God has definitely switched plans in a quick matter of time. A week and a half ago I was in Togo riding motorcycles, learning how to greet people after they already sit in the living room, and playing games with kids in French. Now, for the first time in five months, I am safely at home in good old Bright, Indiana. God is good and I am so happy to be with my family. A lot has happened in the last week and I hope to catch up in a short amount of time. I have left my beloved Ghana where I have taught 2nd grade for threes and have loved investing in my kids. I am now moving to Togo, which is east of Ghana, to help train local teachers in Christian schools. God has given me the passion to reach the kids who have little but need to know their savior and receive a great education. I will be discipling the teachers in their walk with Christ and helping them find great teaching methods. I thought it would take awhile to get there but God is good and I am going back in September. I will be staying just for a year as a short term missionary with Fellowship International Mission. I will then return after this year to raise the rest of my support. I was so afraid of not getting there quickly and I freaked when plans seemd to fall apart. Obviously, God's plan was so much better and now I get to go back right away so I can help with the teacher training. The missionary i will be helping with there, Bea, has to leave for good in October so it is important I am there in early September to help with it all. What a blessing. I am learning to not freak and lose focus on God when plans don't work out exactly. He knows best and God has proved to again knock my socks off. I am able to come back right away now due to circumstances. So lesson learned, God's way is definitely better than we could even imagine, even when it seems ludicrous at the time. For now, I will be trying to adjust to the states and raise support so I can continue to love on the kids in Togo.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Saturday, June 2, 2012
My Hope is Found
Hope, a four letter word that packs a powerful punch! Hope by itself isn't powerful, but hope founded on Jesus Christ is extremely powerful. I have been reminded this week like all things, life is temporary compared to the hope we have of spending eternity in Heaven with Christ. My stay in Ghana as a second grade teacher for three years was temporary, and that is okay, because it is all building to the day where I can stand before Christ and praise is Holy name forever.
This week, I packed up my room, threw our the old papers, turned off my two lights that were actually working, and closed my creaking door for the last time. As I was shutting it, I was reminded of the many memories spent in that room cutting out games, grading papers, laughing with other teachers, but most importantly making kids smile and watching their brains grasp onto ideas. I had the opportunity of watching blossoming minds flourish and take a strong hold onto developing their own knowledge. I will never forget our moments of laughter and joyfulness as we sang songs to Christ, chanted phonics sounds, or yelled simile as many times as we could. Those moments are irreplaceable and I will cherish the lessons I learned from my little ones as they reminded me how to question, love one another, and be a life long learner.
We spent the week doing random things of course like having a pajama party complete with a pillow fight and a water party which of course included water balloons and biting ants! Never leave home without your biting ants to crash any party! Most classes shut down the last week but we were still reading Freckle Juice and getting Freckles on our faces or writing a cursive alphabet book. There is never time to stop learning. It was also a joyful week as four of my students came back who had the chicken pox. We all had spots to us and joined in with the unique faces. I love my class who embrace everyone for their differences. On Thursday, we had the awards program and then I gave out individual awards in my classroom. I then was going to show a video of the year which I do every year. Well, as I was about to show it, my computer stopped working even though I tried it earlier. So, I had to shut down the computer and start again. Then, right when it was working, the project went out! God bless Ghana as there is never a dull moment! We just watched it from my computer and made it work but it made me want to cry as nothing works out the way I want it to. Alas, this is Ghana, and God has taught me to just flow with the difficulties. None of the parents really minded, as this is Ghana, and this stuff happens all the time! It was such a blessing to talk to all the parents and hear their thankfulness for the year. The parents told me how their students really embraced the concept of Joy, Jesus, Others, and Yourself. This just made me realize what a huge responsibility it is to teach as they are sponges and pick up everything that is said. I must instill in them the important issues as they pick up everything that I say. I will definitely miss the class and teaching in the regular classroom but God has opened the door for this new ministry in Togo and I am excited. I will be visiting Togo next Monday and Thursday. I pray that during this time I will stay in tune to God's calling and will be understand how I can be used in this beautiful place.
