It is important to this team to thank Heather McNutt for leading us throughout the trip. The Twum’s spent considerable amounts of time and energy helping and guiding us, in fact, their whole family was there for us -- especially Rita, we couldn’t have done it without Rita. But throughout it all, Heather was the accountant … the tour guide … the schedule keeper … the planner … the question answerer … and the lead chaperone. She kept us up to date on the ever-changing schedule, led us in the devotional discussions, organized the wake-up calls, and was bright and chipper the entire time. She allowed the kids to be focused only on, and totally involved in, the parts they should be, and not be concerned with the rest of the details. Thanks to her efforts, things went smoothly even when they didn’t go smoothly. We are all grateful to her for making this the trip of a lifetime for us. Home soon,
Randy
Monday, July 27, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Home soon ...
The Ghana'09 team has finished their Penny Project related efforts in Kumasi, Ghana. Today, they said their difficult goodbyes to so many they have met during this trip. Tomorrow, very early (4:00am), they will leave their hotel and travel to visit the Cape Coast Castle as they make their way back toward Accra, and their trip home. Earlier this month, President Obama toured the Cape Coast seaside fortress that the British used as slave dungeons during the 17th century. You may have seen it on national news programs. After spending Monday night in their hotel in Accra, the team will begin the long trip back to Birmingham, arriving at the First Church parking lot close to 11pm Tuesday night. Prayers for their safe trip home are more than welcomed.
Their final blog entry from Africa follows here from Mallory Hinz.
Their final blog entry from Africa follows here from Mallory Hinz.
Our final day ...
First of all, this is by far the hardest day to write an entry for our blog. I will try to somehow do today justice in writing, but I know I will not be able to fit everything in, so you will need to ask us all about it once we get home.
This morning, after waking up and eating the usual breakfast (toast with jam, and a mixed concoction of coffee packets and Malta powder), we drove down the now familiar dirt road to the King Jesus Orphanage. We arrived for worship at the church behind the orphanage, and as we drove around back, we saw many of the kids running after our bus. All of them in their Sunday best, dresses and shirts made by the First United Women’s fashion shop. We took our seats and instantly each of us “bruni” (which means “White” in Twi-the language spoken here) had kids piled up on our laps, or holding hands as they quietly sat next to us. The service was lovely. Pastor Kofi continues to tell us he wants to put siding on the church, but we all loved the breeze and the view of Kumasi cities from behind the pulpit. We are now used to being dragged up to dance in the middle of service and clapping along to the songs. We even dance up to the front to drop our offering in the bucket.
We headed back to the hotel for a quick lunch and then it was back to the orphanage for our final time with them this trip. We handed out chocolate to all the kids, which they loved, and I don’t think any of it lasted more than five minutes. It was a wonderful time visiting, filled with yet another short game of “futbol” with the older kids, dancing with some of the younger kids, and tons and tons of pictures. Many of us wrote letters and printed out pictures, or made bracelets for kids who all lit up when we handed them out.
Leaving them today was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.
I’ve learned so much from these kids over the last two weeks. So much about myself. And so much about the world and our perspectives. As I stood there hugging the three little girls who never left my side throughout my time at the orphanage, I couldn’t help but cry. My new friendships with these girls and the other older kids there mean the world to me now. I can’t say I’ve ever met anyone as genuinely kind and loving as the children at King Jesus. After hugging the younger children, I said my goodbyes to the older boys and yet again I was reminded how much we can learn from children. They all questioned why we were crying and we explained how sad we were to leave because we didn’t know if we would ever see them again. I couldn’t understand why they were all so calm when we were so upset. “God will lead you back here someday,” they all kept telling us. “This isn’t really goodbye.”
The bus ride home, normally filled with laughter and stories about different kids was especially silent today, with the exception of a few sniffles here and there. We are so grateful to these kids for all they have taught us. Each of them has a special place in our hearts. And as Pastor Kofi said in his sermon in church this morning, “we will always be together and meet again someday, if not physically then in heaven.”
We are having a wonderful time here in Ghana and cannot wait to share all our stories with you all when we return home. Thank you to everyone who has supported The Penny Project and our trip here.
Peace and Love.
Mallory
This morning, after waking up and eating the usual breakfast (toast with jam, and a mixed concoction of coffee packets and Malta powder), we drove down the now familiar dirt road to the King Jesus Orphanage. We arrived for worship at the church behind the orphanage, and as we drove around back, we saw many of the kids running after our bus. All of them in their Sunday best, dresses and shirts made by the First United Women’s fashion shop. We took our seats and instantly each of us “bruni” (which means “White” in Twi-the language spoken here) had kids piled up on our laps, or holding hands as they quietly sat next to us. The service was lovely. Pastor Kofi continues to tell us he wants to put siding on the church, but we all loved the breeze and the view of Kumasi cities from behind the pulpit. We are now used to being dragged up to dance in the middle of service and clapping along to the songs. We even dance up to the front to drop our offering in the bucket.
We headed back to the hotel for a quick lunch and then it was back to the orphanage for our final time with them this trip. We handed out chocolate to all the kids, which they loved, and I don’t think any of it lasted more than five minutes. It was a wonderful time visiting, filled with yet another short game of “futbol” with the older kids, dancing with some of the younger kids, and tons and tons of pictures. Many of us wrote letters and printed out pictures, or made bracelets for kids who all lit up when we handed them out.
