So long, farewell, but I'm not Ghana be gone for long!

Oh how time flies. It seems like just yesterday that I was yelling at my family to hurry up and find the right terminal because I didn't want to miss my flight. Just yesterday that I wasn't sure I wanted to come to Ghana anymore..I kept thinking-it's too expensive, I don't really need the experience to get a job do I?, what if I don't like it-I don't want to come home early, etc. My first travelling alone experience wasn't exactly flawless and was actually one of the most stressful experiences of my life. However, it has been by far the absolute best decision I have made.

If you have read any of my previous posts you have seen both the ups and downs I've experienced. Hopefully, you can tell that for every down there were a million ups to combat it. Sure there were times that were hard and I just wanted to go home where I wouldn't be sweating every minute of the day, where the food wouldn't make my lips swell up from the spiciness, where I know most people and they call me by my name not the color of my skin. But, I would never trade those few moments as they have helped me grow as a person. I believe that I will be returning to the U.S. in a short 3 days as a better person. Thank you for joining me in this journey.

These last two weeks I've been trying to enjoy every bit of Ghana that I can because I know that by the end of next week I'm really going to miss it. I have been trying to find an appropriate gift for my Ghanaian family to thank them for all that they've done from me and just nothing seems to demonstrate my gratitude adequately. Pookie suggested we get Chinese food before I leave and I laughed at her, no way am I wasting Auntie Grace's food for Chinese food I can get so much cheaper in the U.S. I just finished my last exam on December 13th and am spending as much time in the house as possible.

Today, I had quite the eventful day. My big sister Rachel, took me to the slaughterhouse where we literally picked the goat from the pen that we wanted slaughtered and casually waited in their waiting room for it to be done...an interesting experience to say the least though definitely not for the vegetarian type.. Then we went to the market to get fish and vegetables and Auntie Grace took us to get even more fish in the afternoon because tomorrow we will be cooking for the one-year anniversary of a father-in-law's death. (I think that's who it is). Our house just gets filled with more and more people by the day here with family coming from the U.S. to celebrate Christmas.

One of the families that is here already is one of my brothers and his wife and two children. I have a soft spot for the little girl because I helped take care of her a lot last week and if you know me, you know how I feel about babies haha. Here's a picture of the day that their dad, my sister Rachel, and I took them and my niece Nuna to the beach:

Auntie Grace's mother is also staying with us because she has been ill and they wanted to bring her all the way to the capital to go to the doctor. She is quite a hoot and reminds me everyday that she is coming with me to America and she's already packed and ready to go when I am haha

A huge thank you to everyone that donated to the Queensland Primary School fundraiser that Jessalyn and I put together. We delivered the donation on Tuesday and the Headmistress was more than grateful for the surprise (we never told her about the fundraiser!) Since the last time we were there she has already made quite a bit of improvements to the school and added one teacher so we are positive that she will do great things with the 800 cedi ($400) we were able to donate! The children at the school decided to sing for us and we recorded a few cute videos to share with you all!

This morning my Auntie Grace told me that she's going to the American Embassy to ask them to change my citizenship to Ghanaian so that I can stay longer haha we'll see how that works out..

On a more solemn note, my prayers go out to the families of the victims of the tragic shooting in Connecticut. It's always different hearing U.S. news in a foreign country but it difficult to try and respond when my family asks me why someone would do that, why someone would target small children, why, why, why? Unfortunately, I have to tell them the truth, I just don't know. We watched the news report this morning with my 4-year-old niece in the room, I just kept thinking what if this happened to her, or one of my cousins at home, or anyone, why does this happen to anyone and I struggle to keep from crying because it is sooo horrible.

I think the only things I have left are to talk about are thank yous. Thank you to my friends and family at home for your support and assistance in helping me accomplish my goal of coming to Ghana. Thank you to everyone who donated to the Queensland fundraiser once again. Thank you to my friends and family I have gained in Ghana, and thank you God for keeping me safe and healthy on this amazing journey.

As I'm sad to say goodbye (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkAD1fDz8lg) I'm so blessed to have somewhere to come home to both in the U.S. and in Ghana and I wouldn't trade that for the world.

See you soon America! And don't worry Adovor family, I'm not Ghana be gone for long!