In Summation...

Well, to sum up... wow!

 

 

 

I have been trying all week to come up with a reply when someone asks me how my trip to Africa was.  Because, my first thought is to say," How long have you got?". It seems impossible to come up with a word to say that would encapsulate all that I have experienced and felt.  In fact, I don't believe there is a word.  The closest I can think of is amazing...

 

It was amazingly hard.

 

It was so amazingly hard just to leave our county!!  I have so much appreciation for people who have to deal with international travel on a regular basis.  Maybe it becomes easier as you travel more, maybe you just get used to it and surrender to the insane process, but holy cannoli...it was really hard.

 

And life itself in Africa is hard, even outside of an orphanage.  Every convenience we have here in the States is nowhere to be found there.  No washing machines, driers, no dish washers, or grocery stores, no mega Walmart... or even a small one, no easy way to get the internet or TV, and no easy way to see doctors or get medical care... in short, it's us about 100 years ago, give or take a few things.  It's really hard.

 

It was hard living in the orphanage.  Living with those children who are in need of so much, seeing their pain and not being able to do much about it.  Living in that kind of poverty, well, even for a few days, it changes you and the way you look at everything.

 

It was amazingly beautiful.

 

The children are so beautiful, and the sisters, oh my.  What they have given up to be with these children, and how they care for them and how they pray, well never have I seen lives lived so beautifully.

 

African women dress so beautifully.  Even when they are farming, cooking, living their everyday lives, they wear these beautiful dresses of the most striking colors.  Rarely did I see a pair of jeans or shorts.  The people of Africa take such pride in their heritage.  It's really beautiful.

 

The landscape of Northern Ghana is pretty monochromatic.  It seems everything is a shade of brown.  But it is the dry season, and I'm told that in the rainy season, green becomes prevalent in the fauna of Africa.  But the trees, although mostly brown, are gnarly and grow in interesting ways that make you take a second look at them.  The homes in most of the villages we passed were brown clay homes with thatched roofs, but the mosques these Muslims build are so pretty, in colors of pale pinks, blues and yellows, they really stand out in the African landscape... beautiful!

 

It was amazingly gross.

 

Come on... you knew this was coming!!!  The flies were gross enough... but did you ever see an ant hill that was bigger than you???  Totally not kidding.  I almost put it in the beautiful part, but it's an ant hill... hello!!!  Gross!

 

You've probably heard enough about bucket baths.  And no running water... that leads to some pretty gross situations, believe me!  The chickens and goats everywhere (and their droppings), and there were some older children who could not be potty trained.  Oh, and did I ever mention that there is no garbage pick up?  No... well, they pile it all up and burn it, which doesn't help the gross smells all around there!  And what doesn't get burned stays along the side of the roads.  No laws against littering in Ghana!

 

It was amazingly surprising.

 

Surprising good in that I was surprised at what a pretty warm welcome we received from everyone we encountered.  Except for the children who stared at us as if we were from another planet... or ran up to us to try to wipe off our white skin!!

 

And surprising bad in the horrible condition of African education.  Can you even imagine a government not at all concerned with the education of their youth?  I was working with Samuel, a very smart boy about 14 years old who attended secondary school, on how to get on the internet and all that you can access on it.  When I asked if he wanted to see the earth from space, he asked what earth was, and what space was.  The school the younger children attend is a joke.  4 classrooms, 4 teachers, probably 2 or 3 grades per classroom and no books, no writing materials, no learning.  There was probably 60 kids in one classroom, and school is from about 8:30 to noon. There is really no attempt to end the cycle of poverty, no hope for a better future.

 

Another surprising thing was my reaction to all the grossness.  My mother loves to tell people of my hatred, and sometimes fear, of all things multi-legged.  Bugs, spiders, centipedes...I just cannot stand them!!!  She gets some kind of thrill in telling people... she even told Sister Stan (Yes, Mom...I know about that!!) and Sister told all the kids the first day we were there!!  But that's ok...admitting a problem is the first step to conquering it... well, either admitting it or being placed in an environment filled with such things and having to deal with it...baptism by bugs!!!  And, I'm happy to say, deal with it I did.  Seriously, when faced with the decision to comfort a child or run screaming from him or her because he or she is riddled with bugs, there's no choice.  You take a deep breath, pick up the child and give them all the love you can... and say a prayer that your bucket bath will remove all the bugs from your hair, etc., etc.

 

It was amazingly hot.

 

Seriously hot.  It was so hot that on the second to last day, I could no longer make knots in the rosaries we were making.  I think part of my brain melted.  I had been teaching how to make rosaries all week with Paula, and all of the sudden, I couldn't make them anymore.  We were laughing about it, but in the back of my melted, sweaty brain I was a little nervous about it!

 

I am happy to say I kept on top of sunscreening myself and didn't get a sunburn, but except for the time in the early morning when there was a little coolness, I thought I would sweat away my weight!  No such luck... but man, did we sweat.

 

 

So, you see, there is no easy answer for the question how was Africa.  Maybe I'll just print out this page and say, read this!!   It was the greatest experience of my life, one that I am sure I will experience again.

 

Thank you to Tom and Paula Radel, for your generosity, love, support, everything.  Thank you to my amazing family.  I realized in Africa that I won the familial lottery... they are the best!!  Thank you to you for reading my ramblings, for your prayers.  I hope this blog has meant something to you.  For me, it really gave me the gift of being able to process everything I was seeing and feeling.  Thank you for coming back each day and for your support of the Nazareth Home for God's Children.  And finally, thank you to God, who has opened every door and allowed me to experience the life of a missionary.  It is a hard life, but one filled with the joy of giving.  Please keep me in your prayers as I attempt to discern God's will for my life.

