Ghana Updates 11-1-07 to 14-1-07

Our day started when Enoch and Amadu arrived. First order of business was to program the cell phones we had. As everyone went inside to take advantage of the air conditioning, I sat outside and observed the busy life happening in Accra. I found that I really do love this country! It’s so alive and colorful! The smells are unique to this land. It’s neither foul nor pleasant but you know you’re in Ghana. I smelled "it" when we first arrived "yesterday." It was a familiar smell-one that can’t be described unless you’ve experienced it first-hand. Karen knew what I was talking about. I read recently that Ghana has the friendliest people in Africa. I believe it! Everyone is happy and smiling! The people are so laid-back, UNLESS, they are behind the wheel of a car! NO rules here! They ride and drive any desperate transportation they can use. The "tro-tros" are definitely packed beyond their limit! Picture circus clowns piling into a VW. But there is no complaining here. This is life at the simplest level. They will stop at nothing for you to purchase or sample their wares, even risk injury in the BUSY streets! But their business is always conducted with a smile. It’s very refreshing!

Highlights of the day: Ghana makes the BEST veggie pizza. I said that the last time I was here. I also tried eating chicken the way the Ghanaians do by eating a chicken bone. Yes, I did it on purpose! Went to the Cultural Center and enjoyed Pastor Reinke do the other thing he does best, barter! Supped a wonderful dinner (and a Castle Milk Stout beer) by the Gulf of Guinea. We got our missing Action Packers back, as well as Sandy’s missing luggage. Life is good!

Another late start. That’s the Ghanaian way! Didn’t get a chance to visit Adomorobe (the Deaf village) so headed to the Lutheran Headquarter in Accra to meet with Dr. Fynn (President of the Lutheran Church in Ghana). He’s stuck in traffic, so that appointment will be delayed. Then he didn’t make it in time before we needed to head out, so we’ll have to visit with him on the way back home. Headed to Cape Coast! WOW, what a difference one year makes. The road has MUCH improved. Travel time was faster, and then it happened. Not far from our destination, the road became what I was familiar with: dusty, bumpy, cars everywhere and doing their own thing! I have a song that I made up last year for Enoch, our driver. It’s simply, "Go, Enoch, Go!" He loves it! And he’s got the greatest laugh! If you’re going to be on roads such as these, you want to have Enoch driving!

We arrived safely in Cape Coast and before heading to Kakum National Park, we stop at the Deaf School to seek permission for Betty Jo and me to stay a few days and teach. Wow, the reception was unbelievable! The kids came running to the truck signing my name sign (ILY hs with a Z)!!! That was TRULY inspiring that after a years time, that they would remember me! (Jean, they asked about you!) Now I’m energized and can’t wait to return. Our visit was very brief, but had more of ride before nightfall. Got to the Park and shared our dinner with the crocodiles! Tomorrow begins the path that we are here to venture.

Observations: The "harmattan" (weather that refers to the hot, dry, DUSTY air that blows down from the Sahara Desert) is BAD this year! The atmosphere is choked with dust. Red sky at morning/night has a different meaning here. The sun even has a hard time shining through during the day. I reminisce with the WaWa trees and wave to all the children in the streets. The Ghanaian children have beautiful smiles! They sure are happy folk! The villages are self-sufficient. I was told that about 90% of Ghana’s commerce is done by the roadside. Everything that can be sold is! Can’t find a projector light bulb though. Go figure! But you never have to leave your car for anything. My first experience with the Internet Café was worse than dial-up! Ah, the things we take for granted!

Packed up the truck again and headed for the ropes. What an awesome experience! I walked across the jungle forest, high above the canopy, on a rope bridge!! Oh yeah, it wobbled and the planks were narrow. Definitely not for the faint at heart! But it was awesome! High above the trees, it gives you a sense of God’s Wonders. Over 150 feet high, in the trees, you can’t help to stop and ponder. There is a biblical term for that- Selah! I won’t be forgetting that experience anytime soon!

