Day Seven- Listening and the Importance of Colors

Wednesday, June 5th, 2019

 

Today is the day that the kids are out of school.  It is a Muslim holiday, so all of the schools are closed.  Our driver, David, explained that they have Ramadan twice a year.  This specific holiday is the lesser of the two and it is shorter.  Being a Muslim himself, he has been fasting for an entire month, and is only allowed to eat between midnight and 1 am. every day during the celebration.  It ends with a big feast on the last day.

Needless to say, we were glad to have the kids all day.  They were really looking forward to it.  At this time in the trip, we are all connecting with the kids.  Since Ron and Nan have been here the most, they know everyone.  Kristin and I however, each have our own "groupies" that follow us around and are hanging on us, holding our hands, wrapping their arms around us. The kids that follow me around like to ask "When are you teaching us art?".  It always makes me smile that they get so much joy out of creating.
 

The art activities started with the older kids. We did the string and ink abstractions that I talked about previously.  I am always amazed by what they see and find in their work.  Ron was interested as well.  The colors they chose had a Ghanaian flair.  They were bright, and many people complimented them.  It was fascinating that out of all the projects we did, this was the kids favorite!

Having been an educator for over 35 years, I am amazed by the generosity and loving attitude that these kids have.  We came to love on them, and they are constantly loving on us.  As the week has proceeded, the kids are more comfortable opening up to us, and talking about different things.While they are doing art is a natural time for them to open up and talk.  I enjoyed asking them questions while they were working,  and enjoyed their honesty and how their relationship with God is such a priority.  #Artheals is definitely seen through what these kids do. Art is their safe place, their joy, the way that they express themselves, and the way that the connect with others.

 

For lunch today, we had fajitas.  They went out of their way to fix things that we would be comfortable eating.  They were not the same, but quite tasty! I loved the fresh guacamole, and as always, the pineapple and INCREDIBLE mango!  Fruit just doesn't taste like this in the Midwest!

After lunch we began art activity #2 for the day, with everyone out of the art center except for me.   I definitely felt like a minority.  Not only was I the only white (aborouni) person, I was also the only one speaking English at the time. Everyone else was speaking in TWI, their native tongue.  In fact, when I was giving directions, there were several that were translating for me so that everyone would understand.  Not everyone is a fluent in English.  They work on it in school, but there may be some that are still learning.  The kids have told me that "English is hard!".  I would have to agree!  Thankfully, Ron showed up after about 30 minutes and helped me with all the kids.  There were about 20/25 in the room at that time.

    

We were creating flower paintings using watercolors and ink/glue mixture.   This would be day one of a two day process. The glue has to dry overnight and then tomorrow we will use wet into wet watercolors.  The paint will stay isolated within the section, so that there was no mixing.  This is a highly successful activity, and the final project can be pretty incredible.  It is a technique that I enjoy using in my own paintings.


As a teacher, I enjoy reflecting on what I might have done differently to help make the lesson more successful.  We started by everyone drawing flowers using some plastic flowers that were in the office.  Some of the kids had difficulty drawing from observation, so they ended up drawing a flower symbol that many of them liked to draw.  Many of them chose to just sit for a while- not doing anything.  Eventually, they all drew, but it took some encouragement.  Once again, art providing the means for risk taking and problem solving.  After their drawings were done, we outlined in the glue/ink mixture.  They loved doing that.. it was very structured, which allowed for some comfort in creating the art.  Much of their teaching is from rote and very structured, so they are not used to things that are open ended.  This was a concern that I had when planning the activities from the beginning.  Were they too structured?  Come to find out.. I probably could have structured this one even more so as not to raise the anxiety.

That evening, I gave the devotional again.  Goosebumps as I listened to the kids sing and express their love for God.  This time, since the kids were familiar with me being an artist, I spoke on the "Colors of Christ".  The colors that are implied in the bible through Christ's characteristics as well as other concepts with which we need to be familiar.  As I spoke, I painted a picture of Christ on the cross that I had drawn with white crayon.  A little of it was revealed each time that I painted with the color.

Red-  BLOOD- 1 John 1:7-9

Orange- FIRE- Hebrews 12:29

Yellow- LIGHT- 1 John 5:7

Green-  ETERNAL LIFE- John 3:16-17

Blue- LIVING WATER - John 4:14

Purple- ROYALTY- James 1:12, Luke 16:19 

One thing that we all have in common is our love for God and what he has done for us.  No matter what part of the world we are in, those that choose to follow Christ are all brothers and sisters in his eyes.  By choosing to follow him, we are able to become more like him, allowing his light to transform us as we strive to serve him. 

 

Day Six- Metamorphosis

Tuesday, June 4th, 2019


Today, Nan and Kristen worked with the kids on a reading and application lesson.  First they read "the Hungry, Hungry, Caterpillar by Eric Carle.  The interesting thing was the book they read was an autographed copy!  They made caterpillars and butterflies.  The second book was Rainbow Fish.  They created fish paintings out of paper plates, crayon, and water colors.  The amazing thing is that most of the kids and some of the adults did not know about metamorphosis.  The fish were hung in the Creative Art Center on the rope "nets" below the blue "water" that was designed to represent the lake and many of the kid's pasts. 

