Ghana 2010

This is my attempt at recording the experience of Ghana - my first trip - July 8 - 21, 2010

After months and months of planning, shopping and crafting we were finally ready to pack! There were 4 of us traveling to Ghana and we were allowed 2 checked bags each so we had a total of 8 tubs or 400 lbs. of cargo space/weight we could carry.

We spent the afternoon of July 5th filling, weighing, rearranging our 8 tubs - making sure to leave enough room and weight to throw in our non-carry-onable items like shampoo and sunscreen (ok, and crackers, protein bars, beef jerky, and other assorted snacks!).

Yay! It all fit and we had some space to spare!

We traveled to the Atlanta airport on the evening of Thursday, July 8, 2010. Our flight was scheduled for 11:20 p.m. so we made it our goal to be at the airport by 8 p.m. or so.

We arrived, unloaded our totes and carry on bags and started the process of checking in 8 tubs packed with goodies for those we were going to work with. We had crayons and paper; glitter and glue; yarn and soccer balls. We had a Bible lesson and games; crafts and gifts. We had candy and gum; toys and prizes and the most coveted item of all - we had pencils! 2000 of them to be exact!

Once we completed the check in process and cleared security (thanks to wonderful and reasonable check in clerks we didn't have to rearrange any of our tubs!) we headed for our concourse and food. What a disappointment it was for some of us that the McDonalds ice cream machine had broken just moments before so there was no opportunity for one more hot fudge sundae before we left the country :(. Sad, very sad indeed!

We met a few other small groups that were also headed to Ghana for missions work - one couple were meeting their daughter as the ship on which she was traveling was making port along the southern coast. The daughter is part of a missions organization that travels around bringing medical care to people all over the world that can't afford and don't have access to excellent medical care. Another group was going to work in one of the communities that has been identified as an unreached people group.

It was interesting talking to them and hearing a little of their story as we waited for time to board.

My emotions were all over the place - at times excited and anxiously straining at the bit to get going - get this show on the road! - at times scared and weepy - full of fear and doubt. The fear and doubt weren't fear of where we were going or fear for my or anyone else's safety - it was because I knew this was it - this was the place - and I'd never been there before. I was afraid I wouldn't "love" it - ok, enough of that - back to the reporting!

The plane ride was long and relatively uneventful. Somewhat amazing actually that there were no crying babies and the plane settled down to sleep pretty quickly. Dave and I talked a bit, read a bit, even played a game or two of Cribbage before I took something to help me sleep and dozed off.

We arrived safely and on time and who was there waiting for us - just on the other side of immigration but Eddie! I had not met him before but knew that face the moment I saw it!

We headed straight for the Agape Guest House in Accra to spend the night before traveling on to Kumasi. It was all so strange to me, ha, ha - quite an unusual (and unwelcome I might add!) emotion. To be the only one in our group that hadn't been here - that didn't know these people - was really different and painful for me.

The next morning we were up and out fairly early - it was a 5 hour drive to Kumasi and we wanted to get there as early as possible.

We received a phone call asking if a young intern by the name of David could ride with us to Kumasi. Of course we said and off we went to pick him up. Little did we know at the time that he was coming to help us! Ha, ha - God's provision is truly supernatural!

We arrived at Joseph's guest house in Kumasi and were overwhelmed with the beauty and comfort of it all. Truly an oasis set aside for us to be refreshed at the end of every day.

We spent time walking around the guest house and becoming acquainted with the community - even to our delight meeting a wonderful neighbor - Ama Christian - who lives just behind the guest house. We walked to the store - we spent a little time prayer walking up and down the lanes and paths and spent some time meeting and greeting the children we encountered.

Our lives were changed - our comfort zones smashed - our trust deepened - as we began to visit and work in the villages. Being separated from my beloved - even for short spurts - was almost more than I could bear. I found myself in tears much of the time over things that wouldn't have caused me to miss a beat in the past. All part of that comfort zone smashing that was going on :).

We met people in the villages that we will never forget - the Head Master at the school in Barekuma; Lydia a kindergarten school teacher whose husband is in the states; Ernest who helped with the outreaches and always had a great big smile on his face! Benjamin, the Methodist Monk that lived in Barekuma; Isaac and Ama Dora from Annikroma; Prince and Prince - the caretaker for the church in Annikroma, the gentleman that shared him home with us so we could freshen up and change before the evening service; Kofi - a man who was filled with the Spirit in our presence and whose life will never be the same; Moses who was a relentless, tireless painter that worked almost without stopping until the church in Barekuma was completely painted - inside and out! Oh, the children - the children in both villages that were so delightful, energetic, and eager to play the games and spend time with the Obronis! The Head Mistress in Annikroma that traveled with us from classroom to classroom keeping order, instructing helpers, and delighted in the games and crafts were brought with us.

