The Kiddos

One of the best parts of my experience in Ghana has been my time at Beacon House and my time with the kids at my school (where I teach story-telling and creative art in an hour we have deemed "IMAGINATION STATION")

So, after many requests - I thought I would post some pictures of my kiddos with a few short stories about them.

Enjoy. I know I always do.


This little one came to the orphanage exhausted and unresponsive, in all likelihood from Malaria. Now, only 3 weeks later, she is a happy-go-lucky ridiculous child. Beacon house is incredible. When I walk in the gate at Beacon House she runs to greet me giggling and kissing my knees. I can't kiss this little one's forehead enough times in one visit. She also demands I sing the song I made up for her EVERY time I'm there. It is basically me saying her name in tons of silly ways... over and over again.

This little lady disliked white people a great deal when I first started but now... now I spend at least 20 minutes every visit to Beacon House picking her up and putting her down because she is attached to my knees as seen above. She is also a big fan of peek-a-boo and boop da' nose.

Love of my life. This little girl is one of the funniest kids I've ever met. She is always spraying me with water and running away, renaming me cool things like "Elastic" since Alexis is too hard to say. There are no x's in Twi and that creates problems for kids (and adults sometimes.) She loves to hold back her smile as long as possible, making me beg for it. She lights up the room. I'm not sure where she got the burns on her face and the rest of her body, and honestly it doesn't matter because she's happy and she's beautiful and that's all I need to know.

This lil' miss thang is a pistol. She is one of the most striking young girls I've ever seen. She's a string-bean with a big smile and bright eyes. It is a challenge to keep her from climbing me like the neighborhood jungle-gym but I just remind myself that it's a GOOD THING she is comfortable enough with me to consider my body playground equipment.

Maxwell. Maxwell is one of my best students. I'm not sure what he is dealing with in terms of a learning disorder, but he is definitely a child who would be a special education course in the States. The teachers at my school told me when I first started that he was "sick in the head"... I have no idea what that means. As the weeks have gone by and I have given more and more special attention and encouragement to Maxwell he has become a more and more enthusiastic participant in story time. I don't think anyone thought he could participate in this activity - but I insisted he give it a shot. Low and behold he tells some of the best stories every week. He also gives the best hugs. You go Maxwell.

Desmond. Desmond is one of those kids who makes you laugh every single time he opens his mouth. He is a sweetheart. My favorite Desmond moment: I drew a random squiggly line on the board and asked the kids what they saw - tons of kids yelled out rope. Not even a minute later Desmond starts jumping up and down with his hand in the air "MADAME ALEXIS I KNOW I KNOW!" "Ok, what do you see Desmond?" "A ROPE!" I imagine that is what I was like in school as a kid - totally consumed by my own imagination and thoughts and thus oblivious to the contributions of my classmates. ha

When I first started Imagination Station Comfort wouldn't even look me in the eyes. She wouldn't tell a story. She wouldn't draw anything during Creative Art. Last week Comfort was the first to jump into the story-teller chair and the first one to shout out her ideas for our shapes on the board. I couldn't be more excited to see such a marked change.

Richmond. Sweet Lord. Richmond is my favorite. I know I'm not supposed to have favorites... but I absolutely do. This kid could make you sick to your stomach he's so sweet. Hugs my knees like it's his job. His raspy voice little man-voice coupled with his VIVID imagination and long, detailed stories every week make me melt . He was the first to tell a story, on the day when no kid would even try. He saved my first day at the school. And now, he finds a way to make every shape in creative art into a picture of me and him together. I adore him.

This is me with the class... they always want me to watch them draw. And then they still rush up to show me their finished products.

Life is good. Kids are incredible.