sheepdresses, toilets, and God's Indescribable Gift

On Christmas Eve day we went to Abri to a Botanical Garden. They would pull cocoa beans off of trees to let us try and break twigs to smell Cinnimon in a cinnimon tree. Crazy! This is a picture with us, a fellow teacher and his mom.

This is a strangler ficus tree. It wraps around the outside of another tree until it kills it and leaves it hollow inside. We decided to climb it when noone was looking.

Here is Cathy and me inside the strangler ficus.

Here is a picture of the program. The girl is carrying sticks on her head, it is amazing what they can caryy!

Focusing on the children's faces is so important. This is the reason why I live, to share with these children.

These are Cathy's little sheep. Aren't they cute? Before, the one on the left has a really cute smile that really means trouble. Cathy had a great and tiresome time keeping charge over her little flock. I like this picture since you can see her in the background, always keeping an eye on them!

Here is the manger scene, with Mary in her Ethiopian veil, the angel Gabriel in Ghanaian print, and the shepherds. I love the African flare to the Christmas story. The most important part that is still the same is the focus on Christ.

The little boy, Ella(Emmanuel) did such a great job. He had to sing with the older girl here and say a very important part. Wow! Thanks! God Bless You! Oh if you could only hear him say it. I taught him how to say it with an American accent since his English is limited. He even said his "th". The poor thing was sick on the night of the program and was trying to sleep whenever he wasn't on stage but he did a great job still. Cathy tried to get him home in her suitcase but we didn't think his family would approve.

The angels before the show. They are ready to go!

These are out of order but this is a picture of the wise men coming down to worship the newborn King. I love their outfits, very African!

Auntie Jean, the founder of Children of the Light, is giving a thank you speech at the end of the program. All the children are beautiful in their outfits.

This is the finale of the Christmas Program. They look excited to be done but they all did an excellent job throughout the program especially since English is not their first language.

These children can dance! They are doing a choreograph dance for the finale. They tried to teach me to dance but it was a failure, they just got to laugh at an obrunei instead!

This is before the concert as we rushed around like crazy people trying to get everything finished before the show. The angels have to have their wings to share the good news with Mary!

Do you love the title? Although I have not written in over a week, this title sums up the people and memories Cathy and I have been making. Two days before Christmas, Cathy and I went up to Auntie Jean's to help with the program for Children of the Light. Just in case you are not familiar with what I just wrote, I will give you a brief overview. Auntie Jean (preschool teacher at my school) has her own ngo for children in her village for them to learn English and about Christ. This is the fifth year she has put on a Christmas program on Christmas Eve. The theme of this years program was "The Indescribable Gift," whom seem familiar anywhere? It was also based on the Christmas shoes where a shoe maker gives a pair of shoes to a little boy who has none. The children traveled on a trotro to the Christian Center where the Christmas program would be held. This was an eye opening experience for some of the children as they had never seen toilets before. They all rushed to the bathroom to watch the water swirl around, a new concept to most children as they are use to a hole in the ground. Little things that are so trivial to us like flushing a toilet is a new revelation to children here. It is a different way of life, something that is hard for us who have a lot to grasp but thoughts we must think through.

Practice was brutal as we practiced from 4-7:30 for two nights in a row. Children are the same everywhere as they were tired and ready to leave. Cathy was in charge of the little ones who were going to play the sheep. That was a full time job as they were very cute but very sneeky to get into mischief. On the night of the show, one of them was ready for his sheep constume. He kept yelling and gesturing with his hands, sheep dress, sheep dress, where my sheep dress? All the hard work of the children payed off as they performance on Christmas Eve went well. There were 40 children involved including the main characters, the choir, shepherds, angels, sheep(don't forget them!), the wise men, and Mary and Joseph. I actually don't know how well the show went as I was back stage trying to get children on an off the stage with the right costumes on. This is hard to do with children, let alone children who don't speak much English! The most important message that rang out very clear that night was the gift that God gave us, his only son, to come as a baby and then to die for the sins of us all. This message was proclaimed to children in the audience, adults, and the performers as God gives to all. These children wake up on Christmas morning and go to church. But Christy, you left out the part about ripping open the presents spilling out from underneath the tree?

