Akwaaba Obama
Last weekend President Obama visited southern Ghana. It seems Ghanaians, like most Africans, are fascinated and enamored with the American president. Both of the television channels presented 24-hour coverage of his visit. His speeches and travels were broadcast on the radio air waves. Even when the President was sleeping, it seems there was something Obama-related on TV: be it his A&E biography or one of the many Ghanaian music videos dedicated to the American leader.
The President’s first official address was to the Ghanaian parliament. He emphasized American-African partnership (as opposed to patronization) and four key areas of development: democracy, opportunity, health, and peaceful resolution of conflict. Ghanaian’s received Mr. Obama’s words as warmly as they received the President himself. Below is a picture we captured off the television set.

July 11, 2009, Mr. Obama addresses the Ghanaian parliament

Research “Team” in Piisi

Researcher Phil, farmer Pileka, and translator Ngmene observing crop growth in Piisi

This week Dani accompanied Phil to Piisi, a village where he conducts agricultural research. They visited each of the 15 farmers, evaluating germination, weediness, and crop vigor. Dani and Phil also participated in soil classification training with about 20 of the local farmers.

Piisi farmers discussing how landscape affects soil quality

Catholic Mission and Development Project

On Friday our neighbor took us to Maria Yiri HOLIFE (Mary’s House Hope of Liberation for Empowerment). HOLIFE is a Catholic Mission and women’s development project.

HOLIFE mission statement

Dawadawa fruit processing

The Mission works with women from Wa and the surrounding villages, providing microfinance loans, access to markets, and training in processing traditional food goods and handicrafts. Not only do such activities benefit the women’s self-confidence and dignity, they also provide income which supports the health, education, and quality of life of the entire family. Their projects include weaving, bead working, packaging potable water, baking bread, and processing dawadawa fruit, bean flour, millet flour, and soybean flour. The director, Evelyn, showed us around their grounds.

Dani and Evelyn at Maria Yiri Mission

Already Saying Goodbye
Even though we have several more weeks in Ghana, we have already begun saying goodbye to our new friends. Last Sunday we had dinner with the International Mission Board summer missionaries and prayed together before seeing them off to Burkina Faso. Our German housemate is also leaving this weekend, so on Friday night we had a going away party for him. Despite many mishaps (having to find a Muslim to properly slaughter the guinea fowl for our Muslim guests, the cooking gas running out, a torrential downpour, the cook leaving in the middle of cooking because his house was flooded...) we still had a very nice time...

Some nice guinea fowl, tomato stew, and rice

And the “dance party” we have been joking about for so long.

Christoph and Sector perform traditional whirling dances in their Dagaaba-style smocks

Prayer Requests
1 Creativity and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s leading in opportunities to witness to neighbors this week
2 We will be interacting with some “street girls” from the Rescue Mission. Please pray that we may be an encouragement to them and help them in their vocational skills training.
3 May we continue to have good health – specifically, not contracting malaria
4 As Phil prepares to leave Africa, he is praying for a smooth transfer of research responsibilities to the Ghanaian technicians.