Benard & Rapheal. What cuties!

Meet the first two boys City of Refuge Ministries has been able to rescue because of the support they've received from Ghana Rock. These two boys lives have been rocked because of every person who has given finically or prayed for them over the last few months. I am already head over heels in love with these two cuties, and God is going to use them big someday! We cannot wait to see who else God brings into CORM, but for right now... let's brag on Benard and Rapheal a moment :) 


Meet Benard!! 
He is around 8 years old. Benard has been living at Lake Volta for the past 5 years where his responsibilities were to fish and maintain the nets. He went to work for the fisherman after his parents passed away. A few months ago Benard's older sister went to visit him at the lake. She saw the harsh conditions he was living in so she decided to bring him back to live with her in her village near Lalonya (this area is a large supplier of children to the lake, sending communities). Due to lack of money Bernard's sister wasn't able to put him into school after bringing him back to live with her, so he was sent to fish in the lagoon near their village.

City of Refuge knew Benard needed help. When they first saw him, his body showed all the signs of malnourishment. Benard and his sister came back to the CORM Children's Village she signed guardianship rights over to CORM.Since being with City of Refuge he has been to the clinic for a complete physical. He is receiving a daily nutrition supplement and his doing very well. Benard doesn't speak English or Twi (only Adangme - the local language in our area). Benard will be starting school next year, as the school year is almost over in Ghana. He will be a part of a special classroom where all of the newly rescued kids will be learning in a self paced environment so that they can work towards transitioning into new classrooms with the other students at the school.




Meet Rapheal!! 

He appears to be  approx. 10 years old (although he really wants to be 12 :) Rapheal's parents passed away and he was left to live with his VERY elderly relatives. Rapheal was brought to CORM during a community education event - he had been living on the streets for the past 6 months because his elderly relatives were unable to care for him. After further investigations and interviewing Rapheal's guardians we concluded that he was very vulnerable to being trafficked as the community as a whole is a sending community and he was easily accessible to being sold. Before Rapheal's parents died he was living with his mother in Ashaiman and attending school. He is able to speak Twi, Adangme and some English. He is a very bright child and will be able to attend school next year without the help of the special classroom - although extra help will be made available to him if he needs it. Rapheal's physical went well - he is getting some extra vitamin supplements as he is low on iron.

In the pictures Benard and Raphel are holding SAVE A CHILD WATER. These bags of water have a message about the issues of trafficking and the importance of our children having a childhood and a future. SAVE A CHILD WATER company only hires single mothers. Through their upcoming marketing campaign, CORM will be able to educate the people in our area about the issues of child trafficking through local media. How cool is that?


Keep Benard and Rapheal in your prayers as they start to adjust to their new life! Also, continue to pray for the ongoing investigations. CORM is working on the immediate release of 5 children all working under one fisherman. There are also 2 boys working for a fisherman they have been in negotiations with for over a year. Slavery is a huge problem, but thankfully we serve a God who is bigger! 


And in the words of Paul, "To God be the glory, forever, and ever. Amen"


I will keep everyone updated as we get more information!
-Mads