This is not going to be a very long e-mail, well at least I am not planning on it being very long.
I am in the Internet cafe this morning trying to upload photos on facebook because I spent 3 hours yesterday trying and they never worked.
Things here are good. I am so happy and the more time I spend here the more I feel wanted here as well. I was on my break on Friday afternoon and I got a phone call from one of the boys. He was using one of the Aunties phones and he asked me where I was. I told him I was on my break and then he told me that I needed to find him when I came back because he wanted to play Monopoly with me again. I was so happy that I was actually being looked for to come back to the orphanage.
Moses has malaria and so does one of the volunteers. For the past week I noticed that Moses had been quiet and not running around as much. I as really worried but he still seemed happy and was smiling a lot. Once I found out that he had malaria I found it amazing that even though he was so sick he was still the happiest child in the orphanage. I am really worried about malaria. I wasn't worried before I came but I found out here that there is a lot of vomiting that goes along with it. The mosquitoes have been getting a lot worse and I am just hoping that I am being careful enough that I miss out on that great experience. haha
My roommate left yesterday to go travel Ghana for two weeks and my other house mate Claire leaves today to go back to Britain. I get two new housemates tomorrow and then another roommate in a week. All is well here.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Don't Fight
The past day has been really good but also very sad. I have spent a lot of time with the older boys working on fractions (haven't done that in awhile). Then last night I played Monopoly with some of the boys and WON might I add. They have really strange rules to the game, which makes it go a lot quicker (more fun too)! The boys have this balcony in their house that is open and so we played the game up there. One of the little boys was up there with us as well and while we weren't looking he decided to poop on the floor and then smear it around a bit. Alfred was really nice because when I got up to go clean it up he told me not to worry about it. He said that I shouldn't have to clean poop up in the morning and in the afternoon so he went and cleaned it up for me.
There is a boy named Dennis; although now that I am saying that he isn't really a boy. He is just out of Senior High and is volunteering at the home. He is Ghanaian and is helping me tutor the boys. He is working on studying for the SAT because he wants to attend University in the United States. It has been really rewarding getting to know him because he is so ambitious and at times I feel lazy when I talk with him. He is taking his subject tests in May and is working on applying to Penn. He is AMAZING at physics and so I let him work on science with the boys and I stick to the basics.
This morning I was struggling with the little ones. The 2-5 year olds are between terms and so have been off school for the past week. On a normal day I deal with about 10 toddlers that are either too sick or too weak to go to school. However, when the other kids are off school I am in charge of them too. That means that this past week I have been in charge of 30 2-5 year olds. The boys ages 6-10 are off of school as well and so this morning we were on the playground and I was spending some time with them as well. In order for this story to make sense to you I have to go off on a tangent about the new boy Samuel.
Samuel I believe is about 6 and he came to the home 3 days ago. I was leaving the toddler house when I met him for the first time. He was standing at the gate of the orphanage sobbing with no one around. I walked up to him and got down on my knees to talk to him and he just wrapped his arms around my neck and cried. I didn't know why he was crying at by that point I didn't even know he was new. I got him calmed down and walked him back over to the little boy house and that is when they told me he was new. They got him some food and I left to take my break before coming back in the afternoon. Since then every day when I come in the home he walks beside me without saying a word. He will hug me and stand by me but he doesn't speak any English. So getting back to today's story......
I was at the playground with some of the younger boys and I looked over as one of the boys picked up a rock and smacked Samuel across the head with it. He managed to cut the side of his head and there was quite a good amount of blood. I grabbed the little boy by the arm and dragged him back to the house for the older boys to watch him while I cleaned up Samuel. After I got him all cleaned up I took made sure the Auntie knew what he had done. Then I went back to the playground with Samuel and two other boys hit him across the back and poured dirt down the back of his shirt. I went over and grabbed them by the shirt and asked them what the thought they were doing. They told me that he was stealing their food.
He LIVES THERE! He is not stealing their food but he lives there and has to eat. He doesn't want to be living there but he has no choice. It took everything within me not to start crying. They were being so cruel when all this boy needs is a friend. I was shattered and went to find one of the older boys and explained to him what was happening. He took all three boys in a room and yelled at them and explained to them that it was not acceptable to treat him that way. While they were getting yelled at I brushed the dirt off Samuel and picked him up off the ground. Another little boy walked over to Samuel with a toy car and handed it to him. They sat there and played together for the next hour or so.
I struggle with how mean these children can be to each other. I now understand why it was so hard for my parents to watch me and my brothers fight. These kids need to support each other because they are all each other have. I spent the rest of the morning with the babies to keep myself from going off the deep end. My house mate Claire leaves on Monday and my roommate Amy leaves to go traveling for two weeks on Sunday and then will leave when she gets back. I will have new roommates soon and so that should be an experience. I fall more in love with these kids each day. I become less grossed out my their slobber, spit, poop, and snot. I love to kiss and hug them and make them smile. I love it here. I hope that you all enjoyed this email!!!!!!
There is a boy named Dennis; although now that I am saying that he isn't really a boy. He is just out of Senior High and is volunteering at the home. He is Ghanaian and is helping me tutor the boys. He is working on studying for the SAT because he wants to attend University in the United States. It has been really rewarding getting to know him because he is so ambitious and at times I feel lazy when I talk with him. He is taking his subject tests in May and is working on applying to Penn. He is AMAZING at physics and so I let him work on science with the boys and I stick to the basics.
This morning I was struggling with the little ones. The 2-5 year olds are between terms and so have been off school for the past week. On a normal day I deal with about 10 toddlers that are either too sick or too weak to go to school. However, when the other kids are off school I am in charge of them too. That means that this past week I have been in charge of 30 2-5 year olds. The boys ages 6-10 are off of school as well and so this morning we were on the playground and I was spending some time with them as well. In order for this story to make sense to you I have to go off on a tangent about the new boy Samuel.
Samuel I believe is about 6 and he came to the home 3 days ago. I was leaving the toddler house when I met him for the first time. He was standing at the gate of the orphanage sobbing with no one around. I walked up to him and got down on my knees to talk to him and he just wrapped his arms around my neck and cried. I didn't know why he was crying at by that point I didn't even know he was new. I got him calmed down and walked him back over to the little boy house and that is when they told me he was new. They got him some food and I left to take my break before coming back in the afternoon. Since then every day when I come in the home he walks beside me without saying a word. He will hug me and stand by me but he doesn't speak any English. So getting back to today's story......
I was at the playground with some of the younger boys and I looked over as one of the boys picked up a rock and smacked Samuel across the head with it. He managed to cut the side of his head and there was quite a good amount of blood. I grabbed the little boy by the arm and dragged him back to the house for the older boys to watch him while I cleaned up Samuel. After I got him all cleaned up I took made sure the Auntie knew what he had done. Then I went back to the playground with Samuel and two other boys hit him across the back and poured dirt down the back of his shirt. I went over and grabbed them by the shirt and asked them what the thought they were doing. They told me that he was stealing their food.
He LIVES THERE! He is not stealing their food but he lives there and has to eat. He doesn't want to be living there but he has no choice. It took everything within me not to start crying. They were being so cruel when all this boy needs is a friend. I was shattered and went to find one of the older boys and explained to him what was happening. He took all three boys in a room and yelled at them and explained to them that it was not acceptable to treat him that way. While they were getting yelled at I brushed the dirt off Samuel and picked him up off the ground. Another little boy walked over to Samuel with a toy car and handed it to him. They sat there and played together for the next hour or so.
I struggle with how mean these children can be to each other. I now understand why it was so hard for my parents to watch me and my brothers fight. These kids need to support each other because they are all each other have. I spent the rest of the morning with the babies to keep myself from going off the deep end. My house mate Claire leaves on Monday and my roommate Amy leaves to go traveling for two weeks on Sunday and then will leave when she gets back. I will have new roommates soon and so that should be an experience. I fall more in love with these kids each day. I become less grossed out my their slobber, spit, poop, and snot. I love to kiss and hug them and make them smile. I love it here. I hope that you all enjoyed this email!!!!!!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Easter Sunday
I am so tired that my arms can barely type this e-mail. I did get a lot of sleep last night and my sleep has been getting better. It was a four day weekend for everyone in Ghana this past weekend but I spent 3 out of the 4 days at the home. I am trying to remember when I last e-mailed and I believe that it was Sat.
Saturday I spent with my friend Jessie at the pool and then I went to watch her band practice. She plays the trumpet and met all these Ghanaians that she now plays in a band with. They are all very nice and fun to be with.
Sunday was Easter and the Easter service was good but not the same as our church service back home. I missed playing my cello to Hallelujah chorus and listening to Lillian's sermon. But church was still good. About four of the boys went with me to the actual service and then I spent time with them all after church was finished.
Sunday afternoon one of my roommates and I went out for lunch and then that afternoon we had a party with our host family. It was our Grandma's 90th Birthday party. She turned 90 on December 29th but didn't want to celebrate it until Easter because she said that God was the only reason she was still on this earth and so she wanted to throw a party in his honor. It started at about 3 and went until 6. For those three hours it was painful. We all sat in a circle (me, my roommate, and a lot of strangers). No one was really talking and we weren't allowed to cross our legs because that is considered inappropriate to do in front of your elders. There was plantain chips, peanuts, spring rolls, meat rolls (mystery meat), and then a really really really spicy porridge with some sketchy meat in it before we even got to the main course.
