Words matter. Our Shorter University students and faculty were challenged by Chief Operations Officer, Tyler Ellis, to reflect each evening while on our recent Global Experience Trip to Ghana and choose one singular word that resonated with us for each particular day. Little did we know, these words would soon become anchors for our experiences.
Our group had many preconceived notions as to what our short-term mission trip may entail and for months prior we prepared for what we believed was ahead. Needless to say, for anyone who has traveled or joined a mission trip, our preconceived notions were wrecked almost immediately in all of the most glorious ways. In our first stop in Gbimsi, we were afforded the opportunity to serve local business leaders by presenting business and marketing strategies that may assist them. We were welcomed more like family than friends or instructors from the moment we stepped off of our bus and into their home. Everyone was dressed in vibrant colors that represented respect and appreciation for our time which was only outshone by the warmth and greeting each and every man, woman, and child gave us through our interactions. Being 5,000 miles from home, these gestures were greatly appreciated and humbling to say the least. Throughout our presentations, the audience was engaged and eager to learn. While we took turns presenting our various content, we could not help but notice the growing number of children crowding the three doorways to the church hoping to get a glimpse of the spectacle we had become! The smiles and laughter that these young boys and girls displayed could warm the coldest of hearts.
As found in the Book of James, we were asked as leaders to pray over anyone who wished to be prayed for. You could feel the excitement of all and the presence of God throughout the room which continued as person after person lined up and waited to be prayed for. We each took our turn praying for each individual and placing hands on them as a group. The growing power and presence felt by all in the room is something words do not do justice. In the midst of this, a young man approached for his turn to be prayed over. His name was Francis and he was struck by a car at the age of four while on his way to church. As a result of this incident, he had one leg amputated. As Francis approached, it was my turn to pray over him. I fell to one knee to meet him eye to eye and managed two words before breaking into tears. The words that fought through each tear were a direct gift from God at that moment as they sought protection and guidance for a long and influential life for this young man. They were of appreciation for his commitment to Jesus and his faithfulness to not allow such a tragedy to deter him from continually seeking God’s light. The presence in that moment will be an experience I will cherish throughout my life. None of us, praying and placing hands on this young man, had a dry eye left. After the prayer had ended, Francis displayed the purest smile I have ever seen. It was day one of our two-week trip, and God had wrecked all of us involved with this moment in such a way that was, and still is, almost indescribable and greater than anything we could have imagined. In an arid, impoverished, desolate location found in northern Ghana, at the foot of the Sahara Desert, with such limited resources and where life clings to availability of water, God displayed his presence and power in such a way that each of us will never forget and can barely explain.
I truly believe Francis walked up to us to open our eyes, hearts, and minds to the beauty around us and to allow us to be made more aware of what God is doing in West Africa. In the days to come, our group was able to connect with people on a deeper level and recognize opportunities to serve at a higher degree.
It was a blessing to witness many cherished moments in our group, each reaffirming that God is alive and active in previously unknown parts of the world. From unique and meaningful interactions experienced in Accra, Bolgatanga, Gbimsi, Nayoko, Wale Wale, Bugyakura, Kukua, Tamale, Anwomaso, Duasi, to the incredible wildlife seen through our safari in Mole, or the unforgettable evidence of grace and promise through Trinity Foundation School and House of Grace-Ghana in Kumasi, we were never far from experiencing a blessing of some sort. Even the bittersweet and heaviness found in Cape Coast standing before the Door of No Return and truly feeling the tragic history experienced there, God opened the door for understanding and a new perspective to each of our group in a way that no classroom could ever do it justice. While we may have been excited about the novelty of travel leading up to this trip, the people and the presence of God unmistakenly felt by all of us so consistently and evidently was the true takeaway from this trip.
Circling back to the opening statement of this article; while words do matter, they fall so short of displaying the gravity of what is occurring and awaiting the many who seek such a calling throughout Ghana. The daily reflection of the word of the day was a fantastic means to stay present and truly consider where our hearts and minds were each day. In the spirit of this exercise, the word most appropriate to summarize my personal experience in Ghana is…changed. I firmly believe one does not spend time with the people of Ghana, feel their welcoming hearts, embrace the purest smiles and happiness, and dive into their culture on a deeper level without feeling the presence of God constantly, only to return home being the same person who initially stepped foot in this part of the world. As repeatedly stated, words matter but ultimately fall short of truly representing what awaits an experience such as this for all who take the chance. It is my desire that this article reaches anyone who is ready to be changed and challenged in a way they desperately seek but may not fully understand yet. You never know what to expect, but it is my heart’s desire that each of you have a moment as we did in Gbimsi with Francis that wrecks and simultaneously opens your heart to the power and presence of God as our group did on day one.