The hardest goodbye this week was with the kids on the street that I have gotten to know these past three year. It took all the strength I had to tell them I was leaving. The whole evening was difficult as we pulled up to the house which African children running everywhere, wearing their tie dye shirts that we had made two weeks ago. They give joy and love to my being and I am so blessed to know this. We enjoyed the evening by singing our favorite songs, eating pizza, and watching the Lion King. That is until our little three year old neighbor tripped over the chord and knocked out the power! God bless our little friend Rafik! They are starting to understand that I am leaving although I will be back to visit. Some of them will come over for one last goodbye and I welcome them with open arms.
For three years I have poured out my struggles, triumphs, and just observations about this crazy place that I deeply love. As I look back on the frustrations and smiling moments, I am so thankful that the Lord has taught me patience and unconditional love. Thank you for embarking on this journey with me as I couldn't have survived without your support. I pray that you will remain with me as I prepare for Togo and help the teachers there fulfill their calling to instill Christian principle's in these precious minds.
This week, I packed up my room, threw our the old papers, turned off my two lights that were actually working, and closed my creaking door for the last time. As I was shutting it, I was reminded of the many memories spent in that room cutting out games, grading papers, laughing with other teachers, but most importantly making kids smile and watching their brains grasp onto ideas. I had the opportunity of watching blossoming minds flourish and take a strong hold onto developing their own knowledge. I will never forget our moments of laughter and joyfulness as we sang songs to Christ, chanted phonics sounds, or yelled simile as many times as we could. Those moments are irreplaceable and I will cherish the lessons I learned from my little ones as they reminded me how to question, love one another, and be a life long learner.
We spent the week doing random things of course like having a pajama party complete with a pillow fight and a water party which of course included water balloons and biting ants! Never leave home without your biting ants to crash any party! Most classes shut down the last week but we were still reading Freckle Juice and getting Freckles on our faces or writing a cursive alphabet book. There is never time to stop learning. It was also a joyful week as four of my students came back who had the chicken pox. We all had spots to us and joined in with the unique faces. I love my class who embrace everyone for their differences. On Thursday, we had the awards program and then I gave out individual awards in my classroom. I then was going to show a video of the year which I do every year. Well, as I was about to show it, my computer stopped working even though I tried it earlier. So, I had to shut down the computer and start again. Then, right when it was working, the project went out! God bless Ghana as there is never a dull moment! We just watched it from my computer and made it work but it made me want to cry as nothing works out the way I want it to. Alas, this is Ghana, and God has taught me to just flow with the difficulties. None of the parents really minded, as this is Ghana, and this stuff happens all the time! It was such a blessing to talk to all the parents and hear their thankfulness for the year. The parents told me how their students really embraced the concept of Joy, Jesus, Others, and Yourself. This just made me realize what a huge responsibility it is to teach as they are sponges and pick up everything that is said. I must instill in them the important issues as they pick up everything that I say. I will definitely miss the class and teaching in the regular classroom but God has opened the door for this new ministry in Togo and I am excited. I will be visiting Togo next Monday and Thursday. I pray that during this time I will stay in tune to God's calling and will be understand how I can be used in this beautiful place.
The hardest goodbye this week was with the kids on the street that I have gotten to know these past three year. It took all the strength I had to tell them I was leaving. The whole evening was difficult as we pulled up to the house which African children running everywhere, wearing their tie dye shirts that we had made two weeks ago. They give joy and love to my being and I am so blessed to know this. We enjoyed the evening by singing our favorite songs, eating pizza, and watching the Lion King. That is until our little three year old neighbor tripped over the chord and knocked out the power! God bless our little friend Rafik! They are starting to understand that I am leaving although I will be back to visit. Some of them will come over for one last goodbye and I welcome them with open arms.
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