Once the main course came it was fine, people started to talk a little bit and that food was amazing. I had Jollof rice, fried rice, chicken, and beef with sauteed onions and peppers. Maybe the best meal I have had since I have been here. I was so tired that I just went in my room and fell asleep for about an hour when I woke up to music blasting. All of the elders had left and the nieces and nephews of my host family were there cleaning up- aka having a huge party. They were dancing, singing, and laughing. It actually reminded me a lot of what our family parties are like.
I left my room to see what was going on and then went to talk to Claire the only other roommate that was home this weekend. She is very shy and so didn't want to leave her room but I was feeling a little sad that I was missing out on all the fun so I went out on the back porch and danced with them until I couldn't even move. I sweat through all of my clothes and was disgusting but for the first time since I have been here I feel like I connected with my host family.
They were laughing at me as they were trying to show me how to dance. I swear that when they left the womb they were dancing. It reminded me of the way the girls in Zambia danced. The hips just out of control. The uncle was trying to show me the basics and then how to spice it up. I couldn't help but laugh at myself. But I was so happy. My sister Sheila was just hugging me and laughing with me. I felt so sad for my roommate Claire who didn't want to leave the room. I need that bond with people, without it I just feel helpless.
Monday I went on a picnic with the church I have been attending and all of the older boys went as well. It was at a Jr. High and there was dancing, music, food, sports, and fun. It was such good fellowship and I had such a great time. A lot of the girls were trying to teach me how to play this stomping game but I wasn't very good. There was basketball, ping pong, tennis, volleyball, football (soccer), card playing, and dancing. The pastor of the church was wearing a Sox hat and he told me that he had just been living in Naperville for 2 months and he got the hat when he was there. :) We talked about how that was my team and how I miss all my players terribly. He was laughing and we talked for a little while.
I have so much more to say but I will stop for now because I could keep writing forever. I hope that this was a good taste of my wonderful Easter weekend. I have some very big decisions to make coming up including when I am coming home and what college I am going to attend. That is what I need you to be praying for. E-mail me and tell me how things back home are!! I haven't heard from some of you in a loooooong time or at all. I miss hearing from you.
Saturday I spent with my friend Jessie at the pool and then I went to watch her band practice. She plays the trumpet and met all these Ghanaians that she now plays in a band with. They are all very nice and fun to be with.
Sunday was Easter and the Easter service was good but not the same as our church service back home. I missed playing my cello to Hallelujah chorus and listening to Lillian's sermon. But church was still good. About four of the boys went with me to the actual service and then I spent time with them all after church was finished.
Sunday afternoon one of my roommates and I went out for lunch and then that afternoon we had a party with our host family. It was our Grandma's 90th Birthday party. She turned 90 on December 29th but didn't want to celebrate it until Easter because she said that God was the only reason she was still on this earth and so she wanted to throw a party in his honor. It started at about 3 and went until 6. For those three hours it was painful. We all sat in a circle (me, my roommate, and a lot of strangers). No one was really talking and we weren't allowed to cross our legs because that is considered inappropriate to do in front of your elders. There was plantain chips, peanuts, spring rolls, meat rolls (mystery meat), and then a really really really spicy porridge with some sketchy meat in it before we even got to the main course.
Once the main course came it was fine, people started to talk a little bit and that food was amazing. I had Jollof rice, fried rice, chicken, and beef with sauteed onions and peppers. Maybe the best meal I have had since I have been here. I was so tired that I just went in my room and fell asleep for about an hour when I woke up to music blasting. All of the elders had left and the nieces and nephews of my host family were there cleaning up- aka having a huge party. They were dancing, singing, and laughing. It actually reminded me a lot of what our family parties are like.
I left my room to see what was going on and then went to talk to Claire the only other roommate that was home this weekend. She is very shy and so didn't want to leave her room but I was feeling a little sad that I was missing out on all the fun so I went out on the back porch and danced with them until I couldn't even move. I sweat through all of my clothes and was disgusting but for the first time since I have been here I feel like I connected with my host family.
They were laughing at me as they were trying to show me how to dance. I swear that when they left the womb they were dancing. It reminded me of the way the girls in Zambia danced. The hips just out of control. The uncle was trying to show me the basics and then how to spice it up. I couldn't help but laugh at myself. But I was so happy. My sister Sheila was just hugging me and laughing with me. I felt so sad for my roommate Claire who didn't want to leave the room. I need that bond with people, without it I just feel helpless.
Monday I went on a picnic with the church I have been attending and all of the older boys went as well. It was at a Jr. High and there was dancing, music, food, sports, and fun. It was such good fellowship and I had such a great time. A lot of the girls were trying to teach me how to play this stomping game but I wasn't very good. There was basketball, ping pong, tennis, volleyball, football (soccer), card playing, and dancing. The pastor of the church was wearing a Sox hat and he told me that he had just been living in Naperville for 2 months and he got the hat when he was there. :) We talked about how that was my team and how I miss all my players terribly. He was laughing and we talked for a little while.
I have so much more to say but I will stop for now because I could keep writing forever. I hope that this was a good taste of my wonderful Easter weekend. I have some very big decisions to make coming up including when I am coming home and what college I am going to attend. That is what I need you to be praying for. E-mail me and tell me how things back home are!! I haven't heard from some of you in a loooooong time or at all. I miss hearing from you.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Being Honest
Sorry that it has been a few days since I have e-mailed last. Things here are pretty crazy and yet relaxed at the same time.
We have started to discipline the toddlers in the morning now--that is stressful--but necessary. Every time they hit another kid or me I pick them up and hold them in the corner. Personally, I think that for them that is worse than being hit. They are used to getting hit but holding them in a corner where they can't move tortures them; of course we don't keep them there for a long time, they are only toddlers. We probably end up holding them there for about 45 seconds to a minute but they absolutely hate it. It has been working well and the Aunties are really open to trying new ways of discipline. There is this one boy Kojo who always bites the other kids and at the beginning of our time in the morning I take him in the corner once every few minutes but by the end he has shaped up.
The kids had off yesterday for Good Friday and then they also have Monday off because the Easter celebration here is intense (so I hear). Yesterday was a really frustrating and hard day for me. I wasn't planning on sharing this but I think it needs to be said. On Thursday night one of my friends got robbed. He was taking a taxi home and a car stopped in front of him. Eight men got out of the car (one with crowbar and another with a knife) and robbed him. They didn't hurt him in any way but they took his phone, money, and ATM card (he had just gotten money out of the bank).
This really scared me. I spent the whole day yesterday just struggling to get through the day. I found myself very homesick and wanting the luxuries of home. I was unsettled all day. The kids even noticed. One of the boys asked me why I was so sad and I just explained to him that sometimes it is hard being so far from home. We ended up talking for a long time and he cheered me up but I still felt uneasy. I went home last night for dinner and didn't want to go out again. I had told a couple people that I would go out with them but I just didn't feel right and told them I was in a weird mood and didn't want to go. But one of my friends, Lara, decided that I couldn't stay in. She told me that if I was feeling sad and upset that I needed to go out because it would just get worse staying in. So she came to my house and got me and decided that we needed to have a night of just Western fun (as close as we could get).
We ended up going to this place where you could rent out a room that had a TV and DVD player and movies to choose from. The rooms were air conditioned by a space heater (or cooler) and they had a couch. This is Ghana's version of a movie theatre. So five of us ended up watching Hairspray in the room and it really brought me out of my fog. Things aren't always easy here. I know that you know that, and I know I say it quite often but sometimes they are just harder than I know how to handle. I am lucky that Lara was such a good friend and came and got me out of the house.
Keep in mind that I did not tell this story to you to scare you or for you to worry about me but to be honest. I need prayers here and so do the other volunteers. I am very smart and never take a bag out at night but this doesn't mean that I am always %100 safe. I need prayers to be able to pull myself out of those occasional moods I find myself in.
On the bright side one of the boys told me yesterday how much he thought I was making a difference. He told me that I am loving these kids when the Aunties can't and giving them a break from reality so that they can have some fun. He was funny because he knows that I am only here for a few months but he said, "So how many years are you staying?" and just had a huge smile on his face. They always ask about my brothers as well. Yesterday they were asking if my brothers knew that I had older brothers here. There are certain parts of my day that make it all worth it. A certain smile or a certain joke.
Don't worry about me because I am good. Prayers are always needed but that is normal. I have to make a college decision soon.........crap. I am not going to write about any of the boys today because I think that this e-mail is pretty long. Please tell me if you ever feel like I am repeating myself. I miss you guys. New Pictures are up!
We have started to discipline the toddlers in the morning now--that is stressful--but necessary. Every time they hit another kid or me I pick them up and hold them in the corner. Personally, I think that for them that is worse than being hit. They are used to getting hit but holding them in a corner where they can't move tortures them; of course we don't keep them there for a long time, they are only toddlers. We probably end up holding them there for about 45 seconds to a minute but they absolutely hate it. It has been working well and the Aunties are really open to trying new ways of discipline. There is this one boy Kojo who always bites the other kids and at the beginning of our time in the morning I take him in the corner once every few minutes but by the end he has shaped up.
The kids had off yesterday for Good Friday and then they also have Monday off because the Easter celebration here is intense (so I hear). Yesterday was a really frustrating and hard day for me. I wasn't planning on sharing this but I think it needs to be said. On Thursday night one of my friends got robbed. He was taking a taxi home and a car stopped in front of him. Eight men got out of the car (one with crowbar and another with a knife) and robbed him. They didn't hurt him in any way but they took his phone, money, and ATM card (he had just gotten money out of the bank).
