I have thought about many titles to give this week’s blog. Such as-Boy it’s a long one. Mold seems to be my friend. Nothing ever goes the way you plan it. Thank God He knows what He’s doing. Culture shock anyone? But I couldn’t decide on just one.
Monday was the last full day with the boys before Kirk and Nicole got home. I went to the Mozley’s and tried to do some Internet stuff. That of course was time consuming. After two hours I had not gotten anything accomplished, so I sat there and I prayed at their kitchen table. I know the Lord wants me to be patient and find Him in ever step, even waiting on the Internet. So I usually bring along my Bible or a book I’m reading and it provides more than enough time to get some of those readings done! Monday I was reading Tony Campolo’s Speaking My Mind. I really enjoy his insight into the mainline denominations hemorrhage of members. Tuesday the Sims returned home from Korea and so at 10:30am we got in the trotro (big white 15 passenger van, standard of course) and I drove us to meet mommy and daddy! We made Kirk and Nicole a welcome home sign crafted out of printer paper and crayons…. Eli and Aidan preciously designed it. When the parents walked out of the airport doors after only missing their children for 10 days, tears filled their eyes as both boys ran while screaming, “Mommy…Daddy!!!!” Writing this it makes me see more clearly how happily the prodigal son was received. It makes me wonder about the delight God has when one of His children come home.
Then Wednesday I left the house at 9 am. Sounds like as soon as the parents got home I was outta there huh! Well there’s some truth to that, but I actually was going into town with Claire and Tatum to get some household items. Broom, mop, and bucket. Nothing too fun. But I have to say I was really excited because I had planned to move into my new house this week. The bed and wardrobe are made and ready to be used. Gifty sowed my shower curtain so I can take a nice cold shower. So after Wednesdays all day, and I mean all day shopping adventure, I went home, ate supper and went to sleep excited about moving to my apartment the next day. Which was my birthday!
I had a terrible headache Wednesday night and got sick in the course of the night. Then on an empty stomach took some prescription headache medicine and then proceeded to have crazy dreams and feel like my heart was going to leap out of my chest at any moment. I won’t take that medicine again on an empty stomach. Which on a side note, I feel like I have been taking A LOT of medicine since I’ve been here. Seems like every day something new with physical ailments comes up. So you can be praying for and of the devils attempts at physical pain to be cast off…Anyway….
So I woke up at 7am July 27th with a knock on my bedroom door to find Gifty, Nicole and Eli entering with a water gun in tow! Yes, Gifty’s idea to come in and give me a couple of birthday squirts to get the day started off right. I love her personality. She’s really funny and hates to loose at Ludu, a Ghanaian game sort of like Sorry. (Side note…we’ve played a good bit the past week…she really hates to loose, almost as much as me. Actually maybe even more!) Since my previous nights sleep was less than restful, I stayed in bed until around 8 am. Then it was time to go to the market to get all the fixings for Fufu! Now nothing turns out the way you want or think it will. Isn’t that the story of our lives? We go to the market to buy a woma and a base. The woma is a piece of wood about 6 feet tall they hold in their hands and pound the mixture of cassava and plantain in the base to make fufu. It usually takes about an hour to pound. They were going to charge us way too much for the fufu pounder so we ended up borrowing it from our landlord. The fufu is like a doughy bread texture with a light film around it. It’s really not much of a tasty item as much as it is a filler to make the belly full. Then you pour a soup, over the fufu. We used my favorite Ghanaian soup groundnut or peanut butter soup with chicken. Now a Ghanaian can eat a bowl full of fufu with soup, I however had four bites and was satisfied with my fufu experience. You don’t chew fufu, you simply pick up some with your fingers, yes soup with fingers is much more fun than with a spoon, and put the fufu in and swallow. It’s not that it’s bad; it just doesn’t have a whole lot of taste. And it’s very time consuming to make. Gifty and Mathew (he’s our neighbor across from us who helps work in the yard) did the pounding. I gave a feeble attempt as a white girl trying to pound the fufu and after four of five pounds I realized yes, I am an obrouni and I’m really not that strong!
Back to the morning market experience I had the best phone call. My first international call coming in…from my Mom! It was only 9:15 am my time, so that means it was 4:15 am Mississippi time. She sang me happy birthday and said that dad was probably going to be upset for her calling without him since he was out at Camp meeting. But it was truly a great surprise!
We finished shopping around 11 am and headed home to realize we forgot the main ingredient, groundnut paste. As we were driving we went through a roadblock and Nicole didn’t have her license, but thankfully the police lady let us go since we were a block from the house. We didn’t even have to pay! Let’s just say there are some crooked cops, not all, but some. We got back in the trotro and headed back into market for groundnut paste and the blessing was we found a stand close to the road and didn’t have to try and find a place to park!
