“Ghana is a world of polarities. Rich Neighbourhoods and Poor, sparsely populated and densely populated, Lots of Christians and Lots of Unbelievers, just know that your perception, idiosyncrasies, ideologies, and theory of Africa, Christianity, Global Missions, the Church and God’s Word would be greatly challenged. May the Lord be your strength.”
—  David Yebuah, our field mentor in Ghana

1 day ago · 0 notes

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”
—  Augustine of Hippo

2 days ago · 0 notes

tro-tro //

noun. A crowded, but efficient and inexpensive, minibus used for short distance travel.
Origin- Evolved from the Ga language word “TRO” meaning three pence, that is, the penny coins that were in use in the colonial days of the Gold Coast, now Ghana. Those vehicles charged each passenger three pence per trip, hence it was dubbed “Tro- tro”. Though the penny is no longer used, and the fare has been inflated in multiples, the old name still stands, obviously as a reminder of the transport service that operated in those good old days when life was simple and easy-going.

The most amazing form of transport known to man. Dilapidated minibuses which run the length and breadth of the cities and countryside. They are always full, but always have room for more people. I was invariably crammed between huge women who had vast girths and were dripping with babies. As I am no sylph myself, it was very uncomfortable. And when someone at the back wants to get off, there is always all the fun of getting half the bus off and then having an argument as to who was sitting where. Getting back on we start again. The best place is by the driver, next to the window. You have something to hold onto, you have fresh air (no vehicle in Ghana has windows) and you may get out quickly. Another feature is the mate, whose job is to collect money and shout out “Buzz ztop” (bus stop, for the halt, not the final stop). The smell of petrol fumes wafts through the floor and your foot is being pecked by an irate chicken who is wrapped in a plastic bag.  -Anonymous

The tro-tro system also works around a tenet central to Ghanaian society: waiting. There’s no schedule, no map outlining routes. You just have to wait at the side of the road for the right one to come along.

Even if you’re at a bus station, and lucky enough to find a tro-tro going in your direction, you must still wait. No matter if it’s a broiling thirty five degrees, and you’re sticking to your neighbors’ arms, and the plastic seat. The driver wants to make as much money as possible, so the bus doesn’t take off until it’s full.

I asked one gap-toothed tro-tro driver how he feels about his tro-tro being a serious polluter. He scratched his chin and looked approvingly at the black smoke billowing out of his exhaust pipe. “I like black”, he says. “Black is better than white. It shows the engine is working.”

courtesy of GhanaWeb.com

3 days ago · 0 notes

Seeing Double //

On 26 April 2012, Ghana became the first African country to introduce pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines at the same time, simultaneously tackling the leading causes of the world’s two biggest childhood killers – pneumonia and diarrhea.

Ghana’s historic rollout marks a new milestone in a global initiative by GAVI Alliance to reach children in developing countries with vaccines against the leading childhood killers.

The proposed immunization program will take a significant amount of time to achieve universal administration, but the arrival of these immunizations will greatly and immediately increase childhood life expectancy in Ghana.  Pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines have respectively reached 17 and six GAVI-supported countries in the last couple of years, and are expected to reach more than 40 countries by 2015.

Video courtesy of GAVI Alliance.

6 days ago · 0 notes · Source

Reflections on a River //

  1. Sometimes the most productive thing to do on a weekday afternoon is bake in the sun.
  2. Paddling down a river is a great way to explore the particle physics of water and the miracle of hydrogen bonding.
  3. Poison oak makes your skin really itchy.  Fun fact.
  4. God’s creation is breathtaking and we need to immerse ourselves in its beauty more often.

1 week ago · 0 notes

Things that Start With the Letter P //

This blue suitcase is sitting in my basement taunting me as I sit in my kitchen typing.  It laughs at me because it knows that I need to think about packing and that I am the biggest procrastinator in the world. 

That’s right: packing.  12 Days | 20 hours | 50 minutes.  But who’s counting? 

Lots of preparations to do before I head out:

  • Still waiting on my malaria meds prescription to be fulfilled
  • Sunscreen, insect repellent, Pepto
  • Have to get a power adapter that works in Ghana
  • Gifts for my host family
  • Finish some required reading
  • Thank you cards are piling up to the ceiling

But thankfully one thing is done: Peanut Butter.  And plenty of it, thanks Mom.  I don’t think I could safely leave home without it, and who knows when it will come in handy? 

So with the list piling up, I am getting a little overwhelmed.  And even though I haven’t done anything particularly productive yet, I am going paddling down the river in my kayak. 

Irresponsible?  Perhaps.  But I’m on Ghana time.

