Volta Region

 

I want to take you on a bit of a journey back in time. Back to 2019. They were looking for a new helper for Kenny at the shop. The board asked us if we have any recommendations. We thought and prayed about it and Jarell Zimmerman kept coming to mind. The board agreed to ask him. Little did we know that earlier that year when they were looking for someone Jarell had actually considered it, but then someone else stepped forward and he forgot about Ghana.

  He moved into our home in January. It was a bit awkward for a few days because new adjustments always are, but it didn’t take long for us to see how well he fit into our family. When Kenny’s parents came to visit, his mom told me before she left, I couldn’t pick a better young man to fit into your family. And she was right.

The older man Albert also passed away earlier this year. Another reminder life is frail. Treasure each moment.

                               

  He was so good for Kenny. He knew how to do mechanics. And even more valuable, he knew how a mechanic shop in the US was run. In a high demand work place he was Kenny’s sounding board and friend. Many were the cars and students and teachers that got discussed over our supper table. Our children loved having him around. Austin was his shadow the entire year he lived with us. Many, many times he happily hopped in front of Jarell on his moto for a ride. Why ride with your dad if you could ride with Jarell? Brent held him at arm’s length like he did with all people, but even he couldn’t resist the flips and tricks and fun that went where ever Jarell went. We played many card games and Jarell would even play Memory with Brent.

                             

  The first weekend he was with us he rode along to Takoradi for car parts. It was fun to hear him marvel at the primitive workshops. It was also the ride the police gave us a hard time and Kenny ended up sweeping the police check point for them. I guess we introduced him to Ghana in a unique way! Also, in the first week or so, the generator quit working at the Palm Press. Kenny and Jarell left late afternoon to run out and look at it. They took their motos and were trying to get home before it was totally dark. On the dirt road Kenny forgot about a sharp curve. He skidded on the loose dirt and stones and went down into the bush. Jarell was behind him and so focused on following him he didn’t realize Kenny was headed into the bush till it was too late to save himself.

                                           

  In May we fulfilled a dream for Kenny and Jarell. We drove three hours west, plus two for turning right at a red light and being escorted half an hour the wrong way to the police station, only to be told after much waiting around, that it was perfectly legal. There we stayed at a beautiful bed and breakfast and the owner gave Kenny and Jarell surfing lessons. They were so beat till the day was over. But they had both had so much fun.

  Most Sunday late afternoons found Kenny and Jarell doing one of two things. Riding the dirt roads on their motos or at the beach. Always with Brent and Austin. Occasionally the whole family. He also enjoyed cooking like the natives, over a coal pot. Some Saturday or Sunday evenings we would fry supper. Usually, he was the main fryer!

                                           

  It takes a unique person to be willing to leave family, youth group and even girlfriend. Jarell never complained about having to hang out with our family. He happily rode along to town on shopping trips. His humor and ready laugh made that year of Covid lock down much more endurable for us. Many were the times I tried to put the boys to bed and Kenny and Jarell’s loud discussions and laughter would keep them awake. They both had wild ideas of how to rig things to work faster and better. They planned many things for the pure joy of dreaming them up. Both enjoyed thrills and had agreed to go sky diving the first time we were all back in the US.

                                      

  We often told people that this our son we get to experiment on and then send back to his real parents. When it was down to two families for church, Jarell unhesitatingly agreed to take a turn teaching a Sunday School lesson in place of a sermon. Maybe that was what we appreciated about him the most. Nothing was too small, too big, too dirty, Jarell was always willing to try.

                                            

  In December we celebrated his birthday on Christmas day. And then a week later he left for America. Our house was very quiet. The boys got bored many times and wished for Jarell. They looked forward to seeing him in America. They talked about all the things they might do there some day. When we heard he has a brain tumor two thoughts went through m y head simultaneously. Oh, no! And I am so glad he isn’t in Ghana right now!

  As the days went by and the future sounded more uncertain, our prayer became not only for complete healing, but for another chance to spend time with Jarell. Our minds couldn't wrap around the healthy young man we knew and the pictures of the young man fighting for his life.

  I won't go into the details but yesterday Jarell traded the pain and uncertainty of this world for eternity. How we wish he would have been able to stay. But God had different plans. It might be an odd thing but the song that keeps going through my head today is, "It's for my good and for His glory. This trial is not the end of the story. There's a bigger picture, God alone can see."

                                           

  Saturday we plan to fly to the US to attend the funeral. We will be there 10 days and would appreciate your prayers for negative Covid tests, safety, and health. And pray for Jarell's family and Melanie his girlfriend. For the youth group and the church. That this trial might be for God's glory.