A Missionary Life Experience in Ghana: A Day at the OceanA Day at the Ocean!!!

Life on the mission field is not always sermons, Bible studies, and ministry meetings. Sometimes it includes simple moments that strengthen relationships, refresh the body, and remind us of the joy of serving the Lord together.

One of the great blessings of a missionary life experience in Ghana is learning how everyday moments—like a day at the ocean—can become treasured memories with family and fellow missionaries.

This particular day started earlier than usual.

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Starting the Day with a Small Setback

I woke up around 7:30 A.M., feeling refreshed and ready for the day. After several busy days adjusting to life in Ghana, a good night of sleep felt wonderful. I grabbed some breakfast and began gathering my things.

But before the day even really started, I ran into a small problem.

The night before, I had plugged in my battery pack to charge. It was brand new, and I had just paid $50 for it, so I expected it to work perfectly. Unfortunately, when I picked it up that morning, it would not work at all.

Nothing.

Completely dead.

For a few minutes I was honestly pretty frustrated. Spending that much money on something that fails immediately can put a damper on your mood.

But living overseas quickly teaches you something important:

You cannot let small frustrations ruin the day.

So I shrugged it off, laughed about it, and moved on. There was something far more exciting ahead of us.

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A Birthday Trip to the Ocean

This day was special for another reason.

It was Mom’s birthday, and we were celebrating by taking a trip to the ocean.

Living in Ghana gives missionaries opportunities to experience parts of God’s creation that many people never see. The coastline along the Atlantic Ocean is beautiful, and when we have the opportunity, it is a wonderful place to relax and spend time together.

I put on my swim clothes, grabbed some water, and packed my things for the day.

Around 10:00 A.M., we loaded up and started the trip.

Now, traveling in Ghana is always an adventure.

What should have been a simple drive turned into a long hour-and-a-half journey over rough roads. Potholes, uneven pavement, and the occasional traffic slowdown are just part of life here. By the time we arrived around 11:30 A.M., we were more than ready to get out of the vehicle.

But as soon as we saw the ocean, the long drive was completely worth it.

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First Ones in the Water

Danny and Bonnie wasted no time.

They ran straight toward the water and were the first ones in the ocean.

I, however, was not nearly that eager.

The water looked inviting, but when I stepped in, I quickly discovered something important.

It was freezing.

At least it felt that way to me.

I stood there for a few minutes with my feet in the water, slowly adjusting. I walked back and forth along the shoreline, trying to convince myself to go in deeper.

Then a few big waves came rolling in and splashed me anyway.

Once that happened, there was no turning back.

After a few minutes, the cold water started to feel normal, and soon I was fully enjoying the ocean. In fact, once you get used to the temperature, swimming becomes a lot of fun.

I ended up staying in the water for over an hour.

Danny absolutely loves swimming, so the ocean was the perfect place for him. Bonnie also had a great time jumping waves and splashing around.

Sometimes the simplest activities become the best memories.

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Lunch… Eventually

After spending a good amount of time in the water, everyone started getting hungry. We headed over to a nearby restaurant for lunch.

Several of us decided to order burgers.

But after we placed the order, the staff came back and told us something unexpected.

They didn’t actually have burgers.

So we had to change plans.

Instead, we ordered beef kabobs.

Now, waiting for food in Ghana can sometimes require patience. This was one of those times. We ended up waiting over an hour for our meal.

But when the food finally arrived, it was worth the wait.

The kabobs were incredible.

Bro. Ruckman even said they were the best beef kabobs he had eaten in Africa. The meat was tender and flavorful, and everyone enjoyed the meal after a long morning of swimming and travel.

Sometimes the best meals come after the longest waits.

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Searching for Fresh Lobster

After lunch, Danny and Bonnie decided to go back into the water for another round of swimming.

I, on the other hand, had already had my fill of cold ocean water.

So I changed clothes and cleaned up while they kept enjoying the waves.

During that time, Bro. Prince and I went on a small adventure.

Our goal?

Find fresh lobster for supper.

We walked down the beach and started talking to some local fishermen. One of the interesting parts of a missionary life experience in Ghana is interacting with people in everyday situations like this.

The fishermen were friendly and happy to talk with us. After a few minutes, they led us to a place where several lobsters were swimming in a tank.

They were all for sale.

Some were large.
Some were small.

We tried to negotiate a good price, but the cost was much higher than we expected. After a little discussion, we decided lobster was not going to be on the menu that evening.

So the lobster hunt ended unsuccessfully.

But the conversation with the fishermen was still a fun part of the day.

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Birthday Celebration and Fellowship

Since lobster was out of the picture, the supper plan changed.

Instead, we decided to enjoy grilled chicken and corn on the cob later that evening.

After returning from the beach, we continued celebrating Mom’s birthday. Mrs. Angie surprised her with a coffee cake, and it tasted absolutely amazing.

Of course, spending a full day at the beach also had one predictable side effect.

Mom got a little sunburned.

That happens sometimes when you spend too much time enjoying the ocean.

As the evening continued, we spent time fellowshipping with the Kenny family, another missionary family serving here in Ghana. Times like this are incredibly important on the mission field.

Missionaries often live far away from extended family, so friendships with other missionary families become very meaningful.

Sharing meals, celebrating birthdays, and simply spending time together helps build strong encouragement and fellowship.

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The Joy of Missionary Life

When people think about missions, they often picture only the preaching, evangelism, and church planting—and those things are absolutely central to the work.

But a missionary life experience in Ghana also includes many smaller moments.

Traveling rough roads.
Swimming in the ocean.
Sharing meals with friends.
Talking with fishermen on the beach.
Celebrating birthdays with fellow missionaries.

These moments strengthen relationships and create memories that last a lifetime.

They also remind us that serving God overseas is not just a ministry—it is a life.

And after a long day filled with travel, swimming, food, and fellowship, I was definitely ready for one final thing.

Sleep.

I went to bed looking forward to a good night of rest, thankful for another unforgettable day living and serving in Ghana.