photos finally

I need to give credit to Kat Jacoby for most of these photos so thanks Kat
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lKhXwxQIwEM4I-xl0miE_NQPL6oRGVpuO9bt7lNuz7kpq3vsQtVrYUpEPGaK03ZF9DSaQSHt_Cm4QzAsLO05FytnB2kNj_Jo-ZioK8JSOCXPu1zJ2udqvaYwTRm-3SPi2lHAvtK6qYs/s1600/DSCN0187.JPG">

wow

OK so with one year to go in my service I feel as if I am just getting started. Its a good and bad feeling but really if one wants to make a difference in a community then become one with the community is important and I can say that I am one with my community. Officially I am not a newbie anymore since the new group has been sworn in as volunteers this is nice to think about but I shall do my best to help them in the way that others have helped me. I don't want to ramble on and on but mainly just wanted to throw out some thoughts about how I have changed over the time that I have spent in Ghana. I have learned patience in many forms but still adhere to appointments even if I am the only one who does. I live in the present and enjoy the little things about life that most people take for granted this is something I have been working at for many years but it is nice to apply to a new culture because there are so many little things that you would never take note of if you are a tourist verses living in a country like Ghana. Well I will wrap it up and say that I miss everyone and think about home a lot while I am doing well staying healthy and safe constantly meeting people that I can call friends.

Peace, Love, and all that Good stuff

Austin

hello

So I just wanted to say hi. Things are going well the new group of vols are here and will become official next month. I am doing well a little sad that Ghana didn't win the cup but I am glad that Spain did. Life is good I hope that everyone is enjoying the summer I miss pools but its ok. I will put up more photos when I get a good connection, but mainly just wanted to say hello to everyone and let you know that I think about you all when I am not reading a good book or hoeing. So I will continue to be safe and I hope you will too.

Peace, Love, and all that good stuff,

Austin

Festival

So this was me dressed up for our local festival. Also some local dancers.

wow 1 year

So I cant believe it has been almost one year now that I have been in Ghana. Time does fly so fast. So an update on whats going on I have been working to get a tree nursery going and things are coming along quite nicely and hopefully people will take to bee keeping but we will have to see about that. I am healthy as usual and doing plenty of reading. All in all life is good I miss everyone but try not to dwell on things like that it is apt to make you go crazy instead I just enjoy life and live it as best as I can. Hope everyone is doing well and know that I am always there in spirit.

Peace Love and all that good stuff,

Austin

Goats and a dragonfly

Its not all about goats and dragonflies but here are some pictures of them. I just want to say that I am well and healthy. Things are going well I am working on bee boxes so that people will have another source of income but first I will test the waters with one box so that I can see how many people are interested. I am also making a tree nursery in that I hope to nurse 15thousand trees for the community but we will see how many seeds I get and go from there. I would like to thank everyone for always asking of me, I am always thinking about everyone. I hope all is well back home I know jobs suck right now but if you have the need to see somethings else then join the Peace Corps I mean why not. Well I am sorry for not being as recent as I have been in the past with the blog but the internet is not always working and sometimes there is just not enough time to do anything besides check email. I wish everyone the best and can honestly tell you that this is probably the best thing I have ever done so far.
Peace Love and all that good stuff
Austin

So last month another volunteer and I planned a soccer tournament to help educate for HIV/AIDS. We were able to use all of our testing kits enabling 150 people to know their status which happened to be negative for all 150. We also had videos playing for children to watch and a lady living with HIV to come and talk with everyone. I am proud of everyone who helped and I consider this to be a success for HIV/AIDS education. I started out being a ref but soon realized that I could not be official enough for the teams and I respectfully let one of the nurses take the job. This was just the first of I hope many tournaments I will plan but volunteers have been using soccer to educate for many years so I am by all means not the first. Maybe next time I will be playing for the home team.