Let It Be

This song has been stuck in my head a lot the last few evenings... it's a great song (listen to it if you haven't heard it!). It's by SuperChick. It helped to get me through some pretty tough times in high school, and continues to be a great reminder for me today to "let go, and let God" (as they say). I know it always applies to my life, and maybe right now it applies to your life too. I hope that you are blessed today and this new year, for coming here and checking in on me, for your support, and maybe it's you who needed these words today, not me...

SuperChick - Let it Be

Some people bring you gifts, some bring you bricks to weigh you down

So they can swim a little higher while you drown

Some people mean so well, their way was the best way that they've found

But any other way you choose is a brick that weighs you down

So tell me

What do I do with this backpack full of bricks

Of sticks and stones and words that stuck to me like ticks

Let it go, let it be

brick by brick we can be free

Of all the words we say til we were our own enemies

Let it go, let it be brick by brick we can believe

in the person God intended us to be

Let it be.

Some people give themselves a brick, I know most people do

When we compare, we fall short somewhere, its always true

If all we see is where we fall, weve bricked the prison wall

Instead of trying to learn to fly weve taught ourselves to crawl

So tell me what do I do with this backpack full of bricks

Of sticks and stones and words that stuck to me like ticks

Let it go, let it be

brick by brick we can be free

Of all the words we say til we were our own enemies

Let it go, let it be brick by brick we can believe

in the person God intended us to be

Let it be.

We could believe in ourselves more

We could try for unique instead of trying to conform

We could defy what they tell us

And dont buy the lies they sell us

And we're brave we can believe in what we are

Let it go, let it be

brick by brick we can be free

Of all the words we say til we were our own enemies

Let it go, let it be brick by brick we can believe

in the person God intended us to be

Let it be.

New Years Baby!!

I could take this opportunity to write a sappy blog about how wonderful 2007 was, or how much my life has changed and how much I learned... buuutttt I think I'd rather show you pictures of New Years :) - maybe later I'll sit down and try to be slightly intellectual? ha... or not!

Rockin the 80's wear!!

Neon pink lips and bright blue eye shadow... 80's anyone??

the whole group (those of us that were brave enough to dress up at least!)

Love my Nel!!

Go Bucks!!!!!! (Beat LSU cake... love it!!)

Snow!!!

I got my hair cut!!!

What do you think?? (not a great picture... but hey!)

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 :)