A Loving Family

I have been home for a week and a day so far and I feel like I belong most of the time. There is that occasion when I don't remember how to turn off the TV or forget to put my seatbelt on, but for the majority of the time, I fit in. Sometimes this is scary because no offense but I don't want to become a typical American game. I pray my view on life has change but again if I am in America unfortunately there are certain things I have to fall back into. However, one aspect of life that I am more than happy to fall back into is "church." What a glorious family of believers I am surrounded with each Sunday and throughout the week. Although I have been gone for 10 months, I am treated like I missed one week as life continues as it was left. I get hugs, conversation continues to the same, and they don't ask me too many questions about Ghana. It has been amazing to watch them grow after being gone in a year and especially to see the younger generatins take an active role in church. This week has been VBS, which I have had anywhere from 6-10 girls in the middle school program. I watched as once shy girls got on stage to lead the singing and motions to the kids. I witness as other girls took charge and took pictures or worked the sound system. These teenagers are not just sitting in the pew, but seeing a need and taking charge. Only God has the power to use these younger Christians for His work. Yes, our church is small, but God is using the individuals for His glory. In a small church, you can't hide but you have to be used by Christ or leave. It has been so exciting to be a part of my beautiful church with a wonderful group of Christians who love the Lord and love others. Watching this play out, especially after not being around this community for awhile, has helped me realize how special this church body is in sharing the message of Christ with one another.

Two days before leaving:

So, I started writing this in June and now I am leaving in two days. Where does the time go? This summer has been filled with laughter, smiles, and sharing of memories. During this time home, I was able to spend quality time with my family playing games and just being us, even playing the piano with Cathy for hours on end. It is the little things in life that we need to cherish. I even spent a night with my grandfather, talking to him and reminding him of my name even though he kept calling me Kevin. I need to hold on to memories now before they are gone forever. I also had the opportunity to spend a week at the beach with 4 of my college friends and Cathy. What a blessing this time was to catch in the lives of my friends who are all teaching in different capacities including a small christian school by Taylor, in the middle of nowhere West Virginia, in Texas, and one heading to Honduras. We were all to the point where we needed to be renewed and Christ gave us that chance by the beautiful rolling ocean to connect again and encourage one another in the work we are doing for the Lord. I did miss time with my parents but I think this time with my beautiful friends was definitely needed. Such a praise! THe rest of the short time was spent going to see other friends, especially at beloved camp, helping with Cathy's soccer, and doing random things with my parents. Again, I am learning the importance of just enjoying each moment with my family and priends, even just talking. Today(Sunday), was spent in church saying goodbye, and then at a Mercy Me concert after the Red's Game. This was a special time of praising our Savior with 20,000 of my closest friends, definitely the body of Christ! We are so blessed to be able to share Christ in public without fear and lift up our voices to the Lord! Trhis is not possible in many places and we need to pray for them. Since we are in a country where we can openly praise God, we need to take advantage of this and not lose an opportunity to share Christ with people who need to hear the message from the Lord.

As I write this, my mind is filled with trying to grasp the concept that I am leaving again and going to my beautiful Ghana. I love Ghana and am looking forward to teaching but it is hard to get up again and go. To be honest, I like the life in Ghana and not all the commercialization of everything, but I dearly miss my family. THere are many challenges in Ghana and at this point I know all of the difficulties I will face so it makes it harder to leave here where I am comfortable but God does not always call us to the comfortable life and thus I must return to Ghana were the Lord has called. I am thankful for where the Lord has placed me and will strive each day to follow Him. Thank you for all of you who have been praying for Ghana and the beautiful people there. Thank you for allowing me to share my story with you all. I am truly blessed that you would want to learn more about Ghanaians. I have enjoyed each precious moment with you all. Please keep in contact this year and please know I will be praying for you all.

Pictures from Ghana

Cathy and mom walking to school on the lovely path!

We gave the kids their usual water packet and then rubber ducks. The boys thought it was clever to put the ducks on their "ponds." They are so precious!

On the last day of school, my girls planned a song for me and the boys about friends and saying goodbye. It was so sweet!

On the last day of school, I recognized each one of my kids with a special award. They all worked very hard and deserved to be honor. I will miss them all but glad for the times together!

We had a water party in class before school ended. Want to have a good time? Just pour water on kids, i doesn't take much!

My dad and one of my beautiful high school soccer players. She had a good time hanging out with my parents and sister.

When my parents got to Ghana, we had to take down the net on the field. Dad came in handy!

I thought I saw it all on a person's head but then on the beach we saw this, a sewing machine. Ghanaians are amazing!

Mom and I at the beach! It was amazing to spend such good time with her in a beautiful place.

This is mom during the canopy walk! She was glad to make it to each level and rest on the platform. She is beatuiful staning in the treetops.

Cathy and mom are learning how to make brooms by cutting out the middle sping of each palm branch. They needed some help but had really good teachers!

I am teaching math int he classroom. I love the open windows that look out into the forest. The children work hard and are improving.

The girls infront of our little house in the village. We finally settled in and had a blast.

All of the children greeted us when we arrived. They love having their picture taken! They are so beautiful and learning so much everyday. I am privileged to know them.

I am home from Ghana! It has been four days and it seems so natural to be here. There are some things that are hard such as remembering to put seatbelts on in the car,

use the right money, seeing so many white people, and having sunlight until after 9, crazy!

Different schedule and I love it!

