Help Them Or Let Them Be...

Where I have been? I've been on leave from work... Eating, sleeping and getting fat. And oh... Worked on my long essay which I have submitted. I believe y'all are doing awesome? I am doing same and I resumed work today.

So, on July 19, I submitted my long essay on "Using Communication to Reduce Stigmatisation Against Persons Living With HIV/AIDS". What started as a mere academic exercise (which was meant to add value to my results) turned out to become much more than an intellectually gratifying experience, but also an emotional and soul searching journey.

I had first-hand contact and conversation with persons living with HIV/AIDS (called PLWHA in short)

Me & Joyce D Natey (AIDS ambassador & PLWHA)

and the first thing that hit me was "Hei! Come now! these guys are human beings! Real people! They eat, they talk, they cry, they look good... really good, and they are no different from you and I". I had to come face to face with my guilt and my fear; the guilt of saying to myself, that it is risky to have PLWHA as friends, and the fear of thinking that mingling with them even in a conversation will infect one.

Well... I conquered my guilt, and I conquered my fear concerning PLWHA. I applaud them for speaking openly about their situation; for teaching people like us how to handle ourselves so that we don't get into their situation. I respect them... I don't pity them. Not at all! They don't  need pity, whether yours or mine. They need our eyes, our ears and our hearts to be open to their message, that it could have been us in their shoes. So we must learn what they are teaching us and not stigmatise them. They deserve a good life and we must not stand in their way of getting it. Besides, most of them "before and after" lived and are living a far more decent life and are much less promiscuous than a lot of us who vilify them.

So, just as I have been converted, I end in the words of Jesus "...let he/she that is without sin, cast the first stone"

SAY NO TO STIGMATISATION OF PLWHA

Peace... I'm out!

Does this Call for A Divorce?

Hello Everyone!

Best of the week to you all. I had a good rest this weekend , I believe you all are doing very great?.

So there's a column in one of the newspapers where people write letters to discuss their relationship problems and ask for advice as to what to do.

I read this letter that got me laughing all through, but after some time got me thinking and wanting to find answers. The letter was written by a certain man... According to the letter, the man wants to divorce his wife because ever since he married her, he's never seen any hair in her armpit. He's monitored and tried to observe her to know whether she had been shaving...

Its been over 3years since they got married and he still hasn't seen anything like a hair(s) in her armpit, so he mustered the courage to asked her about it, only for her to say she's never had hair growing in her armpit ever since she was born.

Now the man wants to divorce his wife because he feels that the woman "na strong winsh" (is a witch) or she don use her hair arrange some serious occultic powers... In the process of seeking a resolution to his issue, I think the man learnt that there could be a medical explanation to it, and it could be due to some abnormalities, but certainly not anything serious.

Does it really matter whether person get hair for armpit or not? and like seriously, would this man have divorced his wife because of this case... Like for real?!

Best of wishes to you all.

Peace... I'm out!

Finally...

Hello Lovely People,

I just wrote my very last paper as an undergraduate! When I got up, I took one loooong, haaard look at the chair I sat on, 'cause I knew that it was the last time I was ever going to sit on a chair like that in the capacity I had sat on it a few minutes ago. As I walked out of the examination hall, I had the inspiration to write this poem, and quickly I sat down to put pen to paper. It's my thoughts about my journey thus far. Enjoy:

ONE BRIDGE CROSSED

It was just like yesterday

I started this race

This race, to win a place

Among the white collars of the world

Not just as one with a bucket,

But as a rain maker

I look back at how the race has been

How so many times I thought I might never get here

How I wondered if I was going to make it through

How I got tired at some point and almost threw in the towel

How Love kept me going

How  Courage kept me stable

How Faith kept me thriving

How Prayer kept me sailing

I can't say I have seen it all

But I have seen quite a bit

And with every heartbeat

I am thankful I have come this far...

One bridge crossed

I too can say

Been there, done that...

Ebenezer!

I did it? No! We did it!! Together!!!

But Lord, You did more... Much more

You made the dream come alive

You gave energy to the vision

You gave speed and ease to all the efforts

You have made me what I have become...

Amen.

Peace... I'm out!

Life Is Like A Coffee...

I watched this video and just had to share... The words are so true and inspiring... Enjoy!

I had so much fun on my birthday... thanks for all the amazing messages, prayers and wishes! God bless your sweet good hearts for me.

Peace... I'm out!

And Yet Another Milestone Of Grace...

Today is my birthday... and as I sit here, taking stock of my life and reflecting on how far God has brought me, I can only say that, I have been through thick and thin; through the good and the bad weather; through plenty and lack; through pain, sorrow, loss, grief and laughter, and through it all, I have learnt the Love of God and I have learnt to Love Him more. 

I can't say I am there yet, as a matter of fact, I know I am not. But the crack of every dawn and His loving kindness towards me, tells me, that the Love of God is worth depending on. He's all around me and He just won't let me go.

