Spaghetti Dinner/Auction Fundraiser - Success!

Thanks to all those who attended, donated, supported or helped pull the dinner together. It was a lot of fun!  We had more people, more gifts, more donations than last year.  It looks like a house is going to be built in Ada!  Also, St. Anne's will be receiving a check.  Thanks again to all who supported the dinner.

Watch for more to come.

Hands For Hope: Spaghetti Dinner/Auction Fundraiser

It's our Second Annual Spaghetti Dinner.  Where?  Roy High School

Why Do So Many Want to Help?

The questions that we ask ourselves over and over as we share our stories of Ghana with school children, coworkers, and friends are best asked by the author of "Three Cups of Tea."


"Here, then, is the source of my wonder and confusion.  Why do so many Americans seem to care so deeply about people who live in a place so far away?  Despite everything that has happened, how can our anger and our fear be transcended so consistently by our decency? And what is it about the promise of educating children . . .  that so often and without fervor, seems to evoke what is best in all of us?"
- Greg Mortenson,
Stones to Schools

Quote by Albert Schweitzer, used in Chapter one of Stones into Schools

"I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve."

We are planning on returning to Ada, Ghana in November to visit the children attending the various schools.  We are preparing to take schools supplies, hygiene kits, letters to the children and backpacks with us.  We are hoping to find schools and other organizations who would like to be involved in our efforts.  We would be happy to come to your classrooms, offices, etc and show you what we are all about.

Swing and a Playground - Generating Electricity!

After raising the money at the end of last summer, we were able to help Empower Playground build a "Merry-Go-Round" AND a swing, both generate electricity and have 150 lanterns that can attach to them to recharge.  This enables people on the island to have light when the sun sets.  This island is very remote with no electricity at all.  We have been working with the children at the schools for the past six years.  Amazing!!! 

We are planning on going again this year at Thanksgiving time.  We are looking forward to seeing the children, working with the schools, the library and seeing our good friends that are there.  We would like to take hygiene kits, school bag kits, flipflops and/or soccer uniforms and shin guards with us.  If you have access to any of these items or have a group who would like to help us, contact us here. 

Video of Empower Playground in Ghana

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76Crbr8s8tM  Last summer we held a Hands for H.O.P.E. Golf-Tournament and had a display at the Ogden Farmer's Market  to raise the money to help build a Merry-Go-Round.  Well, not only did they build the playground but they also raised an incredible swing.  This swing also generates electricity for many lanterns to light up remote areas of Ghana, as does the Merry-Go-Round.  It is so exciting to see what our efforts were able to produce.

Once you see this video, you will agree that the hours that have been volunteered from so many  . . . . teachers and staff from Roy, Utah and  our families, and to all who supported us at the golf tournament.   Just to see the faces of the children as they fly on this swing,  What joy!!

It has been a long time since I have updated this blog.  Sorry about that!!  I have had a lot of things I wanted to post on here, but haven't sat down long enough to do it. 
They letter below is from Calene Lucero, who bravely went to Ghana  - alone - during the Thanksgiving holiday. Her goal, our goal, was to get the library up and running.  She sent this letter at the end of her visit. 

From Calene:

Hello from Bloody Hot Africa,
We have plenty to celebrate. I have the key to the library and plan on turning over the operation of it to the head teacher at the Gorm school. We have had all of the meetings with the electric company and water people. They dug up the road today to put in the water connection to the library. We bought and delivered all of the bikes and everyone in Ghana is joyous.

It has been a busy week but very satisfying and lots has been taken care of. I hope we can get out to see the kids at Pram Pram tomorrow to give them their backpacks and stuff Steph made for them.


Life is good here in Ghana. I am not sure if I will write again because the internet is so frustrating. You have no idea how slow it is. If you want to write do so, but I will see you on Monday. Have a great weekend.

Talk to you soon. Calene