Today I was invited to attend the World Vision celebrations to mark the start of their new year.

My day began at 5.30, which was a bit of a shock seeing am I'm no longer used to waking up when it's dark, good practice I suppose for when I get home! I managed to kick my brain into just enough gear to manage to get dressed and leave the house, and in my sleepy slumbery state I made my way into Zebilla and found a small seat on a rickety tro tro squeezed in between a poorly little girl and her sleepy mother. After about an hour and a half of snoozing, the bus actually stuttered and set off for Bolga.

The bumpy journey, and the rising hot sun, well and truly woke me up, so that the time I landed I was a little dazed and confused, but at least now awake for the day ahead. The event was taking place at a rather up-market hotel and restaurant on the outskirts of town, and as I pulled up in a taxi, I could see that this really was an important event on the calendar - people were there in their shiny 'I-can-see-my-face-in-those' shoes, crisply ironed shirts, smart black trousers, jazzy bright ties, and bling diamante's winking here and there, on brooches for the ladies, and on cufflinks for the men. In between there were a few standard bright orange World Vision t-shirts, and then there was me in my jeans - oops (!). Well, no one seemed to mind, at least I had my posh shirt on!

The day is set for all World Vision offices across the globe, each one holding a small gathering of staff from the area to come together and thank God for all that has been achieved so far, praise him (that's the fun part - all the singing and dancing!), and then pray for Gods blessing on the year ahead. It was really nice to see so many of the staff team from across the Upper East and Northern Regions, it gives a real sense of perspective in terms of World Visions presence in Ghana, and the many different faces that represent the team here!

The day began with a 'worship', which was far livelier than I was expecting. It began with everyone quietly praying, me desperately trying to avoid feeling snoozy again due to the stifling heat, when all of a sudden someone started to sing. It was one of the female staff, who has a really beautiful voice, and she just began singing a worships song, quietly at first and then it got louder and louder. I could feel the people standing either side of me starting to sway, and hum along, and eventually the whole room was joining in, singing high and loud, bellowing away, swaying about and clapping their hands, I'd never seen anything like it until I came to Ghana!

And so the scene was set for the day; lots of prayer topics (I hadn't actually realised that you could ask God for so many things at once!), lots of lively worship songs and hymns, plenty of singing, swaying, clapping and dancing, especially spurred on by some of the men who were clearly here for a good time (probably the ones who you would find first on the dance floor at the equivalent event at home!), clapping so loud that they nearly burst my eardrums, and doing dances with their arms waving about and waving their colourful hankies in the air. It was great fun, and a real insight into the motivation behind World Vision's work. I had the opportunity to meet so many new staff members and colleagues, and to learn new songs too (although I'm still working on being able to sing and do the crazy clapping thing that the Ghanaians do at the same time - it's like trying to pat your head and rub your stomach at the same time - very confusing!), and I also had the chance to better understand how their religion really informs their work and gives them the spirit and the drive to carry out their work in Gods name.

At the end of the day, needless to say I was wiped out! We headed back to the Bolga Base office where a few of last year's last minute things needed sorting out, and I got to meet a young woman who was once a sponsored child, but is now a talented teacher. It was fantastic to meet her, and hear about the real difference World Vision made to her life, since she was only 8 years old. Now that she is 18, she is a real inspiration to other young people and children, and she leads on a steering group for other sponsored children and other development projects in her community, Bongo.

Eventually we headed back in the pick-up truck, along the horrendously bumpy road to Zebilla. The first signs of harmattan are showing, the road was dustier than usual, and the sky was hazy, and the sun is setting sooner each day making each day seem that little bit shorter than the last. By the time we landed back here the stars were out, and so I made my way home from our office in the dark, the paths lit by moonlight, and the crops playing shadows here and there. It feels nice to celebrate a new year, and start something fresh, I just hope this one will be as good as the last!

With love from Ghana,

Em

Xx