12.14.05
Thursday Born
by Anthony Parker
About thirty years ago, a seven-month old baby was beginning to learn to walk, pulling himself up from the dirt courtyard, using the wooden benches low tables of his West African home for support. When the baby began to run a high fever, his concerned parents took him to a local clinic, where he was treated for malaria by receiving a quinine injection in his hip. The baby recovered and returned home.
But something had changed. He was no longer able to pull himself up, and his legs stopped developing normally. He learned to crawl around on the dirt floor, but was unable to walk under his own strength. What had happened, which was sadly common at the time, was that the quinine injection had not been administered correctly, and the child, like thousands of others who received the same treatment, had been crippled.
The child, who like other Thursday-born boys was called Yao, came from a family who eventually found the means to pay for an operation on his legs, where the mal-formed bones were broken and straightened, and he was fitted with leg braces. He applied himself to his school work and eventually went to university, but was unable to finish because of lack of funding.
He returned to his hometown of Tabligbo,Togo—which is now and for a few more months my hometown—and found work as a school teacher. Because teachers in public schools are paid only sporadically, he also opened an after-school tutoring center, housed in a grass-covered shelter near his home.
Because of his own handicap, Yao also developed sensitivity toward others in a similar plight, whose families are not able to help them. Last year, he came to me with a photo of a young boy who needed the same operation that he had received. We had just returned from furlough and someone had given us a generous gift, asking that we use it “for the children.†We were able to help pay for this boy’s operation and leg braces. Yao handled all of the logistics and did so responsibly.
It’s just part of our life here that we often receive requests for financial assistance. Yao continues to come to us, but I believe that he is our only regular visitor who has never asked for help for himself. He has gone to different schools in the area and identified the most needy students, and helped them with school fees and supplies. Recently, he was able to take some funds that were given to us to another aid organization to secure “tricycles†(see below), which will allow two handicapped students, Theodore and Gentille, to continue their schooling.
In addition to his school teaching, Yao has started a non-profit organization that he has registered with the government. He is trying to get an office set up. He has managed to install electricity and a telephone line. Right now, he needs a very basic computer so that he can have access to the internet and provide office services to help support himself and his little organization. I’m sure that the more needs he is able to meet, the more new opportunities will arise.
Yao does not attend the church that we work with here in town. As far as I know, he doesn’t attend regularly anywhere. I’ve asked him about his faith and why he does what he does. He just says “It’s all about God.†Indeed, it is.
In keeping with the spirit of this site, I want to acknowledge Yao as a note of God’s grace here in Togo, West Africa.
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Dee O'Neil Andrews said,
December 14, 2005 at 9:36 am
Thanks, Anthony - I really like this story about “Thursday Born.” What a neat name and was an inspirational story. I’ll be praying that perhaps he will come to know God even better through your work there with and for him and that you will continue to learn from him, as well. As for the computer he needs - for those of us who would like to help him get one, what is the best way to go about it? Can computers be sent from the states there to him (we happen to have one sitting right here in our office that is an older one, but still good once the hard drive is cleaned off) or can he get one there if he has the money from you, for instance? I’d like to know because maybe some of us “bloggers” who read this post can get together to try to give Yao his computer for Christmas. I know I’d like to pitch in and help and I’m sure others will want to, as well. So, if you could comment here in response about it I think that would be great.Anthony Parker said,
December 14, 2005 at 12:01 pm
Wow,Dee–I’m thankful for your generous offer. I contacted a friend of mine in the capital city who deals in computers, and he is checking for me on the cost of a reliable, used computer. His initial guess was about $300, so if that is the case, it would probably be easier to purchase here than to ship and deal with customs, etc. I’ll post more details as they become available.Dee O'Neil Andrews said,
December 14, 2005 at 3:40 pm
All right, Anthony - Normally I would never do this, but for some reason your story of Yao has really touched me. Maybe it’s because I’m so laid up right now myself on crutches and all, but I want to help be a Grace Note to Yao in his work and to show him how we as God’s children are concerned for his people and especially the poor and crippled children he seeks to help. So please tell me (us) how your work is funded and where those of us who want to may contribute to go to Yao (or his non-profit organization) for the specific purpose of getting him a computer to use there in helping the helpless children. When you get me that information, I will send you a check and I challenge all of you other Grace Note readers to join me so that Yao can have his computer as soon as possible. And may Yao see God in our actions and search to know more. We pray that he will.Anthony Parker said,
December 15, 2005 at 9:09 am
Here’s the latest — my computer guy says he can get a used Pentium 3 computer for about $240 at current exchange rates, which are always fluctuating, so we might could use a little more. I have an old printer that I plan to donate. The computer guys says that he will throw in Windows XP and MS Office, but I have a feeling they will be pirated. If anyone wanted to send a legal copy of XP, preferably with a French interface, that would be welcome. (Could mail to me or send with visitors coming in February.) I have some open-source office and web software that I can pass on. Contributions can be made to Homewood Church of Christ, and ear-marked “Parker Mission Fund-computer project”. That way the church can let me know exactly how much is given for this purpose. If the amount contributed exceeds the cost of the computer, I can use that to contribute to Yao’s other projects. Please mail the checks to my contact person, Maurice Rhinehart, 832 Castlemaine Court, Birmingham AL 35209. If anyone would like to receive reports from Yao about the work of his organization, email me — parker-claypot(at) usa.net –, and I’ll pass those on to him. You may receive other appeals for other help. Please respond as you feel led, but you should require accountability. I feel a need to emphasize that this is not a project of our mission, just someone in my neighborhood that I found who is trying to do good and, so far, has shown himself to be responsible.PatrickMead said,
December 15, 2005 at 6:27 pm
You’re a good man doing a good work. At the risk of overusing the word “good”, I think giving to your mission and to Yao would be a good thing.