Hi Everyone – 

Thanks for following along my journey to and back from Ghana! This will be my last update for this trip, but of course if you want to hear more, let me know, and I’d be more than excited to share about CORM, Ghana, and my adventures there. I am now back in the United States, but the last days in Ghana were such a blast – filled with coloring, meaningful talks about life-work-and-ministry, dancing and singing, graduations, and delicious food. 

FAITH ROOTS INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY GRADUATION

One of the highlights for my trip back to CORM this time was attending the Kindergarten and Junior High School Graduations on Friday. It was amazing to see the support of parents, teachers, and fellow classmates as these young souls proudly walked in completion of a tremendous accomplishment. For several of the CORM kids, this accomplishment is especially great given their late start in school and education. They’re resilience and strength to keep at it and finish well is inspiring. 

Our cutie Kindergarten grads!

So proud of these 18 Junior High School graduates and especially my girl, Abigail Osei – valedictorian!

WORSHIP & BONFIRE NIGHT

Another highlight was the close of the worship training workshop conducted this last week in the form of a bonfire worship night. It was filled with singing and joyful dancing as well as sharing of what God’s been teaching us. I’m encouraged, because sometimes I think my lectures might be boring, but somehow, the kids got a little bit from it! 🙂 

RELATIONSHIPS FOR A LIFETIME

Although my time there was short, my heart is so full from the small moments I gained with people aged 6 months all the way to 60 years. From sharing food to playing Uno to just walking around CORM asking each other questions and hearing life stories, I’m grateful to be a part of this community for so many years. As I reflect on not only this past trip but all the trips to CORM I’ve made in the last 8 years, I feel blessed to see the ways that being consistent these kids and staff members’ lives has given me a small glimpse into the amazing longer term growth each one has had – both in the easy and especially in the difficult times.

All the coloring pages and notes and crafts collected that I will treasure

Me and my (not-so-little-anymore) bro, Malvin, over the many years! 

Kezia, Roland, and Winner showing me they can count. They are inside the City of Refuge Empowerment (CORE) shop and are the children of the women of CORE. CORE is a multi-year sewing & business apprenticeship and education program for at-risk single mothers as part of CORM’s child-trafficking-prevention efforts. They made my cute new purple outfit and some custom bags for me this time around 🙂 You can check out more of their items here!

Last family dinner in country ❤

CONTINUED PRAYER REQUESTS

• For CORM to continue growing in its sustainability and accountability across things like funding, staffing, and operations 
• For my adjustment back to the US (physically, mentally, and emotionally) 
• For wisdom to know what’s next for me in the way I serve and support CORM

SUPPORTING CORM: if you’re interested, you can join me in supporting CORM in so many ways

• Sponsor a Child: education sponsorships for the many students here at CORM and in the nearby communities are instrumental to support continued growth here! 
   
  Above in the yellow shirt is Awura, who I sponsor! Kezia, Roland, and Winner from the picture in the previous section are all still looking for sponsorships! 
• Interested in supporting our women in the City of Refuge Empowerment (CORE)? Check out their Etsy Store
• General Donations to CORM
• My dear friend Autumn Acheampong, who I accompanied back to Ghana this time, is the CORM Education Director and still raising support for her journey 

I’m also super grateful to all of you who have read thru my updates – your prayer support, simple texts, and encouragement have really helped me feel connected and fueled to love and serve well. Until next trip back to Ghana, thank you! 

Romans 12:4-5

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Love,

Mindy

Wednesday, July 02

Hello and happy July from Ghana! 

Full Days: Worship Workshop, Graduation Prep, and Comms Strategic Planning

It’s been a pretty full few days – full of laughter, foods, worship workshop content, coloring, and bug bites! The focus of my time this week has been the worship workshop, prepping for the coming graduation, and working with Stacy (CORM Founder) and Autumn (Education Director) on CORM’s Comms Strategy to supporters. We finished the worship workshop yesterday and will be having a bonfire worship night this evening after dinner! 