What tree and what presents are you talking about? This isn't a reality for the children here which might leave you horror stricken but on the flip side, Christ is focused on more during Christmas than in America since there isn't presents to get in the way of praising Christ. All the children that performed were able to receive an extra special Christmas as they were a part of sharing Christ's message with others, something they deserved to be proud about. They also received small gift bags from another teachers' parents who came to visit for the holidays. After the program, all the children in Children of the Light received dinner. However, there were many other children who just came to the performance from the village. It was insance afterwards as they were all trying to get food but we had to stop them as it was only for our children in the ministry. Oh their eyes and faces were enough to kill you in a second, but Auntie Jean told them that all they had to do was register to be a part of Children of the Light. Even though it was hard for me to watch them begging for food, Auntie Jean reminded me that the children need to learn that they can't get everything handed to them, they must earn some of it like being involved in the ministry. This was a valid point as the people will continue to beg unless they are taught to work some for food and needs. However, by God's grace he provided enough food for all of the children to have! It worked out anyway. After the excitement of the evening and picking everything up, we sat down to a nice Ghanaian meal outside underneath the stars with the city lights below. The Christian center, where the program was held, is up on a hill that is secluded and gorgeous. It looks out to the crowded city below, far away which is what I like! A year ago, I had no idea that I would be sitting outside for Christmas Eve with my new friends and sister. God works in amazing ways! Don't get me wrong, I most definitely missed Christmas Eve service at home with the candlelight ceremony. The fellowship and friendship I have at home will never be replaced but I am thankful for the relationships that I can build here. To build relationships, it is important to spend time with people, I know seems like common sense but you just have to take the time to listen to peoples stories; triumphs and difficulties.

We awoke on Christmas morning to the waking sun, bright colorful flowers, and of course exotic palm trees. I mus say that this is the complete opposite of most, okay all of my Christmas' I have had. We went to Auntie Jean's land in the morning where we read the Christmas story and prayed. I wish you could all meet Auntie Jean as her vision is amazing. She has purchased land in the middle of nowhere for children in the surrounding area. Most people think she is crazy but she is only listening to the call of the Lord. No matter what goes wrong, the Lord shows himself by giving the right amount of money to purchase the rest of the land, or finding a road not too far from the land. She continues to be faithful and the Lord provides. Everytime we doubt about how the Lord will provide, he goes above and beyond! I feel at peace on the land and seemed liked the perfect place to praise the Lord as we celebrate His sacrifice. The hot sun beamed down as we ascended from the land to greet many people doing their normal routines;bathing, gathering water, farming, cooking, cutting chickens heads off(didn't stay around for that part), and even using the restroom(sorry, but its the truth!). Nope, we didn't see one Christmas tree with presents underneath it, and we would have seen it as none of the houses are complete! This is the complete opposite of America, people here will go to church but other than that they have to go on with their normal business to survive the day. These sights are a reality and I will never see Christmas the same way. It is much larger than a Christmas Eve service or spending a quiet Christmas at home, don't get me wrong, these are so important, but it is also about practical Christianity, about brining the message to the masses, the lowest masses as Christ himself had a lowly beginning.

The celebration continued as we headed back to Accra on a trotro, a dream come true on Christmas. Even Medina, the market, was still busy on Christmas, like I said before, people still have to make a living, even on Christmas. The day was all around glorious as we skyped my parents later to open presents. We then went to a Christmas party to have all of the usual goodies and some unusual ones to Americans as there were many nationalities present. God's church is universal and it was a lifetime experience to observe the festivities of the birth of Christ in a different culture. The focus was just on Christ, not Christ and rush around to get presents.

Long Awaited Christmas Present

Last Saturday was a joyful occasion to celebrate because I received the best Chistmas present ever! I received new clothes and cereal!!!! Alright, just kidding, even though those were great gifts, the best one was meeting my sister at the airport! Yes, she is here and still alive although I have kept he pretty busy. I want to first of all thank you for all those who donated Christmas gifts for the children or other items. I will talk about my Christmas party soon. It really was like Christmas opening the suitcases and finding love from America. You were all very giving and I thank you so much for that! Cathy seemed to have a good flight and she wasn't even tired so I decided to get her exposed to Ghana right away. There is no better way to do that than to ride on a trotro! She is so adventerous, a couple hours in the country and she was already on her way to the market in a beat up van. I think the market was overwhelming to her but it is for everyone as there are so many people trying to get you to buy their things. We went to look at fabric which is gorgeous but hard to choose just one! Then we boarded another trotro for Kitase to help with Auntie Jean's Christmas program. Cathy did well but she said that she got to know here neighbor well as they shared the same sweat! Sorry, probably too much information!

Up at Auntie Jean's, we gave her Christmas presents by bringing candy canes for the progam(you can't even get candy cane here!) and plans for her land. Just in case I did not explain this well enough, Aunie Jean finally has the money to buy the land she wants for her ministry. Her next step was to make plans for a pavilion she wants put there so I recruited my dad to help. No, he didn't go to Africa but thanks to technology, we used skype so he could talk to Auntie Jean and Ben, a teacher at our school, to make up the plans. I am so proud that he could be involed in that way! She loved the plans so she is taking them to the Australian government today to see if it will be approved. Please pray for this matter so we can start building on it shortly. Also, the land is down a narrow path so getting supplies down there will be tricky but Auntie Jean doesn't let anything stop her and I know she will find a way to get down there wih everything!