We headed home again and unpacked all of our fresh veggies from the market and I went over to my apartment to get ready to move in!!!! I started cleaning and there it was. Everywhere. Mold. Mold. Mold. And more mold. Not just a little but everywhere on every inch of my bamboo wardrobe and bed. I started thinking, “Did I make an unwise decision on purchasing this and now I’m living with the consequences?” Then I started thinking about the money I just wasted and felt very unsteward like. Then I called Tatum to tell her not to come over to help move in and she immediately looked online for a solution to the mold problem. She and the Mozley’s came over for fufu that night so she gave me the print out for a bleach solution. It was truly a great birthday despite the fact the mold was on the back of my mind. Nicole made a chocolate cake chocolate icing birthday cake and we played charades. I missed celebrating with my friends back home, but it’s neat how the Lord provided people here to celebrate with! By the way thanks to everyone who sent birthday happies! I’m still getting them so it makes for excitement when I go to the post office with the possibility of getting a package!
Friday I was going to work on the mold situation and ended up going with Kirk and Nicole to tape them speaking about mobilizing Ghanaians as foreign missionaries. And speaking of packages we stopped to pick up one that came in. Now to pick up package I have to go into downtown Accra. Very busy. The first time I did this I had no idea where to go. I think I blogged about it. Nicole and I went in and there was the same guy who helped me before. Mr. Molley. I’m starting to build up a rapport with him, so add him to your prayers. Each time I go there I will try and get to know him and Caroline, the lady who helps him a little better. Back to the Sims…They have a vision Ghana is strategically placed in West Africa and can be mobilizers to impact West Africa. They spoke to the Ghana Methodist Lay Conference about becoming mission minded. They used the key word in Acts 1:8 “and.” Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria AND to the ends of the earth. Ghana isn’t exempt from sending those called out…to the ends of the earth. This consumed all of Friday as we left the meeting Friday night we also got a little lost in Accra at night. It was a fun adventure. Everyone was very gracious trying to give three obrouni’s directions!
Saturday was a down day. It was great to relax in the morning. It was a beautiful day with sunshine and just right temperatures. Many people in Mississippi have told me it’s extremely warm there…really plain ole HOT. I don’t think I’ve blogged this yet, but since we’re in rainy season the temperature here is GREAT. It’s been in the 80’s during the day and 70’s at night. Later on Saturday afternoon I used the bleach concoction on my furniture and read a little outside on my porch. (Thanks Sarah/Pat/Anna/Russ Tiff/Alicia for my new book I don’t know which one gave it to me J… God is Closer than You think...I’m loving it!) I ended up crashing around 6ish that night and woke up at 6 am Sunday morning. Sunday was rainy all day. It brought truth to the rainy season. We went to church and this reminded me that yes, culture shock is setting in.
I am constantly reminded of how thankful I am of The Orchard, my home church. However it’s also one of the many issues I think God is brining to light. Sometimes I compare every worship experience to there. See I have realized that I like to do what I like to do. One of these comes out in the fact that I love worshiping God and I connected easily at The Orchard. I know we teach, while on staff I taught this too, that it’s not about us. This is God’s story and we’re not the main character. I’m quickly learning that I know that, but often I don’t really live that way.
I have some culture shock setting in that I dread going to church on Sunday. This is a 360-degree turn from when I left the States. Worshiping at The Orchard was wonderful, for me. I love the people, serving, and the small groups. Not to say we’re exempt from all problems, but I loved going to church there. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with loving where you go. I actually am glad to know there are places that’s it’s really fun. But I don’t want to constantly be comparing and thinking it’s the only way to do worship, because I know that’s not right either. I go to church here, not able to understand the language and it’s VERY hard to give all of me and worship Him. I’m quick to say I’m naïve about some things, but I knew it was going to be a challenge corporately worshiping here. I’m a Gen X, media savvy, get me engaged with the “new stuff” kind of person. So being in a place where traditional hymns, from the Colonial period no less, dressing your best on Sunday morning and screaming from the pulpit are not my idea of exciting worship. So here I am trying to figure out exactly what God wants me to learn. But if it’s not about me then maybe God’s saying learn that I love you and you can love me no matter where you are. Even when you do things you don’t want to do? I know it’s not about me and I really want that to ring true. I have to wonder how many people here are walking with their Best Friend and are growing deep. Then I think that’s really not my call. That’s between them and Jesus. But then I think I must have some responsibility because it wasn’t until God brought me to The Orchard I realized that walking with Him is exciting, creative, hard, fun and exhausting. And He also provided people to pour that into and teach me. So maybe I am here to help a couple of young women continue grow deep. I honestly yearn to see Jesus’ face in every day tasks here. It’s funny that right now it’s hard for me to see His face in the place where you would think it should be showing up the most … on Sunday morning.
