tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64848343706650719542023-11-15T06:11:50.259-08:00Ghana TripMichael Wurthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11562733634226801728noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484834370665071954.post-65638456775283987572009-07-03T02:35:00.000-07:002009-07-03T02:59:49.646-07:00Curtins Returns to Obuasi!We received the call! Curtins has been released from the hospital. They believe that all of his symptoms are being caused by malnutrition. The good news: We can buy plenty of food to help offset this for some time. We have already purchased close to $2,000 worth of food which will last for some time. However, the most expensive foods are precisely the ones that kids like Curtins need the most. Things like fish, peanut butter, beans, and other protein-rich foods are extremely important here in Ghana where protein is often hard to come by. Most meals are full of rice and corn and soup, but it is extremely difficult for the kids to come across protein which is so important at their peak growth age.<br /><br />On a brighter note. William, one of the older boys at the orphanage was suffering from an infection in his kidneys which caused his face and hands to balloon. The cause was most likely malaria throughout his life. However, after visiting the Doctors at the hospital in Kumasi, he was prescribed an antibiotic to cure the infection. Because the orphanage was unable to cover the cost, United Students for Africa was able to provide William with the antibiotics he needed. In just the past week, William is back on his feel playing "futbol" and running around with the other kids. The pains have ceased and William is on the road to recovery!<br /><br />If you would like to help us help these kids, please donate by either sending a check to:<br />United Students for Africa, Inc.<br />627 S Manchester St.<br />Anaheim, CA 92802<br /><br />Or by visiting our website and transferring money via Paypal:<br />www.unitedstudentsforafrica.org<br /><br />Today we plan on visiting the market again and spending the money we have set aside for Adullam orphanage on other necessities. We will be visiting the Volta Region Sunday through Tuesday to bring aid to Hardt Haven--an orphanage specializing in children with HIV.<br /><br />Thank you all for your support. We look forward to touching as many lives as possible throughout our last week in Ghana.Michael Wurthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11562733634226801728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484834370665071954.post-33279870730862168842009-06-30T09:06:00.000-07:002009-06-30T09:14:00.480-07:00Curtins Update from Komfo Anokye HospitalGood news! Curtins is doing excellent. I went to visit him yesterday in Kumasi. I went along with one of the kids from the orphanage and one of the workers. We took the "metro" bus and arrived right at visiting hours. As soon as I walked through the door, Curtins got out of his little bed and yelled Michael and ran to me. That was the first time I had seen him run since last year.<br /><br />We spoke to the Doctor and he informed us that Curtins hasn't thrown up for two days--since the nutritionist met with him. He seems very strong right now and wouldn't stop talking! He kept asking me questions and telling me he wanted me to get him five eggs. After I went to get him all 5 eggs, he told me, through an interpreter, that he didn't want to stay there anymore. I assumed he meant the hospital so I told him he had to stay to get his tests done. He replied, "America!" That was about the only english word he knew how to speak. I got the point though.<br /><br />Apparently Curtins won't stop telling everyone that he doesn't want to stay here anymore, but wants to come to America with us when we leave. I told him he had to stay in the hospital until he gets better before he can think about America! I also told him he should start studying english... :)<br /><br />When we left, Curtins was sure to ask me when everyone would visit him again. I told him we would come back soon. He is supposed to be getting his heart scan right now, but who really knows. Hopefully he gets it done soon.<br /><br />Until next time,<br /><br />MichaelMichael Wurthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11562733634226801728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484834370665071954.post-35300743319727005062009-06-29T03:55:00.000-07:002009-06-29T04:21:11.449-07:00Market DaysAfter compiling the list of things needed by Adullam, we went through and put everything in order of importance. Because they freeze just about everything, buying in bulk of all foods is made possible. We tried to place nutritious foods, especially protein rich, at the top of our list.<br /><br />After compiling the list, we split up into groups of three. Janie, Genna, and Kerri had their hands full taking pictures of each of the kids and taking down names in order to explore the possibility of starting pen-pal program with schools throughout America. The directors liked the idea because it would give the children the chance to learn more about America and also to practice their English.