It's Ghana Be Wild!

“I have plans for you, I have plans for you. It's gonna be wild, it's gonna be great, it's gonna be full of Me.” (Come Away - Steffany Gretzinger)

If you were to tell me a few years ago that I would be living in Ghana for a semester, I would have probably laughed and not believed you. Yet, here I am. Living in Ghana for a semester. It's been a month since I first arrived (which is crazy!), and I am truly loving it. I could not be happier with the decision that I made to come here for study abroad, and I know and see that God has so much more in store for me beyond what I could have even began to imagine.

Since my last blog post..

I've adjusted to life here

It seems like it took forever, but I finally adjusted to being away from home and have settled in to this new environment. One of my biggest accomplishments is the fact that I've figured out my way around campus. It may not seem like a big deal, but coming from the super tiny campus of Agnes Scott, that was definitely one of the hardest adjustments I had to make, but I've finally got it figured out. There are also other things I've gotten adjusted to as well, such as the food, people, catching tro-tros, and taking cold showers (lol! but really). Coming in with an open mindset and being flexible has definitely helped in regards to making the transition as easy as possible.

Classes have officially started

Although I've been here for a month, classes really just began last week or so. The “first week of classes” wasn't really the first week of classes, and that took us all by surprise. Although students who were here last semester (and other Ghanaian students) warned us that no one (including the professor) typically comes to class the first week, it still caught up by surprise when we found that to be true. Also, classes are only once a week, and some of my classes didn't meet the second week either, therefore I really just started having all of my classes last week. The majority of my classes are public health classes, but I'm also taking a Twi (local Ghanaian language) class, and a traditional African dance class. Now that they've all gotten started, it looks like it will be a great semester!

I've been attending church

One thing I love about this campus is how many churches there are. Without even leaving the school, there are very many different options for churches to attend, and the ones that I have visited have been very welcoming and I have thoroughly enjoyed the services. Along with having so many church services on Sunday, most churches have midweek services as well and at least one prayer night a week on the field. The prayer nights are my favorite because there are so many different people from so many different churches coming together to lift up the name of Jesus on this campus and in this nation.

I began volunteering with Mawulolo Youth Network

Volunteering with Mawulolo Youth Network has by far become my favorite part of this whole study abroad experience. Although I have only been a few times now, I have fallen in love with the children, and their smiles warm my heart. Twice a week, I get to teach them, get to know them, and just laugh and spend time with them and I absolutely adore every second of it. I knew the second that I arrived that I would love it, and that is a huge understatement. Kids definitely have a special place in my heart and I am so beyond grateful for the opportunity to work with them.

  

Again, I am so extremely satisfied with my decision to spend a semester in Ghana. Who would have ever thought that I'd be here, but I'm so glad that God saw fit to place me here (seriously. I wasn't even on planning on coming to Ghana when I applied for study abroad, and I actually didn't find out I would be here until AFTER I had already been accepted elsewhere lol!) The Lord surely works in mysterious ways, and I love it. His plans are not what you would have ever imagined, but it's definitely better than anything you could think of yourself. Letting God have His way in your life may cause you to end up in a country you would have never even thought of going to, doing things you would have never imagined doing, but I promise you it's so worth it.

In the words of one of my dearest friends, life is a WILD ride. But when you're following God at least He knows where you're going. You may not, and handing the control of your life over to Him and choosing to accept whatever He may bring your way and wherever He may take you is never easy, but He's never gonna let you down. God knows what He's doing. Life with Him is full of surprises, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Life is a wild ride regardless, so we might as well stay with the One who makes it worthwhile. :)

Blessings,

Elisha :)

I Think I'm Ghana Like It Here :)

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.." -Ephesians 3:20

I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting when I arrived in Ghana, but I do know that every expectation that I had was definitely exceeded. From the moment the plane got close enough to where I could see the city below me, I immediately knew I would love it here. All of the mixed emotions I expressed before leaving quickly diminished and I was overcome with excitement and joy.

After being here for two weeks now, that initial excitement has not faded. Other emotions have definitely come and gone due to various circumstances, like feeling overwhelmed and sometimes frustrated, but despite all of that, I am even more excited now than I was when I first arrived.

Although my time in Ghana has been short thus far, we've done many different things like taking a tour around the capital city Accra, visiting the museum of Kwame Nkrumah (the first Ghanaian president), learning how to ride tro-tros (public buses), doing canopy walks at Kakum National Park, and taking a trip to the beach at Cape Coast, where we also had the opportunity to go through a slave castle and experience the tragic reality that many of our ancestors faced.

Kwame Nkrumah

Slave Castle at Cape Coast

Canopy Walk at Kakum National Park 

My roommate (Chelsea) and I at the beach at Cape Coast

It's been a great two weeks in Ghana, filled with meeting lots of new people, making new friends, trying new foods, and having new experiences. There are definitely things that I am going to have to get used to though, but I am learning to enjoy this phase of not knowing things and not being as independent as I would like to become. I am learning so much about myself throughout this journey, and I am really trying to embrace every step of it despite the difficulties and challenges.

Here are few of my favorite things about Ghana so far:

1) The sense of carefreeness

Sometimes it can be hard to distinguish between carelessness and carefreeness, but here the people are definitely carefree rather than careless. Very few people are in a great rush, especially outside of the city. It's not that they don't care because they're lazy, but rather because they choose to enjoy life and one another instead of always being in a hurry to get somewhere.

2) The abundance and accessibility of fresh fruit

Getting fresh fruit (especially pineapples and mangoes) at the market is easily one of my favorite parts of the day. It's so convenient, extremely cheap, and is always so refreshing after walking around all day in the hot sun. On top of all that, it's absolutely delicious and definitely some of the best fruit I've ever had.

3) The extremely evident love of the Lord

One thing that really caught my attention as we were driving around is how many of the tro-tros, taxis, and different shops have a reference to God on them. I've seen different sayings on the backs of tro-tros and taxis, such as "Jesus" "God's grace" "God is King" "Salvation" and many of the names of shops here make a reference to God, such as "God's Favor Cuisine" or "Sweet Jesus Catering" and my personal favorite, "The Lord Has Done It Hair Shop". At first, these names seemed a little random and out of place, but the more I saw them the more I realized that it is just an outward expression of their inward love and devotion to the Lord.

I'm really enjoying my experience in Ghana so far, and though it's only been 2 weeks, I do think I'm really going to love it here. 

Thank you so much for keeping me in your prayers! It means more than you know. Please continue to lift me up, in regards to further adjusting to life here and as classes are starting this week. I will update you all when I can!

Stay blessed,

Elisha :)