Ghana Trip: March 15.

At 12:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, the Touch A Life team embarked on a 10-hour journey to Kete-Krachi (in the Lake Volta region). Try as they might, the Touch A Life team members struggled to get cozy in their 15-passenger van (which thankfully had air conditioning). Things got extremely uncomfortable when the driver hit the halfway point, in which the semi-paved roads turned completely to dirt. Needless to say, the rest of the drive was...eventful. For more traumatizing stories, contact me personally, as I'd like to spare the details for those with weak stomachs...

Truly, though, we were blessed with a driver who was able to get us from Gomoa-Fetteh to Kete-Krachi in one piece. Upon our arrival, we headed straight to George Achibra's house. George is the Ghanaian volunteer in charge of both the Village of Life program and the actual rescues themselves. He is an education official in Kete-Krachi and is incredibly well-known amongst the residents of his community, as well as in Ghana as a whole. It was amazing to get to spend time with an influential leader like George. We spent time partaking in the Ghanaian tradition of sitting under the mango tree, discussing where we all have been and where we all are going. 

The Achibra family had prepared breakfast for us, and we inhaled our food and our coffee. We headed over to the Village of Life. This program was designed for teenagers in the 14-18 age range who have been rescued off of Lake Volta. Because they are too old to enroll in school, they have tutors teach them to read, write and speak English. Additionally, they receive vocational training so that they can create income-generating programs for themselves and for their community. For example, they're currently learning basket-weaving and jewelry-making.

As we pulled up to the Village of Life, we all simultaneously noticed that the dormitory building had been given a name: Jantsen's House, dedicated to Pam and Randy's son who passed away in June of 1999. George and his family had decided to name the house in Jantsen's honor and wanted to surprise Pam upon her arrival. Needless to say, it was an emotional welcoming.

The Touch A Life team members spent the rest of the afternoon getting to know the teenagers at the Village of Life. The 10 kids who reside there are incredible. They are talented, gracious and smart. They all have incredible leadership potential. We taught them to make jewelry and how to play card games. I spent a majority of the afternoon interviewing them to obtain their biographies and to learn their stories. Like the rest of the children rescued by the Touch A Life Foundation, these teenagers have devastating backgrounds. In particular, the story of Doris, a 16-year-old girl, really struck me. She was impregnated by her master's son at the age of 14. While living in wretched conditions, she gave birth to a daughter. Doris's daughter didn't live past a few days. Stories like these are sadly common but regardless of the situation, these teenagers (and all of the children in Touch A Life's ministries) are kind, happy and content. Their circumstances don't determine their joy.

In the evening, the Touch A Life team members returned to George's for another home-cooked meal. The Ghanaian people are so hospitable. It was great to unwind with good food and great company. 

All of the team members went to bed slightly anxious, knowing that the next day would be the time to venture out onto Lake Volta. 

Rachel

Ghana Trip: March 14.

Beautiful boys at the Village of Hope Orphanage.

On Saturday morning, the Touch A Life team members tackled the task of interviewing the 21 rescued children to acquire their biographies. Because of the level of excitement generated by the new visitors at the Village of Hope, all of the children wanted to participate, resulting in the acquisition of over 100 biographies. It was chaotic, hilarious, productive and fun. 

The team members explored the local village of Gomoa-Fetteh and spent as much time as possible bonding with the kids. In the evening, some of the Touch A Life team members doled out new shirts from our donors for the kids. Kids Caring 4 Kids and the ATO Fraternity at Pepperdine University donated shirts from their causes and the children loved trying on their new clothes. They were so excited to receive new outfits. It was so much fun playing and laughing with them. 

Up next: the tale of the traumatic 10-and-a-half-hour drive to Lake Volta...

Some of the 21 rescued by TAL in their Kids Caring 4 Kids shirts.

Pam, bonding and coloring with the kids.

Mark and Rachel, donning the new Touch A Life foundation shirts, which feature the name, handprint and rescue date of the children the organization has saved.

Mark was the first boy rescued off of Lake Volta by the Touch A Life Foundation.

Pam and Rachel with Mark.

Sweet boys at the Village of Hope.

Rachel

Ghana Trip: March 13.

Rachel and some of the boys at the Village of Hope Orphanage.

As previously mentioned, eight phenomenal women journeyed to Ghana to evaluate the progress being made in the Touch A Life programs located there. For the next couple of days, I'll post recaps of our adventures on the blog.

We'll start with Friday, March 13. After nearly two days of traveling, the members of the Touch A Life team (consisting of Pam Cope, Emily George, Rachael Wise, Tara Seidman, Leah Cypert, Dana Rector, Sherri Gaskie and myself) were thrilled to get settled in at the Village of Hope Orphanage in Gomoa-Fetteh, Ghana. Friday was Pam's birthday, and what better way to celebrate this incredible woman's life than by spending time with some amazing kids? 