Final day of the worship training workshop included “Communications and Team Work” — we played the Human Knot game to demonstrate how both are super important! 

I went out with Madam Justina (FRIA Assistant Principal) and Paul (CORM Media) to get some supplies for the graduation and we found boba! 

Recruited some of the younger staff (previously CORM “kids” – Moses, Doris, and Valentina) to help me make grad leis for Friday

Daily Life

In between sessions and meals, we’ve been doing lots of coloring, eating snacks, friendship bracelet twisting, clothes washing, changing drum heads, sports, and just hanging out. As usual, below are some pictures to show more of the daily life we live here. In some ways, a lot has changed since my longer stay in 2019, in other ways, it’s the same! 

It’s been amazing to get to know the new kiddos but also catch up 1:1 with the ones I’ve known for years. There are even a few staff members I’ve had the chance to hang out with at night – and some of them I knew when THEY were still “CORM kids” back in 2017. Hearing their stories has been such a great blessing and reminder from God that He really is faithful and blesses us in ways we can’t always see til we look back. 

Reconnecting with my birthday twin, Abigail, is such a joy every time. we calculated that I’ve officially known her for half of her life!! (8 years out of sweet 16) we had a great 1:1 convo yesterday under the breeze and shade of a tree

“Aunty Mindy, please, I want to color!” –> the phrase that gets yelled at me the most

Shin ramen with chopsticks for late night eats with Valentina, Sir Ernest, and Doris

Drummer boy Mark and Kofi excited to test out the new drum heads lovingly packed by Kevin Wang

Education & Sponsorship

It’s been amazing hearing about their education journeys too – here at the Faith Roots International Academy (FRIA) or when they go out for Senior High or University. If you want to sponsor a kid through school or here at CORM, check out CORM’s sponsorship page.

I’ll be pretty busy til I leave later this week with the upcoming Junior High School graduation, so I’ll check back in after that! 

Acts 2:42

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Love,

mindy

Sunday, June 29

Hello from City of Refuge Ministries in Ghana! 

I’ve made it into the country and have been here for a couple days but what a packed few days it has been! 

We landed on Thursday early morning in Accra, and after gathering all our luggage with the exception of one of Autumn’s, we headed out to City of Refuge Ministries. It’s amazing how much the smell and sights can flood my mind with memories and deep feelings of another place I also call home. The heat of the sun, the gentle breeze, the smell of the red dirt but also the goats and chickens running around, and of course, the warm sound of the kids and staff greeting us! 

After getting settling in and unpacking, we started quickly with prepping for the upcoming worship training workshop for the week! Friday night was the opening worship night followed by Day 1 of workshop sessions on Saturday. I am teaching “Worship as a Lifestyle” and will continue to do so on Day 2 (Monday) and then a “Communications and Teamwork” course on Day 3 (Tuesday). 

For today (Sunday), I had a wonderful time at church worshipping Jesus with singing praises and dancing with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength!! And in between all the activities and events are moments of good 1:1 and small group conversations, sitting quietly underneath the shade of the trees, braiding and twisting young girls’ hair, and sharing foods across the nations. 

I’ve also had such a blast living with a new friend and roommate, Aunty Vanessa (“aunty V!”). It’s her first time in Ghana, but she’s so wonderful with the children and is learning and loving all the things about Ghana and CORM! 

Please continue to pray for:

• The continued learning and excitement of the kids and staff on what it means to really worship God 
• Wisdom for me to continue knowing how to best serve, love, and make a difference in the lives of the kids & staff at CORM
• the upcoming graduation of the Junior High School (JHS) kids 
• my little friend and other birthday twin, Abigail Osei! 

So many praises and stories, but it’s almost lunch time, so here are some photos worth a thousand words and memories.

Arriving at the Accra Airport with Ava and Jace!