I am a living testimony. A proof that God is good and His Love is real; that no matter what you

see, hear or feel, God is at work in your life. So don't let go, don't give in, and don't give up. This is my story (and it can be yours too), that I believe in miracles... And I believe in God. I am God's miracle product. And if you are wondering who Apy is... Well that's moi. That's my pet name, from my sweetheart. *big winks*

Peace... I'm out

Let's Share A Word Of Prayer...

God of all blessings, source of all life, giver of all grace. We thank You for the gift of life, for the breath that sustains life, for the food of this earth that nurtures us, for the love of family and friends without which there would be no color in our lives. 

We thank You for the mystery of creation, for the beauty that the eye can see, for the joy that the ear hears when the birds sing, when the trees whistle and when the wind blows; for the unknown that we cannot behold filling the universe with wonder; and for the expanse of space that draws us beyond the definitions of ourselves. 

We thank You for setting us in communities, for families who nurture our becoming; for friends who love us by choice; for colleagues at work, who support the realisation of our mandate and share our daily tasks with us; for strangers who welcome us into their midst; for people from other lands who call us to grow in understanding; for children who lighten our moments with delight; for the unborn who offer us hope for the future. 

We thank You for this day, for life and one more day to love; for the opportunity of one more day to work for justice and peace; for neighbors and one more person to love and by whom we may be loved; for Your grace and one more experience of Your presence; for Your promise to be with us, to be our God and to keep us in Your salvation.

For these, and many more blessings, we give You thanks, eternal, loving God, through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!

Have an amazing midweek and enjoyable day.

Peace... I'm out!

Now I Understand...

Hello all!

How is your week going so far? Stressful, eventful, boring (like mine) successful or what? But despite everything, I am blessed and highly favored and I presume the same applies to y'all.

My post today is a remembrance and how certain things are now beginning to make sense to me. I have written lots of things about my mum in the past and how she was able to rise against all odds to single-handedly see my 2 elder brothers and I through school and all...

Ok, the main gist is that, I remember how I used to call my mum a "foster mother" and our home a "foster home" because every time I got back from school (boarding house), there was always a new face who's there to stay, usually children. when I ask, she will say "oh... this one's parents came crying to her either at church or at work for him/her to live with me" Sometimes it was relations as well

I also remember when am ready to go to school, she will make sure I get everything I will need but my pocket money might not be enough. Although she makes sure she visits every two or three weeks to give me money and other things, I used to get angry with her for bringing too many people into our lives, which made it difficult for us to get everything we wanted from her. And I remember how she will always smile and say  "...you might never know the kind of blessings such things have...

I think I do now... After her demise, I won't say things have been rosy but God has been bringing people my way. Some come just to help me and move on... no strings attached. I'm amazed at how far God has brought me. My life is a testimony! It's not as much about me, as it is about the seeds my mum had to sow in order to secure my future, even when I didn't understand what she was doing.

Being good pays trust me, am reaping from my mums kindness and am glad am reciprocating; I am also glad that my tantrums and manipulations couldn't stop her from being good and doing the things she believed and knew she had to do for the people around her. 

So, looking back now what are some of the things that didn't make sense to you in the past, but have become things you wish you never resisted, and are glad you didn't destroy, because of the things you know and understand now?

Peace... I'm out!

purely Ghanain!!!

Hello everyone,

In the spirit of African Union @50, I am back with a sequel to this post. This is purely GH version. Enjoy...

*  My Padi (my friend)

*  Chaley what de hapon?  ( my guy, whats'up?)

*  Ibi me wey you do me like that? ( am I the one you treated that way?

*  I make wild pass you sef/my eye red pass your own ( am in hot mess more than you)

*  you say wetin. ( what are you saying)

*  you dey do mouth mouth (you bluffing)

*  I no go biz you ( I wont mind you)

*  For de where (How? Where?)
*  Me den u (You and I)
*  Chaley, how be you? (my guy, how are you)
*  Chaley I Chok (my guy, I am fine/ am cool)
*  I biz am say... (I asked him that...)
*  No libilibi, No labalaba (No tricks!)
*  Azaaa man/woman (Cunning person)
*  You de bore me waaa (You are upsetting me seriously)
*  My back-born (My young brother/sister)
*  What u de talk? (What are you talking about)
*  What u de find? (What are you looking for)
*  Dat be my back case (Dat's not my problem or business anymore)
*  I de wedge u (I am waiting for you)
*  I see u keep long (It's been a while since I saw you)
*  I dey job inside (I am at work)
*  Chaley, I no dey see top o (my guy, I cant make a head and tail of things)
*  I go bell u riiiight now (I will call you back in a bit)

You like? you can add your own o... So oyah! Let's go!!!

Peace...I'm out!