By Beth Berman
I am back in Ghana at the Bishop Forson School Complex for my second year in a row. Last year I was focused on the work I had to do and to just getting a lay of the land, so to speak. Little by little over the 10 days in Kpando, I started to get to know some teachers and students to the point where I felt I was developing a relationship with them.
At the end of the trip, I decided to sponsor two children, Kpebu Bright, age 11, and Khaly Richard, age 15. When I said goodbye to them last year, my heart was divided. It was joyous for the time we had spent together but sad for having to take my leave. This past year I wrote each boy and sent packages to let them know they were in my heart and in my thoughts, even though we were miles and continents apart. I reminded them in my letters that we always were looking at the same sun and the same moon, even though from a different vantage point.But the perspective we shared was a love for each other.
As we drove toward BFSC this year, I could barely contain my excitement over returning and upon seeing Richard and Bright walking toward me across the school field, my heart just burst with glee. After spending the first few days with them at school and working in the classroom, I decided to take them out to lunch in the town, an opportunity they never get.
As I was traveling in the cab with Richard and Bright, I felt a deep sense of contentment spread over me. I was back with my African children, back with their sweet smiles, their gracious ways, and their deep searching eyes and inquisitive minds. Those beautiful eyes reflected back to me my ever present searching for what my purpose on this Earth is. One clear answer is the raising and loving of my three children, Leslie, 24, Ali, 22 and Jeffrey (who came to Ghana with me last year), age 18. Secondly I know the work I do as a psychologist is also my calling. But sitting there with Richard and Bright and soaking in the amazing experiences I had last year and was again having this year, I knew that my third purpose on this Earth was to form a partnership with this community in Kpando, and specifically at BFSC, and particularly with Richard and Bright.
The best part about working with the kids here is making them smile. For the past five weeks I’ve been working with four kids from stage three who were very far behind on reading. We started out with the alphabet. The first two weeks went very slowly and I was easily frustrated. The kids didn’t always listen to me and they never did the little homework that I assigned to them. 
Next Mr Forson took us down the street to meet the actual students who reside in the community. We met parents and students, and were introduced by Mr Forson. We said a few words about how happy we were to hear that the school is making a positive impact on the community, and then heard from a few of the students. Mr Forson translated for us. The students thanked us, said they were happy to have a school like that to go to, and explained that that now they go to school when it rains. Given how often it has downpoured since we have been here, I’m thinking those rainy days could have wiped out a good portion of the school year.