My awesome roommate, Vanessa, trying FanIce for the first time [my personal favorite dessert in Ghana]

Activity during worship night showing different ways we can worship God

Birthday traditions at CORM – shower the birthday girl/boy with water to show how much you love them. I feel VERY loved today

Me and my girl Hannah ❤ Have known this sweetie since she was a youngest and now she takes care of the children’s ministry kiddos! 

Box chicken has left CORM with Sir Stephen (for those following from 2023), but there are still plenty of chickens running around! 

Every day and morning is beautiful here – even if some days are hot and some days are filled with rain. 

Thanks for reading, and I’ll be checking back in soon!

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

– Deuteronomy 6:5

Love,

Mindy

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Hi Everyone (from Washington DC)! 

It’s been a travel-and-Acheampong-family-filled 24 hours for me. As you may know, one of the main reasons I am heading back to Ghana this time is to support my dear friend, Autumn Acheampong, by traveling with her and her 3 kids – Ava (5), Jace (3), and Lily (10 months) – back to Ghana. We definitely will have our hands full! 

I spent a day in their new home near Raleigh, North Carolina, just hanging out with the kids and with Autumn and Richard, who won’t be joining us this time. After loading two different cars with 3 large boxes, 6 bags, 3 carry-ons, 4 backpacks and 2 car seat bags, taking a short-warm up flight to DC, meeting up on another volunteer – Miss Vanessa – we are finally hopping on our flight to Accra, Ghana, soon! 

Left to Right: Jace (3), Ava (5), Lily (10m), and Miss Mindy!

All the amazing supplies and music equipment I was able to bring thanks to your support!

On our first flight from Raleigh to Washington DC! 

On our flight to Accra now! Next to me is Miss Vanessa who is journeying to Ghana for the first time! 

SUPPORT INFORMATION: 

Your prayer support for…

• safe travels with all the kiddos and that they would sleep well on the flight
• for me to continue mentally and spiritually prepare for the time in Ghana – i’ll be reviewing some worship and music workshop curriculum on the plane and also sleeping! 
• for joy and restoration of my soul

Financial support: 

• Autumn, a director of CORM, and her family are still raising support for their journey back – if you’d like to support, please donate here

Other resources: 

• To learn more about City of Refuge Ministries, check out the CORM Website!
• If you’re being forwarded this email but would like to get a few updates from me directly, you can sign up here

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
     He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name’s sake.-Psalm 23:1-3

Love,

Mindy

City of Refuge Ministries: Prevention. Intervention. Restoration. Education.

In the last 3 months, I’ve been a part of this family of broken humans made whole by God’s love and the hands of His people here. While there are always challenges and struggles when imperfect people get together, looking past immediate difficulties towards a bigger calling is a cool lesson to experience. Trust me, watching a kiddo grow from being silent and afraid of others Day 1 post-rescue to experiencing freedom and calling out “HI!!!!!!!!!!” to me from across campus every morning he sees me is worth any swollen egos and swollen mosquito bites. And listening to a kiddo truly understand that Jesus died for his sins and conquered death because God loved him that much is worth any miscommunication, homesickness, and actual sickness experienced.

Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.

Galatians 5:1

There is still so much more to be done, and it can seemoverwhelming sometimes – wanting to save the world and everyone in it. But somethingI’m continuing to learn is taking things one step at a time. I can be present.I can work hard and serve others wherever I am. I can stand firm in whatever Ido as a child of God. I can live life with purpose.

How we view ourselves at any given moment may have very little to do with who we really are… define yourself radically as one beloved by God… Every other identity is illusion

Brennan Manning, Abba’s Child

If you want to learn about CORM and its ministry, feel free to message me or click the link to their website to read more stories and how you can support us!

