This time, pictures first:

I know, too many pictures, but the sights and faces of Ghana are too wonderful not to share.

The guest house where we are staying is actually a bed and breakfast. Clement, the owner provided us with hard boiled eggs, toast, and a large green thermos filled with hot water. We added our granola, dry milk, and instant coffee. It was a fine way to start the morning.

By 9:00 we had packed up the “tech suitcase”, an old black Samsonite hard shell suitcase that held the camera gear, tripods, and hard drives, batteries, microphones, and a rats nest of cables. Our recording studio, Pastor Joseph’s church, was only four of five speed bumps and a dozen potholes away from the guest house.

The extreme daytime heat of being so close to the equator shifts daily life. Ghana wakes up early. By 5:30, when I get up to prepare the tech, I can hear the sounds of the village – roosters, people sweeping, and pots and pans. By 9:00, the village is buzzing with motor bikes, overloaded trucks leaning to the side as if they will topple and spill at any moment, workers carrying building supplies, women gracefully walking in single file along the paths balancing large basins stacked with supplies on their heads. It’s not possible to carry such loads on your head while slouching, and the hardworking women of Ghana maintain their elegant posture throughout the day.

Every time we emerge from Ray’s truck carrying our suitcase and backpacks, the Ghanaians rush to our aid, eagerly unloading the truck and carrying our gear. Yesterday, the neighborhood kids started the day unsure of the tall white foreigners with stringy straight hair from another world. Today, they raced to meet us, broad white smiles gleaming. While we waited for the speakers we would later record, I played goofy games with the kids, juggled, and soaked in the joyful sounds of giggling and laughing.

At midday, the crowd of kids peering in from the doorways is finally rewarded for their patience. Laura and Emily take some of the sports equipment friends back home donated and line up the kids. Laughing, yelling, cheering, and confusion is joined with running, twirling and balancing as Laura and Emily set up relay races and team games. The sun and heat pound down on us, yet everyone wants to join in. Sweaty hot kids dusted with red dirt compete fiercely, and while the kids could probably keep playing for several more hours, Laura and Emily finally take a water and shade break, and steady themselves back inside to catch their breath.

The last recording of the day was a team from the local health facility. We recorded them providing information on community health topics, including malaria, malnutrition, clean water, breast cancer, ebola, cholera, HIV, dental health, and conjunctivitis. We recorded about 15 different topics for the community health portion of the audio we will produce. Life in a mud hut without running water or sanitation can be harsh. Malaria is an ongoing problem. Yet joy, hospitality, and kindness abound in this small church family. We are thankful that we can be here and support the local pastors working in this community.