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.
