Sung-Taaba - Part II, Matthew

When we were in Ghana - over two weeks ago now - we spent time getting to know Matthew, the blind young man who is being supported by Sung-Taaba.  Matthew has finished his secondary education in a school where nearly all of his  classmates can see, and has done well.  He is awaiting the outcome of his final exams and hoping to go to college in the fall to become a teacher.  

Matthew arrived from his village on the back of Christopher's motorbike with a backpack.  [Christopher is Richard and Joy's brother/brother-in-law.]  Matthew is tall and thin, lanky, and his left eye is nearly shut - he is completely blind in that eye.  He can see light and dark and shadows with the right eye.  He has a white cane he can use, but he didn't need to bring it for this trip.  

cathy, Dick and Matthew

The four of us sat around a table on the front deck of the hotel, talking and getting to know one another.  Matthew was anxious to hear all about his friend Richard back in the U.S., and how he is doing.  Richard "saved his life", Matthew says, or he would have dropped out of school at L6 (about 6th grade).  His mother died when he was very young so he has no memory of her, and his father died about age 5 or 6, so he has nearly always lived with extended family.  Currently the family lives in a mud hut.  Heavy rains hit hard and the part where Matthew's room was caved in, so he is currently living with a friend. 

Christopher

Christopher explained that it is tradition that when there are guests, that you invite the for dinner.  So Christopher insisted on treating us all to dinner at the hotel.  Matthew ate every bite!  He normally only gets one meal a day, as they do not usually have breakfast or lunch. 










Matthew spent Friday night at the hotel with us, and at breakfast we showed him how to drink a juice box - a first for him!  He liked it very much, and finished off both Dick's and mine.  He told us his story of how he never heard about God at all, and how God made Himself very real to him, and now he belongs to Jesus.  It was inspiring, and so encouraging to us. 









Later we went all around Tamale shopping for things Matthew needed, like shirts and toiletries.  Christopher knew just where to go.  Matthew was delighted with everything, and we noticed immediately that he had brought his new backpack (blue plaid) with him that we had brought to him, filled with supplies for school.  

Matthew (left) and Christopher

  We enjoyed a great day together, and felt like Matthew was well taken care of.  Christopher knew just where he needed to go to get on the bus back to his home village - a 5 hour bus ride.  We were so pleased to be able to meet and visit with this fine young man.  Here he is as he says goodbye.  He insisted that we video his words at the end, but the video will have to wait for more band width at home.  :)