 

On the last night we were in Africa, we were given a party.  It was full of fun and dancing.  At the time I was wondering if they were celebrating the fact that the crazy Americans were leaving... but with the tears during our departure, I knew the celebration was for the fact that we came.  We were treated like family there.  How I love them all!  Here, I hope, is a video of the party.

 

Sorry if it's sideways...I still have a lot to learn!

 

 

Thank you for coming on my journey with me.  May God continue to bless you and yours!

 

http://www.sisterstanschildren.org

 

 





The Beatitudes

Today as I was saying my rosary, meditating on the third Luminous Mystery: the teachings of Jesus, I began thinking about the beatitudes.  I was thinking, of course, of Africa and as I thought of each of the beatitudes, I realized that while at the Nazareth Home for God's Children, I was living in a sort of beatitudinal oasis.

Now, these children receive very little education, religious or secular.  They couldn't tell you what the Corporal Works of Mercy are or what original sin is, I'm not even sure they know what the 10 commandments are.  I know they could not recite the beatitudes for me, but the simple truth is that they live it.

-Blessed are the poor in spirit... Well, duh, you might say, but just because a person is poor does
              Not guarantee that they are poor in spirit.  But these children are.  They are humble before
              God, they place all their trust in Him, and know that all that they have comes from Him.
              They live in gratitude for all He has given them, in every movement, in every prayer,
               In every gift, they are grateful.  They, who have next to nothing are grateful.

Blessed are they who mourn... There was a little girl, a baby who had hydrocephalus who died shortly
             Before we came.  It is a part of life there... I'm not sure if all of these children will reach
            Adulthood.  The sisters mourn the fact that these children were rejected by their families, and
            Also mourn that they cannot do more to help them.  But, they make it a part of their prayers,
            They accept it as part of this life, and they look forward to the next with rejoicing.

Blessed are the meek... Well, these people are meek and humble, but they are in no way resentful
              For what they do not have.  The sisters have fostered in these children the humility of Jesus
              As He accepted His Father's will to suffer and die for us.  They accept their life without
              Resentment or envy... just with gratitude.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness... Sister Stan has made it a mission in her
              Life, so to speak, to end the evil practices of the tribes of Northern Ghana who toss away
              Their children who are not "perfect".  Who among us is?  She is a force to be reckoned with.
               If anyone can do it, she can!

Blessed are the merciful... You would think that one would be filled with hatred and anger at the
            Situation these sisters find themselves in.  That they would be hateful of the families and\
            Tribes who are so careless with the gift of life they have been given.  After seeing all the
            Sweet faces and getting to know all the wonderful personalities of the children, I would
            understand that feeling.  They are not at all angry nor filled with hatred.  They are
            Forgiving.  They are merciful and loving and filled with joy.

Blessed are they with a clean heart... Oh my, what precious hearts there are in this home!  Helpful
            And loving, and although not physically clean... :-) ...their hearts are as pure as snow.

Blessed are the peacemakers... Most of the people who live in the village of Sang are Muslim.
             In many, many parts of Africa, peace is nowhere to be found, but in this little village,
             Peace abounds.  And although their new home is somewhat separated from that Muslim
             Community, I have no doubt they will continue to live peacefully there.

Blessed are they who are persecuted...I can think of hardly any other group of people more
             Unjustly persecuted than these babies and children in Ghana, other than aborted babies.
             Although humble and small, He has given them a safe haven, full of love, and for that alone,
             Praise God!!!

The sisters have created an environment where Catholic theology may not be taught, the children may not be able to recite verses and commandments, but they live the Gospels, they eat, sleep and breathe the teaching of the Church in all they say and do.

I am in the process of deepening my faith, I am learning more about Catholic theology and the catechism... but I don't know if I will ever know it as deeply in my heart as these sisters and children do.

Here are some pictures of their chapel and manger scene.  Lowly in wealth, rich in love.

Getting Back to "Normal"

So, I'm not sure how many times I've been to Target.  Maybe 300 times in my life?  Maybe not that many, but it's safe to say I've been there a lot.  Each time, I go in, shop, get what I need, and most times picking up stuff I don't need.  And each time completely unaffected and unmoved by the sheer amount of stuff there.

Yesterday I went into Target.  Now, I know I've only been gone a handful of days.  One would think a handful of days would never be enough to alter the mind set in USA mode for 41 years.  One would think it would take 6 months or a year to really open up the mind to notice the abundance of goods here and the lack there and be so affected by it.  One would think.

I was sickened by it.  I looked at the store with new eyes.  It seems I'm looking at everything with new eyes, and I have to say I'm not that happy about it.  What's so wrong with living the life you were given?  What is so wrong about having so much?  What was so wrong with the life I was living before?  And why do I feel so compelled to change my life now... because of a few orphans?  I mean, they were cute, sure, but... my whole life?

The sisters taught the children a prayer to say.  It is said each day after the Divine Mercy Chaplet:

Jesus, I love You

All I have is Yours

Yours I am, Yours I want to be

Do with me whatever You will.

 

Jesus I love You

All I have is Yours

Yours I am, Yours I want to be

Do with me whatever You will

 

Jesus I love You

All I have is Yours

Yours I am, Yours I want to be

Do with me whatever You will.

 

 

The simple fact is, I do love Jesus.  I have no idea what my new "normal" will be.  But, I do trust in the Lord.  The sisters and orphans who have no one to trust BUT the Lord taught me more about that in 10 days than I learned ever before. 

 

One of the things Sister Stan trusts in is that their new home will be finished soon.  Below are some pictures of their new home where they will have a lot more space for learning and playing, running water, (that means no more bucket baths!), a big kitchen to prepare food in and a big indoors dining room.  As you will see, the home is built, but there is nothing inside.  They are in need of so much.  If you feel so compelled, go to her website below to make a donation.  You can specify you want the money to go towards the building of their new home.  Thank You!!!