The Christmas program is coming along nicely but we only have two more days to practice! Cathy got to hang out with the kids while the other ones were practicing their lines. One girl kept trying to take off Cathy's freckles and then compare their skin color. I must say I am so happy she is here!

Sunday brought a long awaited day that I have been planning for awhie. As you might know, whe have a bible club for kids on the street every other Tuesday. I decided for Christmas to make dinner for the kids and give them Christmas presents. Liz, another teacher, and her friend Gideon, who is a Ghanaian, made Jollof Rice and Fried Chicken. Everything here is labor intensive as Gideon bought everything at the market, chopped up the chicken, ground the fresh ginger, and slaved over the stove for a least 4 hours! It was well worth it though as fifty kids came for our club. We did not tell them ahead of time that there would be food because than we would have had a thousand. We began the evening with the usual singing of songs and acting out a bible story. Hmm? I wonder what story we chose? I hope you said the birth of Jesus because you would be correct! I read Luke 2 as the kids acted out the story. Surprisingly the kids stayed very quiet which is unusual for them! Afterwards, I brought out a present which was the Bible. I told the kids that this was God's greatest gift to us, first sending his son to die on the cross for our sins and then writing the Bible so we could follow his commandments. I then told them that we had a present for them and that they would be having dinner with us. Fortunately, I had many helpers as Jonathon, another teacher at my school, came with his visiting parents and three girls from school graciously came to help out their soccer coach. I kind of bribed them with phsyc episodes afterwards but that is besides the point!

The children all lined up nicely as they received their food and joyfully ate it. THey were so quiet and so well behaved. I loved that moment! Most of these children live as squatters in homes, meaning they live in unfinished houses until someone kicks them out. I am not sure how often they eat but they do have to work hard all day with a family who does not have a lot of resources. After they helped clean up, we lined them up again to give them Christmas presents as they headed out the door. This caused a little more chaos as they all crammed up against one another in line to wait their turn for a toy, but it was more organized than any of us anticipated. THe kids loved everything and the evening was a success. God definitely blessed us that evening as we had just enough food for all of the kids and for us. We also had just enough presents too! God was working in a mighty way to show his sovereignty and grace to His precious little ones and to us. I do struggle with knowing I have a lot more than these kids, like electricity, or more than one pair of clothing, but God has placed me here so I can use my resources to help others. However, I couldn't have done it alone, and I am thankfu for all of the help from Cathy and my friends to put this crazy idea into reality. God is great and forever needs to be praised!

We are now getting ready to leave Accra for Kitase where we will help with the Christmas Program on Christmas Eve. Please pray that the children learn their lines and that ultimately God is glorified through this program as the children describe the indescribable gift that God gives us each day. We will return on Christmas morning where we will skype my parents and have Christmas together! Later, we will go to Laurie's house where we will have dinner and have a gift exchange. Merry Christmas to you all and thank you for being loyal in reading my blogs. I miss you all during this Christmas season but do know I am praying for you all and am there with you in spirit. The summer will be here shortly!

Mundane Happiness

A week ago from Saturday, I waved goodbye to all of my friends who were heading to America from Christmas. At first it was hard knowing that they were all leaving to see family but once they were gone, I still felt the peace that this is where I need to be. On that Sunday, I moved in with a family who practically started the school. She is a nurse for the embassy and the project manager for the school. It was so nice of them to let me stay there so I wasn't lonely at the house. It was so homey to be with a family so I experenced a week of good fellowship and good homemade somewhat American food! On Sunday, we went to a soccer game against two local rivals. Oh man, let me tell you that there was a lot of testosterone flying around as everyone was yelling at their neighbor throughout the game. The Accra team won 1-0 even though I thought the Kumasi team played better. After the game, the heat soared when the Kumasi player slugged a ref. The police swarmed onto the field like ants attacking our food in the kitchen. It was insane! THen a riot broke out in the stand so the police were jumping up seats to take care of that while we watched in shock on the other side. It was so barbarious but they take their soccer seriously here. I don't know if anyone remembers but about 10 years ago, there was an actual stampede that took place at the stadium when these two team were playing. Due to the riots, the police shut the gates so people panicked and stampeded others to their death. Not a happy story but a reality here. Don't worry, nothing liked that happened, we made it back safe and sound!