 

Ron worked with several kids today with the sand tray.  This is a play therapy technique that allows the participant to use sand and the objects in the sand in order to discuss things with the therapist.  Even though several have been rescued for a while,  there were many that were new, and had only been at Touch A Life for a few months.  Being able to talk about their rescue and their forced labor is a good step towards healing.

 

These kids love to play.  Without the distraction of electronic devices, they spend much of their time making up games, and playing football (soccer),  checkers, or anything else they can think up! It was fun teaching them some games from America.  They loved playing Duck, Duck, Goose... except they called it "Aborouni" in the pot.  Aborouni is the Twi word for white or foreigner.   Twi is the language that they speak besides English.   Football (Soccer) is huge in Ghana.  It is the sport of choice, and the Ghanaian National Team does very well. 

   

The kids call me Dad or "Pa-Barry".  Both are signs of respect.  Dad is used in many ways in the culture.  First, to represent someone of authority, but also, that is what they called their Masters on the lake.  That bothered me a little bit.  These kids have been through so much.  Hearing their stories makes me want to cry.  That seems to be easier for me the older that I get!  How could someone allow their child to go into forced labor?  Come to find out, many of their parents see it as an apprenticeship.  Learning a trade that they will be able to use throughout their lifetime. But at 10 with no food, not drink, sleeping on concrete floors.  It definitely is an atrocity that Touch A Life is trying to alleviate. 

That evening Ron spoke about Metamorphosis, and how the caterpillar creates a cocoon to transform itself into a butterfly.  This is a good example of how God can take use, change us, allows us to use the experiences that we go through in order to become a beautiful butterfly, or child of HIS.  We all have those experiences that allow us to be surrounded by a cocoon.  Some are worse than others.  But God can use those experiences for us to grow, and to become more beautiful.  Eventually we can use those experiences to tell others about God's love and how He leads us through the "valley of the shadow of death".  He is right there by our side, and pulls us through so that we become a better person:  stronger, faithful, loving, and willing to serve him.  Psalms 23:4

Day Five- Art is Healing

Monday, June 3rd, 2019 





"Art is one of those things that we simply must do, so that our spirit may continue to grow"  
                                                                                                                 Geoffrey L. Manpearl

The day started slower.  The High School kids left last night and the Joy standard school kids left , early this morning.  The High School kids go to  boarding school, and the Joy Standard (Middle and Elementary School) will return around 4:30.  That leaves the "Home School" kids here to work with during the day.  Those are the kids that go to school on the Touch A Life campus.  The are either too young to go to Joy Standard, are recently rescued from forced labor, or had difficulties passing their tests and need to work on specific skills.  Many of those that are recently rescued have never been in school and are normally behind.  There are only 2 teachers on campus.  Most of the teaching is rote memory.  Caning is a reality in public school.  Most get caned at least twice a week.  They get caned or have to stand in a crouching position as punishment for being late, late work, missing 1 on homework assignments.  It's definitely a different culture.

As I prepared for the art activity for today,  I talked with Ron about the potential.  This was an activity that allowed me to get a glimpse into the kids world and what they were thinking when I did it in public school back in America.  It is a string/ink manipulation.  The kids move the ink around with string on the paper that is folded.  It creates some incredible shapes and textures.  They then use watercolor to finish it off, and write what they think they see and what they might call the painting.
 

  

As an artist, I know several things about when people create art.  First, the act of creating allows the artist a boost in their self esteem.

I did this.. it looks great.. I was able to relax and enjoy the process, even if the end product wasn't exactly what I wanted.  This was fun! 

 It also allows for the kids to talk with one another about what they were doing.  It encourages leadership as one person will help another through the process.  But most of all it gives them a format to express themselves.  Even though this may not include things that have happened in their past, but it will allow them to begin communicating through their art, and understanding that creating art is a way to communicate, when talking about something can be difficult.

As we were going through the process, and I was demonstrating.  I could tell that there were some that did not understand English as well as others.  However, since I was working with them on things that are very visual, they caught on quickly. Hearing their interpretations was fascinating.  Ron was there listening as well, just in case something was brought up that might trigger a conversation that he could have.  It was great to see them energized, excited about the process, and enjoying the benefits of creating art.

That night, I led the devotion.  It was the analogy of the potter and the clay from Jeremiah 18.  Lord, you are the potter, and we are your clay.  Mold us, center us, allow us to be changed with your hands.  Take your hands and center us, touch our heart and reshape us.  When we have imperfections, use those for your good and  change us at thy will. Create us into a new vessel for your glory.

Hearing the kids singing praises gave me goosebumps.  With everything that they have been through, God is showing them love.  The potter is working on them..