You are Welcome !

You are Welcome ! That is the phrase many Ghanaians say to welcome you to their homes, schools, or just about anywhere you meet a Ghanaian.

All is well here with me in Ghana. Today is the second to last day of the first group of students which will be working with this summer. This past weekend we went on an excursion to the city of Ho in the Volta Region. There we were able to visit a Monkey Sanctuary, swim under the highest waterfalls of West Africa (Wli Falls), visit a Kenti Cloth Weaving village, and relax in a hotel with a POOL ! Overall it was great to leave our home base a little bit and see the surrounding country side. After this past weekend’s excursion we continued work making bricks at the schools, teaching at the school, and participating in afternoon/evening cultural events.

The most impressive place I have been to so far in Ghana was also visited during this past weekend. We visited an organization called New Seed International (http://www.newseedinternational.org/index.html) it is an amazing organization located in Ho and its mission is to assist children and all people who have been somehow affected by HIV/AIDS. The organization has an orphanage component which helps take care of children who have HIV, children who have been shunned from their communities and own parents as a result of having HIV, and children without parents who have died as a result of AIDS. There are approximately 75 children at New Seed International and we were able to spend an amazing afternoon playing with the children and also having an in depth conversation with its founder Livinus. The organization also works on HIV/AIDS awareness and also has a medical clinic component attached to its facilities. This is an amazing organization which is helping many children’s lives through no fault of their own have been affected by HIV/AIDS. All of these children were simply born and, of course, never chose to be born into having HIV or having had their parents passed away as a result of this virus. Playing and interacting with all of the children ages newborn to 14 was definitely the most memorable/heartwarming/difficult interaction with children I have ever had. If anyone is ever thinking about donating any money to anything, this is an effective organization who is working very hard for the children they are taking care of. Please email me (rudy.becker@gmail.com) if you are interested in donating anything, they are currently working on a large 60 bed boy and girl dorm room facility to house the children in a clean and safe environment.
Today is Thursday and before I know it on Saturday afternoon I will be greeting 36 new students in Accra Airport to Ghana. This group will be a 3 week program, and I am very excited to get to know them. In this group it looks like there will be 3 boys and 33 girls. I look forward to working with them all and embarking on adventures throughout Ghana with them. This past group has been really amazing with some great characters and cool students.

Anyways that is the latest for now! I miss everyone and look forward to seeing you all soon back home!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LISA !!! Wish you were here !!

Love to all,

Rudy

Here is a link to my latest pictures from Ghana : https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10100771172575793.3069401.2206209&l=dd62106b61