"Feeding the Orphans"

I apologize for not writing more sooner but the Internet within the hotel is spotty at night and sometimes makes it difficult. Writing during the day is almost impossible, especially when we get to be a part of "Feeding the Orphans" ministry. As we set out on our day Thursday, it was quick to be a full one!
THURSDAY: Kristie, Helen, Sydney, Anita, and I headed out to the "salon" to see about getting the girls hair done. Ree was staying back at the hotel with the boys and we were thankful. We drove up to the salon, which seemed to be on the outskirts of the city. To me, it appeared to look like a "village" but I have been informed this is a very typical town. "Villages" are much much worse! The salon itself is smaller than Maxwell and Anita's bedroom. The women chatted among themselves and discussed Anita's hair and then they told her to sit and they got started. She quietly sat there, didn't say a word, and the women went to work. It was the fastest thing I've seen and yet, we sat there for 3 hours. She got "water curls" put in her hair. I'm not sure Anita knew what she wanted or didn't want but the women at the hotel helped me decide and we love it. Anita now stands in front of the mirror playing with her hair, putting it up, taking it down, and wearing her cap at night. I'm sure there is a very large part of her that feels likes a princess!
As we sat at the salon waiting, the little neighborhood kids next door (yes, there was a house literally touching distance from the salon)kept peeking around to look at us and see what we were doing. After awhile, I finally motioned them to "come." "Come" in Ghana is like waving hi in America. If you wave hi with your fingers in lieu of waving your hand left to right, you are motioning for them to come. One by one, the little children came and sat next to me on the step. I would ask them their name and their age and they would happily reply. Again, validation and love, that's all they wanted and you could see it made their day! There were no adults looking for them, they weren't worried about running home, they just simply sat. I would take pictures and they would get so excited. "Snap" and then they would run back to me and look at the pictures. It was all so innocent and so fun and so peaceful. The children danced for us, sang for us, and one had a bike. They would take turns riding just so they could show us they knew how, most time w/ no shoes on the dirt road. It was fun to giggle and laugh with such beautiful little faces. As we sat longer and longer, I knew Anita was getting hungry and I was thirsty. I asked the children to take me to a store. We walked a little ways and there was a lady selling random snacks. She had frozen "Yogo's" ... frozen yogurt. I bought 15 for a total of 2.50 cedi, um... the cheapest snacks I've ever bought! They were ecstatic, jumping up and down, the biggest smiles ever. They simply said "Thank you" and one very handsome boy, Eema, said "Are you coming tomorrow?" "Awww, sorry, but no." It's all that simple ... to be acknowledged and loved unconditionally. Nothing grand. Nothing spectacular. A simple glimpse of love spread to adorable little children.
Once we arrived back at the hotel, we quickly grabbed lunch and jumped in the van. Us, the Turner's, were headed out with the O'Leary's on their "Feeding the Orphans" Ministry. It was going to be a full day. As we headed to the first Foster Home, Sydney's dad, Ree bought Rice and toilet paper for the Foster Homes we were planning to visit. Simple items which mean a lot and go a long ways. The roads were bumpy, some were paved and some were not. Lots of pot holes and lots of traffic. The first home we visited was a foster home with 8-10 children run by a man named Paul. By American standards, the conditions were not great, ok, they were really really difficult to see, but this is home for them. And we are continually reminded, the foster homes are nice compared to where the children come from. Ugh! The youngest child was 2 and the oldest, 14. It's always hard for me b/c there is "true happiness" missing from these faces. I wish there was a way to just make them genuinely smile. As we walk into these homes, Anita and Maxwell tend to cling tightly. They have yet to convey what they are feeling, but I can only imagine there is a slight fear they are staying there. I have to continually remind them, I am not leaving.
As we headed to the next orphanage, we were kind of lost and couldn't find the next place to be. And as we went to make a right turn, I looked up and said "Kristie, Kristie ... it's "Love a lot Orphanage!" We both just sat there and stared. Here is why ... While Kristie and I were at the salon, a teenage girl was sitting there helping with Anita's hair off and on. Eventually she stood and walked to Kristie and asked her if she visited orphanages. Kristie said "Yes, we are delivering food to orphanages while we are here, are you in an orphanage?" The young girl shook her head no. We were then able to find out her mom works at an orphanage and it's called "Love a lot Orphanage." Now, if that wasn't God working, I'm not sure what is!!!
We then headed off go to the next orphanage, CKO. This orphanage is run by a pastor, named John. He is a young man with a large heart. His love for his children radiates. The children in the home are kind, respectful, and most have truly genuine smiles. They are thankful for us to be there and they continually tells us "thank you" and "God Bless You!" And these praises all come from simple items donated by "Feeding the Orphans" ... items as simple at toilet paper and a large bag of rice. John's orphanage is very organized and run well. The conditions are "run down" but it is still "nice" when in comparison to others. The girls like to sit and talk and the boys have serious matches of soccer! Your heart feels peaceful when you are amongst those at CKO. "Feeding the Orphans" has set up a fund for their children to be sponsored for $20 a month. $20 a month will ensure the children eat 3 meals a day.
As the sun started to set and our day was coming to an end, it was time to head back to the hotel. The children were doing well but getting tired and worn out. We stopped and picked up fried chicken, rice, and jollof. As we sat in traffic Anita asked "Mommy, what is my full name?" "Anita Esinam Turner" ... she repeated it and started to giggle. She then says "Mommy, what is Daddy's name?" "Adam." She sat there for a second and said "If Daddy's name is Adam, like Adam in the Bible, then why is your name Anna and not Eve?" I just started laughing, I couldn't help it. It had to be one of the cutest darn things ever! I'm glad she knows the Bible!
A couple minutes later, at about 7:30/8:00 at night, Anita looks out the front window and it's bumper to bumper traffic. Mind you, we have been traveling in a van from place to place since about 1:30 that afternoon. We were all tired. She looks out the window and says "OH! Mommy! I guess we are not going home. I guess we will sleep in the van." Kristie and I lost it. Totally started laughing. You might have had to of been there. She was happy as can be but just chalked it up to never really making it where we were supposed to go b/c of all the traffic. Her thought process was cute. To say we wore them out was an understatement. I quickly fed them when we got to the hotel, gave them a bath and read them a book ... they were asleep before the book was finished. Too cute ... two little heads, laying in my lap, sound sound asleep!