7.31.2006
7.24.2006
the boys. 2 and 4. whew. July 23
Laughing, crying, dancing, shouting, tickling and lots of night night. That’s what last week consisted of plus changing diapers and cooking “substantial meals.” I have a new found respect for parenting after the past 9 days. I have known that parenting is quite an in-depth and exhausting yet invigorating task. But now I realize how much love and daily living outside of yourself it requires. Aidan and Eli are almost two and almost four respectively. They get up around 6am every morning and don’t stop until 7pm that night. I’ve been reflecting this week (after 7p when they go to sleep) about what it’s like for God and His children. I wonder if He gets so exhausted because He’s been trying to teach us the same thing but yet we continue on the wrong path. Choosing unwisely. But each day is new and it seems with each day comes the next bit of strength. Then just when you think…this is not going to matter a light goes off and someone actually listens to what you’re saying! This morning Eli and I spent 20 minutes on the floor learning about sharing. He has a Thomas the tank and another train that hook on to each other and he doesn’t like for Aidan to come and play with them. So after a snatching episode from Aidan we took twenty minutes of me holding him while he cried for his toys back and constantly saying, “You have to share.” After about twenty minutes Aidan came in and Eli let him play with the trains…I felt victorious. It worked. It seems like Eli really learned how to share!!!! But then an hour after that…repeat situation. I am amazed how God never gives up. If our parenting is just an echo of the amount of patience and love we have for our children, His love truly is boundless.
We have had tons of laughs and Gifty and I have really grown closer this past week. You know the saying “you become like a child when you have children.” I think there is some truth to that. I found myself looking forward to playing night night. That’s where you pretend to fall asleep and then wait for Aidan and Eli to come over and say WAKE UP. Then you scream real loud and throw them in the air! It’s great fun! We jumped on the bed every night after our neighborhood walk. They kids and parents here love Aidan and Eli. They constantly ask, “Are they twins?” We have cows that graze in front of our house so every morning and afternoon Eli runs outside side saying “MoooooooMoooo” Since he’s two and living in a foreign country his language development isn’t to where he’s speaking complete sentences since he has double the amount of words. My name is something like “gargar” and Gifty’s name is “gifee.” Going anywhere with these two if fun and they really enjoy car rides. On the hunt for bulldozers and dump trucks, which they call tippa trucks here because the tip out the contents inside.
Going to the Accra zoo was interesting. Since I was in the North a couple of weeks ago and saw elephants in their wild natural habitat I thought I couldn’t top that. Sure enough do you know that at the zoo in Africa there were no elephants! Wouldn’t have thought that huh. There were however tons of snakes. Not my favorite.
The other major God thing that has developed over this past week is the growing of Gifty’s and my relationship. We have laughed and prayed and talked about issues this week. We both like to be silly and loud. We got lost in Accra a couple of times and laughed about it together. Her closest relative lives six hours away so we both have those feelings associated with being away from family. We are both in the latter 20’s and have shared culturalisms from Ghana and America. God has put an awesome person in my path.
I also had a meeting last Sunday with a guy from Atlanta. He works with local Ghanaians discipling them so they can in turn disciple other nationals. I’m going to go up to Kumasi in the second week of August to shoot some video for them. Not going to edit it, just interviews and file footage. I really need to find a tutor and do language training. I’m calling a girl named Ama today I met at a print shop. I went with Claire because she’s involved in starting a new international school here and this girl was there looking for a job. I just asked how she was and what she was doing and that’s when she told us “looking for a job.” She got hired and Claire went back in the next week. Ama is taking Linguistics at University of Legon. So I think she might try and tutor us…I just got her number last night, so I’m going to call today. Oh and guess what’s in four days????? That’s right 27 on the 27th! Hooray. And I have to say I have the best friends in the whole world. Seriously. Thanks to Sarah for spear heading my “surprise birthday box.” We had talked how neither of us has ever had a surprise birthday party and weren’t going to get one the next two years. So she sent me a box with all the party supplies, hats, noisemakers and TIERRA (Marley would be proud) to make my birthday a celebration…THANKS SO MUCH!!!!! Also, I’ve gotten several letters and e-mails from everyone…it’s really a great encouragement! Love to all!
Margaret
We have had tons of laughs and Gifty and I have really grown closer this past week. You know the saying “you become like a child when you have children.” I think there is some truth to that. I found myself looking forward to playing night night. That’s where you pretend to fall asleep and then wait for Aidan and Eli to come over and say WAKE UP. Then you scream real loud and throw them in the air! It’s great fun! We jumped on the bed every night after our neighborhood walk. They kids and parents here love Aidan and Eli. They constantly ask, “Are they twins?” We have cows that graze in front of our house so every morning and afternoon Eli runs outside side saying “MoooooooMoooo” Since he’s two and living in a foreign country his language development isn’t to where he’s speaking complete sentences since he has double the amount of words. My name is something like “gargar” and Gifty’s name is “gifee.” Going anywhere with these two if fun and they really enjoy car rides. On the hunt for bulldozers and dump trucks, which they call tippa trucks here because the tip out the contents inside.
Going to the Accra zoo was interesting. Since I was in the North a couple of weeks ago and saw elephants in their wild natural habitat I thought I couldn’t top that. Sure enough do you know that at the zoo in Africa there were no elephants! Wouldn’t have thought that huh. There were however tons of snakes. Not my favorite.
