Home Sweet Home!

We have now been home just over and week!  Being home safe and sound has been such a huge relief - looking back on our trip now I can clearly see how worth it it was to go but while we were there I questioned that decision every day!  Each day was filled with terror, excitment and joy and never in the same order!  It was not an easy thing to do - but I have come home with a new perspective and trillions amounts of gratitude for our beautiful country and my little town of Taber.  Life is really good!  Thank you so much to those who took an interest in our trip, were concerned for our well-being, made supply and monetary donations and helped us try to make a difference in a few lives in Ghana.

I will try to post the two short videos I made of our favorite memories.....

Two Weeks Down , Two to Go!

We are now on day 14 of our adventure in Ghana!  It feels like we have been here for months – other days it feels like we just got here.  Although our jaws are no longer hanging open, we still feel very much awake and alert to all the things going on around us that are so different from home.

We just spent the past week at Adjamarko where we helped construct a kitchen that will be attached to the village school where children ages 2-8 attend.  They are so grateful for our help and the kitchen will make it so much easier for them to prepare food for the children. 

We rode a tro tro (which is public transportation that is wilder than any ride you would get on at Disneyland!) stopping for 6 bags of cement.  We had already arranged to have 100 pre-formed bricks delivered to the site so we could start building right away and then had a brick-maker help us form the bags of cement into another 100 bricks.  By Thursday the walls were up!  Our mason was amazing….so strong … carrying buckets of mortar as though they were buckets of feathers.  Ben and Riley gained a ton of muscle and I gained a ton of knowledge that I am not as muscular as I might have thought – I was so sore – my knees, hips and back from using the pick axe and shovel and hauling water. 

Before leaving for Ghana I envisioned playing with groups of children, blowing bubbles and teaching them little songs and games.  But this has not been the case!  Unless I am sure that there are only 5 or 10 children within earshot any attempt to play is chaos as 50 or 60 children will suddenly appear and with their poor understanding of English and my poor understanding of Cree there is so much excitement and confusion that whatever I had intended to play with has to be put away.  For example, yesterday I brought out bubbles and within minutes a 2 year old was crushed by the crowd of 4-5 year olds and fell against a concrete slab and cut his lip.  Another little girl did a face plant into the dirt and there was nothing to clean her up with besides the edge of her school uniform.  So the bubbles went back in the backpack – which was so disappointing for everyone including me.  Turn taking and getting in line are just not in their make-up!

We visited the clinic that Riley and Raegan have been working at – this has been a really good experience for both of them.  Raegan was happy to take the bag of stickers there as even the adults look forward to getting one.  Raegan tells the story of an elderly man who visited a week after getting a sticker – he still had it – he transferred it to whatever he was wearing and it was looking pretty ratty.  He loved his little monkey sticker!

We have not done any official site-seeing yet but every day feels like we are sight-seeing as soon as we walk out the door!

I love all of the food we have tried so far.  Fufu was delicious – and made in such an interesting way.  So much work!  Rice jelloff is also a favourite and the little bananas are delicious.  We go through several bunches each day along with the pineapples that are soooooo green on the outside but soooooooo sweet on the inside.  A pineapple is 1 cedi which is equivelant to about 60 cents.

When the children see us they call out “Abronie! Abonie! How are you?”  and within minutes they are following you no matter where you happen to be going.  In the village we rarely see children with their parents – siblings take care of their baby siblings carrying them around on their backs when they are not much bigger than the babies themselves!  A two year old can be wandering around for hours with no one apparently concerned about their whereabouts.  So different than at home.  But they are very safe in their villages – everyone is so industrious and busy. 

The thing I am missing most is running water.  Living without hot water has not been a problem but running water is a very nice thing to have! Water is so heavy – I am grateful we have a flushing toilet but it needs a good 2 ½ gallons of water to have it flush properly so using the washroom is a bit of a chore if the bucket is empty and water needs to be hauled.

