Our Last Week

10/22/08

One week from now, we will be in a plane over the Atlantic, and I will have an entire coach seat all to myself—a far cry from our tro-tro adventures. Our next 6 days are filling up quickly. We have our third and final presentation for the JSS classes on Friday morning, beginning at 8am. We’ll separate the students into 1 classroom for all the JSS girls, and 2 classrooms for the boys. While the students are waiting for us to finish presenting to one class, their job will be to write letters introducing themselves, and explaining why they want a library. These letters will be used in our fundraiser back home. As far as the last presentation, focusing on Health and Sex Education, we’ve broken the information up into three parts: 1) puberty and hygiene; 2) sexual intercourse, STDs, and AIDS; 3) teenage pregnancy and risking your future opportunities.

Saturday is the last big Market Day before we leave, so we’re taking Sema and Beatrice out to Ho for “girls’ day.” They don’t know it yet, but we’ll be buying them a few small gifts as a “thank you” for the excellent care they’ve given us over the past month. We’ll probably get some fancy fabric they can use as a wrap or a shawl, and probably some jewelry. We’re still not sure what to get Tony, so hopefully Sema can help us with that. We’re already planning on putting together a small package around the holidays for Cassandra, Kosi, Grace, and Jessica. Once I get back home, I’ll be on the lookout for a small Lilo & Stitch backpack for Jessica, books for Grace and Kosi, and possibly a soccer ball. We’ll be sending photos with this package as well.

On Sunday, the village is holding a Farewell Ceremony for us, which will include LOTS of drumming and dancing. We will also be presented with small gifts from the ANYO Group as appreciation for our efforts. Monday is our last day in the village when I’m sure we will try our best to soak up our life here in a desperate attempt to hold on to the many friends we’ve made. Tears will be shed, I’m sure, and it will be incredibly difficult to say our goodbyes, especially to the children, and also to Tony, Sema and Beatrice. I honestly wish I could bring Jessica home with us.

Tuesday morning we will take the bus to Ho for the last time, and board a tro-tro or another bus to Accra. We’ll be staying in Accra for the night, I’m not sure if we’ll be in a hotel or stay with someone we’ve met (like Wallace—the past counterpart with ANYO—in the seminary where he attends school to be a minister). Early Wednesday morning we will head to the airport in Accra to begin our long journey back to the States.

I’ll post an update once I’m home, as well as photos of course, so until then, wish us well and I’ll see you all very soon!