 

 

Above, the new home  Below, a guest room

Above the library Below the girls rooms and showers

Above and below, a view from behind, with lots of open space

Above a ladder I wouldnt go on if my life depended on it
Below what will be one of two water towers from which running water will pour forth

 

 

http://www.sisterstanschildren.org

 

 

  

Reentry

My traveling companion and her husband, Tom, are great missionaries, having gone on medical missions all around the world.  They have been an invaluable resource for me in terms of traveling, being a missionary, and all that is going on in your heart and mind while doing these things. I am so grateful for their help and everything they have done for me.

One of the things they have talked to me about is reentry into life after going on a mission.  It is difficult, as everything about this trip has been.  I know I was only in Africa for 10 days, but it literally felt like a month and a half!  And just coming home from the Buffalo Airport, seeing all the buildings, the traffic, all the lights... that alone sent me into a mind-numbing state!

I spent most of the day I got home at my parents house, sort of afraid to go home alone, to be alone with my thoughts of the trip I had taken.  To have all that I experienced flow over, around and into me with no one to distract me, to begin to come to grips with the fact that I have been changed... by children, by sisters who find joy amid devastation, by a country so lost and behind it's amazing they are even surviving.

I started to get really upset and hyperventilate, and then I took out my camera and mentally went back to Ghana, back to the Sang Village, back to the children whose smiles and outstretched arms welcomed me right back.

This is Ajah, also called Caesar.  He was always attached to my legs.  He just wanted to be held and hugged.  He doesn't talk, but understands everything you say.  I had an opportunity to sit and read a book to just him once, and he showed such interest in it, pointing to pictures and trying to say the words.  He was crying so hard when we left.  I even found myself picking buggars out of his nose one day!  Now, that's love!!

This is Agatha.  She cannot communicate at all.  She was one of the children who constantly hit me because she didn't know how else to get my attention.  And she tried to use signs to tell us what she wanted or what was bothering her, but no one there knows what the signs mean.  Despite the fact that she cannot communicate, she is a happy girl who peacefully listens to the prayers we said, except when Felicia was around... her frienemy!

Thomas is the youngest orphan at the home.  He crawls around everywhere and wants to be a part of everything.  He has a problem with his teeth, and they sometimes give him so much pain he just lies on a mat all day.  But when he's feeling good, he's all smiles and movement.  The babies have no set nap/bed time.  When they are tired, they put their heads down wherever they happen to be and sleep... and sometimes are left right where they are!

Isn't Elizabeth beautiful?  She is around 10 years old.  She is very helpful with the little children... when she isn't threatening to beat them (a common empty threat...I hope!). Elizabeth has bone structural problems in her feet and skeletal issues that make her walk hunched over all the time.  Despite her physical tribulations, Elizabeth is a kind hearted, joyful girl who delights in leading decades of the rosary and the Divine Mercy chaplet.   She is able to see beyond her own problems and help with bathing the kids, passing out food and washing clothes. 

This is Bishop, also called Casmir.  He causes as much trouble as it looks like he does!!  Always with that smile on his face.  He does not talk much, but understands everything.  The last day we were there, Bishop was holding a picture book like a church songbook and singing "Holy, holy, holy.". It was the first time I heard a real word from him, and the first time I saw him do anything close to angelic!!!!

Joshua is about 4 years old.  He has epilepsy When we first got there it sounded like Joshua had crickets in his mouth all the time.  He was grinding his teeth and moaning constantly.  The only time he didn't do that was when we held him.  The doctor changed Joshua's medicine while we were there and he started having non-stop seizures.  He stopped eating and drinking, in fact on the way to the hospital the second time to have him rechecked, I had to feed Joshua tiny bits of mashed up banana in the car.  We were a mess... but at least he was eating a little.  The doctor said it would take a few days for the medicine to kick in... and eventually it did, but it was a horrible few days.

 

 ******************************************************************************

Well, these are some of the children in Ghana, at the Nazareth Home for God's Children.  Someone told me that the pictures are deceiving, that everything looks fine and everyone is happy there.  So, I thought I would give you a little insiders look into life there.  The sisters work very hard to give these children a happy life, and probably one that is better than some of the tribes there.  But make no mistake, you cannot even imagine the kind of low, filthy, unbearably hard life they have.  God bless those sisters for all the work they do...  If you would like to make a donation, visit         http://www.sisterstanschildren.org

 

Thank you and God bless you!!

More to come...

 

Last night I dreamt of Africa.  I dreamt I was there, with the children, getting them food, playing with them, singing with them and praying with them.  I remember waking up in the night thinking how weird it is that I was dreaming of Africa.  I don't think I did that even when I was there!  Then I fell back to sleep, and back to Africa I went. 

I woke up this morning and looked around me and was filled with completely guilty thoughts of my warm home, my soft bed, my shower and food in my fridge.  What did I do to deserve this?  What did they do to deserve that?  Will I never not feel guilty again?  I don't know.

I keep thinking of Africa, though...of the unbelievably beautiful dresses the women wear, of the crazy people riding along on their mopeds without a thought of other drivers...even with babies on their backs (!), of the music and the rhythm of their languages...there is even a musicality in the way they speak English, of the smells, most of them bad, of burning garbage and chickens and goats everywhere.  It all seems so otherworldly.

  

 

 

But most of all I think of the children and their days, which are spent just trying to survive.  In this day and age, I find it unbelievable that there could be people starving in our world…literally starving to death.  When I think of the excess of America, all we eat, all we throw away, it is stupefying.  I know there is that old adage, eat your dinner, children are starving in Africa, well people are starving.  And I guess the question is, what are we going to do about it?  Because we must do something.  I know not everyone reads the Bible, but in it it says, to whom much is given, much is expected.  “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more”  Lk 12:48  Not only true in terms of spirituality and morality, but in terms of our humanity also.  We have been given plenty, more than we could ever use, eat, drink, etc.  Is there something we could do?  Is there something you could do?  Think about it.  Then do something.

