Genevieve and Rose updates

 

When I was half-way through my contract and on leave last year, I started a post intending to give updates on people I had written about since I returned to Ghana two years previously. But I was on leave and gradually my schedule was getting more filled. Then, when I got back to Ghana in December, there were other things going on in the world (there increasingly are…) which were on my mind, so I wrote about that. Then I received the video about Hope for Life, which I think is excellently done and gives a good image of what is going on, and posted that. And now, I am gradually getting around to updates on people I have written about.

Genvieve (first post & the previous update - 3rd paragraph)

Genvieve was one of the first people I talked about when I returned. It has been thirty years since I first met her. Though she lives in her family home, she doesn’t get a lot of support from the family – even for something as simple as help getting a bucket of water so she can take her bath. It was the same thing thirty years ago. At that time, I had a wonderful local social worker as my colleague and we had conversations with the family. The talks were fine and helpful for a small time while her father was still alive, but, thirty years later, things have reverted. Her father, who had looked out for her, has passed on and the rest of the family treat her as a small child and give little respect or assistance.

Thirty years ago, selling lotto tickets was her primary means of earning a living. These days, however, Ghanaians have gravitated more to online betting and, as I wrote a couple of years ago, Genvieve has been trying to build up a kerosene selling business. After that update, friends sent a donation to give her the needed boost for her kerosene business, which took off for a while. Unfortunately, that was thanks primarily to one specific customer and when that customer was transferred away, Genvieve once again found herself trying to build her business up. 

Setting up the table with some of her kerosene to sell

She had started to repay the money given to her. Without her knowing, the plan was that when repaid, the amount would be returned to her with an additional boost. But when the business ran into difficulties, the repayments (which were basically savings) also stopped. The plan of her getting an extra boost was not successful.

With Christy (her HFL branch coordinator) and Mr. Kyei (HFL president) 

It’s still a struggle for her - - - and I am still struggling to figure out how best to provide support at this time – support at a variety of levels that could actually make her business more helpful for her and encourage her family to be more supportive. She has been struggling in life ever since I’ve known her – I am not giving up hope, but I wonder what else is going on and how can we break this cycle, even if late in life.

Rose

One of the more recent people I wrote about, who I’ve also known for 30 years, is Rose. She’s a sweetheart and she often connects in a very special, warm, natural way with people, surpassing language barriers (especially in my case). Rose and Mariatu, another Hope for Life member from Tamale in the north, came to Bethany House for a couple of weeks over Christmas and New Year’s. They have been good friends for at least 30 years. Several others passed through during the holiday period – to spend a day or, as with Dawood, to spend some nights. 

 

Rose (bottom right), Mariatu (above Rose), Geoffrey, Nasara (Mariatu's daughter), Betty (long-time member/friend

We also visited other long-time friends and members 

Some gifts I'd brought back with me from my leave were wrapped in "recycled" plastic bags that were broken...with the recycling only ending up in the trash anyway...

 

It was a special time - - playing Jenga, eating together, laughing, etc. Michael, who had been taking care of mushrooms at that time, had his wife and kids come for a few days and Mariatu had also come with her daughter, Nasara. 

One of many Jenga evenings, with Prosper and Dawood

With N/A bubbly on New Year's Eve

 

With a friend I brought back from Halloween season in the US (a magnet)

Rose is going through chemotherapy which has been extremely harsh on her. While going through the 6-week treatment periods, she experiences a variety of the expected side-effects, including blisters on her hands, feet and in her mouth. Eating is difficult. We have opened our doors for her to stay with us whenever she wants. She is comfortable here - - thanks to new screens on the rooms, mosquitos are not a problem for her, we have running water, electricity, there are people around, so she can have company, there is help with meals, even though she doesn’t eat much while going through the chemo, etc. Her usual means of getting around, moving forward in a squat position, becomes difficult due to the blisters. 

 

During last year's HFL elections

Fortunately, we have a small wheelchair in the house which she makes good use of during her stays. Following the course of chemo, she chooses to return to her family for a couple of weeks until the next round begins…then she comes back to be with us. 

At her home last year during her treatments, prior to coming to our house for the duration of the treatment cycle

Getting Rene Mei therapy from Sarah, part of the outreach team once per week

I just took her home earlier this week and the doctor will be next week. Rose plans to return to our house the same day she goes to the doctor. She is a special presence in the house and I usually begin and end my days with a stop in her room for a small talk.

I don’t know what her prognosis is. I have accompanied her a couple of times to the doctor when she goes for her review. But it’s never the same doctor. One time when I was there the doctor took time and answered some questions. The next time the doctor didn’t even talk to Rose to ask how she was doing – he only pulled up her files to see what was being done and wrote prescriptions based upon what was done last time. No greetings…no how are you doing with this medicine…no questions about side-effects and how they can be addressed… As he wordlessly gave her the prescription, I asked a few questions about the side-effects and was offered the response: “those are side-effects.” Basically, we were dismissed. I’m hoping for a better doctor this Friday.

