Bittersweet Homecoming

Wow.  I can't believe it's been 1 week since I've been home.  Not sure my heart is fully here though, but it is so good to hug my babes and cuddle my hubby.  And since I've been home, I've been thrown into the busyness of life, as any "good american."  WHY is busy good?  It's totally not, and I actually hate it - it's so stressful.  I am really going to try to stop more.  I remember one day when in Wa, Joha (our Ghanaian director), told us we completed 2 full days of work in less than 10 hours.  Oh how I strive to be NOT BUSY.  Good luck, right?  Living in Orange County.

Well I figured you would want to know everything we did, yes?  I mean - you did send us there.  And I promise it was a very fruitful trip.  Main points:

1) All 4 directors in the same country, same place, same time - AMAZING!!!!  This allowed us to have very productive meetings and talk about things that really needed to happen face to face.

2) Visited children who are in our sponsorship program and identified new children to add to our program.  Stay tuned how you can sponsor one of these little angels for only $25 a month. :) (They are writing their sponsors letters... so sweet!)

3) Made a new friendship with a church in Kasoa whom we will be able to partner with for future ministry mission trips, sponsorship, etc.

4) Sat down with government officials in Wa (a community that is in desperate need of love and help in the upper west).  These meetings were so good to have with Social Welfare because now they are on board with what EP is striving to do.

5) Dreamed of plans for a rehabilitation center in Wa - one that would welcome children for a short period of time, give them counseling with their families, medical attention, school, etc with the purpose of reunifying them with their families when possible.  Looked at a potential site.

6) delivered treated mosquito nets and food to children homes all over the country, literally - you haven't experienced Ghana until you drive on those famous dirt roads. Wow.  Take your Dramamine.  

What's next????  Well, there are so many ways to get involved - we're a brand new baby organization and we would LOVE to have you on board.  Here's just a few tidbits with more info coming.

* Sponsor a child!  Or a family.  This family lives in the little shack pictured behind them with no washroom or clean water.

* One of our directors in Ghana also has a children's home that she is funding from her personal money.  EP has given her 1 month of sponsorship to keep it open in September, but we'll need to find her an ongoing sponsor to help out with finances.  It costs around $350 per month to keep her home open. that's only $50 a month for 7 people.  Maybe your life group wants to partner with us?

* We're opening an Eban Project store online and we would love for a volunteer to help run that and ship out orders.

* Wa!  Good at fundraising or grant writing?  We would love help fundraising money for all EP's efforts in Wa - mainly the rehabilitation center which is estimated to be around $35K.

* Come to Ghana with us!!  Are you interested in going on a Missions Trip or taking your church, group of friends, coworkers to Ghana?  Let us know - we can definitely use people of all ages.  I would love for you to visit my 2nd home and eat some banku with us!

Love you for loving us so much!

x,
b

To God be the Glory

Spiritual Warfare.  Gosh, it’s exhausting.  From before we even left our homes to come, the attacks began: sickness, 911 calls, family emergencies.  The day we left:  I was sent on a goose chase around LAX to find the terminal I was supposed to check in at – NO ONE KNEW!  My ticket only said United, but United had no record of me – it wasn't until 30 minutes before my plane left that someone found the mistake.  By the GRACE of God, I made it.  Once we arrived: No luggage – Lufthansa thought it a smart idea to send half our plane’s luggage to South Africa so they could downsize the plane.  However, that meant our luggage didn't arrive until 11p the NEXT day.  That’s cool.  Then on the way home, tire blew in our friend’s van.  No one carries spares, as tires here are around $300.  Once up in the room, literally my watch exploded, flash light stopped working, AC in our room was broken, as well as our fridge.  My camera broke.  OH, and I became seriously ill… you know, that fever and pure strep throat thing; the kind where you can’t even swallow your own spit.  Ghana isn't like Mexico or the US where you can just run to any old pharmacy and grab the latest antibiotic to help you out…  but again, God prevailed.  As we were pulling up this little pharmacy, I prayed like crazy for a Z Pack.   And the poor man behind the counter looked at me like I was crazy, then I begged him for an antibiotic.  His eyes lit up, and he returned with the mightily coveted Z Pack – that wasn't even expired.  Fever gone, 80% better.

Why is Satan fighting so hard against us?  Could it be because we were here to witness 2 families receive news that their kids’ visas were ready to be printed (THEY GET TO COME HOME!!)?  Could it be the amazing meetings that have taken place between our directors here in Ghana and Anita and I?  Could it be programs that are being established to further His Kingdom’s work and to help restore His world?  And friends, we are just on day 2 of being here.  We still have almost 10 full more days here.  God is definitely the ALMIGHTY ONE and I have yet to understand the reason he is allowing me to come on this ride with him.

 I leave you with a great picture of a sweet kiss my Jesus gave me tonight:  As we were walking to buy more water, God led 2 of our old Ghanaian friends to walk home instead of taking the trotro which allowed our paths to cross.  As they did not know we were in Ghana, and we believed they were at school, it was such a sweet moment of blessing when our eyes met on the street corner.  I felt the embrace of my Jesus in their arms – a sweet kiss, reassuring us that He is on our side.  But man, what a site to see for the locals, I’m sure:  This crazy abruni (white person) jumping up and down in the middle of the street, embracing our friends and giggling with joy.  A familiar face that was Jesus' face to me tonight.

x,

b