The other major God thing that has developed over this past week is the growing of Gifty’s and my relationship. We have laughed and prayed and talked about issues this week. We both like to be silly and loud. We got lost in Accra a couple of times and laughed about it together. Her closest relative lives six hours away so we both have those feelings associated with being away from family. We are both in the latter 20’s and have shared culturalisms from Ghana and America. God has put an awesome person in my path.
I also had a meeting last Sunday with a guy from Atlanta. He works with local Ghanaians discipling them so they can in turn disciple other nationals. I’m going to go up to Kumasi in the second week of August to shoot some video for them. Not going to edit it, just interviews and file footage. I really need to find a tutor and do language training. I’m calling a girl named Ama today I met at a print shop. I went with Claire because she’s involved in starting a new international school here and this girl was there looking for a job. I just asked how she was and what she was doing and that’s when she told us “looking for a job.” She got hired and Claire went back in the next week. Ama is taking Linguistics at University of Legon. So I think she might try and tutor us…I just got her number last night, so I’m going to call today. Oh and guess what’s in four days????? That’s right 27 on the 27th! Hooray. And I have to say I have the best friends in the whole world. Seriously. Thanks to Sarah for spear heading my “surprise birthday box.” We had talked how neither of us has ever had a surprise birthday party and weren’t going to get one the next two years. So she sent me a box with all the party supplies, hats, noisemakers and TIERRA (Marley would be proud) to make my birthday a celebration…THANKS SO MUCH!!!!! Also, I’ve gotten several letters and e-mails from everyone…it’s really a great encouragement! Love to all!
Margaret
7.18.2006
The Golf
This is my car....picture me dying on the road a couple of times, it's a standard, but for the most part...Jesus has helped me pick up driving this thing pretty quick! I feel confident driving into Accra...where it's super busy! Thanks for the prayers for this...I know it sounds silly to be nervous about driving, but hey I hadn't driven a standard in SO long!
July 18 2006
It's Tuesday the 18th! I'm over at the Mozley's! Imagine that...using their free wireless internet! So last week was interesting. Monday started off and I went to try and find some information about getting into some language training. I went to Legon University, 10 minutes from my house, because it seemed like the doors were opening in that direction. I went there and I walked in to the tutor's office, that had just arrived 10 minutes earlier another door I thought was opening, then he wanted WAY too much per hour to learn TWI. Back to the drawing board! But, I believe the one of the reasons the non chance meeting was to occur was I met a single missionary girl named Sherri. She is taking Twi from this guy and in a matter of two minutes I seized the opportunity to ask her number and we ended up being at the same function Thursday night just three days after we met!!!! It's neat how God's providing some relationships here. However, the starting tinges of culture shock are hitting a little. I miss air conditioning, hot water, clean walls and nice toilets. Yes every one of those is material. I'm not ashamed to say it. I also miss my family. I'm so grateful because my sister and nephew are moving back home with my parents, but I'm also sad i won't be able to be there with them. All this to say, I am having the repeating thoughts of "What is my identity in Christ?" I went to church at an international church this past Sunday and the person teaching that morning said those words again!!! I think God's asking me to work on some things. Since I've arrived I've been to two church services. (The second Sunday I was so sick I stayed in bed...by the way I got sick in the North...and I finally got some antibiotics...so now I'm getting better!) Anyway- I knew before I left it was going to be a challenge connecting and giving all of me to God in a style of worship that is different than what I most easily connect. I have learned worshiping on Sundays, isn't about us, it isn't about if we like the music or not or if we get a lot out of a sermon. It's directly related to how much we give of ourselves. It's intended so that we may pour out love for a God who freely and constantly lavishes His love on us, but let me tell you this is a challenge for me right now. I compare everything I hear and see to what I'm comfortable with. I feel like God is saying, Margaret don't get comfortable....and even when you think you're not, you are? I hope that makes sense as a reader on this blog. I don't want to compare. But one thing i'm learning about Ghanian culture is that people lie. All the time. I was talking about language at Legon earlier. One of the reason's I'm not going there is the teacher flat out lied. Here you of course bargain for everything and always have to be thinking of how you will negotiate. Some days it's fun. Other times you want someone to say what they want for the price they want and be done with it! :) Hey that's how it is in America. That's what I'm used to....This is part of the culture shock training I have been taught. So the good thing is is that I realize this is part of living in a different culutre...now i'm asking God..."WHAT DO I DO????" So back to my identity in Christ...I think God's asking me to step outside of the normalcies and really rely on Him. It's definetly a daily activity. There are times in the car I think...ok Lord...I know you're here so let's go. I hate that it seems whereever I am I want to be somewhere else. Does that make sense? I keep looking and thinking about the next thing that will happen. When really I want to be able to just be and enjoy the moment I'm in. Knowing my identity in Christ. Nicole said she was reading Brother Andrew and he says "I feel just as close to God washing dishes as I do when I take Holy Communion." This is great! So today I'm again asking for the Lord to teach me how to love the moments. Today's Psalm is 23. One of the most used and well known verses in the Bible....He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. ...This is what I'm meditating on today. As for the rest of last week...we picked up Tatum from the airport...she's a single missionary here for a year living with the Mozley's....and I'm thankful for that. Also, last week there was a get together as Camron, a teacher who was here for 5/6 months, as his going away party. I got to meet a lot of the missionaries here in Accra and thankfully so as my cold developed into a full blown sinus infection...I had met a nurse who told me what to get at the pharmacy! Yes, you go into the pharmacy and tell them what drugs you need...no prescription neccessary!!! :) This week until the 25th of July I'm helping take care of Adian and Eli. They're the two little guys who live at the house with me...they're too cute. Last night I was up at 3am with Adian. Their parents are in Seoul Korea for a five year meeting of the Methodist Conference....anyway. Everything here is good. Times of emotional ups and downs, just like in America, but God is ALWAYS here and I"m so thankful of having my Best friend here with me. I do miss family and friends...but it's truly a blessing to be here.
