Empowered Women: A Journey of Strength in Ghana

Ghana. 2018.

We were in a small village, en route to deliver Bibles to students who had completed their three–year Bible study program. After a few days in the country, we were tired from the long journey, jet lag, and readjusting to the cultural differences. In our missions group, we often use the saying TINA (this is not America) to remind ourselves that we are all different. It serves to remind us that there is no right or wrong way to do things; just differences in our perspective.

We stopped on the side of the road that morning to purchase coconuts for the coconut milk, and I turned and there she was……I was intrigued to see this tall, regal woman with her head held high, and had to take a photo as she walked away. I was both shocked and quite impressed.

This young mother not only carried a small child on her back, but she also carried all of her baby and tailoring supplies in the bag in her hand while balancing her sewing machine on her head ready to sew and earn money for her family. She was dressed to impress, with curlers in her hair so that she would look her best, and walked with confidence down the long dusty road, filled with cars, animals, and people scurrying to do whatever they needed to do that day.

Wonder Woman.

Not only was I pooped from doing absolutely nothing that morning – I was wondering how long it would be before we would eat lunch and when I would get my next bathroom break! I would never have had the stamina to do what this young woman probably did every day. It was the norm for her.

It reminded me that women are the same all over the world. God has equipped us to nurture our families, caring for their emotional, spiritual, and physical needs.

But, some women? They just impress me.

May God bless this young Ghanaian Mama.