If you ask me what my favorite thing about Ghana is, I can tell you in a heartbeat.
It’s the people.
(Bright and Erika demonstrate the game for their team.)
In Ghana, everyone says “good morning”.
Everyone shares a greeting.
Everyone gives a genuine smile.
(Coach Greg encourages his players.)
I find this to be quite different from responses I receive at home. Often as I walk toward someone in my community, they look down or pretend to be occupied with something else.
In Ghana I’m reminded that life is never too busy to acknowledge another human.
(Lawrence works in the clinic after the football game.)
In Ghana, everyone remembers your name. When your name is remembered, you feel valued.
One night while in Ghana, I saw friends whom I had not seen in a year. I surprised them by walking into their home unannounced, and they remembered my name.
I felt special.
(Mike mentors a group of teenage boys.)
In Ghana, I never have to carry anything. Someone always insists on helping. If I request anything I am in need of, it is brought to me quickly. With each request, someone will try very hard to fill it with the resources at their disposal.
Serving is a way of life in Ghana, as it should be everywhere.
(Joe helps to prepare food for the many campers.)
In Ghana, my favorite thing of all is working together with my team from the US and my friends from Ghana. Together we form a well-oiled machine.
Some are teaching. Some are organizing. Some are running games. Some are leading small groups of children. Some are cooking. Some are cleaning. Some are helping with crafts. Some are handing out water. Some are taking photographs. Some are organizing the dorms. Some are up front. Some are behind the scenes. Some are very young. Some are older.
But everyone is necessary.
(Leah leads the motions for worship time.)
Our team took turns sharing a devotional each morning after breakfast while in Ghana.
God took me to the book of Ephesians, chapter 4.
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
This is who we are to be, at camp and every day.
(Chris organizes and loads young campers into the bus.)
“One body…one Spirit…one hope…one Lord…one faith…one baptism…one God…one Father.
Over all.
Though all.
In all.”
(Tim teaches the large group, and Matthias translates for him.)
We may have an ocean between us, but we have so much in common.
And it’s definitely the important stuff.
(Brother Philip referees the big game.)
“Christ…equipped his people for works of service so the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith, and in the knowledge of the Son of God, and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”
(Christabel and her friends prepare yams for dinner.)
So many gifts of serving and giving and teaching and listening and loving and leading.
All of us working together to become mature and full of Jesus.
(Campers serve by being part of the drama about Daniel.)
“From Christ the whole body joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its work.”
(Etor teaches an object lesson at camp.)
It’s all about love.
It’s all about Jesus.
When we are full of Him, it’s easy.
The love we have received spills over to others.
