Coming to Ghana

A Letter from John Etheredge, serving in Ghana

April 2020

What a blessing it is to be able to communicate with you from Ghana. I have been here for five months and have had so many wonderful experiences. I thought I was coming to help people and found that I am the one being helped! They have shown me how to improve my prayer life, and they have shown me another way to approach God. The people here are so accommodating. They want to please me and see that I am comfortable. Children I don’t even know will come to me and ask to carry my backpack. This is what the children are taught to do at an early age. They are taught to respect anyone older than they are.

I read a story the other day in Genesis Chapter 12 about a man named Abram. God told him, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” Sometimes God asks things of us, and we don’t fully understand at the moment. My advantage is that I have Abram’s faithfulness as an example for me to follow. Another similarity in this story is that both Abram and I moved at about the same age. Thirty years ago, when the Holy Spirit spoke to Anne and me, we didn’t know where in Africa we would be going. We just knew it would be Africa. Anne is not here with me, but I feel her spirit pushing me on.

On November 19, 2019, at 9:00 AM, I walked on African soil for the first time in my life with mixed emotions. Did I do the right thing coming here? I knew I was led here by the Holy Spirit to make this mission trip, and I was reminded that I am here for a purpose. Abram didn’t understand at first, and neither did I; I was just following the message I received. I do know in my heart and head that I find comfort being here. I have committed two years to work as a long-term volunteer with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana. Their headquarters is in Ho, Ghana. The church is involved in many educational and health activities. They operate several health clinics, two pharmacies, a college, a seminary, vocational school, six high schools, 157 junior high schools, 549 primary schools, and 549 kindergartens.

As a long-term volunteer, I will assist the church in helping youth who are not part of the formal school system get an education. The church provides skills-training programs to support and educate girls who dropped out of school. I will also assist at the Shepard Centre of Aging. This church-based social center engages older adults who live alone in the community. I will serve as an informal counselor and companion to the older adults who come to the center for nurture, care, and faith activities. In my next newsletter, I will tell you more about the work I am doing. I must first tell you about the beautiful country, beautiful people and why I call this place home.

I had lunch with a pastor who ate his lunch of fu-fu with his fingers. Fu-fu looks like dough. It is made from cassava and plantain with a little flour. The way you eat it is to pinch off a piece of the fu-fu, dip it into the soup, put in your mouth, and swallow it without chewing.

The church operates a hotel and restaurant. There is only one item on the menu per meal, usually white rice with fish or chicken, and it is delicious. I ate rice twice a day for the first twenty-eight days I was here. People here are very kind, and they want to make sure you feel at home. After serving your meal, they stand around to make sure you have everything you need.

Another significant event that I attended was a pastor’s funeral. Although he died July 17, 2019, he was not buried until November 23, 2019—131 days later.

Another interesting difference is that I do not need a prescription from my doctor for any of my daily medications. I just go to the pharmacy and purchase them.

There are 3,500 members in the church I attend. They have four services each Sunday. I attend the older adults’ service at 7:00 AM and the children’s church at 9:00 AM. Church ends at noon. Yes, I spend a minimum of five hours each Sunday in worship. They love to dance in worship during a song or when they give an offering. When the drums start, you can expect dancing to start. I have already begun to learn the dance movements.

I attended a New Year’s Eve service that began at 9:00 PM and ended at 2:50 AM.

I live in a cottage consisting of a living room, two bedrooms, and a half bath. There was no kitchen in the house. There was a community kitchen, but it is no longer in use. I had to purchase a refrigerator, toaster oven, and microwave. I use ceiling and floor fans to cool the air since the average temp so far is about 96 degrees. I don’t have a TV or radio to keep up with the outside world, but I know things will improve as I get to know the area. Part of my prayer each day is to be comfortable with what I have, and to know God will not let me go it alone.

There are plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables available in the market. Whenever I need to transport anything, I hire an okada, which is a motorcycle with two rear wheels and a seat.

You can expect to see me in one of those beautifully colored shirts made of Kenta cloth. I visited the village where Kenta cloth is made and have selected a special design pattern and will have a “man cloth” made for me.

I am so very thankful for this experience and I ask my Christian family to keep me in your prayers as I will be praying for you. I’ll admit it is not easy being someplace other than the U.S. This was the first Christmas in my life that I was not with family. I am not here on vacation, I’m here because I heard a call. Remember, I still need your financial support.

PEACE BE WITH YOU.

John