From Ghana to the U.S.: Growing the Joy2theWorldFamily, A Word From Kathleen Gibbs

 It was a very long trip to the U.S.—longer than I remember! But I was warmly welcomed by my gracious host (and sponsor), Linda Pilcher, who provided a resting place and transportation to every event on my calendar. 🙏A big thank you to La Porte Rotary for the opportunity to present Joy2theWorld via Zoom. I’m especially grateful to Rick Helton and Derrick Meadows for making it possible. Zoom has its pros and cons… maybe someday the great tech gods will work out the kinks! 
It was wonderful to reconnect with familiar sponsors like Susan Passmore, Mason Peres, Brenda Thompson, Crystal Redden, and Terri Cook. I even had the chance to catch up with friends during my time in La Porte.
A special moment was presenting to North Shore Rotary during their lunch at San Jacinto Jr. College. Several amazing members signed up to sponsor students—thank you for your generosity! I also had the joy of visiting old friends, especially PDG Bill Palko. That meeting sparked a hopeful conversation about the potential for university education in the U.S. for our seniors, opening new doors to lifelong learning.
My final stop was at the La Porte Chamber of Commerce—short but sweet! Thank you to Jess Martin (President) and Meagan Weaver (V.P.) for allowing me to share our mission to end poverty through education. I even reconnected with Dr. Walter Jackson, Superintendent of La Porte ISD, and an old friend who once taught our staff and seniors via Zoom. I guess Zoom can be a good thing after all!
And of course, last but certainly not least, thank you to First United Methodist Church (FUMC). I was honored to revisit and share stories from their unforgettable trip to Ghana years ago. It’s largely because of these members—their sponsorships and relationships—that Joy2theWorld exists today. Alongside many other generous sponsors, their support has helped take children off the streets and into classrooms where they can reach their dreams. We are forever grateful.
Special thanks to Dr. “RevKev” Gilmore, who led a team of 13 to Ghana in 2017. As he introduced me to speak, he wore his “Ghana shirt” proudly! Back then, we had just 125 students. Today, we serve 395. RevKev is planning to return with a team of 10 in September and has committed to join our Board of Directors. We are honored.