No News

It has been awhile since we have posted anything. I suppose "no news is good news," right? Most of the volunteers are clearing out before the holidays. It will be a busier time in some ways for Joel and Earl that way. We are always thankful for those who come to work for whatever amount of time they can give.

The seasons have changed. The rainy season is gone. The dry season is here in its place. This brings in the Harmattan. I've copied this from a website. Here is the reference if you want more info.

The Harmattan is a seasonal wind which blows across Northwestern Africa every year from November through March, at intermittent strengths. This wind has become famous with visitors to the area, who often struggle with Harmattan conditions, and residents often speak ill of it, since it can interrupt commerce and daily life for days. However, the Harmattan also has a pleasant side; it pushes the hot weather of summer away, introducing a note of cool breeze into this notoriously hot region of the world.

This famous wind blows from North to South, working its way across the Sahara to the Gulf of Guinea. Along the way, it tends to pick up sand and dust, turning into a very drying, dusty wind. When the Harmattan really gets going, the dust can create a cloudy haze which can sometimes intensify into an actual sandstorm. Visitors to the area have been taking note of the Harmattan since at least the 17th century, when the word “Harmattan” entered the English language.

“Harmattan,” incidentally, appears to come from the Twi language of Ghana. Some people have suggested that it may be related to the Arabic word haram, which means forbidden. In any case, when the dust in this wind gets thick enough, it can bring life to a halt, as people cannot travel outside to trade or socialize. Harmattan winds have also notoriously interrupted flight schedules and caravans across the Sahara.

When the Harmattan is more mild, it can create a delicate haze which looks almost like smog. Much like smog, the Harmattan haze can look strangely beautiful, especially at dawn and dusk, when the light captures the particles in the air, creating a strangely diffused look. This seasonal wind can also cause dramatic weather conditions, when it interacts with other winds and weather systems. Harmattan winds can even cross the Atlantic; dust from the Sahara has been reported in the Americas after a particularly brisk Harmattan.

Back to Hollie: There are things are like about both seasons. During the dry season, there are not nearly as many bugs around, towels dry much faster, the nights and early mornings are much cooler (temps get anywhere from 78 down to 50 degrees F during this season), the roads do not have as many large potholes, and there are not as many clumps of dirt tracked into the house.

The downside of the dry season is that dust covers everything in the house; our skin, hair, nose, eyes, and nails get incredibly dry; the winds blow the doors inside our house open and closed while some are sleeping; the leaves that provide shade are mostly off the trees; daytime temps increase; and the dirt roads develop bumpy ridges.

Joel has what he believes is his first case of malaria. He is starting to feel better but has been very tired.

I will try to post new pics when I can. I need to take a few first!

Christmas Cards!!!!!

We would LOVE to receive your Christmas cards. If you would like to send us one, here is the address:

BMC
Box 50
Nalerigu via Gambaga
N R Ghana

We are doing fine and miss you all so. We have a few Christmas decorations up and try to play Christmas music at the house when we can to get in the spirit of Christmas. It is not as hard to do this in the heat of Africa the 2nd time around. Last year it seemed even stranger to celebrate Christmas in the heat. This year, our spirits are willing!

New Family Photos

Nalerigu happenings

We have had some things happen here in Nalerigu. We thought we would kind of keep quiet so as not to alarm anyone as we have felt completely safe during the events. However, enough folks seem to be finding out about them during this internet age so we'll share some of the details as we know them.

Last Thursday night, Alando, a very well respected man in the community and the one in charge of the business end of the pharmacy was murdered near his home in Nalerigu. It seems he was shot by a AK47 type rifle which are usually not found here in Nalerigu. He was brought to the hospital where Matt our visiting surgery resident and a visiting Cardiovascular surgeon tried valiantly to resuscitate him, but were unable to do so.

Alando had recently been to Accra to buy medicine and supplies for the pharmacy, we saw him there with the hospital truck as it was being loaded with hospital supplies for the return trip here. The prime suspect in the murder, falsely and maliciously spread rumors that Alando was buying guns to supply fighters in Bawku. There has been fighting in Bawku, about a 2hr drive from here, but the fighting has never spread from that area. The fighting has been between the Mamprusi, main tribe in this area, and Kusasi, main tribe in Bawku area. Alando had been born in Nalerigu and lived here his entire life. His parents were of the Kusasi tribe but he had remained completely out of the conflict. It seems the prime suspect, the one who spread the rumors, was able to hire someone to kill Alando. We mourn for his family.

