Productivity: Day 15

When we got up, breakfast was waiting for us downstairs. French toast and apples. It was a nice break from the protein bars that I’ve been scrubbing down running out in the mornings. After that we went on a tour of the International Community School. What a big, beautiful campus filled with children of all backgrounds and of all ages. We saw science and computer labs and dormitories and library’s and campus centers. There are kids here from Ghana, Liberia, Togo, Nigeria, Guinea and other places. When we met Dr. Yaboah at his office we discussed creating a Summer Youth Leadership Academy where kids from the U.S. would come out here and spend 2 weeks with the kids on this campus and learn from each other. The focus would be on leadership, education, sports, technology and arts and culture…from both sides. So we talked about making something like that happen in 2011 and brainstormed and planned for a while. That was one of the reasons why I came to Kumasi in the first place. To see the school and speak with him about starting this Summer Institute. Then we had a brief lunch and headed to Ghana Baptist University to meet the President of the School, Pastor and former head of the Ghana Baptist Convention- Dr. Kojo Osei-Wusuh. He’s interested in partnering with Baptist colleges and seminaries in the States. They are more affiliated with Southern Baptists interestingly enough and there are plenty of schools like that in the South. I only know of a handful of Baptist seminaries and universities in the north, but I told him I’d take all of this back to ABCNJ when I speak with them before the year is out. We talked about what these partnerships would entail. He also explained the needs he had at his school which includes computers and library books. Their library is so deficient...when I saw it I almost got upset. So I told him I will see how we can help in the states get this part of their school off the ground. He then took me to his church Grace Baptist and I looked around. It’s even bigger than the church I went to yesterday. And they have a school as well for elementary and middle school students. It’s something to see. After, we stopped by an internet café to see if I can get on something for a sec. I typed a few emails and then headed out. We went to another woman’s house which was just so beautiful. Her home looked like botanical gardens it was so beautiful. I could just sit and look at it for hours. We sat and conversed a bit on why there is such a gap between African-American’s and Ghanaians. Even though we talked about some things that were negative, I did highlight how even Garvey, Dubois, King, Stevie Wonder and even Maya Angelou found something unique in Ghana that they would come spend time here and even live here. What was it that they, as leaders, saw? We talked about that for a while and I got to be an intellectual again for like an hour or so….reminds me of my Princeton days. (sigh) Anyway, we left there, headed back to Dr. Yaboah’s and had some dinner. “GRUMBLE, GRUMBLE, GRUMBLE,” says my stomach. It doesn’t understand why I am abusing it. It can’t take any more rice and reacts to just about everything. I keep trying to tell it to hold on, I’ll be home next week. But I’m not sure it trusts me anymore. Pray for it please. lol