Mission accomplished
A second look at the Diocese of Ho
Through the eyes of six amazing young women
by Heather Miller
On March 4th, 2011 I returned to our Companion Diocese of Ho, Ghana. It was more than a year after I traveled there as a member of our diocesan delegation with Archbishop Claude Miller, his wife Sharon and the Rev. Jasmine Chandra. On that trip, everything was new to
me. On this trip I wanted to experience everything through the eyes of the seven people who traveled with me — five young ladies from our Parish of Hampton and Hampton High School, a young professional woman from the neighbouring Parish of Central Kings, and the Rev. Canon (Curious) George Porter, Youth Action director for our diocese. Would they see and feel as I did about this tiny spot in Africa?
The girls and I from the Hampton area worked for a year to prepare for this trip financially, educationally and spiritually. Throughout the year we bonded tightly with each other and the girls were always willing and excited about the preparations. We called it a mission trip, but it was more about building relationships and trust — among ourselves, with Bishop Matthias Bishop Matthias Medadues-Badohu of Ho and his family, with the people in the diocese of Ho. The Lord opened every door for us; each step of the way was guided by prayers from our church and our families and many people in our diocese.
The initial plan was to deliver school supplies to the schools in the parishes in the Diocese of Ho and we did this very successfully. I am a retired teacher, and on my first visit to Ho I was deeply moved by the conditions in the schools I visited, especially with the lack of supplies available to both the students and teachers. I shuddered when I recalled the waste generated year after year by children and teachers in the schools in which I once taught. In Ho the fortunate sit on crowded benches surrounded by bare walls learning by rote from a worn blackboard. But they do learn! I needed to help in some small way — and so the mission to return to Ho was born and realized through the work of this team.
With the help of lots of churches, the Mothers' Union and ACW we filled 15 duffle bags with 50 pounds each of school supplies, soccer balls, story books, games, a few toys and medical supplies. We took our personal items in a carry-on bag or in backpacks. It was a heavy trip out to Africa but a light trip home.
Arriving in Ghana was exciting because I knew Angela, Bishop Matthias's daughter, and the bishop himself would be at the airport to greet us. Angela attended Rothesay Netherwood School here a few years ago and spent a lot of weekends with us in the Parish of Hampton. The first thing I heard when came through the door from customs was Angela squealing my name! There she was, beaming and laughing and greeting us all. The bishop was all organized and in a short time we were on our way.
I don't think I could go anywhere in this world and meet a host and representative of a country as wonderful as Bishop Matthias. I had to caution the girls not to say they liked things they saw because he would do his utmost to make sure they got whatever they admired.
Did someone mention a coffin shop? Nothing would do but we seek one out! Don't mention shopping! Oh, here we are already! You want to try some of the plantain chips? Need some water? Want to try the palm wine? It went on and on. For seven days the bishop gave us his full attention and never stopped caring for our well being.
Each day in Ho we travelled to visit corn mills (purchased by the Diocese of Fredericton) and schools and churches and local sites. The girls were thrilled with the country and the people but enjoyed the time they spent with the children most. We gave out soccer balls, pins, and Canada flags in the schools we visited and left the rest of the supplies for the bishop to distribute. The girls mixed with the young people around the compounds we visited and played games with the school children. They took lots of pictures for the children were so eager to see themselves on camera.
The joys of returning to Ho were many. To see two corn mills and cassava grinders up and operating in their own buildings at Agbozume and Worawora was truly wonderful! The parishes received the machines in late 2010 and this was very fast work for that area. Another set was in storage at St. Mark's, Dzoanti, waiting for land to be acquired for the building that would house the machines. The parishes are so pleased with their mills and excited about the benefits they will bring to their people.
Another thrill for me was to see the people I had met before — a new baby in Father Simon's family at St. Anthony's in Penji, another new one on the way for Father Prosper and Monica at St. Paul's in Agbozume. We visited with Father Charles at St. Michael and All Angels' in Worawora where he is recovering very well from a stroke.
A visit to the small compound that produces coconut cassava cookies was very special. In the corner was an old man wringing coconut milk out of the white coconut meat that had been ground by the cassava grinder. Bishop Matthias mentioned that he was a blind parishioner who is always in church whenever he visits at St. Paul's. I recalled talking to that man when we visited before and it was a great pleasure to go over and greet him again.
