Day Two:Ghana

09.19.07

**there are some more pictures from "day two" to be posted, but the server for whatever reason won't allow me so I will have to do it later--hopefully then it will work. Hope you enjoy these! Don't forget to add your comment. We would love to hear.

(click on each picture to make them much larger)

We rise early in the morning after a good night’s rest and full bellies from Bonnie’s cooking we loaded the van and began the drive to our village. The day we had anticipated and replayed our minds start to finish and now it was time to try to see if the process worked and if so how well.



Here are just a few of the sites we saw on our way to our first tribe.

A mother bathes her little boy in front of her roadside store before a long day's work ahead of her.



And I think it's hard to be a mom, but here mom's don't only carry their children, but almost always with some heavy load of something on her head. Here a mother elegantly carries her little one on her back while balancing all that wood on her head mostly with several miles still ahead of her to go.



In a land of little, one must continually be resourceful even when it comes to building a fence.




We passed these two boys who were balancing virtually enough wood for a bonfire on the back of their bikes.




When we arrive at the villiage the children were in school, but soon they were dismissed as it isn't every day that they see vistors let alone white and from the United States. Look at the shear joy on these children faces as Zenda, my mom, simply twirls a wand making bubbles—it’s magic to these little ones.



...notice the little boy in dark orange in front as he feels his face after a bubble just landed and popped there



Below: See the little girl in front? Now notice her belly button. It is severely herniated—a sight soon to be common among the children in this village. This issue is probably something that could have been easily prevented in most cases, but without much help from outside the village, the midwives of this tribe are left to do the best they know how.



For us in America, a family portrait is something we take for granted, but in third-world societies a family portrait is a true rarity. I don’t even think that most of the people who sat down in front of my lens even realized what that big black thing on legs (my tripod) was doing anyway or at least until they received their print documenting their moment of confusion. I had not expected the stone expressions I would continually receive and that I would have to encourage, encourage and encourage some more each individual, including the children, to give me a smile when they would come to have their picture taken. Typically a smile is one thing I can help generate pretty quickly and easily, but here in Ghana a smile is something I had to work for each time I put a camera in front of my face. Fortunately, I was quickly able to find almost a flawless way to see those pearly whites. What to know my secret? Trying to speak their own language and not being able to do it very well. Love ya, lima, lima, love ya—over and over again could be heard coming from me. I heard Mary, my translator saying it fast and repetitiously after she understood what I was trying to accomplish so I followed suit even though I did not know what I was even saying! I think my attempts alone were so funny that they were gracious to me and gave me a “deep down in the soul” kind of smile. Here I was successful—even “knee slapping” successful from the Patriarch!



Same family, but here watch the woman on the back row disappear—too funny. She was blushing so hard that she went down to her knee trying to cover up her smile/laughing behind her family.



After everyone from the tribe had had their picture taken we decided to do something else that would fun. Children of all ages and languages enjoy a little Crayola. I know I do. Don't you? Anyway, it never ceases to amaze me in my travels how a little stick of colored wax can bring such timeless joy and imagination to every age let alone every culture.





This beautiful young lady bare's her tribal markings...slits cut into her cheeks when she was not even a few months old.



1000 Words of Hope is a project of Creative Differences, the non-profit we are forming. At Creative Differences we try to find creative ways to generate hope in the midst of difficult situations and we cannot do that without you! Embracing our creative differences to make a creative difference--we want to encourage everyone to look at their unique gifts and talents and find a creative way to give back in a way that is uniquely them. One of my mom's talent is a "knock 'em dead" manicure and polish (ask anyone who has recieved one from her)--I am not kidding. Here is one of the women who got to enjoy just a little part of that experience. Can red nail polish brighten someone's day? Of course it can! After all, part of a woman's nature is to feel and look beautiful--isn't it?. And if you didn't already know that just look at the expressions on the faces in this picture. Enough said.




On our way back to the compund after a long, but very successful day, we passed the Stadium for the African Cup: a $120 million dollar project. The juxtaposition of obvious poverty and money is overwhelmingly sad as Ghana tries to prepare for the upcoming African Cup in January amidst her people trying their best to make a way for their families



Back to our "base camp," Seed Ministry Compound. Today has been great. The vision for 1000 Words of Hope in our imagination had actually work in reality! And not only that, but four people came to Christ today too! The simple idea to give remote tribal people their first and only family portrait opened up yet another villiage to hear the name of Jesus!




