Ghana

Well, I want to see Africa because I plan on living there, and I want to go to Ghana specifically because I am going to apply to transfer to a university there to study for a year. Then I will return to Whitworth and finish up my degrees. I’m so excited!

Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to be one of Jesus’ disciples, walking next to Him down the roads of Galilee and watching Him heal the sick, cast out demons, and wake the dead? Can you imagine being on the lake when He calmed the winds or walked on water? Would being part of these activities be a life-changing event, solidifying your faith and widening your perspective on the power of God? It was for me.

If I had to describe my experience on a short-term mission trip in Ghana with African Hope, I would have to say it was as the closest I could come to being a disciple of Jesus in modern society. From the moment we arrived, I could tell God was working in my life. Scripture came alive, grabbing my attention, as if Jesus himself was teaching.

On our first day in Gomoa Fetteh, we walked in the village and passed out handbills announcing our purpose. Poverty was rampant, and not just the kind where you go to McDonalds instead of Bob Evans for dinner tonight, but ramshackle homes with dirt floors, little or no food and water, and no electricity or indoor plumbing. Still, yellow-eyed children, with severe malaria that is left un-treated because the $4 it would cost to cure them is not available, were playing, running and laughing just as my children at home do. As I watched and talked with the people, I found them to be joyful and hopeful for the future. I suddenly felt unappreciative for all the wonderful blessings in my life. Then I remembered Romans 5:3-5. “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Suddenly, all the past challenges in my life had a new meaning.

Our goal was to conduct a VBS program at a local primary school and to have a women’s ministry in the evenings. The first night of our women’s program, it was pouring rain. I was amazed as small children, around the age of five or six, traveled alone down a dark, muddy road for a mile, arriving two hours early to hear the word of God. Matthew 18:3 immediately came to mind, “And he said: ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’” So many children came that we had to start two new night ministries, one for the children and one for the teen boys. By the end of the week, we had reached 150 women and another 150 to 200 children and teens in the night ministry.

The following day at VBS, where we served another 300 youth, a small boy named Desmond followed Renee, a fellow team member, around. Desmond, who had a hole in his foot with flies swarming in and out, was in need of antiseptic and a bandage. Renee was temporarily overwhelmed at her inability to help the child, and pulled a Jonah – running away from the situation. Charlie Budd, recognizing her distress talked to her and convinced her to pray for the boy. The excited youngster asked her to tie his salvation bracelet around his ankle instead of his arm. When we returned the next day, Desmond ran to Renee to show her that he was still wearing the anklet. As she looked down, Renee noticed that his foot healed overnight! Matthew 10:1 tells us, “He called the twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.”

The entire week went on in this manner, when we gave out school supplies, I was reminded, “The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me” (Matthew 25:40). There were many attacks on the mission team: Charlie had malaria, luggage was lost, and many others were ill on the day they were to present. Daily, we entered the spiritual battlefield with prayer and the armor of God, and we always triumphed. Even looking down at my soil-stained feet one afternoon, I was given clarity on what it must have been like in biblical times to wash someone’s feet. Something that had seemed so trivial before now had meaning.

When I had left for Africa, I wondered if I could make a difference. I was afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing. Perhaps, I did not know enough scriptures, or maybe this just was not the right time in my life to go. What about my kids, work and school? I knew I had been called, but maybe what God really meant was “later”. However, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4). Philippians 4:13 became my motto, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Five hundred children and fourteen baptisms later, “everything” has a new meaning. Before I left, “everything” was measurable, now I have a better understanding of God’s awesome and mighty power, and “everything” is infinite.

It wasn’t hot, but extremely humid. I felt like I was drinking a gallon of water, just by breathing. There were nice places, like where the beaches were, there were lots of really nice hotels. But, in the north, it smelt kinda weird. Also the places weren’t as nice. Though the people were nice, they laughed if you didn’t know the language. My family is from there and when my mom kept haggling the prices down(Embarrassing) she said they were trying to take advantage of us, since we seemed to be tourists. Don’t visit without either lots of cash or a true Ghanian.

