Accra: Jollof, Joy, and Jumping Right In

Hello folks!

Boats at the harbor in Cape Coast

We made it! We are in Accra, Ghana’s capital city. Greeted right from the airport by Dr. Darko and Patrick (our amazing driver), we were shuttled from the airport our first night to a hotel where we were met by Angel, our last and most outstanding leader, and a homemade cake for Stephanie’s birthday! After a joyful and tired time of reunion with our whole team, we settled into bed for a busy day ahead.

The courtyard at Elmina Castle

On the 31st, we had a day of “orientation,” where we got to see the land and life of Ghana. Taking a drive to Cape Coast (just shy of three hours), we were given the opportunity to tour Elmina Castle. It was here that we walked and stood in the places where our brothers and sisters were starved, chained, raped, tortured, and shipped off to slavery. We peeked out the narrow slit in the side of the castle named “The door of no return,” stood in the chapel located directly above a woman’s dungeon, and were closed in a cell where prisoners who fought for their freedom starved to death. In all of this, we were confronted to acknowledge that while these people claimed Christianity, that is not the God we serve. Just afterwards, we were able to eat lunch and then join in singing praise with our Ghanaian brothers and sisters who welcomed us with love and joy. Despite all of the despair and disgust we felt walking through the Castle, God was faithful to remind us of his goodness and love for all people as we processed the experience and ate traditional Jollof Rice and RedRed.

Dr. Darko washing his hands at lunch

That night, after some afternoon time seeing the beach of Cape Coast and reveling in the sweet rest of our air-conditioned rooms for short moments, we were honored to attend an Assemblies of God church for their annual New Years Eve service. Greeted with front row seats, we listened to a message on the year 2020 being abundant in prayer, the word, and the Holy Spirit, “a year of increase.” We rejoiced in the dancing and singing of thousands of people as we ushered in the new year. With a late dinner at 2am, the team rejoiced with some fried chicken, chips (AKA French fries), and of course, rice.

Today, the first day of the new year, we had a restful day of training. Hosted with homemade Ghanaian food for breakfast and lunch, we went through our camp itinerary, prepared material as a group (ask us about our skit!), and spent a lot of time laughing and preparing our hearts, minds, souls, and bodies for the trip ahead.

Tomorrow we travel to Bolgatanga to meet the other camp staff (a 9 hour longer drive than our 3 hour commute to Cape Coast), and settle in before the girls arrive on the 3rd.

As we continue, please pray for:

- Continued joy and flexibility as a team

- Adjustment to the tiredness we are facing in the heat

- Finances for the camp to be provided

- The girls and ACM staff, that we may bond well with them

Signing off (Afehyia pa!),

Team Ghana

”Hi mom!” - Meagan