7.09.2006
july 9th-update
I'm back in Accra. It's 10pm here and I'm Mike and Claire's house using their internet!!! The trip was a great experience for several reasons. There were five of us. Claire, Mike's wife, Anna their daughter and two of her friends from highschool back in the States. We traveled from the southern most part of Ghana to the northernmost. Total roundgtrip we're thinking around 1600 miles. The first day we drove to Kumasi and got there in time to see the Bible club that started when Mike and Claire lived in Kumasi. We drove through the eastern side of Ghana which is how I picture "Africa" to look like. Since it's the rainy season the bush, rural areas, are totally green. When I came in November we went North, but it was dry season. It was like I was seeing something completely new this time. We drove through several small towns and stopped at Linda Dor's on the way to Kumasi. After about six hours of driving we pulled over to Linda's and used the facilities. You pay 10,000 cedis or 10 US cents to purchase the toilet paper and can use the toilet there. Nice and clean actually. So on the way back to the car we ran into a couple of Oboroni's (white people). They are missionaries in Kumasi and were headed to Accra. We greeted them, in Ghanian culture you ALWAYS greet, and then headed back to our car. When Anna, Davis and Ryan came back to say..."we have a flat." But let me tell you God is GREAT! The family we had just been talking to pulled over to look at the car. He had left ALL his tools at home since their truck was full, but he had the ONE tool we needed. The thing that helps lower the tire from underneath the car...I have no idea what that's called. so. :) Then there was a place across the street called a vulcanizer where we aired up the tire and were on our way. What else is cool is that we had been in areas of NOTHING. Driving for HOURS and once we got to the place we were taken care of, and Claire got to see a friend she hadn't seen in a year. They had pulled up right as we were fininshing putting on the tire!!!
Then we arrived in Kumasi and went to the Bible Club. There are children there throughout the community. Afterwards we took some of the people home. We went to the home of ne of the little kids Nana, he's 12 I think. He lives behind a house that's being built with his mom and sister. By kerosene lantern we were invited for dinner but didn't eat as it was probably everything they had. Then we looked at how he was learning math. They wrote with chalk on the side of the kitchen hut and then they showed us some prized pictures of his deceased father. One of the most inspiringly unselfish parts during this is when Nana took out the twizzler that we had given out at Bible club. He saved it to give to his mother.
The next day Tuesday, we went to Obuasi orphanage. They have 94 kids there and do an amazing ministry. I e-mailed the prayer team earlier tonight to keep praying that my heart continues to be burdened by these kids. There are so many orphans here. This might sound bad, but I'm keeping a blog to be honest so...here it goes. In the states about a year ago I met a friend who has a HUGE heart for orphans and has worked with them overseas. She constantly and unknowingly challenged me to talk with God about taking care of orphans. Figurtavely and literally. So I started praying that God would increase the compassion in my heart. It's not something I'm naturally inclined to do. But I felt like God kept putting people in my path and orphans on my heart. The Bible talks about our fruits of the spirit and to pray for the ones we don't see as they would increase. Kindness, gentleness and self control. I'm a kind person, but I am not naturally compassionate to care for orphans. But through prayer God continues to work on my heart. The day at this orphanage helped me see that just holding a baby for two hours is precious. When you're hot and want to leave have self control to know that you really can stay a little longer. Now, I'm not saying that we're all called to start orphanages and I honestly know I'm not, but Jesus loves those children. If it's not natural that I have compassion then pray for it. He definetly is teaching me that He dwells and works. I held Aquia, 1 year old weighing about 15 pounds for about two hours or so. Every breathe she wheezed, but eventually she got to the point where she trusted me. Selfishly she made me feel good, but i think God gave me that moment to say, yeah I'm changing your heart. Sit tight.
That night we went over to some American's and celebrated the FOURTH of July!!! No fireworks, but we had hamburgers and potato salad...and CHIPS they were Pringles...but boy were they good! (no rootbeer...buy hey...can't have it all right!)
By the way I have to say to my nephew HAPPY BIRTHDAY! He turned four on the Third!!!!!