Bob and Bonnie, the missionaries at Seed Ministry has asked if we could give each of their helpers (our translators) a family portrait too. We were so glad they asked. After dinner we started our first on-campus photoshoot. Here mom waves and makes noise trying to get the little baby Joanna’s attention. Thomas, her dad and one of our translators, holds her in his lap. Little did we know that within a few days, Joanna would become severely sick and running a frighteningly high fever and dehydrated. She most likely had contracted Malaria—a huge health crisis for the children of Africa. However, through much prayer the doctors were able to find the right medicines to treat her condition and her condition has continues to improve. Please keep Joanna and her family in your prayers.

Interesting Bit on Fundraising

This is Reynold Levy, president of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. Tonight I heard him speaking about fundraising for the Lincoln Center on Marketplace, a public radio program.



Here is the link to listen for yourself: http://www.publicradio.org/tools/media/player/marketplace/2007/10/25_mpp?start=00:20:00.5&end=00:26:20.0


Among other insights into fundraising, Levy highlighted the privilege he has of giving his donors the opportunity of contributing to the greatness of the Lincoln Center. He said that he sees himself as doing givers an enormous favor because their gift actually gives meaning to their lives that they would not otherwise have.

I found this to be very encouraging in the midst of gearing up our funraising efforts. It was inspiring to hear his confident excitement about raising money for the Lincoln Center and I empathized with his perspective on donors as participants in the organization to which they are giving.

Giving to Creative Differences offers similar meaning as giving to the arts. You are making it possible for hope to be generated in the midst of difficult circumstances in ways that have not been considered before. There is great potential for new approaches to helping others when creativity is encouraged and people are given the opportunity to share their giftedness with the world. There are similarities between Creative Differences and the Lincoln Center. However, we are going a step further and asking others to participate in the work of generating hope through creativity. Try asking the Lincoln Center to let you play in the New York Philharmonic!

Our First Wedding Since Ghana Leads to Our First Sponsorship!

We met together with the couple whose wedding we will be shooting this weekend to discuss final details and they surprised us by sharing that they have decided to sponsor the 1000 Words of Hope Project on a monthly basis. This will be our first official monthly sponsorship and our letters have not even been mailed yet! Again we see clearly that God is moving ahead of us, constantly affirming his desire that we devote ourselves to this work.

It is comforting to hear others' support and excitement for this project. We are always excited about it and our thoughts about the growth of the organization or our next trips are always rattling around in our heads, but there is nothing like hearing someone else who understands what we are trying to accomplish affirm the importance of the work we are doing. This couple is so excited about the project that they have offered us the opportunity to display some of the pictures we took on our trip to Ghana during their reception. What a great opportunity to share the vision that God has given us both for future shoots in the US and trips abroad to give family photos to those who would otherwise not have them.

It is so exciting to see God working around every corner. I am convinced that my life before lacked the faith necessary to see God's hand in this way. But by jumping into this project head-on, Elizabeth and I have left ourselves with nothing but faith to rely and literally live on. I believe it is the greatest decision we have ever made together, and being apart of this work has truly changed our lives and perspectives forever.

Ariving in Ghana 9/18/07

*the building to the left is where we stayed

Finally, after much preparation, but most importantly—prayer, our team including our equipment had finally made it into the country. There were certain problems that Matt and I had anticipated arising, potentially putting the project itself at risk just because of the nature of the equipment we were carrying into a 3rd world country, but really all I can say is that it was obvious that God had gone before us making the path clear. God continued to show His faithfulness in this way throughout our time in Ghana in really monumental ways that I am excited to share with you.

We have only been home for week and finally making our way out of the jetlag fog, yet I am already eager to get back. (We will talk more about that later too). There is no place like Africa—the people, the land, and the culture. Bob and Bonnie’s presence along with home cooked meals (Bonnie’s biscuits and gravy—I am telling you what, that is some good stuff, people) added with Zoe’s pictures placed throughout our room made the compound feel like home. Even through the natural angst of leaving Zoe behind in DC, I don’t think two weeks has ever passed so quickly before in my life. The first day we got settled in at the compound then after a nice casual dinner with Bob and Bonnie (it was like we had known these people for years) we made sure that all of our equipment was running smoothly along with batteries freshly charged and compact flashes clean. Then we debriefed as a team and went over plans for the next day and called it an early night. With lights out and the air on high (it’s Africa), thankfully all of us enjoyed a good night’s rest.

Giving Thanks...

I finally got some sound shut-eye last night for the first time since I have been in the States and even though it was divided by two hours of bright-eye in the middle—I do feel like I was at least able to get some rest. So, it’s looking hopeful that I am finally pulling out of the jetlag.

