Home Office

                                       

                                          

September 27, 2010

Day 11 – Home Office

I’m working from the office today; which also happens to be home (Chalet 1). I guess some things don’t change, huh? But it is necessary for us to construct a real office soon so that we can let Ocean Breeze exist as it was intended…HEALING VIBES. Speaking of healing vibes, I am reminded in my spirit today of what most of my movements are geared to serve. THE YOUTH. I am thinking particularly about our Yeji youth. Those youth that have been stripped of a ‘normal’ childhood to work as Fishermen…Slaves. No pay, one meal each day, long hours, beatings, drowning, no schooling, no families to see to them each day. So, I make a call to one of the NGOs that does the rescue of these youth. I communicated with him, Mr. Peasah, from the U.S. and then again when I arrived here. I also communicated with a Gentleman named Mr. Achibra who also does the rescue mission. My plan is to go rescue one child and bring him/her back to Brenu and put that one child through the OYC rehabilitation program. Both of them seemed interested while I was in the States and told me to contact them when I arrived in Ghana. GOOD. I’m in Ghana and I contacted them and they want to meet me in Accra. ACCRA?! But the youth are up in Yeji, not too far from Salaga, family. NORTHERN REGION. Accra is Eastern Region. So, I explained what our mission is and they both still insisted to meet first. You know I am turned off, because I know that I am about to be put through some script that will ultimately lead to a contract to pay a certain amount of money for this mission. I am not interested in that; at least not at THIS point. I just need a translator and someone that knows those islands where they keep the children. I decided that I would comb our area and make a few phone calls to see if I could secure that assistance. If I don’t, then we go meet with the ‘rescuers’. I wasn’t successful in securing someone so I called them back to arrange my meetings in Accra…I did say ‘Patience’ very early on in the trip, right?

Mr. Achibra is an Elder and will not budge. So, my meeting with him will be on Wednesday. Mr. Peasah was more helpful in giving information. But he is also one that seems like he will doubt your program until you prove that you can do this work. As far as I am concerned, if someone wants to step up and rescue 1 or 100 youth from that situation and brings them to a healthy and/or so called ‘normal’ environment, then why question the plan that is in place. SAVE THE BABIES! I’m calling you from the U.S. and then again in Ghana. You don’t call me back when you said you would. I am still persistent and explain to you my mission and our NGO’s history in the Central Region already. Wouldn’t THAT be enough for you to say, I’ll meet you in Yeji to get your youth?! Of course not, this is GHANA. Yes, Mr. Peasah is questioning our business plan and our rehabilitation program. No problem, I know this game as well. I called him today. “Oh Mr. Peasah, well that is why I am contacting you. You all are the experts at this so I was appealing to you all to perhaps form a partnership so that we can strengthen the mission that we both are so passionate about.” Of course I have his interest now. Stroking…Stroking…LOL! He even tells me that they have specific times of the year when they do the missions. He says, “Our next mission will be in February.” I’m sorry family, but you have the means to go get those youth, but you are waiting until February to do so. IF you DON’T have the means and someone shows up WITH the means, then wouldn’t you jump up to send a Rep to go get a youth?! Especially if this is ALL that your NGO does! I may be a bit ‘green’ in this area, but that’s how I think. Anyway, we will meet with Mr. Peasah on Wednesday as well. Wednesday, because I have to be in Accra to pick up Jenifer first thing on Thursday morning from the Airport. So, with God’s Grace family, next week we will begin the rescue mission.

Esther came by after school with Otwidom (pronounced O Tree Dome), which means “Crowd Puller”. He is something else and all of you that knows Sista Esther’s plight with conceiving must know how happy she is to be a Mother now. We had a lot happen while she went home to Accra over the weekend so we caught up on all of the business runnings and began to tighten up the plan for expansion. Sista is committed as ever and it will be a SERIOUS void to fill when she decides to move permanently to Accra with her Husband. So, we are talking about changing her position with OYC so that it will be more in harmony with her future personal plans.

Kofi is out tying up some loose ends. We need our Surveyor here ASAP to prepare papers to meet with the New Chief’s Surveyor to finish the Ocean Breeze indentures and talk about plotting out the 20 acres for the Youth Complex. Kofi needs to check in with the Agriculture Department regarding the timing of the soil testing of the farm land. He will also conduct the first meeting at Mpeasem with the Caregivers and youth. When he finally returned today, he gave the report that all was successful except for meeting the Agriculture Director. I’m getting anxious that this farm thing is getting away from us. Time is not on our side. As Kofi and I are talking about the Surveyor stuff, Esther chimes in with, “If Brenu doesn’t take good care of you, I will bring you to my family village for land.” She was joking, but it made me think of something. I asked Kofi, “Where did our Government man, Mr. Appiah say the big Mango farm is located that he wanted us to visit?” Kofi said, “He said near Winneba Junction.” I said, “Sista, is your family land near this place?” She said, “I know the big Mango farm in that area, our land is across from there.” WOW! I’m excited. I will call Mr. Appiah tomorrow and set up the meeting. If it’s poppin over there then we will get Sista to negotiate land for us. It’s only an hour away, which would be no problem once we get our own vehicle here. Just that quickly, I am feeling encouraged about our farm land. You see family, we can get farm land in any of these villages that we are providing OYC services in, but if they are not able to grow the future cash crop, MANGO, then why put the investment there? We will no doubt have a smaller farm in Brenu or nearby, but not the one that we need to sustain OBey’s projects in Ghana. 100 acres or more. But 40-50 acres to start.

It appears that yesterday’s “FIRE” filled day was very stimulating to the family in the States. I was very pleased to read the feedback from that day. I was so hyped up from that day that I typed my frustration and adrenaline out for an hour straight to Isis, family. I didn’t even think that I would have anything to journal about after that. LOL! That is one drawback for not having my inner circle out here. I don’t have that ear to listen and reason about the runnings out here. So, it is a blessing that I have communications poppin with you all. The feedback that you all have been giving has been so stimulating for me. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

WHERE’S THE COOK. Esi was late coming in this morning. She traveled yesterday to bring her little Sister back to their Mother and it got late so she stayed overnight. She arrived late in the morning at Brenu. Then later, we were looking for her for dinner and she came when I was finally walking Esther home in the dark. Kofi had already started dinner. So it appears that our Cook was not playing. She is NOT around like she was. She is making her transition and it is definitely stinging Kofi. He is finding it hard to keep his cool tone when communicating with her. But even Esther explained to me that there were complaints that those two would be arguing in front of the youth at the OYC program. She would have to call in while on maternity leave to settle disputes between them. I’m happy that she told me this, because I was beginning to think that my therapeutic exercise has divided them. But that energy has obviously been escalating and this is good that they are taking their space. She needs to mature and develop with others her age. Kofi is 28 and she is 21. And she is a VERY young 21. But she made it up in time to assist Kofi with the meal. Beef stew, plantains, and salad. Just keep the peace around my food, PLEASE. LOL!

“I’m awake, I have worked, and I’ve been blessed. It’s Time to Take Me Home”

Love Family