Far from Home: Ghana

Imagine that you just received the opportunity to travel from your home in Ghana to the U.S. to participate in a Master’s Degree program. You’re excited to move overseas and learn more about your chosen career. Your husband sends you off knowing he will see you again in a few months. You arrive in a new country – and find out a week later that you’re pregnant.

That’s the situation Stella found herself in as she had just settled into life at the University of Memphis. She had no family in town and knew only a handful of people from her school program. Stella went Women South Clinic to confirm her pregnancy, and they told her about One by One.

We matched Stella with Grace, a One by One mentor and coordinator at Second Presbyterian Church. Grace says she and Stella had an immediate connection. They began meeting during Stella’s pregnancy and have continued since her baby was born in January. Stella is so appreciative of the opportunity to talk with an experienced mom and listens to her questions and concerns as a new mom. She says, “Grace has been a blessing to me. She has been very helpful and extremely supportive in providing me with information and being there for me anytime I need to talk to her.”

Stella and Grace often attend church together. Stella says, “We go beyond mentor and mentee as I am able to pour my heart out to her anytime. She also prays for me and wishes the very best of everything for me. My son and I love her so much.”

Even though Grace serves as a coordinator for One by One, it’s been a couple of years since she has mentored a mom. She says after hearing about Stella she felt the Lord was opening a door for her and that her time with Stella has just been really sweet. Grace says she and Stella text each other daily and meet every 2-3 weeks. Grace says Stella and her son are doing really well. Stella is working hard to care for her son while studying and working as a graduate assistant. Her husband has received a VISA and is hoping to be able to visit soon. Stella will return home for the summer break where she can introduce her precious baby to the rest of his family and receive love and support from them before coming back to Memphis to finish her degree in the fall. We’re so thankful for the relationship Stella and Grace have built and that One by One can provide Stella the support she needs while she is here.