Helping those left behind... summary

“If you want to adopt from Ghana and bring children home, that is fine but it is not enough. You have to understand that while America is rich, Ghana is richer and better in many ways so don’t think that you are saving them from a bad place because you are not. Always tell them how wonderful Ghana is and that they are special because they are from Ghana. Take them back to Ghana if you can. Most importantly, while taking a child or two will help those children to have a family, remember the other children left behind and help them because they are your children’s friends and relatives and by doing that, you are honoring your children and where they come from.”-

For those who are newer to my blog, part of the reason I chose to adopt from Ghana is because my great uncle, Father Fran was a priest there for over 53 years before dying there in Fall 2006. Initially, it really bothered me that I did not talk to Fr. Fran about adopting from Ghana before he passed away. The last time we saw him, we were content and busy with Kman and Cater and had not seriously discussed more children. These words above are what I decided after much prayer, that he would have said about our adoption.

Over a year later, these words still are with me. After going to Africa to bring Selina home and meeting his friends and fellow priests there, I am confident that this would have been his sentiment.

Before going to Ghana, I asked my friends and family to consider making a donation for me to use to help children and people in Ghana. The following people made donations...

FAMILY-Catherine Meyer, Joseph Meyer, Laura & Gene Meyer, Tom & Kathy Davidson, Kristin & Gray Fontenot, Joanne & Lyn Simmons, Rick & Julie Meyer, Mary & Gene Warne, Kathy & Charlie Spencer, Elaine & Noel Simmons, Julie Meyer, Erica Warne, Leah Kochis, Neil Simmons, Ben Warne, Todd Warne, Kristin Spencer, Todd Fontenot
FRIENDS-Rachael & Greg Thornton (in memory of Catherine Meyer), Stacy Schneider, Amy Ferrell, Heather Sears, Amy Johnston, Ginger Golden, Marcy Fredette-Roman, Anita Westlake, Noreen Roman, Pam Bradley, Debbie Johnson, Mindy Douglass, Mary Cooper, Molly Lyons, Sandra Pedersen, Kendra Latimer, Sharma Mulqueen

The generosity of these people was humbling. Over $3500 for me to take to Ghana. I never in a million years thought I would be going with that much money available to me to help others. I am good at spending money (TR would even probably say I am gifted in this area-LOL) but for a few days, even I was a little overwhelmed with all the money that kept coming in... thankfully I feel that I was led by God and the guidance of my Grandmother who passed away right before I left as well as her late brother Father Fran to opportunities to use it to do good...

I did three major donation/projects.

Hardthaven Children's Home:

I took a day to travel about four hours away to make a donation to Hardthaven. This orphanage is for children who either are HIV positive or have lost their parents to AIDS. This trip was so wonderful. I was expecting to be sad and for there to be more sadness at a place where those there are living with HIV or are grieving due to loss. What I found instead was an orphanage with children that helped each other and that were happy.
I do keep in touch with Edem still through email and plan to continue to help him. They have had some setbacks lately. They had a child they were helping that was HIV positive that lived in the community die and he just found out he has lost his lease and has to move his orphanage by March. There is such a stigma about HIV in Ghana that it is very imperative that Hardthaven be able to continue to help those cast aside by their villages because they are HIV positive.

Kasoa Orphanage-

While Hardthaven needed help mostly because they help those that are HIV positive and require medical assistance, Kasoa is an example of an orphanage where the situation is so devastating that the kids would literally starve without extra assistance. Hardly a day goes by that I don't stop to think about Kasoa and to pray that God watches over the children there.

And finally... Albert...

Father Fran helped build and develop a church in Nsawam ,Ghana. It is about two or three hours from the heart or Accra (the capital). These grounds not only housed a church but also two schools, the cemetary where Father is laid to rest AND an orthopedic center that helps over 200 people get and learn to use artificial limbs at any given time. I met Albert, an eight year old boy that is missing an arm due to a birth defect, the day after seeing the orthopedic center. It took a few months to work out the details but Albert will be getting an artificial limb from the orthopedic center. We are paying the costs for his arm including him staying there for about a month to learn to use it. Total costs for the arm, his therapy and transporation there will be about $1000. See Albert and more of his story here...

Even though I have left Ghana, it remains a part of me and always will. I plan to continue to help out in Ghana with some other projects. It is important to me to do this as I see it as a way to honor Selina and her history. I am in email contact with a few people there still in order to keep up with what they are doing. I have a desire to specifically help older children that live in orphanages and cannot be adopted. These children will be basically kicked out of the orphanage when they turn 18 with nothing. I want to help them get a better education or help them to learn a trade or get a good job so that they have the means to make it. There is one boy in particular that I met that I want to help.

Thank you... I want to thank you once again for making the donation that allowed me to help others in Ghana. To have been able to go there with money to help others made this trip so much easer. I saw so much poverty but to have been able to do a few things that made a difference was incredible. You allowed me to not feel so helpless but to instead feel empowered that while I couldn't help everyone, I could make a difference in a few places. For that, I will always be grateful to all of you.