~Leaving Ghana~

I was just about to get into the Patrol this morning when I see my friend YaYa walking towards me telling me ‘wait for me, wait for me’.

It was 10:00am on the dot and we were about to pull away. I had told YaYa that I would be leaving at 10:00 and she had said she would be there but with Africa time and her 2 hour walk I really didn’t think I would see her. She put her large bread pan down and handed me a prepackaged loaf of bread. It was fresh from that morning and I was overwhelmed with emotions. This lady that I have bought bread from all summer walked 2 hours this morning to see me off and to top it all off she got there right on the dot Obruni time. I told her I loved her and that she would always be my friend in my broken Twi. I started crying and she said ‘oh sister Akua no crying’. How precious this lady is and how amazing that she would show this kind of love to me. It definitely broke loose the waterfalls. I was with my friends and that helped.

The Jernigans decided to drive us to Kumasi and stay the night along with Abena Rebecca, Michael and James. We had a car full of people. We reminisced and thanked God for what He has done this summer. We had a day of shopping in the market today as well as going to our favorite Ghanaian restaurant Ashanti Home Touch where me and Rebecca shared rice balls and groundnut soup for the last time together.

We walked and walked, visited with people and just enjoyed each others company before having to separate.

When we got home they shared presents with me that they had picked up for me in the market and each one was special to me in a way and I will always hold them dear to my heart.

We got up the next morning and got ready to go to Michael and James’ church in Kumasi and we celebrated Jesus once again with these people and I was able to sing one more time in Africa. I sang ‘Draw me close to You’ and the words ministered to me probably more than anyone else even in the room.

Draw me close to You. Never let me go. I lay it all down again. To hear you say that I’m Your friend. You are my desire. No one else will do. Cause nothing else can take Your place. To feel the warmth of Your embrace. Help me find a way. Bring me back to You.

Thinking about leaving and how hard that was going to be I realized that I had to lay it down before Jesus once again for Him to lead me and guide me just like He always does. We danced and held little babies and then it was time to go.

We picked up take away from my favorite Chinese restaurant Royal Park and headed to the STC station to catch the bus to Acccra. When we started to board the bus I was so thankful that Michael and Abena Rebecca were with me but it was time to say goodbye to James. It was incredibly sad to say farewell to this wonderful friend who loves Jesus so much and my heart started to break a little bit. God is going to use him greatly and I can’t wait to hear all the good reports. The bus trip took us about five and a half hours to get from Kumasi to Accra.

I was very entertained by the Ghanaian and Nigerian films and could not stop laughing at some points which I think the rest of the bus found interesting. When we arrived in Accra we had a reunion party with the Sims, Rebecca Jones and Michelle and our guy friend Daniel. We celebrated seeing each other again by going to a local pizza joint called Mama Mia’s and getting some very tasty ice cream. We stayed at a very nice American style guest house and were up very late trying to enjoy a few last moments together before we cut the group in half. On Monday we had a bit of debrief time and then some time in the market before eating together for the last time and heading to the airport.

I cannot begin to describe to you the feelings of knowing I was leaving these people I had learned to love and the country I have fallen in love with. I felt a gigantic hole starting to develop and the tears starting to pour. I am so thankful I had Rebecca Jones and Michelle with me to keep me sane. They were my rock during this time. I learned so much and gained so much from this summer and that will have to be saved for another blog but what I will say is that God is good, I didn’t deserve to have this time but I am so thankful He chose me and I can’t wait to see what adventures He has planned for me next.

Last Moments at Lake Bosumtwe

Little heads hanging out windows, the patter of little feet on the rocks, the cries of ‘sister Akua’, the sunset over Ancasse lakeside and the stream of children following us wondering where we will go or what we will do.

These are just a few of the things that greeted me as I walked past Atafram and on to visit Ancasse last night.

I saw my salon, I saw the little girl that is always on the front row of the children singing her heart out and dancing and I saw the Queen Mother who sold me some minerals once again. For my last Thursday night at Lake Bosumtwe I was living the surreal life once again. We walked down to the lakeside followed by our entourage of course and I finally got on one of the boats that I had been wanting to try since I got here. I wasn’t bold enough to try it out in the actual water lol but hey I did get on it.

We took pictures of the beautiful sunset and sang songs with the children. It was time for me to say goodbye to this village that I have sang and danced and ministered at. It was a fond farewell. The sky was absolutely amazing! As we left to go we stopped at the Atafram Chiefs house.