Some of the hospital workers are concerned that the violence could spread but we pray that is not the case. We feel safe and want to reassure everyone that things are under control. The Ghana police and military have had a large presence here since the incident and have things under control. The prime suspect has been caught and we pray that any others involved will be caught as well.

Because people are mourning the loss of Alando, we have suspended clinic and elective surgical cases and are only taking care of emergency cases until the funeral occurs.

We appreciate your prayers for continued Peace in the area, that folks will not try and take justice in their own hands but will let the authorities do their jobs, and that the love of Christ will somehow shine forth in the midst of this.

Blessings, joel

The Girls

Annaleigh (Oct 24)

The Boys' Volcano

Mommy & The Girls

The Girls (Oct 17)

Joel & Hollie

Nagbo Village Church

We visited Nagbo Village church, down the road 5 miles or so from Nalerigu. I know one of the elders there and he asked us to come. Didn't know that we would be celebrities when we got there, they had us sit up front and told me I was preaching ( I didn't know until we showed up). I had been reading a book by Francis Chan called "Crazy Love" about the love of God so I talked about his love for us. The ten seconds or so to interpret helped give me time to think of what to say next. Neat to share God's word with our neighbors.

Nagbo Village Church

Address for Christmas Cards!

Some of you have asked about our address to send Christmas cards. It is very encouraging for us to hear from folks at home. Here is the address:
Dickens
BMC
Box 50
Nalerigu via Gambaga
GHANA/NR

Daddy & Daughter (Oct 8)

medical post: joel

I haven't had a chance to write lately. The combination of having a newborn baby, malaria season and Dr. Failes departure have all led to being very busy. Rainy season is coming to a close soon. We were blessed with rains which helped the crops and hopefully give enough sustenance for the people to make it to next rainy season. With the rains come mosquitoes, with mosquitoes come malaria. The hospital has mostly been full the last few months. The pediatric unit has 40 beds and that is often not enough and at times there may be as many as twenty patients also on the floor. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to have several pediatric deaths a day from malaria. We were blessed to have a visiting pediatrician, our first doctor to come from World Medical Mission (a branch of Samaritan's purse). He was a retired pediatrician from Delaware who spends time volunteering at mission hospitals. In addition, to the adults and children with malaria, medical patients we see may have pneumonia, hypertension, strokes, meningitis or asthma. Snakebites are also common. Some days we may have 5 or so patients admitted after having been bitten by poisonous snakes. Fortunately, the anti-venom is usually very effective. The most common bites are from a Cobra and a Carpet Viper. The Carpet Viper can be quite aggressive and has been known to bite people as they sleep outside of their huts. Fortunately, the watchmen on the hospital compound seem to do a good job of killing the snakes that wander into the compound. They also are good at killing the large rats that wander around at night, providing some much needed protein in a diet that consists mostly of carbohydrates from ground yams, corn and millet. One of our patients had a wound that needed healing. Matt, our surgery resident, counseled the patient's mother about sources of protein to help the wound heal. The mother was proud to say that the child did get protein in the form of one egg a day. The chickens here don't get as much to eat as American chickens, so I would guess he gets the equivalent protein of 1/2 american egg a day. Some patients of course, don't get that much.

Our most common surgeries are probably C'sections, hernia repairs (inguinal, incisional, umbilical and others), small bowel perforations from typhoid fever, and perforated peptic ulcers. We see a rare case of appendicitis. Two nights ago we did a Csection in a patient with failure to progress in labor and severe abdominal pain. She had a large amount of pus in her abdomen and some necrotic bowel requiring resection and anastomosis of small bowel. It's kind of like a box of chocolates here, you never know what you might find.
blessings, joel

The more com

Why We're Here

A patient came into the hospital a few months back, 6 or so months pregnant and with a severe infection of her leg which ate away much of the tissue of her leg similar to the "flesh eating bacteria". We were not sure she would live, but through the care of mostly Dr. Faile and our visiting surgery resident, Dr. Matt Jones, she got her wound cleaned up and skin grafts to most of her leg. She delivered a premature baby that initially failed to thrive, but survived and did well. She finally got to go home after several months in the hospital. Prior to her departure, Dr. Hewitt, who is extremely fluent in the local languages and one of the hospital chaplains, had a chance to visit with the patient and her mother. The patient and her mother put their faith in Christ as their savior prior to their leaving the hospital. Times like those remind us of why we came here, to give hope to a hurting world.

