My head and heart are back in Ghana...

Eban House Children's Home in Ghana

I am sorry that I have not posted in awhile. I actually have a few posts that I am working on but have waited to see what I could share about a horrible crime that occured at Eban House, Selina's adoption center before writing this...

The Eban House, where Selina has spent six months of her life, the home that took her in, taught her to walk and loved her has suffered this week.

On Sunday night, four armed men forced their way into the home to rob it. At the time, the children were asleep along with three of the aunties. The men came upon the babies room, (the room where Selina slept while there) and confronted the auntie that was with the babies. In the end, this auntie was violated repeatedly before they left.

The men ended up stealing some computers, money and some other things but most of all, they took the feeling of safety that the over 30 children who were sleeping there that night were finally enjoying after difficult pasts. Most of the children slept through it with the exception of four girls who are about eight years old. These girls witnessed what no child should have to see. These girls did not scream and wake up the rest of the home though, instead they prayed. They prayed for the auntie and they prayed for the animals that were in the home. They asked God to forgive these men.

I can't even type this without crying as I know all the people involved and my heart is broken for this quiet and kind auntie that cared for Selina and for four beautiful girls- friends who spend their days excited to learn in school, doing each others hair and playing games in the yard.

It appears that the girls may have identified the men as people who came to perform some work on the home recently. I have heard that the police have been very responsive and have wanted to help our adoption agency find a qualified guard that will now watch the home in the evenings.

Understandably, the home is in a state of shock and they are working their way through this. I am especially upset for the auntie. She is married with two young children. According to culture, it is expected that her husband will leave her. This brave woman protected the children and stayed quiet so that they would not wake up and now has probably lost her life as she knew it.

I know that the story of what happened at Selina's adoption center in Ghana has been posted on a few of the adoption groups that I am on and that other adoptive parents have heard about it whether it be parents adopting from Ethiopia or those considering adopting from Ghana. For this reason, I want to take a few minutes to share a few thoughts about this...

I know if this had happened before I went to Ghana, it would be something that would make me very nervous and concerned and I would question how safe I would be in Ghana alone. As you all know, I just returned from a four week stay in Ghana. Two of those weeks, I was with my good friend, Molly and the other two, I was alone. I will admit that I am a scardy cat. This trip to Africa was only my second trip in which I have been on my own. Prior to going to Ghana, I spend two days alone in Seattle, the home of Starbucks. I went from living a sheltered life, to Africa to bring Selina home.

After spending that month in Ghana, I can say, without a doubt that I did feel safe in Ghana. I actually felt safer at times in Ghana because of the the kindness of strangers and the sheer volume of people everywhere. In light of what happened at Eban House, I would still feel safe to return to Ghana. I want all of the families that are in the process of adopting from Ghana and for those that are considering to know this. There are over one million orphans in Ghana that need a home and I would be so sad if this incident caused a family to think negatively of Ghana. I would be happy to discuss this further with any family that has questions or concerns.

This horrible crime is not the norm in Ghana. Ghana is home to some of the kindest and most generous people I have ever met. I did not see violence in Ghana. Even when we were in traffic jam nightmares that would cause multiple incidents of road rage in America, the Ghanians are unbelievably calm and courteous. For people that have so little and that work so hard in a place where there is not a justice system as developed as ours, I would have expected more crime. This was not the case. What I found were people that praised God for what they had and that have the values and integrity to not want to steal or cheat to get more. I am not going to tell you there is no crime but I do believe that a crime of the magnitude of what was experienced at Eban House is very, very rare.

It would make me very sad for this crime to be what those in the adoption community think of when they hear Ghana. This is not Ghana. I know, I was there. What is representative of Ghana is the way that the auntie put the needs of the children and the possessions of the Eban House ahead of herself. It is the way that four eight year olds at undoubtably one of the scariest moments in their life, turned to God and asked for forgiveness for the criminals in front of them. It is the way that the police and community is helping out those at Eban House. My great uncle lived and worshipped with the people of Ghana for over 53 years and chose to die and rest among them because he loved them and Ghana so much. Now that I have been there, I am not at all surprised and I understand why.

I know that the women at Eban House will get through this and will love and help the children there. They are in pain now but these are people that believe in God with every thing that they are and they will survive this. Please keep those at Eban House in your prayers so that they may be healed of their physical and emotional wounds especially the auntie and girls. Please also pray that the men who committed this horrible crime will be caught so they will not be able to commit another crime and the staff and children will feel safer. This home was Selina's home and it has been difficult for me to focus on other things when my heart is back in Ghana with these kids and aunties that I came to know and love. I keep checking for updates.

To keep up with this, more information is on the Anita's blog (the AAI Ghana Adoption Coordinator)who will leave for Ghana in a few days. She has posted updates and also has information on how to donate to the auntie that is facing an uncertain future or to donate to the home to help replace missing items.


Thank you,
Jennine