Collisions, Conscience and Christianity

Friday, 27 July

We did some further shopping at the Hand in Hand sheltered workshop, and I bought a copy of Ineke’s book, To Be a Man is Not Easy. It is a collection of 13 essays by Ghanaian emigrants which recounts the hardships these men faced in order to make better lives for their families.We set off for “home” (Ajumako) shortly after 10 am. Again, we grazed on bananas and biscuits and avocado. On another deeply rutted dirt road, a tro-tro coming from the opposite direction came far onto our “side of the road” and brushed against Sam’s rear view mirror. Immediately, he stopped and got out of the car, ready for a confrontation. He got it! Our mirror was okay, but the tro-tro’s was broken. Young men poured out of the tro-tro like clowns in a circus car, and there was wild gesticulating that grew more alarming when one of the men shoved a large log under the front wheel. Melissa grew scared; Rosie and Greta locked their doors. Sam was nowhere to be seen, behind us in the crush of tro-tro passengers, all out to defend their driver. After what seemed like a long while, Sam came back to the car terribly agitated, he told Melissa the driver had demanded 150,000 cedis ($15) as the cost of repairing the mirror. Melissa did her best to hide the wad of money she was carrying and peeled off the right number of bills. After another long wait during which Sam insisted that everyone get back in the tro-tro before he would give the money to the driver, he finally returned to the car and passed 100,000 cedis ($10) to Melissa – the driver apparently had a change of heart and offered him “change”!! We were all quiet for a long time.

As we neared Cape Coast, I became increasingly fascinated by the signs along the road (e.g., “stones for sale, or if you need a ride, call…” and the omnipresent religious aphorisms adopted by local merchants for their business monikers. I began to realize how deeply rooted is Christianity in the lives of these people. There are few earthly avenues to hope, so hope is given to Christ, who does not disappoint.

Later in the week, I began to make a list of business names which, while they amused me enormously, reinforced my belief that God comes first in the lives of Ghanaians, and we in America could take a lesson.

Here are some names on my list:

• God is one Fast Food
• Manna Heights Hotel
• Naked I Came Tasty Meals
• The Holy Innocents Refrigerator and AC Parts
• With God All Things Are Possible Supermarket
• The Blood of Jesus Bicycle Workshop
• Humble Beginnings Architecture Shop
• God Will Provide Refrigeration Svcs.
• Hope Makes You Strong Hair Cuttery
• Jesus My Redeemer Eggs and Plastic (an incongruous combination of products, to be sure)
• No Time Left Jesus is Coming Beauty Shop
• Jeremian 33:3 Enterprises (I looked it up; it's "Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known)

Tomorrow: Heritage Academy Graduation