A rainy lazy Sunday at the Cape Coast

Hello all,
I am still at the Cape Coast and it looks like we will be here another day as the car is in the shop and it is raining on and off.

The Cape Coast is beautiful and I love the sounds of the ocean waves and so it is not a bad place to be stuck!

Yesterday on Sunday, we were able to visit the Cape Coast Castle which is different from the Elmina Castle- they are both here in this area. The Cape Coast Castle is the one from which many slaves were brought to America. Again, it was so unbelieveable to be in the very rooms where so many Africans suffered and died. It makes it so much more real than the history books that we studied growing up. The conditions that the slaves were in at Cape Coast were so horrible and they were there often for six months. It is just so sad that this happened. So sad.

We were supposed to go to a funeral. We were so excited as the family knew we were coming and were happy to have us join in the festivities. Molly and I were really looking forward to it. We went to the area where the funeral party was set up and there was music blaring. The music was very upbeat and positive. The focus was on that the deceased was in a better place and so this was a time to party. Not only do they party but it is a place for singles to meet. Basically if you are on the lookout for a mate, you go to a funeral. I told Edward of how TR and I met on a blind date. He said his family would not approve of meeting a marriage partner on a blind date. He said he would have to tell his family they met at a funeral instead and that they would prefer that. So anyway, the funeral was rained out and they started packing up.

I picked up Selina's traditional outfit which was sewn the night before by a kind woman that did not want pay to do this for me. Anyone who knows me knows that will not work for me and so she accepted a monetary gift as I told her I would be so happy if she would go and get beautiful material to make something lovely for herself. She was very pleased. I also took her picture with the outfit. She cleared the area, brought her sewing macine out and pretended to be sewing in the picture which I thought was a hoot. She was so pleased to have her picture taken and then to get to see herself. She smiled so big to see herself. It was a wonderful memory.

Molly and I missed the drummers. We had heard that there were drummers on the beach on Friday and Saturday nights. We were so excited to go and see them. Apparantly there are no drummers here, no one remembers there being drummers and we seem crazy for asking if people were going to play the drums on the beach. We were bummed about that as we were looking so forward to it.

We also had a laugh about tipping. I guess you are supposed to leave a tip at the hotel here on the bed when you leave the room for the staff when they clean. We did not know this and so the first day, we were missing one hand towel and the second day we only got a bath mat and no hand towels and no bath towels. Coincidence- you decide but we called and asked for towels which came a few hours later. We had already left the room but we left a note with a tip for the towels. We got back and had extra towels. This morning the lady that cleans our rooms approached me in the walkway to ask if we were leaving. I explained our delay, verified that she cleaned our rooms the last few days and gave her a tip. I think the world is all good and we are at peace again here.

I also want to comment on menus here. Menus are an idea of what things may be on the menu. In waitress terms a lot of things are "86" (out of stock). The description of food is again, a general idea of what may come to your table. Case in point, ordered beef last night that was supposed to have onion rings on top (which sounded so tasty), it comes- no onion rings. I say, "Does this have onion rings and the server looks at me like I am crazy. Another example, pizza is on the menu here at this really nice resort so Molly is all excited to order the vegeterian pizza. She orders it and the server says, "we don't have the recipe for pizza" Nevermind that there are six different kinds of pizza on the menu. In further analyzing Molly and I feel that maybe he confused recipe with ingredients but it was funny nonetheless. Our final example was the chocolate cake.

On the second night, I noticed that there is a dessert menu and it says, "chocolate cake with sauce". I almost started crying I was so happy and realized my menu from the night before was missing the dessert page. So I ask if there is chocolate cake and the server says "no". I quickly regroup but decided we would go to dinner earlier the next night in hopes that there is chocolate cake. We do and the server says there is chocolate cake. I salivated for my first bit of real chocolate on this trip and was so excited for my chocolate cake with sauce. When it arrives, it is not dark chocolate and gooey as the cake of my dreams was, it was four pieces of loaf bread that tasted slightly of chocolate. The sauce- again the server looked at me like I was crazy when I asked about it.

