Note: Our program director, Marilyn Jones, is currently on a five week trip to meet with our staff, volunteers, and Christian Science church communities in six African countries. She’ll be sharing brief reports as time permits. Her first report, below, chronicles her arrival in Ghana on November 6, and the warm greeting she received from our Africa programs manager, Lamech Katamba, our In-Country Representative, Daniel Atidzon, and members of local churches.
ABF Program Director Marilyn Jones, with Africa Programs Manager, Lamech Katamba (to her right) and members of First Church of Christ, Scientist. Accra, Ghana
“After a tumultuous few hours Friday night in the Accra airport (long lines to get through immigration and then wait and wait and wait for luggage), I finally made my way into the chaotic crowd and the hot, humid night. I immediately felt myself swept into the waiting arms of my brother and friend, Lamech Katamba—ABF’s Africa Programs Manager—and Daniel Atidzon, Ghana’s In-Country Representative (ICR). And so started our whirlwind few days of meeting and greeting our friends and fellow CS church members in Accra, while also trying to catch up on our much needed sleep!
On Sunday, we had a wonderful meeting after services at First Church of Christ, Scientist, Accra. Members of Second Church and the Tema Society also joined us for the lively meeting. Later, many of the members joined us at our hotel for lunch overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. We heard many ideas of how the members feel certain that Africa is ready for next steps—to find ways and means to begin to support an African version of ABF—Africans supporting Africans. We felt so encouraged and excited by the response to this idea—and we can’t wait to keep planning and sharing with our Ghanaian partners as we go forward together creating a sustainable ABF educational program for the future.
Lamech and I are off to the D.R.C. tomorrow. We’ll meet Jean Leonard Ngabo there….Stay tuned!”