<br /><br />Michael, John and Laine were sent to the market to do the dirty work. In the market we split into two groups, each with a separate list of items. In all we were able to purchase close to $1,000 worth of goods in 3 hours. We bought beans, frozen fish, plantains, yams, toilet paper, vaseline, toothpaste, groundnut paste, cabbage, garlic, onions, and much much more.<br /><br />It was an extremely successful day and Adullam was so excited to receive so many necessities. To top off the day, we received a phone call from Curtins from the hospital explaining that the nutritionist came by and he is full of energy and has stopped vomiting. Curtins then got on the phone and sounded so excited and much stronger. I can't wait to see him today and report on his condition after speaking to his Doctors.<br /><br />Tomorrow, we will be slaughtering the sheep that we gave to Adullam. It will be the first time the kids will be eating meat other than fish in over 2 months. You should see their faces when we took the sheep out of the car!<br /><br />Life is great here in Ghana, we had a huge thunderstorm last night but luckily were able to cut down huge branches to use as umbrellas on our walk from the orphanage to home. Everyone is doing great and we have touched so many lives up to this point. We can't wait to see what the next 11 days has in store for us!<br /><br />Genna, Janie, John, Laine, Kerri, and MichaelMichael Wurthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11562733634226801728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484834370665071954.post-25434545606174250472009-06-26T11:38:00.000-07:002009-06-26T11:48:18.366-07:00Goats, Curtis, Long Drives, Ghanaian Hospitals and MoreReally been slacking on the blog I know. Days are flying by and it seems like there is never enough time to make it to the internet cafe. The past couple days we have experienced many different things. Most importantly we had a meeting with the founder of the orphanage and figured out all the necessities that they will be needing. Everything from rice, beans and tomato paste to soap and toiletries.<br /><br />We finally figured out how we will accomplish everything in the last weeks we have here. We are planning a day trip to visit villages outside Obuasi; this is where poverty has its strongest hold. Furthermore we will be visiting an orphanage in the Volta Region about 8 hours away by car. The orphanage is called Hardt Haven and specializes in orphans with AIDS.<br /><br />Today was very busy. We woke up extremely early to meet everyone at Adullam where we left for Kumasi to visit Curtis and speak to the Doctors. He was moved to the pulmonary/cardiac unit of the hospital because they believe he has a heart condition. However, they still have not ruled out Tuberculosis.<br /><br />The Doctor said they haven't done the further heart scans because there is only one machine and one Doctor capable of using it. They were able to do an abdominal ultrasound and x-ray which they said came back normal--other than the fluid and gas buildup which they said was caused from malnutrition.<br /><br />They confirmed he had an infection from his blood tests and gave him a prescription and he is feeling much better. They also prescribed a strong vitamin to help him gain strength since he is rejecting almost all the food they have given him. The good news is that Monday they will be sending a nutritionist to visit Curtis and go over a meal plan with the doctors so they can ease him into consuming full meals.<br /><br />As always, whatever we find out we will let everyone know immediately. The next couple days should be extremely exciting and we can't wait to see what is in store for us.<br /><br />Michael, Genna, Janie, John, Kerri, and LaineMichael Wurthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11562733634226801728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484834370665071954.post-71791523053638076012009-06-23T07:55:00.000-07:002009-06-23T08:24:50.910-07:00A Little More InfoThe days have been hectic but so far everything is going well. The place that we are staying is nice and comfortable but we have been trying to find a constant food supply that saves as much money as possible. We've been living off eggs and MRE's.<br /><br />Yesterday, at the hospital, everyone was quickly humbled. The hospital we went to was the biggest hospital in Ghana and it was incredibly busy. We walked in to the waiting room which had over 300 people in line. Luckily we had all our information and they considered Curtis' case an emergency so he was sent to a much shorter waiting room that took only 2 hours. Janie and I (Michael) were able to go with Curtis in to see the doctor. I think he took the case a little more seriously simply because of our presence. He checked Curtis' vitals and felt his stomach and asked many questions about his health. We told him everything we knew and explained that everytime he ate, he would throw everything up an hour later. We also stressed the fact that he is 6 years old and weighs about 25 lbs. His heart rate was extremely high at about 140 bpm when he was practically sleeping on Janie.