Day 19- Waiting Game
It’s slow progress here in Ghana when you are one, relying on others to move you forward. Two, when you DON’T HAVE A CAR. The two sound similar, huh? It will indeed be a different Ghana when we get an automobile, but I’d suspect Ocean Breeze would not get my saturated energy then. Today is a mellow day. I am getting accustomed to working from the office like at home in the States. The difference is that most of my contacts here are not on the computer; so most contact is on the phone or you have to run out to meet with people. I did hear from the Farm Consultant today though, via email. I requested a meeting as soon as he could make it happen. He asked about Sunday morning at 8:30am. That will work. Accra, I’m COMING! I look forward to completing that task. I also spoke with Cecilia at Social Welfare. She and I are scheduled to meet at 4pm today.
After hanging out with the guests for some time this morning, I made my moves to the school to pick up Esther so that we could go to Cape Coast for some supplies. After we did our window shopping, I dropped her off at the Sabre Trust office. I met with the Director, Aubry, there. He is always interested to speak with me or to others about me because of his long history with Brenu. He is open and willing to offer up any assistance that we need so it’s not a problem sharing with him. They are doing some good work here in the Central Region with building schools and training Teachers. He said he reached out to us via email and didn’t get a response. I told him that his email must not have reached my Assistant or her reply didn’t reach him; because we would never ignore someone’s message to us. He seemed to be relieved to hear that from me. I know he was because I had already heard this from at least two others. So, he must have felt like we were snubbing his help after meeting him at Ocean Breeze last year. Kofi also told me that he was VERY interested to know what we were paying him for his services at Ocean Breeze. What duties has he been responsible for, etc… Kofi said he felt uncomfortable with the questions and told him he would rather Mr. Aubry speak to his Dad about all of that. Good Job, Son! Anyway, he will be reaching out to us again with some contacts that may be able to assist us with the clean water component of our OYC program.
I went to KEEA afterwards to meet with Social Welfare. It is 3:15 and I am taking a chance to see if Cecilia is in. I would love to meet with her early and get back home to OB at a decent time. She is not in and now the Waiting Game. I was on my way out to tell the Driver that we will have to wait and I bumped right into her. I was very happy to see her. We sat and caught up on policies and OBey Foundation’s paperwork. She said we are just about at the place that we need to be to be able to operate as a full NGO that will be able to solicit for benefits for our youth as their Guardians. I also spoke to her about our Child Rescue mission in the Volta Region. She was very interested to hear that some of the children are trafficked from the Central Region. I told her about our treatment team and she knows all of the players well. She agreed to be a part of our treatment team. I acknowledged that I know how busy she is and wondered how many other Social Workers could she assign to us whenever she is too busy to work with our youth. She told me that she is the ONLY Social Worker in our District. WOW…She’s busy.
I traveled back to Brenu and instantly got back into Baba mode. I had a meeting with Papa Mensah about business runnings and his Cousin, Gifty. Another meeting with Mercy about her Boyfriend not coming to see me today. After a meeting with the Eghans last night, we all feel like there has been some progress made. They called Gifty after my first meeting with them and spoke to Gifty about all that I brought to them. They also spoke with the Woman that Gifty is staying with, which surprised me. Gifty’s Mother told Gifty that she needs to pay and that I have threatened to report her to Immigration if she doesn’t. Apparently, both Gifty and the Woman have agreed. So the Eghans felt good about that. Gifty’s Mother even seemed a bit more humble today. We will see once I meet with Gifty when I return to the States.
I told Papa Mensah that he and his family need to be a part of helping Gifty to be accountable for her debt just as they were an active part of her getting to America. He agreed and they will keep in touch with her…Just in case she decides to…RUN. LOL!
My Mercy has walked up the Mountain to see Daddy and explain why the Father of her pregnant belly has not shown up to see me today. She had the number to his Father’s cell in her hand. The Father is apparently the Chief of one village in Elmina and the family is Muslim. Mercy told me that the guy, Muhammed, was scared to come to see me today, so he wanted me to talk to his Father. I tried his Father right then and no one answered. We tried again about a ½ hour later and the phone was turned off. So, I know his village; I will stop by or continue to call until I reach the Father. I’m standing there looking at Mercy with her full belly as she is telling me about this guy’s worries of me; thinking, I have SIX GIRLS.
Tonight is the last night for Josh and Allie. They are heading up to Kumasi, Mole, Tamale and then back to Accra to catch their flight back to Mali. It has been good having them here. They have gained some valuable tools through their service work in the Peace Corp. I am amazed at how much of the Malian culture these two young people have been exposed to. But that would be the case when you live with a host family in the village. I am encouraged that my young people will one day see the value in service work and learning about cultures that aren’t so close to home. But for now, let’s start with learning and loving their own.
“I’m awake, I have worked, and I’ve been blessed. It’s Time to Take Me Home!”
Love Family
