Kakum

After a long long ride through many towns and villages we arrived at Kakum National Rain Forest. Men and women began hawking at the windows with bracelets, necklaces, water, palm juice, and other goods. We passed through the main gate and parked the bus. As we stepped off the humid air of the rain forest covered my skin. I instantly felt sticky. To the admissions desk and the bathroom we went before our long hike up the mountain began. Over the rocks we hiked up and over stairs made of carefully placed rocks. Sweat began to drip down my forehead. The beads continued down my face onto my neck and chest. After finally reaching the top we came upon a line of people. In large groups, maybe 10 or so, we were sent up to this large wooden building set above very high high stairs. Once we climbed up those stairs the rope bridges began.

We sat in this wooden enclosure and waited for directions to go onto the bridges. One after the other the four of us made our way onto the bridges. My feet shook beneath me and the bridge swayed back and forth. I tried not to look down but the sight of the rain forest below me was spectacular. Across one, I made it. "Six more to go" chuckled a guide. I took a deep sigh and continued on. The bridges became shakier and shakier as we made our way to the end. After we crossed the seventh rope bridge we followed the signs to the exit. To the bottom we finally came and loaded the bus. Off to El Mina Slave Castle we went.

African Book List

Including Amy and Amanda, the group has compiled this list of excellent reads over these past two weeks.

1. Say Your One of Them- Uwem Akpan

2. The Blue Sweater- Jacqueline Novogratz

3. Redeeming Love- Francine Rivers

4. The Shack- William P. Young

5. Memoirs of a Boy Soldier-Ishmael Beah

6. My Utmost for his Highest- Oswald Chambers

7. Same Kind of Different Is Me- Ron Hall and Denver Moore

Swedru Market

Early this morning we woke up and boarded the bus to go to Swedru, a local village about 30 minutes away from Winneba. In Swedru we visited a street market, where locals sold goods. We pulled into a dirty square parking lot, where other cars were parked. Heaps of yams fill the parking lot, women sitting beside them, eager to sell. Quickly one of the locals led us to the 100 aisle of shops. Tightly packed shacks filled the space around me with inches between them to walk. Smells of rotten fish and must filled the air. I came close to being sick. "Come Obruni, come" yelled the older women from the openings of their shacks. In these markets we bargained to get such goods as cloth, fabric, and bracelets. The scents of fish and must bring back vivid images of this extraordinary experience.

Rafiki- Effua's smile.

Rafiki-Swahili for 'friends'

Up the dust dirt pot hole covered road we traveled. The smell of dirt, smoke, and must flooded my nostrils. Shifting side to side in my seat from the uneven roads I wondered when this trip to Rafiki would come to an end. The bus gradually came to a stop at the main gates, which was guarded by a darker African man who then waved us through. As we pulled up I looked to my right; in a perfect green field of grass stood the Rafiki family: 22 children (ages 18mths to 9yrs old. When our eyes met the children went wild.

Screaming, jumping, waving, and shouting as if it was rare to have visitors. As we stepped off the bus the children of Rafiki approached. Humble and shy a small petite, yet strong girl tugged at the bottom of my shirt. I bent down just enough so our eyes met. I extended my hand and she hers. I smiled widely as she rested her small frail hand inside mine. "I'm Casey" I said softly. "Effua" she replied. Effua was a strong, beautiful, brave and passionate young girl, who will forever remain in my heart.

As we met the other kids my heart overfilled with joy. I thought to myself 'this is why I want to teach'. We started with the normal Ghanaian welcomes, prayers and thanks. Next, we painted faces, warrior marks if you will on all of our faces to separate the children into teams. Today the children were off from school because of the national holiday, Republic Day. At Rafiki Orphanage it was field day.

Tug of rope, two legged race, plastic egg hunt, obstacle course, water balloon toss, and then water guns...lots of water guns.Effua was by my side. Effua and I sang:

Lord I lift you name on high.
Lord I love to sing your praises.
I'm so glad your in my life.
I'm so glad you came to save us...


I pulled out my camera to take a picture. "Let me snap, let me snap" said Effua. "You first" I responded as I held up my camera to take Effua's picture. "Smile!" I said. Effua would not smile.

As we played games I fell in love with this child I barely knew and as activities winded down, Effua remained by my side. As we were getting ready to go we were dismissed in prayer. "Amen" the group said to bless the prayer.

"Snap! Snap!" said Effua. I let her have the camera and helped her take a picture of us together. It wasn't until I was on the bus that I looked at the picture she had taken. In the picture of Effua and I, she smiled.

History of Rafiki

Not long ago,fishermen would come to Winneba,Ghana and the surrounding area and offer the locals a small amount of money for their children to come work on their boats. Because of their poverty,many parents would accept. As the fishermen cast nets to fish,the nets would often get caught on logs and other debris. The fishermen would “ask” the children to climb down and untangle the nets. As you might expect,sometimes the children would drown while trying to free the nets. The fishermen would then tie their bodies to the log;as the body decomposed,it would serve as bait for the fish. The orphanage was started,in part,to provide an alternative destination for parentless children.

Rafiki Foundation (http://www.rafiki-foundation.org/) is a US-based organization whose mission is to help Africans know God by caring for and educating orphans,providing materials and training in education and Bible study,and giving economic opportunities to widows. As part of that mission,they build orphanages. Typically,over the course of 5 years,Rafiki Foundation purchases the land,builds the buildings,pays the staff,and helps local churches and other organizations prepare to take over the costs. This was the original plan when Rafiki Foundation started building this village. Unfortunately,after 1 year,Rafiki Foundation was unable to continue supporting this particular village. It was left half-finished,and the Methodist church had to step in early than expected and take over all of the costs. Since then,the village has been struggling financially and has had trouble meeting current costs,let alone finish the building plan.

For more information about Rafiki Orphanage or to support a child, visit www.rafikifriends.org

Big Companies and Schools donating computers to children in Africa; not so.

Today we met Raymond and his wife Irene. Raymond teaches at the University of Education-Winneba in the Integrated Computer Technology Department. These two lovely people, just like everyone we've met, are the nicest, most caring people you could ever meet.

As we sat down for lunch, the question was posed if the 'Laptop per Child Program' was affective. Contrary to common belief, the computers never make it to the classrooms or the children. As the computers go through a series of authority's hands the middle men take the computers and are often later found in shops and stores being sold for a profit. There is NO accountability where they are being sent.

Unfortunately the same things are true for money in the programs that ask you to support a child. If you have, in past, been participating in these programs, I urge you to read above "Rafiki". Attached is a website where you can sponsor a child through schooling.