<br /><br />The Doctor spoke to us for a bit and admitted Curtis into the Pediatric Emergency Unit. We walked Curtis over to the area which was on the other side of the hospital where he was taken in to see specialists. The hardest part was watching him get his IV and hearing him scream. They took his blood and injected him with something quickly after. After the examinations the Doctors said they were suspicious that it may be Tuberculosis or a congenital hear problem; neither of which are good, but the latter can be treated much more easily.<br /><br />Last night he spent the night at the hospital with one of the people from the orphanage, Nelson. In the room next to him, there was a baby getting a spinal tap that had meningitis. Because the hospital has no closed rooms, we were able to watch the entire process. During the night Curtis slept extremely well but could not hold food down as he threw up what was given to him twice. I asked to stay the night with Curtis but Nelson told me only one person should stay with him and that I needed to go back to Obuasi to get his health card. After six hours at the hospital we returned to Obuasi for the night.<br /><br />This morning we woke up early again and returned to Kumasi after picking up one of the mother's at the orphanage. The drive wasn't too bad today and everyone seemed pretty comfortable. The hospital was once again filled with sickness and suffering so it was emotionally draining even for the two hours we stayed today.<br /><br />As soon as we got to the hospital I walked into the Pediatric Unit to see Curtis laying on a table having an ultrasound of his heart. It was clearly working much too hard. The Doctor then sent Curtis to have an x-ray of his lungs to check for tuberculosis. I took Curtis across the hospital where he again threw up all his breakfast. We waited a short time and the Doctor allowed me to see his x-rays after they were developed. His lungs looked clear, but his heart looked very big for his body size and the Doctor confirmed that his lungs were clear and that they weren't entirely ruling out TB but they were going to focus more on his heart. The doctor who performed the ultrasound requested a more detailed scan of his heart because he said it looked as though his heart had an abnormality in the blood flow. After speaking to the doctor more about it, I still don't fully understand what they mean but they literally said: "blood is flowing abnormally through his heart."<br /><br />We left Curtis again with one of the mothers and took Nelson back to the orphanage. Tomorrow he will have more tests done to confirm what exactly is wrong with him. He is so strong yet I know how hard this is on him. Last night, Nelson told me they were both awoken by the screams of parents, twice throughout the night, because two babies, one hour apart, died. I can only imagine how scared he is. Thank you all so much again for your help. I will try and update the blog whenever we hear more information.<br /><br />Michael, Janie, Genna, Laine, John, and KerriMichael Wurthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11562733634226801728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484834370665071954.post-16726277945303913672009-06-22T14:03:00.000-07:002009-06-22T14:14:17.193-07:00Here Today, Ghana TomorrowHello our trusty followes,<br />I want to apologize for keeping you all on the edge of your seats the past couple of days. Turns out much has changed since last year in the small town of Obuasi. The good news is, everything is for the better.<br /><br />Our long and arduous journey across the Atlantic was only the beginning of our travels. Again we were able to see much of Ghana: from the capital of Accra, to the rainforest of the Central Region, everything was beautiful... and tiring.<br /><br />We arrived in Obuasi to find out the internet cafe we were accustomed to using has closed. We visited the orphanage our first full day (Sunday) and played with all the kids; they were so excited to see us. Some asked for Matt, and we had to explain that he couldn't make it this year. I quickly found Curtis! but was searching for Joseph only to find out he had been adopted six months earlier. It was sad, but it made me happy to know that he is somewhere with a family now.<br /><br />Curtis was in even worse shape than last year and could barely reach me across the orphanage. (I'm being rushed now because the cafe is closing) The gist of the story is that he hasn't been able to hold food down for the past year and has a serious condition. We took him to the hospital in Kumasi to see a specialist and he was immediately admitted. He is spending a couple nights there until they find out what exactly is wrong with him. We don't know how much it will cost but we have already committed to covering his stay. We are going to find out what exactly he needs and how much it will cost before we will be able to guarantee that we can cover it.<br /><br />I need to go now. Thanks for reading.