So on Wednesday the 5th we drove from Kumasi up North to Bolgatanga. We stayed in the middle of nowhere and ate rice and some kind of meat??? Not too sure what it was...but it makes for a nice inside joke here! We went to another orphanage in an area that is extremely Muslim. We arrived just in time to see them eat dinner. Of course they invited us, but we passed. The man who God gave the vision to start this orphanage is named Abraham. There are 47 kids at this orphanage and they all go to a Christian school there in that village. In Bolga, as they call it for short, Islam is highly prevalent. Abraham receives a lot of opposition, but the blessing is that people are seeing these kids learn, be cared for and I wonder how many are affected by this. I wasn't there for a lengthy amount of time, but you could see the kids have fun playing games together. It is inspiring to see someone like Abraham be selfless to start this place.
The next day we went to a game park, where lo and behold I saw some large animals native to Africa. You know in Southern Ghana we don't have elephants or lions like you picture Africa to have. So I was about fifty yards from elephants and it was neat. We also met some people on that trip. Chris, a guy working with the Peace Corps and his dad and grandad brought two boys from the village he was working with. It was exciting to see the two African kids get to venture out of their village and see something like this. Most of the times here people don't travel because of the expense, so I imagine it's a great opportunity for those boys.
We then drove to Nvrango and stayed there for the next two nights. We arrived in time Thursday night to eat dinner and then go to church in a village called Zwarungoo.(I think that's how you spell it) This Christian church sits in the middle of a traditional village. Meaning the people there, called FraFra's, worship ancestors. Being a Christian there is somewhat difficult. We met a young man who was thrown out of his compound for being a Christian and was cut with a knife by his father. They let him back in about a year ago, so there's no telling what God will do through him.
This particular church sits in an area that has alot of spiritual warfare. Please pray for this village called Zwarungoo. We went to church the second night and during prayer time realized that one of the girls, Lizzie 21, had passed out earlier in the day and was unconscious. The moon was so bright that night that we (the whole church) walked through the fields to the compound where she was. As we entered into the compound of huts people started praying aloud. Thankfully we had a car and the family decided we could take her to the hospital. Claire took her and some of the family members and Anna, Davis, Ryan and I started walking. There were five other Ghanians with us and we started heading towards town. Once Claire took Lizzie to the clinic she would come back for us. I can't tell you the experience and the vast amount of joy and sorrow during that walk. Lizzie and I had a great conversation earlier that day. She has been taken in by this family as her biological family doensn't care too much for her. She has a heart for the Lord. It is sad because no one knows what illness she has and the people in the village don't ask her about it when she comes to. The walk to the clinic though was joyous as we sang songs in Twi walking down the road as Oboroni's and Ghanians singing praises. I know this is kind of hard to understand. But picture a completely dark night, no street lights, no paved roads, dust everywhere, people standing outside. We had miles to walk and pray for Lizzie together. Amazing.
The thing that I have noticed this week in my thoughts is primarily I don't know why God has called me to a VERY traditional place. I rest in the fact that He knows BEST and I am committed to serving Him wherever but that doesn't mean I don't wonder why He's sent me to a place that puts on your Sunday best to go to church. I love a come as you are place. Appearance is very important in dress and in faith. I have been blessed to be in a community where we admit we're sinners and have problems, let's work on them together asking for God's guidance. Women cook, clean and wait on the man. You greet others when you pass through their town, even when you don't have time. Sometimes people stop to see each other just because you're going there, not that you REALLY want to see that person... I wonder with my personality and mindset if I will say or do something to offend someone. Then I think about how Pat was teaching the Sunday before I left the States. Do we speak with the fear of the Lord? I of course want to be incarnational and try to understand the culture here. But I also want to make sure I'm walking on the side of what is God's culture and not was is learned Ghanian/American culuture. I think this is a fine line we walk wherever we are as Christians. I'm just being stretched a little here. Which is great.
Well it's late here so I'm signing off...I'll blog more later. hopefully be able to add some pics too...
Then we arrived in Kumasi and went to the Bible Club. There are children there throughout the community. Afterwards we took some of the people home. We went to the home of ne of the little kids Nana, he's 12 I think. He lives behind a house that's being built with his mom and sister. By kerosene lantern we were invited for dinner but didn't eat as it was probably everything they had. Then we looked at how he was learning math. They wrote with chalk on the side of the kitchen hut and then they showed us some prized pictures of his deceased father. One of the most inspiringly unselfish parts during this is when Nana took out the twizzler that we had given out at Bible club. He saved it to give to his mother.
