Merry Christmas from Ghana

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How the Lord has blessed me with a life of distinction! As I take the narrow gate, this beautiful and heart-breaking existence, I look back, remember, recall, celebrate the many colours and emotions of my journey… and what a journey!

 Thank you to all those who have helped me along the way. There has been so many divine meetings in my life – friends for life, and friends made for only a small part of the journey, but I can honestly say it has been a privilege to know you all, and to have shared in your great hearts and gifts. And thank you for sharing with me! The humble traveller.

As the year draws to an end I can only look back with genuine joy, and yet some sorrow – for this has truly been the greatest year of my life; so much love and discovery, the greatest adventure of my days – and I am sad to see it all fade behind me; immortalised in pictures, magic moments; so many tales yet to be shared. But never forsaken. Never forgotten. Forever cherished, as I cherish you all.

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With children in the backstreets of Ho, Ghana.

My adventure in Africa has been nothing short of life-changing. I have seen so much, given everything I have, and have NEVER experienced such beauty in humanity. What a blessing to see so much joy and love still alive in the world, and from a people who have so much less than they deserve, and yet so much more than we could ever know in our world of vanity, false love and material. I have been humbled, enlightened, and cannot wait to share my story with you all over the coming months.

2016 has a lot of promise for me – and a lot of change… one way or another. And let it come! Let the Journey continue… into the greatness of the beyond.

The gift of a child is priceless.

I tell you to love this beautiful world, and it will love you back. I tell you to embrace this beautiful world, and it will embrace you back. I tell you to not run from who you are, who you were born to be, but run into your existence open and full and ready to rejoice in the light of the world… a light which has never been put out since the very creation itself.

I stayed in this beautiful orphanage in Kpando, Ghana, and had my life changed by the beauty of this world. Upon realising the orphanage had no funds to celebrate Christmas, I sent around a few messages and emails to friends and family, and in just a few days we managed to raise almost seven-hundred dollars! I was blown away by the response! Totally unexpected, given the short-notice. And so the children have had plenty of delicious food, fizzy drinks and all sorts of luxuries they would never normally have, and a Christmas day I hope they remember fondly. They even hired a marquee, bought new church clothes, and have some money left over to help them with school supplies for the coming year. Once again my faith is restored.

Here is a little message of Christmas joy and silliness from me and a couple of the most adorable children I’ve ever met, from Ghana, with love.

May God bless you all.
Merry Christmas.
James XX.

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44 Comments

      1. So grateful I had found your blog sir. Reading this gives hope and enlightenment. Of all the bombings and killings happening in different parts of the world, thanks for making me realize that there’s still hope for humanity, and after all, IT IS A BEAUTIFUL LIFE. I’m so glad to know someone living life the way it should be. I hope I can do something significant in the life of others too.

        “I tell you to love this beautiful world, and it will love you back. I tell you to embrace this beautiful world, and it will embrace you back. I tell you to not run from who you are, who you were born to be, but run into your existence open and full and ready to rejoice in the light of the world… a light which has never been put out since the very creation itself.”

        I love those lines.

        Thanks for bringing us in the places you’ve been as we read your blog. Have a safe and wonderful journey! God bless!

        Reply

        1. You know what Rachell, thank you, I must say it. I am grateful for the very same thing. Travel has taught me to put my trust back into the world – proven to me there is still this light and hope for humanity. I come from quite a devout Orthodox family, who, although while being very supportive, instill a lot of fear about the modern world as they believe we are in “End Times” … well, whatever times we really are in all I can do is live. I’ve made that decision. And that is what we should all be doing. Live each day as if there are a million more to come. I even read this sentiment in the Bible somewhere, words of Jesus, that never fail to enlighten me. Thank you for reading, Rachell. For blessing me. May God bless you. James x

  6. Thank you for reading from my blog. I deeply appreciate what you’ve set down here in words and images. So much beauty, so much need. The beauty and need often extant together in the same person or place. We learn from you. Thank you for the teaching. Happy New Year!

    Reply

    1. My pleasure. And thank you so much for such beautiful and thoughtful words. Life is wild, the very existence of it all sometimes just blows my mind; such energy and diversity. So much feeling, and experience, often leaves me exhausted, but I regret not a single decision I’ve made, not a single hand I’ve held, smile I’ve seen, not a moment I’ve fought to create, capture. And it’s such a blessing to share the world with so many beautiful, Godly souls. Thank you for your comment. Happy New year!

      Reply

  9. You have a beautiful heart, James. You will be an inspiration to many. 😊 Just wondering, there’s no like button in your posts. I read a few but couldn’t find the button to click ☺️

    Reply

    1. Thank you. A good one, I hope 🙂 You know, I took it off a while back. I got annoyed one day when people kept liking my comments on their blogs rather than taking the time to reply, and I just thought it was such a sad state of human affairs that even simple exchange of words was becoming too much for people. So I instantly purged my site of all like buttons in a kind of epiphanic movement. I have thought about putting some back on… maybe I will. Quite possibly I won’t. There’s nothing quite like a few heart-felt words to brighten somebody’s day. At to that idea I stand firm. 😉

      Reply

    1. I am happy… and a little sad. These experiences are truly wonderful – hands, smiles and faces that leave a weighted imprint… which is what makes leaving so hard, especially when you know they want you to stay. Life can be beautiful, so beautiful and so raw. But this is a place I have been happy.

      Reply

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