Every time I am fortunate enough to travel to other cultures beyond my own, I always come home with a deeper appreciation for those many things I’ve come to enjoy while taking them for granted on a pretty regular basis. I take them for granted not because I am bad, but just because for the most part they are so familiar to me. After all, it’s easy to be aware and conscious of another’s need when you travel to places where life is simply about surviving another day.

So here are some things that I have been thankful for since getting home…

First, I have nine reasons to give thanks—

For the nine little red mosquito bumps that dot Zoe’s body from a little romping around in the grass.

Why? Well, because since I live in America, I don’t really have to worry if one of those bites on my daughter carried Malaria to her. After all, Malaria kills more children than any other health crisis including HIV/AIDS.

Tenth reason to give thanks…clean water.

The other night as soon as we had gotten all of the luggage out of the car, I decided to give Zoe a bath after a full day of travel. As soon as I turned on the faucet brown water began flooding into the tub. Zoe standing there naked and ready to get in…
It was such a surreal moment—immediately I decided that my child was not getting in that water while at the same time my mind was taken back to the rural clay roads and muddy stagnant watering holes that just days earlier I had seen people fetching their drinking water and filling larger containers to take home.
I called out to Matt—“This water in here is brown!” “It’s okay Elizabeth, it’s just sediment from the pipes sitting. It’ll clear up in just a second.” And it did.

Soon Zoe did not just have clean clear water running, but it was warm as well.

The eleventh reason to give thanks…warm water.

As I bathed my child in warm clean water, I still could not shake the feelings that came along with seeing that brown water filling into my bathtub. As Zoe played and splashed and we smiled back and forth at one another, I couldn’t help, but notice the stark difference between what my child has and what other children around the world have. This bath water was not only clean, but warm as well and it will be that way day after day after day. Then one more thing hit me…this clean water that my child plays in right now—she nor myself is even going to drink it, but instead when she’s finished with it we will open the drain and when we need or want clean water again we always know where to find it.


Just some thoughts as I process being home. I know these issues are hard issues and by all means they are not intended to make you or me feel guilty for having clean water or even being an American. But, these are issues that we must continue to address nonetheless and honestly these are just the fragmented thoughts that have been swirling around my jetlagged head since I’ve gotten home.

As promised…beginning Monday, we will start sharing more of our day-by-day journey in Ghana. We appreciate all of your patience as you so eagerly wait to know the details and those we so eagerly desire to share, but first as we try to make our base here at home once again.

Washington VS. Psalm 33

Same story this morning as I continue to find myself wide-awake at 4:00. I finally got the guts to get up and make it to the shower quietly stepping and hoping that I wouldn’t wake Zoe.

We fly out of DC around noon today and we should be arriving at 4:10 pm after we have a layover in Alanta and back up to Louisville.

It’s a funny thing, but if I am not going to be in Africa than I am always eager to get back to what I know is home. I guess it is because my heart feels the same peace there—that “feeling of home” kind of thing in Africa, as it does back at my house and the familiarity that surrounds it.

Important!

Monday we will begin posting our day-by-day journey through Ghana. So keep checking and please bear with us as we acclimate to US culture/time zones and trying to remain silent enough before God to hear His next step.

**Please feel free to comment or just say hello if you like. It’s always good to see who has been keeping up with our story.


YESTERDAY IN WASHINGTON




Yesterday Matt and I decided to load up Zoe and hit the Metro (DC’s subway system) to the Jefferson Memorial. We had a lot of fun as well as a pretty nice workout since the subway system didn’t take us as close as we had thought it would. The subway dropped us off right between the White House and the Washington Monument. We hit The Mall and began our long journey to the Jefferson Memorial. We first were able to see the Jefferson over the beautiful lake and while Matt and I stood there Marine One passed right before us, which was really exciting.



Once we made it to the Jefferson Memorial we strategize about how to get the stroller to the top while allowing her to walk them herself. I am sure that Zoe has been to more of the monuments than most have before two years of age.










She was a good sport especially since this all took place during what should have been her nap.




It was cute…Matt’s arm was getting tired from carrying her so far that he decided to try and get her to ride like the African women hold their little ones (without the cloth). She loved it! It’s a good thing because I bought some cloth in Tamale just for this reason.



It’s pretty bizarre to come from a country like Ghana were they talk in hours and days, instead of minutes immediately into such a fast pass society as DC. In DC, everything is in seconds—crossing the road, getting to the next meeting, catching the subway and to see people run like they are catching a plane is just strange, when The Metro has the same route available every ten minutes.