 

 

These children need so much: clothes that fit, medical care, money and supplies to finish their new home, and food.  Could you help?

 

http://www.sisterstanschildren.org

Hello from snowy Buffalo, New York!  Paula and I arrived safe and sound at the Buffalo Airport today around 11am, greeted by our families for a happy homecoming.  After 24 hours of traveling, we were tired, but so, so happy to see those we love so much.  Thanks to everyone who prayed for a safe journey for us!!

Although safely home, I find my mind and heart are still back in the Sang Village with those kids.  I've had a wonderful breakfast and a glorious hot shower, and I cannot help but think of the children who are right now finishing up dinner and running all around the home, using up the last of their energy before going to bed.  As promised, here are some photos of the kids:

Here are some of the children gathered for singing class with Mama Paula and Auntie Sarah.  It is in the courtyard of their home.  We are singing Boom Chicka Boom... be glad it isn't a video!!

 

This is a picture of 4 of the 5 babies: Abraham, Angela and Lucy are in the back, and

Blessing is the beauty in front.

 

 

And here is Thomas, the last baby:

 

Here are God Knows BoBo and Martha,  all decked out for church:

 

And just so you know I really was there here I am with Sister Euphemia, Alice, Martha, Sister Augustina, Solomon, Agatha and Princess Sarah 

 

 

Much love, Sarah

The Gift of Life

It is the eve of our leaving Ghana, and I am filled with gratitude for this experience, the amazing people I have met and the blossoming of new awareness and love in my heart.

As I prepare to make the journey home, I am reflecting on all of the feelings I've had.

Today is also the eve of my mother's birthday...Happy Birthday, Mom!  I've been thinking all day about my mother and about these children, about the United States and Ghana, and about the gift of life.

Without a doubt, life is a gift.  Each life created by God is a gift.  How it is received and treasured by the people given this gift varies from family to family and country to country. 

In the United States, society would have you believe the birth canal is our passport to humanity.  That before that specific moment, the cells forming inside the mother are just that, cells to be kept or destroyed.  In Ghana, in some tribes, that doesn't even guarentee you a loved life.  If you come out disabled, a twin, different in any way, if your mother dies during labor, your life can be destroyed.  Even up to any age, if by 3 you don't walk, by 5 you don't talk, and it goes on.  But something has bothered me since before I even came here, and that is: what is the difference between being aborted and being killed just after birth?  There is a young boy here named John who has only three fingers on his right hand.  At the moment of his birth, his parents tossed him aside and left him for dead. 

The birth canal does not make us human, at the moment of birth we do not magically become worthy of love and protection.  That occurs at the moment we begin life, the moment of conception, the moment we first begin to grow into who we are to become.  People in the United States are horrified at the traditions certain tribes in Ghana keep.  Society at large is against these practices and is charitable to orphanages like the Nazareth Home for God's Children.  But how can we as a nation rebuke so strongly the life taking practices of another country, when we are guilty of the same?

 Each and every life, at the moment of conception, is a gift.

Let me tell you from first hand experience:  these children are worthy of love, care, tenderness, protection and education.  They, as we, are children of God...each is a gift.  I hope and pray that one day, all people and all cultures will treasure each life for what it is, a gift, given for us to protect and love from the moment of conception until natural death.

I thank the Lord for the gift of my mother, and wish her the happiest of birthdays!  I am thankful for the gift of my grandparents, both sets, who passed their faith on to my parents.  I am thankful for my parents, who passed their faith on to me.  And I am very thankful for the gift of my family who is so supportive of me.

  Good night!  My next post will come from the States and will include art!!!  God Bless You!!
Love, Sarah

Today we are getting ready to come home.  Tomorrow we go back to the hospital in Tamale, and the last time it took all day, so we are packing today for our departure on Saturday.  Already I am dreading getting into Accra.  When we get to Accra, after we get our luggage, tons of poor people are there, trying to take your luggage, some to carry it to the check in place for you for cash, and some to steal it.  And "no thank you" means nothing to them.  Oh yeah...I'm dreading it!

I have mixed feelings about leaving, as I wrote before. 

I AM NOT going to miss
     -being stared at.  Everyone stares at us here like we're from Mars.  I will no longer ever stare at
           another person in my life.  It is very disconcerting!!
     -taking bucket baths...seriously, you stand in a shower next to a bucket of water, use a pail to pour
           water on yourself, wash yourself making sure none goes in your mouth, and it's cold water.
     -being hit.  About half of the children here can understand what you are saying, but cannot
            communicate themselves, so they hit me all...day...long.
     -the flies...oh the flies!  Never again will I complain about flies.  I'm not kidding when I say there
             are 100 flies around at any given time, and it's worse when we are eating and when the
             babies have dirty diapers.  Oh the flies.  It's so bad!!!!
     -the food.  Don't get me wrong...I am very grateful for the food we are given.   And some of it
             hasn't been that bad, but I miss salads, and vegetables, and meat, and french fries!

I AM going to miss
     -getting up in the morning and getting more hugs than I know what to do with.  They are so
            sweet!!  They have so much love to give!
     -seeing the spark of knowledge or recognition in a child, and knowing that I was a part of
            bringing that light into his/her eyes.
     -the sisters and helpers that work so hard here to help these children survive
     -the closeness I feel to God here,far removed from the distractions back home.  And the time I
            spend in prayer and meditiation.
     -the children.  They are the reason for this home. And they are so beautiful.  There are about 6
            who I'd like to bring home with me.  Just smuggle them in my suitcase.
     -the silliness and the singing...the joyful sound of music sung to the Lord.  It's so beautiful!! 

