"and God bless Felix!"

I have only a few hours left on camp, before I head to Accra for the night, then I'm off in the morning. My time in Africa has been equal parts frustrating and rewarding. I wish I could stay longer, especially now that I have settled into life here and made truly fantastic friends...but such is life.

I know I am taking away more from the refugee camp than I could possibly leave behind and I have learned more than I have time to write on this blog. Some days I had to force myself out of bed and off to work- feeling like I am swimming upstream in shark-infested waters- but there have been moments that made it worth the frustrations...

Teaching my adult literacy class in the afternoons made everyday satisfying. Women in their 30s and 40s who want to read and write for the sake of reading and writing; and always so gracious. Yesterday, they closed our class in prayer. They have taken to calling me 'Felix' because my name is simply too hard for pronunciation. The women gave thanks to God for me coming and teaching them so much...they thanked God that they learned the alphabet. Finally, they asked for God to 'please bless our special teacher because we love her. And God bless Felix!" To all the naysayers: yes, my time here was worthwhile.

And oh, the children. Yesterday, I walked around camp to find my very favorite family of orphans...six shorties whose parents were killed during the war in Liberia. What did I find them doing? Sitting outside their mud home with a chalkboard, teaching the little neighborhood children spelling. I could not have asked for a better way to leave here than with that tiniest glimmer of hope...

After days in the feeding program- having bony babies with distended bellies thrust into my arms, having some of those very same babies dying within days- I know what Africa has taught me, above all things: a heart that breaks, is a heart that is whole. A heart that hurts is a heart that feels, that beats...

So to Africa, I thank you. I thank you for showing me that mine is a heart, very much alive.

Nothing much...

So my friends and I canned Cape Coast and are going next weekend. For today, we made the trecherous journey into Accra ("seat belts"are practically a four_letter word here- not to mention the near-death experience of 'tro-tros')...I had hoped the internet would be faster, but even in the capital, I may as well be using Dixie cups and string to communicate to the outter world....

Camp life still possesses the unique ability to push even the most well-adjusted to the brink of emotional collapse, for many, varied reasons. Luckily, I begin my real work on Monday. I have taken the liberty of transferring myself (with the help of one very good connection) to working in the World Food Program. I will assist in the morning feedings, as well as the bi-weekly weigh-ins. My primary responsibility will be in managing the 30 cases of most severe malnourishment...wish I had time to detail more, but I will say this is already giving me numerous ideas for a Master's thesis. In the afternoons, I will continue facilitating the women's adult literacy program.

For anyone who actually reads this, expect only one or two more posts before I leave. I wish the internet were better, because I have so many stories to tell. Oh well. Perhaps they'll be better shared over a few beers anyhow.

Much love.

I spent my first weekend with a few new friends visiting Kokrobite Beach, near Accra. Saturday night was a beach party with live reggae....absolutely amazing. I went swimming in the ocean and hung out on a fishing boat.

Life on camp isn't too bad. The electricity is on until 6 pm and so far, I have only gone one morning without running water. I am experiencing a lot of good and a lot of frustration working here.

In my first 48 hours, I learned so much that I think I could have gone home nearly satisfied. Africa has already taught me about love, God and what it means to be alive....I wish I could write more, but the internet is so painfully slow, it will likely take 10 minutes to post this. That also means I will likely not be e-mailing for the rest of my stay, so apologies to friends and fam :(

I am going this weekend to Cape Coast to visit the slave castle, beaches and national park. I will post again when I return.

Much love.

The weather is here, wish you were beautiful!

After 14+ hours on planes I am finally in Ghana. I am settling in and ready for whatever the next month brings me.

I already love Africa...the air is completely different here. The people are warm and friendly and the tropical weather doesn't hurt either. This place has a great energy like you can feel the heartbeat. A pulse.

I am inundated with new sights sounds and smells in the refugee camp. Sadly I am forbidden by the UN to take any photos. If caught I will be thrown off camp and this is a rule they strictly enforce. I wish I could take pictures, because I don't think anyone in America could believe how people here must live. I have quickly learned to never step on plastic bags on the ground, as that is what is generally used as a toilet. In 12 years, they could not be bothered to build more than 10 toilets for the 40,000 refugees that live here (and must PAY to use the toilet). Besides, the toilet is nothing more than a hole in the ground anyway.

It feels like the people here have an unbreakable spirit. I am amazed at their joy and kindness despite their situation...

I will post more, but the internet is very slow. So, poco a poco.

Much love.

...waiting...

First, many thanks to my friends and family who are reading this. I hope you enjoy following along...

Gaining support for my trip to Africa has not always been easy. People want to know what pushed me to volunteer in a third world country. The answer is: a lot of things. Mostly, it is the simple knowledge that I am alive. As a relief worker in Afghanastian, Marla Ruzicka was killed by a suicide bomb at the age of 29. With third degree burns covering 90% of her body, her last words were, "I am alive." I find them so simple and perfect...poignant. That's all there is to say. Why give my time and energy to love a people I have never known? Because I am alive. Here and now.

Many people I encounter also want to know why I chose Africa. For me, this was not a rational, cerebral choice. I simply gravitated toward that part of the world. I believe at least 90% of our current place in life is what we are born into. Had I been born in India, I would have a different skin color, different religion, different set of cultural norms, etc. All souls are one, all people connected. I simply got lucky. So there is no difference to me in helping a pregnant teen in America and a child in Africa.

So why Africa? Why those people?
Because I am Africa. I am the people.

...and so are you.