I've never been to Ghana. However, I've now lived in 'Ghana", a site in Heifer International's Global Village. Last night was the anticipated and dreaded Global village experience, where we all were randomly sorted into five different living situations down in the woods of Massachusetts. We left the comfort of our 5-star platform tents (actually not kidding, we missed them terribly) and went to live in horrid and realistic conditions in Tibet, Ghana, Kenya, Kentucky USA, and Colonius- all of which are places that Heifer has been to help before.
With five or six people in each group, circumstances were drawn randomly for the different members. Each group had a cripple, pregnant woman, and head of household. The cripple couldn't do normal tasks, the head of household had to make all decisions and be in charge of all of the money, and the pregnant woman had to give birth after dinner and carry around our water balloon baby until the morning. In the case that the baby popped, we had to mourn for thirty minutes and not a second less. When that was explained we had many murdered baby plots on our hands to lessen our 'burden'..slightly disturbing.
We all parted to our sites for the night and were shocked at how dirty most of them were. My group lived in Ghana and we had burlap sacks to sleep on, which we found out later were infested with fleas! Kenya had one bed with a mosquito net for five people. Tibet had a tent with a 'sunroof' and Colonius and Kentucky had bunkbeds in a shack and trailer respectively. After we all cooked AUTHENTIC food that we bartered for in 'market', we had a devotional in which we all gathered to talk about the highs and lows of our days. The highs ranged from the animals, getting to know new friends, watching Anna Richardson light up like a kid during Christmas while feeding the pigs, Walker's working ethic, and Scott's log-running skills.
I should mention Scott's log running skills briefly.. yesterday's service project was hiking into the woods and carrying back a million pounds of cut logs and tree trunks to the roads and with such a miserable task, steps were taken to liven up the crowd, including Scott sprinting through the dense forest after Walker with 75 lb tree trunks on his shoulders. The guys really got into this and it mirrored an intense version of the Highland games meets the Hunger games. I must admit that I prefer the poop group (refer to earlier post) to the logs. I'm not known for my upper body strength, thats for sure.
Back to the global village.. it's important to mention that between 'Kenya' and 'Ghana' sat Poland. Poland was a mecca of everything we wanted- North American like living with real bunkbeds and mattresses. If I could suggest anything to Heifer, I would suggest that before putting kids in impoverished living situations, they should lock the nice, clean, Polish home.. Needless to say we took advantage and immigrated to Poland, only to find that Kenya had already done so and we went to sleep with a house full of Africans. We woke up at 12 AM to trek to Kentucky where Scott was sleeping so all 30 of us could sing happy birthday and wake him up from dead sleep because we're so considerate. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SCOTT!!
Overall we have been shocked and changed by this experience so far. To look in books and read about the horrible living situations and poverty in these countries is one thing, but to experience it ourselves is another. We went to bed hungry- something that never happens at home- and woke up hungry. They do that every night. We worry about if we look fat that day- if that pimple is noticeable, and they worry about if they will be able to feed their child.
It may sound silly, but a million miles away, at a ranch in Massachusetts, kids are sympathizing with conditions they now understand exist. Granted, it's one night, but when it becomes personal is when it sticks with you. Already our group is talking about what can be done, what realistic solutions and endeavors are possible. Walk through a small group and you'll hear APC talking about how they can help and what can be given. With a presence like God and organizations like Heifer, how can you not be hopeful and optimistic about the future? With God for us, who can be against us? We have the ultimate cheerleader and mentor and are ready to let Him lead us to something bigger and better. Did we learn this from one night in a make believe Ghana shack? No. I think it's been brewing inside of us and something like this was what we needed to enforce there are things to be done. We need to let go and Let God.
Lastly, as Josh said two days ago- pray not for the outcome, but for the leadership from God to show you where you should be and who you should help. Tonight is our last night and I can't wait for devotionals. Being with these kids and my own old friends and our leaders has truly been a blessing. Everyones spirits are up right now and the ranch is bubbling. It's undeniable the buzz being spread among us. God is good.
Happy Sunday!
Olivia Huey