We experienced another wonderful welcoming reception at the school. It’s a great way to begin our time here. We’re staying in the top floor of what I refer to as the "Hanoi Hilton." However, it offers better accommodations and privacy than last time. You’ll never guess what we had for dinner- yep, fish stew. It’s baaaaaaaack!! Day 1 and counting! Now add a cold shower and I’m ready to sleep!

Wow, for getting to bed early, I didn’t sleep well. As with last year, it’s very noisy here at night. I heard dogs barking, but I don’t see them during the day. I also heard what sounded like a cat being tortured. I don’t even want to know! I’m associating that noise to the many pigs that the school is raising.

Morning started early at 7:00 am with church. Pastors do not frequent here often, so the kids are left to their own. They depend on a student named Joseph that I met last year. I saw potential in him then, now he has blossomed! He is a born-leader and respected from everyone here. He is an excellent role model for the younger students and he knows his Bible. Betty Jo and I were in awe how he conducted himself and preached the Gospel to his fellow students. And the manners of his captive audience were impressive. When it was our turn to teach, we received the same attention and respect.

Betty Jo began telling the story of Joseph and the Pharaoh’s dream. Joseph knew exactly where to find that story. After the story was told, I then applied the message that God reveals to us in that story. God gives us wisdom to help ourselves and other people. I always try to use examples that they can relate too. In this case, I used a situation that happened yesterday at the ropes to give the kids a better understanding of that message. At one point on the rope bridge, Betty Jo became very scared and couldn’t continue on. When you’re on this swaying bridge and kneeling, you’re looking down! Not a good place to be. It was then, Pastor Reinke forged ahead to calm Betty Jo down. He was the "helping hand," her comforter, to help her relax, to get her to focus and look to his eyes. He then proceeded to guide her off to the "safe" landing. God does that as well. When we find that we can’t go on, we can look to God and He takes care of it for us. He may place people/things in your lives that help and support you. Or perhaps, He gives you the wisdom to figure it out on your own. It’s not by accident. In this case, Betty Jo saw the trust in Pastor Reinke’s eyes and they both managed to walk off safely and without further incident. Pastor Reinke was right where he was needed, in this case, to assist Betty Jo. We all can relate to that.

Amadu’s friend John came to church with us this morning. Jean and I met him last year. He is a student at the Cape Coast University with 6 more months to go. He is still learning sign language and wants to become a teacher. Wow, another possibility here. Betty Jo and I encourage him spending more time at the school to gain more knowledge of sign language. I introduced him to the Headmistress, and she has invited him to come to the school any afternoon. Joseph said he would teach him sign. Wow, the people we are meeting in Ghana are inspiring. It’s incredible to see how this process unfolds. Could God have had a hand in this?? First Joseph and then John. The deaf community in Ghana needs them both.

After church, we got a tour of the "grasscutter" (an animal that resembles a gopher) project and the garden area. The expansion of animals for revenue for the school include many more pigs and rabbits. This school is pretty self-sufficient, but it also has big support from outside resources. Hearing people that are advocators for deaf people in Ghana. I met some of them last year. I hope our paths cross again on this journey.

Amadu calls and we get caught up with Pastor and Karen. Only problem now is our "minutes" just ran out and we have no communication with our outside world. All I know is we have bus tickets for Wed. noon, seats #33 and #34 and was able to repeat that info to John (who will take us to the station) before we were "dropped." I hope Amadu will be there in Kumasi when we arrive, because Lord knows I will NOT leave the bus station until he arrives. I endured Amadu’s wrath last year!

The sun disappears fast behind all the dust. It’s dark in these parts anyway, and then we loose the electricity for about a half hour. I’m sure the blind students didn’t even know what was going on. We had another fish stew for dinner by flashlight! This one was tastier. Didn’t contain the other body parts, or maybe we just couldn’t see them in the dark. Another cool night and the dogs have started barking already. It’s going to be a long night. Oh well, I’m sure Tamale has its own experiences waiting for us!