With All My Strength…

I would like to take this opportunity to THANK all those who expressed their concern and those who kept me in their thoughts and prayers during this last battle with Malaria. I don’t think you will ever know just how much the support means to me, and the incredible motivation it provides. It has been almost 6 months since I’ve arrived, and I never thought I would have so much interest and encouragement in my journey as I do now. I guess I should of known better; when you are surrounded by such a strong and caring circle of family, friends, and strangers-soon-to-be-friends… well you really can’t expect anything less!

I would also like to take this opportunity to apologize for my recent post about my sickness; I now realize why it caused much worry in some family and friends. When I accepted this experience, I came into it well knowing that this is one of the battles I would have to face. I knew that along with leaving my world, and those who are part of it, behind for a year, I would also have to be willing to make other sacrifices – like dealing with Malaria. The intention of the post was simply to express that when you want something bad enough – in this case change – you’re going to have to make sacrifices. It’s not easy, but the truth is that for every sacrifice there is a victory; each day has given me a new confidence, knowledge, and outlook on life, and each sickness as made me stronger. I am now at a point where I’ve reached a strength and confidence I have never experience before, and the fact is, I probably wouldn’t have reached it if it weren’t for my recent Malarial encounter. I also now appreciate how lucky I am to be healthy in a general sense; and how this health has allowed me to take hold of this unique opportunity overseas. I wake up everyday thankful for the strength and skills God has bestowed upon me, and remember that I’ve been given them for a reason; where one of the reasons has brought me to where I am today.

To make a few things clear, as dangerous as Malaria is, dealing with it has come a long way over the years. The keys to successfully getting through it is prevention or early attention. Since my second encounter with it, I’ve taken no chances and gear up every evening from head to toe with clothing. If I feel any symptoms that don’t feel right, I head to the hospital to get it checked out. When caught early the parasite can be killed effectively with proven medication. The doctor’s in Bongo and Bolga are very knowledgeable, and usually with a blood test you can determine if you carry the parasite. Medication is widely available and because of the commonality of Malaria in Ghana, treatment for it is not out of the ordinary (unlike Canada where if I did have the parasite, I’d probably be in more trouble).

So stating the obvious at this point, I’m here to stay. In my life there are only two ways to fail; to not try or to give up (unless extreme circumstances deem necessary). I not only plan to stay my full term, but to push even harder in this, what is about to be, the final half of this experience. The days will be long and the work will be strenuous, but after all this is why I’m here and this is why I’ve made all those sacrifices… now it’s time to focus on reaching the victory.

“Anyone can give up, it’s the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that’s true strength.”
                                                                         ~ Anonymous