Happy New Year

Dear Friends,

In all honesty, I feel sad as I sit down to write this letter. Like many of you, COVID-19 has delayed and rearranged our plans many times, and I am having to give an update of the girls and The Yellow House without having stepped foot in Ghana for two years. 

As with all things, there is a silver lining to this. It is reassuring and wonderful to know how well Eight Oaks functions in Ghana without Ted or I physically present. Our staff is beyond competent, and the girls are continuing to thrive. We thank God for our cell phones that allow us to video chat with our friends across the Atlantic. Their faces are framed in pictures around our house, and although he doesn’t remember the trip he took as a one-year old, our son Lewis frequently asks, “when are we going back to Ghana?”. 

The older girls are finishing middle school and will start high school next year–can you believe it? Their homework is advancing in difficulty and they are officially young ladies, looking to the future and making plans. We are continually grateful for the location of The Yellow House–situated right by a college campus where they have seen women pursuing higher education every day for the past eight years. Most of them will have the chance to see their families this Christmas. We are happy about this opportunity and the work of our social welfare officers (Jennifer now, and Destiny before her) who have maintained these relationships via lots of phone calls and several trips to Yeji. 

I realize, of course, the irony of feeling “sad” about this letter, as we have nothing but good news to report. My only complaint is the lack of in-person visits, something that we will hopefully (prayerfully!) have remedied by this time next year. 

Until then, thank you for the donations, the prayers, the offering of time and talents, and for asking about how the girls are doing when we see you. 

With love, joy and gratitude—on behalf of Dina, Lucky, God’s Way, Sarah Sr., Richlove, Regina, Sarah Jr., Gloria, and our staff—

Ted & Ellie Kriwiel 
Founders

Donations can be made online or via mail: 
P.O. Box 8366 
Wichita, KS 67208

Top Row, L-R: Lucky, God’s Way, Dina, Richlove
Bottom Row, L-R: Regina, Sarah Jr., Gloria, Sarah Sr.