Christmas is coming!!!

Christmas is coming, and I couldn't be more excited... excited to have a break from school (which is finished for 3ish weeks TODAY!!), excited to fly home and see everyone, excited to buy things in America for my new friends here, and things that I need so much for my classroom & presents to spoil my children with.

I have realized/learned over the last 5 months so many things... here is a list of a few of them:

1. I appreciate, love, and respect my parents more than ever

2. I love Ghana, it is my home now... I am going to US (as they say here) on vacation...

3. Trust is fragile, and I give mine to people pretty easily

4. Trust is fragile, and people will abuse it

5. God blesses us through other people in ways we would never expect if we allow Him to

6. There are some people who are just fun to be around and make you feel great

7. Most 5 year olds fit into the above description :)

8. There are some people who will make you feel small and inadequate so they can feel big and powerful

9. I wish that everyone agreed with us, and it really didn't matter if you were black or white, Mr. Jackson!!

10. I am extremely blessed

Through my experiences here in Ghana, I am being stretched. God knows my weaknesses and is presenting me with challenges and giving me opportunities to grow and learn. I pray that in my sinful human nature I do not take this for granted and simply place blame and point fingers, but consider the lesson to be learned, and what I can do to rectify any problems. If I never had tough times in my life, I wouldn't appreciate all of the wonderful times quite as much. If there wasn't pain there wouldn't be growth, and if there wasn't growth, I wouldn't be satisfied. As I get ready for this exciting time of Christmas vacation that is coming in the next few weeks, I will be challenging myself (and I hope that you would too) to intentionally seek out good & positive things, reject evil & negative ones, and be a light that shines brightly for Christ, one that people just know that there is something different about.

May God truly bless you over this Christmas and New Year!!

Photo Blog #3 - Bike Hike & Thanksgiving

A few weekends ago I had some friends visit from Cape Coast (I went to high school with 2 of them and the others go to college with them... they're doing a 4 month teaching abroad program) We went up to the mountains (Aburi) and did an 11Km bike hike... let me tell you that it was pretty much the most physically challenging thing I have ever done, and will probably never do it again (because I barely, BARELY made it this time!!), although I would love to go back and do a shorter version :) - I can't even begin to accurately explain to you the beauty of the jungle or the smell of anice (the spice that they make black licorice with...) permating the air... but here are some pictures for you to enjoy!! (also, Thanksgiving with the Cabreras, an amazing family that treats us like gold, and we love dearly!!!)

Looking down the crazy hill we started off with... the first thing I said was "Do we have to come back up this at the end??" the answer... YES...

Off we go... (yes, we know we look HOT in helmets!)

the view from my seat... notice how narrow the path is?? made it interesting!!
A quick stop for a photo op :)

Amanda B. got a great picture of whta the inside of coco looks like... its yummy!!!

Learning how palm wine is made from our guide, Julius (p.s. he goes on the bike hikes several times a day, 5 days a week... rediculous!!)... so unsanitary!!!

The little village we went to just off the path (there are 20 people that live here and they mainly farm and raise cattle... about 6 of them)

We made it!!!!

Roomate love... oh man were we WIPED OUT!!! (I really was trying to smile...)

Waiting in line for food at Thanksgiving... we're hungry!!

Sharing the things that we are thankful for & praying :)

Melinda had us over to help put up Christmas decorations... I just really like this pic of Amy & I!

I love...

