I wrote most of this out a month ago in one of my classes, and then it took some time to type it up, and after that I forgot about it for a couple of weeks, oops, but here it finally is… a little bit about my trip to Ghana in December:
There’s so much to say about my trip to Ghana and so many things I saw God do that I don’t really know where to begin. I haven’t known where to begin, which is probably why it’s taken me so long to actually write about it. I see how God changed my heart, my life, and renewed my passions. Somehow immediately when I heard about this trip at the end of August I felt so pulled to it. I’ve never been to Africa and have always wanted to go, but not as badly as I’ve wanted to go to other places. It was amazing to see how God cleared the obstacles out of the way to allow me to go and it was then I knew God wanted me to go to Ghana, Africa this December. Probably about 4 to 2 weeks before leaving I began to freak out though. I haven’t done any sort of ministry with kids in years, and I grew afraid that I wouldn’t connect with any of them. The idea of going to Africa and not knowing anything about it also began to shake me. My knowledge and experience was with Europe, not Africa, and almost everyone else had been to Africa in the group, so I just felt inadequate. But God showed me a verse that tells us when we are doing the things He wants us to do and things to bring him glory, he will give us the ability. (Hebrews 13:20-21) So through prayer and encouragement from Him and friends, a week before leaving I was finally fully excited again and found confidence in God.
God answered my prayers in so many ways. I knew from the beginning that this is what God wanted me to do, but I didn’t expect a whole lot really. I thought he would grow me personally a lot, I might come out with new friendships, I would be taught some humility for sure, but besides that I was just going where God wanted me to go. Probably one of the last things I expected was to have my heart completely broken while I was there. It broke for the things I saw and the people I met, and I ache to go back, which I also was not expecting.
An overall summary of what we did: Stayed in Accra for 1 or 2 nights before we traveled to Lagoon Lodge in Winneba. Accra was about 1 – 1 ½ hrs from Winneba. Lagoon Lodge was about a 15 minute ride to Rafiki. Most days we went to Rafiki in the morning-ish and stayed until about 4 and then headed back to Lagoon Lodge. We were about a 10 minute walk from the beach and many days we would walk there with some kids that lived near where we stayed. Groups that had come before had built relationships with a few of the kids. Then some days, more kids would find us at the beach and play and hang out. Around 6:30 we ate dinner at the Lodge and then just relaxed and hung out until our meeting/group/devotion time. Different people would lead a devotional each night so it was awesome to see what God was teaching everyone. Sunday we went to the Methodist church in town and Saturday we walked around and checked out the town some.
At Rafiki there were about 18 kids that live there. They also have a school so some kids form local villages would come to school there, which happened about the first 3 days we were there and then Christmas break came, so the other kids left until January. After that we taught some Christmas songs and stories, and helped the kids in the different grades we were in with different things. I was in BS 2 which is like 2nd grade, and 3 of us helped the kids in there with their reading. In the afternoons we just got to play and love on the kids. I fell in love with this little boy named Kofi. He is so sweet, didn’t speak much English because he is younger, but has the sweetest laugh ever and loves toy cars and trucks. Even though coming from the States it might be said that they don’t have a whole lot, which it’s still crucial to make sure they have enough money for food and water, it was a blessing to be there and see the life and joy these kids have.
Back at the beach one day I met a boy named Joseph. I let him take pictures on my camera, which he got some really great ones, and then got to talk with him some as we were leaving the beach. Through this one kid God taught me some crazy lessons on our last day there. It’s a long story so I’ll just sum it up by saying God’s timing is always best. Sometimes conflict and problems come in our paths but sometimes that’s just to get us where we need to be at the time we need to be there. It was a refreshing reminder of God’s timing, making sure to listen to God when he convicts you, to be joyful in every situation, and to make sure only uplifting words come out of your mouth. Oh, and of course God’s plans are way more legit than mine and blow me out of the water (they leave my jaw dropped standing in awe.)
There are so many more things I could say, or perhaps a slideshow would give this more justice, but still almost a month after returning my words still don’t go quite together in my head of all the things God did and changed in my life.
It’s important for me not to forget these things. It’s important for me to let what God showed me change my life. These people are struggling to have food and water and nutrients to survive and grow right and I’m struggling to make sure I’m not spending money on pointless things and my 10th pair of jeans. I’m disgusted by how many things I own, by the pressure to buy more things that aren’t needed. Does our culture even know what real need is anymore? But that could go into another 5 page discussion.
I became friends with 10 people I didn’t even know at the beginning of the fall semester. Kids that didn’t even understand all of my words loved me. I saw starvation, desperation, hurt, healing, hope, and God there through it all. My heart was refreshed and found new joy and love. I was encouraged. I wanted to steal a kid… but held back. My mind opened a little wider. I’m just forever changed. This isn’t a deep love like I have for Germany, but I do want to go back.
So really I could talk for hours, or I could have saved you and just given a short version… but really this is the short version. I’m amazed if anyone actually took the time to read it all, but I’m in awe of where God has taken my life, so just make sure you’re open to what God has to tell you and share with you :)