This really scared me. I spent the whole day yesterday just struggling to get through the day. I found myself very homesick and wanting the luxuries of home. I was unsettled all day. The kids even noticed. One of the boys asked me why I was so sad and I just explained to him that sometimes it is hard being so far from home. We ended up talking for a long time and he cheered me up but I still felt uneasy. I went home last night for dinner and didn't want to go out again. I had told a couple people that I would go out with them but I just didn't feel right and told them I was in a weird mood and didn't want to go. But one of my friends, Lara, decided that I couldn't stay in. She told me that if I was feeling sad and upset that I needed to go out because it would just get worse staying in. So she came to my house and got me and decided that we needed to have a night of just Western fun (as close as we could get).
We ended up going to this place where you could rent out a room that had a TV and DVD player and movies to choose from. The rooms were air conditioned by a space heater (or cooler) and they had a couch. This is Ghana's version of a movie theatre. So five of us ended up watching Hairspray in the room and it really brought me out of my fog. Things aren't always easy here. I know that you know that, and I know I say it quite often but sometimes they are just harder than I know how to handle. I am lucky that Lara was such a good friend and came and got me out of the house.
Keep in mind that I did not tell this story to you to scare you or for you to worry about me but to be honest. I need prayers here and so do the other volunteers. I am very smart and never take a bag out at night but this doesn't mean that I am always %100 safe. I need prayers to be able to pull myself out of those occasional moods I find myself in.
On the bright side one of the boys told me yesterday how much he thought I was making a difference. He told me that I am loving these kids when the Aunties can't and giving them a break from reality so that they can have some fun. He was funny because he knows that I am only here for a few months but he said, "So how many years are you staying?" and just had a huge smile on his face. They always ask about my brothers as well. Yesterday they were asking if my brothers knew that I had older brothers here. There are certain parts of my day that make it all worth it. A certain smile or a certain joke.
Don't worry about me because I am good. Prayers are always needed but that is normal. I have to make a college decision soon.........crap. I am not going to write about any of the boys today because I think that this e-mail is pretty long. Please tell me if you ever feel like I am repeating myself. I miss you guys. New Pictures are up!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Gross Truth
There has been a request to hear more about the lizard that lives in my bathroom. I have named him Herbert and he is about the size of my pinky finger. I am getting very attached to him and am getting worried cause I haven't seen him in a few days. Where the heck is he? Ok- I'm done with that.
This Sunday is Easter and I was starting to get sad because this is my first Easter away from my family. When the older boys found out that it was my first Easter away from my family they told me that they would all go with me to church and be a replacement family. This means a lot considering some of the boys who are going to come with me are ones that have stopped going to church.
I found out a very sickening fact about the Aunties that work in the home. They work 24/7.....literally. The feed, change, wash, discipline, and take care of the children. There are about 4 Aunties in each house and around 50-60 kids in each house. They are so patient and hard working. Now here is the gross but real truth. These Aunties are paid $1,200 a year which is $100 a month which ends up being 14 cents an hour!!!!!!! They are expected to live off of 14 cents an hour and they work harder than most people I know. I know that some of you are thinking that that must be a lot in Ghana but the truth is that 14 cents is the equivalent of 14 pesewa which can't even buy a five minute tro ride into Danquah Circle from where I live. Now as sickening as this fact is I will give you an even more disturbing fact..... the average worker in Ghana makes $500 a year. I am in such shock that they are paid so lousy. Ok I am done with my rant.
I have started to make friend with a couple of the girls named Ester and Gifte. I believe that Ester is 17 and Gifte 16. They are very shy.
I don't have time to write about any of the boys today but I will try to do it tomorrow. Sorry this is such a short update.
This Sunday is Easter and I was starting to get sad because this is my first Easter away from my family. When the older boys found out that it was my first Easter away from my family they told me that they would all go with me to church and be a replacement family. This means a lot considering some of the boys who are going to come with me are ones that have stopped going to church.
I found out a very sickening fact about the Aunties that work in the home. They work 24/7.....literally. The feed, change, wash, discipline, and take care of the children. There are about 4 Aunties in each house and around 50-60 kids in each house. They are so patient and hard working. Now here is the gross but real truth. These Aunties are paid $1,200 a year which is $100 a month which ends up being 14 cents an hour!!!!!!! They are expected to live off of 14 cents an hour and they work harder than most people I know. I know that some of you are thinking that that must be a lot in Ghana but the truth is that 14 cents is the equivalent of 14 pesewa which can't even buy a five minute tro ride into Danquah Circle from where I live. Now as sickening as this fact is I will give you an even more disturbing fact..... the average worker in Ghana makes $500 a year. I am in such shock that they are paid so lousy. Ok I am done with my rant.
I have started to make friend with a couple of the girls named Ester and Gifte. I believe that Ester is 17 and Gifte 16. They are very shy.
I don't have time to write about any of the boys today but I will try to do it tomorrow. Sorry this is such a short update.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
No Longer A Strange Face
I have a couple of things to write to you about today. I can't believe it but this past Sunday marked the 1 month I have been here in Ghana. Time is flying past and I am starting to get a little bit worried about leaving. I am considering extending my stay but that would mean a lot of sacrifice and more money. I have to do some thinking on my part as well as talking to my parents. Don't worry they already know that I am thinking this so I am not just throwing it at them in an e-mail. As of right now I have some teenage boy standing behind me reading this e-mail so I hope that this makes him go away.
I know that I wrote to you guys about Seth in the first e-mail I wrote with the biographies of the boys. I had a really nice conversation with him yesterday and it was a hard one as well. We talked about some things that were light as well as topics that are heavy on his heart. He wants to be a cook when he grows up but struggles getting experience. He spilled hot water on himself the other day and burned his whole finger. It is one huge blister raised about a half inch off his skin. He told me about how he came here 12 years ago. He came with his sister who is younger than him but he had 7 other siblings. They didn't come to the home and he doesn't know what happened to them. It was hard to talk to him about it because I don't know what to say. I don't want to be invading his space but when he brings up things I want to ask more questions. As for now I let it stay and maybe eventually he will become comfortable enough with me to tell me the rest of his story.
I worry about these kids because they have been through so much and don't discuss it with anyone. If they were in America they would be getting proper counseling and help. They don't even tell each other their story. Yakubu told me that most boys just want to move on and thinking about their past is too difficult. I understand that but at the same time I am wondering if that is an unhealthy way of going about things- but then again what do I know? The kids are becoming more comfortable with me because they offer me food when they are eating and tell me things that the normally wouldn't tell me. They taught me how to clean the gutters the other day (sick!) I am starting to read their body language and they can tell my mood by mine as well. It is really neat how when you get to know someone better you can tell what they are thinking just by looking at them.
It is a good feeling when every night when I have to leave for dinner they don't want me to leave. They tell me to stay just a little longer or to come back after dinner. I am no longer a strange face or a random Obruni. I am someone consistent in their lives and they know to expect me every weekday and sometimes on weekends. The little boys have started to cling to me lately. They always want me to help dress them instead of the Aunties. If they get cut they will come to me and have me help them clean it. I really feel like I belong here. That's not to say that I don't have my moments of doubt but at least right now I am feeling sure of where I am and what I am doing. Life is Good and being here has taught me to be optimistic more than anything I have experienced and most of you know that I can be pretty negative.
I will write about Daniel today:
Daniel is 16. He is very quiet but a genuinely sweet boy. He hasn't been in school lately and I was surprised to find out why. Daniel got angry with another student and cut them with something in the classroom. He was so ashamed when he told me that he has been suspended for 2 months. I couldn't believe it! But he is very sensitive. He has no problem teasing the other boys but has trouble when they tease him. I wasn't sure whether to write about him getting in trouble in the e-mail because it gives him a bad image when he is really a sweet kid. I think that when you have been through anything like what these children deal with you are bound to have some moments of regret. He loves to play football (soccer) and dance to hip hop. He sleeps a lot because he has football training about 3 hours a day.
I know that I wrote to you guys about Seth in the first e-mail I wrote with the biographies of the boys. I had a really nice conversation with him yesterday and it was a hard one as well. We talked about some things that were light as well as topics that are heavy on his heart. He wants to be a cook when he grows up but struggles getting experience. He spilled hot water on himself the other day and burned his whole finger. It is one huge blister raised about a half inch off his skin. He told me about how he came here 12 years ago. He came with his sister who is younger than him but he had 7 other siblings. They didn't come to the home and he doesn't know what happened to them. It was hard to talk to him about it because I don't know what to say. I don't want to be invading his space but when he brings up things I want to ask more questions. As for now I let it stay and maybe eventually he will become comfortable enough with me to tell me the rest of his story.
I worry about these kids because they have been through so much and don't discuss it with anyone. If they were in America they would be getting proper counseling and help. They don't even tell each other their story. Yakubu told me that most boys just want to move on and thinking about their past is too difficult. I understand that but at the same time I am wondering if that is an unhealthy way of going about things- but then again what do I know? The kids are becoming more comfortable with me because they offer me food when they are eating and tell me things that the normally wouldn't tell me. They taught me how to clean the gutters the other day (sick!) I am starting to read their body language and they can tell my mood by mine as well. It is really neat how when you get to know someone better you can tell what they are thinking just by looking at them.
It is a good feeling when every night when I have to leave for dinner they don't want me to leave. They tell me to stay just a little longer or to come back after dinner. I am no longer a strange face or a random Obruni. I am someone consistent in their lives and they know to expect me every weekday and sometimes on weekends. The little boys have started to cling to me lately. They always want me to help dress them instead of the Aunties. If they get cut they will come to me and have me help them clean it. I really feel like I belong here. That's not to say that I don't have my moments of doubt but at least right now I am feeling sure of where I am and what I am doing. Life is Good and being here has taught me to be optimistic more than anything I have experienced and most of you know that I can be pretty negative.