All of the water we drink comes in small 500 ml bags that are sealed.  They are quite convenient but the small bags are everywhere – I have not yet seen a garbage can in a village or town.  It is a shame really as the country is so beautiful yet so littered with debris.  The water costs about 5 cents a bag and we each drink 4-6 a day.  It can be bought anywhere on the street.  Children carry stacks of it on their heads to sell. It is always a bonus if they have had a fridge to keep it cold – yum! 

We have done laundry twice now – that also use some muscles that I have not been used in a long time!  The washing part was fine but the wringing was brutal – Ben’s clothes dried 3x faster than mine because he could wring his out so well. 

When our host mom asks, “what have you taken today?” I always hesitate for a second until I remember that she is meaning ‘what have you eaten today?”  The family we are living with this week are wonderful – they have twin boys – 21 years old and so much fun and so helpful and kind.  The do all of the family laundry, the ironing and the carrying of water.  It amuses me when I see ironing boards everywhere – in villages, in small huts, in houses – there is always an ironing board and if electricity is not available then a coal iron is used.  I thought I had better iron my skirt for Sunday and one of the twins caught me and said, “Oh!  Let me do that!”  I could tell my capability was being questioned!

Our friend Patrick, who Riley and Raegan met when they arrived in Cape Coast has started his own NGO called ProAid (Riley helped him set up a website online for the organization so that volunteers can apply to come to Ghana and work through his program).  We have been really grateful for all his help and assistance almost daily in helping us make sure our donations are going to places that are most needful and setting up the kitchen project for us.  Patrick is 28 years old and has lived in Ghana his whole life – he was married 5 months ago but his wife, who is a teacher is only home on weekends. 

Morgan is loving Africa and is adamant that she would relocate here in a second if the opportunity arose. She has been a great travelling companion for all of us!  She is smart, funny, easy going and so agreeable – we are so glad she came with us! Raegan and Riley feel the same about living in Ghana – they could easily live here.  But last night we went to the internet café and Raegan applied to the college in Lethbridge for school in September.  She is ready to buckle down and try to get into a dental assisting program.  Riley is also registered for his 2^nd year at the college.

Posting photos here on the blog has been too time consuming so I have only posted on facebook.  Add any one of us as a friend if you are interested in seeing some of our days in Ghana so far!

July 30  2011 – Ben’s birthday!

We took a day off the usual activities and found a nice resort hotel where we could spend Ben’s 17^th birthday – it was a quiet little spot with a pool overlooking the beach – we spent the afternoon there with some local friends who we spend much of our time with.  We all treasured our time in the public bathroom in the hotel that had running water and a clean and sparkling flushing toilet.  Ahhhhhhhhh!  Heaven!

August 3^rd

This afternoon we went on the canopy walk.  This was amazing!  Walking on swinging bridges high above the treetops…Agnes, who does tours on the weekends, and who runs a little orphanage on her own was our tour guide.  She scrubbed and shined all 13 orphans this morning and brought them all with her!  Ages 1-6.  They were sooooo good – so quiet and shy but you could tell they were so excited to be out with us!  I have posted  some photos on facebook …

on our way to the school





and back home again - going down was more treacherous than going up!  (for me anyway!)






almost to the school -this was quite a hike for me! especially after a rainfall!





Raegan in the clinic where she volunteers in the afternoon







leavingGreat Falls



arriving in Germany for a 3 hour layover



trying to take in all the sights - first morningin Ghana

a warm greeting from children at a school near Accra

we gave this sweet little barefoot girl a pair of sandals - she loved them and stomped around in the dirt trying them out!



our first meal - beans, boiled plantain and yam



Slow and Steady on Day 3

Here we are on day 3 and still feeling the shock of such a changed lifestyle.  We teach at a school every morning and the children, of course are irresistable.  There are 20 children between 3 and 6 with one teacher in a small room with a dirt floor. The teacher has taught here for 15 years and built the little building herself so it is run privately.  The children are eager to learn and love whatever we bring to teach with.  Ben has spent a lot of time with little ones lined up to ride on his shoulders and Michaelas arms are always full.


