Our Faithful Followers,
It has almost been a week since we left America and we are only falling more in love with the country of Ghana. Every day we experience something new that draws us closer to the people and only makes us want to do more to help the individuals in need.
This morning we visited the orphanage around 9 am and we were able to see the kids assemble as they prayed for the other group of volunteers as they returned to America. As soon as they hear the bell, the kids run into lines based on age and height and nobody is talking. It was really cute. We had a chance to speak to the woman who runs the orphanage, she is an oborone, which means white person, from Australia. She just got over her bout with Malaria and she looked great. She was also much more welcoming today allowing us to take many pictures and we were able to meet with her and find out how we could further help their cause.
Around 11 am, Courtney and her group from Atlanta left for Accra because their flight is Thursday. The orphanage gave them some beautiful native gifts for everything they did for the kids.
After the orphanage we went to visit the building site which was off to a great start. Their were over 10 workers and wedecided we would be joining them tomorrow to help lay the cement and begin the foundation.
Soon after we had lunch which was really delicious. Probably one of the better meals we have had. After lunch, we thought it would be a good idea to visit the man who was responsible for providing us with our living situation, Mr. Charles. He is one of the managers for AnglaGold Ashanti and he was so kind. He talked to us about his travels and offered to help us with anything we would need during our stay. He also said he wished us to return in the future if we were given the opportunity. He invited us to his house sometime this week to meet his Russian wife and his daughter.
After meeting with Mr. Charles we came home and rested a bit before dinner. Tonight we had a very Ghanaian dish for supper, Banku and Okro Soup. Banku was basically a ground corn ball which was like play-doh. Okro was quite the mixture of just about every kind of food found in Ghana. It had fish, kahuro (which tastes like a tendon but is actually the back skin of the cow), okro (a Ghanian vegetable), and oil. Basically we had to use only our hands and pick up part of the banku and then stick it to some of the okro stew. Janie couldn't handle it, Genna struggled but she tried it, Matt couldn't take the banku because it was so slimy and the texture really killed him but Matt and Michael tried the kahuro and it tasted like a tire... literally.
We just walked through the pouring rain in our ponchos just to keep our promise to all of you! Tomorrow we are waking up early to go help build for about 5 hours and it is supposed to be really hot. We are working really hard to ensure that our impact here is felt but we are also enjoying the culture and learning so much about ourselves.
Until next time,
The Oborone's (That means white man in Twi)
PS: I apologize for not posting pictures but it is no possible. We tried today and the computers are too ancient to perform such tasks at the internet cafe. We tried to upload them but it took like 30 minutes for one and then it failed. You can all be patient and wait until we get home. If we find faster computers we will be sure to post some.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Days 3 and 4 in Obuasi
Hello Everyone,
The last two days have been so exciting. Yesterday started off really early so we could make it to the market. The market was really interesting and had so many things that we have never seen. We had some Ghanaian dougnut-like substance for breakfast which didn't hold over well for most of us. The smell of the market was quite trying to say the least especially because of the dead fish all over the place. After the market we brought our new American friend, Courtney, to the orphanage and we left to meet the carpenter at the building site. The cost of rebuilding everything came out to be around $2,500.
We decided to go exchange some travelers checks so we could buy the material and it took close to 3 hours to get the money. After the excruciating bank we purchased the supplies and then left for the girls to get fitted for their Ghanaian style dresses for the wedding on Saturday.
Right when we got home we left to watch Sammy play soccer at a local field. It was pretty exciting and Sammy's team won.
After dinner we were so exhausted that we all went to sleep. Today we woke up early again and went to the bank to exchange the rest of our money. It didn't take nearly as long... thank God. Matt wants me to insert here that three separate people have called Matt "Beckham" because they say he looks like him.
After the bank we went to the orphanage to play with the kids and it was so much fun. Genna taught a group of the deaf kids how to throw a frisbee and she played games with them. Janie finally was able to hold a baby the native Ghanaian way by using a piece of cloth and wrapping it around her body with the baby on her back. Matt was really excited to take pictures because we were finally given permission to and he took hundreds. He also held his favorite kid Nana Kofi. Michael was with Joseph the entire time. He fell asleep in his arms and Michael tried to put him in his bed but he got up and started crying for Michael to hold him.
After we left the orphanage we went home and had dinner. Once again it was fish and nobody ate any of it except for Michael. That is about it for the last two days. Everyone is enjoying themselves and having such incredible experiences. Thank you everyone who helped make this trip possible. I promise we will take as many pictures as possible to show how happy we are making the kids and how much progress we have made on building the public facility.
We will try and write as often as possible which might be every other day.
Sincerely,
The Ghanaian Crew (Janie, Michael, Genna, and Matt)
The last two days have been so exciting. Yesterday started off really early so we could make it to the market. The market was really interesting and had so many things that we have never seen. We had some Ghanaian dougnut-like substance for breakfast which didn't hold over well for most of us. The smell of the market was quite trying to say the least especially because of the dead fish all over the place. After the market we brought our new American friend, Courtney, to the orphanage and we left to meet the carpenter at the building site. The cost of rebuilding everything came out to be around $2,500.
