Happy Days, Fútbol Nights

Having our very first meeting this past Friday, assimilating our Ghanaian and American based Della teams, gave me a strange but enchanting sense of future nostalgia. I saw in front of me significant accomplishment and growth just from my trip to the Della facility in Hohoe 6 months prior; this is only the beginning ~ A pretty awesome scene. I can’t wait to see all that we will accomplish, not only in the next two weeks of this trip, but also how far we can expand this year alone. Just seeing our Della team nearly double in size since last visit visually represents our growth and success.

Happy Kids Orphanage was our next stop. I had been anticipating seeing all the kids again and hearing them chant, “TINA! TINA! TINA!” as they run, hug our legs, and the small kids jump into our arms.  (They are still learning my name, but I was super surprised when nearly 5 of the kids remembered my name!! That was pretty heartwarming). The kids led us to the soccer field where we played games, took photos and just hung around for a few hours. It’s always so relaxing and rewarding to play around at the orphanage after a hard day of work. At one point a group of kids joined hands to play a game with one person in the middle trying to get out. Since you’re not supposed to let go to avoid being sent to the middle, a little boy in the circle decided the game was more important than keeping his oversized shorts up. He just stood there holding hands and laughing with his pants at his ankles!! Funny moment of the day award.

Ghana was playing Mali in a match of the African cup that night so we took a tro-tro to Malezia, the local hot spot, where the match was playing on a projector screen with dozens of chairs set out under an awning- previously a dance floor. When we arrived, the place was jam packed with people buzzing about the game and joking with friends. When the match began however, it was all business. Making the experience that much greater, Ghana won the match 2-1 and with each goal the crowd launched from their seats and screamed like banshees. Chandler was almost taken to the ground when the excited man next to bear hugged him while jumping up and down. Somehow through all the wild cheering, we turned around to find Capers fast asleep, sitting straight up in her chair! ...Perplexed to say the least. We were all exhausted, but that was awesome. With delicious palm wine waiting for us at the house, we decided to head back. Through the candlelit food vendors and buzz of the crowded streets, we walked home under the hazy sky after another successful Ghanaian day.