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