1 week ago · 0 notes

1 week ago · 47 notes · Source

Reposted from delali: Ghanaian child in her school unifrom

Reposted from delali:

Ghanaian child in her school unifrom

2 weeks ago · 26 notes · Source

“On this Mother’s Day, let’s remember that 1,000 women still tragically die every day in childbirth or from pregnancy-related complications that are preventable with skilled clinicians, drugs and equipment. Maternal death is an ongoing crisis, but it is an avoidable crisis and it deserves our attention.”
—  From Doctors Without Borders: Kara Blackburn, from Brisbane, Australia, is a registered nurse/midwife who joined Doctors Without Borders in 2006. She has practiced midwifery for 14 years. In her current role as medical advisor for women’s health, based in Sydney, Blackburn supports a number of Doctors Without Borders women’s health projects globally.

Read the rest of her article from WomensENews.org (via doctorswithoutborders)

2 weeks ago · 125 notes · Source

Home, Helping, and Hummus //  Well, in case you haven’t guessed it by now, I am home!  It is good to be back in the Minnesota Heartland (not to mention clean beds and real food).  I am looking forward to a few weeks of relaxing and final preparations as lift-off draws closer.  As far as Ghana preparations, I have some more readings and projects to finalize with my team; remind me to post more information about my partnership as I am learning a little bit more about Ghanaian culture and pieces of what our summer will look like.  I recently started reading this fantastic book, When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor…And Yourself, co-authored by Brian Fikkert and Steve Corbett.  From the authors: “When Helping Hurtsreveals the painful truth about poverty.  But it does more than tell you what nit to do.  the book moves from foundational concepts about poverty (Who are the poor), to principles (should we do relief, rehabilitation, or development?), to strategies (How can we help the poor domestically? Internationally?).” Although only halfway into the book, I have been very impressed by the sensitive and creative insights into the deep-seated realities of poverty and the honest perspective into the failed attempts at poverty alleviation executed by various Western institutions in recent history.  Not only do the authors provide first-hand, empathetic glimpses of poverty near and far, they offer achievable holistic strategies for understanding and awakening to the poverty inherent in the fallen realm - including ourselves.  Many aid efforts rallied by the evangelical church and para-church organizations  in the 20th and 21st centuries have actually exacerbated existing inequalities and divides, as well as damaging those seeking to serve.  The authors conclude with practical solutions to approaching service and cross-cultural interaction (as well as defending the case for poverty alleviation in the first place!). Helpingprovides realistic and refreshing vision for those willing to take the plunge; I highly encourage you to give it a read! And as for hummus, I was treated by my awesome family to a delectable dinner at Naf Naf Grill in Naperville -  complete with pitas, shawarma, tabbouleh, and enough hummus to paint the walls.  If you ever find yourself hungry in Chicagoland and craving some Mediterranean fare, I can vouch that it is well worth your time.  Well, I believe the time has come for my annual first-week-at-home hibernation.  I trust that God is moving and encourage you to find some time to rest in His presence today.  Shalom.

Home, Helping, and Hummus //  Well, in case you haven’t guessed it by now, I am home!  It is good to be back in the Minnesota Heartland (not to mention clean beds and real food).  I am looking forward to a few weeks of relaxing and final preparations as lift-off draws closer.  As far as Ghana preparations, I have some more readings and projects to finalize with my team; remind me to post more information about my partnership as I am learning a little bit more about Ghanaian culture and pieces of what our summer will look like. 

I recently started reading this fantastic book, When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor…And Yourself, co-authored by Brian Fikkert and Steve Corbett.  From the authors:

“When Helping Hurtsreveals the painful truth about poverty.  But it does more than tell you what nit to do.  the book moves from foundational concepts about poverty (Who are the poor), to principles (should we do relief, rehabilitation, or development?), to strategies (How can we help the poor domestically? Internationally?).”

Although only halfway into the book, I have been very impressed by the sensitive and creative insights into the deep-seated realities of poverty and the honest perspective into the failed attempts at poverty alleviation executed by various Western institutions in recent history.  Not only do the authors provide first-hand, empathetic glimpses of poverty near and far, they offer achievable holistic strategies for understanding and awakening to the poverty inherent in the fallen realm - including ourselves.  Many aid efforts rallied by the evangelical church and para-church organizations  in the 20th and 21st centuries have actually exacerbated existing inequalities and divides, as well as damaging those seeking to serve.  The authors conclude with practical solutions to approaching service and cross-cultural interaction (as well as defending the case for poverty alleviation in the first place!). Helpingprovides realistic and refreshing vision for those willing to take the plunge; I highly encourage you to give it a read!

And as for hummus, I was treated by my awesome family to a delectable dinner at Naf Naf Grill in Naperville -  complete with pitas, shawarma, tabbouleh, and enough hummus to paint the walls.  If you ever find yourself hungry in Chicagoland and craving some Mediterranean fare, I can vouch that it is well worth your time. 

Well, I believe the time has come for my annual first-week-at-home hibernation.  I trust that God is moving and encourage you to find some time to rest in His presence today.  Shalom.

2 weeks ago · 0 notes