I had bought him some rice and some chocolate as a farewell gift and I wanted to stop and talk to the man that has become a friend and encourage him. I was a little discouraged because I could tell he had already had something to drink but I was determined to talk to him before I left. He had mentioned to me once before that he was thankful that I was open with all the people and that the people could really tell that I cared about them. I reminded him that he had said this to me and I told him that the thing that he saw in me was Jesus on the inside and His love being shown to all the people. With Michael as my Okyiamie(spokesperson/translator) I spoke to him about the influence that he has over the village of Atafram and how he can use that for good. I encouraged him in his desire to start a church in his village because there is no church yet in Atafram. I told him that he has the potential to be not only a great physical leader in the community but also a great spiritual leader as well. He informed me that I would be remembered as his second wife and if there was anything I wanted to send to him I could do it through Abena who will be staying till February. I asked if I could pray for him as I left and he agreed. I prayed that God would be glorified in his life and that he would yearn for the Word of God. I prayed that he would lead the whole village of Atafram into a deep personal walk with the Lord. He has great potential to be an incredible leader and I will continue to pray for him always that the Lord will touch his life and empower him to make a difference. He walked far with us that night to send us off and say his farewells. I think it went really well. We went home after this and ate very American spaghetti before walking to the village of Adjimim to order gari and beans for my going away party on Friday. I stopped by to see my friend Grace in Amakom and invite her to my party the next day (which I was throwing for myself by the way lol). On Friday I woke up very excited because I knew that we were having the party and then in the afternoon we had a football match to attend in Adjimim. I bought and cut bread from YaYa in the morning and made sure the waters were on their way to getting cold. It has become sort of a thing for me to buy something for the workers on Friday and sit down to eat it with them. I was very intentional all summer in trying to build relationships with these men to arrive at this very point on this very day.

On this day, before we ate I shared with them how they have made a difference in my life with their smiles, friendship and encouragement with my Twi and the work at the lake. I told them that the most important thing in life is to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. If that’s not in line nothing else matters. Michael went on to tell them that they can never pay me for coming here and encouraging them and that they could never even help as far as when it came to my ticket but that I was not there to receive payment for anything but to just build relationships with the people and tell them about Jesus. They started cheering and after we ate many came to say a big thank you and to inform me that they would write. It was so sweet! They were all pumped up and ready to go to the football match after this and Michael and James let them go early to prepare.

Abena Rebecca went this time and we had so much fun at the football game cheering Amakom on and playing with the children and eating off the women selling things in the baskets on their heads.

I even tried on the local hairstyle to see if it would work for me.

The game was very competitive and the cheerleaders were out in droves. It ended in a tie 2-2 which no one was really happy with but at least Amakom didn’t lose again. After the game some of the guys were walking with us all the way from Adjimim to the clinic side singing and dancing because they were so excited and in such good spirits. They kept singing Sister Akua followed by a lot of stuff I didn’t understand.

Someone told me the song talked about dancing with them so of course I started dancing. I then learned that the rest of the song talks about your sweet work for the Lord and how the person that they mention sits with the Lord as they sit with the person. It was one of the best send offs ever. They shook my hand and hugged my neck and we took a group shot to commemorate our last moments together.

James and Michael came over for dinner and shared with me sermon after sermon about how they have been impacted by my life and what they have seen of my life since I have been here. I was so touched by their kind words and the friendships we share with men of God that are sold out, love Jesus and are not one bit ashamed of it. We talked about how different our cultures are but how united we have been able to become because of the same Spirit we all share.

We shared Scriptures and they encouraged me as I move forward to more ministry away from the lake in America. We prayed together and they let me know that they would be accompanying me away from the lake and it made it easier to know that they would be with me when I left.
So my last night at Lake Bosumtwe has arrived and I am busy packing, doing laundry and saying goodbye to dear friends. What the Lord has for me next I don’t know but what I do know is that he placed me smack dab in the middle of one of my biggest dreams and it was more than I could have imagined.