It was neat though as it was clear that God was teaching and reminding us a little about Himself in those moments yesterday. To slow down, enjoy the process (the ride as much as our destination) and that our security is not in the world of meetings or busyness or even business, but only in the One who Created the Heavens and the Earth and everything within it. (Everything here in DC is centered on the issue of Homeland Security)

**Check out Psalm 33. Read the whole thing, but focus on vs. 13-22, and may you have true and deep Peace from the One who created it as you go about your day.

Email from our friends in Ghana

This is a copy of an email sent from Bob and Bonnie this morning.

Matt, Elizabeth, Don and Zenda,

We just wanted to say thank you once more for all of your hard work while you were in Ghana. Each of you brought such an array of ministry to us that it would be difficult to say what was the 'best' part. Keep up the good work and know that there are many today that are enjoying your pictures. Even more importantly, know that you will spend eternity with some of those folks all because you cared enough to share a picture.
Keep in touch with us and don't forget to write something for the newsletter. Love ya!
Bob & Bonnie

Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy

www.seedministry.com

(Elizabeth talking now)

Check out their ministry, what they are doing is really cool and has Matt and myself thinking. Bob and Bonnie did not go to Tamale to start a church, but instead they empower the Ghanaian Pastors in Tamale to empower their individual churches. Doesn't it make sense that an indigenous pastor would understand the needs of the people rather than someone else who grew up in a completely different atmosphere?

One more thing:

Seed Ministry is working on a container project, which you can check out on their website. If you can participate any way possible, I can tell you that it will be put to good use and further the Kingdom, but you only have a month before it is shipped.

Throughout our time in Ghana we continued to ask Bob and Bonnie what their wish list would look like. The kept shying away from our request because they are so humble at heart. However, through our continued urging and growing relationship they finally did write it out. This is what was on it.

Bob and Bonnie's wish list:

Container Project:

Toothbrush and toothpaste
Dental floss
Band aids
Triple antibiotic ointment or crème

New or used:
Medium to large bibles (no King James--the English is too hard, as they are just learning)
Bible commentaries
Bible concordances
Bible dictionaries

Weed eaters
Small generators
Bicycles and motorbikes for pastors
Any kind of instruments (new or used): guitars, pianos, keyboards--anything

They are asking for a $7.00 donation for every cubic square box you fill. Every little bit helps. Check it out on their website for more details.

seedministry.com

Jet Lagged

I literally have been rolling around in the bed wide awake since four this morning wondering how I could get up and get something done without waking up Zoe. Matt has been doing the same thing since a little before six. We are sharing a room with her in DC as we spend a little bit of time with Matt's parent's, which we don't often get to do. It has been neat to watch what Zoe's days must have looked like while we were away. We fly out tomorrow around noon and then we will all be adjusting to being at home. Hopefully, we will sleep better once we are all in our own beds.

Well, I hear Zoe in the other room repeating a cheerful, "Daddy, daddy, daddy?" Today is going to get started early with her early as well--it looks like.

Thanks for keeping up with us.

We Are Back in the US!!

We have returned after a long journey of 5,129 miles to DC where we have reunited with Zoe and are spending a couple of days with my parents. Our trip was a tremendous success in working through the logistics of photo shots in remote villages and experiencing the response of the people in seeing the first photographs of their families.

In addition to this, we developed a great relationship with Bob and Bonnie Parker of Seed Ministry in Tamale Ghana. Their ministry works to support the work of local pastors in Ghana in all sorts of ways including construction, medical, transportation, and education assistance. In addition to this, Seed Ministry sets up Bible clubs for children in villages where there are no churches. Bob and Bonnie and rest of the Seed Ministry staff worked so hard to accommodate our little team with transportation and crowd control for the shoots. We had a great time photographing some of the tourist spots as we made our way south to Accra. Our trip could not have been successful without their help! Check out their website at seedministry.com.

We are adjusting to the culture shock that comes with returning to all the niceties of the US. You never know how fortunate you are until you get to experience how the majority of the world lives. Hot showers, air conditioning, and Starbuck's do a number on the senses upon returning home.

Thank you all for keeping up with the blog while we were gone. We had limited access to internet cafes (I was amazed to find any internet access at all) so we were only able to post twice while we were gone. Over the course of the next several posts I will share some of our photos to catch everyone up on the details of the trip. Also, I will spend some time laying out the vision for the future of our organization. We are excited about the work that God has done thus far through our photographs and we are excited for our creative horizons to be expanded as 1000 Words of Hope grows and new projects develop.

Thanks again for all the prayer and support. Please continue to pray for safe travels for Elizabeth's parents as their plane was delayed which means that they will have to "travel" from 12 noon today until 10 pm to get from New York to Louisville. And by "travel," I mean sitting in an airport terminal in Boston or Cincinnati. Amazing! So pray for patience for them.