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 :)