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Ghana Mission
2003
Part 1 -
Background |
Sources:
Infoplease Atlas
and Lonely Planet |
Pastor Ruth, Dick, and Julie
Merriam took part in a two-week mission to the Azani Village of Ghana.
Azani is located just a few miles inland from the Atlantic Coast, near Busua
in southern Ghana (see map).
About the size of Oregon, Ghana is one of
the most densely populated countries of West Africa. It is
approximately 65% Christian, with Methodism being the largest Protestant denomination.
Its biggest export is cocoa! It also is a source of Gold, making it an object
of European colonial interest beginning in the 15th century. |
Note: click on the pictures below for
full-sized view.
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Our project was coordinated
by Rev. Dr. Seth Asare of the Newton Massachusetts UMC (in the white
shirt) and the Right Rev. Kow Egyir, the Bishop of the Methodist Church
in Ghana. This was the second year of a three-year
mission.
Last year the mission team helped build a new church in Azani. |
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One of the goals for this
year's mission was the completion of a school wing to the church.
Most of the construction was done by local masons and craftsmen, with
help from the team, and funds provided by the mission and fund-raising
efforts in the U.S. |
| The church (above left) got
a new coat of paint. The school wing was supposed to be finished 7
days after our arrival! |
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Many of the village 6-8th
graders attended Vacation Bible School. Most of them, like Rita,
wore school uniforms with a picture of John Wesley (click on the picture
to see a larger view).
Penny did not make a big hit at VBS
since the students had probably not even heard of a
penguin. Penny's mom was known by her Ghanaian name,
Efua. |
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One of the surprises of the
mission was all the need for medical attention. Before
the team arrived , messages were sent to the surrounding villages (by
drum!) saying that a doctor was coming.
Dr. John saw many hundreds of patients over a
three day period! |
| Each patient got a free
examination and was then given a prescription for medicine or else given a diagnosis
so as to see a
specialist. Money for the purchase of medicine was provided by
the team ahead of time. Many had eye
problems, including one boy with a large tumor. Several of the team
members started an "Elijah" fund, under the control of the Bishop,
for specialist care. The woman on
the right is waiting for to have her prescription filled.
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The Methodist church in Ghana
supports local industry through the Women's Oil Palm Processing
program. The women know how to use nuts from palm branches so as
to get oil from them.
The oil is then sold locally or to other countries. We visited one
of these processing plants. |
| The team received land from
the Azani Chief to start a palm oil processing plant in Azani next year. As a sign of commitment to the project, the Bishop
held a
ground-breaking ceremony. A more modern plant will be established
than the one we visited. |
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