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Reflections & Observations
(Editor’s note: For the past several weeks
we have posted Erin’s mission reports from Ghana, West Africa,
on the board for everyone to read. This last report, sent the night
before she left for the States, was so touching, I felt this excerpt
was worth sharing in our bulletin — Chris.)
Hello Folks,
Well, this will be my final update from Ghana for
this year. This trip has been such a blessing to me. I am so grateful
that God saw it in His plan for me to come and that you were all
generous enough to be willing to help me get here. I have had my
eyes opened and now see the world a little differently. I know that
sounds cliché, but I mean it. I realize just how much the
Lord has blessed me with the love and support of people of all different
races, cultures, backgrounds and countries. I now have family in
Ghana that until this trip, I never knew existed. God has blessed
me with new relationships that span continents and I have been so
deeply moved by these people.
They are such a generous, unselfish, caring people. Unlike us Americans,
they think of others first. Throughout the trip, we've been discussing
the differences between our countries and cultures, and while we
have conveniences like AC and power/running water all the time,
we don't have the open hearts they do. Our school students don't
have the discipline and drive theirs do. (Did I tell you that I
met a class of 3 & 4 yr olds that recited their times tables
to me?) We don't have the common courtesy to complete strangers
that they do. And their eager attitudes toward the gospel are awesome.
I have never experienced anything like it.
Granted, not everything here is great. Their women
lead VERY submissive lives and, while there isn't anything wrong
with it, it isn't something that would be tolerated in the US.
Driving here is nuts! I thought US 19 was bad.
They are maniacs on the road. (But they always use their blinkers.)
Their country is also very poor. Many of the group
we traveled with had not been to the places we went before we took
them...and they were places that were within a few hours of their
own homes. But due to the economic conditions here, traveling to
the market once a week is a big deal. Even though these people have
so few material things to offer, they have opened their hearts and
their homes to us time and time again. Perfect strangers have allowed
us to stay in their private homes simply because we're brothers
and sisters in Christ. It amazes me still.
While I'm looking forward to many people and things
in the US, I am very sad to leave Ghana. Our group was having a
discussion today about how anxious they are to get home, and I was
the only one who said if given the opportunity, I'd stay another
2 weeks. I truly mean it. I believe in the work that is being done
here. And I obviously can't say enough about the brethren we've
traveling with. They honestly are family now. I see why our group
leader, Bob, returns every year. It's addicting.
Love to each of you,
Nana Heima Erin
(If you have read Erin’s reports, you will
understand her sign-off!)
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