Our 2nd and 3rd Day of Work...June 17th and 18th

Hello again everyone!!! I hope that your week is going well. We have had a full two days, and I have lots to tell you. Tuesday, we casted numerous individuals for legs and Randy began work on the Above Knee amputees for this year’s trip. Jim Mac continued training James (one of the clinic’s prosthetic technicians) on casting legs and recognizing bone structures, while I filmed. Kraig plowed away at fitting individuals with legs and making adjustments on old patients. Papa (Jim Parker) and Drew continued to build many shelves, benches, and other furniture for the clinic, while Mamie and myself organized and did anything and everything that needed to be done. Mom continued to run errands, with my help, and Olivia wasn’t feeling very well and stayed at the hotel for the day. Dad kept supervising and making sure things were running smoothly. It was wonderful to see the clinic begin to take a new shape and color. Mom, Olivia, when she felt better, Alfred, and I went shopping for yellow paint, curtains, and fans for the clinic. The clinic finally has a beautiful new coat of paint, new ceiling fans, and pretty curtains. Drew and Papa have finished many shelves and benches, and many people have been fitted for legs and will receive them next week. Tuesday was a very exciting day and a very long one, but we all did it and accomplished many things.

Today, Wednesday, June 18, the team split up. Dad, Mom, Grayson, Jim Mac, Randy, and Mr. Kodi (clinic director) traveled several hours up to the Volta region of Ghana. This region is north of where we are, and they traveled up to this region to visit another clinic that Ghana Health Services owns. The trip was a very good success. Randy casted one amputee and said things look promising. However, one thing will be a challenge and a blessing; the workers in the clinic know nothing about making legs since the clinic has been closed for quite some time. This is good and bad because they don’t know anything, but that means there won’t be any past experiences to get in the way. The Volta region trip went very well and it looks like Standing With Hope will begin to have another clinic in Ghana making state of the art prosthetic legs and sharing the great news about our Lord and Savior…Jesus Christ.

Meanwhile, Kraig, Papa, Drew, Mamie, Olivia, who is now feeling better, and I stayed at the clinic to continue work. We had A LOT of patients at the clinic. It got a little crazy, but everything was very exciting! Kraig was the only prosthetist and casted at least 10 people. Papa and Drew continue building shelves and other specialty organizing equipment for the clinic. Mamie was Kraig's right hand assistant throughout the day, taking information about every patient and helping the casting process. Olivia organized all the feet in the clinic by size in the stock room. I took pictures and did anything and everything that needed to be done. One incredibly moving event was when Kraig and Mamie casted a double amputee that was above the knee. Kraig had the man lay on a bench, to make the casting process easier, and the man began to cry. James, Kraig, Mamie, Olivia, Papa and other clinic workers wondered why and James asked him, “Why are you crying,” in his native language. The man then said, “Because I am going to be able to walk again.” Everybody there just broke down in tears and we were reminded once again of the wonderful work the Lord is doing, not only in our lives, but the lives we are helping here in Ghana. This ended a pretty spectacular Wednesday here in Ghana. I thank you all again for your support, thoughts and prayers. Can’t wait to talk to ya tomorrow!!

Lord Bless,

Parker

*If you would like to learn more about Standing With Hope and the work we are doing in Ghana, West Africa, click on the title of this blog, "Our 2nd and 3rd Day of Work...June 17th and 18th," or simply go to standingwithhope.com