We are in the Upper East Region of Ghana. The capital is Bolgatanga. We met the governor on Monday. In fact, he was going out to Nyariga to dedicate and celebrate the thirteen Rotary wells. Nyariga is a village with three of the new wells. We went to his office to wait for all of the TV, radio, and newspaper reporters to arrive. We also had to wait for a little longer since we are in Africa.
All of a sudden there was a rush of movement toward the cars. The governor of the Upper East Region (Regional Minister) jumped into one of the Land Cruisers. The first in the procession was a police motorcycle. The second in line was a police car with their sirens blasting and lights flashing. Two vehicles for the governor were next in line. Our car was at the back of the line. I’ve never been in a governor’s motorcade before. I never imagined that I would experience it in Africa. What a trip!
The school children ran out of their school to watch the excitement. The people carrying loads on the side of the road stopped to look. Women fetching water were straining to see who was so important. All eyes finally came to our car. We had fun waving like we were somebody.
The ceremony was wonderful. There’s a woman’s center within easy walking distance of the well where the women make baskets to help pay for food and education for their sons AND the daughters. The all-girls school is one of the first in the Upper East Region. We were welcomed. The governor spoke. The women’s center director spoke. Pastor Emmanuel Atia spoke. We commissioned the well. The governor actually pumped the water pump handle about five times before he said that it was hard work.
These wells are due to the insistence of Watertown Rotary and Watertown Sunrise Rotary. These wells are paid for in Rotary matching grant 65414. This grant is also the West Virginia “water jug” project where every Rotary club in District 7550 contributed toward new wells. There are many Rotary Clubs and Districts involved in these wells.
A Rotarian who I never met came to the Bolgatanga area many years ago to install a drip irrigation system as part of a matching grant. He built a relationship with this area that the Watertown, NY Rotarians wanted to honor with matching grant 65414. That Rotarian died a few years ago, but communities have new wells because he cared enough to come and go home to tell his home club that there were people in need.
We are in the dry season in the far north eastern corner of Ghana. We have a well about one mile from Burkina Faso. That is the country that borders Ghana to the north. The heat is very oppressive in this area. It is easy to understand why water is so important. The Saharan Desert is just to the north of Ghana. The desert is moving south due to the relentless demand for firewood to make charcoal to sell and use for cooking fires.
I have seen about six or seven of the thirteen wells in this area. Some of the roads end in bolder fields which you have to drive through before the road continues. I don’t know what you do if you guess wrong where the road will start again. We have wells down that road. The communities are very thankful. Their common request is to ask for more wells for other parts of their communities.
I’ve worked Rotary during the day and preached at night. The evening services are from 8 PM to 10 PM. Pastor Atia has lights and loudspeakers mounted to metal poles. He has a sound system and microphones. He has a new generator that powers the lights and the sound system. He also has two wonderful young men who know how to set it all up in the dark. We sing and dance until it is time to preach.
My crusade message usually includes John 1, John 3, God’s grace, and the love of Jesus Christ. I also talk that we are worthy of God’s love. We’ve had about twenty-five adults accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. The first night, six accepted the alter call. The next morning sixteen came forward to say that God moved their hearts after the service ended.
After the service ends, it takes us about an hour to tear down the lights and sound system. The benches and desks are carried back into the local school. It takes about forty-five minutes to travel back to the hotel. We around 11:45 PM. I’m usually asleep the last ½ hour of the drive back to the hotel. I’m not sure why I’m so tired. The heat takes a toll on Stephen. He headed for our air conditioned hotel room in the early afternoon before he completely melted.
I woke up this morning at 6 AM ready to start the day again.
My mind is thinking of home. I’m beginning to plan the Boy Scout camping trip in my head. I’m wondering about my kids when I look out at the children who also came forward to accept Jesus Christ into their lives (there were about 30 kids.) I’m thinking about Easter sunrise service and being back in the pulpit at New Hope UMC in Callaway, Virginia. Right at that moment, I realize that there are more wells to visit and that we’ve got two churches being built – one is in Sagadugu and the other is an activity hall in Callaway, Virginia at New Hope UMC.
I appreciate your thoughts, prayers, and notes. I promise to catch up with your questions and comments soon.
I have new pictures of us with crocodiles, new wells, and other fun pictures. Let me know if you think the crocodile, Steve, or I look the best. Getting a picture with a crocodile is definitely a first for me in Ghana. I lived to write this report!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2020389&id=1433252039&l=d572b7332f Week two of the trip to Ghana
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2019977&id=1433252039&l=ce1820b75b Week one of trip
http://walter-mission.blogspot.com/ This has all of my mission and Rotary reports for this trip.
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