Whether along the sprawling streets of sidewalk vendors, high-rise businesses, malls and traffic in Accra or Tamale, or in the bush communities like Bimbilla, Chaamba, and Talon, the people of Ghana are at the heart of its beauty and vibrancy. You will find a mix of old and new, modern and ancient, influences of Islam, indigenous beliefs, and Christianity. Clean, potable water is a precious commodity. Late Fall dries up every reservoir and small creek so that people must purchase water or travel miles and miles to wells.
The very taste of Ghana is unique. Huge cast iron pots of ground nut and sorghum porridge bubble atop fires in the morning. Fried fish, chicken, beef, or goat meat and jollof rice is served for lunches and dinners. The sweet and spicy fried plantain bites offer a treat as appetizers or desserts. The Indian influence is evident in the spices.
Colors explode on the dresses and head wraps of the Ghanaian women, men, and children. The patterns, either woven or printed, are usually bright and vibrant. The funeral colors are red and black. Entire communities will come out in their finest to honor a leader who has died, lining the roads and gathering together. Driving past this gathering was a sight to behold. So many people in the community were obviously gathering together for the ceremonies.
Young adults carry the hope of the country’s future. Educated men and women, when surrendered to Christ and His calling, are being trained to reach their communities through relational discipleship. These young people bear the torch for their faith. YLI provides the tools to equip, but it is Ghanaians who work the fields white for harvest. Through the generosity of sponsorship, the interns are trained for three years while also training the next set of potential young leaders.
The beautiful model that Jesus Himself gave is being lived out through the YLI training program and it’s interns and graduates. By better understanding how to grow other disciples, one a year, who then disciple another the next year and so on, we see how the world can exponentially be reached, evangelized, and discipled in a very short time.
While in Ghana for a week, I experienced humidity, torrential thunderstorms, power outages, and more humidity. But in visiting the outlying communities, I visited hut-filled communities with no visible means of electricity, wells with clean water that still required several miles of walking to access, and homeless children begging for food in the city. My discomfort suddenly paled by comparison. The expansive distances between communities is beautiful. Men drive cattle through the bush. I loved shouting “cows!” When I saw the herds of cattle or even a couple grazing near a home.The boarding school in Chaamba was a remarkable ministry, and I will cherish the generosity of the pastor, his wife, and the teachers.
Ash and I were gifted a rooster which did not like staying in his box in the vehicle while we ate lunch! His life was spared at least as long as I was in Ghana. I did offer to make soup of him and we named him Stew.
Basic Training in Talon was a great opportunity for me to see the interns take ownership of their ministry. The Leadership Conference for the YLI leaders was precious in worship, prayer, fellowship, and learning. I loved hearing the simple songs the young men sang and joining in with them. Prayer was precious as we lifted parts of the prayer together aloud, each praying, but in unity of spirit. Just mingling and socializing with the interns and leaders was fun, as well. I expect upon my return to Ghana I will have several Connect 4 rematches with some very dejected Ghanaian young men who lost to Mother Rhonda over and over again!
youngleadersinternational.org 