<br /><br />Michael, Genna, John, Janie, Kerri, and LaineMichael Wurthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11562733634226801728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484834370665071954.post-39668570950317584682008-08-10T15:43:00.000-07:002008-08-10T15:49:33.791-07:00Our Last Blog, For This Trip at LeastToday was the hardest day we have experienced since being in Ghana. Each one of us grew so close to the kids which made it so much meaningful but also added to the difficulty of our departure.<br /><br />The kids were so sad to see us go. Many of them cried which didn't make it any easier on us but we feel so luck to have made so many friends and to have had such a successful trip. We also made sure to take contact information for many of the kids and look forward to sending letters and gifts every once in a while just to cheer them up and let them know we have not forgot about them.<br /><br />We are now in Accra and will be flying home Monday morning. We just wanted to post one last blog to thank everyone who followed our experiences and to thank everyone again for all of their support. This trip could not have been possible without the support of so many of you! We look forward to sharing all of our pictures and seeing everyone back home. We miss you all so much!<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Michael, Matthew, and GennaMichael Wurthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11562733634226801728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484834370665071954.post-67769895520120089052008-08-08T11:10:00.000-07:002008-08-08T11:27:02.464-07:00Unbelievable!!!First we want to apologize for not posting anything the past couple days. Things have been so hectic over here. Janie had to say farewell to the kids which was so hard for her and she is safely back in the United States. Since she has left we have been working non-stop on the orphanage. We received an extra donation recently and were able to have a one on one meeting with the director of the orphanage by special request because she is currently sick with malaria.<br /><br />We met with her and she gave us a prioritized list of things we could do for them beginning with food of course. While meeting with her she shared her plans for the future of the orphanage and we came up with a way for United Students for Africa to assist her. It was such a successful meeting and we left feeling so optimistic about the kids future. We stayed at the orphanage for a couple more hours and just gave the children our time.<br /><br />Today was unbelievably successful. We spent the entire day, from 9 am to 3 pm at the market shopping for the kids. The amount of food we bought with the money we had was truly incredible. We purchased two 50 kg sacks of corn, two 50 kg sacks of beans, two 50 kg sacks of rice, a sack of palm nuts, a sack of cabbage, a sack of oranges (the kids loved them so much they wouldn't stop begging for more!), a tub of peanut butter, so many spices, medicine, baby formula, baby cereal, a sack of fish, a 10 kg box of mackaral, 4 boxes of tomato paste, and too many other things to list here! Anyways, the point is we bought so many things and Adullam Orphanage was so incredibly grateful for our generous offerings.<br /><br />We dropped the stuff off and took pictures of all the kids with the food and then we got to watch them line up to get their orange. All of the kids that were old enough to eat one, which is about 180 kids, got one and there were still plenty left! The kids were eating their oranges with huge smiles on their faces and they couldn't get enough. Today was so much fun and we can't wait for tomorrow which we think will only get better.<br /><br />Again, we are so sorry for the delay and we are so sorry for not being able to post pictures. The first thing we will do is show everyone all the pictures we have taken since we have been here and we have received permission to post some online on our website when it is up!<br /><br />Thanks again to everyone who has supported us on this life-changing adventure!<br />Sincerely,<br />Michael, Matt, Genna, and Janie (Even though she is gone she is still with us!)<br /><br />PS: Janie made sure to call us all and let us know how delicious her In N Out double double was as soon as she got off the plane... :'(Michael Wurthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11562733634226801728noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484834370665071954.post-18108375632268328562008-08-03T12:52:00.000-07:002008-08-03T13:10:05.376-07:00Goats Anyone?We had too much fun today!<br />It started with a 6 am wake up call which turned out to be unnecessary. We ended up leaving for the orpanage around 9 am for a service with the kids from 10-12. The service was so much fun and the kids sang for what seemed like the entire time. After the service we ran home for lunch and made it back to the orphanage around 2:15 for the daily soccer match. They let Janie play and she had a lot of fun with the older kids. Apparently they are pretty good.