An Awesome Meeting, Peanut Butter Cups, and the Power of The Football

Well, the past few days have been AWESOME! Tuesday I was in Tamale with Amy and we picked (the Ghanaians just say picked, not picked up) Ernestina from the STC bus station. I also learned more about Seed Ministry and hopefully planned out some more time to spend there! Which will be very good. But, on Wednesday we had staff meetings.
And Isaac showed up around 12:30 for the meeting and we had a lot to discuss. Satan has been attacking in all sorts of creative ways and we needed to pray about those things and figure out some solutions to some problems that he has caused! But, after that I was able to share my passion with Isaac and discuss with him how he thinks I should proceed. I explained to him that my heart is for the children. Especially those that are not in the church. I know that that church needs a children's program of some sort, but at least those children are in church. The ones that I want to reach are the village children.
So we talked and decided that on Friday afternoons I will be in Kurawura kuraa from 2-3:30 playing with the children and telling Bible stories. And Saturday mornings I will be in Kawampe and Galumpe for an hour and a half in each of those villages as well. And here is the best part. Isaac has already told people at the church that they need to step up and volunteer! Which is such an encouragement because I was terrified of how to get leaders in the church to rise up. Of course God was already working on it! And we are also going to go to church in Kawampe and Galumpe and ask for volunteers there and explain what my plan is and how I would like it to continue once I am gone. Because that is another main goal of mine, that this ministry will sustain once I am back in the States! So join me in praying for leaders to rise up and for Satan to get the heck outta here! Cause he is trying to really hard to discourage our team here. But, as I was reminded by my sister Romans 16:20 says "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet." And that is such and encouragement!

Also, as I told you Ernestina is here in Buipe with us for a little while. Last night I wanted her to try one of my Reese's I brought with me. She had never had one before! Haha! And I didn't know how she would feel about it because it is so sweet. But, she LOVED it! haha! It was just so funny to me seeing her reaction because these are like my favorites and to think that she had never tasted one before. Crazy!

And one more thing, The Power of the Football (in the US a soccer ball) Since I am going to be spending time with the children I wanted to help draw them to me with something related. So I purchased 2 footballs today at the marketplace (not like the big market on Monday, but a scaled down version) and the children are already drawn to white people (Broo-knee) But, the football just drew them so much more! It was crazy! So many more children were coming up to me and they wanted to play but we were in the market and we didn't have much time or space to play. I was kinda bummed about that. But, I will get my chance with the children!

So be praying for our team tomorrow and Saturday especially. I know Satan will be working his hardest to put roadblocks in our way!!! Thanks for all the prayers! Love you!

Let's have church under a Shea tree =]

And that's what I did this morning =]

We had church under a Shea Nut Tree... Which for all you girly girls out there produces the Shea Butter that we all love to have in our lotion.

It was amazing. We pulled up to church and there were only 2 people there. You see it rained last night and stormed (which was amazing) and when it rains the people take a bit longer to get out and about. We also had 3 women and a baby with us in the truck.

The church was set up behind Isaac's house (The Storyteller and Terry and Amy's partner in ministry) and we had chairs set up in a semi-circle around the tree. So the women sat to one side and the men on the other... But me? I got to sit in the middle, right next to Isaac so he could translate because I had no idea what was being said! haha!

We started service off with a time of testimony where anyone could share how God has worked in their life the past week. It was so cool! After that we go into a time of prayer. We had an individual leader for each prayer and they prayed for forgiveness of sins, for distractions to be taken out, for God to be glorified, and for the Spirit to be in this place. And what an amazing way to start off service. I mean, it really put my perspective where it needed to be. We then sang a few songs and and Isaac told today's story. It was the story of Jesus being brought before Pilate, which is a story I have heard at least 20 times (once a year at Easter every year) and he told it in the Gonja (pronounced Gohn-juh, with a long "o") language twice and once in English. We then split up into small groups of people.  Once we are in these groups we always try to have one person recite the story back... and it was amazing! That after hearing this story twice they could recite it almost word for word! Wow! After that we discuss 5 questions.
1. What did you like about this story?
2. What did you not like about the story?
3. What did you learn about the character of God in this story?
4. What did you learn about the character of man in the story?
5. How will you change your life after hearing this story?

And for me it was so cool to hear their responses to this story. For many of them this was probably their first time hearing it... ever. Their insights just blew me away. I wish that I could have my journal out and take note of all of their responses because it was so cool, but culturally I don't think they would appreciate that. So once we were out of our groups it was time for communion and offering. They passed around communion and it was a little different than what I am used to. It was made from leaves of a tree... which I am not sure what kind of tree. But, it was like a cold kind of tea and the communion bread tasted almost like Golden Oreos! It was crazy, but it again just puts the perspective back into place. Its not about the legalistic things ya know? Anyway, then offering was like a celebration! They passed around the basket and then put it in the middle of the circle and people almost danced to put in their money! So awesome!!!
Then they were about to dismiss and Isaac asked if Amy wanted to introduce me, so should and once the people heard that I am staying for 3 months they got all kinds of excited! I got to introduce myself as well and share with them how excited I am to be here and they then sang a welcome song to me... which was made up on the spot. That's kind of how they do things... Impromptu. haha! It was amazing. And such a blessing to me!
I got to meet several of the children but I don't know if I will be able to remember all their names... I am going to try! But, it just helped to confirm that God has me here for a purpose and there is a lot of work to be done!
So I ask that you all continue to pray for me. Pray that I can successfully carry out the mission God has called me to here. Also pray that it can only be done through Him and with Him so that I will see and the people will see that good things like this can only come from God!