The thing is that you don't care when this happens as outside these doors people are struggling to make the money they need to eat for the day. We are so spoiled with the wonderful things we have and how fortunate we are that the money we pay here at this resort for one meal can feed another person here for a long time. When you put it all into perspective it does not matter but I did want to mention it as something to note for the other families that will be traveling here soon. "Don't see chocolate cake on the menu and salivate thinking about it for two solid days!!"

Molly and I are just hanging out today enjoying the light rain showers. We watched a soccer match on TV and I believe we are going to do sudulo puzzles and race again. Molly does not like to race but I convinced her it would be fun so after some coaxing she agreed. She did win and so now she is up for more racing. I am a little rusty and sometings in the middle, I can't help but think, "HMM, what can I do when I get back to Eban House with Selina that might make her feel more comfortable with me?" so I am a little distracted but even if I wasn't Molly is faster- we do know from college that she is also smarter than me so this is to be expected- I am okay with it!!

Tomorrow is a holiday in Ghana and so we plan to travel back to Teshie and to our hotel. We were going to go to the market but I don't think it will be open. I am hoping to get to see Chalene before she leaves tomorrow. I was looking forward to getting a day together at Eban House but I guess that was not meant to be.

I look forward to getting back to the kids as we agree that we miss them. I will have lots of time to spend there and so I hope to get more information on them for the adoptive families that are waiting for more news of their children. We have a family that is adopting a sibling group of four. Two boys and two girls ages 8,6,4 and 2. Meeting these children, all I have to say is that she is so blessed- adding four kids to a family might be a scary thought to many of you but to meet these kids-you know in an instant that all will work out and God has blessed you beyond measure with not one but four beutiful and bright children. It is the same thing with a group of three siblings we have here. Two girls that are eight year old twins and a four year old boy. This group of three was actually on a wait list for a short amount of time before finding a family and these kids are so awesome. I have got to spend a lot of time with the twins as they love to talk and I could steal them and bring them home. They are so beautiful, so much fun and just love life. I am looking forward to getting to know their younger brother more as he is a little quieter- he does not come up and sit on my lap and start talking to me like his sisters!

I am looking forward to getting to spend time with Selina. I have come up with some ideas of different things I can do and ways to try to help her feel more comfortable with me. It is a litle hard when your child is the one that has the hardest time going to new people and trusting them but this is not uncommon in adoption and so we just need to work on it which is why I am here for longer. I know it will all work out given time and she will get used to us.

I best be going as it is 6 dollars an hour here for the internet!! I hope to get to post more when I return to the Rye Manor. Have a fabulous Memorial Day!

Talk to you soon,
Jennine

Friday in Ghana

Hello, it is Friday here in Ghana. I can't remember where I left off from before so if I repeat myself, I apologize...

Yesterday on Thursday, we woke up early and headed to the coast. The traffic in the city can be so slow. It would be very hard for me to drive here. You have to be so cautious and alert as there are people and animals wandering on the sides of the road throughout the entire drive. Add to this pot holes and the other drivers and it is really crazy! I get slightly nervous at times as to whether or not the animals and people will move far enough to the side so we don't hit them. They always seem to. It is especially nervous when the women on the side of the road are carrying heavy things on their heads such as about 10 1.5 liters of water and soda. I don't know how they do it but I find myself saying little prayers that the load stays on their head and they don't lose it as we are passing by inches away from them at 50 miles per hour! There are these signs that basically say don't drive tired and I was telling Edward (our driver) that I don't know how anyone can be tired driving or as a passenger with all this action so close to the car!

I was excited to get to the Cape Coast as this was one of my great uncle's favorite places to be. I can see why, the beach here is really beautiful. The Cape Coast is not too far from McCarthy Hill which was the last place he was living as a retired priest. When we passed McCarthy Hill, Edward said that it is where the rich lived so I have a feeling that his final retirement home was a little nicer than previous places he lived which made me feel good. I look forward to calling and setting up the time to go around with his driver and to see some places where he worked as soon as we get back from the coast.

