Highs and Lows

Well everyone, we are home, and we are safe. It’s been a crazy couple of days, but other than a lot of coughing and stomach issues, we’re home in one piece. On the flight back, Katie and I decided to list our favorite and worst memories from the trip. So, here you go:

The good.

1. The dance competition between HCOH and Hardthaven Orphanage.
2. Going to the Wli Waterfalls with over 120 kids.
3. Abraham asking us, “Where do you keep your goats in America?”
4. Buying 10 live chickens to slaughter. I still can’t believe that happened.
5. Our visits with the bead ladies, and trying to get them to take our picture.
6. Katie beating me in Ampe and then celebrating with the kids by dancing Bobobo.
7. Giving Ronald his bike in the bush.
8. Our sleepovers with Charlotte, Mary and Lee.
9. Knowing that all 9 girls we took to the GYN are healthy and STD-free.
10. Being everyone’s sister, no matter where we went.
11. The health class. I think we all agreed this was the most productive part of the whole trip.
12. Going on long walks with the older girls, drinking Fanta and talking about what it’s like to grow up.
13. Being able to give hugs and kisses to the children who, in tears, said, “I miss my mother.”
14. Cuddles during movie night.
15. Being genuinely concerned about Mavis’s habit of eating dirt, and then learning that she just eats it “For fun.”
16. A very large, very cold Star beer at the end of a long, hot day.
17. Talking to the unbelievable amount of caring people who were trying to help us, and knowing that no matter how scary things were, we were loved.
18. Charlotte eating everything in sight, and then laughing at how big her belly got.
19. Hanging out in the girls’ dormitory–painting nails, doing hair, talking about anything and everything, and laughing and crying all the while.
20. Giving the older girls their first bras, and seeing the look on their faces when they put them on for the first time.
21. Playing Twister.
22. Katie teaching the kids ballet, and watching them fail miserably at learning it (even though they are all incredible dancers).
23. Talking with Mary and helping her through her pain and healing.
24. All the laughs and dinners with Abraham.
25. When Mary the seamstress grabbed our hands in the middle of her shop and said a fierce prayer for us, right before we said goodbye.

Thanks to everyone for helping and supporting us in the many ways you have. It’s good to be home!

Katie and I with Kafui, Ronald's mom, buying her oldest son Foster a bike to ride to school. We just happened to run into her while she was at the bike shop.

Irene and Cynthia, who say they are sisters (even though they aren't related).

Mary, Vida, Kafui and Mavis at the waterfalls.

Esenam...one of the sweetest souls I have ever known.

Charlotte and one of her many facial expressions. We told her she needed to be in the movies, with her sense of humor and animation!

Hanah, Kafui's younger sister, giving me one of her huge hugs to say thank you for the new panties. She is adorable.

Celebrating having a delicious snack!

Beautiful Portia.

Mary...Ghana's Next Top Model.

Kafui and I after she got to talk to her brothers and sister on the phone.

Katie and I with Ronald and his new bike.

One of the children from Andokope. She followed me around, staring at my camera, the whole time I was there.

This girl loved my beads, so she told me, "I need that one." I think that was the only English she knew.

Portia and Lee dressed up for their trip to Kpando.

The girls in the "waiting room" at the hospital, all nervous about having to give blood.

Mary, Katie and Charlotte in their matching dresses at the hospital.

Mary after her blood test. She's so strong.