What are you grateful for?

Yep today was a really hard in Ghana. It was our last day at Gray Memorial. We created a field day with all of the children by playing a variety of games including: football, Frisbee, volleyball, parachute, three legged races….. I was in charge of football and took it very seriously consequently so did the other kids. It is now apparent to me that there skills are far greater than mine, for they did not come off of the field with battle wounds. I stood up continuing to play when one of the teachers grabbed my attention by pointing at my arm and leg. All of the children then gathered and thought this was rather exciting. I made all of them step back in fear of some type of parasite entering my body, if it had not already. Thank heavens for Hilary she is always so prepared and brought her first aid kit with her to the school. I sat there encircled by an audience of children while Hilary was cleaning me up. I got back up and was ready to play football again but then thought to be smart about the situation and sit out. Last time I played soccer I came out with bloody feet. One of my roommates just informed me that when Hilary said this morning she was going to be taking her first aid kit, she knew it would be used on me. I came home immediately jumped in the shower and scrubbed my wounds till they bled again. Now keep in mind the shower is not sanitary water either. Anyway, I am totally fine and loved every minute I spent on that dirt field today.

It was then time for us to leave the school and I could not do it. My students were clinging onto me and giving me big hugs. There are some children that I really have grown so close to. What do you say to them when you leaving them “ see you later” NO! because that is not the truth. You tell them good luck with life, reminding them of how smart they are and how if they put there mind to it they can do many great things. I would tell one of the kids goodbye give them a hug and find them by my side one minute later. I finally mustered up the courage to walk out of the school gate. Again I looked to my side and children had followed me out. I then started to walk down the street crying looking behind me to see them through the locked gate still waving. These children have taught me so many valuable life lessons that I will forever cherish. I really do hope to come back in a few years to Gray Memorial and see how these children have developed. Some of the students in my group have taught some very intelligent students at Gray Memorial and are going to try to get them to the U.S by sponsoring them. What is hard for these children is that they are surrounded by poverty, and that is all they see. Most of them don’t believe that they are capable of obtaining a higher education that will lead them to more of a successful life. They are not able to look outside of the box because it does not even seem like a reality to them. I wish you could change the world all at once but you just can’t, you have to do it little by little. So the question that goes through my head, how am I so lucky to have been blessed with such a wonderful life in the U.S? Sure we have our challenges and difficulties, but do they even compare to absolute poverty in Africa which is living on less than one dollar a day?

I am going to miss:

· The country

· People

· The love the people have to offer

· Their optimistic attitudes

· Their hard work ethic

· Feelings of accomplishment on a daily basis

· Witnessing how powerful their will to survive is.

· The love for God

· The level of respect the children have for adults

· Their list of priorities

· These are just a few things I will miss…. There are many more!!

Just a few of my favorite pictures that I wanted to share

Amazing isn't it?

Ok seriously!

Looking back at the gate where Gladis was standing to say her last goodbye. She was so happy when i gave her my head and wrist band i had bought at the school today to match many of the other girls. I noticed she was one who did not have anything, so before i left i tired as discreetly as i could to giver her mine. It is so amazing to see what makes them happy.

Irene the head mistress.

Lidia.... Ezekial's older sister.

you are only seeing 1/4 of the circle of kids around me while i was getting taken care of. A teacher had to stand there with her cane to help keep the children back.

Me just crying about my open wounds. Yes, I did pose for this picture! But i won't lie when Hilary was cleaning out the gravel that was imbedded in my cuts i did start to get teary eyed. We scrubbed and scrubbed and rinsed with a saline solution for fear of parasites. Don't worry mom I am getting a deworming medication from the pharmacy here before i come home.

My soccer team! They were so cute to me!

This is exact love i am talking about. This older brother held his little brother for longer than an hour as we were teaching an HIV lesson at the male college. He would stand up and walk around with him , but never set him down once.