The first 48 (or so) hours

Have you ever had one of those moments where you're just like "God, what are you doing?"

If you haven't then let me feel you in on how that feels!

It is like a roller coaster that you cannot get off... Or wait, maybe that is just the roads here? haha!
But, it is a wonderful feeling. Terry and Amy see me smile and laugh sometimes and they ask "what is so funny?" All I can say is "I'm in Africa!"
For example, today Amy and I went to the Market in Techiwan (I believe that is how you spell it) And we were standing there and all of a sudden I just thought to myself. "I am in an open market in the middle of Ghana, I have no idea where I am or what language this people are talking in." haha and I just laughed! What in the world is a girl from Kinmundy, IL doing in Ghana!?!!
And all I think is, God has a plan.

So, let me back up and tell you about everything! I flew out of Chicago and everything ok, but once we landed I only had about a 40 minute layover to get on my next plane, so I hurried and literally ran down the entire G concourse in Minneapolis! hahaha! It was crazy! But, I made it to my flight on time and I slept the entire way to Amsterdam. I got there and had about a two hour layover, or so I thought. But, my flight was delayed about 2 hours so I got to Skype Ryan and my parents for about 45 mins total cause I kept getting off and online. So anyway, I got on the plane and made my way to Africa!!! I watched Brave, What to Expect When You're Expecting, The Lorax, an episode of How I Met Your Mother, and an episode of the Office! Haha! KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is the bomb! They had the little tv screen on the seat in from of me so I got to watch that stuff the whole flight since I did not want to sleep this flight because I would be arriving at night and I wanted to be able to sleep.
So I got off the plane and we immediately got on buses that took us to customs! Went through ok and then I went to baggage claim. And let me tell you about the scariest feeling in the world...

One of my suitcases came out on the thing super early so I was standing around waiting for it to come and it wasn't coming... and it wasn't coming... and it wasn't coming... I kept watching and watching. But, it was not there. People kept grabbing theirs and walking away and I was getting terrified. Then the conveyor belt stopped moving and I was like oh crap, I'm done for! But, then it started moving again, they stopped it to load more suitcases and then lo and behold! There mine was! It was a huge weight off my shoulders! That is for sure!!! But, I grabbed that went through everything else and found Amy and gave her a big hug!!!
Made our way to the house in Tema, a suburb of Accra, and the lady who takes care of the house made me spaghetti and cut up pineapple for me! 2 of my favorite things! how crazy is that?!?! But, anyway we spent the next day roaming around Accra, we got my phone and a modem so I can get on the internet! I met a few people from there, but not many.

We spent all day Friday driving from Accra to Buipe. Which is about 302 and miles... It took us over 10 hours! How crazy is that!?!?! But, we stopped and went to market, ate breakfast and had a few pit stops! But, still, crazy! So anyway, I am here in Buipe where I will do most of my ministry!
Saturday I will be unpacking and settling in then Sunday I will go to church! And I am so excited for that! Hopefully I can post pictures soon! I love you all so much! Thank for the support!!!
Now, I better publish this while I still have good internet!!!

a diamond pin

Sounds nice right? A beautiful diamond pin. Well I would like you all to know that I am the proud owner of a diamond pin. 

While you may think this is a cheesy joke, a dime and pin. This is worth more to me than a diamond pin. You see I acquired this diamond pin on Monday from the cutest little old lady named Peggy. What had happened was, I was asked to sing for a revival at Woodlawn Christian Church. Once I got there I was asked to share my testimony, well given the crowd that was full of older folks I didn't think my full testimony was necessary. So I shared about my time at St. Louis Christian College and how God has worked in my life to make me realize that missions is where he has called me to. I shared a lot about my upcoming trip to Ghana and after the service I was able to meet and greet the people in attendance. 

If you know me at all, you know I love cute old people. Especially little old ladies. I was chatting with the wife of the minister who spoke that night when Peggy came up to me and placed this unusual item on my shirt. She told me that this was a "diamond pin" and that it would bring me luck and since she was so cute I promised her that I would take it with me to Ghana. (which I planned on doing before I learned just how significant this diamond pin was) 

Once she gave me a hug and walked away the lady I was talking to preceded to tell me this story.

Peggy's husband gave her a dime and pin in the beginning of their marriage as a cute little gift that you get for your spouse. She loved it. She wore it a lot. I also learned that he husband was a collector of dimes. He had several of them. Sadly he passed away recently and Peggy wanted his legacy to live one. So she had someone drill holes in all of his dimes ad she placed them on pins and she wore one everyday. Occasionally she would pass out a diamond pin to someone that touched her life or someone that was special to her. 

Talk about a blessing.

It is hard for me to not cry when I think about this sweet old lady. Giving one of her prized diamond pins to a girl she has met once. I know she said that the diamond pin will bring me luck and I hope it does. But, what I do know is that pin has a whole lot of prayer attached to it. And that, truly is priceless to me. 

So, in short I will be brining the diamond pin with me. On ALL my travels. So expect to see pictures of it at every airport and in Africa. 

I'm not entirely sure if this blog had a point except to share with you the little blessings we get from God!

Thanks for reading! Keep checking back for more blogs with I'm away!!!