The Ghana Experience, Episode I

For the past eight years, my wife and I have joined others to teach 11-18 year-old girls in Polished Girls (a youth mentoring group), how to become meaningful, strong, decisive young leaders. Last month we took the girls on a  mission trip to support students in country of Ghana through a backpack campaign. Through the generosity of many, we were able to finance the trip and give approximately 300 backpacks full of essential supplies to students attending three different schools (K-12).  

This video was produced by my daughter, Trae Mitchell, a rising senior at Enloe High School. Her life along with the lives of the other girls and members of our delegation was impacted forever by the enthusiasm, resiliency and positive attitudes of the students they encountered in Ghana. Trae is producing a series of reflections from each of the girls. 

In addition, she will be chronicling our ongoing campaign to partner with schools, school districts, organizations and individuals here in the US this year who might be willing to assist the schools we have adopted in Ghana with:

1. Backpacks and school supplies

2. Structural renovations including bathrooms and roofing, etc

Perhaps you may have some ideas or interest in working with us in the coming year as we prepare for a return trip next summer. If your organization, school or family would like to adopt a school or provide support or encouragement, E-mail me and let's begin the conversation.

What has amazed me is that though we may have given small gifts to the students in Ghana, we received something much more valuable and greater in return:

HOPE.