Why We Love Ghana

  When people think about Africa I think different things come to their minds. Some people think hot, sandy desert. Some people think elephants, giraffes, and zebras. And some people think of the beautiful children with hungry looks.

  I think our favorite thing in Ghana is definitely the people. We love living near the ocean. We love the quiet little corner that we call home. But most of the things we love are because of the people. Going to market and talking to people. Even driving bumpy dirt roads has an advantage because you can talk to the people walking because they are moving at almost the same pace as you. And sitting at a red light gives opportunities to talk to the hawkers. 

  When we were on furlough we thought about how little people interact. Face masks of course make it more of a problem and social distancing, but no one asked you how your family is when you went to the store to buy groceries. In Ghana we have to consciously slow ourselves down. How are you? How is the family? Can I please buy some bread? When the American in us wants to stop and say "Two loaves of bread please. Thank you! Good bye!" There is one shop in particular that when I stop there for groceries, I know she will offer me a chair and I really do need to take the time to sit down and listen. 

  A relationship driven culture can be extremely frustrating for us but we can learn so many lessons from them. We are always busy. Always rushing somewhere or to do something. I'm not promoting laying around on benches under the palm trees half the day like some men here do, but I think we do well to slow down and listen and care. The fewer possessions we have, the less time we need to care for them. Maybe that is why they have time for each other.

  The other thing that amazes me about them is their willingness to help each other. Sometimes it doesn't seem like a very wise idea and they end up enabling someone that is lazy or making poor choices, but they are trying to do the right thing. My friend gave her neighbors son a small amount of money so he could buy food and go to school that day. At the same time her own brother wasn't going to school because she couldn't afford the entrance fee. She didn't have the large amount to send her brother to school, but she had enough to help her neighbor's son, so she gave what she had. I can't help but admire her spirit of giving when she herself is struggling to make ends meet. But then I have to wonder how that works in the long run. Was she helping or hurting? Was she bearing a burden or creating a dependency?

   The longer we live here the more puzzled we feel about what the right way is to help the people here. There are those that are ambitious and get ahead, then there are those that don't use the talents they have and struggle all their lives. There are situations of genuine need but this area has had missions for many years and even some of the natives tell us that the people in this area expect things to be handed to them. We feel more than ever, they need teaching and they need time. Our neighbor boy doesn't need food whenever he decides he wants some, he needs time and someone to keep him at his schooling since neither his mother or father care where he is and what happens to him. A couple we know doesn't need money handed to them, they need teaching on spending wisely and saving. A man we know does need a steady job, but more than that he needs teaching about being dependable and trustworthy so he can actually keep a job.

  The other day I was listening to a friend tell about her financial troubles. I listened and was sympathetic but as I walked home I was guilty because this verse kept coming to mind. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? James 2:14-16 I guess if I want to soothe my conscience, she has food and clothing. But what is our responsibility?

  The other day I came across something that helped me put things in perspective, I don't have it word for word but the meaning was something like this; Government tries to fix society as a whole. Christians should know that the only way to fix the world's problems are by individuals accepting Christ. With that in mind, Ghana does need teaching and people to listen to their problems. But most of all they need Christ.