Really pretty wildlife, Getting to the Tamale park was like traveling on a punch of rocks. Extremly hard, not really worth it.

They are disciplined people and working to make the place so pretty

if u have been to ghana u’ll probably know that the title of this entry means welcome, and ghana is indeed welcoming. my favourite thing about of the ghanaian culture would be the art,the carvings and the cloth (mainly african wear) you can get. I would suggest that you go to a seamtress which you can notifiy by the examples of clothes that they have display on the door of their stall or something, and get something made for yourself, u can even imitate a style that u like but just incorprating an ghanain twist to it, if you havn’t already, plus its cheap to. As for advice if u are familiar with the currency, its change so when you exchange after july 2007, make sure u get the ghanaian cedi which is the new name not the cedi which is the old name for the currency

Amanda’s 18th birthday party was really nice with the beach setting. The meal and service was also superb!!

I was in Ghana for a week last January with a class – the country was beautiful… we went all around, spent time in Accra, Kumasi, Elmina, and more that I don’t remember right now. It was a great experience, despite the fact that I absolutely hated how the trip was structured (6-7 hours a day on a bus… and the malaria pills that made me extra-irritable didnt make that easier), and my roommate is studying abroad there now, and she likes it as well. I’d reccomend staying in the Novotel in Accra, or Coconut Grove in Elmina.

Do volunteer work

My Grandad (R.I.P) is from ghana and i would love to go here one day

Just got from Accra couple of weeks ago after spending there 8 days… Despite reservation I had about going to Ghana, it’s a good country to visit and surely an eye opener for the Westener.

To my feel, Accra is going thru a massive increase in expact settling there, due to their political stability, hence, things that used to be cheaper are now to foreigner prices. The traffic in Accra is hectic with buses carrying tons of people and street vendors almost in every intersection selling possibly everything like a supermarket.

I walked around and jumped into taxis and I have never been harassed by the locals to th extent of being annoyed like in Cairo. Actually the locals seems to be quite helpful and safe.

There’re nice restaurants in Osu where you can eat anything from steaks to seafood but expect the bill to be in US$ and not that cheap.

I went to an Ivorian restaurant called Maquis Tante Marie and it was much cheaper, good food and local atmosphere. Ask any taxi and they will bring you there for 20.000 Cedis.

I also went to Ryan’s Irish Pub for a touch of expacts and it’s ok but just way too smokey.

The open market downtown Accra are I guess an experience, although way too crowded with vendors trying to pull the tourist in all direction for a sale for stuff that you can find in your home country for the same price.

I had a driver for a day and drove all over the city and to the beach and there you can see the different pockets of Accra where poverty is also being a reality. People there though, seem despite the odds extremely hopeful, common to jump in a taxi with a driver reading the Bible and Sunday is a church day for almost the entire city.

Regarding bars, I have only been to a few. Like in Asia, girls seems to be eager to approach Western guys for a drink and dessert, just be wary that diseases are also a reality in Ghana even if it’s less than neighboring countries like Nigeria.

Health-wise, beside the mandatory Yellow Fever, Malaria tablets are a good things to take, even though I haven’t seen any mosquitoes in the city or got bitten. (As advice, don’t take Lariam, which is a weekly one. I makes you go a bit dellusional).

Money, US Dollars are accepted almost everywhere (just check the exchange rate) and make sure the bill has big heads or they won’t be accepted. You can cash out money quite easily from ATMs if you have a VISA card (no Mastercard, just VISA). When in Ghana get used to count in millions of cedis…

Kotoka Airport is all right, the arrival is small with few booths for immigration and collect your luggage. I would suggest you organize a pick up (you can also get a pick up to meet you inside the airport) to avoid facing the arrival hall with tons of locals or willing to help. Especially after a long flight is a bit too much, nothing as bad as New Delhi Airport though…

Departure are much more sophisticated with proper immigration, Duty Free, etc.

On overal Ghana is a nice African country to visit that is not too intense, rather laid back and safe to explore.