I prepared an update to the blog yesterday at the Clinic and have now discovered things didn't quite work out as planned. There was quite a bit of fluctuation with power so perhaps we fell foul of that

 

Going back to Sunday we attended an ecumenical sevice in a village called Dompa which was supported by the local Churches. It lasted around 3 hours which was just a litte on the long side for me...please don't let me complain about the length of Brian or Winston's Services again

 

After the Service some members of the group went on a long walk to see the site for a new Church while others went back to base camp to relax - I'll leave it to you to decide which group I was in

 

Monday saw a full day on the site with the major focus still on the preparation for the floors to be laid and having been promoted to Quality Controller I was a bit shocked to discover that when I got to the location I was shovelling stones for the entire day. I was part of a Team of locals and we got a great system going very quickly

 

That was also the routine for Tuesday with the exception of a short break which I enjoyed to accomping some of our Teachers to a local School and that was a unique experience and we just couldn't believe the conditions in which the children were being taught. In spite of that they were bright, cheerful and gave us a great welcome and were so thankful for the gifts which the Team had brought

 

Yesterday  brought a choppy, wet and windy crossing to the Clinic but it wasn't long until the clouds had cleared and we were working happily under a clear blue sky

 

As this was the last day on site we organised things a little differently and had a late lunch to which the local workers and clinic staff were invited and that was quite a banquet with over 60 participating

 

Team memebers had agreed to leave some of their belonigings and it was very humbling to see the expressions on the faces of our co-workers when they were given our boots, tee shirts, shorts etc - actually it was quite a moving experience

 

The later part of the day was filled with mixed emotions as we reflected on the progress that had been made whilst at the same time having to say fsarwell to those with whom we'd worked so well

 

This morning we were on the road at 8.00am heading for the coast for two days of relaxtion before making the journey home. En route we visited an Orphanage  where Team members gave some items which we hope will help brighten the lives of the children there....at least for a short time

 

We are now at our destiniation, unpacking and preparing to unwind with bueatiful memories of our time at Lake Bosumtwe

 

My plan is to let you have a final update before we leave - meantime thank you again for all your messages of support which we have really apprecoated

 

Regards

 

Tom

 

On the way across the Lake to the Clinic this morning several members of the Team were remarking how quickly the trip is going – here we are Saturday 19^th July already – my Mums birthday and I’ve spoken to her earlier

 

It’s been a few days since I’ve had a chance to update the Blog so I think I need to go back to Wednesday

 

Before doing that may I mention that there are certain traditions in Ghana which Groups like ours observe and one of these is to visit the Bishop

 

This was planned for Wednesday and as we were making the trip to Kumasi some other activities were included to make it really worthwhile

 

These included a visit to the Village of Adanawanse which specialises in weaving and we witnessed the process at first hand

 

A tour of a wood carving village was interesting and together with a visit to the Cultural Centre it gave Team Members an opportunity to pick up mementos of the trip

 

An interesting stop that day was to the Awkasse Methodist Faith hospital and after noting the process for  dealing with patients said they would be more sympathetic to the Health Service at home in future

 

The Bishop received the Group warmly and was generous in his appreciation of the support the Irish Church had given to the Clinic at Lake Bosumtwe in terms of personnel and finance

 

I’m not sure if I’m supposed to mention that we had an excellent meal in a Chinese Restaurant before returning that evening

 

Thursday brought a packed programme of work on the site, two visits to the Chiefs of local villages and a visit to a nearby School

 

The Team was divided suitably to meet the various tasks and the appreciation of the visit by one of the Chiefs was acknowledged by the gift of a sheep – which appeared in the form of a stew yesterday

 

In addition he sent some women from the village to join the others on the site for a short time yesterday morning

 

The interaction with the local people is really good and they are most courteous and helpful – language permitting

 

Yesterday was a full day for everyone on the site and it was full steam ahead, building walls, knocking down walls, leveling floors for concreting to name but a few jobs and in the evening we were joined for dinner with 3 people with whom Dorothy & Philip worked at the Clinic almost 30 years ago

 

Today is another action packed day on the site with floors being laid and all the preparations that are needed for that Rodney and I are on kitchen duty today which means we prepare and serve morning coffee and lunch and of course all the clearing up that goes with it – individuals are selected carefully for specific taks so as to get maximum benefit from their talents!

 

I don’t see any sign of home sickness and am glad communications have enabled a reasonable level of contact with back home

 

The Team have asked me that thank everyone  for their continued support and interest – we are all thinking about you

 

Regards for now

 

Tom

 

It came as a slight shock to the technically minded members of the Team to discover that the foundations for part of the extension to the Clinic had not been prepared exactly to the plan we were working from. As it happens it wasn’t as bad as it first seemed and a little bit of picking and shoveling from some of the less technical members of the Team got things back on track

 

On Sunday morning we crossed the Lake and joined Church in Amakom about half way through the Service. Our reception was warm and friendly but the real Ghanaian welcome was saved for Dorothy & Philip who were remember by some people present

 

It was a lively service with a great atmosphere and sense of freedom and the Seymour Street tradition of clapping was extended to include dancing with ALL members of the Team taking part!

 

The Team also formed a choir and sang two pieces including  ‘We are marching in the name of the Lord’ so you can imagine how the dancing started

 

Yesterday, Monday was a long busy working day on the site with the first boat leaving for the Lake at 6.45am

 

Having prepared and trained carefully over the past six months the Team’s expertise and enthusiasm was evident as they have worked side by side with the local work Team and enormous progress was made – in fact Alex –the Director of Operations – had difficulty getting some people to leave the site to get back across the Lake before dark

 

The work programme agreed by local man Michael Bentum and Alex Moorehead is designed to maximize the resources of the Team for the duration of their visit and the anticipated benefit to the clinic and area is significant.

 

This morning the Team made its way to the Clinic early again and after sharing in the devotional time with Clinic staff – as it did yesterday – paid a formal visit to two local villages to meet their respective Chiefs

 

The first was Amakom and the second was Atafram and on each occasion greetings were exchanged and personal introductions undertaken

 

Both Chiefs expressed their appreciation of the work of the Clinic and also the efforts being made by the Team to extend its facilities and requested continued support

 

Plans to get to work immediately after the visits were delayed due to heavy rain and an early lunch allows time for the sky to clear and the warm sunshine to return to allow work to continue

 

At the same time this afternoon some members of the Team have gone to visit a local school where in addition to sharing with the children they will distribute some of the  items provided by the Shell Club of other local Schools back home

 

Over the past two days quite a number of people have mentioned the name ‘Bambrick’ and that was nor surprise to most of us given  the impact we know Denis made on this whole area – perhaps someone would be good enough to pass on good wishes to Denis from Lake Bosumtwe

 

The plan tomorrow includes a visit to the bishop in Kusmia so that will be another new experience for most of the Team

 

With the exception of minor (health) upsets everyone is in great form and appreciating the all these new experiences

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well here we are – 10^th July 2008 and we’re off to Ghana in a short while

 

The personal and Team support has been extraordinary and will keep us all going for the journey

 

Thank you all

 

Regards

 

Tom

 

It's hard to believe after all the planning, preparations and Fund Raising the Team will fly out To Ghana on Thursday morning of this week – 10^th July 2008

 

Subject to the availability of an internet connection I am planning to continue the practice of providing updates through a Blog. Now this is a bit high tech for me and it might just be above my ability level, however I am going to have a go

 

You can read this – and of course send a reply or comment – on www.THM40.spaces.live.com and I hope you will continue to remember the Team as your hear of their activities

 

Thank you again for your continued interest

 

Regards

 

Tom