Greetings from Ghana! Thank you all so much for you love and support. I hear that Aaron has been very well taken care of and I thank you immensely for it! (he will probably be sad to see me return in this regard. :) I thought I would take a second to fill you in on some of the happenings these last couple of days….
this was the sunset on the first night of our arrival (Saturday) it was absolutely amazing!
On Sunday we went to a Ghanaian ward. I loved it. The stake president was up at the pulpit speaking and his cell phone went off. Not only did he look at it, but stopped mid scripture to read an incoming text. It was awesome.
The next picture is our first day in the village. We are required to go and meet the king of the Barekuma region and present our mission statement to him and other community leaders for their approval (even though they already knew we were coming and what we were doing). This is a picture of me with the king……
It is also custom for them to present us with a refreshment or gift. Usually it is “malta” basically drinking a whopper sans chocolate, but because our numbers are so large this year we bought the drinks for them and we ended up with coke and Fanta.
These are pictures of the kids. They just swarmed our bus when we pulled in. they love having their picture taken and even started posing. When they figured out that the picture appeared immediately they were thrilled to see themselves on the screen. Even the adults would bring their kids up and ask us to take pictures of them.
The kids remembered the song that we had taught them last year after we had built the bathroom for the school. When they saw us they started singing it and doing the actions.
These two are pictures of the first few elderly people
we interviewed and my Ghanaian counterparts. Philip is in the red and Collins is wearing the button down shirt and drew pants. These were both taken on the second day.
All in all it has been an interesting couple of days. We have definitely had our struggles…. Fire in the hotel, plane delays, no hot water, sickness, and skype not working to name a few. We are tired and hungry most of the time, but most of all we are happy.
Ghana and Africa are much different than I pictured. The weather is not that hot here, 85 degrees at the hottest, the mosquitos are not giant and man eating (In fact I have yet to see one, but I do know that they exist because I have some bites) it is not dry and deserty looking to name a few things.
Here are a few thing that I love about this place:
Fresh Pineapple, mango (normally don’t like these) and bananas YUM!
Things are SO cheap here
Sunsets
Humidity
Thunder Storms
The people
Not really know what day or time it is, and not really caring either.
Singing/ dancing
My group
But most of all I am amazed at how happy these people are. They have nothing and yet they are one of the most joyful people I have ever met. Several of the questions on our survey ask about quality of life and if they are happy/ like themselves. The answer we get the most frequently is of course! Why wouldn’t I like myself? Why wouldn’t I be? “Nyame Tease” (Ney- ame Tey- ah-say) God is Alive.
Thanks muchly to all of you for your love and support and feeding of husbandage. I love you all.
Love,
Hal
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