We were able to raise the necessary funds for GN’s surgery! (For protective purposes, we will refer to him as GN.) He is being admitted today, with surgery scheduled for later this week. Thank you to those who faithfully gave to help to SAVE his life. On behalf of our sweet GN’s life – we are asking, pleading for those around us to pray every day over the next two weeks at 1:11pm Ghana Time (which would be 9:11am EST, 8:11am CST, etc.). Will you join us? If you plan to join us, will you please reply with a comment. Thanks!
Few Details:
Will you join ONE Step In Faith, to pray for our FIRST rescued little ONE…at 1:11pm each day? We welcome prayers all day, any day, every day, all the time! However, we are specifically requesting if you would make a deliberate pledge to pray during this specific time each day over the next two weeks – through July 1st We know God has a plan (Jeremiah 29:11) for GN's life. Like the story of the man lowered in through the roof of the house to Jesus, we are lowering GN in, on his behalf, on behalf of his family, and on behalf of all "spirit children", that through this they come to know Him, and to Glorify His name that GN be healed. We come together each day as one voice.
We are specifically and currently asking for prayer regarding GN’s surgery, continued healing, and for his family. Also, continued prayer for those involved in his care, Grandma, Dave/Ellen, local missionaries, doctors, nurses, and many others currently helping and to come.
Who is GN? What is his story, and how is he a part of our lives? Will you walk with me as I travel back to where this journey started? Well, maybe not where it started, how about to February 2012.
February 2012: Cultivating the soil…
In February 2012, God had been clear we were called to lead a team back to Ghana, which we had tentatively planned for early 2013. In these months before our departure, God had pushed us out of our comfort zones to launch One Step In Faith, the team was faced with conflict, fundraising trials, and even in the last hours before our plane was set to depart there were difficulties obtaining visas for the team. And yet, despite these hardships, there were many more signs revealing we were to go to Ghana – we were to go in February 2013. We believed our long-term work in Ghana was primarily going to be focused on rescue, rehabilitation, and restoration of trafficked children off Lake Volta and this February trip would also serve as an opportunity to see where God was leading our new ministry. However, due to God orchestrated events, our plans to return to Lake Volta were not possible for this team. Because this was ½ of our trip agenda, we were seeking where God would have us go instead. It was because of this, we were led to travel to an area of northern Ghana, Bolgatanga, to work with an amazing local woman and her rescued children. Through friends at our church, we had been requested to visit and spend time with this extraordinary woman and her minsitry with children. We had been told several of her children were, “Spirit Children”. And so, weeks before our departure while doing some research on “Spirit Children”, we had stubbled across a recently published, shocking undercover documentary film by a local Ghanaian journalist on this very topic. This publication shared the horrendous fate of innocent children in the hands of ancient customs and traditions, nothing short of infanticide. In a portion of the world where poverty is prevalent and indigenous beliefs and practices are common, indefinite number of children, mostly disabled, are murdered each year. It is believed they are in some way possessed by evil spirits, and will bring illness, bad luck, or even death to the family or village from which they live. This journalist was able to assist in the very first arrests of local witch doctors facilitating these judgments and killings.
With agenda finalized (well penciled in agenda, that is), and a plan to seek God's direction for One Step In Faith, our team of 7 people were ready.
We arrived in Ghana February 15, 2013. And, although there are many important and divine details of the days after our arrival, it is the time in Bolga I want to discuss.
(Pictures below include 2013 Team, Dave/Ellen - in country missionaries, time in Aninkroma, but more specifically GN when taken to home for babies, and at his recent CT Scan. The picture of Karen's bday was at Laadi's house! :) What a great 60th!)
Friday, February 22, 2013: God reveals One Step In Faith’s first rescue…
As we were nearing the tail end of our time in Ghana we traveled to Bolgatanga to meet, spend time with, and pour into Mama Laadi and her rescued children. While we were there, Laadi’s home was in such need of some basic maintenance, and so Eric instantly went to work. As repairs were under way and children were in school, Laadi sat with us ladies and shared her testimony, rescue stories of children in her home, and about her support programs. It was during this time we learned, although she was aware of the issues of “Spirit Children” in Northern Ghana, she had not rescued any herself. I had shared about the recent publication we watched online, about the concerns of infanticides, and the plead for the government involvement which led to first ever arrests. Laadi agreed disabled children were rare in northern Ghana, as the communities through these traditions had found “other ways” of handling them, as she put it. This was the first she had heard of the documentary and arrests, and requested we send her more information upon our return to the states. As the day progressed, the ladies and I prepared a little project with children and the men continued to work on the house projects, including preparing a list for the following day’s continued repairs. In order to retrieve necessary supplies before dark, we arranged to leave Laadi’s at 530p. It was 527p and I was searching for Laadi to greet her goodbye, share an update on the repairs on her home, and discuss the next day’s plans. I found her outside, talking to a man, who could have been anyone to us – but was a local villager seeking help with his “spirit child” grandchild. Over the next 24 hours, the Lord would begin to unfold a large piece of His plan for our journey to Ghana that year.