<br /><br />While she was playing, Genna was with the kids watching the game and Michael and Matt went with one of the adults to the market to buy some things for the party we are having for the kids tomorrow; thanks to an anonymous donor from home! We decided to give them something they have on very special occasions and only if they are lucky: meat. We talked to the director and she suggested we buy either goat or sheep because they feed many and are delicious. While at the market we found the market for animals and purchased four live sheep which apparently will be slaughtered tomorrow morning around 7 am and they insisted that we be present. We also purchased some rice, tomato paste, and sodas which are also eaten on very special occasions. The funniest part of the whole mission was driving in the taxi with four sheep directly behind our heads. Don't worry, we got plenty of pictures.<br /><br />When we arrived all of the kids were so excited and wanted to take pictures with the sheep and kept jumping up and down. It was so interesting to see how even the kids as young as three were making gestures of slaughtering the sheep with a finger sliding across their throats. It is a common event in Ghana, apparently. After a couple hours with the kids we decided it was time for dinner and they were about to have their supper as well so we headed home.<br /><br />Tonight we were graced with more fish on our plates and several visitors wishing us well. It was a very busy day but we are all so excited to see the kids again tomorrow and to see how happy they will be having lunch with us. We are all sincerely enjoying every minute we spend with the kids and we are already imagining how hard it will be for us to leave them.<br /><br />Thank you everyone again for all the donations you have made that have given us the opportunity to bring smiles to the kids faces.<br /><br />With Love,<br />Michael, Janie, Matt, and GennaMichael Wurthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11562733634226801728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484834370665071954.post-71532200688989365442008-08-02T14:18:00.000-07:002008-08-02T14:31:24.845-07:00Beautiful Day in GhanaJust a short update,<br />Today was awesome. We started off going to the market around 7 am which was a little bit too early but we bought two huge sacks of corn, a sack of beans, baby formula, tomato paste, and a lot more stuff but we still aren't done. That might soundd like a lot but when you have 200 + kids to feed I am sure it goes pretty quickly.<br /><br />After we left the market it was aabout 11 am (Yes it takes that long when there are thousands of people crowding the streets and yelling) and we returned home for lunch and sped off to the wedding we were invited to. The wedding was a lot of fun and we were given VIP treatment which was very kind of them. After the wedding we returned to the market for a few more things because our car was full the first time and then we dropped it off at home and left for the reception. We all enoyed ourselves and met many people that have offered to help us in the future if we intend to return to Ghana.<br /><br />We hope everyone at home is doing incredibly we are all thinking of you and we love being in Ghana. We came here with the intent to help as many people as possible but have far exceeded even the most optimistic expectations of this trip. Thanks again to everyone who has helped.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Michael, Janie, Matt, and GennaMichael Wurthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11562733634226801728noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484834370665071954.post-91127577111194025392008-08-01T13:40:00.001-07:002008-08-01T14:09:50.565-07:00Best Days YetHello everyone,<br />We are not really sure what days we are writing for right now but we can promise you this: the last two days have been so incredibly successful. We have really made a huge impact the last two days and have gotten a great start on what will be the last two weeks of our time here.<br /><br />Thursday began quite early as we decided to make a stop at the building site and see if they could use our help. We arrived around 9 am and the carpenter gave us a few small things we could do but other than that they had everything under control and moving along rapidly. As of today they have the frame up and they will begin working on the roof Monday. Because it is so hot here, the workers are only able to work until around 1 pm everyday.<br /><br />After the working we decided to take a 45 minute drive to the near city of Kumasi which is the oldest city in Ghana. We decided to go to meet a woman we had met on the plane and talk to her about further trips here and because she invited us and it is quite rude to say no to an invitation in the Ghanaian culture. After a delicious lunch we spent some time talking with her and she took us for a tour of Kumasi and then brought us to the King of the Ashanti Region's palace. Although he was not there it was very interesting. Before we left for Obuasi she insisted we call her Mom and she said next time we come to Ghana she would be happy to provide us with a car and a place to stay if needed. She has a home in both Accra and Kumasi and invited us to use her home in Accra the night before we fly out.<br /><br />This morning we woke up quite early again and headed to the bank to pick up the money that was wired to us using MoneyGram that we will be using for the orphanage. It took some time but it was well worth it! (Thanks to those who sent money). After receiving the money we went home for lunch and then walked to the orphanage.