Sukuudan Mu - Classroom

Day 8

A lot of time today was spent traveling. I know we've mentioned the traffic already but I'm going to say it again. It's insane here. "Be aggressive, Be, Be Aggressive"...and if you're not, you don't move. Street signs and lights are almost completely none existent. Short distances take a long time. There would be no way I'd be able to drive in this...Praise Jesus for Islan!
First stop was the Korle-bu Hospital in Accra. We got a tour of the Physical Therapy department which was followed by a meeting with the vice president of the physiotherapy association for Africa (and he is also the vice president of the physiotherapy for Ghana), several physical therapy professors, the head of pediatric physiotherapy, and a physiotherapist. While the team sat in awe of Deb's professional interaction with these big wigs, Jillian and Alex slept in the seats behind the team and Stephanie's eyes were glazed over. Deb received a round of applause and lots of smiles when she said she had 30 years experience in physical therapy. The two teams - two cultures - discussed the possibility of a partnership that would benefit the PT program at the University of Ghana and the hospital. It was so cool to witness this diplomatic event. At one point in the meeting one of the Ghanaians raised his fist in the air and said, "We will be the first [to establish a sister school in the U.S.]."
We stopped by Dean's Guest House for lunch where they didn't have any menus so the waitress shared the four items that they make. Many of us ordered fresh pineapple juice and then we listened as the waitress told other customers near us that the pineapple juice was "finished." I guess we drank all they had. It was heaven in a kiddie cup with a straw! During our lunch we were serenaded by big black birds (which Jillian wanted to kill).
Back on the bus we settled in for the long drive to Tema. Once we checked into the hotel the team decided to go into town for dinner because we had been cooped up on the bus for so long. We had our first taste of American food and it tasted great! Thankfully, Alex didn't tell us that he saw cockroaches in the restaurant until after we left. Because we were eating American food, we had a conversation about American things for the first time on our trip.
Sue and Caity stayed back at the hotel to wait for Bula, John's brother (John is one of the six Ghanaian students living at their home in Bismarck) to arrive. When he got there they visited for awhile and then had ice cream sundaes at the restaurant in the hotel. It was fun to get to know him.

Day 9

We left the hotel at about 8:30 a.m. and drove a good hour to City of Refuge in Doryum. We were met by the owners, Stacy and Johnbull Omerof (sp?), and they shared their vision for their ministry to children in the fishing slave trade in Ghana. Stacy is from Sioux Falls, SD and Johnbull is from Nigeria. Stacy went to the same Bible school as Pete an Steph. It is really a very small world! They are amazing people who are building a new school, home for the children, and a home for themselves on 20 acres that were given to their ministry. Currently they are living in a rented house and the children are schooled nearby. Right now they have about 20 children (orphans) in the school, but once the new school opens they will be able to have nearly 150 students. After a lunch of fried rice, chicken and salad (yes, we ate the salad after Stacy and Johnbull promised us it was washed with clean water). After lunch, Caity led a small team in teaching CPR and basic first aid to the school's teachers and young adults from the nearby village. It was a great experience and Caity was in heaven doing what she wants to do in life. Caity will return to City of Refuge after we all fly home to do some more teaching in the village and also some first aid for the residents.
Throughout the day, Stacy and Johnbull shared some stories of the children they've rescued and their approach to doing so. They are not forceful, but build relationships with the chief of the village and the masters of the fishing boats. For more information about this ministry go to http://www.cityofrefugeoutreach.com/.
On our way back to the hotel in Tema we stopped in Tema New Town, a very, very poor part of town. This coastal community is where they rescued two of their current children who were sold into slavery when they were 5 and 6 years old. These children had spent five years working from sun up to sun down with only one meal a day. Stacy and Johnbull introduced us to a group of single moms who they have been ministering to and teaching them to make jewelry as a means to support their families. We all bought some jewelry and played a bit with the children. Stephanie took out silly bands to give the children and was quickly mobbed. Six children were sitting in the dirt of the road playing a game and we stopped to watch. All they had was an old pencil and a pile of dirt, but boy were they having fun.
When it started to get dark we hopped on the bus and headed to the hotel. We all ate at the hotel restaurant and were joined by Bula, his mom and his sister. Bula's mom sells Kente cloth and many of us bought pieces from her. Now we are so tired and are going to bed.
P.S. We are leaving for Kpando tomorrow morning. This village is more remote and Internet could be unreliable. Don't be alarmed if you don't hear anything from us for a few days. We will be back in Tema Friday evening (July 15).