We decided to go exchange some travelers checks so we could buy the material and it took close to 3 hours to get the money. After the excruciating bank we purchased the supplies and then left for the girls to get fitted for their Ghanaian style dresses for the wedding on Saturday.
Right when we got home we left to watch Sammy play soccer at a local field. It was pretty exciting and Sammy's team won.
After dinner we were so exhausted that we all went to sleep. Today we woke up early again and went to the bank to exchange the rest of our money. It didn't take nearly as long... thank God. Matt wants me to insert here that three separate people have called Matt "Beckham" because they say he looks like him.
After the bank we went to the orphanage to play with the kids and it was so much fun. Genna taught a group of the deaf kids how to throw a frisbee and she played games with them. Janie finally was able to hold a baby the native Ghanaian way by using a piece of cloth and wrapping it around her body with the baby on her back. Matt was really excited to take pictures because we were finally given permission to and he took hundreds. He also held his favorite kid Nana Kofi. Michael was with Joseph the entire time. He fell asleep in his arms and Michael tried to put him in his bed but he got up and started crying for Michael to hold him.
After we left the orphanage we went home and had dinner. Once again it was fish and nobody ate any of it except for Michael. That is about it for the last two days. Everyone is enjoying themselves and having such incredible experiences. Thank you everyone who helped make this trip possible. I promise we will take as many pictures as possible to show how happy we are making the kids and how much progress we have made on building the public facility.
We will try and write as often as possible which might be every other day.
Sincerely,
The Ghanaian Crew (Janie, Michael, Genna, and Matt)
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Day 2: Services
Just another update. Everyone is doing great and really enjoying themselves. Last night we had quite an experience on our way to drop off some friends. Our car broke down and the battery wasn't turning the engine over. Michael had the idea to try pushing it and put it in second to start it and well it worked... The problem was, he was in the driver seat and took off not knowing how to change gears or turn the car around. So picture Michael, white, driving down a dark street past two cops with AK-47's and having no clue what to do next. Funny sight. He got it turned around and everything was ok but it was one of the funniest things yet. Especially because Matt, our friends Patrick (Sam's brother), Sticky, and Luther were behind the car pushing down the street!
This morning Michael and Janie woke up at 6 am and went running and of course, Michael threw up which was expected. After breakfast we went to a Methodist service for two hours which was entirely in the native language and very hot. When we first sat down in the church we were sitting next to a ten year old girl and her two year old brother. Their parents didn't go to church so the 10 year old sister took her little brother to church alone. By the end of the service we had over 7 kids surrounding us. After the service we met a soccer player who plays for the Ghana National team. He is the goalie and his name is Frank. He invited us to his apartment and then he gave us an invitation to his wedding on the 2nd which is going to be really interesting.
Later on we went home and had lunch then left for the orphanage and played with the kids for a couple hours. Genna spent some time in the baby room and watched them give the baby's baths. Michael and Matt spent time with the two kids, Joseph (Michael) and Nanakofe (Matt), they were holding yesterday and Janie was holding a 4 month old baby. Everyone had a lot of fun and we brought some toys. Each of us plans to be fluent in the native language Twi by the time we leave.
We left the orphanage for our second service which was also two hours. They spent so much time praying for us and we witnessed some pretty interesting things... to say the least.
After the service we went home and taught Sammy's younger siblings how to play baseball and throw a frisbee. Genna was teaching the youngest cousin and she was by far the best of them all... even better than Matt but he won't admit it.
Dinner was very good, at least for Michael. It was supposed to be tuna but it tasted more like anchovie. The soup was something like clam chowder but with chicken in it.
Anyways, its getting really late and we are all really tired and have to wake up at 7 am tomorrow to go to the market to buy food for the orphanage.
Comment on our blogs!
Much love,
The Ghanian Crew
This morning Michael and Janie woke up at 6 am and went running and of course, Michael threw up which was expected. After breakfast we went to a Methodist service for two hours which was entirely in the native language and very hot. When we first sat down in the church we were sitting next to a ten year old girl and her two year old brother. Their parents didn't go to church so the 10 year old sister took her little brother to church alone. By the end of the service we had over 7 kids surrounding us. After the service we met a soccer player who plays for the Ghana National team. He is the goalie and his name is Frank. He invited us to his apartment and then he gave us an invitation to his wedding on the 2nd which is going to be really interesting.
Later on we went home and had lunch then left for the orphanage and played with the kids for a couple hours. Genna spent some time in the baby room and watched them give the baby's baths. Michael and Matt spent time with the two kids, Joseph (Michael) and Nanakofe (Matt), they were holding yesterday and Janie was holding a 4 month old baby. Everyone had a lot of fun and we brought some toys. Each of us plans to be fluent in the native language Twi by the time we leave.
We left the orphanage for our second service which was also two hours. They spent so much time praying for us and we witnessed some pretty interesting things... to say the least.
