Absent From School

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A hick-up in the system. I was just checking thru the blog and noticed that these two entries somehow did not get "published" on the web. Sorry to fill your box and now take extra time to read all of this. While I'm here with you I may as well add in that I visited Kojo at the hospital this evening. They have taken tests and he has begun his medications for Buruli Ulcer. He doesn't have much of an apetite now. That's a bit concerning as he's already so thin. I pray his system will soon adjust.

This next week is the final week for Alesha and Akos to be with us. I haven't specifically mentioned it to the students yet. I figure there's no need to add more days of sorrow to their calendars.

Sunday, December 7th, Ghana will hold her presidentail elections. The country is nervous and hoping for peaceful elections. Friday and Monday have been declared national holidays.

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Due to the situation with Kojo Konni, much of the past two weeks I have been ‘absent from school’. Akos and Alesha have been doing a good job of holding down the fort in my absence. Upon her arrival in Apebouso, Akos took on the challenge of preparing a Christmas Program. As a school we were disappointed last year as we were not able to have one. We may not have had one this year had Akos not taken the project on herself. Now rehearsed and ready to perform, I watched the first practice runs last week and they got me a bit choked up. Akos says the kids wrote most of their own lines. They did such a great job of performing! But most of all they enjoyed themselves and laughed and that got me choked up. Why? With all the juggling of classes I don’t have much creativity left to “have fun” with them. I’m so happy that others (Alesha and Akos) are around to do that. Akos successfully ended the week with a course on dental hygiene using “the big teeth”! After distributing a brush and paste to each child, logically it was time for “practicals”. She took them all outside and had them practice what they had just learned. Wish I had been there to see all the foaming faces! Alesha, in addition to math classes, was organizing and running the VBS program each day after lunch. I popped into school for a few minutes one day and saw Alesha in her element. She came alive teaching the students new songs and performing puppet skits.

Good Goin’ Girls!

The two of them opted to stay in the village this weekend while I brought Kojo Konni to yet another hospital (hopefully the last). I received message from the girls last night that they had an “awesome weekend”. I’m curious to hear the stories.

We will soon close for the Christmas holiday. Remember our school year schedule is quite different from yours. We will be closed for 3-4 weeks. I am so looking forward to the “down time”. I half jokingly mentioned to Akos last week that I would like to just do nothing for a month. She turned and asked me, “Can you do that? Actually do nothing for a month?” I replied, “In the past it would not have been my desire. At this point in time … yea … I think I could.” Though it’s good for a person to move a little bit at times; I think a little snow to play in would make the “nothing time” perfect!! … Unfortunately, the closest thing we get to snow is a pile of frost from the freezer. Hey, but that too makes very cute snowmen!! Those of you living in “the white zone” throw a few snowballs for us and build at least one snowman would ya. He doesn’t have to be big. He/it doesn’t have to be a “man” either; one year I built a snow-woman with a flower basket. Send us the picture.

On second thought - hold the picture and show us when we come visit you next year! I have pictures to post to this blog today but the loading time is so incredibly slow just for the print. One week maybe I’ll just post photos!

Have a Happy week
Christine & Co

From Alesha:
This last week was a busy one. Sister Akos worked hard to wrap up the Christmas Play. I have been doing a program with the children called VBS, Vacation Bible School. I have been involved with VBS in my hometown for the last couple of years. Teaching these kids all the bible stories and cool little songs sure is a challenge. But I am sure it is one of the most fulfilling moments in my time here. The life style may be quite different from the kids back home but the kids are just the same. They just want to be loved and know someone cares about them. Just like any child anywhere else in the world. These kids really tug on my heart strings. I find I’m more attached to them then I thought I would be. As my time here is coming to a close I really want to give these kids all that I can. Alesha

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Comments

[Jeff]

So glad to hear that Kojo is progressing. Another big answer to prayer is that Akos and Alesha would get a chance to be well challenged and used before the end of their stay. God is so good. I hope you get your rest Christine - you have really been on the run. It is snowing here as I write this... Prayers, Jeff