This trip was so different from any trip we had taken before - on most short term trips you meet people and minster to them in various ways feeling like the Lord has and is using you to touch their lives.

However, on this trip it was different. Not only did we minister; not only did we share a bit of who we are with all that we met; not only did God use us to touch the lives of those to whom we came to serve; but our lives were changed. Our hearts were branded by these people. Their faces and names are burned into our minds and hearts and will never be forgotten. We are planning next summer's trip to allow for time to spend in these villages to look up old friends and love on them just a bit before traveling further north and east to do what God is calling us to do.



The experience of worship in the open air with 100's of Ghanians - was all wonderful - stretching - powerful - life changing for each and every one of us.

Ghana was the hardest mission trip I've ever been on. Not because of what we did but because of what God was doing in me as a result - killing a little bit more of my flesh and awakening a little be more of my spirit. An awesome/painful thing! :)

It's the first mission trip that either of us have ever been on where there was no missionary "on the ground" to work with and follow around. That made for some interesting and eye opening moments. We have no doubt that the Lord was behind it all - giving us a taste of what it will be like when we are the "missionaries on the ground".

The other point that has proven to be so painful is that we only worked in two villages while we were there - 3 days in each one. Enough time to get to know people - to learn names that go with faces - to be impacted by and hopefully impact the lives of those who we connected with. That has been hard, hard, hard since we've come home.

Here is a partial list of those who touched us so deeply -

Ama Christian - a precious lady that lives in a simple yet self sufficient home down a dirt and gravel path behind the guest house we stayed at while in Kumasi.

Bizmark - a properous businessman from the village of Annikroma. He has not forgotten his roots - he shares with all around him, including us!

Moses - the painter that worked like a horse to get the church painted in Barekuma. Our guys helped some but were frequently called away to other tasks. Moses rarely stopped and kept on going until the job was completed.

The Head Master in Barekuma - this man really touched my heart deeply. He is deeply concerned about the educational opportunities for the children in Barekuma. The classrooms were already overcrowded - 40-50 children per classroom - and several classes would be taught by the same teacher at once. They are short on facilities, teachers, and supplies. He has a passion for teaching. Please pray for him when you think of him.

The Caretaker in Annekroma - what a precious man. He took us on a guided tour of the village and his simple home. Taking the time to share the details of his life with us. Showing us how he illuminates just a small section of his tiny home and how he harvests his crops. He was a perfect host making us feel warm and welcomed.

Ernest - the every smiling Ernest! He was a large presence in both villages. I believe he was actually with the Ebenezer UMC in Kumasi that sponsored the evening crusades. He was helpful above and beyond what the word helpful might mean to you and me. Always smiling - always helpful - always available.

Sampson - what can I say about Sampson? Words do not describe this man. He drove 2 1/2 hours to have dinner with us on our last evening in Accra. Then drove 2 1/2 hours back to where he was staying in Cape Coast. This was a God ordained meeting and we are certain that we will see Sampson again - and again - and again.

Isaac - a precious, wonderful, joyful, fun and smart 3rd grade boy in the village of Annekroma. Delightful - that's the word that describes Isaac. We are praying for ways to ensure that he and his friend are able to attend school as far as they'd like to go...

Ama Dora - Isaac's friend - a precious, wonderful, smart 3rd grade girl in the village of Annekroma. There were many, many precious children in both villages, but God highlighted these two for us for His purposes. We are seeking His wisdom so that we don't get in front of him - in this or any other situation.

Learning how to let go - to trust God to send others to disciple them - trusting Him to hover over them and protect them - trusting Him in all things actually - that have to do with these 20 or so people as well as the surrounding villages. There was one man in particular that traveled 2 1/2 hours each way just to have dinner with us. His name is Sampson. We know that he will be instrumental in the work we do once we get there...no idea what that really means or how it will look - just that this was a very strategic connection.

I could go on for hours and hours - just know that God touched us deeply - He pulled back the curtain just a bit and let us have a glimpse of one way He will use us in Ghana. Now we are busily seeking the training that we can participate in while we continue to work full time.

Launch date is most likely January 2013.

Broad vision - to bring healing and deliverance to the people of Ghana with one focus being in the area of alcohol and drug addiction.