We are staying with a very nice family who have 21 yr old twin boys and a 10 year old daughter.  They have electricity but no running water.  The cold bucket showers each day have actually been quite refreshing and i am especially grateful for the strong arms that carry all those many buckets of water each day for the 6 of us to use plus their own family!  One five gallon bucket provides a lovely shower including a hair wash!

Will try to post some photos soon .  We are at an internet cafe that is very slow and each photo can take several minutes.



We are off to visit Raegan's favorite orphanage this afternoon and are excited to take some surprises from the massive amounts of wonderful donations we were able to bring with us!

On Our Way!

Had a fun Parade Day and Family BBQ in Barnwell and left for Great Falls about 9 p.m.  Our border guy was awesome - was more interested in what we were going to do in Ghana than whether or not any of those 16 pieces of luggage contained anything illegal!   Drove through some wild lightening storms and settled in for a good nights sleep here at the Holiday Inn.  All having our last hot shower for a month and then off to the airport!

Remind me not to book a hotel with stay123.com - our printed off reservation with confirmation # was bogus!  Glad Great Falls had some other options for us! 

Posting again by Request....

http://youtu.be/3pDg4zLsCQ8

Veggie Peeler and Mascara!

From Riley this morning as we finish the last of our packing...we are so excited to show up with all our soccer balls!  

Some other good ideas to bring are:

Any drink mixes that you add to water. 

And those spongy, softer soccer balls that are a lot smaller are good.

The kids play soccer with balls of saran wrap in the

villages sometimes, or a tennis ball.

If you happen to remember some sort of vegetable peeler would be nice

for Alfred. His 13 year old son peels all the potatoes, yams, carrots,

and dices them all with a knife that is nothing like a peeler! lol

Other than that I wouldn’t be too concerned about bringing the right

things, people will love anything you bring really.

And Raegan says to bring mascara for the nurses at  the clinic who really like whatever Raegan is using on her eyelashes!

Yes bring sandals for sure. I have 2 pairs that broke but I got them

fixed for 50 cents! So they last a while. One pair of shoes is a good

idea for playing football with and any hiking or if you want to go

for a run...

Phone Lost and Found - Three Cheers!

The lost cell phone was returned...yay!  Raegan seems to be feeling better...yay!  EIGHT sleeps till we are on our way...yay!

peek-a-boo!

A Baby Backpack for Raegan!

An email from Raegan today...


Hello! so today was a good day! We taught in the morn and then went to the clinic ...today we worked in the wounds room...saw some sick wounds and got taught how to put in an IV and give a shot in the butt - havent done it myself yet... just watched to learn!  It was cool... then we went to the Jukwaa orphanage... I finally got to carry a baby on my back  - yay !  and I bought sme diapers so I could leave clean! Then we went to the Wawassii orphanage and taught a lesson with Ry and Patrick.


The antibiotics are working great and swelling is way down in my neck.. Ry lost his phone on the bus so we called it and someone answered and said they would be back at the bus station tonight in Cape Coast but they were a no-show so it might be a goner!  Can't wait to see you all so soon! Love ya and still wish dad could come!!! We will have to all do something special when we get back!  Love, Raegan

The Finished Product!

School in Progress...

The Completed Project!

The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

The children who will attend this school...

Ta Da!

Cape Coast and area

orphanage where Riley and Raegan spend time

Riley making 'apple pies' with the boys that live in the house he and Raegan live at

Add caption

The orphanage

sweet little baby who Raegan wishes she had a diaper for!  We are bringing some!

a coal iron - Raegan says it works great!

Suppertime!

Teaching body parts with sticky notes!

