Serena

 

During the ongoing clean-up process, I haven’t lost sight of Hope for Life’s priorities and purpose. Thankfully, the cleanup is no longer in crisis mode – it’s more just an ongoing process of clearing out more rubble and determining what else needs to be done to get the compound back in order - and repair damage discovered along the way - etc. (More on some of that in the future.)

In the last couple of updates, I wrote about our need for a car. I even started a GoFundMe, without really knowing how to spread the request beyond people who already read the blog. I want to give an update on that now, but of course it starts with a background story.

Just under 20 years ago I was with a project called the PCC Hand in Hand Community, or simply PCC, which had begun in the 1990s as a loving, welcoming community for children with disabilities who had been abandoned. As the kids became older, a sheltered workshop type of program was established as part of PCC, and I was primarily responsible for that. When one of my colleagues, Emma (Emmanuel), met my replacement, Lena, from Germany, they gradually fell in love and eventually moved to Germany, where they had a couple of children. Last year, they came back to Ghana for a year so Lena could further her education at the University in Winneba. They had purchased a Nissan Serena, which is a 7-passenger car. When they left, they offered it to me/HFL, with the understanding that I didn’t have the money immediately, but would try hard to raise what was needed.

The week before my friends left for Germany, the rear door handle broke off...getting repairs here

I’ve been working on that – talking about it, writing about it and making requests for assistance. I’ve had some success, but am still a way off. Thankfully, Emma and Lena are patient.

The same week before leaving, the rear right window was broken...getting repaired here at the same time as the door handle

The car came at a perfect time as HFL’s washed-away and recovered car was still regularly in need of repairs. We wanted to resume the weekly outreach clinic, attend some of the branch meetings and continue HFL outreach visits. During a visit to one of our branches, I dropped a member at the OTC (Orthopedic Training Center – where they do assessments for orthopedic interventions, including making of and training with mobility devices) in Nsawam (north of Accra). While there, I talked with the woman in charge of the place, Sr. Elizabeth, who I’ve known for around 25 years. There is a retired couple with her who are volunteering at the OTC for a few months - BL, a physical therapist, and Dutch, a wood working craftsman.

Dutch and BL are adjusting Blessing's chair for a perfect fit. Blessing is 2 years and 9 months and has cerebral palsy. Her mother, Victoria, takes great care of her.

Some years ago, as BL and Dutch were getting ready for retirement and a new chapter in their lives, they were influenced by some of the world experiences they were having, as well as their own specialties. To sum it up, they wanted to develop specially fitted wheelchairs for children in need, especially children with cerebral palsy. They began about 13 years ago. Their organization has grown and has some very good support – a couple of groups in the US now make these special wheelchairs and they have groups of donors that help fund shipping them around the world.

Dutch and BL, with OTC worker Jonathan, fitting Miracle with her chair

BL and Dutch come to Ghana and spend 3 to 6 months each year at the OTC and going around Ghana to assess the mobility needs of children who cannot get all the way to the OTC in the southern part of the country. They recently received a larger than expected shipment of their chairs. During my visit, Sr. Elizabeth told me that they had plenty of these chairs and asked if we had any children and moms who would benefit from them.  

Another Miracle, who has hydrocephalus, pictured with her adoptive mother, Rachel, after being fitted to her chair. Rachel is part of Joe's team and has taken in a few abandoned children with disabilities.

The first group taken for chairs. Kids, L-R: Calvin, Miracle, (another) Calvin and (another) Miracle.
 Pictured with Joe, who joined for the first trip, and the mothers

We had just begun using the Serena – so the timing was perfect. We had a vehicle to take some mothers and their kids to the OTC, where Dutch and BL take time to fit the chair to the child. I’ve done two trips there so far, with 4 moms and 4 kids each time.

Bismark and his mom Mary

Solo (Solomon), who infectiously laughed for the entire one and a half hour drive to the OTC, with his mom, Pat.

The second group, kids L-R: Blessing, Bismark, Solo and (another) Blessing

The Serena is packed each time, partly because the chairs do not fold up (on the second trip, the rear hatch door didn't tightly latch - and fortunately did not bounce open, either). There is not an inch to spare on the way back. We have at least one more trip for four more wheelchairs.

dropping off the moms, kids and chairs after the first trip - with Rachel at the first drop-off, the detach-able wheels...and four chairs still stuffed in the back

On another note, the Serena has also played a significant role in picking up the substrate to get the Mushroom Project underway again.

while unloading the first batch of substrate

with Ebenezer, the current mushroom guy, after one of the first substrate purchases

Thanks again to those who have sent a contribution for the Serena. I’m still working on getting the full amount for Lena and Emma. If you can help spread the word, here again is the GoFundMe link:  https://gofund.me/e048f969f

And if you think it would help, feel free to share the link to the blog, as well: steve stories and updates

mushrooms are back!