I spent the rest of the week helping Laurie, the project manager at the school cleaning up. I did go to Auntie Jean's house one day to help with the Christmas program but other than that I was at the school or at their house planning for next semester. By Friday, I felt like I had wasted my week, just because there is so much need here but I realized that I was right where I needed to be. Laurie did need help and the job wouldn't have gotten finished if I didn't help her. Also, we were able to have some really good conversations where we both just needed a listening ear. I have struggled with the mundane of life for a long time and it is still hard for me but my mother would always tell me growing up, "Even missionaries have to do house work and pay the bills." Yes, very true! I can't believe I just agreed with my mother! Just kidding! Anyways, as a title from a book clearly states, "Bloom where you are planted." I am in Africa during Christmas for a reason and even though I can't save every child I want to, I must be faithful in the chores God has given me to accomplish because my ultimate reason for being here is to serve him. I can serve him though joyfully cleaning or trying to talk twi to the guards or clearners. However, we can all be faithfully blooming where he planted us, not just in Africa but wherever we may be.

Reflection on the Greatness of God

I can't believe I am actually writing the words, "I have taught for one semester" Yes I wrote it and it is true, crazy. I have dreamed about teaching in my own classroom since I was little and Cathy made me be her student when we would play. After many years of preparation, I finally have my own classroom and my own students, it really is hard to fathom it but I am so grateful for it. Also, since about the age of 10, I have dreamed of teaching overseas where I could share my passion for teaching and Jesus in an International setting. The fact that both dreams happened at the same time is too much to take some days which reminds me how much I must praise the Lord for his amazing plan that is perfect.



A year ago, I would tell you that I would be teaching overseas but I did not have a clue how this would be accomplished. Even last spring up until May 21st, the master plan was not revealed to me yet. My poor mother would listen to my sad case every morning as I drove to Muncie for student teaching. I thought everyone else had job opportunities and I was left without any options. Of course, now looking back on the situation, it is quite comical as everything obviously worked out but I was just caught up on knowing the plan then. Two days before I graduated, God revealed that plan when Mr. Crosby called and offered me the job even though I had to wait five days for his phone call either confirming the opening or denying my chance. Oh patience, I think God is teaching me something!



That was 6 months ago and now I find myself walking to school on dirt streets, talking to the children on the street who call me sister Christy, and bardering for good taxi fares. Who would have thought? Silly me, of course God thought it through and he knew! If I would have only trusted him more but that is why I am still a work in progress.



Question: Do you have any regrets for being in Ghana?



Answer: Absolutely not. Like I have said before, there are hard days but that will be anywhere. I know that God has planted the seed in my heart for a long time to teach internationally so this is where I need to be, no turning back now! God has blessed me with great friends who already care about me when I work too much and don't take a break. I am always invited to fun events and I feel comfortable sharing my personal struggles with them. Being in this setting really brings you close together. I teach at a school where I can openly share about Christ to students of all backgrounds, the staff pray together three times a week, and I have a pretty good assortment of supplies considering I am in Africa. It is sometimes easy to complain about problems at school or lack of resources but compared to public schools here, we have everything we could ever need. However, I will eventually like to help in public school somewhere in Africa as the need is great. Being here has helped me realize how much I have to renew my thirst in Christ everyday so I do not become dehydrated to the point of exhaustion. God has broken me and he continues to break me as He has made me submit my independence and control to Him as I cannot control every situation here. Through the hard times, the Lord makes us stronger and I do believe I am learning to lean on him for the strength to endure.

Quetion: Will you teach another year?

Answer: What kind of question is that? Of course I will teach! God has designed me to be with children and to instill passions inside of them for learning. When I watch a struggle with a concept, especially in math to the point that we are both frustrating, it gives me no greater joy than to watch him or her understand say double digit addition for the first time. The light bulb comes on and there is much celebrating to be had especially dancing on the desks! Yes, this does happen sometimes but we have to celebrate big for a student who understands, they need to know that what they can do is important. I the hugs I receive, the concerns they bring up for mankind, and the connections they make between what I have taught them and the world around them. Now am I this happy about teaching everyday?(I'll be honest and say some days are a struggle) but I keep on coming back because of the 11 soon to be 13 inquisitive minds that walk in my room everyday. They are worth it and so will all the other students who I have the privilege to guide them through the learning process. I am so thankful for the Lord for instilling in me the passion to teach, not to be bias but it truly is the greatest professional a girl or guy could have!

I have learned many lessons from my first semester like make sure you introduce yourself right at the beginning of the first day, or know exactly what you are doing before the kids enter the room but as long as I learn from my mistakes, I know I will improve. Next year will be easier but I never want to get stuck in a rut as there is much that I still need to learn.

