First Email From Drew

MAY 13 2009

mom mom momma mom mom. hiiiii. I am at an internet cafe in Bolgatanga,
about 30 minutes drive from Wulugu, where I live. I'm sitting right in
front of an air conditioner and it is maybe the best thing that's ever
happened to me. The air conditioner I mean. It's soooo hot all the time.
And there's nothing I can do to get away from it. My host family has a
fridge where they keep water cold, but something terrible has happened in
that fridge and the smell is awful. I don't understand how they don't
notice. Anyways, what I was getting at was that usually the cold water
isn't all too great of an escape from the heat, cause it tastes like what
ever the fridge smells like. So once a day I walk the thirty yards or so
to the center of town and treat myself to water that is cold and does not
taste like nasty fridge. It's wonderful.

haha anyywayyy. I've been to my orphanage in Guabuliga twice now, just the
last two days. It's about a 15-20 minute ride on the motorbike down a
pretty bad dirt road. Guabuliga is a very poor town. Wulugu is also a very
poor town, but there is a big difference even between the two. Guabuliga
is just so isolated. There are 45 orphans in a very small building, that
is actually an old abandoned Roman Catholic missionary of sorts. The
trouble is, right now they are at risk of being closed down at anytime
because it is not their building. This is not too big of a problem though,
two former volunteers are coming in september to help build an orphanage.
It is not run like anything you'd imagine: Issifu, my host father,
basically runs the place from Wulugu. There is an old man who volunteers
as a care taker, and an old woman who volunteers as a cook. That's all
there is. They seem to be dependable, but it is hard to tell. The
orphanage in Wulugu also has a cook and a caretaker, but the SYTO(the
company I am with) volunteers who are actually living at the orphanage say
they have never seen the caretaker, and the cook only a few times.

I had finished this email once before, about half an hour ago, and just as
I was about to send it the network went down. I had a draft for the first
part, so that was lucky. But now I don't remember what else I was saying.
haha, afriiicaaaaa.



Anywho, the main purpose of this email was to tell you more about how you
can help. It costs about $350 USD to feed the 45 orphans each month, if
they are to have three proper meals a day. With Issifu(my host father) as
their only provider, they can't really manage this. Issifu does a lot and
the SYTO volunteer support is a huge help, but it could certainly be
better. I thought maybe through your training you might be able to get
something going. Or not even through your training, but just because it is
a good thing to do. I can't organize people from here, as I said, the
internet is unreliable and 30 minutes away. I know people can't just give
money away right now, but every little bit can help. We have a biiig
helpful family with lots of kids in scouts and schools. If we were to get
a school to sponsor an orphanage here, or several schools to sponsor
several orphanages here, or scout groups or whatever, that would be sooo
huge. I know it sounds like a lot, but I think with some effort we could
really get something going. I realize there are a lot of bussiness issues
that go into it.. and I don't know anything about that. But anyway, it
doesn't have to be something huge like that. Even just a fundraiser to
feed the orphanage for a month would be huge. Or maybe you really stretch
and go to food companies and they sponser the orphans eh?? haha. I know
you'll be able to come up with something mom, and everything helps. I wish
I could do more than be the messanger, haha. I just get to sit here and
relax with a bunch of kids everyday, even if it is hot and the water is
smelly. Don't feel pressured or anything, the kids are not starving, but
they could be doing better and it would be nice to take some weight off
others' shoulders if we can. Like I said, the SYTO volunteers in Wulugu
are buying food and shoes and clothes for the orphans, they didn't know
they would need to do this, but you can't just say no after being here.
There are not many looking out for these kids. Tommorow I will be taking a
few into the hospital in Walewale to have these big infected sores they
have treated. Anyway, do what you can, don't worry. Issifu said to tell
you he loves you haha, it doesn't sound as weird when he says it. He is
excited about anything we can do to help. I love you mom, I am doing well
and I hope you are too. So long for now.



drew