3 Weeks to Help The Rescue Mission

In less than 3 weeks I will be in Accra, Ghana at my own personal expense and valuable time away from my day job.  The only reason I am doing this is to help others.  There are some things in life you learn of and then cannot simply sit by and do nothing.  In this case, I have to do something to help these children get their lives back.  I am hoping you will feel the same way.

I need your help in raising at least $500 now to hand deliver to the good people on the ground in Ghana who have been expertly solving this problem for years now.  You can  watch my video below for more information. (See the lengths I will go to to help move this along?!  Subject myself to video!  That's got to be worth something! :-)

If you are able to help, even a little, I encourage you to consider two quick reasons to donate now:

1.  LEGITIMACY

Bridges To America Inc. is a legitimate organization that is recognized by the IRS as a 501c3 tax exempt organization.  So what?  This means that your donations are fully tax-deductible but more importantly you have the assurance that our non-profit operates under the requirements and purview of the federal government and that the funds are used for the stated purpose.  I put in LOTS of effort and money up front to get this status precisely to facilitate trustworthy transactions so we can help more people.

2.  50% MATCH CHALLENGE

If you need more incentive to help NOW I am willing to personally match 50% of whatever you donate to any current 501c3 organization you dictate. 

Here is how it would work:

• Once you make your donation you send me an email at adam@bridgestoamerica.org and tell me to which organization you wish me to make a donation;
• I will then personally donate 50% of the amount of your donation by the end of 2012. Sooner if I can swing it but I don't want to over-extend myself;
• I will send you confirmation email of my donation to your chosen charity once I am able to make my donation.

Example:  Sally donates $100 to Bridges To America.  Sally sends me email asking me to donate to Susan G. Komen Foundation.  As soon as possible but before Dec 31, 2012 I personally donate $50 to Susan G. Komen Foundation.  I send Sally a copy of my donation receipt via email.

**Please  note: If you are able and willing to make your donation to Bridges To America without this matching challenge you have my full thanks.  My funds are very limited but I am willing to do this because of my strong belief in this effort and need as many people as possible to donate NOW.  And sometimes we all need a little extra incentive.  Consider this your extra incentive.


I am happy to answer ANY questions you may have about this effort and encourage you to call me 1.415.203.3763 or email me anytime.  Sometimes it's hard to cut through the fog of dishonesty and fraud in today's world but I am doing whatever I can to ensure that you are comfortable with who we are and know that your funds are going to great use.

Thank you!

Rescue Mission: The Fishing Children

Our mission at Bridges To America is to reunite African families and assist them in living productive, independent lives.  Our work normally involves bringing families together in the USA but we have recently decided to collaborate with another non-profit called Kids Helping Kids.  This organization was started when a 10 year-old boy named Tyler Page saw a documentary about Fishing Children on Oprah called "Sold Into Slavery."  He decided to do something about it.  You can see this amazing story via the link below.

http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Sold-into-Slavery/1

Five years after seeing this compelling story, and tens of thousands of dollars raised, Tyler, his mother Laura Page, and their team from Kids Helping Kids will be visiting Ghana for the first time in March on a rescue mission to try and free 10 children from modern-day slavery.  Because this story is so touching and the opportunity so compelling we wanted to join them and they graciously have allowed us to go.

We will spending our own funds to get there but we have been requested to raise $500 to give to the local group in Ghana whose mission it is to stop this child slavery once and for all.  This $500 will keep two children out of the nightmare life of these Fishing Children for an entire year.  The focus of these extraordinary efforts is to rehabilitate and reintegrate these children into society as healthy, educated, functioning children.

We at Bridges To America are thrilled to be able to participate and contribute to this great cause.  We invite you to join us and give whatever you can to literally help save the life of a child.

Stay tuned for updates, including photos and videos, from Ghana and this exciting mission.

Update from the Egbukonyes

The Egbukonyes were reunited in the summer of 2010 thanks to the generous support of our donors.  After 1.5 years in the USA I wanted to get you all an update on their status and progress with their new lives here. 

Dickson and Vivian are truly happy people and their zeal for life here in the US is contagious.  I have been in touch with Dickson regularly and can tell you that he is a genuine man who desires nothing more than to provide for his family.  He and Vivian both have worked hard to acquire skills so that they can earn enough money to be independent.  They both have obtained their Nursing Assistant Certification and Dickson has been working at a convalescent home. 

However, recently Dickson hurt his back and has been on disability unable to work and earn money to cover his rent etc. but in his true nature he continues to believe in himself and God that all will work out for the best.  I know he is right.

Below is a slightly edited update directly from Dickson.
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"DISABILITY" IS NOT A PLEASANT CONDITION OR A GOOD EXPERIENCE TO ANY PERSON IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCE. NOTWITHSTANDING, IF YOU ARE PHYSICALLY INCAPACITATED TO PERFORM ACTIVITY AND DOCTOR RECOMMENDS THAT YOU STAY AT HOME, THEN YOU HAVE NO CHOICE THAN TO ACCEPT YOUR FATE.

