The 2010 Ghana VIM team is home and anxious to share stories of our wonderful adventure and of what your contributions to the youth center construction project and to the Mo-Dega agricultural project means. Because the internet connection at the Hephzibah Christian Centre was down our last two days, we’ll recount the activities of those busy days now.

On Tuesday, June 29, we headed to Accra in the two vans. First stop was the Methodist Church Ghana headquarters where we had a tour and were received officially by the Bishop. As he said to us, the Methodist Church Ghana is able to sustain itself, but for a project such as the Methodist Youth Center, they need outside financial assistance and were most appreciative of what First Church has done. Our youth headed off from there to explore the markets with Emily as their guide.

The rest of us went first to the National Cultural and Arts Center market where all sorts of Ghana crafts were available. Vendors were aggressive, as we had been warned, but we had learned also how to bargain a bit better. The main Accra market was next on the itinerary, and this congested market stretched for blocks and included food, toiletries, clothes, household items, souvenirs, etc. Some of us had a peaceful buffet lunch at the British Council, within walking distance of our rendezvous point, the Methodist headquarters, before we headed back to Aburi.

After stopping at Hephzibah to pick up the gifts we had wrapped for our Ghanaian friends, we headed one last time to the Methodist Youth Center for a closing worship and gift exchange. Once again their strong, faith-filled hymn singing stirred our hearts. Amid laughter and tears we said our good-byes with the hope that we will continue this relationship between First Church and the Methodist Church Ghana.

Wednesday morning following breakfast, we visited the Aburi Botanical Garden. The royal palms lining the park’s road are especially impressive; we also were shown a giant kapok tree, a ficus that had strangled an enormous cedar tree, herbs, etc. Short stops at the Aburi woodworkers row and at a couple stalls in Aburi were all we had time for before lunch at Hephzibah, loading our luggage into the vans and thanking the staff who had taken such good care of us.

But the excitement wasn’t over. As we started down from the hills, it was obvious one of the vans had no brakes. The passengers in that van were moved to the larger van as we followed cautiously. But as we approached the toll booth/police barricade only a short distance away, Nana could stop the limping van only by hitting the barricade. We spent an hour and a half beside the road while Nana negotiated with the police and brake fluid was added and the leak stopped. The swift response by a Ghanaian mechanic reminded us that life is more complex in Evanston! Children who appeared from the nearby village were taught hand clapping games by Tina and Dylan; others of us sought shade under a large tree shared by some of the men of the village or against several small shops.

Once in Accra we drove through the University at Legon, Ghana’s premier university. The setting is a hilltop so we had a lovely view of Accra. The day ended with dinner at a restaurant across the street from the airport; following dinner we walked into the airport and started the tedious process of leaving Ghana for a 1 am flight to the U.S.

Thank you again for your prayers and support. We felt surrounded by the love of family, friends, and First Church community. You may want to check this blog again next week. We expect to add more photos and comments from the team.

Top photo: Members of Wesley Chapel Methodist Church in Aburi continue their visit following worship.

Second photo: Roadside repairs in process!

Third photo: Most of our group--along with Otto, our driver, seated on left and Nana, our leader, seated on right--gather in front of a giant kapok tree at Aburi Botanical Garden.

Fourth photo: Don and Joanna receive a gift from Nana.