everything is possible
BTW the tiny drop and ocean exchange I will be using that every time the opportunities arise and will claim it as my own (so many people to impress and yes I am that shallow) since I didn’t see a patent on it.
Mike Salem says
I really like this exchange and the wisdom of the wording:
“ our work felt like a tiny drop of help in a vast ocean of need”
The reply was priceless:
“ even though the ocean is massive, it still accepts every single drop”.
Its like 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish that fed 5,000 people. When Gods hands are involved everything is possible
BTW the tiny drop and ocean exchange I will be using that every time the opportunities arise and will claim it as my own (so many people to impress and yes I am that shallow) since I didn’t see a patent on it.
Mike Salem says
Absolutely love this exchange
“ felt like a tiny drop of help in a vast ocean of need” and the response “ the ocean is massive, it still accepts every single drop” WOW. love it.
Since there is no copy right on that I will use it as the opportunities arise and will also take full credit as a Mike S original.
Such an amazing way to express “ five loaves and the two fishes” And they did all ate, and were filled.
Tiara Folkes says
Archie and I begin our day by me reading these updates to him.
Such wonderful work all of you have done and are doing.
Looking forward to your Sunday update, I’m sure the day will be filled with love, hope, optimism and joy for the further.
Tiara and Archie
Carlye Jensen says
As our Canadian team knows there is a crisis of healthcare at the moment. News reporting it everyday – nursing shortages, doctor shortages, medication shortages (most recently pediatric acetaminophen and ibuprofen) – and the public outcry is loud and furious. “6 hours to be seen in ER! 20 hours to be admitted!! No epidural catheters for labouring mothers! Unacceptable! Disgraceful! “
If it’s not good enough for us how is it good enough for anyone? How is it good enough as long as it isn’t in our backyard? I hope this brush with scarcity will bring to light the unfairness in access to healthcare and motivate the privileged to support those in need and projects like the Leyata hospital. Well done team!!
Margaret says
To the amazing Ghana Health Team and GRID/NEA friends,
Thank you for sharing the updates and the invitation to join at 5am. I will be awake with joy in my heart. How I wish I could help in preparing food for the thousands!
With you in spirit.
Margaret Hart
Rebecca Ferguson says
We are celebrating with you all from Canada!! Can’t wait for Sunday!
With love from Bryan and Rebecca Ferguson
Jane Smith says
Hi everyone,
It is so wonderful to hear all the news and to see these great pictures. Sending love to you all and to the NEA team there in Carpenter.
I wish I had something more profound to say other than you are all wonderful, but that’s the truth!