When we arrived at the coast, we immediately went to the Elmina Castle which was one of the places used to hold Africans until they were transported to other countries as slaves. As I expected, this was very sad to see. It was hard to hear about how the 6 to 7 million Africans that went through this castle were treated. To see and be in the actual dungeons they were in and where so many died, was emotional. These rooms were dark, hot and had such little ventilation. I have always had a hard time hearing about the horrible ways in which human beings have treated each other in the past and even how they still do. This castle was something that once seeing, you will never forget.

Edward joined Molly and I for dinner last night which was wonderful as he was is a wealth of information. We so enjoy the stories he shares with us about Africa. He is from the same tribe that Selina is from and so it is good to hear about his people, the Ga tribe. He is a little shy and quiet but I think he gets a kick out of the conversation that goes on between Molly and I as we have been such good friends for so long.

Today we woke up and went to the bridges at Kakum National Park. It is a series of seven suspended very high one person bridges that you go over. It is not for those afraid of heights. As in my typical fashion to be the one in the family that does not take as many risks, I did not go on the bridges. TR can do that when he goes to Ghana and I promised Edward that TR will be our family representative to conquer the bridges. Molly, who is afraid of heights decided to do it and overcome her fear. She did a beautiful job, I am so proud of her and now I owe her a Guiness Beer that she will enjoy at dinner to celebrate a fear overcome!! Yea Molly!

We also went to the market today and I purchased material from which a traditional dress will be made for Selina. I am happy with the bright fabric I chose and cannot wait to see the dress which should be ready tomorrow or Sunday. I also purchased a few smaller instruments so that the kids can have their own little band when we get home. It should be lovely!!

Tonight, we will enjoy dinner with Edward and there will be drummers drumming on the beach which our hotel is on. Molly and I have been looking most forward to the drummers, and can't wait to experience it! After that it is ladies night, disco music at the hotel, but I am not sure that we will partake in that! There is a nice large group here from the University of Texas that we have met. Molly bonded with a few of them on the bridges and so if we see them, we would love to chat with them more as they have enjoyed two weeks here in Ghana so we want to hear about what they have seen!

I must go freshen up before the drumming...

To Cater and Kman- I love you!! I can't wait for an update on how you are doing! I hope you all have a fabulous three day weekend and I plan to check back in tomorrow...

Jennine

Embassy Appointment and Update

Hello, I tried to get on my blog from the internet cafe and was unable to for some reason so I am sorry for the delay in posts.

I had my embassy appointment to file the paperwork that I will be here waiting for to process. The appointment seemed to go well and the woman that I had to talk to was pleasant enough. At the end she said we will know in 10 working days. If that is really the case, that would be fabulous (or Fabu) but I don't want to get my hopes up so I will look at that as an idea of when we could know. Remember from there we file for the visas and so even if it is in 10 days, we still have about a week wait for the visas.

We are hanging in there. Molly and I feel we have our bearings a bit more and feel more comfortable even though we stick out whereever we go. Our hotel is so wonderful, I really can't say that enough as we feel so secure there. There are two younger women that work there and take great care of us. Adwoa and Mommy. Yes, her name is Mommy. It is kind of funny to say, especially when there is a huge (okay 7 to 8 inch) lizard in your room and you would like for it to be removed. We go downstairs going, "Mommy, mommy, there is a big lizard!" Thankfully there was a young man that took a hand broom and come up to our room. I looked at him, the broom and the lizard and thought, "this will never work" as his plan was to open the window and shoo it out the window. In reality, his plan was executed beutifully and we were spared big lizard guts on the floor. We have a small lizard that comes in and out of the room. We consider him a friend though and have not requested he be removed.

Selina is doing better. Today we had a few moments. At one point, I was teary eyed as we pointed at her and said Selina and then pointed at me and said "mommy". She actually said "mommy" and then we would clap. It was so wonderful. It was a breakthrough moment. Bonding with her will take time but she does so well with the staff here and when she smiles at you it just melts your heart. She actually did smile at me and with me so I felt so good and proud of her for starting to trust me a little.

Tomorrow Molly and I head to Cape Coast. I have heard it is beautiful and the food is good so the joke is that any time we need something, I say, "We will get it at the coast," like the coast is going to have a big mall like Scottsdale with all the things I can't find here. It will be fun to see how much the Cape Coast compares to what I have built it up to be in my mind!!