I will write about Daniel today:
Daniel is 16. He is very quiet but a genuinely sweet boy. He hasn't been in school lately and I was surprised to find out why. Daniel got angry with another student and cut them with something in the classroom. He was so ashamed when he told me that he has been suspended for 2 months. I couldn't believe it! But he is very sensitive. He has no problem teasing the other boys but has trouble when they tease him. I wasn't sure whether to write about him getting in trouble in the e-mail because it gives him a bad image when he is really a sweet kid. I think that when you have been through anything like what these children deal with you are bound to have some moments of regret. He loves to play football (soccer) and dance to hip hop. He sleeps a lot because he has football training about 3 hours a day.
Monday, March 17, 2008
I hate Wisdom Teeth
So....
My wisdom teeth are coming in......ouch! My friend Christina left last night. I think out of everyone that has left so far it was hardest to watch her leave. It is hard for me because since all the volunteers live in Britain they will go home and be a couple hours away and will go on day trips and travel together....then there is me. The American that probably won't see any of them for a few years at least. But I know that we will keep in touch. A couple of us anyway.
The two boys of the day:
Moses: Moses is 13. His smile makes my day every time I see him. Consistently everyday he walks up to me and says "Hi! I am Claire who are you?" and I respond "I am Moses it is so nice to meet you!". He cracks up every time and I can't help but laugh even though it happens every day. I can be all the way across the orphanage and he will run over to me to greet me. He is so welcoming and loves to beat me at football (not that it is hard). I am still learning about him and what he does in school and his interests but I needed to write about him now because he makes me so happy every time I see him. He has so much joy and life in him. It is contagious. I will let you know when I learn more about him as a person.
Elvis (Okos): Elvis is 14. He will turn 15 on May 19 (he is angry with me because I leave a couple days before his birthday). His mom is an Auntie and he has 7 siblings. One of his sisters is named Tracy (she is so adorable!!) He acts way older and looks way older than he is although he has his moments. The boys had a game boy donated to them and he is very good at all those games. He is the best at haggling prices on taxis for me and is very protective. Sometimes he gets easily offended by the other boys but just because he is younger. He is always leaving the home to go get his older brother food. He loves fried plantain and yam. Lately I haven't seen much of him. I am not sure why but he has been quiet.
My wisdom teeth are coming in......ouch! My friend Christina left last night. I think out of everyone that has left so far it was hardest to watch her leave. It is hard for me because since all the volunteers live in Britain they will go home and be a couple hours away and will go on day trips and travel together....then there is me. The American that probably won't see any of them for a few years at least. But I know that we will keep in touch. A couple of us anyway.
The two boys of the day:
Moses: Moses is 13. His smile makes my day every time I see him. Consistently everyday he walks up to me and says "Hi! I am Claire who are you?" and I respond "I am Moses it is so nice to meet you!". He cracks up every time and I can't help but laugh even though it happens every day. I can be all the way across the orphanage and he will run over to me to greet me. He is so welcoming and loves to beat me at football (not that it is hard). I am still learning about him and what he does in school and his interests but I needed to write about him now because he makes me so happy every time I see him. He has so much joy and life in him. It is contagious. I will let you know when I learn more about him as a person.
Elvis (Okos): Elvis is 14. He will turn 15 on May 19 (he is angry with me because I leave a couple days before his birthday). His mom is an Auntie and he has 7 siblings. One of his sisters is named Tracy (she is so adorable!!) He acts way older and looks way older than he is although he has his moments. The boys had a game boy donated to them and he is very good at all those games. He is the best at haggling prices on taxis for me and is very protective. Sometimes he gets easily offended by the other boys but just because he is younger. He is always leaving the home to go get his older brother food. He loves fried plantain and yam. Lately I haven't seen much of him. I am not sure why but he has been quiet.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Palm Sunday (kind of a religious post)
I have good news and bad news. I will start with the bad news so that I have something good to end with. Bad news: The baby named Ivan died this past week. For those of you who don't remember Ivan was the 6 month old baby with AIDS and malaria. It is hard to understand why these things happen but I am praying about it. I won't say too much more because that pretty much covers it so I will move on to the good news: One of the toddlers I have been watching (Epia) and his baby sister were adopted this past week! It was sad as a volunteer because we didn't know that he was being adopted until he was already gone, so there was no goodbye. But it is so encouraging to see him go to a better place. The great thing is that the family adopted him and his sister together so that they can grow up together.
On a side note- I talked to my 1st pres youth group last night as they started their 30 Hour Famine. This is the first year in a long time that I am not participating and to be honest, it makes me very sad. There is no doubt in my mind that 30 Hour Famine is why I am here. Without the 30 Hour Famine I wouldn't have started to open my eyes, without that I wouldn't have raised money, without that I wouldn't have gone to Zambia, without that I wouldn't have fallen in love with Africa and with serving others. I am so thankful for my experience with the 30 Hour Famine and everything that it has brought to me.
This morning I went to church for the first time since I have been here. I have an unusual host family because they do not attend church (that is very uncommon in Ghana). Since they don't attend church I have found it hard to simply choose any random church to attend. But then two of the older boys, Kwame Mensah (Emmanuel) and Seth invited me to attend their church at the orphanage. Not all of the children attend this church. Some of the kids choose to go outside of the home to attend a church of their denomination (if they had one before they came into the home). I was told that the service started at 7am so I was there at 6:50am. Well, what I have learned is that in Ghana- time does not exist. When I got there I couldn't find anyone dressed for church so I asked around. I was told that church started: shortly, 7:30, 8:30, and around 9:00am. No one officially knows when church starts apparently.
Well the service didn't end up starting until 8:30 and it lasted until 11am. They started with praise and there were people dancing all over the room laughing and screaming and praying. I couldn't help but move my feet and laugh at how different my church's worship is. Then for the sermon the pastor was screaming and yelling and passionate and it was really neat to watch. He had my attention the entire time I really connected with the sermon. It was about the authority that we have from being one with God and why we feel we have to wait for someone to tell us what our calling is. If we feel that we know what we are supposed to be doing then we shouldn't be waiting around hoping that someone will approve of what we want to do. I know that a lot of people reading this e-mail aren't religious so I won't continue but it was a really neat experience. My mood was lifted and I just felt joyful. I am going to take a break from telling about the boys until tomorrow because this is so long to begin with.
My friend Christina goes home today which I am very sad about. She has had stomach problems that they can't figure out so she has to go back to Britain 2 months early. I am about to go to the orphanage to meet some of the boys for their football match (soccer game). I promised them I would attend and cheer them on! This is all for now. Keep e-mailing me. It keeps my spirits up when I am having a rough day!
On a side note- I talked to my 1st pres youth group last night as they started their 30 Hour Famine. This is the first year in a long time that I am not participating and to be honest, it makes me very sad. There is no doubt in my mind that 30 Hour Famine is why I am here. Without the 30 Hour Famine I wouldn't have started to open my eyes, without that I wouldn't have raised money, without that I wouldn't have gone to Zambia, without that I wouldn't have fallen in love with Africa and with serving others. I am so thankful for my experience with the 30 Hour Famine and everything that it has brought to me.
This morning I went to church for the first time since I have been here. I have an unusual host family because they do not attend church (that is very uncommon in Ghana). Since they don't attend church I have found it hard to simply choose any random church to attend. But then two of the older boys, Kwame Mensah (Emmanuel) and Seth invited me to attend their church at the orphanage. Not all of the children attend this church. Some of the kids choose to go outside of the home to attend a church of their denomination (if they had one before they came into the home). I was told that the service started at 7am so I was there at 6:50am. Well, what I have learned is that in Ghana- time does not exist. When I got there I couldn't find anyone dressed for church so I asked around. I was told that church started: shortly, 7:30, 8:30, and around 9:00am. No one officially knows when church starts apparently.
Well the service didn't end up starting until 8:30 and it lasted until 11am. They started with praise and there were people dancing all over the room laughing and screaming and praying. I couldn't help but move my feet and laugh at how different my church's worship is. Then for the sermon the pastor was screaming and yelling and passionate and it was really neat to watch. He had my attention the entire time I really connected with the sermon. It was about the authority that we have from being one with God and why we feel we have to wait for someone to tell us what our calling is. If we feel that we know what we are supposed to be doing then we shouldn't be waiting around hoping that someone will approve of what we want to do. I know that a lot of people reading this e-mail aren't religious so I won't continue but it was a really neat experience. My mood was lifted and I just felt joyful. I am going to take a break from telling about the boys until tomorrow because this is so long to begin with.
My friend Christina goes home today which I am very sad about. She has had stomach problems that they can't figure out so she has to go back to Britain 2 months early. I am about to go to the orphanage to meet some of the boys for their football match (soccer game). I promised them I would attend and cheer them on! This is all for now. Keep e-mailing me. It keeps my spirits up when I am having a rough day!
