June 22, 2007

We made it!! After a 32 hour, 4 leg trip we are finally here. Traveling was pretty hard on jackson - since all of the flights we were on were all packed he had to sit on our laps every time we were in the air. But Praise the Lord for international air travel. We were sitting next an eighty year old missionary on the flight from Germany to Nigeria to Accra. He told us when he first came to Ghana he had to take a boat and it took 6 weeks to get there and all of his luggage was ruined by a hurricane. So we couldn't complain. Thanks for your prayers for a safe arrival. As soon as we got off the plane we could feel the humidity - we are told that it is 75-100 percent humidity at all times. Brett has been sweating since he got here. The people were SO nice in the airport (a lot nicer than the Germans). The Stubblefields came to pick us up. We were very relived to see them. They have been very kind to us and have taken us under their wings these last few days. Currently we are in Accra (the capital city about 150 miles south of Kumasi) staying in a hostel type place owned by a couple of Christian missionaries. Since our visa will expire in 60 days we need to get our paperwork done as soon as possible. That is why we are still here. Brett went with Bro. Stubblefield and NANA (the king of Kumasi - who is also a member of the First Baptist Church of Kumasi) to the government office to get some of the paperwork taken care of, and to also get a physical. We plan to head to Kumasi first thing tomorrow morning (it is a six hour trip by car.) The people here are amazing - so kind. I will be sure to post some pictures as soon as i can. The woman carry so much weight on their heads with such incredible balance. It is hard not to stare at them. When we drive down the road their are hundreds of little outside shops lining the roads, with merchants coming up to cars. The stubblefields told us not to look at them or point because if you do then they will walk along the car for blocks just holding up their product. I made the mistake at pointing at a soccer ball and I had a teenage boy follow our car for awhile. I think I could best compare it to China Town in NYC - just 210398 times bigger and more aggressive. The Ghanaians think that all of the White people are rich so they mark up their prices when they try to sell to us. But you can barter them down pretty easy. I guess that is all for now. Since we are staying in this hostel we have a very good internet connection. From what I am told where we will live in Kumasi the internet is 10 times slower than dial up so I don't know when I will be able to update you all again. We would love to hear from you! We love you all and miss you very much.