Imagine a world where everyone worships God. As you walk down a busy street, hymns and praise songs fill the air. A world where everyone is gracious, polite, and kind. Where time is taken to not only inquire "how are you?", but to actually want to listen to the answer! A real answer...not just the curt response "fine."
Imagine a world where every older woman is called mama and elderly men papa, and where a young child is happy to crawl into the arms of an adult they do not even know - soon to fall fast asleep. A world where children are carried on the backs of their mothers until they are 3, even while she works all day selling wears off her head at the side of the road. How about a world where young children do their chores without being harped at...small girls as young as 5 carrying heavy things on their head, washing clothes in buckets of water drawn from the ditch at the side of the road...where young boys sit for hours weaving beautiful cloth, or trudge miles to collect bamboo poles. Imagine a world where woman sit huddles over the tiniest fire, cooking their daily meals in a single pot. And imagine that all the while these tasks are performed, the people wear smiles on their faces and hum songs of praise.
Imagine a world where everyone is eager to learn how to improve themselves and their world, and where advise given is graciously received. Imagine a world where no one smokes, and no one drinks too much (if at all).
This is Ghana. A place of beauty for sure...lush green vegetation everywhere...but far more beautiful are the people. There is something to learn from a race that admonishes their media to"inform and transform" the minds of the people (to be more godly).
Ghana is committed to improving the lives of its people. They have mandatory community service and lots of government programs. What they lack is money and skills...human resource training is terribly lacking, and even the most basic of marketing skills are so much appreciated here. Simple understandings we have and take for granted in the west, are coveted here. They seek our knowledge and want to suck as much information out of us as they can. I feel I have been useful...and look forward to helping more. Each and everyone of you has something you could offer Ghanaians.
Today I gave a short lecture at the college about marketing, and on Monday I will teach a class in more detail. All the students are eager to learn...as are the directors who we will spend this afternoon consulting on strategic management. We will be here until Monday. Tomorrow we will do some sightseeing, and then on Sunday will attend church and meet the village elders. We are pretty sure we will be able to upload photos later today or tomorrow. Thanks for your comments...please post some more...we read them eagerly, and miss you all so much.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
Do you get the sense the country is really improving: even slowly but surely. You mention the women and the children a lot in your posts - where are the men, what are they doing?
I am travelling with you electronically and have been reading all of your posts. I am really happy to see that this experience is having the depth in so many regards that you so very much hoped that it would.
wow corrie i love how you are always helping people. i love that you are teaching! thats awesome! i think of all the times that you have helped me and given me advise, and all the work you have done in your life time and think it's amazing that you are so willing to share with others.
So let's see,.. Barcelona is full of thugs and theives, venice is falling apart and poor old africa is a Norman Rockwell come to life. It all sounds so dreamy and quaint. Kiss kiss, love and honey. Sounds suspicious.
I know to you Corrie, praising "God" is the cat's ass, but when I read your comments about that, I feel sorry for the poor dolts. Wasting their lives away praying for help instead of pulling themselves up by their own bootstraps and making things happen. With all the folks walking around with things on their heads, you'd think there'd be a market for a wheelbarrow salesman! If you want to see them achieve self sufficiency, you need to inspire some good old fashioned greed and entrepreneurial spirit!!
Amazing commentary, makes us all realize how blessed we are..Your efforts of humanitarian kindness and compassion, are second to none.
We all know there is a greater need in this world, for people like you and Joel. Our prayers and thoughts are with you. Keep up the good work. Our trip was fun, Alaska is pretty amazing too. Dad & Faye. xxxooo
Just got back from cruise, am having some trouble posting comments, as your blog doesn't like any info. that I feed it. Can't remember the password it wants, now it doesn't like my name...Dad
Post a Comment