Vision

Last Week in Ghana was a much needed trip to regroup with staff and cast new visions. The picture above is the ten children we still have remaining up north in Kete Krachi. They have just finished a big day of enjoying a celebration in town and are enjoying lunch with their choice of soda drinks. These ten children will be moved down to Village of Hope to start school and their new life in July of 08. All twenty-one children rescued off Lake Volta will be living as a family soon. Yeah! Thank you Fred Asare and staff at Village of Hope for partnering with Touch A Life and helping us take care of these precious children.

Day at the beach

I have had a blast this week. You will not believe this story. Everyone from the Village of Hope went to the beach a few weeks ago. Ebenezer was taking a nap and got left behind. He woke up and there was no one there. He finally found a guard who took care of him. It just broke my heart.

Well, God is so good. Yesterday I asked if I could take only him to the beach since that horrible incident and they agreed. Crack me up, though, the houseparent said, "Please watch him closely and promise to not send him out to sea. Very dangerous water." I go and fetch him and then find out that Alex, the most recently rescued 12-year-old from the north, was in Cape Coast that day and had never been to the beach either, so we loaded him up, too.

All the cool college kids and I head to walk to the beach with the two boys beaming from ear to ear. Who should appear from under a tree and scare us to death, but Cashe the naked man. The story is his mother had a roadside stand and someone was stealing money. She went to a witch doctor to cast a spell on the thief and guess who has been crazy ever sense? I guess people give him clothes all the time, but he won't keep them on. He has a long beard and looks like a caveman. We are walking and then look back and he disappearred into think air.

So Ebenezer and Alex have all the college boys and girls to themselves with boogie boards and cokes at their demand. It was priceless. I know that will always be the best day of their lives. They both ate a whole chicken and steak kabob at lunch and had two Fantas with their food. I am in love with the college kids that were there I have never laughed so hard at one boy who reminded me so much of Jantsen. His name was Cole and I want him to marry Tatum.

Go Fish...

Just hung out with the boys this morning playing cards. I taught them Slap Jack, Go Fish and Concentration. They loved it. Ebenezer can never travel to the US because if he got near Vegas we would lose him forever. He was stacking the deck and dealing off the bottom--the little cheat. It was a crack-up how competitive he was.

It was great to see Mark laying down on his stomach and four little boys playing Go Fish and laughing and cheering when they won the game. Mark is awesome this year and no longer a brat. Hagar is the brat. She is such a snot at some times. I had to sit them all down and talk to them the other night. Ezekiel came up and told me that Hagar said they were not special (just the 7). Such a girl thing, He was crushed. So George and I told them that they must be family and kind to one another and they all agreed and hugged and committed to try. It was a hoot. The cool thing was as George and George Jr. were walking away to leave, Mark said, "Mr. Achibra, can I pray for you?" I have it on camera. The OCC kid was about to cry and said he will never forget it. So here is giant George kneeling down and Mark grabbed his hands and started praying. Priceless.

After corrupting the children with playing cards we moved onto the art room and totally trashed it and had a blast. They love to color and write letters. So once again if I had a dollar for everytime I wrote my address at the top of their letters we could build another building. The highlight of the day was three of the kids (Hagar, Richard, and Ebenezer) getting golden tickets after library time. They have read X amount of books and then they can use it at the store to buy a book or Bible. Richard is one of the best readers, amazing.

So many cool things happening here. I have hid out in the computer lab for an hour because if I hear "Ma Pam" one more time in the next hour I might not survive. They just love the attention so much and there is never enough adults to go around.

Looking forward to the college kids leading "DO YOUR THING." It is hilarious to watch the houseparents and kids dance in the middle of a huge cirlce DOING THEIR THING.

Ebenezer's Day

Yesterday was Ebenezer's day. He was very sad and I wanted to give him one on one time. He was very upset that George did not bring Israel and Teteh down to visit. George decided that is was too much because there is a group of twenty here. So it probably worked out okay because we have had major discussion between George, Fred, George Jr., Lucy, and Romana. Things are really growing here into a vision. We will all meet again today down at the beach for a late lunch to further discuss plans.

Anyway, it was just Ebenezer and I on the on the porch and I was scratching his back. It started pouring and everyone scattered. We were the only ones left there. We just sat and he recited his ABC's and then we started doing math drills. He is so smart. So he was beaming from ear to ear. Then I started asking questions about his other brothers that he had mentioned. He said he had an older brother that was still fishing. He said he also had many friends still out on the lake. He looked at me with real intensity and said............Ma Pam, you and Miss Aimee were the first white people I had ever seen. My Mother when I was fishing said we should not trust you. I said..........your mother at the fishing village, he said yes. When you came for Israel and Teteh, Ezekiel and I were going to beg you to take us. We were all going to run with you. Our mother told us if we all four left one of us would die. You were ghosts and evil people. He said we all four agreed we were not scared and we would run. I am about to scrape my heart off the porch at this point. I just keep asking over and over the questions and he keeps telling me very clearly counting four on his finger and saying, one will die, my mother says. we must hide when they come for you tomorrow.

