On my last day in Zaremtenga, in the East Mamprusi region of Ghana, I was invited to join the old men’s after breakfast group.  I could speculate on way I was invited but I’m certain it was not because of any wisdom I could add to the group.

They specifically didn’t invite the young guys.  They didn’t invite our interpreter.  (That was my clue that conversation with me was not on their agenda.)

It was kind of like the men gathering at Hardee’s, or at Moss’ in Clarksville.  They each had a gourd of their morning brew to sip on as they discussed topics of the day.  I suspect it was very much like the gathering of men that happens pretty much anywhere in the world.

I suspect that their objective for inviting me was the laugh they enjoyed as they passed a gourd of brew for me to sip on.   They were all in anticipation of my reaction at my first sip.  I didn’t disappoint them.

I would liked to have been able to listen in to the conversation with understanding.  It would have been interesting to know what the wiser elders discuss as they gather in the cool of the morning.

But, I have to think about the gatherings I am involved in many mornings – at Starbucks, Arby’s, Lasaters, my office, and other places such as the one I had this morning.  I hope that the sessions I am involved in are God-honoring and positive rather than gripe sessions.  What is the discussion like when you sit down with brothers and sip on a gourd of your favorite brew?

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 at 6:50 am and is filed under Africa Mission, Communication, Friendship. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.