IN MY OWN CASE AS A BREAD WINNER, BEING ON DISABILITY HURTS DEEP BEYOND THE MERE PHYSICAL PAIN ON MY WAIST AND RIGHT LEG, IT'S THE MOST TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE FOR ME AND THE NEGATIVE EFFECT CUTS ACROSS MY ENTIRE FAMILY EMOTIONALLY, FINANCIALLY AND OTHERWISE.

NOW AS I STAY AT HOME ON MEDICATION, I PRAY AND HOPE TO RECUPERATE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ON THE OTHER  HAND, I ALSO CHOOSE TO SEE THE POSITIVE SIDE OF SITUATION- AS I HAVE  TIME TO HELP MY KIDS( DESTINY AND DUKE) LEARN TO READ, WRITE AND PLAY LEARNING GAMES, I ALSO DEVOTED TIME TO TELL THEM SOME INTERESTING BIBLE STORIES AND EVEN BABY-SIT AND DO A FEW MINOR DOMESTIC CHOIRS ON OCCASION WHEN VIVIAN(WIFE) WAS OUT ON JOB SEARCH.

THOUGH STAYING AT HOME WILL NOT PAY MY BILLS BUT I GOT TO FIND HAPPINESS WITH MY CHILDREN RATHER THAN BEING WORRIED OVER MY PREDICAMENTS  AND THE BILLS, I MEAN THE THOUGHT OF IT IS EVEN MORE AGONISING THAN THE REALISATION THAT I AM INCAPACITATED AT THE MOMENT.

MEANWHILE, I DRAW MORE SOURCE OF JOY INTO MY HEART WHENEVER I GO DOWN MEMORY LANE AND FLASH BACK TO THE RECENT PAST OF MY LIFE, TO THE POINT WHEN I JUST MIGRATED INTO THE UNITED STATE OF AMERICA WITH MY FAMILY: VIVIAN, DESTINY AND DUKE, THEN DESTINY WAS 3YRS WHILE DUKE WAS BARELY 4 MONTHS OLD.

THEN WE WERE REALLY LIKE SOME FRESHERS FROM A DIFFERENT WORLD WITH NOBODY AND NO SPONSOR, SO WE WERE MORE OR LESS HOMELESS. TO PUT THINGS IN A MILD EXPRESSION,  WE REALLY STRUGGLED TO SURVIVE. WE WERE  PRAYERFUL AND THANKFUL AS WE ASKED GOD FOR HIS MERCY AND GUIDANCE.

WITHOUT A JOB, A PERMANENT SHELTER OR A CHOICE MEAL, I AM GRATEFUL TO GOD FOR USING THE CHURCH AND THE ORGANISATION CALLED THE "BRIDGES TO AMERICA" TO  PROVIDE SUPPORT AND OUR BASIC NEEDS.

HOWEVER, IN DECEMBER 2010  BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I WAS ABLE TO ENROLL FOR THE CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT CLASSES, I DID THE STATE EXAMINATION, PASSED AND GOT THE LICENSE AS C.N.A

MIRACULOUSLY WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE CHURCH  AND "BRIDGES TO AMERICA" I RENTED AN APARTMENT AND SHORTLY AFTER I MOVED IN, I GOT A JOB IN A CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL AS A NURSING ASSISTANT. I LOVE MY JOB AND CARE FOR MY PATIENT PASSIONATELY.

I WORKED VERY HARD, MOST TIME I WOULD WORK 16 HOURS EVERYDAY TO KEEP THE FAMILY GOING AND I SAVED UP SOME MONEY, PAID FOR VIVIAN'S TUITION FEES. SHE TOOK THE CNA CLASS, SAT THE STATE EXAMINATION AS WELL, AND PASSED WITH A CNA LICENSE IN DECEMBER 2012.

AS FATE WOULD HAVE IT, I WAS WORKING AS SUPPORTING THE FAMILY UNTIL JANUARY 14TH WHEN I INJURED MY BACK AND INCAPACITATED TO PERFORM ANY TASK HENCE MY DOCTOR ADVISED I GO ON DISABILITY FOR NOW.

MY WIFE (VIVIAN) IS CURRENTLY SEARCHING FOR A JOB TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY, DESTINY IS ON PRE-SCHOOL AND WILL BE 5 YEARS IN APRIL. DUKE IS 22 MONTHS OLD AND LIKE HIS BROTHER, DUKE IS SMART. HE CAN READ AND POINT HIS FINGERS TO ALPHABETS CORRECTLY.

THIS IS A SUMMARY OF MY STORY AND TRUE REFLECTION OF OUR CURRENT STATUS IN OUR STRUGGLE IN AMERICA.

WEEPING MAY LAST BUT FOR A NIGHT BUT JOY COMES IN THE MORNING.
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I am touched, as I hope you are, at this great man's heartfelt desire to get back on his feet and make the most of his opportunity in our great country.  Please post your comments of encouragement and I will make sure Dickson will see them.  If you are able to donate anything to help Bridges To America help the Egbukonye family help themselves please do so.

Thank you!