As part of an effort toward global awareness, Hill United Presbyterian Church sent a pastor to Ghana in June.

And while the Rev. John Porter and his family are overseas, a pastor from Ghana has taken his place.

The Rev. McWilson Atakro and his wife, Belief, are occupying Porter's house, just as the Porters are living in the Atakros' residence. Atakro has assumed Porters' pastoral duties at Hill, while Porter serves at the Churches of Bubiashie in Accra Ghana.

The exchange, which will last until December, is part of a relationship that began in the 1940s between the the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ghana, the churches' parent organizations.

Local connections began to form as early as 1997, when Atakro met another local pastor, the Rev. Peter DeVries of Old Union Presbyterian Church in Mars. He has known Porter since 1999.

After ongoing discussions, pastors at both churches say their goal is for the partnership between those umbrella organizations to extend to churches and their members.

According to the Rev. Clark Sawyer, pastor at Hill, embracing the partnership will allow for raised cultural awareness and also a means to lend aid.

"We live in a global society," Sawyer said, explaining that despite the presence of more than 50 African countries, little is known about their differences.

"We want to know each other," Atakro agreed. "The purpose of John going to Ghana is to live with the people and to know them."

Porter says one example of a lack of knowledge was demonstrated when friends initially questioned his family's decision to live in Ghana for six months.

"Friends, family, and our congregation were very concerned for our safety at first. Part of this was due to the lack of information about Ghana," Porter said.

"We found that most people knew only general information about Africa and formed their impressions based on international news that occurred in Africa — whether or not it was connected to Ghana.

"Ghana is a very stable nation. Once we had learned more it was easier for us to reassure people that we would be safe."

Porter's wife, Heather, said in many ways the West African country of more than 24 million resembles life in any big city – especially with English as the primary language.

"Ghana is modern. Ghanaians are smart, clean, well-dressed and very friendly," she said. "Yes, there are also very different regions of town from any we've been in in U.S. cities, but that's not to say such places don't exist in the U.S."

Heather also points to commonality on more personal levels, describing the rapport between Ghanaians.

"Friendly neighbors eagerly share cooking tips and child-raising stories in casual conversation," she said. "Children build forts, play ball games and come home delightfully exhausted and dirt-covered at the end of a glorious summer day. People eagerly lend a hand to help when they know of any need we have."

The Porters said an important difference between the two cultures is the threat of malaria, particularly for children with limited access to medication.

Since giving aid is among Hill's goals with the partnership, one project so far was in the form of allocating funds toward mosquito netting, which offers a shield against the malaria-carrying insect.

Hill also has donated money for Bibles and is hoping to begin a scholarship fund to help women attain higher education. A breast cancer screening project is also in the works.

From Atakro's perspective, differences include limited access to familiar foods and slight differences in his role as a pastor.

In Ghana, for instance, his home and office are one, and sermons are much longer at the three churches he pastors.

"The hymns are the same," he said, explaining how various groups also offer additional song outside of those regular hymns.

Atakro said tithing in Ghanaian churches also is different: Church members dance toward the collection area and, unlike American churches, multiple offerings can be requested according to specific community needs. While as many as four different offerings are not uncommon, the Porters reported that 11 offerings had recently been taken in one service.

Atakro also said impromptu visits to the pastor's home from Ghanaian parishioners also are typical, whereas visits to American pastors are not as common and are planned in advance.

"The Porters have described that they are surrounded by people," Sawyer said.

And volunteerism is more common here.

"Here, people will ask you, 'What help can I do for you?' In my country, nobody will ask you that," he said, explaining Ghanaians are guarded about such offers in case they are unable to accommodate the request.

"I like the way (after the service) people come together and discuss issues informally," he said.

In the future, Atakro, Porter and Hill hope those informal discussions will take place between members of both parishes who travel between both countries.

"There are a lot of things we're learning, and it's a great benefit to us — both ways," Sawyer said.