Friday, March 14, 2008
Victor and Yakubu
Today I don't have too much time to e-mail so I am just going to write about two more of the boys:
1. Victor- Victor is 20 years old and very large compared to the other boys. I am not sure why he is not attending University but he has a twin sister in the home named Victoria. Victor tends to be more on the quiet side but also very sarcastic. At first I thought that he didn't like me very much but then he corrected me and told me that he did. He frequently says things such as Woy Akola, which means you, are a kid. Or he will joke around with me and tell me that he wants me to go back to America so I will leave the area and 30 seconds later I will hear Victor yelling my name telling me to come back. He is not a very open person compared to Alfred and Seth but I also think that has to do with his past. He always tells me that I want to learn everything and that I am a very curious small girl. (This usually refers to wanting to know more about Ghana's culture and language). When he laughs it just makes everyone around him laugh. Right now he is very sick and one of the boys came to me this morning very concerned. For the past two months he has been throwing up morning and night. It sounds like the doctors have figured out what is wrong with him but he won't tell any of the other boys. The problem is that he has not been taking his medicine. He says it has been making him throw up more and makes his stomach grind. One of the boys came to me telling me that he was afraid that he was going to die because he hasn't been taking his medicine. I am going to try and figure out if there is a different medicine that he can switch to so it won't make him so sick. Please be praying for him.
2. Yakubu- Yakubu is 19 years old and is not fully part of the home. He was trying to explain it to me but it wasn't making sense. I guess lately he has been fighting with the host father a lot because he thinks the host father is a hypocrite and so doesn't respect him. In Ghana, not respecting your elders (even if they are at fault) is not acceptable. Yakubu is a very talented salsa dancer and spends most of his time in the toddler house so that he doesn't butt heads with the host father. All of the boys trust him because he keeps secrets really well. We have spent a lot of time talking about life in the home and all the boys. He gives me insight to their lives that I would never hear about. He is a very loyal friend and is the one who is so worried about Victor. He is thinking of leaving the home soon because of his problems with the host father and that makes me so sad but I also understand. He is one of the only boys that has a cell phone because his friends outside the home bought it for him and give him credit so that they can get a hold of him. Sometimes Yakubu talks to other Ghanaians in a girl voice and pretends to be me.
Things here are good. I had a dream about cockroaches last night and couldn't sleep. I am going to church on Sunday with my friend Christina (leaves Sunday night) at the home. Sorry I can't write more today.
1. Victor- Victor is 20 years old and very large compared to the other boys. I am not sure why he is not attending University but he has a twin sister in the home named Victoria. Victor tends to be more on the quiet side but also very sarcastic. At first I thought that he didn't like me very much but then he corrected me and told me that he did. He frequently says things such as Woy Akola, which means you, are a kid. Or he will joke around with me and tell me that he wants me to go back to America so I will leave the area and 30 seconds later I will hear Victor yelling my name telling me to come back. He is not a very open person compared to Alfred and Seth but I also think that has to do with his past. He always tells me that I want to learn everything and that I am a very curious small girl. (This usually refers to wanting to know more about Ghana's culture and language). When he laughs it just makes everyone around him laugh. Right now he is very sick and one of the boys came to me this morning very concerned. For the past two months he has been throwing up morning and night. It sounds like the doctors have figured out what is wrong with him but he won't tell any of the other boys. The problem is that he has not been taking his medicine. He says it has been making him throw up more and makes his stomach grind. One of the boys came to me telling me that he was afraid that he was going to die because he hasn't been taking his medicine. I am going to try and figure out if there is a different medicine that he can switch to so it won't make him so sick. Please be praying for him.
2. Yakubu- Yakubu is 19 years old and is not fully part of the home. He was trying to explain it to me but it wasn't making sense. I guess lately he has been fighting with the host father a lot because he thinks the host father is a hypocrite and so doesn't respect him. In Ghana, not respecting your elders (even if they are at fault) is not acceptable. Yakubu is a very talented salsa dancer and spends most of his time in the toddler house so that he doesn't butt heads with the host father. All of the boys trust him because he keeps secrets really well. We have spent a lot of time talking about life in the home and all the boys. He gives me insight to their lives that I would never hear about. He is a very loyal friend and is the one who is so worried about Victor. He is thinking of leaving the home soon because of his problems with the host father and that makes me so sad but I also understand. He is one of the only boys that has a cell phone because his friends outside the home bought it for him and give him credit so that they can get a hold of him. Sometimes Yakubu talks to other Ghanaians in a girl voice and pretends to be me.
Things here are good. I had a dream about cockroaches last night and couldn't sleep. I am going to church on Sunday with my friend Christina (leaves Sunday night) at the home. Sorry I can't write more today.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Introduction to the Boys
I am just going to jump straight in. Yesterday morning me and a few of the volunteers had an adventure to a pool with a few kids. There were 5 volunteers and 7 kids. Three of those kids have special needs and then we took four 6 year olds. So we hopped in a couple taxis and spent 4 hours at the pool. There was no shallow end of the pool except for the steps so we had to keep the special needs kids in the baby pool and then I took the four older kids in the big pool with me and another volunteer.
I spent all morning swimming back and forth with these kids on my back. The only time when the kids weren't on my back was when they were sitting on the steps. The only problem is that since I am short I had a hard time keeping my head above water while swimming with these kids-pretty funny if you ask me. The special needs kids really enjoyed it. They are actually never bathed other than with a damp cloth so to get them fully submerged into the water is really good. They had the biggest smiles on their faces and we just able to relax. There was no crying!!! :)
I am learning how to play this one instrument- it is kind of like a maraca. It is two large nuts that are hallowed out and filled with seeds and then attached together with a string. You hold one nut and then swing the other one around your hand to hit the other one and make a sound and then catch it and shake them together. It is really difficult and I have never been very good with rhythm.
It rained again last night just as I was about to leave and walk home! The kids wouldn't let me leave in the rain and lightning even if it meant I would miss my dinner. They made me call my roommates and tell them to save some dinner for me. I wasn't allowed to walk home until the rain had stopped. This rain is really helping our water situation!! It is unusual too because it is not the rainy season yet. I think I might get to shower today!!
I will finish this letter with a little bio about two of the boys from the home. I will start with the two I met first:
1. Alfred (His name is also Kwei). All of the kids have two names. The name they were given (Alfred) and then a name for the day of the week they were born on (Kwei = Boy born on Sunday). Alfred is 18 years old. He finished Senior High last April and won't attend University until fall of 2009. His mom is an Auntie that works at the home. The reason he has to wait so long to go to school is because his mom is already putting his older sister through University and doesn't have enough money yet to send Alfred as well. He wants to be a pilot but is going to study accounting in University and then after he might join the military to learn how to fly planes. He is a really sweet boy and a very genuine person. I might classify him as the kindest and most accepting of the boys. All of the babies love him and he allows all of the little kids to sit on his lap. He loves to read and speaks the best English out of all the boys. He laughs at me a lot and just laughs a lot in general. He loves when I tell him stories about random things. His key phrase to drive me crazy is "Are you sure?". He will say this after everything that I say just because he knows that a lot of the time I am not sure. He doesn't go to church every Sunday (which in Ghana is considered bad) but instead he stays in and studies his Bible. When I asked him why he doesn't go to church he told me because most boys just go to church but when they leave they go back and fight (hypocrites is what he means).
2. Seth (Kwame = boy born on Saturday). Seth is 16 years old and is in his last year of junior high. I believe this is the equivalent of our sophomore year of high school. He has exams this week which decides which Senior High he attends. Last night I spent 3 hours helping him study for his catering exam. It is kind of like our version of foods class but without the cooking. It teaches them how to set a table, table etiquette, and all about buying and preserving food. Also, what foods are healthy and what not. Seth is an orphan and is also very genuine. Alfred and Seth are best friends so they both have very kind hearts. Seth has trouble reading but we are working together to improve it (he reads out loud to me). He loves to play soccer (like most of the boys) and loves Goosebumps. When the younger boys are in trouble and are getting caned (yes different types of punishment, very hard to watch) they will always yell for Seth to help them and that ends up breaking his heart because he wants to be able to help them but knows that he will get in trouble. Seth goes to church most Sundays and always invites me to come with him so I think one of these Sundays when I am here I will go with him. He is the one that started calling me Acoco.
I spent all morning swimming back and forth with these kids on my back. The only time when the kids weren't on my back was when they were sitting on the steps. The only problem is that since I am short I had a hard time keeping my head above water while swimming with these kids-pretty funny if you ask me. The special needs kids really enjoyed it. They are actually never bathed other than with a damp cloth so to get them fully submerged into the water is really good. They had the biggest smiles on their faces and we just able to relax. There was no crying!!! :)
I am learning how to play this one instrument- it is kind of like a maraca. It is two large nuts that are hallowed out and filled with seeds and then attached together with a string. You hold one nut and then swing the other one around your hand to hit the other one and make a sound and then catch it and shake them together. It is really difficult and I have never been very good with rhythm.
It rained again last night just as I was about to leave and walk home! The kids wouldn't let me leave in the rain and lightning even if it meant I would miss my dinner. They made me call my roommates and tell them to save some dinner for me. I wasn't allowed to walk home until the rain had stopped. This rain is really helping our water situation!! It is unusual too because it is not the rainy season yet. I think I might get to shower today!!
I will finish this letter with a little bio about two of the boys from the home. I will start with the two I met first:
1. Alfred (His name is also Kwei). All of the kids have two names. The name they were given (Alfred) and then a name for the day of the week they were born on (Kwei = Boy born on Sunday). Alfred is 18 years old. He finished Senior High last April and won't attend University until fall of 2009. His mom is an Auntie that works at the home. The reason he has to wait so long to go to school is because his mom is already putting his older sister through University and doesn't have enough money yet to send Alfred as well. He wants to be a pilot but is going to study accounting in University and then after he might join the military to learn how to fly planes. He is a really sweet boy and a very genuine person. I might classify him as the kindest and most accepting of the boys. All of the babies love him and he allows all of the little kids to sit on his lap. He loves to read and speaks the best English out of all the boys. He laughs at me a lot and just laughs a lot in general. He loves when I tell him stories about random things. His key phrase to drive me crazy is "Are you sure?". He will say this after everything that I say just because he knows that a lot of the time I am not sure. He doesn't go to church every Sunday (which in Ghana is considered bad) but instead he stays in and studies his Bible. When I asked him why he doesn't go to church he told me because most boys just go to church but when they leave they go back and fight (hypocrites is what he means).
