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<\/a> <\/p>\n We then headed to the beach to walk around.\u00a0 We arrived at one of the slave castles that the last stop in Africa before slaves were shipped to other destinations.\u00a0 During the slave trade, local African tribes captured slaves from other parts of Africa and sold them to companies that then prepared ships for points north and west.\u00a0 It really was quite chilling to see the building still standing, with cannons facing the sea.\u00a0 Across the street was an old colonial church.\u00a0 It hurt to imagine how people justified slavery only 150 years ago.\u00a0 I stared at the castle, trying not to imagine what it was like, but it was impossible.\u00a0 Fortunately, there were other activities at the beach.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In this coastal region, the ocean sustains life.\u00a0 Large, beat up and leaky canoes were lined up under the palm trees.\u00a0 A team of 9 men prepared to venture into the sea with a long long net that would be floated across the waters and then hauled in from shore.<\/p>\n The captain was in the back, with a single rudder to guide the boat.\u00a0 After making it past the shallows, they paused in a rough patch, waiting for the perfect moment to make it past the set of waves.\u00a0 While they waited, waved continued to pound the boat, occasionally turning it 45 degrees.\u00a0 The strong young men jumped out and pushed the boat back into the walls of water before the next wave could turn and flip them.\u00a0 They struggled for wave after wave, waiting for the right time.\u00a0 On shore, the women and older men sat on their buckets and tubs, waiting for the men to make it out into the sea and lay their nets.\u00a0 Their eyes were fixed on the men struggling against the sea.<\/p>\n Suddenly, we saw the men stab at the water with their paddles in unison.\u00a0 It was time to charge the sea.\u00a0 A wave broke over their boat.\u00a0 The men braced, leaning down, so as not to be swept off.\u00a0 The canoe froze, halted by water.\u00a0 A bigger wave menaced.\u00a0 The men quickly sat up and slammed the water with paddles.\u00a0 With a boat that massive, getting flipped could mean death or serious injury.\u00a0 I wondered if I was the only one concerned.\u00a0 As the wave approach, almost in slow motion,\u00a0 I heard women shouting from behind me.\u00a0 The wives were standing, pumping their arms and yelling.\u00a0 I could only imagine that they were yelling \u201cPULL\u201d, \u201cGO GO GO GO \u201c.\u00a0 The wave smashed into their heap of patched and soggy wood.\u00a0 The bow raised up so high I looked for men to topple out the back.\u00a0 It hung in place for a moment and then slammed down.\u00a0 The team immediately resumed their sprint and the wives sat down.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n After the net was set, the team returned to shore and hauled it in.\u00a0 The fish were divided into buckets and handfuls given to several men who had helped pull in the net, but did not go out into the surf.\u00a0 Their courage was amazing.\u00a0 As a team, they provided for their families.\u00a0 It was a hard, dangerous, and difficult life as fisherman on the African coast.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n On the way home we stopped at Kakum and walked the canopy.\u00a0 It was a nice way to top off our long day.\u00a0 Tomorrow, the Baylor choir will be in the studio, and our smaller team will be on the road to a primary school.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Wow, Wednesday was a very full day. My eyes could not stay open after we returned to the guesthouse to post to the blog.\u00a0 We are catching up on our posts\u2026 Wednesday: The two iPhone alarms started playing marimba music at 4:00am. Shortly after stumbling around the room and wondering where I was, we were … Continue reading Courage<\/span> <\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>