A Celebration

Friday, Feb. 12

Last Day at Tree of Life Health Post

Work started in with a more subdued pace than previous days and fewer crew members were around because the work was becoming more specialized and fewer diverse workers were needed. I also think for the team that everyone was a little sad about having to leave at the end of the day. But as the sun beat relentlessly on our heads we settled into our various tasks. I felt very lethargic and took some good breaks—I think I had overdone it the day before with a few too many wheelbarrows of concrete. It wasn’t long until we all got a lesson on not overdoing it in the tropical heat.

Not long before lunch I noticed our team member Willi was looking red and overheated. She went down to take a break and drink something. But it was too little too late and she ended up really dizzy and nauseated from the heat. Emily, her good friend who is also an accomplished nurse, got some ice packs on some key cooling spots and we took her to an air conditioned office in the Theovision headquarters. By lunch she was back to walking on her own and feeling better. What was really great was how concerned the crew were for her and a couple of the men even said they were praying for her.

Right after lunch we posed for a picture with the team and the Ghanaian crew all lined up across the front of the building. They were as excited to pose with us as we were. A couple more hours of block work and then we got permission from the boss to teach our new Ghanaian friends a little American Football. Woodmen Valley team member Mike happens to be the offensive coordinator for the Air Force Falcons as well as a great athlete himself. I can’t say the Saints have much to worry about from a Ghanaian team yet, but we had a great time tossing the ball and chasing each other around. We ended in a tie after a no-rules, no-strategy game but more importantly a celebration of our week had occurred that transitioned nicely to a time of goodbyes.

The construction company owner gathered the team and presented us each with a beautiful Kente cloth banner that he placed around each of our necks along with his thanks. A great end to a great week. I’m really proud of my team.