Friday, January 20
Once again I am writing from a very bumpy bus. Yesterday was another amazing day. Surprise, surprise!
Once again we spent the day visiting ministries of the EPC. The first was the Gemini clinic, a small health clinic run by four ladies. The head nurse actually lives on site. The clinic sees all “minor” ailments and refers major ones. There is very little room, medicine, or money but 189 babies were delivered there last year. They are also in desperate need of a new room.
We also visited a program for the elderly that was started by our guide. This is a place for them to go during the day for health screening, exercise, meals, and games.
Finally, we visited Peki seminary (see notes). This was an interesting experience and not my favorite. This is also the first time 10A was brought up directly, surprisingly. Thankfully we had Roger and Frances to field that one.
This morning I got a chance to deliver the message for our EPC devotion. What an awesome experience! Opportunities like that are such huge confidence boosters in this time of discernment.
Today was amazing once we got going (we are home now- I had to quit on the bus). First, we stopped at a monkey sanctuary where we hiked for about 20 minutes before finding monkeys. We were able to feed them bananas and they even climbed on us! Such an unreal experience. Then we went to see the Wli waterfalls. After a 45 min. hike we saw the falls and two minutes later Ben, Ginna, and I were in the water. We played under the falls for a bit since the water was only waist deep. After a picnic and more playing we made the 45 minute hike back.
Tonight we will hang out with some young adults here. This should be lots of fun to learn through someone a bit more relatable.
Later…
Tonight we had dinner with the EPC moderator, clerk, and a few other key people. This was a great chance to share our thanks for all they have done and what we have learned from them. As is custom, we received a few gifts of kente cloth (I now have more than I know what to do with) and wall calendars.
Following dinner and discussion, we went outside to dance with the young adults for a while. Unfortunately there was not a group discussion like I hoped for but we did get to talk to a few people very briefly and Ginna and I learned how to play drums.
I am so overwhelmed by what I am doing. Three years ago this was only a nagging thought in the back of my mind. Now, I am in W. Africa, halfway through my first year of seminary, and have never been more sure of anything in my life. I came on this trip to learn about Presbys in ghana but have learned so much more about myself. I am now more than ready to take on spring semester and see what it holds for me!
Sunday, January 22
We arrived back in Accra yesterday afternoon after a visit to a dam on the Voltic and probably the best meal I have had since home. I am still loving it here but am very much looking forward to being home. I occasionally find myself thinking too much and creating problems for myself where there aren’t any. However, I have figured some stuff out that might make a difference for me back home- we shall see. I think the biggest and best thing I can do for myself is focus on all of the good things and keep pushing for my future- the one that I have dreamed about since I was a kid. I have a lot planned that I am looking forward to and I think if I keep focus on that I will be better. I’m not saying I don’t hurt some when I think about the stuff that is missing but I am going to try to put that at the back of my mind. This trip has done a lot to show me what amazing things I do have at home and also that the grass isn’t always greener.
It is slightly ironic that as I write this, one of my favorite songs came on and I think it explains a lot about how I feel.
“I don’t know if you can see the changes that have come over me.
These last few days I’ve been afraid I might drift away.
So I’ve been telling stories and singing songs to make me think
about where I came from, that’s the reason why I seem so far
away today.”
This whole song sums up my feelings about home right now, and about leaving here.
“If I should become a stranger, know that it would make me more than sad.”
This entry is all over the place because I am suddenly being hit with all of these feelings as I lay here in bed for my last night in Ghana. I desperately want to be home and to begin with my new outlook on life, but I desperately want to stay here. Ghana feels like home now.
I knew this would happen. I even told my friends it would. I fell in love while in Ghana. I fell in love with the rich culture, passion, mission, and people. I could handle the food more if I had more control over it and even the trash if I had real shoes. But this always happens. My love for adventure is both a blessing and a curse. I want to come back soon. And Mexico. And Scotland.
I honestly think this could be part of my call- small churches abroad. I don’t want to decide that in any way now. I am on a Ghana/ travel high. But this isn’t the first time I though about it. I have such an appreciation of various forms of Christianity around the world and desire to go deeper. There are may ways to do this so I’m not jumping yet. But I do know that I need to tie it in somehow.
Wow. This has taken a drastic turn. I think this is what happens when exhausted, full, homesick, curious, sad, and excited all combine.
Callin’ it a night.
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