The school where R and R teach

Raegan going for a new look!

an afternoon at the beach in Cape Coast

Riley puts the 'flash' in flash cards!

Diagnosis?

Spoke to Raegan early this morning.  She is feeling a little better - still has a fever of 38.5 and sore joints and chills but saw a doctor this morning who is sure she has malaria according to her symptoms even though the blood work came back negative this morning.  She was given malaria meds yesterday before the blood test and doctor thinks this is why it is coming back negative.  We are hoping she is on the mend and can't wait to see her (and Riley) in less than two weeks now!

The school where Riley and Raegan teach part of each day

Riley and Raegan stumbled upon this brand new organization they can help with

Building a kitchen on to the school

Signs and Symptoms

Raegan called late last night to tell us all about the great day she had yesterday - discovered a new orphanage - a mom who is caring for 13orphaned children.  She cannot afford the rent anymore so will be moving into a little hut with her little brood at the end of the month.  Raegan was especially fond of a little 10 month old who will not go to anyone except a little 8 year old girl who is also orphaned.  No one knows why he is so attached to just her but she hauls him everywhere on her back all day long.  They are not a funded orphanage so their needs are great and we will be focussing on them when we arrive in two weeks as they have not ever seen volunteers.  Diapers and formula are #1 priorities as right now the babies only have one serving of rice a day.  It is so hard for us to understand how we can be so blessed just a short 29 hour flight away.

Raegan called again early this morning feeling quite ill.  Because of her symptoms, the locals fear that she has contracted malaria. She has been to a clinic but because it is Sunday the results of the blood test will not be available until tomorrow when she sees a 'real' doctor.  This was not happy news and we are hoping all will be well.

Two weeks today and we will be boarding a plane to join her and Riley.  HEAVY SIGH!!

Short and Sweet ... but that's ok...

Just received a text from Raegan...it is the end of their day and she simply said "Wow - what a great day we had today!! ( :  "

Although I am desperately wanting details, is there anything more a mum wants/needs to hear when her kids are half way around the world?!  ( :

Hoping they post more photos soon....

Hospital Days

Riley and Raegan have found a hospital in Cape Coast that can use their assistance.  Yesterday Raegan spent her time recording blood pressure, weight and temperature but will learn how to dress wounds tomorrow.  She said some of the wounds have worms in them - a little unpleasant.  She has been pee'd on multiple times and has asked us to try to bring small diapers as well as a good supply of bandaids!

A New Home for A Few Weeks

Riley and Raegan are now living in Cape Coast, near the ocean and renting a room from a young dad who lost his wife a few years ago.  He has three young boys who are calling Raegan 'mom' already!  The boys attend school during the day while their father drives taxi.  Riley has been doing some construction work as well as teaching at the school for a time each day.  They are enjoying being 'on their own' and discovering all that Cape Coast has to offer.  They have met up with several other volunteers in Cape Coast who have shared their own 'tips and tricks' which has has been really helpful to them.  Time is flying by!

Passport Panic

Thank you's and apologies to those who have run into me in the last few days and had to endure my pitiful tale of passport panic.  Our passports were sent to Ottawa on June 10th to be stamped with a Ghana visa and got 'stuck' in an Ottawa post office.  We were sure the postal workers would be forced to go back to work and let a few days click by.  Meanwhile I called our travel insurance and found out that our flights would not be covered should we end up without passports on our departure day.  We would simply be out several thousand dollars and no trip to Ghana.  So I panicked and headed for Calgary yesterday to apply for three new passports and re-do all of our visa documentation to the tune of about $900 - but that is better than losing the whole trip.  What a stress!  I will pick up our passports in Calgary, Tuesday, Fed-ex them to Ottawa and pray like the dickens they are back to us in time.  If anyone has any experience with couriers...the fastest, the best, the most reliable please pass on the info to me!  I will be couriering the new documents from Calgary on Tuesday...

Another Article in our Local Paper

Laundry day!