The day after we leave, maybe the day after that, Paula and I will probably be forgotten by these kids.  They have too many other things to think about, namely survival.  But I will never forget them.  They have nestled in my heart, and are there to stay.  Even Felicia...who, at times, I swear was put here to remind us all to pray for patience!!!!

I cannot wait to get back to the States and post pictures and videos for you to see what I've been seeing.  I thank you for your patience in that regard, and hope my writing has been enough to keep you coming back, and not too boring!!!

God Bless you!  Please keep the children in your prayers!  love, Sarah

Mama Paula

Paula Radel is, I believe, the greatest person born in the 20th century!! 

She has a way of being able to talk to ANYONE...and get people to smile and help us with her friendly wit and personality.  She has a gift for sarcasism, but is one of the most honest people I have ever met.  We talk about everything, even...well, you know.

She is one of the most generous people I have ever met, the other being her husband, Tom.  She gives without thought of what will be given her in return, be it her time, money, gifts, whatever.  She has an amazing spiritual life that is thriving and growing in her love and faith in God.

She has been so open with me, allowing me to ask anything, and sharing her thoughts with me in return.  Her heart is so full of love for these kids, and for children all over the world.  I am so unbelievably thankful for her!

One of the things we shared together is our feelings about leaving.  I was thinking about the time when we will leave this place, and at that moment, Paula began talking about it.  About how we both cannot wait to get back to our reality.  Our beds, coffee,  running water, hot showers, familiar foods, coffee, our family, a couch, a grocery store, coffee, and the list goes on.  We always talk about the first thing we will do when we get home:  Paula...drink real coffee, me...a hot shower.

But on the other hand, just as strong and compelling, is our shared desire to stay here.  How can we leave?  We have seen first hand the horrible conditions these children and sisters face each day.  We have worked one on one with some of these "at risk" children and have seen a spark of personality and intelligence in them.  But who will have the time to sit with them when we leave?  The very act of survival takes all day.  What will happen to that spark we saw?

It is a heartbreaking tug of war, one I am glad is understood by my amazing traveling companion.  We must go home.  But our journey will not end there.  A connection has been made, our hearts will forever be beating for the children of this home, and our future actions will be motivated by that love.

See, and this is why I love Paula so much...because after this conversation, she comes up with the idea for a new television show...Catholic Survivor...and we begin to plan what the show will entail.  Any television producers reading this blog??  It could be a real hit!!!!

Well, time to begin my day.  May God bless you!!  Thank you for your prayers!!  Love, Sarah

The Sisters

The sisters who make the Nazareth Home for God's Children are some of the most peacefilled, loving women I have ever met.

Sister Augustina is about 30 years old.  She is from Nigeria, as all three of the sisters are.  She met Sister Stan in Nigeria when Sister Stan was working in an order there.  Sister Augustina has the most beautiful singing voice.  When she leads morning prayer, her voice rings out her fervent joyfullness in the Lord.  Sister Augustina is in charge now that Sister Stan is away.  She is a caring and loving leader who the children love and listen to attentively.  She leads the rosary and the Divine Mercy chaplet each day.  She is full of laughter and joy, and that is evident in her work.  She trusts fully in God, and is singing through each of her tasks each day.  She neither complains about her work nor does her work begrudgingly, but gives praise to God in each job she does.  Picture coming soon...sorry!

Sister Carolina is also Nigerian.  She was telling us of how she received her call.  She had a dream, and in the dream, God told her she had to go on a journey, and He took her over lands and water to show her children.  At the time, she was a physical therapist.  She had to make the decision to give up everything, her family, her job, her money and home.  She said it was hard, but now she has more joy in her life than she ever had before.  Sister Carolina is the one who takes care of the childrens daily medical needs.  She is a joyful soul with a sweet high voice.  She is not loud, but the children hear her little voice, and they listen.  She was amazing at the hospital yesterday, never becoming frustrated or annoyed with the situations we encountered, but always calm, with a certainty that God would not forsake her and the children.

Sister Euphemia is the youngest sister.  She is 21 and is also Nigerian.  She is always laughing at the stories we tell about Americans...naming and treating our pets as one of the family, how much time we spend watching sports and television, etc.  She always has a smile on her face and is always ready to play with and help the children.  Sister Euphemia knew from a young age that she wanted to be a sister.  Her family is so supportive of her, although it has been a long time since she has seen them.  Sister has been here for three months, but you would never know it.  She is fun and assertive, prayerful and loving.

These women are amazing, having given up whatever the world offers, to live here amongst the condemned of Ghana.  Living in a land that seems to have been forgotten by God, but they know better.  They see God in each of the children they attend to, they see God in each stranger and beggar that comes to their door.  They know God is here, helping them and they know He is so pleased with the work that they do. These women arise each morning at 4:30 for morning prayer and adoration, then mass at 6:30.  After breakfast, the children are bathed and sent to school.  During school time, they are cleaning, washing clothes by hand and taking care of babies.  The children come home at noon and are served lunch.  They spend the afternoon with the children, playing with them and keeping them busy. The children are bathed again, and put in clean clothes, which doesn't last long!!  Divine Mercy is at 3pm, followed by the Rosary and songs of praise.  Dinner is served shortly after.  At 6:30, the sisters say evening prayer then take their supper.  Since the children do not stay in their beds, they are up with the children until they fall asleep.  Then, the next day it starts all over again.  It is a grueling life to me.  To them, it is life, one to be spent joyfully praising God in all they do. 

Please keep them and Sister Stan in your prayers.  Thank you!!

May God bless you, and give us all the grace to find Him in all the people we meet, and in all the tasks that we do!!  Love, Sarah

Today we went with two of the sisters, Sister Carolina and Sister Euphemia to the hospital inTamale with seven children.  Felicia, Nicolas and Joshua were going to see a psychiatric doctor, Abraham, Elizabeth and John were going to see a surgeon, and Angela was having stomach problems, so she was going to see a regular doctor.

