Reflections from Ghana

I’ve been writing this reflection and finally got to finishing it. Actually maybe I’ll just write some things and as more thoughts come I’ll just blog more rather than just writing one huge post. It has been three weeks since I left Ghana.  I wish it weren’t so, but it is becoming more of a distant memory like a movie and kind of surreal. I loved family vacations when I was a child, but as I got older, I didn’t care much for traveling. I enjoyed people more than places I saw and after awhile, I just had no care for traveling for the sake of just traveling. I had heard about this Ghana trip awhile ago and thought ok maybe this will be a good experience, plus I wouldn’t have to do the work of finding a place for my externship. After this trip, I have appreciated traveling more. I used to think people who traveled could use their time better by using it for people than for pleasure, but after seeing how I grew from it and how I may view life with more perspective, I think I was too quick to judge in the past. Of course traveling at the cost of commitment and responsibility for your more permanent place is probably not good.

I already had to write two papers for school about Ghana, but I wanted to write here a more personal reflection than just how the trip related to articles or even occupational therapy. I learned many things from my peers which I am thankful for too. When I think about Ghana, I think about how small I am. Being on the other side of the world reminded me of how big the world is. I see pictures of other countries through the Internet, but it is such a distant thing that reality and movies have the same effect on me. Going on this trip, I felt like I was part of something bigger than me. (If you’ve been on missions trips like Taiwan missions, it feels like that) It’s interesting because we try to have control in our lives, but to be a small part of something big is humbling yet delightful. It was nice not having Internet and limited phone access for those two weeks. I miss those days where our brains weren’t controlled by the sound of a text message or when there’s down time we wouldn’t simply fill our minds with quick thoughtless pictures. I miss those days when I would meditate on Scripture or pray when I walked to class or was in my room with not much to do. I miss how we would treasure face-to-face conversations. I spent many hours with my classmates at meal time, sitting on benches under the trees, laying on our beds, but I never felt socially awkward, silence was ok, we didn’t have our own agendas and responsibilities to take care of that prioritized over spending time with others. It was just refreshing.

I also thought about the Ghanaian culture of community. Children helped one another by pushing another’s wheelchair, feeding those who need help, and being a leader. I was conflicted as being an American OT, we seek to help others independence. Yet I want to help too. A boy had fallen and he looked around, I thought in my head whether to help him or is he seeking for attention when he should learn how to stand up. If I weren’t an OT, didn’t care about independence but just to help, I would’ve rushed to help him up. In the end, my classmate helped him. Sometimes I worry children will be spoiled as others offer assistance. But they weren’t spoiled and didn’t take advantage of this sort of thing. They had a sense of community that wasn’t selfish. I mean I do not know their hearts, but it appeared so.

The first Saturday we were there, we took the children to the beach. What delight they had in their faces! They love just the simple things, not complaining about not having things their way. Of course they are not perfect innocent children. Some of their sinful side is revealed.. but one of my classmates observed that there was something different about them than children we may see in the States. She observed that there was a love, a source that sustains them. We believe it is God working in them.

There was one occasion a girl and I were sitting at the curb at the basketball courts. I was trying to be an occupational therapist by having her draw, to work on her fine motor skills. She got a little lazy with the sidewalk chalk and asked me to draw. I asked her what she wanted me to draw. She said, “God.” I chuckled and said hmm ok, I’ll draw Jesus. And He was basically a stick figure. Then we talked about Jesus and what the cross was. We talked about God’s greatness and used the bridge illustration of how the cross connects us to God. And if that was all I did on the trip, it was worth it for that moment

I enjoyed the time with my classmates. I did not have expectations with how my relationships would be like there, but it was fun and a blessing to think through things together. We together became more in awe of God. Sometimes when I think of the highlight Ghana, I think of just those relationships built and them drawing nearer to God. It was so sweet and it brings me a simple child-like joy.

Lastly for this post, I have learned that God is everywhere. God’s creation is beautiful. We saw more of Him in the children and in creation where there was less distraction from the world. A friend had wonder in the clouds of Ghana. Then when she came back to the states and looked to the sky, she said she saw the same cloud! Ok it probably wasn’t the same cloud, but she meant it in that God is here as well. It takes more effort to take the distractions away, but God is here. God is everywhere. God is with us on our journeys. I have had to adjust to traveling a number of times – LA, the Bay Area, Taiwan, and now Ghana. It is always difficult to leave people, close people, having to take experiences to new places alone… but God is everywhere and He has been with me at all times. Circumstances and places may change, but God doesn’t and He knows me.

I guess this actually will be the last thing I say. But I went to Ghana knowing I would leave 2 weeks later. I’ve been to Joni and Friends and other trips where I knew I had to say ‘bye’. So I just figured I’ll come in, do my OT thing, then go out. I didn’t want to put my emotions or affections and be aching with that missing feeling. Thankfully I am growing in that it is less difficult, but I am thankful that God did put that affection in me. Thankful that He allowed me to love upon these children and feel this heart for children with disabilities.