Day 6 Week 1

Only in my first week and I have witnessed more than I thought within the first two or three weeks at best. I am currently located in the Abanda Village in East-Ghana in the Volta region. Yesterday, was my adventure coming up. It began with leaving Enoch’s around six in the morning. We were heading to Accra to catch a van/bus. Getting anywhere in the city or I guess anywhere at that is always life threatening. “Ways of the road” seems to be whatever you make them. The traffic is constant and unorganized you latterly fight for your positions! When we arrived an hour and a half later, we entered a market area. Here there were shops lined everywhere. What I thought was going to be a mild wait, turned into five hours of waiting in intense heat. We finally began our journey, which consisted of a six-hour drive through a lot of Ghana. I saw a variety of landscapes and vegetation. The van was very uncomfortable and very very hot! The bridge that goes over Volta Lake (largest man made lake in the world) was very beautiful! When we came closer to the village we began to drive on the dirt roads again, most of the way up they were paved roads. The amazing thing about coming up was the speed we were going at when the roads were nice. At top speed, we hit 150 km! I loved it! Upon arrival, I was introduced to my living courtiers. Not a Holiday INN! I became a little overwhelmed at first but took a deep breath and said a prayer and I was fine. My room is pretty nice actually; it is more of the other hygiene things that are a little difficult. The toilets, well there are not any, at least ones to sit on. There is a whole in the concrete and you do your best at aiming at the hole. Showering is out side, which I actually enjoy a lot for you get to see the stars and he weather is amazing (at night)! Today I meet many of the people of the village. Those consisted of members of the church, the nurse, elders, and the chief interim. I meet with Pastor Bismarck and Pastor Maxin today as well. I had a lot of great discussions over cultural comparison with America. Although in the obvious sight the two countries are very different, but in the large scheme of things we are very similar. The same things that we deal with in America they deal with in Ghana. I am looking forward to a wonderful month. It may go by slowly for that is village life, but it will be a great one at that!