Little Ester Adventures

This is going to be a short one b/c the others have been so long and I didn't do much different today. At the advice and consent of my supervising attorney I took the morning off… it turned out I took most of the day off. I needed to get caught up on the sleep so I slept in. Then I needed to figure out how to finally get some money and go to the store. We are not advised to use credit cards anywhere other than at ATMs due to security reasons. So, not knowing how to get anywhere I called over to my supervising attorney's wife and asked her directions to the closest ATM and grocery store. To make a long story short she decided to drive me around and we ended up going to wrong direction on a 10 mile freeway without any off ramps. So I left the city today and saw a brief moment of countryside (which is much more poor than in the city). I took some quick pictures but we were so busy trying to find our way back that I didn't get any good ones. My job on the trip was to take care of their little adopted African girl Ester. Ester has a very sad story. Sister Westerby (the lady I was with) volunteered at an orphanage a few months ago. One day the manager asked her to take little Ester home because both of her parents had died within 2 months of each other. No one really knows how the parents died, it is presumed from illness. Ester tested negative for AIDS, but she too struggles with health at only 10 months old. So when I got her to smile sister Westerby was very pleased. The story is that while Sister Westerby was tending Ester, her Son and his family came to visit them. They fell in love with her and are now applying for the adoption. It is a happy turn of events for such a tragic beginning. So I got to hang out with Ester as we traveled around Accra running errands for both Sister Westerby and myself. I didn't mind and actually enjoyed the time with the little one. It did make me a little homesick for my own little Syd. But also very grateful for how healthy my little girl is. I did get some looks from the locals when I was walking around with Ester. I am not sure if they have feelings about interracial stuff yet, but the one lady who boldly asked if Ester was my own seemed almost envious that she was being adopted by Americans. I could have read that wrong, but that is just the feeling I got. But I don't think even she was envious of having lost both parents at 10 months old.

Well I found my new favorite part about being in Africa. All the cheese comes from France!!! It is very expensive, but I have found stuff I never found in the US. That will keep me smiling for a few more weeks.

My bag finally showed up tonight. It seemed to be in good order and nothing was disturbed or missing. I was thankful for that.

Well here is a some pictures from the day and a video of little Ester.

Love you all,

Jeff

This one was taken on the 60 mph freeway. These ladies had just set up shop here.