Ghana Family

As most of you know my two little brothers are adopted from Ghana Africa. The day they got home was the best day of my life. My eyes were opened to a love that I never had before. How could I love these little boys who I had never met? The first time I saw a their picture, I experienced such a connection and a longing to love them and help my parents care for their needs.  Most of you know them as Kofi and King. When my two precious brothers got home the realization set in. No more waiting, no more hurt, no more loneliness, no more neglect, they were ours-they were family. The minute I got to hold them and love on them it felt like all of the weight lifted. I loved them, it was simple. And that’s just the beginning of one crazy story. But this isn’t just an adoption story...

As far as we knew, they were the only children in the family, and their father had passed away. For that reason their mother could no longer care for them. But as time went on and the boys’ English got better, their story began to unfold. They didn’t talk much at all about family at home in Ghana but with 4 years and carefully timed and thoughtfully asked questions, we would come to learn that Kofi and King were not the only children in their family. In fact, they had several other siblings-all older. We were troubled with this news for many complicated reasons but we couldn't do anything about it.

A few years ago, out of the blue one day, my mom got a friend request on Facebook by a guy named Michael Boggs. This interested her so she clicked on the request and up popped a picture of our family! She was confused as to who this was because we don't have a family member named Michael. As she kept scrolling she found pictures of a young man who said he was from Ghana. During her search process, she received an instant facebook message from this same boy who friended her named Michael. With the very little English he knew, he began to introduce himself and we later found out that he is in fact, the boy’s biological brother and he was 16 years old. This began a friendship as we would message back and forth giving limited updates on the boys and family here and my mom would ask questions about Kofi and King’s family in Ghana in order to try and piece together their story. We would come to find out they have 3 older brothers ages now approximately 18, 19, and 22 plus their mama.

We have learned through trusted sources we made while in Ghana on my parents three prior trips and two years of conversations and our relationship with Michael that this family's’ needs are many. Michael and his brothers were not able to afford to go to Senior High School (the equivalent of our high school). The brothers mostly fend for themselves trying to sell things to make enough money to eat. Their mother grinds spices and makes the equivalent of 15 cents A DAY to feed herself. Also, she was born with a deformed foot that limits what she can do to earn enough to feed herself.

 After learning that Michael had a strong desire to go to high school my parents began supporting him and now pay for his senior high school fees. It has been such a joy to see him flourish in school. He sends us his report card each term and his English has improved so much. He is now facebook friends with each of the Boggs family members and we all message regularly.

In Ghana, the family everything. In fact, Michael named himself a Boggs’ on facebook and calls us his family. It is common in Ghana for grandparents to live with family until the day they die. When Michael’s father passed away from an illness, they were immediately thrown into such a tragic loss of everything they had known. The children who were in school had to drop out. The older boys did what they could to find things to sell but it was not enough. Eventually, the father who died-his family came to claim the home they all were living in and they were forced out.

After two plus years of relationship with Michael, praying for him, the brothers and mama, our family said “WE CAN DO MORE!” We began to brainstorm about what if God has more in mind for this family. We learned that brother Anim wants to be a cab driver but has no way of attempting such a dream as he has no car and no way of working to get a car. He would also need to move closer to the capital Accra to be able to find work for driving. Brother Foster wants to be a plumber. In order to do so, he needs to get the training to do it and be able to move to an area that could support plumbing jobs for him. Mama is currently staying with relatives and has alway sacrificed for her boys to be able to give them whatever she had.

 After much prayer, we have decided that THIS SUMMER my mom and I are going to Ghana. We are working, saving, and raising money to meet the needs of THIS FAMILY-OUR FAMILY.  It is a delicate situation with Kofi and King here and them there but we are compelled to do all we can to help make a difference in this family.

Life is too short to sit back and wonder about them. To wonder what would happen if we poured our life, prayers, money and resources into making a difference in the lives of Faustina(mama), Anim, Foster, and Michael. If they only knew how wide, how long, how high and how deep is the love of Christ (Ephesians 3:18) and how far reaching is the Father’s love that he would stop at nothing to reach them. And to let them know they are valuable, loved and can be difference makers themselves in Ghana.

We are asking for you to pray about partnering with us in helping meet these needs of this family. Specifically, we are raising money for a used car for Anim to drive for his taxi service, for Foster to train to be a plumber and the necessary expenses to do it, and for both to perhaps relocate in order to be successful. Michael wants to be a police officer and will need help in his post senior high school to be able to attend police school. I am not yet sure what we can do for Faustina. I am praying as we approach the summer that it will become clear. The one thing Faustina-these boys’ mother has been able to give them in her life has been the strong foundation of her faith. These boys are worthy of your help! Like Kofi and King-they are the sweetest, most humble and kind human beings who have been raised by a godly mother who has passed on to them the only thing she had which was her faith. Faith in God that he would provide for her and her children no matter what, that he could be trusted, and that he LOVED her children even as she did.

This will be an amazing experience to be able to meet the brothers and to spend time with Faustina-Kofi and King’s mother. I have so many questions. My mom has met her but I have only seen pictures of this woman but I feel like I know her. Her eyes are the same as Kofi and King’s. I want to thank her. Thank her for doing what was best for her boys. Her decision couldn’t have been easy.  What an immense amount of courage. What a brave woman. I want to hug her. A piece of the boy's heart was left in Ghana and I want to hold her hand and promise to continue to help my parents take good care of them. It has been four years. Four, amazing, challenging, eye opening, years since my family was completed. God has made so much good out of a difficult situation and we have so much to be thankful for.

Thank you for joining us in prayer for this family and hopefully partnering with us to help meet their needs. I can’t wait to see how God works to do what only he can do to create the ripple effect across the world in helping many.

With Love and gratitude, 

Annie Boggs


Mom and me