A visit to Elmina Castle

Today we have two stories to tell. The story of children learning the stories in the Bible and learning the stories of history their story and their story to come. 

The second part of today was spent learning about the story of those who were captured and then sold into slavery. We came to Elmina castle this afternoon and it is just one of the five castles on the coast of Ghana in which slaves were held three months before they were shipped off through the gate of no return.

Our guide through the structure told us about the Portuguese who originally built the structure and then the Dutch who took it over and the British who were the final governors.

We walked through dark rooms where 80-100 were kept as they awaited, in the dark, their departure from their homelands. The inhuman conditions and the dramatic contrasts of detentions for Europeans and for Africans. The Protestant church that was located directly above the largest woman's dungeon. The pain of humanity.

Below is the plaque located at the exit, may it be our prayer and always.

Travels from m Tamale to Accra to Cape Coast

(Photo of team at the Bishop's school for girls in Accra)

Today we awoke EARLY to catch our flight from Tamale to Accra. After a calm flight to Accra we went directly to the Episcopal Relief and Development offices.

Sam rejoined and we were off to the cathedral to meet with Bishop Daniel and see the cathedral schools. Both moments were a gift of hospitality and joy. The Bishop has many projects going on among which is a studio to broadcast interviews on Sundays. This studio is in existence because of the support of Bishop Ed from OK among others. 

After introductions and songs at the schools, no dance presentations today, we boarded our bus to get to Cape Coast (west of Accra) to visit Elmira Castle.

This journey, while not physically exerting is an adventure of endurance and flexibility. When I say Ghanaian folks are full of joy, they are playful in spirit and always joking for joy. We have been greeted and welcomed soooo abundantly when we have been places.

A final day in Bolgatanga

Today began with morning prayer after a delightfully restful night.

After breakfast we went out and met at ADDRO and then headed to visit the Anglican primary school and then the Anglican junior high school located by the ADDRO offices. We were greeted with much enthusiasm by every small class. Each class recited for us and shared their joy of learning. We went over to the junior high building we were given a presentation from the students of traditional dancing.

After the junior high school we went to the senior high school where we were given presentations by the entire school. Full of poetry and dance. 

After our visits we went to see the woman's cooperative where, through small loans the women have been able to create baskets in mass quantity for sale. We watched the process and then invested in their hard work, purchasing baskets to bring home.

After lunch we shared some time with the ADDRO staff before we said our good byes- they have been our guides for the past two days and such gracious hosts.

We then got on the nice paved road to Tamale and will spend the night here so that we can catch our early flight without having to get up so early tomorrow!

Each of us received a 'smock' from Bishop Jacob. A smock is a traditional tunic with embroidery--- we say as christians we are clothed in the love of Christ. We have been literally clothed in the love of these christians who are doing wonderful work empowering and equipping the saints and I am excited to continue to share their story and the ones we keep learning!

Schools and ADDRO

Today after a delightful breakfast we headed out the door to visit The Anglican Diocese Development Organization (ADDRO) and learn about their organization which has 5areas of focus: water sanitation, micro loans/savings, disaster preparedness, health, and agriculture. We met Bishop Jakob who oversees the agency and the diocese of Tamale.

After visiting the offices we headed out to St. John's Anglican School, an hour drive on paved and unpacked roads with a rain shower! We were greeted by the Head of School who told us about the school, established in 1981 with only 45students, that has nearly 400total students now in kindergarten to 12th grade. We greeted each class and traded information about the school process for youth. Afterwards we were treated to a traditional dance by the high school students.

After our visit to the school, which ADDRO supports (and ERD supports ADDRO) we went to the Durbar- a community meeting of the leaders in the surrounding area. There was more dancing (I might have jumped in and danced too) and then we heard from the community the effects of the loans given to families.

We ate a picnic lunch and got into the cars to head home... it was a bouncy road and we definitely had plenty of things to ponder bouncing around in our heads.

Yesterday, we learned people were bought and sold for a goat. Today we learned about new life given to families through giving a family 2 goats and teaching them how to raise them to produce other goats and in turn generate income.

Yesterday, we heard the songs of the enslaved waiting to be sold and today we heard the songs of school children learning their numbers and dancing out of thanksgiving.

How do we use what we have? 

What makes us dance and sing?

Pico slave camp

Picworo  is the word for 'rocks of fear' it is here that slave traders would bring slaves to be held until they were sold to buyers and then taken to the next camp and eventually the coast where the people would be taken by boat to the americas for slavery.

In the rocks of this space you can see the impressions of where people are, where people danced, where people were sold at auction, where the guards watched for raiders (those who wanted to free those who had been captured) and where people were punished. All of the rocks still stand.

To hear the story was to listen to families be torn apart, lives destroyed for profits. And it was Africans capturing and selling Africans because the white man could not come in land without getting malaria. A system that did not see all created equally, a system that promoted economic prosperity over community, a system that crushed dignity to gain power.

While our day was breathtakingly beautiful with sunshine and a breeze, it also stole your breath to realize the pain that was endured in the same space.

Journeys

Today we got up early and made our way by plane to Tamale and then by car to Bolgatanga. The northern part of Ghana is a gorgeous, a landscaper of agriculture and small villages. A beautiful road took us to Bolgatanga and I was amazed to see power lines run with us the whole way (very different from Guinea 20years ago!).

Vesta is in charge of us now and doing a terrific job of making sure are all hydrated and safely wherever we need to be. She exudes joy and and a terrific sense of humor.

Monday

And we are off again!

Today we travel by plane to Tamale and then by bus to Bolgatanga. We will visit a slave camp this afternoon where people were held until they came to the coast. We return to Accra on Thursday.