Sad Goodbyes

I knew before coming back to Ghana that this would not be just one big happy reunion...unfortunately. When we first planned this trip that is what we expected; however, several weeks prior to our trip I learned that there were some serious problems at the orphanage. A new foundation has been set up in the US to help these children here. I am so excited for this foundation and to be able to support it in the future. The Foundation's goal is to support the kids' eduation and send all of the children to boarding school. However, as this foundation is brand new it will take at least a year before there are enough funds to send these kids to the schools. In the meantime the children have to relocate from the orphanage. The landlord is selling the building where they currently reside and the selling price is too high for the building (in fact there just isn't enough money to buy a building at this time). There is also a lack of funds for the orphanage to find a new place at all, even to rent. So I am sad to say that the children are being sent back to their villages, to their guardians. Their guardians are usually aunts/uncles or grandparents. Sister Bernice will still be overseeing these children and trying to ensure that there schools fees are being paid and they are getting the food and clothes they need, but this is by no means a good solution to the problem. Sadly, my mom and I really don't know what to do....their need is so overwhelming. To make matters worse, the children have to go back to their villages now in order to get enrolled in school in time. When we first arrived I thought the children would be leaving the day that we left, but today we learned they need to go back sooner because of school enrollment. We just learned this today and the first child left this afternoon. Needless to say, it has been a devastating day. Tears from my mom, me, Sister Bernice, and the children. The children are all very sad and to see Sister Bernice break down (she is a very tough woman and is part of a culture that rarely shows sad emotions) was too much to bear.

There are a few children that will remain with Sister Bernice because they have no one to return to or their situation is just too awful. There are three children that she will take with her when she leaves the orphanage. My mom and I were also very distressed to learn that Elolo would be sent back to his village as well. When Elolo was brought to the orphanage over two years ago they didn't think he would live. He was severly malnourished. He was being cared for by his blind grandmother that for some reason only took care of his sister and didn't feed him. The village chief took Elolo from her when he was told of the situation and brought him to Sister Bernice. We couldn't let him go back to this same environment. We have asked Sister Bernice if she could possibly keep him with her if we sponsored him. She has agreed and was actually overwhelmed with emotion when we asked this. She too had been very worried about sending him back and is so happy that we want to do this for him. She said she knows that one day we will come back and take him with us! Knowing the Elolo will be cared for well makes us feel a little better, but still I want all the children to be cared for right now. It is my hope that we will be able to help a couple more immediately and get them enrolled in boarding school this year. For now we will be saying goodbye to several more children tomorrow and then the rest this weekend. I only pray we our all strong enough for this.

Please say a prayer for these children and us.