2. Seth (Kwame = boy born on Saturday). Seth is 16 years old and is in his last year of junior high. I believe this is the equivalent of our sophomore year of high school. He has exams this week which decides which Senior High he attends. Last night I spent 3 hours helping him study for his catering exam. It is kind of like our version of foods class but without the cooking. It teaches them how to set a table, table etiquette, and all about buying and preserving food. Also, what foods are healthy and what not. Seth is an orphan and is also very genuine. Alfred and Seth are best friends so they both have very kind hearts. Seth has trouble reading but we are working together to improve it (he reads out loud to me). He loves to play soccer (like most of the boys) and loves Goosebumps. When the younger boys are in trouble and are getting caned (yes different types of punishment, very hard to watch) they will always yell for Seth to help them and that ends up breaking his heart because he wants to be able to help them but knows that he will get in trouble. Seth goes to church most Sundays and always invites me to come with him so I think one of these Sundays when I am here I will go with him. He is the one that started calling me Acoco.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
How Did I Get Here?
I am sorry I haven't written an e-mail lately. I have been really busy with the orphanage and then we went away this past weekend to a place called Kokrobite. It was a great weekend to just relax and hang out. There was live music on Friday and Sat. night and hammocks in between palm trees. Fresh pineapple juice and huts that were used as hotel rooms. If you looked at the pictures you probably saw a hut and that was my hotel room.
There are times when I look around and think how did I get here? All of my friends are still in school but somehow I am here. This whole experience seems so surreal and it is going by so fast. On Sunday night when we returned from the weekend it rained. Not just rained but poured! Two of my roommates and I ran outside and started laughing and dancing. They have thin enough hair that they were able to get shampoo out and wash their hair. Sadly, my hair is too thick. The past two days since it rained have been cooler than normal which is a miracle.
A lot of you have been asking why I only have pictures of the boys and I know I explained this before but I will explain again. The girls never leave their house at the home. They stay inside from after school until school the next day so I never get to talk to them or meet them. One of the older boys promised me he would take me over there at some point this week so that I could meet them. But yesterday I actually decided to take matters into my own hands and head over to their house to try and introduce myself. That didn't work so well because they weren't as interested in meeting me as I was them. So I think I might have that older boy take me back later this week so that he can help me out. The girls are very shy.
Today has been a sad day because last night we took one of our roommates to the airport. She has finished her placement here and is now going to South Africa for 3 months. She was definitely the positive energy in the house that I was really able to connect with so it was hard to say goodbye to her. She actually reminded me a lot of my cousin Chaille. So I went into the orphanage this morning feeling down and as soon as I walked in a little boy Joely ran up to me arms spread out and jumped into my arms. I am starting to realize that I need those kids as much as they need me and that when things get tough they still love me. I held Joely for almost an hour and a half until he fell asleep in my arms. These kids are stealing my heart.
3 Weeks have passed and I am already afraid of the time slipping away too quickly. I have important decisions to make while I am here and that can feel overwhelming at times. I will try and be better about writing. I think that I might write you an e-mail about just the older boys and tell you about each one. Would you like that? I won't do it if no one is interested. My roommate Amy is sick so I am off to buy her some food and then go take a shower! (I HAVE WATER TODAY!!!)
There are times when I look around and think how did I get here? All of my friends are still in school but somehow I am here. This whole experience seems so surreal and it is going by so fast. On Sunday night when we returned from the weekend it rained. Not just rained but poured! Two of my roommates and I ran outside and started laughing and dancing. They have thin enough hair that they were able to get shampoo out and wash their hair. Sadly, my hair is too thick. The past two days since it rained have been cooler than normal which is a miracle.
A lot of you have been asking why I only have pictures of the boys and I know I explained this before but I will explain again. The girls never leave their house at the home. They stay inside from after school until school the next day so I never get to talk to them or meet them. One of the older boys promised me he would take me over there at some point this week so that I could meet them. But yesterday I actually decided to take matters into my own hands and head over to their house to try and introduce myself. That didn't work so well because they weren't as interested in meeting me as I was them. So I think I might have that older boy take me back later this week so that he can help me out. The girls are very shy.
Today has been a sad day because last night we took one of our roommates to the airport. She has finished her placement here and is now going to South Africa for 3 months. She was definitely the positive energy in the house that I was really able to connect with so it was hard to say goodbye to her. She actually reminded me a lot of my cousin Chaille. So I went into the orphanage this morning feeling down and as soon as I walked in a little boy Joely ran up to me arms spread out and jumped into my arms. I am starting to realize that I need those kids as much as they need me and that when things get tough they still love me. I held Joely for almost an hour and a half until he fell asleep in my arms. These kids are stealing my heart.
3 Weeks have passed and I am already afraid of the time slipping away too quickly. I have important decisions to make while I am here and that can feel overwhelming at times. I will try and be better about writing. I think that I might write you an e-mail about just the older boys and tell you about each one. Would you like that? I won't do it if no one is interested. My roommate Amy is sick so I am off to buy her some food and then go take a shower! (I HAVE WATER TODAY!!!)
Friday, March 7, 2008
I miss Portillos
I have decided that transitions are lame so I am going to number my thoughts again. I hope you don't mind.
1. The heat is becoming unbearable. The sun is twice as hot and I sweat 8 times as much as I did when I arrived. The temp. is reaching in the 100's at some points during the day. However, the past two nights we have had lightning!!! No rain, but lightning!! And this morning the sky spitted rain for about 3 minutes. The rainy season is coming and I can't wait. Water has become almost impossible to come by. Pretty soon here I am going to have to start wearing dirty clothes because I have no water to wash them in. I smell. I long for the days when I was a shampoo girl and my hands always smelled of soap! haha
2. I have started to walk home a lot more. It used to be a twenty minute walk home but then one of the boys from outside the home (he is a friend that always comes to the home to play soccer) showed me a shortcut to my house so now it is about a fifteen minute walk. Walking home is the one part of my day when I can just unwind and think about everything. It gives me a chance to tackle my racing mind and breathe a little bit.
3. I realize I haven't talked too much about meals so I will tell you a little bit about that. For breakfast every morning I get a slice of bread with jam (We bought the jam from the market). For lunch I get crackers and a juice box. Then for dinner we have a lot of different meals throughout the week. We get more meat than I thought we would but also a lot of carbs. Some nights we will have yams, meatballs, and this spicy tomato sauce. Yams here are very different from Yams in America. They are more like potatoes. The meatballs are very small and dry but taste pretty good with the tomato sauce and yams combined. The tomato sauce we get at most meals. It is super super spicy but adds a kick to the bland. We have a lot of rice and then some nights we have this spinach dish. It is spinach mixed with different kinds of nuts and seeds that you put over rice. Sometimes we will have chicken. On Saturday nights they try and make us veggie omelettes with chips (french fries). Some nights we will have noodles with a veggie, meat sauce over it. The food is not bad at all. I really enjoy it to be honest.
4. I miss Portillos and milk.
5. Sometimes when I am walking around I find it hard to breathe. The fumes from burning garbage and cars can overwhelm me a great deal and it can be hard to take a deep breath.
6. I found a fried rice stand that I love!!! It only costs 1 cedi 50 pesewas for a huge thing of fried rice and chicken!! That is about $1.50. It is right by the orphanage so I can get it for lunch.
7. Yesterday was Ghana's Independence Day. There was a parade but there was too much traffic to get to the actually parade. It didn't seem too much different from an average day in Ghana because Ghanaians are always showing their pride. Sometimes I almost feel as if I am on a college campus because everyone is always wearing their Ghana T-shirts and colors.
8. I feel so blessed for everything in my life especially my family. I watch these kids fight for love and I am so grateful to be so close to my parents and brothers as well as all my extended family. Being here makes me miss my brothers a whole lot more than I did at home because some of the kids in the home have siblings and I get to watch them take care of each other. I hope everything is well back home. Pray for rain! We need rain so badly.
1. The heat is becoming unbearable. The sun is twice as hot and I sweat 8 times as much as I did when I arrived. The temp. is reaching in the 100's at some points during the day. However, the past two nights we have had lightning!!! No rain, but lightning!! And this morning the sky spitted rain for about 3 minutes. The rainy season is coming and I can't wait. Water has become almost impossible to come by. Pretty soon here I am going to have to start wearing dirty clothes because I have no water to wash them in. I smell. I long for the days when I was a shampoo girl and my hands always smelled of soap! haha
2. I have started to walk home a lot more. It used to be a twenty minute walk home but then one of the boys from outside the home (he is a friend that always comes to the home to play soccer) showed me a shortcut to my house so now it is about a fifteen minute walk. Walking home is the one part of my day when I can just unwind and think about everything. It gives me a chance to tackle my racing mind and breathe a little bit.