The local watchman had referred this man and his family to Mama Laadi because they don’t want their grandchild, abandoned by their daughter & son in-law (child’s parents). They believe the child wanted to kill his mother. The baby was not well and he could not hold up his head, crying all night long. The hospital ran tests and told them they could not help. So, seeking answers, the family went to a Soothsayer (witch doctor who speaks to the spirits) who told them, the baby was trying to kill the mother by drinking the mother’s blood while taking milk when breastfed. The Soothsayer further stated despite the news of the recent arrests, and the fact concoction men were in hiding from practicing, this family and village needed to do something or the baby would kill them all. So, the family began starving the baby. Yet, he didn’t die. (It is uncertain how long they had stopped feeding him, before seeking outside help.) But, on that first day, standing before us, the grandfather told Mama Laadi (us), if the government is not allowing these things (concoction) for the spirit children, then they should take them. It was clear; he wanted nothing to do with the poor boy. Unfortunately, Laadi did not have resources to take on a fully disabled child, and was seconds from sending the man away, until I walked up to say goodbye. In those moments as time was unfolding, the man’s story was being revealed, Laadi and I both felt the Lord pushing – save this boy. With the support and confirmation through all of the team, we headed to the home to see the baby boy, who we’ll call GN. GN had malaria, was malnourished, and dehydrated. At 18 months, he weighed about 10lbs. As Eric held him, limp and expressionless with mouth drooped open, you could see his skin gathered around his belly. You could probably pull the skin up about an inch, from the lack of food and fluids. There was no way, no way we could walk away from this and not do something. So, I said, what do we need to do? I did occur to me in the first few seconds before I spoke those words to Laadi, when I say “we” I am really saying “me”. And, in those few seconds, it also occurred to me Troy and I agreed we wanted a board of directors to help us remain realistic in our ability to achieve what our hearts desire felt pulled to accomplish. And yet, I saw this boy dying. And, I remembered something I read by a young woman working in Africa – her explanation of scripture to love others as you love yourself. “Myself doesn’t want to be hungry…” Well, “myself” doesn’t want to starve to death, myself doesn’t want MY children to be discarded, starved to death or murdered. And, so…I said, “what do we need to do?” Before leaving Ghana, we had placed GN in hiding at a Catholic home for babies, about an hour out of town. We had arranged for the grandmother to stay with him, which she agreed for fear she would be arrested for having participated in the condition of baby GN.
From our return to states – April 2013: Passing time in GN’s rehabilitation
During these months of GN growing stronger, eating and recuperating from malaria, the balance between fear of the “spirit child” stigma and knowing this child is sponsored by people in the US led to continued extortion from the sisters at the home for babies. We needed to find another, better, solution for baby GN. Through a series of events, arrangements were made for a full-time (24/7) caregiver about ¼ mile from Laadi’s home to take in GN temporarily and care for him, with our continued support. The grandmother was no longer required to continue to help. Doctors were on strike, with nurses and pharmacists likely to join, and so we were in a holding pattern to have GN’s condition assessed.
May 2013: Promise of hope…
Although doctors were still on strike, however GN was able to see a private practice pediatrician. It was at this visit, with Grandmother present; we learned she had been staying at the caregiver’s home helping often to care for GN. Although we didn’t completely understand, it was evident she wanted to help provide for his care. The pediatrician shared GN was in good health, except for his obvious disability. It was believed he had a congenital issue, likely cerebral palsy. The doctor shared, a CT Scan would be required, along with an appointment with a Neurosurgeon, all of which would have to wait for the strike to end. Grandmother appeared very happy to know we were in search of answers.
The VERY NEXT day, the strike was over. It was unbelievable. Arrangements were made for GN to travel to Tamale (2.5 hr drive) with our in country missionaries, Dave/Ellen Bartlett, and Grandmother for his Neurosurgeon and CT Scan appointments.
June 2013: Promise of hope AND A FUTURE…
The appointment with the Neurosurgeon left us rejoicing! We would have thanked God, even if the news was not as miraculous, but it doesn’t change the fact we were rejoicing in the miracles of GN’s diagnosis. He doesn’t have cerebral palsy, he has hydrocephalus. Basically they said, there are three prong like portions in the center of the brain. A normal brain has small/narrow ventricles vs. GN’s brain had very large ventricles. To try and understand how majorly different the brains are – it is like difference between POND and a LAKE when you compare difference in size. You know? The idea is the excess fluid needs to be drained off so the brain can expand and grow. This requires a shunt. This treatment has a VERY good prognosis; most children attain normal intelligence with few or no physical limitations. In some cases a degree of neurological impairment may remain, such as a learning disability. But, if the condition is untreated, it is debilitating and eventually lethal (50-60% of cases end in death according to almost all the medical websites I found online). Prolonged delay in treatment, however, particularly in children, will cause irreversible brain damage. So, right now, we don’t know what type of damage has been done thus far. Any damage already done, outside of God’s hand, is not repairable. But, from the point in time the doctors insert the shunt and there is fluid reduction …GN’s chances of a normal life increase substantially! Hallelujah!