At the Hewitt's House

Around the Hospital

Colt the Hurdle Jumper

At Home

Colt & Annaleigh Early in the Morning

View From Our House During Rainy Season

New Dress-Sept 27

Update

We like hearing back from you all about our posts. Several of you have commented either on the blog or by email about our recent photos and videos. Thank you! We are doing well. It is nice to have Annie Zesch here with us. She is currently helping us out at the house with the kids some, as well as spending time at the hospital. She seems to enjoy being up there.

Several people have asked us about this, so I thought it would be good to post about it. It is possible we will be coming home in either June or July of 2010. This is just a few months short of what we originally thought our stay here in Ghana would be. Once we arrived here in Ghana, we found out more about the schedules of the other doctors here. George and Elisabeth Faile believed it was time for them to retire after so many years of tireless service. They left a few weeks ago. Dr. Faile was the other full time dr besides Joel who performed surgery.

The other full time dr, Earl Hewitt (Family Practice) will be leaving for furlough the summer of 2010. We are praying about if we should stay past their time here, but are strongly considering leaving when they do since there are no other full time doctors here. Certainly the needs of the people here are on our minds. The last dr who was here alone for a prolonged period of time was beyond busy. The hospital services a population that would normally have at least 200 drs seeing to their needs at home in the states.

There are several volunteer drs in and out of the hospital here. Some for a week, others for several months. We are always thankful for their help and enjoy their company, as well. Currently, there is a surgery resident and his wife, Matt & Megan Jones, as well as a nurse practitioner, Amy Elrod, among others.

So, we would appreciate your prayers as this is an even busier time for Joel at the hospital. And also that we would have clear direction for when to go home. I'd also like to hear more about specific ministries outside the home the Lord wants me to be a part of while here. While it is starting to get hotter, I am no longer pregnant and would like to be a part of anything the Lord might have for me to do.

Abigail's Birthday Video

Baby Stroller African-Style

We use this baby cushion with a net for Annaleigh right now to help protect her from mosquitos (who pass on malaria). She likes to be outside.

Daddy with the Kids-Sept. 24

Dickens and Failes-Sept 24

First Baptist Church of Nalerigu Recognizes George & Elisabeth Faile

Annaleigh-Two Months Old

Sept 11-Birthday Girl

Two Girls in African Dresses-Sept 10

Insdie & Outside Our House (Early Sept.)

Sept 2

Annaleigh 5 Weeks Old (August 28)

Corn Eaters! (End of August)

Abigail-Early Summer

August 18

Colt Enjoying a Snack (August 16)

Lots Going On

There are many thoughts that come to mind to share when I think of posting on our blog. We are doing well. It is so nice to have Annie here. Naturally, she's so good with the kids. We are all enjoying her for many reasons. I'm enjoying getting to share and visit with her. Colt enjoys having her around to talk to and do things with, as do Abigail and Annaleigh. Annie pitches in wherever she sees a need she can meet. We are praying with her that the Lord will use her in ministry during her time here.

This last weekend was a time to remember all George & Elisabeth Faile have done through ministry here in Nalerigu over the years. They will be leaving very soon for the states as they look toward retirement from the mission field here in West Africa. "Finishing well" is definitely something they have done here. We have enjoyed getting to know them and feel we are just beginning to know all there is to know about them. George grew up here in Nalerigu and was part of the first group of people baptized at the First Baptist Church of Nalerigu. I cannot begin to imagine what it will be like for both George and Elisabeth to leave after all these years of faithful ministry. The Lord has called them out of Ghana, though, so it is time to say "Goodbye." We will miss them more than we can say.

I have thought more again lately about how the other missionaries on the mission field are so likely to see our shortcomings so quickly. This includes not only long-term missionaries, but also the volunteers who are here for much shorter times, as well. The mission field seems to be a place where the Lord can easily reveal places He still needs to work in us.

