Leah Chapin

No Bio

July 10, 2007

It is really difficult for me to grasp the idea that I have spent six weeks at Baptist Medical Center.  Even more difficult is the reality that I will be leaving it tomorrow morning.  I have said a lot of goodbyes today.  One of the hardest was when I said goodbye to my little twins, Asena and Fusena.  It has been such a long process with them, warming them up.  They started out with crying and shrinking away from David and I, and today, as we left them for the last time, both of them had their arms stretched out towards us.  Those two sweet babies gave us a much needed way to break away from the sadness we witnessed every day in the hospital, and for that I am very grateful.

Another person I am lamenting over the loss of is dear, dear, sweet Elisabeth.  This wonderful woman was thoughtful of my every need, including the needs that I could not even think of myself!  Though we will be apart, my memories of Elisabeth will forever be my mentor, teaching me endurance and patience, and the deep-seated love it takes to care for and comfort a man under great pressure.  This morning I was able to accompany her to a woman’s bible study that is held at First Baptist Church of Nalerigu.  It was a group of about 12 women who meet weekly to pray, read the bible, and then pray some more.  Our study today was over a verse in Psalm 27; it was a gentle reminder for me to make my desire to “dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life”.  That is such a simple mindset, but also one that is very challenging to maintain in our world, where tangible things are much more alluring.  One woman who came had a child on her back, and I didn’t really think much of it until prayer time.  She tearfully requested that we pray for her and this child.  She had been caring for this child’s mother, but the mother had died, and now she was caring for the child along with her six other children.  To top it off, on the ride home Elisabeth told me that her husband beats her and doesn’t provide anything for the family.  Many of the other women in the study face similar problems in their family.  Through Elisabeth’s ministry, she has created a way for these women to minister to one another in prayer, support, and fellowship.

Looking over the past couple of blogs, I realized that it would be easy for all of you reading to think that my journey here has been saturated with sadness.  There have been many sad things that I have witnessed here, but I want you to know that there have been a lot of joyful times here too.  Just today, there was a large group of children waiting at the house when we got back from the hospital.  Instead of moping around with the kids, it was suggested that we play frisbee.  And after playing frisbee for a while, it was further suggested that we play ultimate frisbee.  What an exquisite suggestion!  I had never played ultimate and neither had any of the African kids.  They picked it up really quickly, and impressed me with their competitive nature and ability to incorporate strategy in the game.  I haven’t really worked out for about a month and half and I was a sweaty, dirty mess (correction–I am a dirty, sweaty mess).

So, usually when I say goodbye to local people for the night, I can leave saying, “Bio, bio” which means tomorrow.  But I had to keep myself from saying it today.  I am excited to experience more of Ghana, but melancholy to leave BMC.  Tomorrow morning David, Joshua, and I hit the red dirt roads of Africa, to travel to Tamale, then to Kumasi, and ending in Accra on Saturday.  I will have limited access until then, but look for more posts starting Saturday.

Love you, miss you.