Road Trip -- Visiting Labo Labo

So much has happened in the past 4 days, it will take me some time to catch up! So here’s the first installment!
Be sure to check David’s blog and Becky’s blog for their stories, too!
http://weministry.blogspot.com and http://craigandbeckycheek.blogspot.com


July 13

Road Trip! Today was the beginning of our week-long trek into the Volta Region! We were up early, ate a hearty breakfast, and set our bags by the door waited for the van. And waited, and waited, and waited. At last we heard the familiar beep-beep at the gate of the compound.

Our first stop was a villiage called Labo Labo. Our arrival was obviously anticipated: there were rows of chairs arranged under a canopy of trees, and a lace-covered table in front. The village mothers and elders were singing, dancing, and celebrating. Their dresses were quite colorful -- a vast array of mint, red, teal, brown, gold, white, blue , and dark green.

The children soon arrived, pouring out of the classrooms like wild mustangs being set free! Oh the laughter of those children will stay in my memory for a long, long time! I noticed three children with Downs Syndrome: a small girl, a small boy, and a larger boy. This larger young fellow gathered up his courage and came bounding over to us, extending his hand and saying “You are welcome! You are welcome!” to each of us. Hr returned to his friends amid high-fives and claps on the back.

One thing that caught our eyes here in Labo Labo was a water harvesting project set up using one of the small buildings. The roof was covered with corrugated tin, and there were gutters, angled down in the center to a small funnel. This funnel diverted the water into a large polytank. Neat idea!

There was a layer of thick sand, almost carpet-like, under the trees where we sat. I watched some children playing nearby, laughing and chasing each other. One child dragged an old electric iron around, creating paths in the deep sand.

We were introduced, and each of us spoke to the group briefly. When Pastor Johnson introduced Chief Togbe Takyi VI, he said he was “proof that a chief can be a Christian.” I felt such a rush of respect for Chief -- he’s a dear friend and I have admired him from the moment I first met him in 2001. He was brought up practicing animism, but came to Christ a few years ago. As chief of his area, he was able to encourage Christian beliefs among his people, and countless people have come to know Christ simply because of this one man.

Before we left, we talked with the children a bit. They want to be teachers, doctors, bank officers, lawyers, scientists, when they grow up.

We piled back into the van, and drove off toward our next stop: Kpeve.

…to be continued…


Blessings!
Anita <><

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