Accra ping pong - Again


I’m back in Accra as the cough treatment given after All-Vol did not do the trick.  The PC doctor did a good initial reevaluation on Friday and ran a number of tests.  He also set up a Monday appointment with a specialist – the earliest available.  My cough was bad enough that near the end of the evaluation he asked how many cigarettes I smoke in a day.  (For the record I smoked “zero in a day, zero in a week, zero in my lifetime.”)

I should have updated information and hope to be truly on the mend by my blog post next week.

Success in the Peace Corps


I’m getting close to less than 100 days left in Ghana.  It is time to reflect a little.  I’ve had successes, failures, and made plenty of mistakes.  There have been ups and downs.  This cough for a month that has interfered with my sleep has not been fun but is one of those things that I can take in stride.  A lot of other people have it a lot worse.

During the All Volunteer meeting I was on a panel discussing what it means to be a successful volunteer.  Many volunteers come with a goal of changing the world and making a difference.  Then during their service they see students cheating, moms giving their infants beer/pito, or any number of other things that cause discouragement.  They begin to wonder if they are doing any good at all.

People look for success in the statistics required by Peace Corps reporting.  They compare the number of their projects or things accomplished with other volunteers and feel discouraged.  Some Peace Corps staff will tell the volunteers that they should not think about changing the world.

I have a different perspective.

Before Peace Corps my wife and I volunteered for the Red Cross and St. Vincent de Paul Society.  I know, as anyone who has done extensive volunteering, that volunteering is hard.  You don’t always see the desired results; you don’t always get thanks.

I’ve gone out in the middle of a winter night to help a family made homeless by a house fire so that they have a place to stay until their insurance can help.  I’ve helped keep firefighters cool in the summer with iced towels and cold drinks.  I’ve loaded food for home visits to people in a rough spot. 

I’ve not always received thanks but receiving thanks or glory is not a reason to volunteer.  It is nice, but not necessary.  I think there is something about doing good works without praise as mentioned in the bible and other religious texts.  Volunteers know, but sometimes need reminding, that however hard the work it, there is something in the act of kindness that makes it worthwhile at a basic (spiritual) level.

I told the group of mainly “20 somethings” that the very act of volunteering is CHANGING THE WORLD.   They may not see the results but I told them that just their presence – living and working with local people is making a difference.  I told them that there are many stories of successful adults that trace a large part of their success back to a Peace Corps volunteer.  Even if the Peace Corps volunteer leaves and never knows the impact – they still made an impact.  They still made the world a better place.

(NOTE:  The President of Ghana reflects on the lasting impression a Peace Corps volunteer made on him (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9q77GmH-V0 )  These and other videos in the Peace Corps “Legacy Project” can be seen at (https://www.youtube.com/user/peacecorps/videos )  )

Peace Corps volunteers, all volunteers, should know that the selfless act of volunteering one’s time to directly be with someone and try to help makes a world of difference – makes the world a better place.

I encourage more volunteering – not necessarily in the Peace Corps –close to home is great.

Health


As mentioned I’m in Accra for my cough.  I’ll have more information next week and hope to post an update when I know.

Love always,

John

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