I understand captain planet today

I have finally made it to Kpando! Internet is going to be a bit of an issue here. There is only one internet cafe and slow does not even begin to describe the speed at this place! It seems the server does not like gmail very much, it takes a while to do stuff so I won't be responding to emails as much as Id like! Please do send letters, packages or whatever you'd like to the address to the left.

We ended up having to stay in Accra for an extra night because Edems car had issues and he was very ill with malaria (once you get it it comes back in waves). It actually worked out well because I was able to take time to adjust to the time difference, 6 hours ahead of Dallas. Arriving in Accra at 1030pm was a little bit scary, mainly because I was by myself. I didn't get off the plane and immediately feel like I had returned home to mother Africa. There was no grandeur moment reassuring me that I was supposed to be there. I was HOT, nervous (mostly about my bags) and a bit scared! I wanted to get my bags, find Edem and the the H outta the airport!

My first impression of Edem was that he is the strong and silent type. Boy oh boy was I wrong! When I first met him he wasn't saying much because he felt like crap due to the malaria, he wasn't complaining, he just wasnt speaking. On the way to Kpando, I got to see the true Edem, the giggling, talkative and extremely goofy Edem! We talked about UNiTED a lot on the way here and he is just full of ideas, never thought I could meet someone more idealistic than myself. I have my work cut out for me! I am essentially assisting with getting this organization off the ground, more details to come! He asked me if I had ever seen the cartoon Captain Planet. OF COURSE!!!, I enthusiastically answered. He continued to say how much he adored the cartoon as a child, it was his favorite show and he never missed it. In my head I was thinking about the random selection of Western entertainment that catches on in Africa (Texas Walker Ranger, Celine Deon and Phil Collins just to name a few) and giggled to myself. Anyway he said, AS A CHILD I MISSED THE MESSAGE OF CAPTAIN PLANET, but that I UNDERSTAND CAPTAIN PLANET TODAY. Next thing I know I am belting out the theme song of Captain Planet with my new Ghanaian friend as we wind through the potholed roads of the Volta Region...

Captain Planet he's our hero, gonna take pollution down to ZERO...

One of his ideas is to create a cartoon about HIV/AIDS, inspired by Captain Planet, of course! A cartoon that kids will like to watch so education about HIV and AIDS can begin at an early age therefore reducing the stigma associated with it. The stigmas here are unbelievable. No one in Kpando (except a few people at the hospital) know that Hardthaven helps children who are HIV positive. Edem said if people knew, they might not sell food to them and completely shun them! I am actually really nervous writing this because I am in the internet cafe and don't want any nosy characters peeking over my shoulder reading it. I think the cartoon is a great idea, but it probably will not happen right away...baby steps I keep telling him, baby steps.

We arrived in Kpando at 530 pm on Thursday. It was market day in Kpando and we drove right through the city center. The street was filled with people! Several women balancing metal tubs, cages, or sheets of fabrics on their head and walking like it was nothing. Music was blaring from the shacks, Edem was shouting warm greetings to his friends and children were running up to his car yelling, YOVO YOVO (means white person in Ewe...the other language they speak here)with big smiles spread across their faces! I loved everything about this moment. I have arrived in this strange African town, which is now going to become my new home.

Peace and Love from Africa!

Ghaana go to GHANA

Well the blog is back and I promise to keep it more concise this time around! First off I want to say thank you thank you thank you to all of my friends, friends of friends and family who have supported me on this decision to do work in Ghana and to all of my parent's friends who hired me to work for them in exchange for a donation! It meant more to me than you will ever know and your generosity will change lives in Ghana!

Today is the day of the 21 hour journey to Africa. I am extremely excited and a bit afraid of the unknown, as it is my first trip to Africa. I have always felt a strong pull to Africa, I'm not sure why but I'll find out sooner than later. Edem, the co-founder of the organization I am working for, is going to pick me up at the airport in Accra and then we drive 3 hours to Kpando. I will be living with Edem's family for the first couple of months and I cannot wait to meet them! I've stocked my bags with bubbles, nail polish and puzzles for the children at the orphanage, even more excited to meet those kids. If you want to check out the orphanage you can visit www.hardthaven.org and for you facebook users, they have a facebook page which has a lot of great pictures. I'm not sure what to expect upon my arrival except a huge sensory overload and a lot of people offering to help me with my bags, which I definitely will need!

Things have been a little crazy the past couple of days as we had a family emergency. Most of my family is out of town and mom has helped me pack and get organized for the trip, and will be the one to send me off at the airport. I LOVE YOU MOM! I am going to miss everyone back home, especially my family, VISITS ARE ALWAYS WELCOMED.

E-mails are enthusiastically encouraged. In Cambodia, getting an e-mail about life back in the states paralleled with the excitement of opening presents at Christmastime. I am not sure what my internet access will be like, so letters in good ole snail mail are welcomed too. My address is at the top of the blog, so if you get the urge, send an old fashioned letter my way!

Everything about this opportunity has just unfolded before me and it all feels so right. The people I have met, connections I have made and information I have received about Ghana within the past 2 weeks are little signs from God reassuring me that I am on the right path and supposed to be doing this! I would appreciate it if yall can keep me, the project and the people of Kpando in your thoughts and prayers.

Thank you again to everyone, the next time I post will be from Africa!