Next steps – raise $2,000 initially to cover the surgery and expenses. More expenses might follow, as continued prescriptions, therapies, and appointments will be likely required. But, for his life saving – life giving surgery – it would cost $2,000. I shared with Troy, it hurts. If this was in the states, the children would have already been in surgery – immediately. But, in Ghana, we have to have cash up front. In Ghana, insurance doesn’t cover these expensive procedures.
We learned Grandmother had taken over 100% of GN’s care. Due to the sensitivity of his condition, stigma, and other details, she felt more comfortable being completely responsible for providing his care and protection. Love was forming for this sweet boy.
And, then…the unexpected. Let me say up front, God is good all the time. All the time God is good. Even in times where we don't understand, or are faced with adversity, God is ALWAYS good...his ways are ALWAYS the best ways. Jesus Calling devotion earlier in the week was a great one for this particular day…"I AM INVOLVED in each moment of your life. I have carefully mapped out every inch of your journey through this day, even though much of it may feel haphazard. Because the world is in a fallen condition, things always seem to be unraveling around the edges. Expect to find trouble in this day. At the same time, trust that My way is perfect, even in the midst of such messy imperfection.
Stay conscious of Me as you go through this day, remembering that I never leave your side. Let the Holy Spirit guide you step by step, protecting you from unnecessary trials and equipping you to get through whatever must be endured. As you trudge through the sludge of this fallen world, keep your mind in heavenly places with Me. Thus the Light of My presence shines on you, giving you Peace and Joy that circumstances cannot touch.
Psalms 18:30; Isaiah 41:13”
We received upsetting news about GN, Friday, June 7th. Grandfather had unexpectedly arrived at the home where Grandma and GN were living, he had found them. While Grandmother was outside doing laundry, GN let out a cry. She ran inside to find Grandfather abusing him. Obviously the issue of "spirit child” has not been resolved. Grandma was able to rescue GN from Grandfather’s grip, and fled to Laadi’s waiting for Dave/Ellen to come and assess the situation. Because of this incident and combined with the fear of "spirit child", Grandma must leave the place she is staying within 4 days. The lady who lives and owns the home Grandma is staying at has now demanded she leave. Arrangements had been made; new temporary arrangements had been made to provide a safe place for them both. However, the night before they were to move the two into a new home, Grandma received word from the village – Grandfather was angry and was coming to kill GN. In fear for his life, she packed all her belongings and left them with the night watchman at Laadi’s sharing she would be back soon, and she fled into the bush towards her family’s village (in hiding).
Monday, June 13th, 2013 – Grandmother and GN had arrived back safely, and were relocated through the One Step In Faith/Dave & Ellen Bartlett Witness Protection Program of Bolgatanga. J We learned, during the unexpected visit the week prior, Grandfather told her to either give up the baby to him (to kill) and come home, or he was finished with her and she wouldn't have access to her children. (We learned she had three minor children still living at home.) Oh Gosh, what a dilemma. I suppose, she knew her children were cared for, and so instead of thinking of her feelings - she protected this boy. She did what the bible asks us to do...forsake all others - to stand in the gap for the helpless, hopeless, vulnerable...she is an amazing, gentle, strong woman. And, she has shown us what an absolutely blessing she is to this boy and his life.
“I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out–plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed. I’ll turn things around for you…You can count on it.”
Yesterday, Dave/Ellen and local missionary contacts were planning to visit and share about GNs progress and diagnosis and hopeful future with Grandfather, in hopes of restoring GNs family.
Today GN will be admitted into the hospital. His surgery is not scheduled until later in the week, but preliminary admitting, testing, and miscellaneous preparations are required prior to surgery. He will be in the hospital, just short of two weeks.
On behalf of our sweet GN’s life – we are asking, pleading for those around us to pray each day over the next two weeks at 11:11am. Will you join ONE Step In Faith, to pray for our FIRST rescued little ONE…at 11:11am each day? We welcome prayers all day, any day, all the time! But, if you would make a deliberate pledge to pray for our GN’s surgery, continued healing, and family. For those involved in his care, Grandma, Dave/Ellen, local missionaries, doctors, nurses, and many others currently and to come.
Stay tuned on this blog for continued updates, as we receive them.
It's on my calendar for every day at 9:11 AM ET. Thank you for serving Him so faithfully!
ReplyDelete