I cannot believe it has been 2 years since my last mission. I had received numerous emails with mission opportunities and each time I was SO DISAPPOINTED I couldn't reply & say - "pick me-pick me!" There have been many things going on at CHOC that kept me tied there (opening the new CVICU 1 year ago, supporting a leader on a one year medical leave etc) and really important family plans that didn't match with the mission dates I was offered.
Back up 4 months to to January 2026 when I received an email from the Operation Smile Volunteer office with 4 upcoming needs for Recovery Room Educator Credentialed Nurses. The first 3 I had conflicts for & the last one - Ghana in June was one that could work. I immediately emailed back saying I was only available for the Ghana mission and would love to be considered. The international volunteer coordinator said she would forward my "interest" to the Ghana headquarters & see what they said....and 2 weeks later they offered me a role on the team :) I am so excited to get back to this work that fills my heart and spirit and helps children and families. This time I am doing it FAR AWAY....Ho Ghana to be specific 7500 miles from home according to Google.
I will have a VERY early start tomorrow morning - 2:30 wake up alarm & at 3 am Doug will drive me to LAX to arrive about 4 am for my 6:20. While the travel is long - A TOTAL OF 16 hours flying-I do have a pretty direct route- LAX to JFK (5 1/2 hour flight) 2 hour layover at JFK then JFK to Accra Ghana (10 1/2 hour flight). I will arrive in Accra at 7 am on June 3rd - then find my way to the shuttle to take me to the "Crystal Palm Hotel". I will stay overnight there with other volunteers and then on Wed June 4th we will travel 175 km (about 3 hours) to Ho Ghana the site of the mission.
This is ALL POSSIBLE today because my VISA from the OSI leaders in Ghana just arrived THIS MORNING!!!! There was a lil underlying concern over the weekend but it was in my email when I woke up this morning. Talk about lots of last minute prayers answered!
I am serving on this education focused mission & my role as a recovery room nurse will be more of a “trainer” for local Ghanian nurses. Getting the details has been slower this time & I just received the "Team Packet" last Friday...I always look to see if there are any other volunteers on the team list that I may know from past missions with but this time I was surprised to see I am the only USA volunteer...the majority of volunteers are from Ghana or other parts of Africa (DRC, Ethiopia, & 2 from Egypt) and ME!!! All the trainees are from Ghana & I along with a credentialed nurse from Ghana will train 4 new Recovery Room nurses. At times like this I always wonder...for what purpose (aside from the mission) am I going to Ghana? I always feel that I end up going where I am supposed to be on these missions and there are no coincidences 😊
As I always do I did reach out to the local church leaders there letting them know I was coming & that I hoped to connect with them & help church members & others in their area. There are small branches of the church in Ho & the District Women's Society President Sister Quaye replied a few days after I sent my email & said that she was aware of the mission and works at that hospital the mission is being held at - my heart felt immediately comforted that perhaps I would have a "friend" at the hospital - which meant even more after I found out I was the only USA volunteer. Just a few days ago the District President Benjamin Ofori emailed and he is a Public Health Officer with Ghana Armed Forces Medical Services at the Artillery Unit Hospital in Ho. (I am unsure if that is the hospital we will be at?) He also told me they were "ready to receive me and would stay in touch" I think I will phone then once I arrive in Accra. I have friends who have served two church missions there so they have given me some help as I prepared. I have done 6 other missions in Africa - Ethiopia x3 (East Africa), Kenya (East Africa)- my very first mission 15 years ago, and Morocco x 2 (North Africa) This time I will be in "West Africa" & there is a 7 hour time difference
The "Wikipedia" information I have on the area of Ho is that it is in the Volta Region with a population of 180K and is supposed to be one of the cleanest cities in West Africa - so that's a plus! It has a tropical savanna climate (translation the weather app says it will rain a part of every day). The primary ethnic group there and language is the Ewe...more to learn once I get there...
As always my blog is “my journal” I share with you on these trips so it may be a bit boring 😊 but I will update while I am there & 14 years later I have not yet figured out how to fix the way it posts on Facebook??? I really need Tech Support!!!! As you can see I had an issue with this first entry...no idea about the formatting that is showing.
I would be immensely grateful for your prayers & positive thoughts as I begin my travel on June 2nd and the throughout the time I am in Ghana until I return late in the night on June 13th. A mission trip always brings some uncertainly that I acknowledge - and I can be BRAVE - but I have to admit I am a bit more insecure thinking I am the only USA volunteer. I know it will also be a wonderful opportunity to make MANY new friends from Ghana.
Lots of Love, Nurse Nancy
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