3. I realize I haven't talked too much about meals so I will tell you a little bit about that. For breakfast every morning I get a slice of bread with jam (We bought the jam from the market). For lunch I get crackers and a juice box. Then for dinner we have a lot of different meals throughout the week. We get more meat than I thought we would but also a lot of carbs. Some nights we will have yams, meatballs, and this spicy tomato sauce. Yams here are very different from Yams in America. They are more like potatoes. The meatballs are very small and dry but taste pretty good with the tomato sauce and yams combined. The tomato sauce we get at most meals. It is super super spicy but adds a kick to the bland. We have a lot of rice and then some nights we have this spinach dish. It is spinach mixed with different kinds of nuts and seeds that you put over rice. Sometimes we will have chicken. On Saturday nights they try and make us veggie omelettes with chips (french fries). Some nights we will have noodles with a veggie, meat sauce over it. The food is not bad at all. I really enjoy it to be honest.
4. I miss Portillos and milk.
5. Sometimes when I am walking around I find it hard to breathe. The fumes from burning garbage and cars can overwhelm me a great deal and it can be hard to take a deep breath.
6. I found a fried rice stand that I love!!! It only costs 1 cedi 50 pesewas for a huge thing of fried rice and chicken!! That is about $1.50. It is right by the orphanage so I can get it for lunch.
7. Yesterday was Ghana's Independence Day. There was a parade but there was too much traffic to get to the actually parade. It didn't seem too much different from an average day in Ghana because Ghanaians are always showing their pride. Sometimes I almost feel as if I am on a college campus because everyone is always wearing their Ghana T-shirts and colors.
8. I feel so blessed for everything in my life especially my family. I watch these kids fight for love and I am so grateful to be so close to my parents and brothers as well as all my extended family. Being here makes me miss my brothers a whole lot more than I did at home because some of the kids in the home have siblings and I get to watch them take care of each other. I hope everything is well back home. Pray for rain! We need rain so badly.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Respected Cause of Innocence
I am just going to jump straight in. There are some days here when I just feel so spiritually defeated. I find it so hard sometimes because there is just simply no one here to talk to about it. There aren't volunteers here that came based on faith because generally those volunteers go through religious organizations. However, I didn't. Yesterday was a very difficult day for me. I was so down and just very irritated at everything around me. One of those moods that no matter how hard you try you can't shake. My faith is being challenged here more than it ever has before and yesterday I just found myself alone and needing someone to talk to.
Thankfully I had a friend from home call me last night and talk me through it but I am just having days where it is so difficult to keep chugging. Don't get me wrong, I love this place, but I just sometimes feel defeated. My sleeping has not been getting better, worse if anything. I fall asleep but then I am waking up in the night and having these interactive dreams that prevent me from recharging at the end of a long day. My roommate isn't the biggest fan of me considering I end up yelling a lot during the night. I wake up in the morning feeling as if I haven't slept at all.
As for everything else; Ghana has put me in this place of love and hate. There are some days, like today, when I think I never want to have kids haha but then others when I know that the little demons will move past those obnoxious stages. Today I got peed on twice, kicked, hit, and got dirt thrown in my face. What a day! We have been moving into a very interesting stage with the children because in the morning we are trying not to pick the kids up as much because when they move into school age they are never picked up. I guess that makes sense but I am struggling to find a balance of giving them the physical affection I know they need and still understanding that if I give them too much it will be a drastic change.
My twi has been getting more developed and it is really helping me to communicate with the kids which is nice. I find that their favorite thing for me to do is spin them around by their arms or hang them upside down. As for the older boys, I have been thinking of ways I can minister to them more than I am. I have been helping a lot of them with reading and vocabulary and am hoping to have my mom bring some easy read young adult books for the boys. I have also been helping them with Math but that can be frustrating because I learned a different way than they are teaching. Good news- the administration really likes me and so does the house father. I was told that my innocence was very encouraging and that they knew I would be a good influence on the boys. I guess my lifestyle choices are paying off. I am very respected in a place where a lot of volunteers feel unwanted which is a great feeling. I have a lot more to write about random things but I will tell you about them tomorrow. :) Hope all is well!
Thankfully I had a friend from home call me last night and talk me through it but I am just having days where it is so difficult to keep chugging. Don't get me wrong, I love this place, but I just sometimes feel defeated. My sleeping has not been getting better, worse if anything. I fall asleep but then I am waking up in the night and having these interactive dreams that prevent me from recharging at the end of a long day. My roommate isn't the biggest fan of me considering I end up yelling a lot during the night. I wake up in the morning feeling as if I haven't slept at all.
As for everything else; Ghana has put me in this place of love and hate. There are some days, like today, when I think I never want to have kids haha but then others when I know that the little demons will move past those obnoxious stages. Today I got peed on twice, kicked, hit, and got dirt thrown in my face. What a day! We have been moving into a very interesting stage with the children because in the morning we are trying not to pick the kids up as much because when they move into school age they are never picked up. I guess that makes sense but I am struggling to find a balance of giving them the physical affection I know they need and still understanding that if I give them too much it will be a drastic change.
My twi has been getting more developed and it is really helping me to communicate with the kids which is nice. I find that their favorite thing for me to do is spin them around by their arms or hang them upside down. As for the older boys, I have been thinking of ways I can minister to them more than I am. I have been helping a lot of them with reading and vocabulary and am hoping to have my mom bring some easy read young adult books for the boys. I have also been helping them with Math but that can be frustrating because I learned a different way than they are teaching. Good news- the administration really likes me and so does the house father. I was told that my innocence was very encouraging and that they knew I would be a good influence on the boys. I guess my lifestyle choices are paying off. I am very respected in a place where a lot of volunteers feel unwanted which is a great feeling. I have a lot more to write about random things but I will tell you about them tomorrow. :) Hope all is well!
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Two Fears at Once
First off, I got a lot of people asking me what Akon was so I will clear that up for all of you who are confused. Akon is a hip-hop/rap artist that I would normally hate but am growing to like because it is played so much here in Ghana. Also, Twi is the next major language in Ghana next to English. I am working on learning it, a lot of the kids are helping me. These past few days I have been learning a lot about Ghanaian Culture and respect.
The house father and I have been having different discussions on the differences between their culture and Western culture and how that causes so many problems with volunteers. He was saying that western volunteers come here and try and control the kids the way they do at home and criticize the way they run the orphanage. We had a really nice conversation and I think he was really happy that I was willing to listen and gained more respect for me as a volunteer. I want to make sure that I am not only loving these kids but loving them in a way that is appropriate and respectful to their culture. I have to be very careful of that but I am being aware and find myself asking permission to do certain things for the kids. Also, the more consistent you are as a volunteer the more respect the Aunties and House fathers have for you.
Here is an interesting story. For those of you who don't know I am terrified of throw-up and not a big fan of cockroaches (who is really?). Well last night when I was hanging out with some of the kids we were talking about fears and I mentioned both of my fears. Well, right after I mentioned them a giant cockroach ran across the pipe I was sitting on (I was told I jumped 3 meters). Then about 30 seconds later one of the boys (Victor) got sick in the trench. However, the good news is I did not know he was actually sick. I thought he was faking it and spitting out water to scare me. I ran away anyway because I hate even fake throwing up. Well, turns out the boy was actually sick and he felt horrible for getting sick in front of me after me just saying I was afraid of it.
But the boys went and cleaned it up and talked me into staying a little longer before going home. This boy has been sick for a month and they are still not sure what is wrong with him. I am not sure why I found this all so strange but I was confronted with two of my fears straight in a row right after mentioning them. Yesterday, we had blue skies for the first time since I have been here because the clouds are becoming puffy, it should be rainy season here pretty soon. The temp. keeps rising and I find it harder to walk out of the house each morning. I am so thankful to be healthy and safe here and so thankful to hear from all of you constantly. Hope all is well.
The house father and I have been having different discussions on the differences between their culture and Western culture and how that causes so many problems with volunteers. He was saying that western volunteers come here and try and control the kids the way they do at home and criticize the way they run the orphanage. We had a really nice conversation and I think he was really happy that I was willing to listen and gained more respect for me as a volunteer. I want to make sure that I am not only loving these kids but loving them in a way that is appropriate and respectful to their culture. I have to be very careful of that but I am being aware and find myself asking permission to do certain things for the kids. Also, the more consistent you are as a volunteer the more respect the Aunties and House fathers have for you.
Here is an interesting story. For those of you who don't know I am terrified of throw-up and not a big fan of cockroaches (who is really?). Well last night when I was hanging out with some of the kids we were talking about fears and I mentioned both of my fears. Well, right after I mentioned them a giant cockroach ran across the pipe I was sitting on (I was told I jumped 3 meters). Then about 30 seconds later one of the boys (Victor) got sick in the trench. However, the good news is I did not know he was actually sick. I thought he was faking it and spitting out water to scare me. I ran away anyway because I hate even fake throwing up. Well, turns out the boy was actually sick and he felt horrible for getting sick in front of me after me just saying I was afraid of it.
But the boys went and cleaned it up and talked me into staying a little longer before going home. This boy has been sick for a month and they are still not sure what is wrong with him. I am not sure why I found this all so strange but I was confronted with two of my fears straight in a row right after mentioning them. Yesterday, we had blue skies for the first time since I have been here because the clouds are becoming puffy, it should be rainy season here pretty soon. The temp. keeps rising and I find it harder to walk out of the house each morning. I am so thankful to be healthy and safe here and so thankful to hear from all of you constantly. Hope all is well.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Little Sister Claire
I am sorry my updates have been infrequent lately. I have just been spending so much time at the orphanage it is hard to get away and go to the Internet cafe. I spent all weekend at the orphanage for the most part even though I didn't have to. I had promised some of the older boys that me and John (another volunteer) would take them out for sodas on Saturday night because I had a monthly volunteer party to go to on Friday. So I went to the orphanage at about 1 in the afternoon on Saturday and didn't end up coming home until around 10:30pm. During the day I helped some of the boys with their homework and taught long division and multiplication (haven't done that in awhile).