In Tamale, there is a teaching hospial that is far bigger and has more specialists than the hospital in Yendi that the sisters usually go to.  But bigger does not always equal better, and when so, so many people come to the hospital, there is no intimate, personal care.

We didn't have appointments for any of the children, so we thought we might be there most of the day, and as it turned out, we were.  Paula keeps telling me I am using my first world mind in the third world, and the two just don't jive...but, since I have a first world mind, I don't see how to avoid that.  The result is always frustration and confusion...not a great state of mind to have!!

We first had to go throughout the hospital looking for the children's files.  We went from floor to floor trying to find them.  Fortunately, the sisters had some friends who helped them.  But why do the patients have to run around looking for their files?  Shouldn't they all be in one place?  Or computerized?  Then we had to go into different specialists offices begging to see the doctors.  In the case of Abraham, Elizabeth and John, this was their third trip to the hospital in three weeks.  The answer they got:  The doctor is not here, come back on Tuesday.  However, today was the day they were told to come back last week.  These are poor, sick children in need of care.  Why don't they care?  Some of the children were seen today and received medication, but each was a hard fought battle to see doctors and get care.  For the rest?  We are going back on Friday for Abraham and Elizabeth and the others will be seen on Tuesday...or so we are told.  Since Paula and I will be gone and Sister Stan is in Colorado, the sisters, who do not drive, will have to take public transportation.  And don't think for a minute it's anything as good as first world public transportation at it's worst!

Paula and I were dumbfounded and had such emotional upheaval at the state of this hospital, at how hard it is to see a doctor, and even when you get to see one, getting care for the child may be another battle.  Exhausted by the day, the trials and disappointments, we asked the sisters at dinner why everything here has to be so hard.  They kind of looked at eachother, confusedly, and answered, are you kidding...that was the easiest trip to the hospital they can remember!  Having us there drive them and to hold and look after the children made it easier for them to get what they needed. Then it was our turn to look confused...that was easy??!!??

I guess it is all in your perspective, but Paula and I know better.  That was really hard.  Way harder than it should be.  I know, I'm using my first world mind again.  I certainly cannot change the way the teaching hospital is run.  But I am in awe at how the sisters handled each situation, calmly, with persistance and acceptance of how things are run.  We got the majority of the children seen, the sisters say many times, they spend the day there and no one gets seen.  Their certainty that God loves them and will provide for them in His time is what drives them.  And He does.  There have been many, many things happen on this trip where my anxiety and nervousness threaened to grow out of bounds, but the sisters handled each with calm acceptance and complete trust in God, and He has come through each and every time.

I will share them with you in a later blog. Right now, I am off to take a bucket bath then to bed!

Good night!  May God bless you and give us all the grace to place all our worries, concerns, needs and hopes in His hands, to be answered in His time.  Love, Sarah

The Truth and Nothing but the Truth

I remember a movie, the title escapes me now, but Jack Nicholson was on the stand in court and shouted, "You can't handle the truth!"  I kind of feel like that now.  That if I told you the whole truth of our life here, which is only a passing glance at the realities in Ghana, you wouldn't believe me.

The truth is it's really, really hard.  Because you want the children who are deaf and all who are unable to undertand to be able to comprehend the word no when they are doing something dangerous.  You want to be able to CLEAN...really clean the whole place, sanitize it and provide an environment free of dirt, flies, ants and fecees.  You want to be able to give these children and their caretakers clean water, clean dishes, cups that aren't broken and lible to cut their mouths.  You want to give each child underwear and clothes that fit...that actually look and smell clean after washing them.  You want a proper kitchen for them, where they have room for all the cooking they do, instead of using the floor for available preparation space.  And there's more.  I didn't mention proper bathing facilities, toilets, clean bathrooms, a safe place to play and toys to play with, and I could go on and on.  Proper schooling, medical care and help for the children with mental problems and physical therapy for the children who can't walk.  They just sit.  All....day....long.

I just want to do it all.  Wave my magic wand and fix it.  And you may think you can imagine Paula's and my frustration and anger that we cannot do it, but you cannot.  It is indescribable.  The pain I feel when I realize all I can do is hand out food on dirty plates and water in dirty cups to children who have flies buzzing around their heads and eating their food with soiled hands.  It hurts.  And its everything...every minute...in all we do, I am not fixing anything, just helping them to survive in their reality.

And the thing is, these children, in all their filth and destitution, are well cared for!  As well as or better than the children in the surrounding village.  And all around the world, children everywhere face the same reality as these.  Where did I go wrong?  When did I become a person with blinders on to the world and all it's problems?  When did I decide that what I have is mine, and those without...?  Can fend for themselves?

The truth is we are all children of God.  These babies here are your brothers and sisters in Christ.  We cannot change the world, I realize that, now more than ever.  But living the life the Gospels call us to live does not include turning a blind eye.  I did that.  For 41 years.  No more...my eyes are open to the real reality of the world.  I don't know if I could live here full time.  It's mind boggling!!  But I can no longer pretend that my reality is everyone's reality and we are all fine. 

I was told that my life would be sectioned off into "life before Ghana" and "life after Ghana."  I didn't really understand it then, but I already do now.  I will never be the same.  Oh, happy day!!

May God bless you!  Love, Sarah

The Children

The children here are no different from the children found in the United States, all around the world, in fact.  They all have cute faces with runny noses, eyes that light up like the sunshine when they get tickled or given attention, they want to be involved in whatever everyone else is doing, and get into mischief if left on their own. 

