I have been blogging 2-3 times a week for two years this month. That is until recently. Let’s just say March got the best of me and I needed some time to rest and regroup. Now that I’m rested and my head is clear, I’m ready to find, make, create, redo, and turn some trash into treasure. I know, totally cheesy but you know when you’ve been out of sorts for awhile and finally get your mojo back you just feel good!!!
I am kicking off my return from the dead by participating in The Father’s House Freedom Fest tomorrow night!! Arts, Crafts, Food, need I say more!?!?!?! Actually I do need to say more! This is an amazing opportunity to support enslaved youth in Ghana. Please read more about this awesome organization.
Two area-nonprofits, Leadership Link and The Father’s House, will host the fourth annual Freedom Fest, an international outreach event to raise funds for enslaved youth in Ghana.
The story behind The Father’s House goes back to 1999 when longtime friends Jeff Miller and Matt Garrett met a pastor from Ghana named David Banini at a religious conference. After becoming friends with Banini, Miller and Garrett traveled to visit him in Ghana.
“My husband didn’t even know why he was going.” Tammy Garrett says. “He actually swore he would never go on a foreign mission trip.”
But something called the men back to Ghana, and after several years and trips to visit the country; Miller suggested that the group build a house. Tammy remembers that Miller imagined it as a house for school aged kids.
The Garretts and Millers received a bigger surprise when they began thinking about purchasing land. Pastor Bernini called and said that without knowing about their project, someone had donated seven and a half acres of land on the beach near his church.
The group started construction on the land, hiring workers from the area to support the local economy, but they still had no idea who the house was being built for. Then one day, Tammy did an Internet search and learned about child slavery in the fishing industry on Lake Volta, located a few hours north of the newly built house.
Across Lake Volta, over 7,000 boys ages 4 through 14 are enslaved in the fishing trade, according to the Garretts’ website.
“Traffickers go to needy mothers saying. ‘I have a wonderful opportunity for your son.’ They say they’ll help him learn a trade and get education, and then buy the boy for roughly $20 U.S. dollars” Tammy says.
In January 2011, the families worked with a Ghanaian schoolteacher to rescue eight of the enslaved boys, who now live in the house, named The Father’s House, and are given shelter, clothing, food, and a private school education.
The mission of Freedom Fest is to raise money for these children and others that the organization hopes to free once the eight boys have time to adjust and heal. (Taken from The Herald Weekly, Kaitlin Roberts)
I will be there selling my Button Bird Designs goodies and would so love to see you. Actually I just want someone to talk to because I always feel so silly standing at a booth trying to sell my stuff. So please come support this awesome organization and help me feel not so uncomfortable. Thanks!
Friday, April 12, 2013 5:30-8:30
Journey Church 15711 Brookway Drive, Huntersville, NC 28078
Hope to see you there!!!!
My name is Angela Statzer and I love to incorporate just about anything into my artwork. Ranging from recycled materials, vintage items, wood, jewelry, other people’s junk, buttons and fabric, my style is fun and diverse. You can find me smiling at any yard sale, thrift store or flea market. I am a momma to two amazing kids and wife to one hot husband. 