Early on when arriving in Ghana, Joel and I had talked about having a family worship night. We did this rarely when I was pregnant, but are now doing this each week or so. Tonight while we worshipped with "Alabaster Jar" from Gateway Worships's "Wakeup the World" cd, the Lord was with us. He revealed strongly to me in a personal way that it is through our weakness that He is strong. When those around me see my sin, He can shine through me that much more. He will continue to perfect and complete that which He has begun.

Colt's 8th Birthday

We had a sports birthday party for Colt over the summer. It's so hard to believe he is 8 years old now!

Abigail & The Smoothie (Early Summer?)

We are back online-praise the Lord! I have learned how to get videos from the camera onto the computer. So look for more videos to come. It is nice to feel like learning some of these things now that I'm no longer pregnant.

We are excited that Annie Zesch will be arriving this week to stay for several months. She plans to minister to the Ghanian children possibly through VBS-type materials, but will see how the Lord leads once she arrives. We will love having her here!

More videos, photos, and posts to come.

Out of Touch

We have been largely out of touch for over two weeks now. Things don't seem to be changing anytime soon, either. It seems the cell tower near us has likely been damaged, so cell coverage anywhere near us is not good at all right now. And our internet has been down for awhile, as well. We have figured out how to use our own mac at the internet cafe here in town, when the cafe has internet service and electricity! So, this is just to let you know that we are fine. I have many new photos and some video, too, to post as soon as we are able.

Annaleigh (August 11)

Colt's New Bow & Arrows

Memaw's Visit

Proud Big Brother

Annaleigh (August 5) Two Weeks Old

Abigail Backing Her Baby

Abigail likes to carry her baby on her back as the women do here in Ghana. She's a good little momma!

It's our 14th anniversary today! The time has flown by, for sure. And it doesn't look like things will slow down anytime soon, which is just fine! Our young kids will keep us young, right!?

I'm looking over school curriculum for Colt this week. We will start school next week. Things are going well. Abigail and I had a colt a week or so ago. Now it looks like Joel is getting it. Pray he'll feel better soon.

I will post new photos soon. It has been nice to have Mauriene here. She leaves early Tuesday morning. Joel will take her to the airport three hours away in Tamale. Then she will fly to Accra. Then on to NY on Wednesday. We will miss Memaw lots when she is gone. The time has gone by quickly! We are glad Papa Don has let her stay here this long! Thank you, Papa Don! :)

Annaleigh is doing well. We are all adjusting to having another precious baby in the family. I am starting to look at Colt's school curriculum for next year. We will start school in a week or so. Can you believe we have been here 10 months now? Abigail will turn two next month. Then in October we will have been here a year. That is really hard to believe. We sure miss all of you and so many aspects of home.

Colt & Annaleigh-July 26

Annaleigh 5 Days Old-July 25

Brother/Sister Bond Getting Even Stronger

Here's Colt reading a bedtime story to a tired Abigail one night this week.

Joel is Blessed

I haven't posted in a while. Kind of been busy with my patient Hollie and beautiful wife Hollie's pregnancy. She began having contractions around 31 weeks. We prayed at our mission station meeting for her to wait and deliver at full term. Hollie showed so much strength and faith in the Lord during her pregnancy and delivery. We are so thankful to the Lord for blessing us with a healthy and full term Annaleigh Faith. She has a sweet disposition. Her sister Abigail loves to hold her. Colt also adores her. We appreciate your prayers and messages of support so much, blessings, joel.

Well, Annaleigh must have read my post from yesterday. She decided to sleep all night last night! Daddy says she is too young to not get in a feeding or two, so I did wake her up for those and she went right back to sleep! Let's keep that up, right?

Welcome to the world and our family, little Annaleigh Faith! This photo was taken late morning the day after she was born. She was born at 6:45 p.m. on July 20, 2009. She was 6 lbs, 10 oz. We are thrilled to have her. She is a healthy little girl. According to Ghanian tradition, when babies stay awake at night (and sleep during the day) they are looking after their mothers. Annaleigh is doing great with that! :)

Colt and Abigail both adore her. Abigail loves holding her and gets upset when we take her away from her again. She even loved her little newborn cry. Abigail loves to go on walks with Daddy. Joel was about to take her on one this afternoon and Abigail started crying real tears because she didn't want to leave Annaleigh. "Baby, baby..." It was so sweet. Colt has helped so much, of course. He is a wonderful eight-year-old big brother. Thanks so much for your prayers.

4th of July Baseball Game