Kakum Adventures: Day 4

We set out on our adventure to Kakum National Park at 930 this morning. We weren’t sure what to expect but we knew that it was a rainforest in Ghana so that was enough for some of us to wear baggy clothes, hats, scarves and bring extra bug repellent.

It took us about an hour to get there.

When we arrived we were told that we wouldn’t be walking too long and that there was a long canopy that awaited us in the park that we could choose to walk over. You know…the ones like in the Indiana Jones movies that someone always winds up chopping with a sword and they go crashing down…or in that 80s movie “Romancing the Stone” with Michael Douglass and Kathleen Turner….I love that movie…yeah…I love the movies because they’re movies….i’m not trying to bring it to life. So I was not a big fan of walking across the canopy.

We walked and walked and walked higher and higher and higher and even though it was a great workout, many of us didn’t expect all of that. Well we finally reached the top…the canopy. The guide looked up and said to me, “there goes the first one right there.”I should have paid attention to him when he said that because there were 7 total and we didn’t know that till we crossed each one. I followed Mr. Corpening (the head of our trustee board and he’s pretty young too). He was so confident about going…I mean he was really fearless. So I figured, I’d follow him because I mean, if he was fearless, then I was going to be fearless too. I had never in my life done anything like that. I don’t think any of any of us have really. We were about 350 feet above ground. After I crossed the first canopy walk, my earring dropped and we were so high up that it just went into the abyss. I was a little nervous at that point. But Mr. Corpening went ahead, so I went ahead on to the second one and third and fourth all the way to the seventh. I was pouring sweat because it was great exercise and all the nervousness made me sweat too. I just kept looking ahead…I mean, I looked down a few times but I felt myself freezing so I just looked ahead. Obviously there were all those life’s lessons that you think about while you’re up there. Like following Jesus Christ the all time fearless leader.

We may be afraid, but with Christ as our guide, we cannot fail…or fall shall I say. Even lessons in mentorship and how important it is for us as leaders of those who look to us to remember that there are those behind us who are following our lead and if we waver, they waver…if we show fear, they may fear as well. Well, when we crossed the last one, I felt so accomplished. I was able to exasperate my fears up there…and that was one of the things I came here to do. Praise God!

*And speaking of God, I had another poor devotional day. But I must say that God is getting me out of that whole mindset that I have to be so rigid and religious in my thinking when it comes to our relationship. Because our relationship is just that…a relationship…a 24/7-365-day-a-year relationship, that’s not limited to the confines of the human limitations of time that we put on God. That is what we do with our own human relationships. With God it can be so much more. A constant communion. Hmmm…*

We got back on the bus and we stopped along the way to see crocodiles at…somewhere…I don’t know, I just stayed on the bus. I had seen enough for the day. After we went back to Cape Coast Castle Restaurant for lunch and it was really good. I don’t think any of us expected that either which is why we enjoyed it so much.

We had black eyed peas (not that way we have it), green beans and carrots, plantains, rice and chicken. And we ate every bit of it. Then off to the bus for about a 3 hour ride back to Accra. Accra is VERY different from Cape Coast. Cape Coast is like the Jamaican country. Accra is more city. We found it very interesting that people can live in such impoverished conditions just a short drive away. But then again, it’s like that where we’re from too in the States. We were exhausted when we reached the hotel…but then we saw the hotel. I really like it! The hotel in Cape Coast was decent…I probably couldn’t take it there longer than a few days. But here…it’s beautiful. Its kind of got an “International Chic” feel to it. There are people here walking around from Greece and India and other parts of Africa and lots of other places. And they’re all chic and businessy and the like…(businessy isn’t a word but whatever). We finally saw Pastor Soaries for the first time since we landed. He’s so cool. You know you’re cool when you’re important six thousand miles away from home. I’m going to go to banking meeting with him and Mr. Corpening in the morning. And even though I know nothing about banking or business, they’re trying to get me there…by Monday he said. lol.

We all had a light dinner and we’re going to turn in soon. Me and Rev. Gipson are sitting in the lobby…(the big lobby!) updating blogs, checking emails and enjoying our one day here. Tomorrow we’ll pack up again and head to Koforidua…let the King’s celebration begin!

HI MOM & DAD!!

Click here for extra facebooks pics from the day...all in the same album...just growing.)