I have to run as I am thinking that this computer is needed again. To Kyle and Catey- I love you so much and I can't wait to see you! Keep having fun and I will talk to you soon.

Thanks for the prayers everyone and kind comments on the last post!
I love all of you AAI parents and your kiddos just got their welcome bags and the excitement went on for the better part of an hour. They are all so happy- so happy! We documented it well!

Jennine

I am here!!!

Molly and I made it to Ghana after a little excitement trying to leave New York. Appantly there was a little problem with a temperature gage and we had to turn back after dumping tons of fuel over New York and get a new plane. I will tell more about this later as it can be it's own post but that is not what is most important now!

I have been to the adoption center and have been able to meet our beautiful daughter Selina. She is cautious of us but has not cried! I expected her to cry and possibly hit her head and we had no tears so I considered this first meeting a success.
She is so adorable and is loving with the staff and so I can't wait until she gets to know us and is that way with us. I am taking it really slow and am just hanging out with the other kids and always looking at her and waiving and smiling.
She is just like her pictures- and for her size, she should fit perfectly into the things I brought for her so that is a relief. I could go into all kinds of detail but will just say that I know that I am so happy and pleased and I know that TR and Kyle and Catey will be so happy with their sister and she will love them (as soon as she gets to know them)! She will be shy at first- I bet.
For the other adoptive parents- I am in love with all the kids that are here. They are all so kind and wonderful. To the new parents with referrals- your children are all beautiful and so kind. Fabu- I just have to tell you (since I know your original request- that every thing works out and you will be so excited to meet your children)- You did good!!
The Rye House is wonderful. The airconditioning is a blessing you can't put a price on (but if you did, it would abe about $50 a night). When Molly and I walk into the room, we just sigh. We feel safe here and are doing well.
I already met with the man from the HIV children's home and will be going there next week possibly. I am bringing rosarys as the children attend Catholic Church and will probably help as he wants to start a farm so they can live off the land more.
Molly and I leave for the coast on Thursday and will be there until Sunday.
The internet is shotty here so if you don't hear from me, don't worry. I will post when I can. If you have something to tell me, email me or comment.
Thank you again to everyone that donated. Being here, I can tell you that your money will be used for much more here and is so needed, I can't wait to tell you more about what I will be doing with it!
Thank you all for your prayers and please continue to keep Molly and I as well as Chalene and her sister who arrive tomorrow.




God Bless,
Jennine

Donation Update: A HUGE Thank you!!!

I am in complete awe over the amount of money that I have with which to help children in Ghana. My latest total with still more coming in is......

$2300

Can you believe it?!!! I was hoping that I would be able to bring $1000 but thought that would be a stretch but to have $2300 is incredible!!

I want to thank those who have donated so far for trusting me to take the money you are donating and to do some good things that will directly impact these children. If you still want to donate, just click on the "Donate" button on the right. TR will be notified via email of your donation and he can let me know so I can add it to my total. I will accept donations as long as I am in Ghana! :-)

I already will be meeting with a director from this orphanage (Hardthaven) on Monday to discuss what we can do to help them out. I also plan to meet with a representative from this organization (SPANCO) to hear about their projects. I plan on using the largest amount of money though for the orphanage in the pictures below from my last post. Of all the things I have heard of, they are in the most need.

Thank you again for your very generous donations... May God bless you and help guide me to use this money in the best possible way. Together we will make a difference!!

Please consider helping...

We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean.

But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. Mother Teresa

It is really important to me to be able to spend a portion of my time in Ghana helping the people there. I would love to help children especially. There are over one million orphans in Ghana. I am adopting one but there are so many more that are living in troubling conditions. I am so excited to be able to be in Ghana for several weeks (4-8) It will give me a lot of time to get to know people and to get a feel for those places I can help to make a difference.

Unfortunately, I will not have much room at all in my luggage to bring donations. What I plan to do instead is to bring money that I can use to purchase things in Ghana to help those places I have decided to donate to. By doing this, I am also helping the economy by buying goods locally.

Here are a few of the places I plan to visit...


