Visa Extravaganza!

I just got back from an adventure.  My roommate, Celeste, and I went to Ho, to the immigration office.  Ho is about 2 hours away from Kpando, and it is a hot tiring experience traveling anywhere in Africa.  The immigration officers where powertripping bullies, that wanted us to pay for being white, and would not approve our paperwork!  Hot, tired, and mad, we traveled back to Kpando to regroup.  Then a few days later we went back to the same office and tried again, again they put us through the same ridiculous flaming hoops, and we were unable to get our visas approved again!  At the end of our rope and absolutely irrate, we hopped a bus to Accra, the capital of Ghana and went to the immigration office there.  We got in and had our stuff approved and got out, no problems.  To make the best out of the situation we had Sonjelle, a past and now current volunteer and the main fundraiser for Hardt Haven, pack up some stuff for all of us and meet us in Accra, for a fun weekend.  We met up at the Accra Mall, were Celeste and I had gone into every shop and admired all of the new, shiny, materialistic things.  I especially died and went to heaven in the perfume store.  I love perfume!  We went out to eat and had western food, and then went to a really fun sports bar with karaoke and drank way to much beer!  We hit a supermarket and bought cookies and apples for the children.  We stayed at a really nice and cheap guest house, and just made the best of our time in Accra.  We decided only to stay one night and get back to the kiddos.  We had terrible luck catching a bus back to Kpando, and the one bus we did finally find didn't have any available seats.  However because we are in Africa and not in the U.S.  the ticket lady ended up feeling bad for us and pulled strings so that we could catch a ride on the bus.  One of us sat in the passenger seat, one of us sat on the floor next to the bus driver, and one of us sat on an ice cooler that was in the isle.  Only in Africa,lol!  So needless to say it was a long and exhausting several hour bus drive and we had to take turns swapping spots with each other, so that it wasn't to miserable for anyone person.  We got in super late at night and were starving!  It was nice sleeping in this morning and getting back into the swing of things.  I enjoyed all of the luxuries that Accra had to offer, but I missed little Kpando.  I really like this town in all it's simplicity, and I'm really going to miss it when it's time for me to leave.  I miss you and I love you.

My first month in Ghana

I am already well into my second month in Kpando.  Time is in fast forward mode here in Africa, I'm not sure where my days go, but they seem to be flying by!  This month I have been laying the foundation for the tutoring program I am here to work on.  I have organized all of the children's binders, which contain their old school work and exams, as well as their report cards.  I have also been recording the children's scores onto forms so that I can track the children's progress and better see what subjects they need the most help with.  I have also been helping with homework every evening after the children come home from school  and have their after school snack.  Working with the children one on one has definiately helped me see how the kids are doing in their classes, and is more informative then looking at their report cards.  Homework time helps me to get to know each child and their personality, as well as what they excel at and need help with.  Every Friday I have been going to one of the many schools that our children are spead out among.  I have been interviewing their teachers, and finding out how we can better help the children from the home. 
  I have made fast friends with a husband and wife, Tim and Letti, from Chicago that were here for two months.  Tim and Letti are here to work at the special education school, helping see what needs there are how how they can be met.  I have had the opportunity to go to the special school with Letti twice a week, while Tim volunteers at the hospital-handing out health pamphlets for patients that need more information on certain health topics.  I have become very fond of the special school students and faculty and have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them and helping in anyway that I can.  On the weekends I have had the chance to visit Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary, Wli Falls, The Grotto, Ho, and Hohoe.  Unfortunatley I didn't have my camera at the time and was unable to get pictures of any of the places:(  However Tim and Letti did take pictures,  and I will be getting those photos once they arrive home and are able to email them.  I am getting very excited about Matthew's upcoming trip to Africa, and we are in the process of mapping out all of the places that we wish to see while he is here!

I have arrived safe and sound in Kpando, Ghana

It was quite the adventure getting here, but I made it safe and sound.  I am adjusting well to my new surroundings.  The people are welcoming and friendly, the food is amazing, the culture, is very interesting, and the children I have been working with are great!  I am having such an wonderful time here, and I feel truly blessed to be here, through Christ, making a difference in this community.  I will have new pictures coming soon, and will keep you all updated!

Nine days until departure for Africa!

So I am super excited and getting a little nervous as well, for I have only 9 days until I leave for Ghana, Africa!  I feel like I'm never going to get everything done in time!  I recently got the last of my shots (Hep A booster), I'm in the process of packing up the rest of my things, and getting ready to head to Goldendale, for some much needed time with the parents, as well as a teeth cleaning, before I leave for 6 months!  I'm just tying up a few loose ends and then I'm ready for this amazing journey ahead of me.  I am feeling very financially and spiritually blessed, although financially this will be a tight trip.  I'm flying out of Portland, so after visiting the parents in Goldendale, I'll be heading to OR to spend some time with my family and Matthew's before I leave on the 13th!  I have talked to the administrative group for Hardt Haven and gotten my final assignment, I have quite the task ahead of me.  I will be assessing each child's education level, and creating a more efficient tutoring program as well as evaluating the time alloted for tutoring and other activities.

Thank the Lord, for he is good!

Everything is coming together better than I could have imagined!  I found a home for my foster doggy, Jolene.  The Lord gave me exactly what I prayed for, as far as amazing adoptive parents for her.  I just picked up my malaria medication for the whole six months, at an incredible price.  I gave most of my belongings to friends and Good Will, so that I can be free of most of my earthly possessions and ready for God's plan for me.  I'm officially out of my beloved apt as of today, so that I can save my rent money and put it towards my trip.  I will be staying with family friends for the next month and a half, as well as couch surfing at friends.  Thank you God and all of you, for the wonderful spiritual and financial support, as I wouldn't be able to do any of this without family, friends, and community.

New Visa and Fundraising Update

I am officially ready, travel wise, for my departure in September.  I recently received my Ghana visa in the mail!  As well as, I am feeling so blessed tonight.  I just got back from meeting with my missional community (google, vintage faith community if you want to know more:), and arrived home to a mailbox full of love, support, and funds for my Ghana trip!  Thank you so much for those words of encouragement, prayers, and money, it is so appreciated.  It not only means a lot to me, but also to the children and the community in which I will be getting to go help due to all of your giving.  I still have quite a bit of fundraising to go, so let's keep up the amazing support!

Trip Preperations

So far I have purchased my plane tickets to fly out to Ghana on Sept. 13th.  I will be met by a staff member of Hardt Haven at the international Airport in Accra, and I will then be shuttled 4 plus hours to Kpando.  I plan to fly home from Ghana on March 12th.  Also I have gotten my visa paperwork in order and sent off, so I am currently awaiting the arrival of my new visa!  I have received the proper shots for the trip, they were painful and left me feeling pretty drained for a couple days, but I'm getting really excited for my September departure:)

Fundraising

I'm currently thinking of doing a spaghetti feed, to raise funds for my trip.  I also just received an invoice from Hardt Haven telling me I need to pay ($1,998) 30 days before my arrival in Ghana (August 14th ), so that means I need to get those funds raised!:)

About Hardt Haven

Hardt Haven is where I will get the opportunity to work with other volunteers from around the world to make a difference in Ghana. Opportunities are provided for volunteers to spend time tutoring and playing with the children in the Home, visiting sponsored children, providing palliative care for dying AIDS victims, teaching in local schools, working at the local hospital or clinic, and/or working in community education.  I will get the chance to help in several different areas, depending on where I am needed most.