"Sister Christy, Look at the Mountains!"

My favorite little friend, Kweku! He doesn't talk much but his eyes speakf or him.

Monica and Abigail reading the many pictures they picked out at Children of the Light. Below is a picture of Kim and Abigail. They were so excited to ascend up the mountain even though it was a little nerve racking for them.

On Friday, AIS had it's first annual Poetry Slam since April was poetry month. The students from kindergarten to 12th grade had an opportunity to share memorized poems with the entire school and parents. My students all performed and did a great job!

As I looked back on this week, I realized how amazing it truly was as I had an opportunity to really pour into the children around me whom I love so much. Yes, some days it is getting harder to love on the students as we are all getting tired but I told them that I want us all to remember this last month as a joyful one, where we all think of others first but of course that is easier said than done. The students are starting to nag on each other but I just start singing, "Why Can't We Be Friends?" and that seems to help. I have begun to write encouraging notes home with the kids because they have come a long ways from the beginning of the year. I just have to look at the large picture and realize it. I was almost in tears one day thinking how much I would miss them as I am realizing how special a first class is. Oh they all have remarkable and unique personalities but I love them all for who they are. We do have a good time together as long as they are following directions. As you saw above, the school had a poetry slam in which I was in charge of organizing all the poems. It went smoothly until students and teachers tried to change things on me at the last moment. I actually said the "no" word and it felt great! It was so cool to have the entire school plus over 100 parents share poetry with one another. Yes, the little ones were getting anxious by the end but this activity brought the whole school together to show each other our accomplishments.

After practice one day when Meg and I usually go running, we started talking to one of our players who has been going through a hard time. The conversation lasted for an hour and we were able to share with him our own struggles and sin in our lives. He kept saying we just felt sorry for him or he would ask why we would waste our time talking to him. We kept assuring him that we cared deeply for him and wanted the best for him. It felt so good to be honest with this high school boy as we just shared God's truth with him. Being here as helped me realized the praise I must give my Lord when he strategically places me in situations so I can share openly, God is working in mighty ways and I need to stop and actually acknowledge his participation as He designs every situation for a reason. Please continue to pray for this boy as he struggles to find his confidence and trust in the Lord.

Saturday was truly the best day of my life! In the morning, I tutored the boy who needs confident in speaking English. His teacher told me that he had a good week as he spoke more and offered the answer for questions. When I came to the door, he opened it and greeted me with a loud Hi. I was so thrilled to see this as the week before he would hardly talk to me. Granite he was nervous the first weekend, but I think he is getting more confident in speaking aloud. I think it was because I spent 1 and half hours with him the week before. Okay, I can't take all the credit since it only has been a week but nevertheless, he has come a long ways. Today, he intiated conversations on his own and spoke with accuracy. I am so proud of him and look forward to more sessions together as we just play games and talk!

Afterwards, I quickly prepared myself for my expedition to Auntie Jean's with Monica and Abigail who live down the street in a squatter's house and come to our Tuesday kid's club. Most of you know, but just in case you don't, I give borrowed books to these girls from Auntie Jean's library and they must read to me weekly to get new books. They are great readers but they still need help with some phonetic sounds so I enjoy helping these girls. I just want them to succeed. They have been beggin me for awhile to take them to a library and Saturday was finally the day. They each had on new clothes and were so excited to go. Getting through Medina with them was a little difficult as there were tons of people weaving in an out while I tried to hold on to their precious, small hands. I eventually had one infront and one in back of me so I could swivel each on to miss the oncoming market shoppers. At the time, I had my sunglasses on so it probably looked like the small children were leading the blind! Anyways, they all probably thought I was a stupid obrunei who couldn't get through the market without the help of children. I am sure we were a sight to see! Me met up with another teacher friend which was so nice so we could split the responsibility. After some confusion, we finally made it on a trotro and made our slow path to Aburi with all of the traffic. As we left Medina, the girls started seeing large hills in the distant. "The Mountains, the Mountains!" They were so excited even though they aren't mountains but large hills. It then dawned on me that they have never really been out of the city before. This was a first for them to see the "mountains." Now I know why parents take their children on road trips or to experience new things, because when you see a child have an eye popping experience for the first time, it makes you look at life differently and gives you a sense of joy like never before. As we ascended up towards the top, they were a little nervous, especially when they looked down below, but they were just mezmerized by being so high up. When we got to the top, they asked us where the mountain was, and I told them we were on it. "OHHHHH!"

Arriving at Auntie Jean's was a joyful occassion as they immediately picked out many books that they wanted to borrow. They had never seen that many books in one place and it was overwhelming. This month, Auntie Jean is doing folk tales and fables where the children get read to or read them and then they must retell the story in their own words. This is a hard task for children to do, especially those who aren't fluent in English. The kids worked diligently on it and my two wrote about The Three Little Pigs. I wanted to act out different fables with all the kids but Auntie Jean said, "look around. They are all content with what they are doing." Indeed, this was true! Auntie Jean went on to tell me that they are content with not doing much because Children of the Light is a safe haven to them compared to home. I am learning that it isnt the glamarous things that make a difference but the availability to be open and mee their needs no matter how great or small. At the end, we had bible time where the children are memorizing scripture. A lot of this part was done in Twi so the little kids could understand. However, my two speak Gha so they were lost and they were beginning to lose it. Since Ghanaian children are always by themselves and can take care of themselves, I forget that they are still small children. By six o'clock, the girls had had it and started to wine as we walked down the road to the trotro stop. Afterall, we had done a lot of traveling and we still had to get home. I worried a little at this point because usually it takes me awhile to find a trotro down to Medina and if I do find one, I always get the last bus. There was even a funeral going on which causes more traffic of people! However, I put the matter in God's hands by praying and sure enough, immediately when we got to the stop, an empty trotro filled up! Praise the Lord! God answers requests no matter how great or small! On the way to Medina, I was able to give motherly love to my two readers as I had one sleeping on my lap and the other one using my arm as a pillow. I don't know how they slept with all of the bumps and turns we took but they must have been just completely tired!

Yes, I did spoil them like an Auntie as I bought them snacks, and I know you need to be cautious doing this as then the family will expect more next time, but it was fun to treat these two girls to a fun day out as they don't get much of this. After being gone for 6 hours, we arrived safely home where I was greeed with thank you's. Oh, it was a glorious day as I witnessed first hand God's goodness and His work being done through these two small girls.