In Accra I used to do a kids club. At first, it was insane. Kids were just going mad. I had no control. But God gave me ideas, and with helpers and short termers, I was able to teach and kids were attentive and learned. I grew to love it. One of the kids in the group was Darlena. She and her brother Nii are part of the church where I would serve. Their parents lived very close to the church. If I would come early I would sit at their house and Ruth would cook up some snacks or I would play with other kids. Her and her husband David now have 4 kids. They were a big help to me.
Now, Darlena is 15 years old. Secondary school here is boarding school for most kids. Usually students are posted near to the city they are in, but not always. Darlena got posted to Tamale Girls School. She and her parents have never been to the north of Ghana. They tried to change her posting but it was too late. This was her only option if she wanted to go to High School.
People and friends from the church called me and asked me to check it out for them. I went and took pics. I met a woman who works there and she gave me extra info. I relayed everything back to the south, meaning my friends and David and Ruth. They then sent me Darlena’s admission form and off to the school I went again. I was able to pick up her uniforms and get info on what comes next.
David and Darlena came up by flight (first time in an airplane for Darlena) on Thursday, which was the reporting day. They sent their things up on the bus which would arrive Friday morning. We went to the school and they told us she could not register unless she has all her things. Schools require students to bring a list full of things like certain kinds of shoes, socks, or products like toilet paper, and brooms. So, since they did not have these things they had to stay at my house.
I was so unprepared! My guest rooms still were not cleaned. The bathrooms not clean. I had no food to prepare. But they were very flexible. We just went down the road and picked up some local food. But poor Darlena was not in the mood. She did not like the school. She did not want to go there. She likes Accra better. The comparison would be a girl from Chicago moving to Medford, Wisconsin. She is definitely a city girl. We all prayed together several times. It was hard for her.
David went to the bus station Friday morning and picked up all the bags. They arranged it all and headed to the school. She was able to register and move in. David came back and needed a flight to Accra because his wife was starting birth pains for baby #4!! So, I got him to the airport and he made it in time for their baby girl.
I am kind of excited to have Darlena around me. Though, the school has tight policies. They cannot go out of the campus. They cannot have phones (they use a teacher’s phone to make a call). Because of COVID restrictions no one can visit them. But, there will be small breaks from time to time and then she will stay with me. She is a sweet girl and she knows me very well. I pray she will adjust to the ways of Tamale and study hard.
An interesting week for sure!
David and Darlena, with all her things, before heading to the school.