It’s Tuesday, our last full day in Ghana. This morning is already different than any other morning. The sun was shining bright with clear blue skies. Ghana’s typical mornings are filled with ominous gray skies covered by clouds with a threatening look of rain. But today, Ghana is smiling on us and saying thank you for coming.
Even though the theme of our trip is “Celebrate, Educate and Serve”, our theme for today is “Shop til You Drop”. Today scheduled itinerary is shopping/sightseeing/swimming/praise and worship/relaxation. What it turned out to be was shopping and more shopping. After enjoying a tasty breakfast, Gail and I visited the hotel shops and local shops before going on our scheduled trip to the open market.
Since today was a less structured day, mostly the women decided to go to
the open market while the men opted to stay and lounge around the hotel.
Linda reminded all of the shopaholics to use their calculators that she had
given us at the beginning of the trip to help keep us from over-spending
and focusing on being Dfree. We got to the market and shopped some more.
When we got there, many greeted us, Akwaaba! which means welcome. Some remembered
us from the other day. They are such warm people. We realized it was a sign
of respect to go to their booths and look at their wares. When you think
their ancestors (and ours) suffered so much from the slave trade, they continue
to suffer not having the basic necessities we take for granted; clean water,
decent shelter, an infrastructure that provides electricity, and hot running
water. They greeted us welcome and now we are leaving, it won’t be
goodbye.
Our next shopping excursion was to the Jewelry Centre where you could purchase
18 carat gold jewelry. Redeemer, our awesome bus driver, got some coconut
water for Celia and me. The coconut tree is a type of palm tree. He shared
many uses of the palm tree: fuel for cars, building materials for roofs and
fences, fruit, cooking oil, and wine. When the palm tree rots a delicious
mushroom grows from it. Essentially, you can use every part of the tree.
You have to marvel how God provides. Linda says she is getting some palm
trees.
Back to the hotel - We get our final fitting for our African garments. They
brought fabrics and accessories that we can also purchase. Gail and I told
others about another gift shop down the street we went to this morning that
had some really nice things. After getting fitted, sisters Odessa, Gail,
Brenda, Freda and Ann went to the boutique to continue shopping. Yvonne,
Celia and I were headed to the beach.
The guard had let us through the beach entrance. We walked along the shoreline, took some pictures and just enjoyed the view. We were trying to get to the beach before the sunset but we missed it. That would truly have been another highlight of this trip.
Our last supper together was exceptionally good. Everyone was there in good spirits. During deserts Charles gave us an overview of the equity products offered by Databank. We had a Q&A afterwards.
Believe it or not we continue to shop, again back at the gift shop, the local stores and a local merchant, David Eddie. The final excursion was a vendor from the open market who came to the hotel. She showed Celia, Yvonne and me some wonderful African garments that she made.
Reflecting makes you put into perspective how unbelievable and awesome trip we had. Even though this day we did a lot of shopping, it was celebration and education every day. And I am ready, willing and able to serve in doing God’s work to help others who are less fortunate than me.
“ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28
I believe that this scripture applies to a number of situations that I experienced before and during the trip. Earlier in the morning, I experienced the typical traveler’s illness for a few hours, but I was able to take medication to resolve it. I decided not to go shopping with the team; I stayed close to the hotel to monitor my health situation. The temporary illness made me rest longer, which really was a good thing to do. It also gave me an opportunity to walk around the hotel premises and take pictures of flowers (a favorite hobby) and patronize the shops at the hotel. There were some things that I wanted to purchase; in particular, I wanted a shawl for someone’s 90th birthday. I shopped, purchased some jewelry- but I did not get a shawl. I really didn’t know what to buy for a gift.
Most of the ladies, including myself, had outfits made by a Ghanaian seamstress. She sewed and supplied the material of our choice for a reasonable price. Today, she was returning with our outfits. God made a way for me to get the shawl. The seamstress had bought a variety of fabric and her sewing machine! I was able to pick out material and get the shawl made in a short period of time. It was also very inexpensive! God made the way!
God is awesome and He does know the plan that He has for us. There is a gift shop in the hotel that I visited several times. This time I went with the hopeful intention of buying some things from the store. One of the owners of the store, whom I don’t think I saw on previous visits, asked me if I was from Maryland. I said New Jersey; she said she had a sister in N.J. I asked her where she lives. She replied Somerset. What a shock! I told her I was from Somerset, I asked for her sister’s name and when she told me, it was a fellow church member, United Methodist Church at New Brunswick. I knew she was from Ghana and I didn’t personally know her. In the midst of our conversation, I guess I made myself available to take something back for her (a dress). And guess what? I had bought material from New Jersey with the intention of getting the outfit made while in Ghana. It is cheaper to do it in Africa. I had given up on getting it done in Ghana, but God made a way. The woman, who is going to bring the dress for me to take to New Jersey, is going to make the dress for me. She will bring it with her when she comes to America in November. She has even visited my church and even taken a picture for my church’s directory. What a testimony!
After leaving the store, I went to the room to dress for church, I decided to wear the tailored-made dress, I didn’t try it on, and because I thought it would fit fine. Well, I put it on, it looked nice, but I walked funny in it. The dress was too tight at the ankles. I shuffled to the lobby and that’s when I found out our plans had changed. We weren’t going to church, and on my way back to the room, Linda saw me and complimented me on the dress; I told her about the problem I had with it. She told me the seamstress was still there. Praise God, I was able to get it altered.
God has allowed me to have a memorable time in Africa with a great church and a great pastor. I thank Reverend Soaries, Linda and all of my sisters and brothers on the trip. It was a great blessing, even though, I’m not a member of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, God answered a prayer and I felt welcomed on the trip. God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ever ask or think according to the power which works within us. (Ephesians 3:20)