The roosters helped, but not enough. Struggling up at 5:00am to pack and load the truck was accompanied by weak enthusiasm for the drive across the entire width of Ghana, from Tumu to Saboba. The instant coffee provided some assistance, but in the end, it was the voice of Tanya Egler, leading the Wheaton College Gospel choir, that bounced us eastward across the red dirt.

A Garage Sale

Several years ago, while canoeing with friends in the Canadian wilderness, Beth and I learned the expression “a garage sale”. It describes the unkempt appearance of camp when all of your possessions have exploded out of your packs and onto the ground as everyone sets up camp. A fellow traveller might look upon your disordered disassembly, splayed out onto the forest floor and remark, “Wow, you have quite a garage sale there…. how much for that unmatched sock?”

Experienced adventure travelers will immediately recognize the image above — the disordered disassembly of everything in the truck… No, we were not camping there, or waiting for an Uber.

The truck had a puncture (flat). After swapping in the spare, Ray drove toward town searching for a new tire and leaving us by the side of the road. Ray returned empty handed, so we loaded up our garage sale and drove further, to search in town.

Several stops later (used tire shop, new tire shop, tire mounting shop, food/water resupply), and we were back on the road…

The next stop on our cross country trip? The Baptist Hospital in Nalerigu, a convenient place to meet Afrifa and drop off supplies brought with us from the USA.

Last year in October, we were privileged to attend Afrifa and Vida’s amazing exciting thrilling wedding. Afrifa is such a wonderful, kind, and dedicated man. He has served northern Ghana longer than any of the other Moto missionaries on the team. With a beaming smile and gentle sprit, he leads the team with six years of experience.

The map of Northern Ghana shows colored dots where Moto Missionaries have gone to meet with villages or churches. The locations are color coded by rider. Afrifa loves the gift Beth and I made for him.

We also meet Priscilla, a young woman who attended the OneWay Africa training and then decided to open a school to serve children in a remote village. She already has more than 100 students. A schoolhouse? No — just the shade of a tree. But Priscilla has enthusiasm, prayer, and trust in the Lord.

When I look at her smile and hear her story of faith and love, I just melt.

We shared hugs, prayers, and more hugs before loading back into the bedraggled and well-worn truck. While dodging donkeys, yellow yellows and dangerous holes in road, I stole a few moments to reflect. Introspection is good, but difficult. The young men and women here challenge my assumptions, my values, my biases. They are refreshing water on a sweltering day.

Our trips to Ghana are to encourage, train, and assist — yet I always realize the roles are reversed. Beth and I teach technology, leadership skills, and complex logistics, while the Ghanaians teach us faith, heart, and perseverance.

Chereponi

The last stop on our drive is the town of Chereponi, where we recorded the Anufo language material in January of 2023. We roll in right before sunset. Pastor Azuma, since retired, is there smiling.

The meeting marks the completion of the Anufo BiblePlus, and was the first time Beth and I were able to see the initial distribution, the “premier”. From the recording trip 15 months ago to finished ministry tools in hand, each of the solar-powered audio players have Anufo choirs, preaching, community health information, testimonies, and the Anufo New Testament. The uSD version, designed for mobile phones also includes videos and the Android app for the Bible in Anufo.

Saboba

13.5 hours after we left Tumu, we arrive in Saboba and crash for the night, exhausted. My neck and shoulders ache from the long drive, but Cyrus, Beth, and Clement took the biggest beating in the back, wedged between suitcases and occasionally thumping their heads against the roof when I misjudged a road crater. The punishing dirt roads have taken their toll on the truck and our bodies. Joyful, hard, and rewarding. Just the way we like it.

Coffee Break

The next morning, it is CHOIRS, CHOIRS, CHOIRS!!! (actually six of them to be precise)

Now is the time to get up, stretch, grab a cup of tea or coffee, and just enjoy the videos below. We didn’t have time to merge the video with the recorded microphone audio, so what you are hearing is the cell phone mic on my iPhone. Please don’t skip over the videos. Click on them (movies have a white triangle in the middle). The smiles, dancing, and strong voices praising God are just so beautiful. I’ve saved my favorite for the end :-)

By evening, the men and women had joined together into an exciting dance party. The scorching heat had lifted, and the frenzied rhythms and dancing stated. In the background, people stood with their cell phones to light up the dusty dance floor. Wow.

Bonus Track!

Tomorrow is our last day in Saboba. The weather has been punishing, but the joy of the Konkomba does help restore. Below this weather forecast is the bonus track. Janet, the choir director for the Youth Choir sings a passionate, amazing, awe-inspiring solo. Even without knowing a word of Konkomba, you can hear Janet’s heart, full, and singing.

Once again, my heart gets a lesson. A great day.

As the Ghanians would say… “Aaaaaaaaamen!”