Shall we gather at the river?

A blog entry from 18th January - previously lost in the ether!

Picture the scene. The church is full (about 300 people) and the preacher is in full flight, his booming voice amplified and the congregation responding vigorously and vocally. There are shouts of “Halleluia!” and loud bursts of laughter. We are ushered into the sanctuary and led up to a high platform towards a line of “thrones” or so it appears. As we are behind the massive loudspeakers we can hardly make out a word that the preacher is saying or even what language he is speaking in. We are at a Revival meeting in Ebenezer Presbyterian Church at Sunyani. And we are “on next.” Thankfully the preacher continues for at least another half hour giving us at least some time to think of what might be an appropriate message to give in the situation.

All of this is at the end of a day which started at 6am in Tamale. After saying our goodbyes to the Chairman of Northern Presbytery we set off on our journey south towards Sunyani. On the way we visited an agricultural project. While there we witnessed the morning rush hour which consisted of several large flocks of cattle egrets about a metre above the road flying at speed along the course of the road only moving aside for any traffic coming in the opposite direction.

A further two hours down the road we reached the Black Volta, scene of devastating floods last August, the signs of which were still very evident. We got out of the vehicle to take some photographs and chat with some of the locals. The Church of Scotland had given an emergency grant towards the relief  work being done in the area by the PCG.

Further South again we stopped to see the Waterfalls at Kintampo which gave us an opportunity to stretch our legs (climbing up and down the 152 steps to the  falls.)

By around noon we had arrived at Sunyani where we were met by the Chairman and other representatives of the Brong Ahafo Presbytery. After lunch we had a formal meeting with them in which we exchanged ideas and  recorded some interviews. We were particularly impressed by the commitment to Prison Ministries,including the emphasis on rehabilitation and reintegration into the community. We were also impressed by the work that is being done in the field of HIV and Aids.

There was time after the meeting for an hour of "Market Ministry" by Carol in the local street market, where at last she was able to use  her full haggling powers. It was interesting to see all the different kinds of grain, cereal, fruit and dried fish on sale and to interact with the traders and other locals of all ages, many of whom asked us to take their photographs. The Ghanain people are extremely friendly and outgoing.

Back to the hotel for a quick dinner and then it was off to Ebenezer thinking "I wonder what we are going to encounter tonight."