~These Are Those Special Times~

Saturday was another busy day here. The team is here for just a couple more days and they wanted to work Saturday to get more accomplished so all day we continued to hear the noise of the workers. Louise decided to stay on this side of the lake to hang out with us one last night and we were so excited because we have been missing her. She is actually staying another month now but it was the last night for all three of us to be together since I leave this week. I made hamburger pie for her which was her request and she made me boardwalk fries at my request. I even made pepe by myself for the first time and I think it turned out pretty well by the way it was finished off at dinner. Michael and James came for dinner of course even though they were exhausted. They are such special friends. They have been so tired but they say they are determined to hang out with me every minute I have left here and soon after dinner they start dozing off but refuse to leave. It’s so cute! It’s amazing how close you can get to people in such a short time. After dinner we were talking about the things that we loved about the time we’ve had here and all of us mentioned the crusade at Ancasse, ministering in the villages and the game times and dance times and prayer and singing times. We have had lots of good memories. I had to excuse myself at one point because I didn’t want everyone to see me crying. Please pray for me because God has allowed me to give part of my heart to these people and it is going to be very difficult to leave.





Sunday morning Rebecca and I woke up bright and early to travel to Dompa with Michael and Betrum and set up the sound equipment.

It was a little tricky to do since we were carrying our own generator which had a faulty plug in. We left Betrum to watch the equipment and went back to Amakom to get ready and go to the service. Andrew and Michael, the three roommates and James, Juliana and Anas rode in the Patrol and had a good time praising the Lord and praying before we got there. It was a very special time. We arrived in Dompa and I went over to the drummer almost immediately to ask if he knew the Jehovah song I love so that I could sing it for the part that Andrew asked me to do. He got very excited and it was actually the first song they sang. It was an amazing time of worship and dancing in the middle of the square and we had so much fun with all the Dompa churches. I sang a couple of songs with the kids when it came my turn, one in Twi and one English one. It was a lot of fun. The Irish group sang a couple of songs with the people as well and everyone enjoyed it.

Andrew and Michael started praying for the sick as I started singing ‘there is power in the blood’. Many people including the chief came forward in faith believing that God would heal them. I believe He did and will. Andrew brought the word of God and Michael interpreted. Andrew at one point just handed over the rest of the service to Michael and he took over with passion and authority. It was really awesome to see them tag teaming. More people got up to say something and it turned into a sermon each time. Lol.





I turned to Juliana and asked if she was next…I don’t think she appreciated that. We then cleaned up the system and walked to the car. They offered us minerals and cookies which was a very nice, expensive gift for them to give. The sun was fierce but we had a special time of fellowship with our Ghanaian friends. Andrew got a little crazy on the way home jostling us around in the back and Betrum hit his head on the roof many times lol…we could not stop laughing. It’s amazing the special little moments we have together with the people we have met. I cherish every one and I find myself thinking that inside these people will always have a place.

After lunch I walked to Adjimim for a local football match between Amakom and Adjimim. I was so surprised when I got there to see people in official jerseys, warming up, with the crowds gathering.

I had some of the greatest fun I have had here, if that is grammatically correct. Haha.

I teased a guy about being the football police because he yelled at people to move back the whole game, I played clapping games with the children and towards the end moved over to the Adjimim side to cheer with the ladies because Adjimim was beating Amakom 5-2. Being an NC State fan I am tired of losing so I decided to move to the winning side and boy did I ever hear about that. People at the clinic were actually asking which side I was going to cheer for at the match scheduled for Friday. I told them that as long as Amakom was winning I would cheer for them. They just laughed but the coach called a practice today after I told him they needed more practice. That is hilarious! Hearing Akua from the children and the villagers does my heart good and the camaraderie that I felt there is irreplaceable.

This is my friend Atta(Twin) Michael who was determined to hold my things the whole game. I was the only Obruni in the middle of a couple hundred Obibinis and I loved it! I strapped a sleeping baby to my back and got some hooting and hollering once again! When you embrace them just as they are and see them smile it does something inside your heart that you can’t even explain.

Tonight I walked to Amakom to see my seamstress, who has actually become a friend I love dearly, and she was playing Ludo with a guy and we sat in to join them. We had a blast laughing and cheering for each other outside this small room the girl rents with a very dim light to see. It is a custom to see people off and Grace walked us to the bottom of our hill through the village of Amakom when it was time for us to leave. It is such a sweet custom that I love and it makes you feel like your visit was very important and special. She asked us over again tomorrow night and I look forward to the fellowship.

