by Frances W. Rosenau
Since we left Tema, we have been traveling around the country spending many hours a day in the bus. We have seen much of the country side, going from the southern areas to the urban centers to lush forests and everything in between. We even saw "the biggest tree in West Africa"
which was indeed big.
I find myself torn between wanting to see different parts of the country and wanting to stay in one place for a while. I am grateful to get a broader view of life in Ghana than I would get if we were in one place the whole time. But at the pace we are going, we end up having very short visits where we pile off the bus, shake hands, take pictures and pile back on the bus. It can make for a very dizzying week.
Spending so much time in the bus, we pass a lot of people. Almost without fail, they look up at our big bus of white people and break into a huge smile when we wave at them. Often they wave first and it's our turn to smile. Children, adults, kids walking home from school in their matching uniforms - they all smile and wave. There is real human connection there, even as it blurs by at 50 km/hr.
We have been so graciously welcomed at every turn. Today we went to visit the chief of a mountainous region. The entire royal court was very welcoming. The chief even said that since he is a Presbyterian, he gives us free reign to do the good work of the church in this area. I don't know how that will sound to your American ears. But to mine it
sounded like generous partnership and welcome.
Tomorrow we go on a long journey to Donkorkrom Hospital. It is in a very rural area where malaria is a huge problem. Westminster received many donations to buy mosquito nets for the people there. Mama Alice served there for many years as a chaplain and has not been back since. I hope to write to you all about it soon.
Now that we are up in the mountains again, it is very cool. We had rain on and off today with fog and mist in the distance. The Ghanaians even say that it is "cold" but us upstaters know better.
Since we left Tema, we have been traveling around the country spending many hours a day in the bus. We have seen much of the country side, going from the southern areas to the urban centers to lush forests and everything in between. We even saw "the biggest tree in West Africa"
which was indeed big.
I find myself torn between wanting to see different parts of the country and wanting to stay in one place for a while. I am grateful to get a broader view of life in Ghana than I would get if we were in one place the whole time. But at the pace we are going, we end up having very short visits where we pile off the bus, shake hands, take pictures and pile back on the bus. It can make for a very dizzying week.
Spending so much time in the bus, we pass a lot of people. Almost without fail, they look up at our big bus of white people and break into a huge smile when we wave at them. Often they wave first and it's our turn to smile. Children, adults, kids walking home from school in their matching uniforms - they all smile and wave. There is real human connection there, even as it blurs by at 50 km/hr.
We have been so graciously welcomed at every turn. Today we went to visit the chief of a mountainous region. The entire royal court was very welcoming. The chief even said that since he is a Presbyterian, he gives us free reign to do the good work of the church in this area. I don't know how that will sound to your American ears. But to mine it
sounded like generous partnership and welcome.
Tomorrow we go on a long journey to Donkorkrom Hospital. It is in a very rural area where malaria is a huge problem. Westminster received many donations to buy mosquito nets for the people there. Mama Alice served there for many years as a chaplain and has not been back since. I hope to write to you all about it soon.
Now that we are up in the mountains again, it is very cool. We had rain on and off today with fog and mist in the distance. The Ghanaians even say that it is "cold" but us upstaters know better.