 

After the carpenter disappeared for a couple weeks, the mushroom grow house was nearing completion

And finally, the carpenter finished his part

I want to give an update now because of the progress we have made with the mushroom project (I’m pretty proud of us!) – as is said here, “we have tried.” Even though it seems like I’ve been working on flood recovery for such a long time, it only took a little over 2 months to rebuild the grow house and the shelves, then purchase the first batch of substrate and supply the first harvest.

Mr. Kyei, who makes ceremonial umbrellas using bamboo, and Ebenezer, who was the mushroom manager for a couple months prior to the flood and who is happy to stay on while we get underway again, worked together to make the bamboo shelves for the substrate.  

Bamboo salvaged from the original grow house

Ebenezer (standing) and Mr. Kyei (HFL president)

This is all definitely thanks to some donations received early on. Some friends wired money and, the very night of the flood, I received a message from an organization called Cross Catholic Outreach. In May or June, I had applied for a donation to be used for direct assistance with some of our members and for building up Hope for Life branches. I responded to their email notification of the donation a few days after the flood, explained about the destruction and asked if I could divert the donation towards emergency needs and rebuilding, and they agreed.

completed shelves, looking towards the door

to the right of the door, looking back

looking to the left

A view from the back of the grow house. The blue plastic table with detachable legs was in the original grow house and, somehow, it showed up (along with the legs!!) in the rubble and was salvaged. The baskets are all new. 

The previous polytank (the name for water tanks here) washed away. It was two to three times the size of the one pictured here. This one was used for something else in the past and had been in storage for the last several years. It's been resurrected for the mushrooms. However, it had some leaks. Ebenezer and I were working on plugging those up...so far so good....

the first batch of substrate!!

So, the mushroom project is gradually underway once again. This past Tuesday, I delivered the first harvest from our first batch of recovery substrate. Fifteen kilos (roughly 33 pounds) of fresh oyster mushrooms. Now that we understand a bit better about how the process works, I’m trying to build up the mushroom project in a more planned, structured way, by buying some substrate each week, rather than a larger quantity right away. What happens is it comes to our grow house and sits there for a few days to acclimate. Then it gets opened and watered and usually in 3 to 5 days, the mushrooms start coming and we get our first harvest - - - our first “flush.” We can then keep them in the refrigerator for a few days until we have enough to make it worthwhile to supply. The gradual purchasing of substrate means there should be more frequent flushes and a more constant supply of mushrooms.

a week later, a second batch of substrate

another week later, and here is where we bought the third batch of substrate

Joe was home on the day we bought the third batch of substrate and helped Ebenezer place them on the shelves

Ebenezer watering

The first client I supplied is a woman who has a fascinating outdoor kitchen area, with huge boiling cauldrons, where she makes only local dishes. However, they are all vegetarian style. For several months prior to the flood, she had become a regular customer and I love supporting her business. It’s a unique concept here, in a land where not eating meat tends to mean you haven’t eaten and that you cannot possibly be satisfied with what you swallowed. She has a small business and every time I go to supply, her workers all seem happy and friendly and the business seems to be doing well – filled with business people throughout the week. This time when they saw me coming with the 15 kgs, the owner (Pat) and the manager (Felicia) both started chanting, “our boyfriend’s back! Our boyfriend’s back!” I needed the smiles they gave. I have only eaten there once because she is across town, but I look forward to the next set of visitors coming so I have a good excuse to go across town to eat there again.

Unfortunately, Pat does not want me to take any pictures of her place, so, it’ll just need to be imagined….and enjoyed if you come to Accra.

    Just a reminder, if you can help share my GoFundMe, it will be greatly appreciated. We still have car problems and I'm trying to raise the money needed for a replacement vehicle. Feel free to also share the blog - - thanks!  

Support Hope for Life's Recovery from Devastating Flood

 

           I last updated this a little over a week after the flash flood took away a couple of our walls, the car, the delivery van and the entire mushroom project, among other things (like some trees, used tires, trash cans, a shipping container, etc.). Hope for Life members who were at Bethany House during those days, either with crutches or in wheelchairs, focused their next days on thoroughly scrubbing out the house. Those of us who were more mobile focused on the outside - - separating the wreckage that washed up against the delivery van into zinc, wood and bamboo piles, shovelling up the mud and sand to make moving around outside safer and easier, clearing away rubble and shovelling up the muck that now filled open gutters outside the house. In addition to helping with the outside clean-up, the bakery workers thoroughly cleaned out the flooded and mudded bakery and assessed damage to the machines.