I just held that child for two hours and prayed over him. We had a major breakthrough in our relationship. I am going to have George ask the whole story again because I want to get all the facts correct and make sure I am understanding him. He is very special. We talked about when his friend will come in July to live with him. He wanted to save a pair of soccer shoes for Israel and Teteh when they come. I had to tell him that I would bring more and that he needed to give the two pairs to the boys that were already living here. He was reluctant and not real happy but then he finally understood that I would bring more this summer. He loves them so much and was all smiles just talking about the kids from up north joining them in July. We kept counting on our fingers how many months until July. Wow, it was just an amazing time. He kept saying...............I thank you and Miss Aimee. He then ran in and brought out two picture of himself and Ezekiel and wanted me to give them to Miss Aimee. I told him to keep his picture and that I would give Miss Aimee pictures from my camera. He treasures those pictures and I knew he was giving up something very special to him.

These kids here are so great. Last night I went to the PrestonCrest house and they are all little girls ranging from four to 12 yrs. old. They were singing their devotional songs and raising the roof. Lucy and I were cracking up. Even the house mom Millicent was laughing at them because they were dancing and so expressive. They all had on their little dresses and earrings.

Well, today will be a great day of hashing out ideas and seeing what God is building here. Everyone is on board big time with John Bull and Stacy coming over. Fred, George and everyone here at V of H really liked them. Okay, the book needs to hit big. We need a vocational school up north and an unwed mother's home. So much to share when I get home.

Update on Ghana kids

Pam is in Ghana this week and just sent the following update on the kids...

The kids are great and I cannot tell you how the are just blossoming. Yesterday we spent all day on Matilda's porch painting with watercolors. You talk about warm my heart seeing the kids so into their project and chewing BUbble Yum and enjoying their suckers lost in a world of creativity. Little Alex who was moved when Bud came. He was so quiet and very withdrawn with me. Yesterday he came to life with his paper and paints. He worked and worked and never looked up only to smile and share how happy he was in his element. He was so proud of himself and was just beaming. He is our little artist just budding out. Spent a good time having Matilda translate some hard questions and just talking for hours with the kids and allowing them to share.

Mark's mother came to visit. Matilda got her whole story. Her husband left her and fled to Nigeria and she was left with the 3 kids. Kofi, Hagar and Mark were sold when she said she could not feed them. She showed up husbandless with a little girl on her back under the age of one. She wanted Matilda and Margaret to take and care for that child. The women were not very impressed with her to say the least. Mark cried and clung to Margaret and said, this is my mother. Hagar was happy to see her mother and very interested in the little sister. Kofi was just okay. Mark does not even remember that he had a mother and was very confused and scared. So he was very small when she sold him. These stories just broke my heart. Hagar of course had made me cards and had bookmarkers and was so happy to give me her gifts. I just love that child and there is something so special about her.

John Arthur is the most beautiful child and melts my heart. Everyone brags on him and his leadership and they say he takes a father role. Immanuel patted his tummy and said, he eats soooooooooooooooooo much and we cannot cook enough rice for him. John is just smiling the whole time and looks at his V of H father with such acceptance. His ball boots fit and he was very happy and then helped Ezekiel find a pair that fit.

Kobi is doing awesome and is all smiles. He cracks me up because he lost his baby teeth and has not quit grown into his new teeth and they are extemely laaaaaaaaaaaaarge and it has changed his whole looks. I just remember Kobi being so small and now he is meaty and playing catch up and growing like a weed. It is just amazing to think of the little scared boy that was on the island this time last year. Now he is running around and kicking a soccer ball non-stop and very agressive and confident.

Richard still breaks my heart. Pray for him. Just something so broken about his eyes still. There is nothing to worry about with Kofi, he is so strong and smiles with confidence. He is precious. Kojo, same old Kojo, laid back, smiley, and so easy-going.

Sara loved her new clothes and bathed quickly and wore her new shirt and flip-flops immediately. That child is so gorgeous. V of H printed a new brochure and Sara's smile is on the front just radiant. I know why they picked her because she just lights up a room.

Ezekiel and Ebenezer cannot be described in words how happy they are. EZ never is without a smile. Ebenezer is always two inches from me and likes to be my assistant. They are wonderful little boys. They told me yesterday that they have brothers that are still fishing. I will ask George about all of this today when I see them. They also shared that they still have many friends out on the lake working. I needed this trip to rekindle the fight in me.

GHANA BOUND

Heading out to Africa this morning. I really miss the kids and will be so excited to love on them. Crista and Van are helping me pack the goodie bags filled with their favorite candy. I also found a wonderful manager at Shoe Carnival that gave me a huge discount on soccer cleats aka BALL BOOTS in Ghana for the boys. This may be the last trip where we can carry supplies with the cost of fuel. God is good.

This painting is by an amazing Ghanian Artist, Kofi Agorsor. Kofi lives in Accra, Ghana and shared his gift of art with the children at Village of Hope last year. He along with his wife spent two weeks working with the children and introducing them to a new world that most never knew existed. Touch A Life has partnered with Chidlren's Art Village and we will be hosting another art/music camp this August. I am so excited about my trip next week to visit the kids in Ghana. I have stocked up on Laffy Taffy and chewing gum. Thank you Kofi Agorsor. This picture makes me smile and I long to be in Africa.