Speaking of customs, I think I would like share with you one of my favorite. It is totally and completely acceptable to pick your nose here and I got a few shots at the football game to prove it.
I know you think these are just children but I can assure you that young and old alike get in on this action with no shame involved at all.

Visiting the local villages

Thursday was such a good day. I have been waiting to go to a village called Dompa since I arrived here in Amakom and met some people from there who continually invited me to visit them. The fishermen at the lake, some of the workers at the clinic, and my friend YaYa are all from there. It is a long walk and about a 30 minute drive so I have been at the mercy of others to get me there. The team from Ireland was going to greet the chief and I took it as my time to visit Dompa. We travelled a very bumpy road to a beautiful village a quarter of the way around the lake. When we arrived everyone was sitting in the town square with all the chiefs and elders there and the Obrunis sitting opposite them.

We greeted them and received the nice gift of a sheep.

The sheep was going crazy and I was wondering what in the world we were gonna do with such a thing. Well we decided to tie him to the top of the Patrol which I thought was kind of crazy but how else do you get a sheep down a rugged bumpy African road. So there he goes thumping along as me and my roommates are in the very back getting sick and all the sudden you see the thing hanging off the side of the Patrol dangling and kicking to get free. He was literally hanging by his neck. We all started screaming and our driver Charles got out and tied him up there better. The next day I found out what you do with the gift of a sheep while I was eating my sheep soup. Yes it was very sad but tasted very good actually and was the most tender meat I’ve had since I’ve been here.

The time in Dompa was awesome though and we announced that we wanted to do a community service there Sunday so I know that will be a blast.
I can’t wait to come back. I even saw the fishermen I had met at the lake and got to talk to them again. We had to rush away after the greeting and of course I was the last one for Andrew to say tell Hollie we have got to get going. That seems to be the norm for me. I think it’s my ma’s fault. Lol.

We were on our way to a village called Nkwatepong way up in the mountains. We were going to greet the chief and we had surveyors with us that were going to check to see if Nkwatepong would be eligible to receive a borehole. When we got there children ran out to greet us and they set us up in the local church.

It was impressive how many people came out in just a few minutes and filled up the place and also how the chief opened and closed with prayer. It was very unusual to see that but very encouraging. They were very welcoming and informed Andrew that they need a borehole because the water is causing many sicknesses and they also need a stretcher to carry sick people the hour it takes to walk to the clinic. Please pray for this village to get good water because the surveyors said the roads were not passable for the equipment it would take to dig the borehole. I’m praying that God will give them mercy for these people that they saw and try to make a way for it to happen.

Juliana saw a snake. It scared me to death. I wasn’t there when she came upon it in the kitchen but I heard she almost fainted and came out running and screaming. She said it was 4 feet long and the size of her arm. It got away before anyone could kill it so I’ve been a little more nervous walking around after sunset. Other than that one I haven’t heard of any around here so that is definitely a blessing.
Friday I went to Kumasi to run errands and boy did we ever run. We ran here and there and everywhere and I was definitely with a couple of Ghanaians eating off the street and seeing how things work here in Africa when it comes to money, supplies and business in general. Michael and Osa argued and negotiated prices for cement, steel rods and frames and I helped shop for fruit and vegetables and other needs.

The highlight of the day was visiting Michael’s family in Kumasi. He hadn’t seen them for a while because he is always so busy when he comes to Kumasi but we decided to stop by for a few minutes. It was so cute how excited they were to see him and have guests in their house. Michael started speaking some English to me to explain what was going on and his dad smiled and told him he had never heard him speak English before. He was such a proud daddy that day.
This is me with his ma, dad and uncle.


We got home by 8:00pm which is very late but got a lot of things accomplished which is good since we have a team here trying to get a lot of work done on the clinic.



The clinic looks great! There is so much work going on. Everyday the hill is filled with workers and there is constant noise and action going on til 3:30 every day. It’s been cool seeing the excitement that is going on and to talk with the workers and community about everything at night when we walk into the villages.


Everyone wants to be a part and that is special. This is going to be an amazing addition to this area. I was handed some screw drivers and pliers today and given the job of taking out all the electrical switches, lights, fans from the old portion of the clinic.

It was a hot, gruesome job and so much fun. I even had a little apprentice with me named Gideon who just wanted to hold the tools for me and hand them to me as I needed them. He was
so cute.

I was a mess when I got done but glad that I could help.