Peki

Peki, where I just spent the last week, is truly beautiful. It's a small town in the Volta Region of Ghana, nestled between lush, tropical mountains. There's a sense of traditional Ghanaian life there. Like many small towns in America, Peki is much friendlier than the big city (even though there are many friendly people in the city as well) and has a more relaxed, quiet feel. The riches in Peki are "natural": fruit falling from the trees and strong community ties.

And I was amazed to find a significant experience with God in Peki. The town turned out to be a perfect setting to experience the goodness of the God who created natural abundance and human love. As a seminary student, I study God all the time, but in Peki I experienced the God I was reading about, studying about, and praying to in real situations, relationships, and realizations. Back in Accra, I feel refreshed in many ways, and I feel inspired to share the goodness I received as a gift. I have recognized that the same God who made the richness of Peki is right here in Accra, and that knowledge is a great encouragement.

The top picture is part of the town from above. The second picture is my Peki host family's youngest son Peter, who was our guide up the mountain. We're balancing on a tree stump, I think. The third picture is of some millipedes Peter's cousin Samuel found. He was always finding things in the forest. The last picture is a view of the hills and valleys of the Volta Region.