Mending Lives Net

I wanted to quickly share an experience I had during this last trip to Ghana with you. It was impactful, I've been back from Ghana a little while now and am still thinking about everyday. 

I'm there at the GMAD home when I see Christopher making a big colorful net underneath the little pavilion we have there. I stand by him and ask if I can watch, he smiles and says "yes". Christopher is one of the boys that worked as a slave on Lake Volta for over a decade before being rescued and brought to GMAD. From where I was standing, I could see a scar on his head, given to him by his taskmaster with a boat paddle. Christopher was making another net. His hands were moving so fast. He knew all the knots. Only this time, he wasn’t tying a fishing net; he was happily making a new soccer net for the soccer goals here at GMAD. Christopher was safe, cheerful, and peaceful, as he made the soccer net. Old skills met with a new and hope-filled environment. I could have watched him all day.
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It goes without saying, I'm not a photographer. Hah! Here a few pictures anyway that I strung together to show you.

- Austin Johnson