ORPHANAGE IN KASOA...
There is an orphanage in Kasoa which is about an hour or so away from the AAI adoption center (Eban House). This orphanage is home to over 50 children. Until recently they ate one meal a day which provided little nutrition. They are in need of so much that it will be easy to see what is needed but hard to figure out what will help the most. Thankfully our adoption agency, AAI and some adoptive families recently put word that monetary donations are needed for a water borehole and extra food to supplement their diets. These things have been provided for the near future. I would like to go in and help with other things that are needed for their classroom and care. This orphanage has asked for help from our adoption agency in placing children for adoption and there are several children in our adoption center from this orphanage now. Since are planning to adopt another child in the future, there is a chance that we have a son that we do not yet know about at this orphanage.


To help you to understand the conditions at this orphanage...


Their classroom...

The alley outside their class...

A bedroom...

The kitchen....
HIV ORPHANAGE IN GHANA....
I also plan to visit an orphanage for HIV positive children and for those who are orphaned due to loss of their parents from AIDS. HIV/AIDS is one of the leading causes of death in Africa and the majority of those that die from AIDS are adults who often time leave children behind. In many cases these orphaned children are not wanted by family members because their parents had AIDS or the children are unable to be cared for by family members because they do not have the means to do so. Either way these children end up alone and unable to attend school as they need to work to care for themselves and in many cases their siblings. An orphanage was established in Ghana to help care for some of these orphaned children.


DONATION TO HONOR FATHER FRAN...
I also plan to travel to some of the places that my Great Uncle Father Francis worked during his 53 years in Ghana. He was a priest at several parishes, helped open a few schools and touched the lives of many people. I will be meeting his driver and those that knew him. Through my travels tracing his footsteps, I plan to make a donation to a school or orphanage that was meaningful to him. I look so forward to these travels and helping to make a difference to those that knew Father.

Please consider helping me help others by making a donation that I can take with me to Ghana to help some of those in need. If you have always had the desire to help out in Africa but were not sure where to help or that the money will actually make it to those that need it- here is your chance. I will use it to help and will let you all know how I spend the donated funds. If you would like for your donation to go to one of the project more than another, just let me know. The money you donate will go directly to helping- none of it will be for my use or anything related to our adoption.

My goal is to collect $1000 by the time I leave! I know that goal is big but ask anyone who knows me- I dream big and I know there is so much to do there!!

I do have a paypal button on the side that you can make a donation at. If you would prefer to mail it to me, please email me at arizonadavidson@yahoo.com and I will send you my address.

Thank you for considering helping me to make a difference. It would mean so much to me. I know that when I am in Africa, I will see many things that will break my heart. This will be so hard on me. With the adoption, we have a little money set aside for me to use to help others when I am there but I want to do so much more than what I can afford to do alone. With your assistance, you can save me from calling TR and telling him I just spent all my hotel or travel money helping others and now we have no money left!!

Waiting...

I am getting closer to traveling. We are still waiting for our adoption decree. This paper is needed to complete the process to bring Selina home as. The courts have said she is ours, now they just need to fill out the piece of paper putting it in writing...

I am getting ready so that when the decree comes, I will have as little as possible to do. I am planning now on leaving on May 14 and if we don't get the decree at the beginning of the week, I will just move my plans ahead one week. I have learned that I need to be patient and flexible so I am trying to do just that as things will work according to God's plan, not my plan. If God likes my plan and wants me to go on the 14th, it will happen. If not, I will readjust.

If I was on a treadmill (which reminds me that I really should be on a treadmill)- I am doing a quick walk right now as far as my speed in completing all these projects I need to get done. When I get the call that we have the decree, I will go into a whole new mode and will work at a new speed that would short out the treadmill. Given that I will do that, it is probably best I don't have the decree yet. With the passing of my grandmother this week, I am still trying to get through until her services on Tuesday. I am just easing back into my planning tonight and trying to relax a little and get things around the house back under control given that I have been gone most of the week.

I look forward to getting some good news in the near future so that I will have real travel dates and plans on my new travel blog!! Until then, sit back and enjoy the music- sometimes we need to just take a moment and sing a song! :-)