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Update 44
Ghana feedback, friends and babies
Hello to all!
We have some great feedback from Ghana in this update... enjoy!
* GHANA'S 'SPIRIT BABIES'
* TARA AND CAIUS VISITING
* ANOTHER CROSSROADS BABY
_______________________
GHANA'S 'SPIRIT BABIES'
_______________________
There's a part of rural Ghana, West Africa, where you don't want to be a baby boy that cries more than is normal. Or a small girl whose parents die suddenly. Or a little boy born with a hare lip or some other defect. If you are, chances are that your fellow villagers will think you are a 'kinkirgo', or spirit baby: an evil presence that is trying to infiltrate the village. About 5% of children in this region are killed by their neighbours or relatives, in accordance with the belief in kinkirgo.
We wrote last year about an orphanage in Ghana that takes in these 'kinkirgo' babies to save them from being poisoned or beaten to death (you can read the story of Joe, one of the orphans, here - http://www.matt-ad.com/news/news37.htm). They requested a container of goods from Crossroads to help them care for the babies and children that are given to them.
That container arrived recently! We had the most beautiful feedback letter from one of the nurses. Sorry, this next part will be a little long but we wanted to include quite a few of the quotes from the letter. We have also posted some of the photos we received back from the home on our website ( http://www.matt-ad.com/photos/ghana/index.htm ):
"I write on behalf of the Babies' Home to convey our gratitude to you for your donation of the items most needed by the Home.
"Since the arrival of those items, life has never been the same at the Home. The excitement of the older children jumping on the bicycles to have fun when they return from school, the beds (replacing the old and broken beds, now provide some comfort for the babies, the clothing, the footwear, the wireless sets and tape recorders, the TV sets etc. All these have brought some comfort to the Home.
"Infant milk supply was running short in the Home, the milk donated was timely, 'we are happy that we now have milk in large quantity, with this we can feed the babies and they will not cry again' (comment by one of the women caretakers).
"Children's toys are occupying their time with great excitement. Playing with the toys bring out their creative powers and this also spares the care-takers some time.
"During the distribution of the clothing there were smiles and laughter on the faces and mouths of the children and workers at the Home.
As you might have guessed from the letter above, the container included toys, milk powder, baby beds and cots, some educational supplies (including a cute little guitar, as one of the photos shows!) and baths. It's always incredible and exciting to our staff to see a piece of clothing, or a toy that their owns hands have touched, wrapped and packed, appearing in photos from far-off lands, particularly when they also see the joy-filled face of a person whose life will now be different because of that very thing!
_______________________
TARA AND CAIUS VISITING
_______________________
We've got some great friends here in Hong Kong. But there's something special about a visit from dear buddies from 'home' like Tara and Caius - it was a weekend that combined comfortable relaxation and frenetic sightseeing. The Christoes worked a day at Crossroads, helping renovate some apartments (little troopers that they are!), and on the other three days we managed to fit in plenty of activities at home and around Hong Kong.
Thanks Christoes, for an awesome visit! We hope the rest of the trip is spectacular.
_______________________
ANOTHER CROSSROADS BABY
_______________________
For those who know Kelly, she gave birth to a baby girl early Saturday morning. Little Angelica and Kelly are due to come home from hospital tonight, so we'll all get to meet her soon! Mother, baby and proud dad are all doing well.
With love and greetings to you all!
Matt & Ad
We have some great feedback from Ghana in this update... enjoy!
* GHANA'S 'SPIRIT BABIES'
* TARA AND CAIUS VISITING
* ANOTHER CROSSROADS BABY
_______________________
GHANA'S 'SPIRIT BABIES'
_______________________
There's a part of rural Ghana, West Africa, where you don't want to be a baby boy that cries more than is normal. Or a small girl whose parents die suddenly. Or a little boy born with a hare lip or some other defect. If you are, chances are that your fellow villagers will think you are a 'kinkirgo', or spirit baby: an evil presence that is trying to infiltrate the village. About 5% of children in this region are killed by their neighbours or relatives, in accordance with the belief in kinkirgo.
We wrote last year about an orphanage in Ghana that takes in these 'kinkirgo' babies to save them from being poisoned or beaten to death (you can read the story of Joe, one of the orphans, here - http://www.matt-ad.com/news/news37.htm). They requested a container of goods from Crossroads to help them care for the babies and children that are given to them.
That container arrived recently! We had the most beautiful feedback letter from one of the nurses. Sorry, this next part will be a little long but we wanted to include quite a few of the quotes from the letter. We have also posted some of the photos we received back from the home on our website ( http://www.matt-ad.com/photos/ghana/index.htm ):
"I write on behalf of the Babies' Home to convey our gratitude to you for your donation of the items most needed by the Home.
"Since the arrival of those items, life has never been the same at the Home. The excitement of the older children jumping on the bicycles to have fun when they return from school, the beds (replacing the old and broken beds, now provide some comfort for the babies, the clothing, the footwear, the wireless sets and tape recorders, the TV sets etc. All these have brought some comfort to the Home.
"Infant milk supply was running short in the Home, the milk donated was timely, 'we are happy that we now have milk in large quantity, with this we can feed the babies and they will not cry again' (comment by one of the women caretakers).
"Children's toys are occupying their time with great excitement. Playing with the toys bring out their creative powers and this also spares the care-takers some time.
"During the distribution of the clothing there were smiles and laughter on the faces and mouths of the children and workers at the Home.
As you might have guessed from the letter above, the container included toys, milk powder, baby beds and cots, some educational supplies (including a cute little guitar, as one of the photos shows!) and baths. It's always incredible and exciting to our staff to see a piece of clothing, or a toy that their owns hands have touched, wrapped and packed, appearing in photos from far-off lands, particularly when they also see the joy-filled face of a person whose life will now be different because of that very thing!
_______________________
TARA AND CAIUS VISITING
_______________________
We've got some great friends here in Hong Kong. But there's something special about a visit from dear buddies from 'home' like Tara and Caius - it was a weekend that combined comfortable relaxation and frenetic sightseeing. The Christoes worked a day at Crossroads, helping renovate some apartments (little troopers that they are!), and on the other three days we managed to fit in plenty of activities at home and around Hong Kong.
Thanks Christoes, for an awesome visit! We hope the rest of the trip is spectacular.
_______________________
ANOTHER CROSSROADS BABY
_______________________
For those who know Kelly, she gave birth to a baby girl early Saturday morning. Little Angelica and Kelly are due to come home from hospital tonight, so we'll all get to meet her soon! Mother, baby and proud dad are all doing well.
With love and greetings to you all!
Matt & Ad