After the service we went home and taught Sammy's younger siblings how to play baseball and throw a frisbee. Genna was teaching the youngest cousin and she was by far the best of them all... even better than Matt but he won't admit it.
Dinner was very good, at least for Michael. It was supposed to be tuna but it tasted more like anchovie. The soup was something like clam chowder but with chicken in it.
Anyways, its getting really late and we are all really tired and have to wake up at 7 am tomorrow to go to the market to buy food for the orphanage.
Comment on our blogs!
Much love,
The Ghanian Crew
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Day 1 in Obuasi
Hello from Obuasi, Ghana,
I don't even know where to start! Yesterday was perhaps one of the longest days we have ever experienced, technically because it was two days blended together. After our thirteen hour flight into Accra, the capital, our friend Sammy was waiting with a car and a driver to bring us to Obuasi.
Our time in Africa started off so incredibly, we were able to meet with Janie's sponsor child through the Compassion organization and it was so much fun meeting them. They were so grateful to meet us and Janie gave her so many gifts.
Soon after we decided it would be a good idea to get a start on the "4" hour drive to Obuasi... The van was so packed with our clothes and food that all four of us had to squeeze into space for two people. Basically it came down to three of us squeezing on the bench seat and one laying on top of our feet. Well if that doesn't sound funny enough, turns out the drive was a solid 6 hours and I can't even tell you how much we were laughing during this entire drive and how much we learned about eachother.
Once we arrived in Obuasi we were so shocked by how incredibly nice the people are! They have so little but we found out soon that they give so much. Our housing was provided by AnglaGold Ashanti which is a gold mining company and a group provided us with all of our food which was so generous of them. So far, our meals have been very filling and very native to Ghana which is awesome.
Today (Saturday), we left for the Adullam Orphanage to visit the kids and see if there was any way in which we can help. The kids were so kind and loving, all of them love soccer and are always smiling. We met the people who run the orphanage and they are all so dedicated and sacrifice so much for the kids. There are around 206 kids at the orphanage and we got a tour of the entire place. There is a no picture policy because some people have gone to the orphanage and used pictures of the kids to raise money fraudulently. It is so sad that people would take advantage of people like that but we understand why they are cautious about pictures now.
After the orphanage we met with the people who provided us with all the food and we saw their pubilc gathering area and we found so much we can do to help them. It is just 2x4's holding up a roof that is half covered. We are going to try and rebuild the weaker parts while we are here and also see if we can buy some things for the orphanage on Monday and bring them large amounts of food.
We have to get going now though! Everyone is doing great and we can't wait to send you pictures.
Michael, Janie, Genna, and Matthew
I don't even know where to start! Yesterday was perhaps one of the longest days we have ever experienced, technically because it was two days blended together. After our thirteen hour flight into Accra, the capital, our friend Sammy was waiting with a car and a driver to bring us to Obuasi.
Our time in Africa started off so incredibly, we were able to meet with Janie's sponsor child through the Compassion organization and it was so much fun meeting them. They were so grateful to meet us and Janie gave her so many gifts.
Soon after we decided it would be a good idea to get a start on the "4" hour drive to Obuasi... The van was so packed with our clothes and food that all four of us had to squeeze into space for two people. Basically it came down to three of us squeezing on the bench seat and one laying on top of our feet. Well if that doesn't sound funny enough, turns out the drive was a solid 6 hours and I can't even tell you how much we were laughing during this entire drive and how much we learned about eachother.
Once we arrived in Obuasi we were so shocked by how incredibly nice the people are! They have so little but we found out soon that they give so much. Our housing was provided by AnglaGold Ashanti which is a gold mining company and a group provided us with all of our food which was so generous of them. So far, our meals have been very filling and very native to Ghana which is awesome.
Today (Saturday), we left for the Adullam Orphanage to visit the kids and see if there was any way in which we can help. The kids were so kind and loving, all of them love soccer and are always smiling. We met the people who run the orphanage and they are all so dedicated and sacrifice so much for the kids. There are around 206 kids at the orphanage and we got a tour of the entire place. There is a no picture policy because some people have gone to the orphanage and used pictures of the kids to raise money fraudulently. It is so sad that people would take advantage of people like that but we understand why they are cautious about pictures now.
After the orphanage we met with the people who provided us with all the food and we saw their pubilc gathering area and we found so much we can do to help them. It is just 2x4's holding up a roof that is half covered. We are going to try and rebuild the weaker parts while we are here and also see if we can buy some things for the orphanage on Monday and bring them large amounts of food.
We have to get going now though! Everyone is doing great and we can't wait to send you pictures.
Michael, Janie, Genna, and Matthew
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Pre Trip
Everyone,
I just want to thank everyone for your support for this trip so far. Right now we are working really hard for the last minute preparations such as mosquito nets and medications we might need (hopefully not)! This is the website you will be able to find daily updates about what we are doing while we are in the beautiful country of Ghana. Check back and I promise I will try to make every entry as interesting yet succinct as possible.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)