Monday, September 3, 2012

Mercy Project

A good friend of mine is now working full-time for this ministry, and it has been so inspiring to keep up with their work.  Their mission to free these children from slavery is actually being accomplished, because they’re focusing on the root of the problem!  Be sure to watch the video… amazing to imagine these kids being set free. 

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There’s an estimated 7,000 children who work in the Ghana fishing industry. Some of these children are as young as 5 and 6 years old. All of these children are slaves.

–Mercy Project

Today many in our country will take a day off from our jobs to celebrate the social and economic achievements of American workers. No matter if we’re celebrating at home or at the beach, we’re entering into a tradition that has largely been shaped by Labor Unions - organizations that are dedicated to protecting workers’ interests and improving their wages, hours, and working conditions. Today as we lounge around or hang out with friends and family, we’re not only celebrating hard work, we’re honoring fair, ethical working practices and the laws that prevent discrimination, abuse, and child labor in our country. Without these laws in place (and enforced), the most vulnerable members of society suffer. Who are the most vulnerable? Children.

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Today as we’re celebrating the systems in our own country that strive to prevent injustices like child trafficking and child labor, we’re mindful of the many child slaves around the world who are unprotected and the organizations, like Mercy Project, who are working to free them.

As a mother, it’s difficult for me to imagine my children working 14 hours a day, 7 days a week. I’m unable to wrap my brain around the thought of my children engaged in long, hard days of physical labor, eating one meal a day, and then falling asleep at night on a dirt floor filled with other slave children. Yet this is the daily reality for kids who have been trafficked into the fishing industry in Ghana, Africa. As with much of Africa, there is a great deal of poverty in Ghana. Unfortunately, this leaves many mothers in an unimaginable position: sell their children to someone who can take better care of them or watch them starve to death. Most of the mothers are told their children will be given food, housing, and an education. Instead, the kids are often taken to Lake Volta where they become child slaves and their mothers never see them again. Thankfully, Mercy Project is working to break the cycles of trafficking around Lake Volta by providing alternate, more efficient, sustainable, fishing methods for villagers – ultimately eliminating the need for child slaves. Because of the work Mercy Project is doing in Ghana, the first group of children will be freed this month from Lake Volta.

We invite you to watch this moving, 10 minute documentary about the issues surrounding child labor and trafficking in Ghana and most importantly the hope Mercy Project is bringing to children and entire communities in Africa. Mercy Project is the only NGO working on Lake Volta addressing the injustice of child labor and child trafficking at its root - by strengthening the Ghanaian economy and eliminating the structures that cause the demand for trafficked children.

 

Whether these ideas of child labor, child trafficking, and modern-day slavery are new to you or you’re aware of these injustices, but need to hear some good news every once in awhile, we invite you to become a part of what Mercy Project is doing in Ghana. When Mercy Project frees their first group of children this month, we can all celebrate together.

 

Learn more and get involved by –

• Following Mercy Project on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/mercyproject 

• Connecting with Mercy Project via Twitter.  https://twitter.com/mercyproject 

• Spending some time on Mercy Project’s website. http://mercyproject.net/

 

Although child trafficking, child labor, and the unstable economies that result in these injustices are a tragedy, we’re grateful for what Mercy Project is doing to protect the vulnerable and for allowing us to be a part of this story. While we’re commemorating labor laws and ethical work in our own country today, we invite you to follow along on this journey with Mercy Project to protect and free children in Ghana.

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Thursday, May 10, 2012

Pics From Home Visit

  I’ll be honest….I hardly ever had my camera out while we were at home. I’m regretting it big time now! Luckily for me, all of the women in Dwight’s family shared their pictures with me.  And…as usual…these are basically just a ton of pictures of the same thing….Jonathan. Smile 

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Esteban

Two weeks ago Dwight and I had to go to Puyo early one morning to get some paperwork from the Judge. We were in the Casa de Fe van when they dropped the kids off at the Special Needs School, so I got out to look around in the classrooms. All of a sudden a little person slammed into the back of my legs and squeezed tight. I twisted around, and it was Esteban!!! Esteban was at Casa de Fe for years, and he left about a year and a half ago. It was SO GOOD to see him doing well! We were kind of worried when his family decided to take him back, because it seemed that they were only doing so in order to receive a stipend from the government. But….he looked amazing. He was dressed so nicely, and he was so excited to see me. He pulled me into his room and showed me all of his art and school projects. Then he pulled me down for a hug, and he just kept squeezing his arms around my neck. I finally had to pry his arms off….best feeling in the world to see him doing well.

A lot of people over the years really connected with Esteban when they visited, so I hope they’re encouraged by a positive update.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Pics From Our Newsletter

  Here is our latest newsletter for Dec 2011/Jan 2012. The pictures aren’t working well within the newsletter, so I’m putting them on the blog as well. Read the newsletter for details! **Revision: I edited the link above, and here’s another one to try if that one doesn’t work: Newsletter

 

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Check out that pile of sugar on his cookie!

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Day with the Maestros & Families

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Tati & Jonathan on New Year’s Eve

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