Clearing the Container

The process of clearing (paying all necessary fees and physically emptying and transferring the items from the port) the shipping container was quite the arduous, time consuming, and stressful task mainly due to the corruption in the port.  Dealing with corruption and seeing raw evil, greed, stupidity, selfishness, hatred, dishonesty, and malice is very difficult when you are simply in a country for the sake of helping others and you know that all that corruption is ultimately not hurting yourself but those others in great need who you want so badly to help.  Ultimately, though, what a reminder of the true way to "help" others - not by just handing stuff to them but by teaching the Truth and helping transform the deep rooted character problems and sin from which stem the corruption and poverty in the first place. Praise God it's all over and we are now in the joyous part of utilizing the items for great good!  Here are some pictures to share with you from the clearing process:

Heading down to the port - left at midnight to get there in the morning.  Made it by the appointed time though broken down several times.  

Then began the waiting.... 

waiting while the car got worked on...

 waiting while the port officials looked for the container... 

waiting for several days before finally getting the go ahead to open the container, then after unpacking a third of it, told it was too late in the day and forced to repack it... 

waiting for another day to finally unload it all and transfer everything into a truck.

 Trying to keep an eye on everything 

while port workers walk around trying to take things they want.  

Finally all packed up in the truck ready to roll

 but then delayed two more days before being allowed to leave.  

Unloading the truck in Kumasi!  Yay!  We were so thankful for all the great help of strong friends throughout the whole process!  Now for the huge but exciting job of unpacking everything!