When Esther heard of her “adoption”, sponsorship: hopelessness and suicidal thoughts vanished and one can see a brighter future.
Her smile says it all.
Esther in her nursing school uniform, the beginning of her dream profession, August 2016.
Esther graduated high school in Ghana with her dream of pursuing a nursing degree. She had worked hard to achieve her certificate. She sat down with her father to discuss her next level of education with joy in her heart and beautiful smile in her face.
Esther did not finish her sentence and her father told her, he can no longer afford to look after her to continue her education. Esther was confused and sad to hear the news from her own father. She could not believe the same fate that befell her older brother has also happened to her. Without an education, Esther would be forced to marry as a teenager or remain unemployment for the rest of her life. She was not ready to do either. With nowhere to turn for help, she had no choice but to look for menial job or laborer. She got a part time work helping to sell food, making $8 per week, all of which goes to savings towards her nursing program in the future. At this savings rate it would take Esther at least the next 5 years before she can come up with her first semester’s fees.
During a mission trip in 2016, Dr. Ankamah met Esther and I realized some heavy burden is upon her. I asked her what is bothering her, she looked at me and tears started to fall like rain pouring. After consoling Esther, she gathered courage and revealed to me for the first time she had felt to commit suicide. This is because she lost all hope in life for failing to get the financial assistance from her father to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. She informed me that she has been home for the past 4 years, unable to attend college to further her education because of financial support from her father. Stories like this are far too common and the future generation’s hope is diminishing every day. Majority of the youth are being deprived of the basic right to an education. Many of the youth who are the future leaders of most of these developing countries have resorted to social vices including prostitution, burglary, arm robbery, terrorism and many others. As an Evangelist, God placed on my heart to pray with Esther and intervene in her life before it was too late.
With the support from many people like you and with your kind heart in collaboration with African Neighborhoods and Medical Missions, Inc., USA and Good Samaritan Medical and Rehabilitation Missions (Ghana), a project titled SPONSORSHIPS OR “ADOPT” A CHILD was started in Ghana. Thanks to those initiatives, Dr. Andrew and Mrs. Margaret Ankamah have taken the lead to provide Esther and others with full sponsorship “adoption”. Her annual tuition is rather inexpensive when compared to a student’s costs in America. We put into place annual sponsorship plans allowing one to “adopt”, meaning sponsor a child or a student. So far, Dr. Andrew and Mrs. Margaret Ankamah have sponsored (“adopted”) ten children and the number is growing. The goal of this project is such that no child is left behind in Ghana, the entire Africa continent and all developing countries around the world. It is the mission of this non-profit organization that every child gets an education irrespective of financial background no matter where they were born or where they happen to live. Upon graduation, these students would also “adopt” or sponsor at least one child and the cycle of giving back would continue worldwide. This is an excellent program to give someone an education and a bright future and the memories and gratitude would live on for years and to make it a better world for all humanity. Jesus taught us that “It is more blessed to give than to receive” Act 20:35 (NIV). There is much need, so please reach out or donate for this worthy cause. God richly bless you.