Prayer requests: blessings for the last few days I have left with CORM this trip, for my next leg of travel, and for continued guidance on post-sabbatical life

So what did I do this past week and who have I been hanging out with? Check it out.
(P.S. since I got so many questions about fufu, I added a short video of us pounding fufu for our Easter celebration meal)

Now for the golden faces of some of our kiddos and lyfe @ CORM…
(I have a lot more photos, so definitely ask me to show you when I’m back)

https://youtu.be/AmJt1H_4JNI

https://youtu.be/Uka5OXoJLYo

See you with my next post! In the meantime, I’ll be soaking up my final 3 days with these beautiful faces ❤

And so is serving God and others with no expectation of return. That’s something I’m learning a lot about here. Making physical fitness a part of my lifestyle is easy – it’s the emotional and mental fitness that I’m working through.

The lovely women here (Stacy, Jammie, and Autumn) have been teaching me a lot through their life stories and about the Enneagram, which is a model of the human psyche which is principally understood and taught as a typology of nine interconnected personality types. While it doesn’t explain everything about me, it’s been really helpful to read through what motivates me, how I process emotions and information, and how I engage with other people, especially when I’m stressed or feeling unhealthy. Learning that deep down I probably have a lot of trouble with pride and credit recognition wasn’t easy… but it has given me freedom to just pause from “doing” and sit before God as a fellow kiddo, enjoying His deep unconditional love for me. While these are all things I’ve perhaps thought about for myself in the past, it’s always good to hear from outside perspectives on matters of the heart and mind and soul.

When you give and expect a return, that’s an investment. When you give and don’t expect anything back, that’s love.

Ian Morgan Cron, The Road Back to You, pg. 125

Also, learning about the other eight types has been really fascinating. I mean, I always knew people communicate and think differently, but I can’t pretend to understand everyone, and the Enneagram helps me be aware of these differences. As for me, while I embody some parts of each type, I apparently have a lot of Helper, and a splash more of Romantic and Performer.

As my time at CORM this trip is drawing to an end, I’m really treasuring every moment I have with the kids and staff members here. And what better way to bond than to be fit together! From hiking and playing football to eating fufu and Cold Stone cereal to growing plants and taking naps, I’m really going to miss living this full yet simple life with CORM.

Please continue to pray for me in the next 10 days or so that I can savor my time at CORM and be super intentional with the kiddos and staff. It’s definitely going to be hard saying goodbye. We also have a new team of volunteers coming in on Saturday, so please pray that they’ll arrive and adjust safely. Thanks for reading!

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

1 Peter 4:8-10

Here are some snapshots of how we make fitness a lifestyle here at CORM:

It’s true – time flies when you’re having a good time. There have definitely been challenges, but the work I do here doesn’t feel like work. Some people have asked me what my day to day at CORM looks like, and it’s definitely a mixed bag. I’ve taught yoga, cooked green onion pancakes, developed org structure and communication training materials, created templates for forms and presentations, tutored kids in spelling, taught radicals and geometry, organized the CORM shop display, washed dishes in the basins with the kitchen aunties, led worship music, showed the kiddos how to make friendship bracelets, and started taking care of a spinach plant.

It sounds like a lot of work, but I’m telling you… I feel like I’m hardly working.  Some days are a little harder than others, but all around there’s a sort of rhythm I’ve found to the life and the tasks given to me, and serving the Lord alongside such amazing friends is so rewarding. I’ve been so blessed by the 3 married couples here – Omorefes, Tompkins, and Acheampongs – from eating rice crispy treats to morning work outs to feeling extra cared for and loved on all fronts, I am learning so much from each one of them what it looks like to love unconditionally and serve God whole heartedly.

One of the staff members here asked me if I ever have time for myself, and actually I surprisingly do (i.e., when I get in 139K steps for last week’s FitBit challenge [which, btdubs, I am never doing ever again]). While days start at 6AM and go non-stop until the evening, night times are quiet filled with journaling, reading, praying, and watching the occasional movie with some other volunteers and staff members (and ofC eating my stash of Asian snax and instant boba and HKMT).