The next day Tuesday, we went to Obuasi orphanage. They have 94 kids there and do an amazing ministry. I e-mailed the prayer team earlier tonight to keep praying that my heart continues to be burdened by these kids. There are so many orphans here. This might sound bad, but I'm keeping a blog to be honest so...here it goes. In the states about a year ago I met a friend who has a HUGE heart for orphans and has worked with them overseas. She constantly and unknowingly challenged me to talk with God about taking care of orphans. Figurtavely and literally. So I started praying that God would increase the compassion in my heart. It's not something I'm naturally inclined to do. But I felt like God kept putting people in my path and orphans on my heart. The Bible talks about our fruits of the spirit and to pray for the ones we don't see as they would increase. Kindness, gentleness and self control. I'm a kind person, but I am not naturally compassionate to care for orphans. But through prayer God continues to work on my heart. The day at this orphanage helped me see that just holding a baby for two hours is precious. When you're hot and want to leave have self control to know that you really can stay a little longer. Now, I'm not saying that we're all called to start orphanages and I honestly know I'm not, but Jesus loves those children. If it's not natural that I have compassion then pray for it. He definetly is teaching me that He dwells and works. I held Aquia, 1 year old weighing about 15 pounds for about two hours or so. Every breathe she wheezed, but eventually she got to the point where she trusted me. Selfishly she made me feel good, but i think God gave me that moment to say, yeah I'm changing your heart. Sit tight.
That night we went over to some American's and celebrated the FOURTH of July!!! No fireworks, but we had hamburgers and potato salad...and CHIPS they were Pringles...but boy were they good! (no rootbeer...buy hey...can't have it all right!)
By the way I have to say to my nephew HAPPY BIRTHDAY! He turned four on the Third!!!!!
So on Wednesday the 5th we drove from Kumasi up North to Bolgatanga. We stayed in the middle of nowhere and ate rice and some kind of meat??? Not too sure what it was...but it makes for a nice inside joke here! We went to another orphanage in an area that is extremely Muslim. We arrived just in time to see them eat dinner. Of course they invited us, but we passed. The man who God gave the vision to start this orphanage is named Abraham. There are 47 kids at this orphanage and they all go to a Christian school there in that village. In Bolga, as they call it for short, Islam is highly prevalent. Abraham receives a lot of opposition, but the blessing is that people are seeing these kids learn, be cared for and I wonder how many are affected by this. I wasn't there for a lengthy amount of time, but you could see the kids have fun playing games together. It is inspiring to see someone like Abraham be selfless to start this place.
The next day we went to a game park, where lo and behold I saw some large animals native to Africa. You know in Southern Ghana we don't have elephants or lions like you picture Africa to have. So I was about fifty yards from elephants and it was neat. We also met some people on that trip. Chris, a guy working with the Peace Corps and his dad and grandad brought two boys from the village he was working with. It was exciting to see the two African kids get to venture out of their village and see something like this. Most of the times here people don't travel because of the expense, so I imagine it's a great opportunity for those boys.
We then drove to Nvrango and stayed there for the next two nights. We arrived in time Thursday night to eat dinner and then go to church in a village called Zwarungoo.(I think that's how you spell it) This Christian church sits in the middle of a traditional village. Meaning the people there, called FraFra's, worship ancestors. Being a Christian there is somewhat difficult. We met a young man who was thrown out of his compound for being a Christian and was cut with a knife by his father. They let him back in about a year ago, so there's no telling what God will do through him.
This particular church sits in an area that has alot of spiritual warfare. Please pray for this village called Zwarungoo. We went to church the second night and during prayer time realized that one of the girls, Lizzie 21, had passed out earlier in the day and was unconscious. The moon was so bright that night that we (the whole church) walked through the fields to the compound where she was. As we entered into the compound of huts people started praying aloud. Thankfully we had a car and the family decided we could take her to the hospital. Claire took her and some of the family members and Anna, Davis, Ryan and I started walking. There were five other Ghanians with us and we started heading towards town. Once Claire took Lizzie to the clinic she would come back for us. I can't tell you the experience and the vast amount of joy and sorrow during that walk. Lizzie and I had a great conversation earlier that day. She has been taken in by this family as her biological family doensn't care too much for her. She has a heart for the Lord. It is sad because no one knows what illness she has and the people in the village don't ask her about it when she comes to. The walk to the clinic though was joyous as we sang songs in Twi walking down the road as Oboroni's and Ghanians singing praises. I know this is kind of hard to understand. But picture a completely dark night, no street lights, no paved roads, dust everywhere, people standing outside. We had miles to walk and pray for Lizzie together. Amazing.
The thing that I have noticed this week in my thoughts is primarily I don't know why God has called me to a VERY traditional place. I rest in the fact that He knows BEST and I am committed to serving Him wherever but that doesn't mean I don't wonder why He's sent me to a place that puts on your Sunday best to go to church. I love a come as you are place. Appearance is very important in dress and in faith. I have been blessed to be in a community where we admit we're sinners and have problems, let's work on them together asking for God's guidance. Women cook, clean and wait on the man. You greet others when you pass through their town, even when you don't have time. Sometimes people stop to see each other just because you're going there, not that you REALLY want to see that person... I wonder with my personality and mindset if I will say or do something to offend someone. Then I think about how Pat was teaching the Sunday before I left the States. Do we speak with the fear of the Lord? I of course want to be incarnational and try to understand the culture here. But I also want to make sure I'm walking on the side of what is God's culture and not was is learned Ghanian/American culuture. I think this is a fine line we walk wherever we are as Christians. I'm just being stretched a little here. Which is great.
Well it's late here so I'm signing off...I'll blog more later. hopefully be able to add some pics too...
