AUTUMN 2023 OCTOBER UPDATE

Mary and I turned up at a Covid vaccination centre in Ghana along with two or three other elderly African friends. When we got inside there were hundreds of people – most of them younger than us and we were invited to sit down in the queue. I called the vaccination centre coordinator across and I said – “Is this the way Ghana treats its grandmas and its grandpas?” Many people in the centre heard this discussion and they were shocked that we would have to wait. Africa treats its elderly citizens with great respect, valuing their experience and recognising that health might be might not be so good. Immediately we were ushered to the front of the queue to the general approval of the populace!

Ghana, like much of Eastern Europe values experience and treats with respect those who have brought the country this far, and now perhaps are not in the best of health. We are quick to criticise Africa and there is much to be critical about. But they have preserved some precious cultural behaviours which we might do well to learn from.

It has its amusing moments as well of course. Going through immigration last time at Kotoko airport, Accra, one immigration official came up and asked how old we were, and when we told her she said “Wow. Wow that’s amazing. And you are still strong enough to travel!” Yes we are!

Progress

While we have been home, our work has progressed well in Ghana. The classrooms on the second floor of the school are being built and soon the roof can go on the main school. We have bought the land for the AstroTurf pitch, and that is working its way through registration. We are setting up a Community interest company. We want to link up UK youth with Ghana youth through football, to help both sides get a better idea of youth internationally. This will get an ethical trading company, with all our profits being used to fund this exciting new project.

Lots of online internet work. Our YouTube page is Serving Africa Mission, and lots of our videos are available there. Our recent “Good Morning Mission” broadcast updates all our current work. Why not take a look? We believe strongly in being a 21st century mission. Our mission statement for our Community interest company was written using AI.

Blessings
Mary and Jim Smith
(jimsmithghana@yahoo.co.uk)
Mary and Jim return to Ghana for November, and then Feb/March 2024.

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