Social Entrepreneur | Empowerment Coach | Co-founder
Sarah Apenteng is my name, SAP for short. I was born in Ghana, West Africa, and raised in Ghana and Germany but currently reside in the United States of America. I am a Social Entrepreneur and an Empowerment Coach. As a quintessential woman, I have always had the natural proclivity to inspire, so with my founder JESUS CHRIST, I co-founded 4E- International Foundation. An NGO which seeks to ENCOURAGE, EMPOWER, EQUIP and help young women EXCEL in various fields of desire to make a positive impact in society and to also serve as a patron to orphanages in Ghana.
Growing up, I always yearned to have both parents living together with me but unfortunately or perhaps, fortunately, my dad traveled to Europe in search of a better life before I was born, so I didn't have the experience of living with both parents for a very long time till 2002 when I joined them in Germany, which was a dream come true after trying for about four years. Looking back now I wish I had never reunited with them together under one roof (a story to share some other time).
In 1997, the only parent I had living with me, also joined her husband before my 9th birthday (no more birthday celebrations for me), leaving me and my younger sister to live with a cousin. My sister later went to live with our grandmother after we left our cousin, and I went to live with my dad's cousin. The separation wasn't easy but we both survived it. I was about 11 or 12 years old when I moved to live with my uncle (from dad’s side), whose wife didn’t like my mother for very weird reasons, so you can imagine the treatment I'll be getting there. I lived with them for a while until one night my uncle attempted to touch me in strange places. I knew what could happen if I didn't leave the room immediately, even at that age because of what I had heard him do with the house helps that stayed with them and suddenly left, to the point where some even got pregnant for him. I will not bore you with the details of that story, because I was able to escape that night on the streets of Spintex road, barefooted and never came back to that house after I left for school the following day, till I came for my stuff with another relative from my dad’s side, a few days after. How I wish I had lived with that particular relative the moment my mum left to join my dad, for I believe without an iota of doubt, looking back now, that my life would have turned out far better than it did, yet in all of these, I thank GOD for bringing me this far.
What were the biggest initial hurdles and how did you overcome them?
I experienced a lot of pain, felt rejected and abandoned with all the experiences life served me, and simply didn't know how to handle it all, which caused me to make so many terrible decisions, leading me to be with people I didn't want to be with, accepting treatments I knew I didn't want nor deserved, simply because of how they made me feel. For about 16 years, I was trying to fill a void in my life that ONLY GOD could fill, and it took the birth of my beloved son to finally actualize that truth. For sixteen years I allowed myself to endure abuse, misuse, betrayal, self-judgment, neglect, and abandonment from people I believed I could be vulnerable around and also thought loved and cared for me, till 2019 when I found out I was pregnant with my baby boy, my miracle and blessing, that I had the biggest awakening and turnaround of my life. It took that experience to bring me to the realization that I had to START LIVING for MYSELF by making decisions that were in favor of ME and not the people involved. For years I was living to please people so they wouldn't leave my life. I simply wanted to be loved and cared for by the people in my life, which will not always be the case and that is perfectly fine.
The birth of my son gave me the biggest wake-up call of my life, to LIVE for ME first before I think about others because I needed ME whole before I could be there for others to give my utmost best to them and also understand that it is very okay for people to leave my life. They may leave for various reasons that mostly have nothing to do with me. You don't have to be liked or loved by everyone you encounter to be relevant. I went through a lot during the pregnancy, through till delivery where I almost lost my sight completely, but JESUS, once again came through for me, ooh how I LOVE that man. Being pregnant for the very first time, in a foreign land with little to no support at all, was never an easy one but I believe, GOD wanted to teach me how I needed to stop living for others, putting my trust in human and depending on the connections or people I thought I had/knew, and rather learn to TRUST and DEPEND solely on HIM. I have come a long way, learned so much, and still learning so much more and I come to the conclusion that: GOD is more than enough.
During that season of my life, I had to make some tough decisions, so I decided in the latter part of 2020 to discontinue any relationship that wasn't helping me in any way but placing my life and that of my child in danger of losing it and focus on channeling my energy right and making the very best out of my situation, focusing on my son who was born with a rare genetic skin condition called Epidermolytic Ichthyosis and later diagnosed with hyperinsulinism hypoglycemia, which he had to be on medications for treatment. According to the doctors, his condition was a result of the stress I went through, which had quite a toll on him as well causing his sugar levels to be unstable (my baby went through hell! but again GOD came through).
By GODS grace and mercies, my son is alive and doing very well, though the skin condition has no cure according to doctors. I know a much better physician who will do what HE does best in HIS own time and way as HE has assured me severally, which is all I'm waiting and trusting HIM(GOD) for, for my baby, though not easy some days.
What advice would you give to an upcoming youth or talents locally and internationally?
To every young person reading my story, no matter where you are in the world, or which stage of life you are currently in, PLEASE seek GOD for yourself. Like David, seek the mind of GOD concerning every situation and stage of your life, before you take any decision regarding your life, allowing HIM to direct your path to the right people and places. Find your purpose and live your life unapologetically and respectfully, according to GODS will for your life.
HE never promised us a smooth ride but HE sure has said in HIS word {Matthew 28:20b}to be with us till the end, if we will learn to do as HE has said. Involve HIM every step of the way because HE is a real gentleman who will never force HIS will or way on us. Follow your dreams prayerfully, face your fears, and demons head-on, and never run away from any challenge you encounter because you will surely come back to fight them one day, which will cost you more. Acknowledge every stage you're in, at every point in life, and seek the needed help, and support, finding the right solutions and handling them all, one step at a time.
Don't fall for the pressure of being in school, working, married, having children, having your own house, car, business, etc at a certain age or time, especially if you're unsure, troubled in your spirit, or simply trying to prove yourself to people who may not even care about you, till you are certain, ready and at peace within yourself in making that decision or taking that step you want to take.
Run your RACE at your own PACE as led by the Holy Spirit and enjoy your journey, making the very best out of every situation. Owe no man nothing except LOVE and go for gold!
Learn. Live. Laugh. Love.
Love Refined to Define All Odds.
Social Media Handles:
IG: @officialsap1
Twitter: SAP_Speaks
Facebook /LinkedIn: Sarah Apenteng