I just feel so at home in the orphanage. All the boys treat me with respect and are comfortable enough to joke around with me. They all call me either: Little sister Claire, small girl, or acoco (means chicken). I find it funny that they call me Little sister Claire considering that I am older than most of them. Small girl- well that is self-explanatory. But Acoco comes from the way I dance. They wanted to see how I dance and so I was joking around and just started waving my arms around and they thought that I looked like a chicken so now they call me acoco which is the twi (local language) word for chicken.
Every night when I have to come home they will all walk me out of the compound and wave down a taxi. Then they will get the cheapest price possible for me to get home and tell the driver to get me there safe. I love spending time there and love learning about all the cultural differences. Then yesterday, Sunday, I went to the pool with a bunch of volunteers for the day. NO SUNBURN!!! yay! Then last night I went back over to the orphanage and hung out there until around 11pm.
One of the boys last night asked me if I liked Ghana and I told him I loved it. When he asked me why I was surprised I wasn't able to give a response. I fall in love with this country more and more each day and I can't put my finger on why. There are no blue skies, beautiful sunsets, or decent toilets. It smells bad constantly and there is trash all over the ground. So why am I falling in love with this place? I guess it is just something about the people and the atmosphere.
Funny story, I am actually starting to connect Akon with Ghana because that is all they listen to here. I know that when I get home and am missing Ghana all I will have to do is turn on some Akon and close my eyes. I know this e-mail is probably not what some of you were wanting but it is what I have to offer right now. There are moments when I just sit here and want to cry because I am overwhelmed but it is all good. I am in good spirits even when I feel helpless. What else are you interested to hear about so that I can write it in my next e-mail. I am going to try and put up pictures later this week, hopefully. I wish that everyone at home could come here and experience what I am feeling so that you would understand why my e-mails are all over the place. Oh yeah one more thing, it is getting hotter each day and we are working our way up to the hottest month of the year. I can feel the sun sizzle on my skin as soon as I walk out of the house. That is all for now. :) bye.
I just feel so at home in the orphanage. All the boys treat me with respect and are comfortable enough to joke around with me. They all call me either: Little sister Claire, small girl, or acoco (means chicken). I find it funny that they call me Little sister Claire considering that I am older than most of them. Small girl- well that is self-explanatory. But Acoco comes from the way I dance. They wanted to see how I dance and so I was joking around and just started waving my arms around and they thought that I looked like a chicken so now they call me acoco which is the twi (local language) word for chicken.
Every night when I have to come home they will all walk me out of the compound and wave down a taxi. Then they will get the cheapest price possible for me to get home and tell the driver to get me there safe. I love spending time there and love learning about all the cultural differences. Then yesterday, Sunday, I went to the pool with a bunch of volunteers for the day. NO SUNBURN!!! yay! Then last night I went back over to the orphanage and hung out there until around 11pm.
One of the boys last night asked me if I liked Ghana and I told him I loved it. When he asked me why I was surprised I wasn't able to give a response. I fall in love with this country more and more each day and I can't put my finger on why. There are no blue skies, beautiful sunsets, or decent toilets. It smells bad constantly and there is trash all over the ground. So why am I falling in love with this place? I guess it is just something about the people and the atmosphere.
Funny story, I am actually starting to connect Akon with Ghana because that is all they listen to here. I know that when I get home and am missing Ghana all I will have to do is turn on some Akon and close my eyes. I know this e-mail is probably not what some of you were wanting but it is what I have to offer right now. There are moments when I just sit here and want to cry because I am overwhelmed but it is all good. I am in good spirits even when I feel helpless. What else are you interested to hear about so that I can write it in my next e-mail. I am going to try and put up pictures later this week, hopefully. I wish that everyone at home could come here and experience what I am feeling so that you would understand why my e-mails are all over the place. Oh yeah one more thing, it is getting hotter each day and we are working our way up to the hottest month of the year. I can feel the sun sizzle on my skin as soon as I walk out of the house. That is all for now. :) bye.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Worn Out for a Purpose
So this update was supposed to be sent yesterday but right before I was going to send it I got a phone call and I had to run back to the orphanage so this is the update I wrote yesterday:
These past two days have been busy ones. I am worn out but that is good. I have realized that at the end of each day if I am not worn out that means that I didn't give everything I have to offer to these kids. I know that having fun and going out with volunteers at night is important but the orphanage comes first. Going in the morning is hard. The kids are hard to stay patient with and even harder to keep going. I get peed on, pooped on, spit at, hit, and kicked. But I know that they need me there. My consistency is something new for them and for the Aunties and you can tell that they really appreciate it.
Then I go back in the afternoon around 1 or 2 until 6 when I go and have dinner. During that time I get to spend some time with the babies and toddlers but most of the time with the older kids. Being with the older kids is really what I need to keep going. I also know that this shouldn't always be easy and that is why I continue to go in the mornings even when I sometimes feel as if there is nothing more I can do. Over the past few days I have been struggling a lot with the boy from Darfur, Abdoulsalam. A woman came into the orphanage and gave him false hope of adopting him and taking him back to America.
Last night, I sat there as he cried with me and John (a volunteer who speaks French). The woman wanted us to explain to him that she might not be able to adopt him when she already told him she could. So he sat there sobbing. He was saying that at the home he has no friends, family, and can't even go to school (The Ghanaian government won't allow him to go to public school since he is a refugee without identification). He said he just wants to go back to the refugee camp and back to his home that does not exist anymore. I was so angry with this woman and hurting for Abdul so much. Someone once told me that I can't get myself emotionally involved with these kids because it is too hard. I know that is true but I don't know how to love them properly without getting myself involved. My heart is aching for this boy.
Jessie and I set up for some dancers and drummers to come to the home last night to put on a show for the kids and they seemed to really enjoy it. All the little boys and girl were dancing and even the older boys came to participate. The older girls stay in their home from 3:30-school the next morning. They won't tell me why; they say that they just don't want to come out. The past couple of days all of the kids have been running fevers and so I am hoping that I don't get sick.
Yesterday I never left the home, I spent from 8am-7pm there yesterday, which is why I didn't e-mail. I am also just so overwhelmed with emotion to write properly and in a way that makes sense to others. So I apologize if this e-mail seems a little off. I am enjoying my time here so much and everyday I am sad to leave the kids. Tomorrow is a Saturday and I don't have to work but I think I am going to go into the orphanage anyway. I'll write more later, I am just tired. I am good I am still just fighting to understand. But I know that there is something so much bigger than me working here. I am planning on making a little booklet for volunteers about what to do in the orphanage since they don't really tell you. Also, I am going to work on making a scheduled event for each week that volunteers can carry on while I am gone. I hope everything is good at home. Sorry for anyone who has been trying to call me, my phone has been acting up. Miss you.
These past two days have been busy ones. I am worn out but that is good. I have realized that at the end of each day if I am not worn out that means that I didn't give everything I have to offer to these kids. I know that having fun and going out with volunteers at night is important but the orphanage comes first. Going in the morning is hard. The kids are hard to stay patient with and even harder to keep going. I get peed on, pooped on, spit at, hit, and kicked. But I know that they need me there. My consistency is something new for them and for the Aunties and you can tell that they really appreciate it.
Then I go back in the afternoon around 1 or 2 until 6 when I go and have dinner. During that time I get to spend some time with the babies and toddlers but most of the time with the older kids. Being with the older kids is really what I need to keep going. I also know that this shouldn't always be easy and that is why I continue to go in the mornings even when I sometimes feel as if there is nothing more I can do. Over the past few days I have been struggling a lot with the boy from Darfur, Abdoulsalam. A woman came into the orphanage and gave him false hope of adopting him and taking him back to America.
Last night, I sat there as he cried with me and John (a volunteer who speaks French). The woman wanted us to explain to him that she might not be able to adopt him when she already told him she could. So he sat there sobbing. He was saying that at the home he has no friends, family, and can't even go to school (The Ghanaian government won't allow him to go to public school since he is a refugee without identification). He said he just wants to go back to the refugee camp and back to his home that does not exist anymore. I was so angry with this woman and hurting for Abdul so much. Someone once told me that I can't get myself emotionally involved with these kids because it is too hard. I know that is true but I don't know how to love them properly without getting myself involved. My heart is aching for this boy.
Jessie and I set up for some dancers and drummers to come to the home last night to put on a show for the kids and they seemed to really enjoy it. All the little boys and girl were dancing and even the older boys came to participate. The older girls stay in their home from 3:30-school the next morning. They won't tell me why; they say that they just don't want to come out. The past couple of days all of the kids have been running fevers and so I am hoping that I don't get sick.
Yesterday I never left the home, I spent from 8am-7pm there yesterday, which is why I didn't e-mail. I am also just so overwhelmed with emotion to write properly and in a way that makes sense to others. So I apologize if this e-mail seems a little off. I am enjoying my time here so much and everyday I am sad to leave the kids. Tomorrow is a Saturday and I don't have to work but I think I am going to go into the orphanage anyway. I'll write more later, I am just tired. I am good I am still just fighting to understand. But I know that there is something so much bigger than me working here. I am planning on making a little booklet for volunteers about what to do in the orphanage since they don't really tell you. Also, I am going to work on making a scheduled event for each week that volunteers can carry on while I am gone. I hope everything is good at home. Sorry for anyone who has been trying to call me, my phone has been acting up. Miss you.
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