About Us

How it all began

          When I left Africa I knew I would achieve my goal of making a difference and this is the letter I wrote - As I sit here, my last night, I have the door opened and the evening rain has settled the dust. The neighbor is playing African music as night falls and I have to say it is quite peaceful. I want to thank you all for your kind comments and for sharing this journey. I encourage any of you to volunteer and donate your time as I have, anywhere in this big world. I have been fortunate to travel to many places to see and feel what it is like around the world. This has become a major part of who I am and how I think and feel. As I was asked earlier by a local, why would I, a white person come so far away to see black people's culture. When I answered back that our world is so beautiful and I want to learn as much as I can about other cultures, and really the only thing different is the color of the skin, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. I have seen and heard stories that will be difficult for me to share, but they form who I am and what actions I can take in the future. I have seen amazing love, kindness, traditions, vulnerability due to poverty, poverty like you may have never seen. But beyond that is incredible beauty that reveals itself, especially when you are of an open mind. My free spirit loves the traditions, culture, fragrances, textures, sounds, and above all else, the people.
 
A few tidbits I have learned:

           One of the first things the men taught me was their handshake, forgive me if I mistakenly do it when I shake your hand next time. 😊 There were times I think they tested me to see what I knew and if I was really taking it all in. The traffic is controlled simply by speedbumps and a horn honk. Drivers have different honks for a friend, warning and passing. I learned to trust John, my driver even when my eyes were not always certain. Power outages are common and when the fan is not on, it is hot, even the locals get hot. I can’t wait to get home to shower and shampoo in a real nice shower with warm water and plenty of it flowing from my nozzle. What a luxury we have.

          The best banana I ever had, came from the roadside stand and his farm was in the back. That and the pineapple and mango will be missed. Humidity is great for the skin, but oh my hair is curly!! The locals love you to wave when you go by and they light up something special. Just something about the life that comes to when you speak or acknowledge them. The mannequins are all white. I wonder if they have ever noticed that. I played Double That, Double This with the children about 10,000 times. And I would play it again if asked. Even they cheered when I got it right. The government funds the school and the girls must wear their hair short in order to attend. Keeps it clean, and no time, nor money is spent grooming it. On Wednesday two teachers brought me lunch from the village and while we are not encouraged to eat food outside of the home base, I did enjoy lunch with them simply using only my right hand as they do. Two staples were served and this amazing sauce that I think the men thought would be too hot for me, but alas I loved it. These two male teachers are a blessing to the pupils (they are called pupils vs students) and parents should be blessed to have them in their children’s lives. I certainly was.
 
           28% of the population of 70,000 citizens live below poverty of less than $1 a day. Imagine a world where you know nothing about Starbucks or McDonalds. Everything I ate was grown and raised by local farms. They respected my vegetarian diet too. They don’t drink pop, eat very little sweets; my dessert each night was mango or pineapple.

        If you have read all of this, thank you…I hope we can all bring some kindness to each other and lend a hand to others regardless of who they are, where they are from and what their belief is. The older I get, I desire this more and more. To love each other without judgment.

Much love, Madame Akos
(because I was born on a Sunday that is my name for the children and they used it) 

The people and hearts of Hub N Spoke