Just about 3 years ago on my first trip to Africa - We visited several different orphanages around South East Ghana. Starting in Accra and traveling to places near by, to be with the children and deliver Glyconutrients. It was a life changing adventure and literally things that took place on that trip have still, 3 years later, impacted me, my family and friends.
While in Ghana Suzann and I, with the rest of the team, visited a governmental run orphanage in Accra where we met many wonderful children. One in particular who's story amazed us. Suzann was the first to meet him, while I on the other side of the playground was meeting his brother Juan. Suzann asked this young boy if he spoke English and he replied "Oh yes, and I also speak French and Spanish" - In utter amazement Suzann and Santiago began an incredible conversation about how he ended up in the orphanage and where his family was from.
Since we were only able to stay there for a short period of time - Suzann got his email and started corresponding almost daily, learning more about his past and his present life.
This continued over the next year but unfortunately Santiago's brother Juan had been fighting Malaria and been sick with it many times, it had weakened his body. On July 21st, 2005 Juan passed away. We were all very saddened and missed Juan terribly. At this point Suzann and I discussed Santiago's future in the orphanage and decided that Suzann should adopt him.
It has been 2 years and finally after many trips to LA for immigrations, home studies, figure printing, paper work upon paper work, we finally got Santiago over to the United States of America on June 20th, 2007.
It has only been 9 weeks but so far this has been one of the best summer yet. In the first 2 weeks of Santiago arriving, he saw so many things he had never seen before in Africa. Including a trip to Best Buy that I think blew his socks off. Our friend Joe bought him a little IPod so he immediately fit in :) We took him to the movies, clothes shopping, out to dinner, swimming, all the things we take for granted that he had never experienced before.
Around Forth of July took him with our friend Rachel on a road trip to Snowmass, Colorado where we got to hear from some of the best motivational speakers in the world; including Les Brown, Jack Canfield, Michael Gerber, John Gray and many more. It was an experience we will never forget. I can tell you Santiago in a 100 years would have never imagined sitting on the side of a mountain watching the best speakers and incredible bands over three days of excitement.
So the journey has began and as we travel more around the world as a team, we envision helping thousands of people just as we have helped Santiago create a better life for himself.
I look forward to sharing more of this journey.
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