I have sat here on a usual Sunday pouring out my thougts and random experiences. I sit either with Faith(roommate), or by myself usually dripping with sweat and swatting the mosquitos away. Don't get me wrong, I love it but this time as I write to you, my ambience is a little different. No, I am still sitting in the same chair and no, I am still sweating but this time I have to chatterboxes sitting across from me and I am in peace. These two beautiful ladies are related to me and I haven't seen them for 10 months. I am still pinching myself to know that I am sitting across from my beloved sister and mother in Ghana! My dad is already asleep, it is after 11. So here I am happily typing away about to share the many adventures I have already had with my family in just a short time. After picking them up at the airport where we turned away beggars, it is hard but you can't give to everyone, we stopped at the new soccer field to take down the net. This was possible by sitting in my dad's shoulders and unwrapping the net from the pole while in a skirt but I promised I was covered. This was quite a task but we did it gracefully and survived. We then made it to my lovely home and dragged in all the suitcases. So many goodies awaited my students and me. You want to make me happy? Just send school supplies! Anyways, after unpacking and just staring and hugging my mom for awhile, we adventured out to a nightlife place for some shopping.













Granite, at the time we could see the dark clouds rolling in but nothing stops me from doing something so we still went out. We did some souvenir shopping and then the clouds opened up and let out the monsoon while we were still walking. We ducked into a building while my dad was saying, "okay, I am really out of my comfort zone." Welcome to Ghana where the unexpected happens all the time! We stayed inside the building until we finally made a dash to a coffee shop and enjoyed a meal while drip drying. The waitress even gave us linen napkins to dry off.









On day two, we traveled to Pram Pram which is a Children's home a half an hour away. This was our last time going with the kids at school and the children here are so sweet. I was so thankful to share this with my parents as these children just praise the Lord with all their being. They are really well behaved and better than my high schoolers! Our crafts were a hit even though the house mothers might not like the ball and paddle game! We spent the afternoon entertaining the high schoolers by having dinner to thank them for coming this year and helping. My parents pointed out that kids anywhere are practically the same especially these who have money.









The night was quite an event as the lights went out for 4 hours straight. On top of that, we didn't have any water. Welcome to Ghana! Finally, by 10:15 the lights were back on and we were able to function as normal. It gave my parents a good taste of life here and lowered expectations. We had a good bonding time sitting outside in the actually cool weather and laying in a very quiet house. It is what it is.








Monday was exciting as my kids got to meet my family. My kids couldn't contain themselves so everyone calmed down once they arrived. They loved that there were two Miss Sopcisak's in the room. My family as of course great with the kids and it helped having extra hands. SOmetimes I am not sure how I do it alone. It has to be God!

Keep the JOY

Three and a half days left of school but who is counting? I am certainly not as you can tell! We are all getting tired and are exhausted as it has been a long year. Sometimes we think this is acceptable and we have a reason to be tired and a litty nervy but it never is! God has given us JOY and this life to live for him. It is not my job to give excuses for the life I have given the responsibility I have to share Christ. God has given us each day and I want to enjoy them. It has actually been an emotional week. I have had a fever and I don't like the fact that my kids are leaving me! There have been some other problems but I am moving on. At first I wanted to dwell on these problems but today after talking to another teacher, she helped me realize the center of my life! Life isn't fair, I am not going to like what is always said but I do not answer to anyone else but God. If I am praying to him and I have His will in mind, I can't go wrong. Most of all, it is my job to love on these kids and show them Christ all the time. I have to show the love, I have to keep it alive and share the radiance of God's love even when I want to show frustration and tiredness. God gave us the joy and He has given me the opportunity to love Ghana and be surrounded by I love to serve. Why don't I show that passion all the time? I am so thankful to have God as my center and I need to live that way each day. Yes, we are all going to have bad days and slip up but ultimately I want Christ to be the center.

Overall, I have loved this year. My kids are amazing and we really do not want to leave each other. The first grade teacher feels the same way and we even tried to find a way to move up with our classes but alas this is not possible. It is good for them to move on and I will welcome the new class and we will start our new traditions. I always think the year will drag on but it goes quickly and I can't miss an opportunity to love on my kids and have a good time. They are so funny as we are all so use to each other and know each others weaknesses and strengths. They know I am crazy and have no problem telling me that repeatedly which is fine by me as it is the truth. They are excited about teaching their teacher next year how to be insane like the rest of us! I am not sure if that is a good thing but you know, if you are good at something, might as well stay good at it! Anyways, I am so blessed to have had this group of children who have soaked up knowledge and love showing it off. They are obsessed with similes and everytime they hear one they blurt it out! I still think it is funny but most people think it is obnoxious! Oops! This week we have been learning about planets. On Monday we had the discussion if we could stand on the earth. I said,"we are standing on the earth." They kept saying no, actually stand on the top of it. To them, when they see the earth they see a sphere and sphere can have a top, like standing on a soccer ball. Unfortunately, the earth does not work that way and we have to actually stand on the ground. It was a funny convresation but I am glad to see that they are trying to grasp concepts and figure out what makes sense in their own minds. They are precious! Today one of them said," I didn't realize until today that earth was a planet." I am glad she could have that revelation in my class!

Alas, I must say goodbye but it is exciting to know I gave these children knowledge and I am sending them on, confident that they can withhold challenges and thankful that I had a bried moment in their life to help mold them and ultimately show them to Christ.

As I prepare to say goodbye to my children, I am also saying akwaaba(welcome) to my parents who arrive tomorrow! Yes, really tomorrow. To be honest, it hasn't hit me yet! The poor things are still stuck in D.C. but soon they will be on their way and tomorrow afternoon I will see them sweating to death and smelling new aromas they probably wished they never smelt. Nevertheless, it is beautiful Africa and beautiful Ghana which will grab their hearts to hopefully never let go. I am so thrilled that I can share this life with them and show them the reason I can never leave this beloved place. Please pray for safety in traveling and for adjustment to life in Ghana. Don't worry, I will keep you all updated and hopefully share pictures! Oh the stories that we will be able to tell!