Visit to see Brenda

About 10 years ago I went to a Women of Faith conference in Billings, Montana. If you have been to one of these you know that they sponsor and support World Vision. So I decided to sponsor a child through World Vision and stopped by the table during a break. I said a short prayer asking God to direct me to the right child. As I browsed through the mounds of pictures, there was a mother staring out at me. She had children about the age of my children and she was looking directly at me. This was the one, a family, not just one child. On her lap was a little girl with small pigtails all over her head and standing beside her were three boys and another girl. I picked up the packet and wrote Akua when I returned home. Who would know that we would ever meet. But, if you know me, I seem to dream big, or believe in the "possible". So five years ago, my son Charlie and I went to Atebubu, Ghana is West Africa to meet the family. At that time, Charlie and Matthew were 16 and became friends even though they could not converse. And I knew that Akua and I were friends and sisters. Her eyes, the same eyes that looked out in the pictures, spoke a universal language of friendship. It was a wonderful visit. I fell in love with the girls especially, as girls always seem to open up and befriend faster. Adwoa was about 13 and Afua was a sweet little 4 or 5 year old, who cried when we left. I also fell in love with the Ghanaian people. Their friendliness, laughter and beauty captivated me. They want a better country. They believe and hope for a better world for themselves. And they believe in education. But they are very poor. So I decided that someday I would return to help them in some way. I had in mind a few weeks or even a month or two. God had in mind a year. So here I am.

Last weekend I made the trek back to see Akua. The vehicle broke down and I was stuck in a small town hotel with a 7 year old friend. World Vision came to the rescue and got myself, my principal and his 7 year old daughter safely to Atebubu. We traveled the "back roads" to the village and there they were. The village people gather for a celebration and all the leaders and ourselves were introduced. Then they asked me if I could pick out the family from the crowd. I walked directly to Akua, with little Brenda on her back. Akua had gotten remarried soon after we left and a couple of years ago had a baby girl and named her after me! When I approached Akua, she reached out and hugged me, which is very uncommon here in Ghana. So you see here the picture of that moment, that thankfully someone captured. Afua was also there, and two of the boys. Afua has grown up! She is no longer a little 5 year old, but a big 10 year old. Matthew was in Accra, and Adwoa was in Atebubu with her new baby girl, whom I met the next day. And of course, like a grandma, I thought Brenda was the cutest little girl I has ever seen. She was sick the days I visited, probably Malaria, and I am sure she did not understand who I was, but I hope to see her when she is more cheerful.

It hit me as I sat there that I am in the middle of Africa and God has permitted me to see my sister and friend again. The people were amazed that I came. No other sponsor has ever visited that village, and to visit twice was a great compliment to them. But I can only thank God that He provided the means. And again, I looked into Akua's eyes and knew she wanted so badly to communicate our friendship... but Akua, I understand without words.

The next day, I traveled down very rutty, muddy roads for 50 kilometers, which took over 3 hours, to visit another boy, who is sponsored by a friend of mine. Again we were entertained by dancing and singing by the school children and the community members. Kofi was overwhelmed. I am sure that most of these children have never seen a white person, much less had one visit them. He was very quiet, but towards the end of the visit was smiling at me, and just like Akua, trying to communicate gratitude. Here is these remote villages, it is subsistence farming only. They are hours away from any town and almost no means of transportation. They eat what they grow. They may sell just enough to purchase a little clothing and necessities. As I said we traveled across very rough, muddy roads in a 4 wheel drive vehicle to reach Kofi. The only contact most of them have with the outside word is when the market comes to town. But there are schools here. And as one of the World Vision staff said, "Anywhere Coke can go, the gospel can go." So World Vision is also here, spreading God's love and the gospel.
World Vision does wonders here and around the world. Many live miles away from families as they work in remote areas. The road we traveled is the only way in or out of the town where some of the staff work. They may or may not go home for the weekend to see their children. But they love the children they help. They know them by name and they work very hard to meet the needs in numerous ways. Here in Ghana, they build schools and clinics; they educate adults in health, business and agriculture; they immunizes children; help with small businesses and farming ventures; build boreholes and much more. I asked what would happen if this area experienced a drought since they are subsistence farmers and they said, "We feed them." So, rest assured, if you support World Vision, they are working wonders and they are an oasis of efficiency in this area.