Reunited at Last!

On July 14^th, Brother Philip picked me up and took me to Echoing Hills Village, a home for people with disabilities and disadvantaged children. This is the same place where I stayed two years ago as I helped provide a camp experience for children from the slum community. Below are a few of the highlights of the past two weeks.

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      * It has truly been a joy to be with my friends again, especially Irene. Pastor Larry and Brother Philip did not tell anyone that I was coming, so it was such fun to surprise them all.

  

It was dark when I found Irene. She was sitting by the fire enjoying the evening with a few others. I came up beside her and because I could not see her face I said, “Is this Irene?” It was Irene!

There is something special about the friendships that are founded in Jesus Christ. It had been two years since we had seen each other, but the time didn’t matter. I thank God for my sister Irene! My two favorite lines from the surprise are, “I couldn’t have dreamed this!” and “Only men could keep it a secret for so long.”

Since that night, I have enjoyed working alongside of Irene, tramping through the rain in the market to find all of the ingredients that we needed for her graduation food, traveling with her to an Auntie’s house to get some cake decorating lessons, late night talks, visiting a sick friend, celebrating her graduation, cooking many Ghanaian dishes, and sharing life together.

·         * What a special time it is to see all the friends at Echoing Hills Village again. The children have grown! They have the same faces, but they are taller, stronger, have better English, and look much older! The kids are so excited for camp—they are ready for the team to come!!  They keep asking me if team members from past years are coming. They rejoice when I say yes, but are so sad when I have to tell them that other team members will not be coming this year.

It has been a pleasure to get an inside peek at what really happens at Echoing Hills Village by being a part of morning devotions, exercises, teaching Sunday school, cooking, cleaning, hanging out, etc. There is such love, acceptance, and patience in this place. I am amazed by the staff’s stamina, wisdom, and the grace that they freely give.  The few staff here care for and live with (day in and day out) well over 100 people with disabilities and disadvantaged children.

I can’t help but think of Jesus when I am here! He had compassion for individuals within the crowds. He stopped for those who were sick, crippled, and the children. In this place, I see Jesus’ love on display. May He continue to be glorified here!

·       *  It has been great to visit the kids who live in the slum or “street community.” There are roughly 300 kids who gather for Bible Club with Sir Philip every Sunday afternoon. In order to be chosen to attend summer camp, the children must regularly attend Bible Club. Therefore, in the weeks leading up to camp, more and more kids have been attending Bible Club and everyone wants Sir Philip to know that they are present.

      

      

These kids have grown so much since I saw them last. I don’t recognize many of them at first, but when I look again at their faces, I realize that I know them. I got to see about nine of the kids who were on my team for camp two years ago. I can’t wait for this year’s camp!

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   * Seven-year-old Sophia lives across the street from Echoing Hills and last time I was here, we became fast friends. This time she crawled up on my lap eager to show me the photos and letters that I had sent over the last two years. To my surprise, Sophia read almost every word that I had written. When we finished reading, Sophia ran to grab her folder from last year’s camp. Again she diligently read and sang the verses and songs from last year. She remembered almost all of the songs.

[These kids remember what they have been taught! They are learning to read and write in English, but much more importantly, they are learning of the love of Jesus. As the songs that Sophia sang to me say, His love is “reaching out to me” and “He saved us not, because of the righteous things we have done, but because of His mercy, mercy, mercy—He saved us.”]

·         In addition to seeing old friends, I have been put to work sorting through the donated supplies in the clinic, organizing it, cleaning it, and running it for the residents at Echoing Hills. I have quickly gone from being a nursing student in the United States to being called doctor here at Echoing Hills. It’s rather intimidating feeling the responsibility of caring for so many. I am incredibly grateful for the learning experiences I gained in Malawi and Togo and thankful that I brought my drug book and phone to look up what I don’t know. I am thankful that the hospital is not too far away.

So far I have been bandaging wounds, giving pain meds, testing/treating malaria, etc. Additionally, a large task is distinguishing between the kids who really have headaches and those who are tantalized by the mysterious thought of “magical medicine” from the obroni (white person).

There are only four days left until camp starts!! As we eagerly await that day, please pray for:

1.       Brother Philip- He has to make final decisions on who can come to camp and who will have to wait for another year. There are many more children who wish to come than what our accommodations allow.

2.       The children who will be a part of camp-They come from various religious backgrounds and are hungry for acceptance and love. On Sunday, I asked a few girls why they are so excited for camp. They said that they are excited because it will give them a future. Let’s pray that they will find their hope and future in Jesus Christ!

3.       The staff at Echoing Hills—for energy and an extra measure of grace.

4.       The team that is coming from Hope Community Church in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania- Pray for unity in spirit and in purpose. Pray that we at camp might behold the glory of God’s love and worship Him with our lives.

5.       Me- I need wisdom as I attempt to be a camp nurse, prepare to teach during camp, and lead my team of campers. Also I need strength. My spirit is far from weary, but my body is tired.

Thanks for your prayers and encouragement. I am very, very grateful!