The following story was printed in the Newsletter and read at the recent Sweetwater House fundraiser (February 3rd). It was written by Margaret Callahan, a young American who lived at the house for a year. Her pretty green playsuit was designed and sewed by the girls at Sweetwater House at no cost to MaMay’s mother.
Growing up looks quite different for MaMay than it does for most of us living in a 1st world country. Her life at the age of four is unrecognizable and unfathomable to us. And honestly, I don’t think most of us REALLY want to know the details of a single day in her shoes.
To begin with MaMay finds her “home” is built without a foundation, without four solid walls around her. Her “home” is made on one side by the unfinished back wall of someone else’s compound and the other three sides are roughly composed of loose cement blocks, broken down gates made of wood, and a wall of rubbish and raw materials.
When MaMay has to go to the restroom, she doesn’t quietly run into the bathroom, closing the door behind her for privacy. Instead she walks out of her “house,” across the dirt path frequented by many passersby, and steps into the rubbish pile right next to the railroad tracks, and squats on the ground. But not before she shouts a sweet and excited “hello” to me as I stand at the back gate of Sweetwater House. She then returns to her home to begin the day.
Her mother and aunt prepare and sell kenkey (a local dish) with fish. This is their livelihood and only source of income. The days come and go, most looking exactly the same as the day before. But, there is one day that does stand out… Saturday.
Each Saturday by 2 pm, there undoubtedly comes a knock at the back gate of Sweetwater. As MaMay, along with the rest of the neighborhood children who all live in similar environments, come excitedly for what we call the Good News Club.
They arrive in their only clean clothes, after taking their only bath for the week. Here in Ghana, if you don’t have a well, you have to buy your water. For many families living the “squatter” lifestyle—water for bathing is rationed to once per week—specifically for children.
They have come to hear the Good News, learn some Christian children’s songs, and to have a special snack afterwards. This program was started in June of 2007 by the American team in the shape of a Vacation Bible School. And it has been continued over the last several months by a number of volunteers including Lizy Brew (Sweetwater Administrator’s wife), Agnes Owusu-Ansah (Sweetwater Executive Director), Janet Dadson (sewing assistant at Sweetwater-2008), and Esther Sam (Sweetwater student-2008), among others. Each week we are excited by the growth of attendance.
These children that are coming on Saturdays are the same ones that wait at the gate at mealtime to get the leftover food from the school. The influence of the Sweetwater girls in their lives is meeting the physical, as well as he spiritual needs, following the model that Jesus set up for us as believers. Please continue to pray for the children, their families, the various teachers of the Good News Club, and the growing relationship between Sweetwater House and the community.
Cathy Riviere, who served at Sweetwater House with Margaret Callahan, introduces a little boy to bubbles.