<br /><br />Matt brought a couple toys and tennis balls for the kids which they loved. He was playing baseball with them with a wooden pallet as a baseball bat. Janie and Genna spent most of their time with the babies and then with the older girls just talking. Michael spent his time taking care of Joseph because he was having a sore throat. Michael took him to the nurse and she gave him some medicine which made him feel much better. While there Michael asked the nurse if there was any medicine he could pick up at the market because we already have a list of all the food and things they need and the nurse was so excited and she wrote up a long list of things including Malaria medicine and multivitamins.<br /><br />While we were there the kids from 3-6 years old were having bath time. We decided to watch and see if we could help. When we saw the kids line up it was so sad. They have a giant bowl that the kids stand in one by one and the woman wearing rubber gloves uses a really rough sponge and the kids are first drenched with the cold water and then the woman scrubs their little bodies as if they were cars going through a car wash. The kids are so strong; they stand there as if it doesn't hurt but when you look at their eyes you can truly see the pain. They are so strong. When it was Josephs turn we watched closely because we knew he wasn't feeling well and he first bent down and everytime the woman would pour water over his face we thought he would start to cry but he closed his eyes and struggled through it. It was probably the hardest thing we have seen since we have been there. In one hand it hurts us to see this but on the realistic side we understand because there are over 200 kids at the orphanage and only 10-15 "mothers" it is impossible for them to take more time.<br /><br />It is truly incredible what this orphanage has done for the kids over the past 10 years. It is a private orphanage which receives no help from the government but they have managed to consistently find enough food to give the kids meals every day. The Director, Louise, has told us that sometimes she really does not know how they find the funds because it is often the case that at the end of the month they have no money left.<br /><br />I hope that wasn't a too depressing email, we were just trying to give everyone a stronger understanding of what these kids experience on a day to day basis. Something that has kept us going since we have been here is after seeing how little they have and how much they have suffered, they never fail to have a smile on their faces and are never afraid to show their love to anyone.<br /><br />Thank you everyone,<br />Michael, Janie, Matt, and GennaMichael Wurthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11562733634226801728noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484834370665071954.post-21362244148970601252008-07-30T13:48:00.000-07:002008-07-30T14:09:31.488-07:00Day 5 in the Beautiful Country of GhanaOur Faithful Followers,<br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Until next time,<br />The Oborone's (That means white man in Twi)<br /><br />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.Michael Wurthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11562733634226801728noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484834370665071954.post-45045516254644140242008-07-29T14:01:00.000-07:002008-07-29T14:22:56.903-07:00Days 3 and 4 in ObuasiHello Everyone,<br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />We will try and write as often as possible which might be every other day.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />The Ghanaian Crew (Janie, Michael, Genna, and Matt)Michael Wurthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11562733634226801728noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484834370665071954.post-57714784954694632042008-07-27T13:52:00.000-07:002008-07-27T14:21:30.432-07:00Day 2: ServicesJust 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!<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Comment on our blogs!<br /><br />Much love,<br />The Ghanian CrewMichael Wurthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11562733634226801728noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484834370665071954.post-70995963656210122862008-07-26T13:57:00.000-07:002008-07-26T14:29:58.252-07:00Day 1 in ObuasiHello from Obuasi, Ghana,<br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />We have to get going now though! Everyone is doing great and we can't wait to send you pictures.<br /><br />Michael, Janie, Genna, and MatthewMichael Wurthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11562733634226801728noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484834370665071954.post-50972786487751806692008-07-22T12:57:00.000-07:002008-07-22T13:00:42.984-07:00Pre TripEveryone,<div>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.</div>Michael Wurthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11562733634226801728noreply@blogger.com2