But, unlike many cultures, including our own, these children are in the Nazareth Home for God's Children because they were condemned to die.  Because John has three fingers on one hand, because David was born without a left arm, because Rebecca couldn't talk and because Gabriel's mother died when he was born, they all were condemned to die.  It sounds unbelievably horrible and insane, doesn't it?  The English language does not contain words harsh enough to describe it.  I wish I could upload pictures, and I will soon, but...oh my...one look into the eyes of these children, and I fell for them, hook line and sinker!

But, in truth, these children are very different from any others.  I have been here for 5 days and not once have I heard a child complain about the food he/she was given.  Not once have I heard a child talk back, or not do as he/she was told.  They know all to well, even the little ones, I think, that they could be somewhere far worse.  Even with the garbage around us, the flies...oh the flies, the lack of running water and the ever present dirt and red clay, they know that here they are loved.  And, oh are they loved!  I don't mean to sound all sunshine and roses, these are children, and in the process of growing up, they try to push boundaries and get away with things.  And the children who have a mental disability cannot understand when we try to correct their behavior.  But the Sisters lift a hand, and someone comes to do what needs done, the older children are always helping with the younger ones and there is a real sense of family here.

The most beautiful aspect of this home is the belief in God, and in the time given to worship Him.  We begin the day with morning prayer and mass, there is eucharistic adoration each day, we say the rosary, the divine mercy chaplet and sing songs glorifying God each day, and the Sisters end each day with evening prayer.  These children know more prayers than I do!  And they are taught to love and respect eachother.  Our first night here, someone gave Gabriel(age 3) something, and he said, "thank you...God bless you!"  That is the way of things here.  God is first.  It is so beautiful for these children, who have been rejected by the world, to know God loves each of them. 

Despite the devistating poverty one finds here in Northern Ghana, for the neighboring villages are just as poor and desolate, Sister Stan has built a spiritual oasis here.  These children know they are loved, by the people who care for them and by God.  They need running water, they need clean clothes that fit, they need medical attention and  a clean home.  But these are all worldly things.  You know, I have been doing a lot of spiritual reading in the past few months.  About detachment from the world and centering myself on God, about what it means to be poor, unworldly and offering myself to God.  I thought I had an idea of what it all meant.  I was wrong.  I am learning.  I am grateful.

May God bless you, and all those you love.  Until tomorrow...Sarah

Finally, Africa

I apologize for not being faithful to my blog writing.  The internet is not as easy to access here, I don't know why I thought it would be!  And the children are my first priority.  When concieving the idea of the blog, I imagined I would be writing it at night, however, sleep overtakes me here as it has never done before.

Well, that is enough of that.  Let me talk about Africa!  You know, when we first arrived, Paula and I were tired, frustrated with our journey, and just generally down.  You wouldn't believe the reception we received from the children.  Song and dance so uplifting and happy, not a soul alive could have resisted a joyous smile breaking through the gloom.  But it was Sister Stan and her prayer for us that made all the difference to me.  She gave thanks to God for our journey, for the waiting and frustration.  She praised God for allowing us to have the experience of not having everything work out easily.  That in His wisdom, God was permitting us to begin missionary work even before we got to Africa.  And I have to say, it lifted me right up, and I felt spiritually loved, when before I felt forgotten.

I have never seen such amazingly beautiful, yet completely devistating in my life.  The children here are so beautiful!  Each time I try to upload pictures, the internet freezes and I cannot go on, but, I will post some as soon as I can.  These children break my heart, and yet they are so loving and welcoming.  When I awake in the morning and leave my room, they flock to me, "Good Morning, Auntie Sarah, " they chime, with hugs and huge smiles.  But one child, Gabriel, asks every day, "Are you going home today?"  He is so young, and yet he knows these visits of missionaries are short.  I tell him I am going to stay and play with him today, but I know the day is coming all to soon when I will have to tell him yes, I am leaving.  My heart is already breaking for that day.

Ghana is a beautiful country, and I cannot wait to share more with you about it.  Let me just say now that everyone is so welcoming and wonderfully nice here.  Paula and I stand out, as you can imagine, but people are always smiling with a welcoming word.  Beautiful!  The funniest is when we go to the market (oh boy...another story) and the children there run up and see if they can wipe the white stuff off of our arms!!  :-)

I can hear that I am needed, so I must go.  I can hear the children starting a rukus!  I must go and help Paula.  Also, there is a beheaded goat we just killed (!) that I a going to help de-fir.  My oh my, certainly not in Kansas any more.

Until tomorrow, I hope!  May the Lord our God bless you and keep you and your families safe from harm.  With love from Africa, Sarah

And now we're really off!

It has been a whirlwind of a trip so far...
1) our flight was canceled on Friday because JFK airport was closed
2) so after a hectic day of  trying to get another flight out, we resign ourselves to leave on Monday
3) there is a weekend of worry about the upcoming storm and the threat of more delays
     (Including a generous offer by my brother Tim to let us use his hotel points and I embarrassingly
       Misunderstood and told Paula he would drive us to New York... I'm delusional!!)
4) We have a 130 pm flight on Monday to NYC, but in an attempt to outwit mother nature, we
     Decide to drive there with Paula's husband Tom and my dad at 4 am Monday
5) We look and there is an earlier flight at 6am so we book that
6)I get a call at 3am Monday, the 6 am flight is canceled
7) We decide to drive there...total mad dash to get to NYC
8) We get to NYC around 1230, only to find out the 130 flight out of Buffalo took off, and Tom
     Radel and my dad are driving into a storm and parts of the thruway are being closed

I can almost hear your collective sighs.  The good news?  We're finally in New York and our flight to Ghana is still on!  (At least for now!!!)

Stay tuned...next post is from Ghana!!  :-)

Sister Stanislaus Terese Mario Mumuni

The moment I met Sister Stan, I knew I was meeting someone special.  She has a charisma about her that draws you in and makes you feel warm and welcome.  Her face just lights up when she talks about her children, and her smile is radiant. 

