Posted on: January 31st, 2012 by Clarke 1 Comment

Editor’s note: I am very sorry there are no pictures to accompany these posts yet.  Our professional photographer, Andras Schram, has taken literally thousands of unbelievably gorgeous pictures already.  I have known him for some time and have always been impressed by his award-winning work but the caliber of photos is absolutely unbelievable here.  We are desperately looking for a place to be able to upload and share these photos with you all; however, at this time, it takes roughly two minutes to download most webpages, let alone upload anything.  I am not joking when I say it would take well over an hour to upload just one picture… if the connection stayed alive for that long.  This is a top priority of mine and I will be taking care of this as soon as I can locate somewhere that will do this for us.  Please believe me, they will be worth the wait.

Today is a whirlwind.  Another early start and busy schedule again breaks our team into two, following another ample breakfast provided by Father Moses at St. Anthony’s.  The first group led by Dr. Robert visit the Prince of Peace School in the heart of Kumasi, while Dr. Rolly leads the second team south through the unbelievable traffic of Kumasi to the town of Askore Manpong.  He says I’ll be driving home.  With these drivers?  Please pray for my safety!

I am with this second group and get to witness first-hand the beautiful generousity of this Catholic Church.  In every sense of the word, it is the heart and life of this deprived community.  Within its walls is the town’s only bathroom which hundreds line up daily to use.  Also, a faucet outside the walls provides free water which is used by thousands of people in the surrounding area.  It’s beautiful to see Father John’s acceptance and charity of the whole town regardless of people’s religion or standing.  Rarely have I seen is such a beautiful example of non-discrimination.

Close by the church is the school it has built with the help of the town for the region.  Due to the vast number of children without access to schooling, the school has to work in shifts to accommodate the 3,000 children who are lucky enough to come from families who can afford the $8 US per week that pays for tuition, supplies and a daily meal.  Drop outs are incredibly common as school is, sadly, a literal luxury here.

Once again, the churchyard is filled with only a few dozen people but in Africa, word gets around quickly in a community and soon a steady stream of people are filling chairs and benches waiting for care.  As many from the town continue to roll in, one man beaming with smiles following his care bursts with excitements and rushes back to announce at his job on the local radio station what is happening at the church.  We’re about to get busy.

The crowds come with endless stories of affliction.  It is sometimes heartbreaking to hear them all.  By the same token, it is a beautiful picture to see the excitement and people’s amazement after just one adjustment.  What most people don’t understand is that the condition of the body in North America is often a result of a culture that pollutes itself with chemicals, food filled with empty nutrients, too much fat, and stress.  In comparison, the people here have relatively unpolluted lives and bodies.  Each of the chiropractors comments on what we have coined the “African Chiropractic Exchange Rate.”  It is how the africans’ bodies react so much better to adjustments than North Americans’.  In other words, one adjustment here is often worth many in North America.  For that reason, major flow can be provided from only a quick teaching followed by a quick adjustment.

Dr. Rolly teaching a small group before the crowds arrive

Father Mike's aging parish

Dr. Rolly adjusts

Prince says he wants to become a chiropractor

Meanwhile at Prince of Peace School, Robert and Rémi have adjusted many children under the care of Sister Veronica.  Unfortunately, they only have two hours, children, and soon it is time to go.  Lunch at 2:00, generously provided by Father John, brings us together.

Prince of Peace school yard

Courtyard from above

The incredible Sister Veronica

Dr. Robert adjusting

Again, on a tight schedule, Father John tries to hurry us along.  Sensing the tiredness we all have from the day and heat, our scheduler, Samuel, decides not to leave for another 15 minutes so we have a small break.  Thank you, Samuel!

The afternoon itinerary involves splitting the group into three to hit three schools.  Group one visits Provincial Major Seminary in Parkoso, a secondary school teaching Ghanians to become priests.  Group two adjusts at a primary Roman Catholic school nearby.  Akokoamong Catholic School is the destination of group three where Dr. Rolly adjusts many more.

Dr. Robert adjusts at the Roman Catholic Primary School

Dr. Robert adjusts at the Roman Catholic Primary School

Andras showing the kids his handiwork

On the way home, we make a few stops in small villages for as much time as we can spare. It is always sad to turn people away, but with the population, it is almost always an inevitability.  However, the team is getting proficient at setting up, teaching why we’re here and what chiropractic does, organizing the gathering of people into a lineup, and moving them through adjustments on the Astra-lite travel chiropractic tables while helpers direct flow and answer questions.

After a long day at so many venues, we pile into our hotel at 9:00 to pack our things for tomorrow’s road trip.  Everyone is thrilled with the multitude of people we were able to teach and help today.