7.02.2006
branching out- ghana, west africa
Well I have tried to update my blog three times this week. Let's see if this one works? I knew finding time to get online would be tough here, but getting the time right when the net actually works here is the biggest problem. It goes in and out all the time and nothings consistent. However with the World Cup going on our electricity hasn't gone out yet!!! Everyone here wants to see the screen.
I have sent out some e-mails tonight, don't know if those have gone through, so I'm going to let you know what to pray for and what's going on here.
This week has flown by. I've been shopping this week, and for those who know I don't really like to shop a whole lot anymore. It seems the older I get the less and less I like the whole thing. Well in Ghana, no price is ever final and usually to get what you need...you have to go several places. So I spent three days in a row shopping and looking and stopping on the side of the road for a bed, a wardrobe a chair, food, cleaning supplies and other basics to start a house. Seems like getting all this started could be a headache huh? Well it can. But the Lord really has shown me His grace. By this I mean, the people I live with know connections and I have gotten a fair price to get a bed made. Notice I said made. Everything here is custom order. Which means you have to negotiate a price. It's definetly a lot more relationship orientated.
So I have gotten the order in for my house furniture and tried to help stock the refrigerator in the main house, where I'm staying right now until everything in my little apartment is ready. I've spent time traveling the city and trying to learn where to go for what. It's really busy here, so traveling anywhere takes about an hour.
One thing I'm praying about right now is how God is leading me to "feed the poor." There are a ton of beggars and they come to your window when the car's stopped. I know we are to help feed the poor, so I think I might try and buy some food to have on hand in the car to give them instead of money. There are some who beg instead of work...so I don't want to continue the cycle, but also want to do what God's asking.
Also, this week I'm traveling into the North Region of Ghana. There are five of us going. We are going to many places. Hopefully I'll get to update once I get back next Sunday.
This weekend we had our Ghana team meeting retreat. It went great as we are trying to hammer out some Objectives we are trying to accomplish, under God's instruction of course. We also had some great fellowship and worship time together which was AWESOME. This morning we talked about God's Breathe from our inception and how He breathed up close and personal breathe into us to create us. Then we broke off into small groups for prayer. Bbeing in a small group praying whatever came to our hearts was very intimate time with Daddy.
I'm reading the Psalms with my dad and today was Psalm 8. I was standing and looking at the beach when I read it. God's timing is amazing isn't it.
By nephew's birthday is tomorrow...HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROGAN. I love you.
All is well here. Culture shock hasn't set in yet. As we reflected on God's faitfulness today, someone said, "I'm dripping in His faithfulness and it's hard to pick out just a couple of the things He has done." That's how I feel right now. He is caring and watching and nurturing me right now and I am VERY thankful.
I have sent out some e-mails tonight, don't know if those have gone through, so I'm going to let you know what to pray for and what's going on here.
This week has flown by. I've been shopping this week, and for those who know I don't really like to shop a whole lot anymore. It seems the older I get the less and less I like the whole thing. Well in Ghana, no price is ever final and usually to get what you need...you have to go several places. So I spent three days in a row shopping and looking and stopping on the side of the road for a bed, a wardrobe a chair, food, cleaning supplies and other basics to start a house. Seems like getting all this started could be a headache huh? Well it can. But the Lord really has shown me His grace. By this I mean, the people I live with know connections and I have gotten a fair price to get a bed made. Notice I said made. Everything here is custom order. Which means you have to negotiate a price. It's definetly a lot more relationship orientated.
So I have gotten the order in for my house furniture and tried to help stock the refrigerator in the main house, where I'm staying right now until everything in my little apartment is ready. I've spent time traveling the city and trying to learn where to go for what. It's really busy here, so traveling anywhere takes about an hour.
One thing I'm praying about right now is how God is leading me to "feed the poor." There are a ton of beggars and they come to your window when the car's stopped. I know we are to help feed the poor, so I think I might try and buy some food to have on hand in the car to give them instead of money. There are some who beg instead of work...so I don't want to continue the cycle, but also want to do what God's asking.
Also, this week I'm traveling into the North Region of Ghana. There are five of us going. We are going to many places. Hopefully I'll get to update once I get back next Sunday.
This weekend we had our Ghana team meeting retreat. It went great as we are trying to hammer out some Objectives we are trying to accomplish, under God's instruction of course. We also had some great fellowship and worship time together which was AWESOME. This morning we talked about God's Breathe from our inception and how He breathed up close and personal breathe into us to create us. Then we broke off into small groups for prayer. Bbeing in a small group praying whatever came to our hearts was very intimate time with Daddy.
I'm reading the Psalms with my dad and today was Psalm 8. I was standing and looking at the beach when I read it. God's timing is amazing isn't it.
By nephew's birthday is tomorrow...HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROGAN. I love you.
All is well here. Culture shock hasn't set in yet. As we reflected on God's faitfulness today, someone said, "I'm dripping in His faithfulness and it's hard to pick out just a couple of the things He has done." That's how I feel right now. He is caring and watching and nurturing me right now and I am VERY thankful.
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