as promised... a list of all of the things that I LOVE about Ghana

~MELINDA POITRAS
~the smiling face of a child yelling "Obruni, obruni!!!" (and sometimes "give me money"...)
~trotros (tin can vans that you pack 18 people into and can ride for an hour for less than a dollar)
~fresh, all natural produce available at every street corner
~the genuine friendliness of the general Ghanaian population (of course this isn't true of everyone)
~"You are welcome!!"
~no matter how little people have, they are always willing to share it
~"its nice to be nice"
~our guards being told that we must live here, because we weren't easy to rip off :)
~having 2 wonderful gate guards who bend over backward to make sure we are well taken care of
~not being phased by a rooster/goat/lizard running under my feet while walking
~the way you can tell its going to rain because of a thousand things (the clouds, the wind, the trees & leaves, the way people suddenly disappear and run inside)
~the way it starts downpouring out of nowhere and having water up to your ankles after its only been raining for 1 minute
~the pride that the people have in their country
~watching futbol matches
~the fact that I get to attend African Cup games in January!!!!!!!!
~the way it smells when it rains
~the beautiful red dirt
~the FOOD!!!!!! (it is so yummy!)
~plantains!! (fried, grilled, chips, etc... etc... - I love plantains!!)
~the hussle and bussle of the markets, and the peacefulness of the jungle
~the way my Ghanaian friends say words like rediculous, thigh, and anything with an r (which is usually pronounced as l... so frog sounds like flog... ex: "I'm aflaid of flogs")
~Twi and the crazy sounds that you have to make & distinguish when speaking/hearing it (most of which I can't hear or make)
~Beacon House, and knowing that there are 20 or so kids who look forward to seeing Amanda and I at least once a week and who sometimes tear up when we leave
~knowing that those kids are being well taken care of while they wait for their adoptions to go through
~feeling high profile when attending events at embassies and ambassadors residences
~the fact that some things are rediculously cheap (others, however, are rediculously expensive... and this I do not love)
~being called the "big one", and the fact that its a GOOD thing :)
~walking... everywhere... which = loosing weight
~the smell of anice (black licorice) permeating the air while on an 11km bike hike through the jungle
~getting clothes tailor made to fit me
~exchanging phone numbers with an old couple on a trotro, just because they like my name and want to make sure I'm doing ok
~appreicating the small things... like getting a tube of toothpaste or a recces cup :)
~9 kindergarteners who love me & I love right back
~roomates who are here to serve Christ and have good hearts
~the fact that God is teaching me that He is all I need...

I think I might have managed to make this list even longer than the last :) so see, I really do love it here, and know that it is exactly where I'm supposed to be, and I wouldn't have it any other way!! I am soo very excited to see everyone at Christmas... there is a physical twinge of longing that I don't think I can accurately convey with words deep in my gut that I know will only subside when I am back home.


** Photo Blog to come in the next few days documenting that 11km bike hike through the jungle I spoke of up there :)

I Miss...

things I miss (in no particular order):

~driving
~having a car
~Fall (pumpkin everything, colored leaves, leaves falling, hiking, hoodies, etc...)
~ice cream... GOOD ice cream
~restraunts (Red Robin, Olive Garden, Max N' Ermas, Steak N' Shake, Arby's, Wendy's, Chick Fil A, Youngs Dairy, Christopher's, etc... etc... etc...)
~Target, WalMart, Meijer, Sam's Club, Kroger...
~my mommy
~my whole family actually...
~cheesburgers & smoothies (with strawberries...)
~talking to my friends whenever I feel the urge to call (and not paying a fortune for it...)
~my church... the one where I fit...
~Focus
~staying out till 2am on Thursdays, even though we have to work in the morning
~Recces Cups, fruit snacks, strawberries, fortune cookies at Chineese restraunts
~going to the movies
~blending in... not being the big, red, sore thumb everyone points out
~voicemail
~the people that I know love me no matter what
~having potlucks just for the heck of it
~running into people I haven't seen for years
~weekends in Columbus
~friend dates
~did I already say driving??
~not worrying that the water I brush my teeth with will make me sick
~belting out Mika at the top of our lungs driving down the highway
~midnight Kroger runs because we want sprinkles, ice cream, sweet tea, and cheese...
~the predictability of having roast beef every Sunday for lunch (I love my grandma!!!)
~being there when the people that I love dearly need a shoulder to cry on, a hand to hold, or someone to scratch their arm
~pants that fit
~the outlet mall
~the ability to weigh myself
~my 6th grade sunday school girls
~hugs

Ok, so I know that is a long list... I just felt the need to get it out of my system :) - don't fear though, the next post shall be a list (much like this one in length I'm sure!) of all of the things I LOVE here.

"Trading My Sorrows"

By Darrell Evans

I'm pressed but not crushed persecuted not abandoned

Struck down but not destroyed

I'm blessed beyond the curse for his promise will endure

And his joy's gonna be my strength

Though the sorrow may last for the night

His joy comes with the morning

I'm trading my sorrow

I'm trading my shame

I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord

I'm trading my sickness

I'm trading my pain

I'm laying it down for the joy of the Lord

1 Peter 5:5b-11
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.