Chea digging final sludge out of first half of gutter

As this was going on, I also needed to find mechanics who could come to the house to check out the car and the delivery van. We needed a carpenter and mason to plan re-construction of the mushroom grow house and the walls. We needed to deal with the shipping container and the neighbor who lives next to the large gutter that the container is now hanging over. Justifiably, he was worried - - if another flood came, the container could go into the gutter and would then block it up, potentially damaging his property. Meanwhile, he sat outside every day, watching us and questioning our delay in finding a solution for the container. Then, the first day that we were not using our newly purchased wheelbarrow or shovels, he came by asking to borrow them…harumph.

the troublesomely re-located shipping container

          I’ve been surprised and disappointed that no one in the area came by to offer help. I am used to communities pulling together in disasters. However, friends from further away came to help as they could. A week after the flood, a Ghanaian friend called to ask if we had been affected, and when she heard the details, she came that same day to give a hand. In addition to helping in the house, she took the muddy curtains and bedsheets home to wash in her washing machine. Our Liberian friends, who had a 3-hour, one-way trip in public transport to get to our house, came a couple of different times - - once even with food. Another friend who had been coming regularly to maintain the outside once per week in exchange for help with vocational training fees came and stayed 4 nights per week for 3 weeks, earning an award for being the hardest worker in the house.

a long line of our rubble now partially filling the gutted road (a bad panoramic shot, however, the line should be straight)

          While most of July was filled with non-stop physical work for us, my mind was simultaneously planning the steps to be taken further down the road. And then the emergency physical work died down for me by the third or fourth week. It became less urgent and less necessary for all of us to be involved. It will be ongoing for some time, just no longer a crisis. Those steps I had been planning in my mind came into play and I needed to spend more time organizing, being around for and following up with masons, carpenters, mechanics, the welder, etc. I needed to spend time trying to raise funds…

another view of the rubble hauled from inside our compound to fill in the road          ...fading off into the distance

Without the constant physical, emergency occupations, I became restless and tired of everything and everyone while waiting for the tradespeople to show up and do their work. I felt depressed, with little else I could do but wait. I was probably just burnt out…having felt alone in dealing with it all – trying to figure out where we would get the money from, how I could find a more serious carpenter, where and how could I find someone to get the container away from the gutter, waiting for the next issue to come up with the car or delivery van, etc.

a version of a regular view of the car

Almost daily there have been problems with the water-damaged vehicles. When the mechanic finishes with one problem, the following day there is another (uggggh water damage). The delivery van seemed OK more quickly than the car – just a change of filters and oil (supposedly). But, three weeks ago its rear tire seized up. Fortunately, the car had just been brought back (again) from the mechanic the previous day and had survived its test run. For the past 3 weeks, it has been the bakery’s delivery vehicle. It runs (most of the time), despite still having issues yet to be determined: maybe the hubs? maybe another electrical issue? maybe something more because the check engine light appears regularly? and what about that new oil leak…?! No matter what, I’m sure it is a combination of things. It has been struggling with the ongoing delivery needs and has been back to the mechanic a few times. Meanwhile, the delivery van is still at the garage 3 weeks later, waiting for a rear axle to exit the port and be installed. 

seized up back tire, axle issue, drive shaft issue...becoming a one-month issue...

Meanwhile, the grow house has made some progress. The structure is going up, and we expect to start building the shelves soon. Some of the bamboo from the previous shelves washed up against the delivery van and was salvaged and will be re-used. I am hopeful that substrate can be purchased again in a week.

first step of rebuilding the grow house - - fixing the base of its wall and floor

 

 

          My colleagues have had no success in solving the shipping container issue. After organizing the other stuff, I called a contact I have to see if they can help solve the problem - - but, so far, no luck. We need to find a solution soon, though - - I just am at a loss.

At the same time, I am extremely thankful that the school took it upon themselves to rebuild the wall that fell not just between us and them but on the other side of the compound, as well.

the roadside wall...finishing touches remain

I started feeling better mentally after a week or so of the doldrums. I have done some visits to Hope for Life members, which helps, as well as attended a couple of Hope for Life branch meetings. The team from the Liberian camp and I have been able to resume the outreach clinic for kids with disabilities once per week, thanks to a vehicle from some friends who have left the country.

Ruth deciding I should wear someone's winter hat while working with little Renfell
 

Ruth now supervising 

 

Ruth

And how can someone not feel better after working with these sweethearts.