Missing Ghana

"The world breaks us all, and afterwards some are stronger in the broken places." - Ernest Hemingway

I am missing the kids in Ghana. Oh, the simple days of teaching the boys to play cards and blow bubbles with their gum. These kids in Ghana are definitely an example of strength and endurance as they slowly rebuild their lives after being shattered. They are my heroes.

Budding Artist

I periodically pull up the old photos of Mark so I can regain new focus and energy to keep fighting for justice for these kids on Lake Volta. These two pictures represent such a contrast of life.

It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish. 
Mother Teresa 

Wow, Mother Teresa never sugar coats what each of us should be sacrificing.

June 16, 2008

Well, the post today could be sad and reflective since it is the anniversary date of losing Jantsen nine years ago. I went there for just a few minutes this morning and shed my tears. I immediately turned my thoughts around and found great joy when I went to my computer and read the following email from Geri Cope. Geri is married to Randy's first cousin Eric. Eric and Geri live in St. Louis and have adopted two beautiful children........ Benny is from Guatemala and Everlie just recently arrived this spring from Hong Kong. Eric and Geri are huge supporters of Touch A Life and are kicking off a new chapter in St. Louis. Below is the email from Geri.

Thanks for attending our kick off meeting. For those that were unable to attend, I wanted to share our outcome.

1. Our next meeting is at Lisa Campbell's on September 2nd at 7 pm.
2. We would like to host another fund raiser the 1st weekend of November 2008.
3. The location of the fund raiser will be at Keat Wilkins' office (Lindsey's husband) in Maplewood.
4. Our goal is to raise money to build a school in Ghana, remodeling of the TAL home in Vietnam, and bicycles for the TAL kids which would total around 25k+.

We plan to meet on a quarterly basis. Our overall goal is to raise awareness of the work of TAL. We shared lots of ideas and all are very excited about helping Pam and her work!

Please fee free to invite others who are interested in becoming part of the St Louis chapter.

Thanks again,
Geri

If I could only clone Eric and Geri, TAL would never be short of funds and hearts that are willing to help hurting children. Thank you Eric and Geri for joining the team and fight against human trafficking. But more importantly thank you for opening your home and hearts to Benny and Everlie and giving them the greatest gift of all. A FOREVER FAMILY. Randy and I send a big hug your way today. Thank you for making today special.

Carmen

Today is a sad day for me. My dear friend of many years suffered a stroke yesterday at the age of 54. Carmen and I go way back. Carmen has always been one of those friends that wanted to see all my pictures and hear all the stories of the children I met on my trips. I received this email from a friend today and it is a quote from Rick Warren. Great words of wisdom for us all. Please pray for my precious friend Carmen.

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.
Painful moments, TRUST GOD.
Every moment, THANK GOD.

The month of June

The month of June is such a mile marker for me and my family. It will be nine years June 16th since Randy and I lost our son Jantsen at the age of 15. I have such mixed emotions about THE DAY approaching and then passing. I dread it but then welcome it in such a weird twisted way. It is hard somedays to truly comprehend that I am surviving this life without him. I have been at the beach in Pensacola all week with my family. It is the one place that still holds the greatest memories of Jantsen and the time we spent down here as a family. This week has been bittersweet because we have been blessed by extended family joining us but there are also two big gapping holes in the posted picture. My nephew Dallas joined Jantsen this last fall at the young age of 28 from complications after a bone marrow transplant. So I post this picture of a family trying to stay pieced together only by the grace of God enduring another journey of grief missing Dallas. Maranatha