The morning began with a Freedom Stones meeting. Leah Cypert started a foundation that provides at-risk women and children with vocational training in hopes of teaching them a trade while also stimulating their local economies. Specifically, Leah purchases beads made in local markets and teaches her students how to create beautiful jewelry. In Ghana, there is a huge market for this; local Ghanaian factories make unique beads out of recycled glass bottles. Leah seeks to implement her ideas within the Ghanaian community, and specifically within Touch A Life's sphere of influence. The meeting informed the house moms (the women who live with the children at the Village of Hope) of the opportunities they have to get plugged in with this ministry.

In the afternoon, the Touch A Life team members met with two colleagues from Beacon House, an orphanage in Accra (the capital of Ghana). Touch A Life is continually seeking to solidify collaborative efforts with other non-profit groups, and we appreciate being aligned with a great cause like Beacon House. 

The rest of the day was spent enjoying time with the children at the Village of Hope. All of the kids, including the 21 the Touch A Life Foundation has rescued, are incredible. Their circumstance does not determine their joy. It was particularly joyfu

l for me to reconnect with the children there since I had met most of them in August while serving at the Children's Art Village camp. Pam and Rachael were also in attendance during that week in August, and it was so much fun for the three of us to cherish memories we'd made together six months ago. The children welcomed us back with open arms, and were so excited to meet new friends as well. 

Pam with Macho, one of the 21 rescued by the Touch A Life Foundation.

Boys being boys at the Village of Hope Orphanage.

Rachel

Reader's Digest.

Reader's Digest featured Pam's story in an excerpt from her book, Jantsen's Gift: A True Story of Grief, Rescue, and Grace. 

This dignified magazine reaches many different demographics and is an exciting platform to continue sharing Touch A Life's story with others.

The article is titled "One Family's Journey from Loss to a New Life" and is extremely powerful and moving.

The story is moving, inspiring and incredible. See an excerpt from the Reader's Digest article and get excited to purchase your own copy of the book. 

Jessica

T-Shirts.

As the Touch A Life intern, I have been working on designing a merchandising line for the past month. We finally received our first shipment of shirts and they look fantastic! Our first shirt was created to honor Mark, the first child rescued off of Lake Volta through the funding of the Touch A Life Foundation.

Our goal is to design an entire line of shirts that will commemorate all original 8 children who were rescued out of slavery by Touch A Life.

Here is a preview of what the shirts look like:

We are hoping to add a link to our Touch A Life website soon for people to be able to order these new shirts. Keep an eye out for this merchandising link on our home page. 

Jessica

Donation Stories.

Exciting new donation stories have been posted on our Touch A Life website.

Visit the Touch A Life home page to read about these amazing stories of generosity that have helped contribute to our success.

Jessica

Ghana Independence Day.

Today is Independence Day in Ghana. On March 6, 1957, the people of Ghana celebrated the end of colonial rule in their country. Many workers in Ghana have been given the day off to recognize and honor this important day. 

This holiday, comparable to the American celebration of the Fourth of July, is exciting and noteworthy. But it is also a reminder that though the country is free of outside rule, independence and freedom are not exercised by all. Hundreds of children are still enslaved on Lake Volta, and they need our help to enjoy the independence that the rest of the Ghanaian citizens are celebrating on this very day. 

Rachel

Kirkus Reviews.

We received another great review the other day, this time by Kirkus Reviews. It is so exciting to get great feedback on the book, and we can't wait for Jantsen's Gift to hit shelves on April 16. 

• A Missouri hair-salon owner confronts personal tragedy by rescuing at-risk children overseas: When her 15-year old son Jantsen died from a heart problem in 1999, Cope's world came crashing down. An offer from friend Carol to visit Vietnam helped draw her out of her misery. Cope found beautiful countryside marred by a population in the midst of staggering poverty levels A visit to an orphanage put her personal suffering in perspective as she and Randy witnessed tiny babies and toddlers living parentless and alone. They initiated the grueling adoption process after a chance encounter with Van, a small boy curled up on a floor mat. After Van became part of their family, Cope reflects that "rocking him to sleep every day for his nap was like a balm on my heart." Back at home, the author solicited donations for a fund dedicated to the betterment of young lives in Vietnam, and she began appearing and speaking at area volunteer groups, social gatherings and churches, garnering varying degrees of interest in her cause. Cope's humanitarian project truly took off when the author sold her wedding ring to increase the fund's coffers and gave her project a name, Touch A Life. As the organization grew, other deplorable situations caught her attention: factories recruiting child laborers, young girls working the sex trade and human trafficking. The author's charitable, compassionate nature saturates the narrative, giving it a smooth, unrushed flow. By 2001, she and her husband Randy had further extended their family with other adoptions and expanded cross-cultural outreach efforts to Ghana, Haiti and Cambodia. Skillfully written account of finding hope after grief.

Rachel

Donation Stories.

Beginning Friday, March 6, there will be a new story every day about unique ways in which Touch A Life supporters have donated over the past year. These stories are touching, creative and inspiring all at once. Stay tuned!

Rachel