There are so many reasons to love the work God has called me to. I can always look at things in two ways. One, I “have to do” Or two, I can look at it as I “get to do”…Let me share some “get to do” things. I get to use my gifts to serve people. I get to meet new people. I get to travel. I get to encourage and walk alongside fellow believers in Christ. I get to worship with Jesus followers from around the world. I get to teach the Bible. I get to learn a language (or 2!). I get to share what I have learned. I get to wear flip flops everyday. I get to do so many things!
When new people come to Ghana, they go through a long orientation process in Accra. Lots of information is thrown their way, books are suggested to be read, maybe they need vaccinations, they learn about the SIM Ghana team, they figure out the Cedi currency, they meet lots of people, they either thrive or barely survive the humidity and try and hold on to their sanity. Most are so excited and take the whole whirlwind in a stride getting to their place of ministry excited and … not remembering anything :) (Ok, maybe that was just me.)
I love being part of orientation. I love sharing about Ghana, the people, the culture and stories from personal experience or about my amazing friends. I love taking people around. One part of Ghana history that we think is important for people to know about is the slave trade. From my country, we hear the side of the story of slaves being sold when they got off the boats. It is terrible and just as horrific to hear Africa’s side of the story of how they got on the boats.
I won’t go on about it, you can google about it or here is a link. When I have traveled to the far north, I have heard people hear from their ancestors that their people group was nearly wiped out. All that was left were old women and children. In some areas of the north there are still remnants of walls with holes where they could shoot arrows through to combat the slave traders.
Visiting El Mina Castle is a World Heritage Site. It reminds me of what humans can do to other humans. It is a very sobering place. Human nature is wicked and we all need the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
When I lived in Accra, I would bring the new people here. El Mina Castle is about 3 hours from Accra along the coast. People will pay a fee for a tour. They can go into dungeons, jail cells, and a room where the slave holders even had church!
After the time in the castle, before heading back to Accra, the peeps and I have a sit with some food and drink and talk about it. It is kind of like a debrief. Some feel the pain of the castle very personally and they cannot talk about their feelings until they process. Some cannot believe this really happened but have now seen it with their own eyes. And some want to discuss it with Ghanaians. Everyone is different.
Where we sit and eat is alongside the beach and you can see the castle down the way. Here we sit in freedom while only a couple hundred years ago people were shackled up, against their will with barely any food.
I feel I have been on the tour of the castle too many times. Now, I leave people off at the door with their tour guide and wait outside.
This lovely time taking people to the castle was different. Stephen, our amazing SIM office worker, drove us. I did not need to worry about police stopping me for whatever reason. I did not have to concentrate on the road or other obstructions that could be in it. I could ride worry free! I went with Sami and Jeremie. We had a safe ride and good conversations. When we got to the castle Stephen and I left them and did our own exploring.
El Mina is right on the coast. It is a very big fishing city. Stephen was actually looking for some fresh Tilapia to bring home for his family. So, we went looking around. The day was beautiful and sunny. People were out bringing in their catch. People were selling their catch. (Stephen did not find any because they were selling it in bulk.) It was refreshing for me to be at the sea and see this way of life again. Beautiful.
When the guys finished their tour we drove down the road and had a sit to reflect on the information of the tour of El Mina. Also, we ordered some food and enjoyed the sea breeze and soft sand. The day went by so quickly and we had to hop back into the car to beat the Accra traffic in getting home.
One last thing I get, I get freedom, I get to enjoy freedom!! Seeing a place like this you cannot take it for granted.