Officially a PCV

I am now sworn in as a Peace Corps Volunteer and am almost done with my first month of service. It is nice to be finally done with training and starting to do some actual work. I may be repeating myself from past posts but as far as what I will be involved in with my job I will be working with the Sandema Resource Center helping out with the overall management and planning of the resource center. The SRC is and IT center that the previous volunteer has created (I am the third volunteer at my site). It is set up as a non-profit organization that gives it’s proceeds to the Horizon Children’s Centre which is another organization that gives a home for children that are orphaned or who come from homes that are unable to provide for them. I have spent some of my free time playing with the children at the center and they are all great kids and a lot of fun to be around. I will also be involved in capacity building of local business owners and women’s groups such as a women’s shea butter group, which I am really excited about.

I really enjoy my placement here in the upper east and have already made a lot of friends. The district is very poor with a very high poverty and illiteracy rate, but it is also a very friendly and nice place. For those that know me well you know that I like to exercise often and after work each day I lift with some friends of mine that have a small makeshift gym with weights that are made out of used car parts that are welded together or cement blocks. I also had a local welder make me a set of dumbbells out of used car parts for my house. In my house I also made a pull-up bar-so my training needs are pretty much satisfied.

I have now spend a little over three months in Africa and have really enjoyed my time here. The people are very genuine and will do anything for you and help you out in any way they can. Ghana is also very religious, and the names of many of the stores are hilarious such as “Blood of Christ Beauty Salon” “Joy to the Lord Auto Supplies” and other really crazy names. Christmas season is happening and while it is sad spending it away from home-it is also nice being somewhere where there is a closer relationship to the true meaning of Christmas. People spend much of the time around Christmas in church and gift giving isn’t really part of the season here-(when there is such a high poverty rate where I am at it is kind of hard to buy presents)-but if they are able to give anything they give it to the church or those in need. I remember being at a get together back home in the States when a person had commented with all sincerity that Africa’s problems were a result of the countries sinfulness and their rebellion against God. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and really had to bite my tongue at the time. This belief is so far off base and ridiculous but just shows how hypocritical many Americans and “Christians” can be. The people here are so nice and genuine and are good examples of how Christians really should be.

I hope that you all have a very merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Feel free to e-mail me anytime-I always enjoy reading your mail although my ability to respond may be infrequent. Thanks for all your prayers and support.

Merry Christmas,

Jason