She is from West Africa.  On her website, http://www.sisterstanschildren.org, is a story about her when she was younger.  At about 10 years old, she spent as much time as she could at the convent in the town she grew up in.  Some of us waver in our calling, some of us allude our calling, and some special souls like Sister Stan embrace their calling from the Lord with every inch of their being. 

There is a video on her website, Touching Lives, that is a documentary of her life and mission. I recommend that you check it out.  In it, the host of the show offers Sister a lot of gifts:  diapers, water, beds, clothes, games, etc.  You see her sitting on the couch and saying that inside she is shouting, but she won't shout now or else they won't give the gifts to a crazy nun!   She's trying so hard to remain composed!  I learned later that the show didn't give Sister the gifts they promised. However, in the video, you get a good look at life in Ghana, and in particular, in the orphanage. 

And below is an article written about Sister Stan.  She and I are about the same age, and when I look at her, and all she has accomplished, let alone the fact that she spends her life saving children and raising them herself, well, I fall well short of the mark.  However, I hope to learn from her on this trip how to live love, for as far as I can see, she is love personified.


http://www.africareview.com/News/Catholic+nun+who+rescues+Ghana+rejected+children/-/979180/1387384/-/q2ibj3/-/

My Greatest Gift

Well, since we are in a brief time of waiting, I thought I would share with you  a little bit more of myself.  I am one of eight children, I have 33 nieces and nephews, 6 more in Heaven and one on the way!

My grandparents and parents have fostered in us the importance of family, of respect for all life and, most of all, of a true relationship with God.  With prayer, teaching and patience, they have helped me to become who I am today, and am most grateful for that.

I have had many detours in my life.  After college, I was a teacher of 4th grade, then 1st for about 8 years.  Then I took a sharp turn and began working in the culinary field...which, it just now occurred to me, is how I came to meet Sister Stan!  You are witnesses to my epiphany...which is on the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany.  This just keeps getting weirder! 

Lets see if I can bring you along with me here...when I decided to go into the culinary field, my grandparents, Bob and Jo Noonan, were chairpersons of Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the home.  They would aid families in consecrating their homes to the Sacred Heart, and they hosted a lunch after mass on the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus each June.  They enlisted my help with the lunch, and when my traveling partner and her husband, Paula and Tom, took over, I continued to help them.  Well, it was at one such function this past June that I met Sister Stan.  Honestly, it never before occurred to me that my grandparents were at the heart of yet another pivotal moment in my life.  Praise God!!

Anyways, my family, up to now, has been my world.  It is about to be expanded in a huge way.  And my feeling is, my family is just going to get bigger!  Here are some pics of my peeps.  They mean more to me than any earthly thing, and the best part is, they are so in support of me, in what I am doing now, and in my openness to what God has planned for me.  I am truly blessed!!



Lesson # 1: Acceptance

I always knew I would learn a lot of things on this trip.  I said I was open to whatever God had planned for me, willing to follow where He led and live in the moment with Him.  Today was no exception, but it was a hard pill to swallow.

So, there I was, bags all packed, house clean, ready to go (thanks to my mother), and just about to go to the airport when I got a call:  JFK is closed.  No flights in or out.

So then I'm like, that's ok, our flight to Ghana isn't till 9pm, we can get there by then.  Nope.  Thruway is closed and delayed/cancelled flights from yesterday and earlier today take precedence.

Ok, so we'll leave tomorrow, no big deal...nope.  No flight to Ghana until Monday.  That means no orphanage until Wednesday.

My stomach dropped, I could feel my eyes welling up.  My family was awesome.  My dad even offered to drive us to NYC.  Paula was amazing, dealing with the people from Delta and keeping me in the loop.  Sadness was threatening to overwhelm me...it's so unfair, so upsetting.

But then I thought about my own mission: to be open to what God has planned for me.  Do I trust Him, or is it all talk?  I trust Him.  I am open to Him, and I cannot lose sight of that on the first day!  My amazing travel partner has said from the beginning:  We are in God's hands.  And we are...all of us.

So, I brushed off the sadness and had a joyful and delicious dinner with my family. 

Whatever comes my way, whatever curveballs I get tossed, my faith is in the Lord.
Jesus, I trust in you...lesson learned!!!

And So Begins Our Journey...

And we're off!  Probably not many people begin one day at 0° and begin the next at 100°!!  As we start our journey, I found this little prayer I'd like to share with you.  It seems to be applicable to any type of journey, physical or spiritual.  I pray it now, and ask for your prayers.  Thank You!!!

Lord our God, before you there are no secrets; nothing is hidden from your eyes and nothing happens without your permission. Grant me the happiness of beginning this trip entrusted to you; permit me to go and to return in peace and tranquility, in your infinite love and mercy. Accompany me with your loving security and direct my footsteps with the steady love of your heart, keeping me always close to you, Lord. May I see clearly the obstacles of my journey, and may I keep safe from affliction and despair, thanks to your blessing and care. Blessed are you, O Eternal God; you have protected me in such a way that by the light of your presence I shall always find new roads and fulfilling answers to my yearnings.

Amen.

The Nazareth Home for God's Children

It is Thursday, January 2, 2014, and I am on the brink of a major life change.  Tomorrow I embark on a journey of a lifetime.  I am going to the Sang Village in Northern Ghana, Africa where a single woman is saving lives.  Sister Stan is a remarkable woman who built this orphanage for children who have been abandoned by their families.  Below is a video introducing you to her home.

As I journey to Africa with my good friend Paula Radel, I invite you to virtually join me.  I will do my best to illustrate for you what life is like there, and I hope to challenge you to make a difference in our world.  So, here's to us, as we journey together.  May God bless you and touch your heart through these beautiful children.