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Rotary Club of Gold Beach* Meeting each Wednesday at noon at Grants*December 3, 2008* Meeting #22
Today's Program: Jesse Margolis
Club Report: Last week we heard from new members Amy Timeus and Lisa Carlson. Make sure to get to know them if you haven't already. They are anxious to get involved with our club.
Email from Tony and Terri Lynn
Ghana Update #3
November 24, 2008. Is one of those days that we will both remember for years to come. This was the day we would go back to Gungabisi. 2 Years later. We walked into the village and things at first remained calm. It did not last. The women threw their arms around Terri and it was hard to hold back the tears. The celebration was enormous. With the help of translators the overall theme was "We cant believe you did not forget about us" We cant believe you came back" It was an incredible thing that words will not express. We then walked to the well site and saw what all of us. Their community with the Bolga baskets and our community with all the helpful donations and Rotary members have been able to achieve in this very hands on grass roots project. We saw the well. It is about 35 feet deep and there is water. They will continue to go deeper to about 50 feet deep so there will be water in the dry season (Jan-March) . The project is planned to be completed in about a week and we will visit the site everyday to get new footage of the lining, slab and pump. After receiving another rooster we set off for the next adventure. On our way to Gungabisi we saw a young boy with out a hand walking down the street. We all jumped out and you can imagine that he was quite startled. Rashed communicated with him in their language and arranged a meeting for that evening. So that night we set off into the bush a few miles out side of Bolgatanga. In the dark we asked people along the way how to find the home. Found the village and requested permission from the chief to enter. We then found the house and Rashed had to explain to the boys father , again in tribal language what we wanted to do. It took a while for him to understand and finally he gave his approval. For the next Hour Terri fitted her first hand onto the Boy while the village watched. By headlamp, it was not easy. The boy immediately took the pen and paper and wrote his name.
Again, I can not continue to express by words what this is like. The next day we visited another village, Anateem. This one is way out. We had to walk on bush trails into an area that has no roads, water electricity, anything. They too are hoping for a Bore hole. This is becoming very emotional.
Today we are taking a break, there are three more villages to visit and then the final ceremony an which the local news is supposed to come and attend. Dinner is cheaper now as we are accumulating birds...three so far. all we have to do is pay someone to kill them and cook them.
Another hand recipient is coming to see us tonight.
Ghana Update #4
It started with just a drop. We are spending these two weeks here in the north east region. The other day we watched them pour the slab for the top of the well and where the pump will go. It is the one manufactured in India. Next we will see the lining of the well tomorrow and then finally the construction of the apron, installation of the pump and finally the commissioning ceremony.
Tomorrow will be another unique day as we have two potential hand recipients coming to our hotel. The boy from the other night is fourteen and was a birth defect. Yesterday Rasheed saw him in town riding a bike with his new hand. The next two recipients are older and are both car accidents, one gentlemen lost his 20 years ago. Also tomorrow we will award the $100 Don Hayes Scholarship, we have 5 girls coming over with the essays they have written, they are all 5 orphans. Visited another village today, interesting way to spend a vacation. Current bird count is 6 Guinea fowl (yum, wild bird larger then a chicken and very tasty) and 3 Roosters (not much meat and a little tough) so we are eating plenty of meat at night.
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