Good Bye Wiaga, but I will return

Good bye to Wiaga. This has been a heart-warming life changing memory for me. You can see the happiness in these villagers with what they have. The villagers are so thankful, polite, and grateful for the kindness and compassion done unto others. It makes one stop and think, why can’t all be like this. Many of us, Americans especially, take much for granted. However, the children here are receiving an education to further enrich their lives administered by a dedicated staff whose mission is the same as all educators worldwide. The villagers, some would live modestly to their standards with a cement brick home, electricity, and running water, and those that depend on the local boreholes dug into the ground and live in mud homes. But all are thankful and grateful for everyone. They have been thankful and grateful for my family’s and others contributions. 

Seeing the kids and saying good bye was wonderful. They all still called me Master and had smiles. I promise to return to them. 

Now I got to do some exploring of northern Ghana and went to the Paga Crocodile Pond near the Burkina Faso border. Here, after paying our donation, I was led by a guide to the pond and they whistled for a croc to appear. One approached slowly and sat there. I discovered she was 85 years old and I approached from the rear and got to pet the croc gently on the back and hold its tail. I wasn’t scare after I saw they it was ok. The croc was fed afterwards. And since I was the only one there, they said many crocs already ate and only came up if hungry.  But all she did was bask in the sun, mouth open to let air in. Thomas explained that this local tribe reveres the croc as a totem, sacred. The croc was the one who saved their people and they now worship it, will never eat it, nor abuse it. I found that fascinating 

I also got to see the border of Ghana to Burkina Faso. It wasn’t crowded like US Mexico, but cars, trucks, and pedestrians have to go through customs  checkpoints and declare their goods. Burkina Faso is also a Francophone country, French Speaking, but also part of ECOMWAS, the same as the EU is for West African states. Thomas and other Ghanaians can travel freely with proper ID. It was very interesting to realize I was that close. 

Now I’m back being hosted by Thomas’s family in Bolga ready to see what tomorrow, Thursday has in store. God