A few things I’m continuing to learn: how to be wise with resting/balancing my time and not trying to do everything, how to accept compliments (so difficult… feels kinda awkos at times), and how it’s okay to ask for help and let people serve and take care of me when I need it (and even when I don’t need it).

Prayer requests: Mercy is back from her surgery and recovering well (taking lots of slow motion videos on my iPhone) but please continue to pray for her to heal all the way. I’m still thinking and praying through “life after sabbatical” and while I still have several weeks, I know my time off is drawing to an end. Please pray that (1) I’ll make time to think about such things, (2) God would show me what’s next, and (3) that I’d be patient in figuring this out. The kiddos are in their last week of school before a term break, so I’m excited to spend the mornings with them as well – so definite praise that God’s gifting me with time with the kiddos before I leave. And as always I could use prayer for physical health to stay strong through the end of this month. 🙂

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

1 Peter 5:10

There’s something about being reunited with old friends that floods the mind with memories. And then there’s something about hitting it off with new friends that warms the heart when human connection is made. This week, I thought I’d feature some faces of people I’ve been hanging out with – from being reunited with a friend from my first trip to Ghana in 2012 to meeting a new buddy from Arizona and immediately tag teaming to roast Brandon about his soft voice to watching Brandon introduce snapchat to Matthew by the water tower to singing lines of songs with Deborah while we tutor the KG kiddos.

I’m also using this post to share about my roommate, Mitchel. We started a GoFundMe for her to raise money to send her to finish her evangelism training in Uganda. Her calling to reach out and serve the refugees of South Sudan living in Uganda. Learn more here! Message me if you have any questions.

Please also considering giving to our other fundraising opportunity for our brother, Robert. This young man has battled severe pain from scoliosis for many years and may have the chance to be healed through a surgery at a great hospital here in Ghana.

Prayer requests: For little Mercy who is in surgery right now, for the kiddos and their exams next week (and then a break from school after!!), and for my health.

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

1 Peter 3:15

Alright, let’s meet some of my friends (also sprinkled in are some fotos from our adventure into Accra this past weekend)!

Earlier this month, I had the amazing opportunity to visit another organization I volunteer with, the Asante Africa Foundation in Arusha, Tanzania. This team is amazing – they work well with each other and across the globe, and are really changing the lives of the kids in rural Tanzania. From after school entrepreneurship clubs to girls health programs to leadership summits, this organization is changing lives and giving these kids the opportunity show their amazing capabilities when given a chance. I was able to visit a few of the after school programs in the Kilimanjaro region and be a part of some org development discussions at the office with the Tanzania team.

While I was there, I got to go on a super awesome safari for a couple days with Albert, who dreamed of having his own Tanzania tour company back several years ago. Albert has also been a part of the Asante Africa Foundation fam for 10+ years and through being inspired to chase after his dream, he now is the director of Discover TZ. If you ever wanna visit Tanzania with a local – he is your guy. Guyde? Guide.

As always, rather than just talking about this adventure, I’ll show you:

The food here is pretty good too! In the regions where I visited, they ate mostly beef for meat, corn/rice/banana for carbs, and these leafy veggies they called “chinese vegetable”. I’m sure it was actually called something else, but… not sure if they told me it was Chinese cause I’m Chinese…

Tanzania is a beautiful country full of amazing creation – trees, animals, landscapes. These pictures don’t even come close to capturing the majesty of it all! Below are pictures from Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara

A little behind on my blogging… but I was busy showing my family around this beautiful country. That included showing them the CORM fam, rich history lessons, trying new things without knowing what they were, buckets of sweat, some loaves of white bread, some free style dancing, and a lot of love. Heart is full of thanks for a family that supports me and wants to get to know this country that I’ve fallen in love with.

Also if you’re ever in need of a super dedicated awesome Ghanaian tour guide, there’s a guy named Jesse I want to introduce you to.

Here’s a mini tour for you:

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them

I John 4:16