Although we had many hopes for this mission, it was truly about building relationships with another people. The girls felt safe and very welcome everywhere we travelled. The smiling faces and generous welcomes we received quickly erased the poverty and the opportunities we had to visit and talk with many of the people living there. The girls expressed the concern they have of explaining to others back home how wonderful it was to be in Ho, how the poverty of the people is quickly eclipsed by the positive spirit and faith these people show in their daily lives. The girls say that everyone must go to Africa at least once.
I cannot end this article without thanking Bishop Matthias and his family and people. This trip was a wonderful gift from God to help our small group begin to understand and love the people in this diocese so far away. The bishop is a wonderful example of Christian faith working against many adversities to spread Christ's gospel and bring his people to God. To us he is someone we will never forget. We will pray for him always.
Heather Miller is a layreader in the Parish of Hampton
Comments from the young women
Jennifer Nelson
respiratory therapist from the Parish of Central Kings
I was touched most by the pride the people of Ho and Ghana have in their country. The kids were serious when they marched in the Independence Day parade and people were happy to welcome you to their country and teach you about it. It makes it very fun to learn about their culture when they are happy to share it with you.
Justine Keenan
student, Parish of Hampton
When we travelled to Ho, Ghana, Heather brought along some dresses for Emanuella, the Bishop's granddaughter, from her own granddaughter, Sarah. Emanuella was so excited to have gifts from someone her age who lived so far away. When Heather showed Emanuella a photograph of Sarah she kissed and hugged the photo. She was so happy to have a friend from Canada. We may not have been able to solve world hunger, or even build a school in our short visit to Ghana. We did, however, form a great relationship with Bishop Matthias and his family. And that, I think, is a great start.
Vanessa Keenan
student, Parish of Hampton
When we landed in Accra, Ghana, I was astonished because I thought that everything was going to be in poverty, but I was wrong Sure there was a lot, but it was not at all what I expected, they had regular airports and buildings as we do. While we walked out to the car it was as if everyone wanted to be your friend and they’d assist you in whatever way needed, they were all so nice. I found it really cool to see the people carrying stuff on their heads! I remember one day while we were driving there was a kid, I'm assuming not much older than eleven, carrying a propane-like tank on his head! Honestly these people are just mind-blowing! It was crazy. The entire visit will be permanently implanted in my brain; it was truly an unforgettable journey. I can honestly say if I were to comment on one thing alone it would probably take a lifetime, because there was just so much detail and memorabilia. What can I say; I loved the visit and the people. Everyone was just so caring and welcomed you with opened arms. This trip has greatly changed the way I view life and others around me. I am forever changed. I thank all of those kind-hearted people of Ghana; it meant the world to me. I would also like to thank those who supported us throughout this journey without whom, this would not have been possible, thank you so much!
Mariah Robichaud
student, Parish of Hampton
At the age of sixteen, I went to Ghana, Africa. Throughout this unforgettable experience the biggest surprise for me was the vast population of Ho and in particular how many more children there were than adults. I was touched at the sheer generosity and patience of the bishop and the welcoming environment of each place we went. The experience I will always remember from this wonderful place is teaching all the elementary children of the St. George's school “Stella Ella Olla”, a childhood game I used to play. I prepared for this trip only knowing the Africans on the infomercials who are crying and sad, but to my surprise, even though most of the people live in horrible conditions, they are happy and each child I saw had a smile on his or her face. There is no comparison to our life and the life over in Ho; they have so little and we have so much that after coming back it is hard to even look at my own room and not see the starving kids of Ghana. I believe wholeheartedly that every person in this world should visit Africa once in their lifetime just to open their mind to a new way of life. My trip to Africa was incredible and now all I can think is how can I get back there!
Jillian Cochran
student, Parish of Hampton
When I first thought about going to Africa, I thought of a really poor place with hardly any grass and no houses like we have here, but more like huts made of mud and stuff. When we actually got there it was totally different from what I expected. We got off the plane and on our way to Ho it was very different. The houses would remind you of something they might have in ancient Greece. Some were like shacks, but not as many as I thought, and their houses and places were mostly crowded together kind of like a big subdivision. Also it was very green there, not at all like I pictured. I found it sad to see children playing with a deflated soccer ball and that we couldn’t hand out the ones we brought right away to see the excitement on their faces. I found it very surprising to see how the people there acted when we arrived and they were all very social people who would come up and ask you just about anything. They were definitely not shy at all. The children really like to have their pictures taken and they liked the cameras. One boy especially enjoyed using our cameras to take pictures. They seemed truly amazed to see themselves in the camera screen after their pictures were taken. I guess this trip really changed my view because the people were not totally poor people, but at the same time not as wealthy as we are either. This trip was definitely eye opening, especially the difference in their culture compared to ours.
