This is a written testimony by one of our young ladies who is aging out of the Home. In the story we have changed her name and purposefully not shown her face to protect her identity.
My name is Akuea. I am 18. I was a former street child who has been transformed into a new vision by the help of Hearts for Ghana Mission. All thanks to Pastor Della and his humble team for being a conduit for God to do such a marvelous transformation in my life. And all glory goes to God Almighty and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I was the third child of a single mother of 5 children. At age 9 we were homeless. I never knew my father. My mother sold items in the market but, because we had no home we all slept on the pavements around the market. Looking at the situation, there was no hope coming – no love, no care, just taking care of myself. So, at the age of 12, I engaged in prostitution just to earn some money for myself because my dream was to be educated and become a midwife. So I enrolled myself into a school.
I became addicted to drugs and had to stop school so I could concentrate on my “newfound job.” I got paid Ghc20 ($1.50) each time a man slept with me. Deep down within me I wasn’t happy that I stopped going to school. All the while I wasn’t staying with my mother because I had moved in with my friends who were also into prostitution.
Early one Sunday morning we received an invitation from one of the members of the HFGM team to join them in fellowship. We did, and at the end we were given food. I was very happy to join them, not because of the Word but because of the food. That pushed me to join them every Sunday morning. Some of my friends stopped coming to the Sunday morning meetings, but I told myself to continue because of the Word that is being shared each week. That’s when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Now I come to the Sunday morning meetings not because of the food but because of the Word!
The team saw my dedication and decided to add me to the group they were sending to Akosombo Home. This was the best thing that could have happened to me. In the beginning, staying in Akosombo was a bit difficult for me but, to God be the glory, I was able to stay. Staying at the Home helped me to have a stable life and a place I could call home. Also, much help and guidance were given to me by the late Mr. and Mrs. John and Esther Gozo (both of blessed memory). Now, no more prostitution and no more bad character. In fact, words cannot explain it. Christ touched my heart and I committed myself to Jesus Christ and got baptized. I was enrolled back into school starting from Primary 6. I have now successfully completed Senior High School and am waiting to enter college to pursue a degree in nursing. Oh!! Lord God, I am so grateful!!!
Now I have a new family. I pray to God Almighty to grant me the strength to be able to go through my studies so that I can be of help to others for Christ, just as Pastor Della and his team, HFGM, did for me while I was left in the street.
Thanks Pastor Della and HFGM Team!!!! I really appreciate it all. God bless you and your team.
As a 12 year old street child, Akuea was involved in drugs and prostitution when she came to our HFGM Home. She has graduated from high school and is looking to enter university to pursue a degree in nursing. Despite her tumultuous past, Akuea has shown incredible resilience and determination to commit her life to Christ. She has overcome numerous obstacles, including addiction, abuse, and exploitation, to pursue education and build a brighter future for herself.
All people who have given to HFGM played a part in Akuea’s story. All to the glory of God!
As she prepares to enter Nursing school, Akuea faces a new set of challenges. Please pray for her. Akuea is aging-out of the HFGM program. She will be looking for sponsors to help with Nursing School costs. She has begun the application process and is receiving guidance on choosing the right school.
As she waits for acceptance letters to arrive, this wonderful young woman reflects on the multiple challenges she has overcome. Akuea knows that entering a Nursing school will begin a new chapter in her life, full of opportunities and possibilities. With determination and resilience, Akuea is ready to seize those opportunities and create the future she could only dream about before!