Rachel, Rebecca, Kerry and Brent's experiences in 
TAFI ATOME, GHANA AFRICA:

SLIDESHOW PRESENTATION
Scappoose Cinema 7 Theater
Saturday Aug. 18, 2012
9:30am-11:30am

Rebecca wrote:
Today was our last day in Tafi Atome. That was the hardest goodbye I have ever experienced. my heart is aching and I cant stop crying. I will deeply miss my African family. I cant thank the village, compassionate journeys and all my Ghana friends enough for influencing my life in a way that has changed my course in countless aspects. May god bless them, they will forever be in my thoughts and prayers, i cannot wait for my next trip there:) there will be MANY more. We are now in cape coast and will be here till monday. then we will be traveling back to Accra and flying out wednesday. see you all home soon!


Rachel wrote: 


We are at Cape Coast's Hans Cottage... mini Paradise in Ghana's tourism sites. There is a pond with hundreds of birds and many fish. And did I mention crocodiles? yeahhhhh.... had a great chicken dinner with pineapple dessert, but I 

am really going to miss Mary's cooking....I really miss Mary, and Mary and Thywill, and Randsford and ALL of Tafi Atome... including the monkeys. Tomorrow we are going to tour the cape coast slave castles. It will sure be emotional. See you all next week!!!

We made arrangements to have Rachel, Rebecca and Kerry return home one day early--their original flight would have been on the day of the funeral of the Pres. of Ghana-city of Accra would have be inaccessible...flooded with citizens of Ghana who have traveled hours and days from their villages to show their respect. Girls will be flying from Ghana to Amsterdam in the Netherlands! No layover, :( just enough time to make connecting flight to Portland.

I have asked Kerry and my girls if they need anything--they continually say they have everything they need--- They have but one small request-- when I greet them at the airport.....they would love to have ICE in their water. :)
This has been a life changing experience. They have experienced a paradigm shift. Truly seeing life in a new way-an awareness of all we may take for granted. Their tender hearts are aching with the thought of leaving these precious children and returning home. Though they truly are at peace knowing they have helped to make a difference in the lives of so many...and that the village will continue to do well. The concept of helping others to help themselves is far from new. “Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will eat for a lifetime.” Though volunteers donate the needed funds, it is the members of the Village that labor all day constructing and building the schools and medical facility etc. and Teaching. They all work very hard. They still maintain their crops and work double time so they can attend school and earn their educations. Volunteers are crucial as this program is aided by them far beyond funding. Volunteers validate another's worth and teach self reliance. This is where Kerry, Rachel and Rebecca and many others, have extended a loving hand and hugs and compassion, and hope. I am grateful, and will forever be grateful to all who supported and encouraged this endeavor.
-Jeanette

HI Mom!!!! Sorry I couldn't let you know a head of time that I would be on the internet. We are shopping in the market of Kpando and stoppped by. (Naomi and I) Naomi is our new very good nurse from from Scottland!! She is amazing! So positive and giggly. We love her. We are shopping for Kerry's suprise birthday party tomorrow. So much has been going on and I wish I had time to type stories after stories!! But this is a short stop. All is well. I have so many new friends and children I want to Adopt. One in particular, his name is Raphael, I call him "charming" and he nick named me "Akpe" Which mean "Thank You" I'll have to tell you our story sometime:) We are going to Hohoe to go to wili Falls again with our friends Michael, Ransford, Naomi and Thywill. Then on Sunday we are traveling to Ho again to go to church. It's been raining a lot!! We are almost done painting the school and maybe the computer center next. We love it here and miss everyone very very very much. love you!

Text from Rachel: "It's been raining a lot here. We are almost finished painting in the Primary school. Things are going very well. My legs are clearing up.
New Pres. declared a week of mourning and having flags flown at half staff-
Things have been back to normal for the most part. But when you hear the mourning music played you all stand in silence."