Leaving them today was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.
I’ve learned so much from these kids over the last two weeks. So much about myself. And so much about the world and our perspectives. As I stood there hugging the three little girls who never left my side throughout my time at the orphanage, I couldn’t help but cry. My new friendships with these girls and the other older kids there mean the world to me now. I can’t say I’ve ever met anyone as genuinely kind and loving as the children at King Jesus. After hugging the younger children, I said my goodbyes to the older boys and yet again I was reminded how much we can learn from children. They all questioned why we were crying and we explained how sad we were to leave because we didn’t know if we would ever see them again. I couldn’t understand why they were all so calm when we were so upset. “God will lead you back here someday,” they all kept telling us. “This isn’t really goodbye.”
The bus ride home, normally filled with laughter and stories about different kids was especially silent today, with the exception of a few sniffles here and there. We are so grateful to these kids for all they have taught us. Each of them has a special place in our hearts. And as Pastor Kofi said in his sermon in church this morning, “we will always be together and meet again someday, if not physically then in heaven.”
We are having a wonderful time here in Ghana and cannot wait to share all our stories with you all when we return home. Thank you to everyone who has supported The Penny Project and our trip here.
Peace and Love.
Mallory
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Work and fun. An update ...
During our first visit to the orphanage, Pastor Koifi gave us a tour, and along the way mentioned specifically some of the things that the orphanage needed. Last night at devotionals, the youth decided to spend money on bunk beds, mattresses, and mosquito netting. So today was a shopping trip for those items. Several locals that specialize in hair weaving came to the hotel, so the group divided up between hair weaving and bunk bed shopping. After some delays, and some adventure, we got it all accomplished.
We had our first real rainstorm since being here. It was about half an hour of torrential downpour, no wind just rain. The water poured downhill everywhere. Those 8”x 2’ deep sewers were raging rivers. There are frequent cement covers over the sewer to allow vehicles to cross over them. There were roostertails at the edges as the water gushed. Then it was quickly all over. It didn’t rain at the hotel so only the bunk bed shoppers got to experience it.
The bunk beds have to be made to order, but an order is being placed. We were able to deliver the mattresses and the mosquito netting to the King Jesus Orphanage in the late afternoon. Several of us have now received personal letters written by the children. They are of course quite moving and funny at the same time. Mine also has a drawing, and all the key elements are labeled, allowing Isaac to show off his spelling to me. Quite touching. I’m sure I’ll tear up a bit when we say goodbye.
The digital cameras are a huge hit with all the kids. “Flash, flash. Camera. Me” Then we have to turn the camera around to show off the picture, much to the delight and laughter of the children. The older ones are just as concerned about getting a picture of themselves, but more reserved when observing the results, and very polite and articulate about saying thank you for it.
Tomorrow we go to Pastor Kaofi’s service, then spend much of the day at the orphanage. We will be singing and Ann will be reading the bible scripture. We have printed many pictures of ourselves with the kids, and put together a scrapbook for the kids to keep. We have some more crafts, and some chocolate (including an extra $20 worth courtesy of the Airline Stewardess, see prior blog). I should have mentioned this earlier in the blog, but all Ghanaians speak English. Twi is the native language here in Kumasi and the south, and there are other native languages up in the north, we are told. But everyone speaks English, some better than others, but basic communication is not too difficult. They teach English exclusively in all the schools, public and private. Both reading and writing is all English, while Twi writing does not seem to be taught. Boats told me that he learned it at his University.
More tomorrow,
Randy
We had our first real rainstorm since being here. It was about half an hour of torrential downpour, no wind just rain. The water poured downhill everywhere. Those 8”x 2’ deep sewers were raging rivers. There are frequent cement covers over the sewer to allow vehicles to cross over them. There were roostertails at the edges as the water gushed. Then it was quickly all over. It didn’t rain at the hotel so only the bunk bed shoppers got to experience it.
The bunk beds have to be made to order, but an order is being placed. We were able to deliver the mattresses and the mosquito netting to the King Jesus Orphanage in the late afternoon. Several of us have now received personal letters written by the children. They are of course quite moving and funny at the same time. Mine also has a drawing, and all the key elements are labeled, allowing Isaac to show off his spelling to me. Quite touching. I’m sure I’ll tear up a bit when we say goodbye.
The digital cameras are a huge hit with all the kids. “Flash, flash. Camera. Me” Then we have to turn the camera around to show off the picture, much to the delight and laughter of the children. The older ones are just as concerned about getting a picture of themselves, but more reserved when observing the results, and very polite and articulate about saying thank you for it.
Tomorrow we go to Pastor Kaofi’s service, then spend much of the day at the orphanage. We will be singing and Ann will be reading the bible scripture. We have printed many pictures of ourselves with the kids, and put together a scrapbook for the kids to keep. We have some more crafts, and some chocolate (including an extra $20 worth courtesy of the Airline Stewardess, see prior blog). I should have mentioned this earlier in the blog, but all Ghanaians speak English. Twi is the native language here in Kumasi and the south, and there are other native languages up in the north, we are told. But everyone speaks English, some better than others, but basic communication is not too difficult. They teach English exclusively in all the schools, public and private. Both reading and writing is all English, while Twi writing does not seem to be taught. Boats told me that he learned it at his University.
More tomorrow,
Randy
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)