Thank you for supporting me for a semester, I appreciate all the prayes and e-mails. Please keep them up! I am currently staying with a beautiful, welcoming family until Cathy comes on Saturday. Oh happy day! So the next time I write there will be two of us experiencing God's plan in Ghana. Maybe I will even let her be a guest blogger! Enjoy the week before Christmas and never forget the real reason we celebrate!

Enfrijipah(Merry Christmas in Twi)!!!!!!!!

A test I'm Glad I Failed

Okay, so these are hard to see but they are pictures from the Christms program. All of the kids in white are angels or sheep. They are the preschoolers and kindergarteners.

Can you find Mary holding the baby? She is pretty much in the middle of this picture.

I can actually never remember failing a test while going through the education system. Well, in my book, I failed a test if I got below an A, that was tragic enough, but I don' remember seeing that D or F on my paper. Oh yeah, once in college during PE for teachers. You may, laugh but everyone who has taken it will agree that it was a difficult class! Anyways, you may be wondering what kind of test I would be happy to fail so don't wonder any longer! Last Sunday, actually Saturday night, I could tell I was getting a fever since I had a headache, the chills, and was getting really hot. The girls told me I probably had malaria, in a half joking but half serious manner. I shrugged it off, said I would be fine in the morning and went to bed. However, I was not fine in the morning and spent all day miserable. Sorry for those who have been close to me when I have been sick, but I am not very pleasant as I hate to rest! I would sleep for awhile, find some energy and then try to do something productive before I crashed again. I felt like it was a waste of a day but I guess God was telling me I needed to rest. Anyways, the fever and headache never went away so I decided to call Laurie who is the project manager at school and a nurse.

And the long awaited moment..... I got to have my first malaria test! She just pricked my finger and then tested my blood on a strip. If there is only one line that appears then the test is negative. After what seemed like years, I finally saw for myself that there was only one line there! Yippeee! Malaria free for now! There are two teachers who have malaria right now but once you take the medicine, you feel better quickly so it isn't that big of a deal. It is just really bad if you don't catch it soon enough.

I can't complain about being sick since this was the first time it has happened to me since being here and that is unusual for here! I went to school on Monday but had to go home because I got sick in other ways(no details necessary) but they had called in a sub so everything was okay. I felt bad because I had a new student that day so I said hi to him and then had him meet the sub. I never got to ease him into the routine but I think he is doing just fine. Now I have eleven students and I know I will have at least twelve after Christmas. I welcome my new students and I know my current new students like new faces but my room is not very big so there isn't many places to put everyone. I will have to start hanging some from the ceiling! Just kidding!

In other school news: The Christmas Program was sensational! There was some technical difficulties as the music would not play for most of the program so the kids did the program accapella. It was amazing! Most of the parents didn't realize that it wasn't suppose to be that way and the most important part, the message of Christ, was proclaimed for all to hear!

I had told you in the earlier blog that I was praying for one of my students to come since her father told me she wasn't going to since they are Muslim. I was worried she wouldn't show but she did! Praise the Lord! Afterwards her father came up to me and I thanked him for letting his daughter came. He said it is no problem, it is all okay, it was good. Oh praise the Lord! God is working here and through us to reach the nonbelievers. Continue to pray for this family and others at our school and everywhere.

We didn't have school on Friday because it was Farmer's Day! Yes, the day we celelebrate the work of the farmer! We looked it up on google so we knew for sure why we were getting the day off. In the 1980's there was a horrible drought and the country was saved by the hard work of the farmers who fed the nation. In 1988 they decided to make Farmer's Day a National Holiday. We celebrated the day by having a breakfast together, complete with fresh bananas and pineapple, a product of the farmers. Oh there is also a yearly competition where they watch the work of select farmers all year. On this day, they announce the winner of I guess being the best farmer. This first place winner gets a new house, second: new car, third: new tractor(I think a tractor is the best gift.)

Thanks for reading that random information, but it allows you to know Ghana better. Or you could have skipped it and that is okay too.

Today is our last week of school. In the elementary school we don't have any specials so we will be with them all day long, please pray for all of us! We are doing Christmas Around the World which should be fun and something different for the kids! Please pray for all of the kids as they travel for Christmas and some of them see parents that they haven't in awhile. Please also pray for the teachers who will be traveling home. Yes, I am still staying here and although I reall really, really, truly miss everyone at home, I know that this is where I need to be as I help with the Children of the Light Christmas Program and with other ministries in the area. I am so excited to have Cathy come and to spend some quality time with her! God is good! Have a blessed Sunday and week.