~A new team arrives in Ghana~

Quote of the day:

"Only in an open, non-judgmental space can we acknowledge what we are feeling. Only in an open, space where we’re not all caught up in our own version of reality can we see and hear and feel who other people are, which allows us to be with them and communicate with them properly."

-Pema Chodron


Journal By: Margaret Henly

I am starting the journal for our group of volunteers since I am a returnee. Our journey as individuals started from different places, but as a group began when we arrived in Accra. A few of us met in Dulles airport before the 10 ½ hour flight. We gathered at baggage claim in Accra, not sure where to go next. We followed the rest of the passengers through passport check and customs, and out to what we would call ground transportation. There we met our enthusiastic team leader, Esther, who greeted us with a warm ebullient hug. We were shepherded onto a waiting van and driven to our Accra hotel, clean stucco and blond-wood building. Watch your step between rooms, though, as each section is on a slightly different level.

We met the others in our group, along with a few from the previous group, at dinner. A buffet of chicken, fish, and beef entrees, along with a plate of fresh vegetables, fruits and breads (all white bread, I noticed) was delicious. Esther had us introduce ourselves by reciting our names after the names of the people sitting to our left so the unfortunate one who went last had to recite everyone else’s name! After dinner most of us were surprised how tired/sleepy we really were and went off to bed.