A Tribute for my friend.....Avril

I received word early this morning that my friend, Avril, had died during the night after an unexpected accident in the bathroom of a hostel she was staying in.  Avril and Kwame had traveled to Tamale to teach a Healthcare Training class.  When Kwame called me, he was extremely distressed and stated "I don't know what to do, Mom Cheryl".  I would like to tell you more about Avril and Kwame.

When I made the decision to come to Ghana for medical missions, I began looking for other medical missionaries in Ghana.  I found Avril.  She was a wonderful nurse and child of God who dedicated 14 years of service to Ghana.  I had the privilege of meeting Avril for the first time in February of this year.  I spent a week in a hostel she and her Ghanaian family (Kwame and Joyce) had built and just recently moved into.

This is a beautiful sunset from Kumasi, Ghana just outside of Avril's home. 

Here Avril and I are unloading some medications which the group I was with brought to her from the states.

After eating Ghanaian cooked meals for a week prior to visiting Avril, she made us the most wonderful pancakes!

This is the group from IHCF with Avril, Kwame and Joyce.  (Kwame and Joyce are the Ghanaian couple just left of center.)

Here is Avril and Tom Carr from International Healthcare Foundation

Kwame has been with Avril for many years.  He started with her back in the 90's when Avril was helping start the clinic at Village of Hope.  Kwame was her right hand...maybe even her left.  He was her son and she his "Mom".  I remember telling her that I would need to find someone as great as Kwame to assist me when I moved to Ghana.  They worked in the clinics together, taught Healthcare classes together, and Kwame, his wife Joyce and Avril all lived together.  Kwame always looked after "Mom Avril".  Their relationship was a wonderful one.  Kwame's Ghanaian Mother and Father are both still living, but they let Avril have Kwame for her assistant and they, too, treated her as family.

When the missions committee at MRCC was discussing my coming to Ghana for medical missions, one of the great concerns was for my safety.  I remember informing them that Avril had been here as a single woman in medical missions for many years and would be glad to talk with them about the safety of Ghana.  Avril loved it here.  But even after 14 years, she was still like me in that the heat and humidity were hard to get used to.

If you have been following my blog, you will recall that Linda and I spent another week with Avril, Kwame and Joyce the last week of May.  Linda attended the Healthcare Training class which Avril and Kwame teach and I assisted with the class.  Avril had asked me to assist them with teaching if possible.  We talked about so many things and were hoping to work together for many years.

God's timing, however, is not the same as ours.  Even tho we grieve at this time for our loss, I am comforted to know that Avril is now at home in God's Heavenly Kingdom.  Kwame, Joyce and the Ghanaian's Avril worked with will need prayers for strength and comfort.  She will be greatly missed.

Avril.....Thank you for all you taught me and for you wonderful council.  You were a source of inspiration and encouragement to me.  I will miss you, but rejoice on your move from earth to Heaven above.

 Psalms 23:6 And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.