I arrived safely in GHANA, and what an adventure it has been already in only 2 days...to say the least. I am writing from Keta, a large town about an hour from the village where I am staying called Atorkor. The internet costs 60 cents for an hour. I don't think I will be able to make it here often, so I'm taking this opportunity to write.

It is hot, so hot. Today the first order of business was getting my hair braided...to help with the heat. The food is simple but so good, spicy and delicious. I am especially loving the fruit, pineapple for every meal! We are staying in the chief's residence, that means we have running water which is such a blessing. Also, I understand that there are only 2 air conditioners in the entire village, one in the common room of our home, and the other in the home of Mama Keeli's house where we eat, so we have somewhat of a monopoly on the AC's. haha.

Our first night was spent under a mosquito netted bed. It gets dark early here, around 6 pm. After that time we are supposed to stay indoors because of the mosquitoes and the risk for malaria as well as our general safety. From our room we could hear "half night" which is a prayer session taking place in the church behind our house, it lasts for, as you could guess "half night" or until about midnight. It sounded like singing and celebration. This combined with the sound of goats and chickens made for a sweet lullaby to fall asleep to on our first night in Atorkor. I think I could get used to this. Until then, Mia dogo emegbe! (See you later in Ewe)



Joyce, Me, Stefanie @ Internet Cafe, Keta

Today I took my last hot shower for the next two months. My flight leaves in about 5 hours. Getting to the airport with our large amount of luggage is going to be a challenge. It all weighs more than my mother and I combined...we are strong women though, we can do it! I still cant believe that after my 17 hour plane ride, I will wake up tomorrow morning in Accra, then just a short 3 hour trip to Atorkor Village. I cannot wait! Hopefully I will be able to update this, I'm pretty sure my village doesn't have electricity, so that means no internet. But maybe there will be somewhere nearby, possibly Keta. Until then, wish me luck! :)

The past week has been a whirlwind to say the least. On Friday I completed my final projects and exams to close out my sophomore year at MCAD, on Saturday I moved apartments with the help of many friends, and Yesterday my mother arrived in Philadelphia. This morning was spent feverishly running last minute errands and gathering supplies and this evening has been consumed with a real-life game of tetris, we tackled the task of packing a copious amount of humanitarian supplies into two large suitcases and three 50 pound tubs. I am happy to announce that after only three hours we have successfully packaged nearly 300 pounds of humanitarian donations to meet international flight regulations. 

I have been astounded by the amount of support that has been shown by many selfless people who have donated the much needed supplies that I will be taking with me to Ghana. I wish I could thank every person individually, but I would fear that I left someone out. That being said,THANK YOU to all who have so kindly given all kinds of donations, wether it be large or small your contribution will in some way bless the lives of those in need in Atorkor Village. 

I am including a list of the supplies that have been donated for the purpose of showing those who might be thinking about volunteering what the possibilities of simply asking can do:

CLOTHING

136 t-shirts (girls and boys)

125 baby boy onsies

45 baby girl onsies

78 pairs of boys underwear

111 pairs of girls underwear

38 pairs of flip-flops

SCHOOL SUPPIES

12 pencil sharpeners

60 rulers

3 bags of erasers

10 glue sticks

10 bottles of white glue

paintbrushes

rubberbands

4 sets colored pencils

4 sets colored markers

10 sets watercolor

20 ABC flash card sets

12 kids scissors

12 boxes of chalk

100's of pencils

100's of pens 

96 scented markers

4 reams of lined paper

3 reams of colored construction paper

1 box foam stickers

1 set pastel chalks 

55 notebooks

23 small notepads 

23 school books of each subject: english/health/science

MEDICAL SUPPLIES

15 tubes of toothpaste 

36 toothbrushes

9 bottles pain relievers, adults

9 boxes pain relievers, children

6 boxes triple antibiotic cream

4 boxes hydrocortisone cream

5 boxes anti-fungal cream

5 boxes vitamin C

1 case vitamin A

208 bandaids 

10 ace bandages

30 hospital towels

2 gallon ziploc bags full of gauze

1 walking cast

6 catheters 

1 child tracheotomy kit

8 emmison basins

SEWING SUPPLIES

14 seam guide rulers

24 bobbins w/thread

8 packages sewing machine needles

18 packages of hand sewing needles

14 pin cushions

15 seam rippers

10 packages of tracing paper

10 tracing wheels

14 tape measures

10 marking pencils

11 packages of straight pins

1 package of safety pins

11 thimbles 

14 sewing scissors

2 crochet hook sets 

3 knitting needle sets

8 skeins yarn

108 skeins embroidery floss