Looking Back
Just two days after leaving Accra and I am back in Manchester, ready to start lectures, essays and assessments. Esiama and the kids feel so far away from this life, and it is hard to believe that just last week we were playing and laughing together. I miss them so much, and it’s hard to settle back into daily life here in England as if nothing has changed. Once again, Ghana has opened up my heart to the most amazing kids, full of love and joy and happiness. Their lives aren’t always easy, but that doesn’t mean they don’t make the most of absolutely everything, and find the best in any situation. They don’t have money to spend like we do, the kids aren’t spoilt or wrapped up in cotton wool, but the results are beautiful. The children are so caring, helpful and lovely, and in just a few hours of being back in the UK, you notice the difference between our lifestyle and theirs. I think it’s fair to say which I prefer; Ghanaians are such hospitable, friendly, caring and relaxed people, it is impossible not to fall in love with them!
It is the little things that really make you smile; when a child offers to carry your bag, or when a friend brings you a fresh coconut after school to try. Not a day went by when as soon as I arrived at school a child would not run up to me and say ‘Madam, Madam, your bag!’, and at lunch time each child would offer me their bowl of rice before they even thought about starting to eat it themselves. Such little acts of love and friendliness don’t take a lot, but I think in the busy, hectic world of western life we forget how to give, how to share, and how to care for one another. You don’t need to be rich to be generous, and that is something the Ghanaians embrace beautifully. In fact it is those who have the least, the orphans and the refugees, who are most willing to give, when it is evidently clear that they have very little and in comparison we are horribly wealthy.
I had an absolutely brilliant two weeks in Ghana. It was short, and the time absolutely flew by; every day I had to pinch myself to make sure I really was there, and to make the most of every single second I had with the kids. They are such a real joy to be around, and I feel so honoured to be a part of the lives of each and every child I spent time with, especially with the Word Alive Orphanage kids. They each have a special place in my heart, and I can’t help but think about them all the time. Their little (and not so little!) personalities are gorgeous, and I really do hope I’ve been able to show them how much I really do care about them, and that even from across the continents I am always thinking about them and planning my next trip back!