 

HFL video...

 

Hope for Life is celebrating its 40^th anniversary this year. Due to that, I’m postponing once again the update I started writing about people who I’ve been working with and have written about since I’ve been back with HFL.

The launching of the 40^th celebration was delayed, but eventually took place last month. This month the HFL branches are expected to begin doing community activities, such as cleanups at clinics or other public areas. We’ll see what else goes on…I am not part of the planning committee.

With very good timing for the 40^th, a small video about Hope for Life, about 17 minutes, that was being edited and prepared by the SMA media team over the past year or so was recently released. I think it gives a very good description of HFL – even if I talk a bit too much in it…

Here’s the link:

Hope for Life  

    

Rebel Loon

 

Minnesota's Rebel Loon

It’s been about two and a half years since I have been back here in Ghana and with Hope for Life. At the two-year point, I am advised to take a break - - which I took during the second half of Oct & Nov. At the beginning of my leave, I started a blog update about the people and things I’ve already written about - - Rose, Genvieve, Dawood, mushrooms, etc…. It was just going to be brief updates about each person, where they’re at now, what’s going on in their lives, successes, struggles, whatever it is.

But I found it hard to finish the update, in part because an important part of my leave also involved figuring out my future. I just had a milestone birthday this past year and I’ve had friends and family expressing concerns about what will happen to me as time goes on. I still feel like I’m in my late 20s, though. And yet, reality is reality. So, one goal of my break involved discussing my future with various current “bosses.”

That kept me preoccupied and not getting around to finishing the update. However, that is only part of why I still haven’t finished. Other thoughts and feelings delaying the update’s completion are related to what has been going on in the US over the majority of this past year, particularly during the past few months in Minneapolis.

I’ll get around to finishing the update I started, but first, there’s Minneapolis…the broader US…and then the fallout around the world. 

       The Streets of Minneapolis, Bruce Springsteen (with lyrics) 

There are people – recently in sub-zero weather – who are supporting their neighbors – protecting the stranger – standing up for what they know is humane, what is human, Christian values (whether they believe in Christ or not)… despite knowing they may face consequences, but not imagining those consequences could mean being killed by government agents.

I have family in Minneapolis that has needed to teach their children not to open the door to these government agents and that if those agents insist to the point of breaking the door down, that they need to be filming and shouting, “We do not consent! We do not consent!”

I remember as a child being taught to wave as a police car drove by. Times have changed…

These same children witness abductions taking place a block from their school as they are being dropped off. And after school, parents need to take shifts keeping watch while groups of kids go sledding - not to mention the parents who are also taking shifts keeping an eye out at drop-off and pick-up times or who are dropping and picking children whose parents are afraid to leave their house and potentially be separated from their kids.

What are children learning? They know their teachers and fellow students and neighbors and friends are not criminals…. And the ones who should be protecting them from criminals are the ones breaking down doors and “disappearing” people.

I am far away - - all I can do is write some letters to my representatives…and I can try my best to stay on top of what’s going on...and I can vote.

In spirit I am with the strong, amazing people of Minnesota. It’s made it hard to focus on writing updates about Hope for Life and the people I’ve been with for the past couple of years. My mind is distracted by the horrors the government is committing there and with the bravery of the people who are protecting their neighbors and doing what they can to demonstrate that “The Only Thing More Powerful Than Hate Is Love.”

I am so moved by Minnesotans standing up, standing strong and standing peacefully – as well as those across the US and the world who are out supporting Minnesotans and who are against ICE’s tactics. Yes, there are the observers and those filming/documenting what is happening, as well as those using whistles, car horns and megaphones to warn about government operations in the area that are invading homes, schools, restaurants, stores – and I have been told they are fully aware there could be legal consequences for this. They are prepared for that because their values of loving and caring for the marginalized matter that much to them. There are others giving their support through food drives, picking up school children, driving to medical appointments, helping with home births and translations, whatever might be needed to take care of the health and safety of families who might be afraid to step outdoors. Of course, there are others, in protests across the US, writing letters to and calling Senators…supporting businesses that support the community and avoiding businesses that are complicit.

These are the people that give me hope at this time. These are the people that I am standing with from a distance. These are the people that are constantly on my mind and in my heart - - good people standing up for love of each other, no matter the color, religion or country of origin. People who see each other and care…who, even if they are not “believers,” are living the values that the Bible says Jesus, once an immigrant and a person of color, taught and lived.

What these people are going through, how so many across the US are standing strong, preoccupies my thoughts. I’ll get around to finishing the other update, but first there is the amazing pride I have in so many Minnesotans especially, as well as in so many more across the US – and the surprise, disappointment and even shock and horror at others who, despite saying they are "believers," are turning a blind eye, or worse. 

 

Minnesota Anthem - The Rise of the North