Sarah's dad reporting

Hello, Ghana had a major storm last Monday, 03/26/07, with that Sarah lost internet, electricity and cell phone service, on Thursday 03/29/07 she was finally able to call to tell us why she could not write. Needless to say, she is unable to blog until some of the damage has been fixed. She is fine, the village sustain a moderate amount of damage. She will be able to tell the story a lot better than I can when she is back online. Sarah has another problem, she has a touch of Malaria, she assures me, {her dad} that it is mild and she will be o.k. She has been put on bed rest and given medication. They have a two week break now, so she does not need to feel she has to jump up and go to work. Remember her and the people of Ghana as they recover from this big storm. One other thing, I ask if they had any warning about the storm, she said yeah, they saw a big black cloud.

Thanks for reading
Wayne a.k.a Sarah's dad

New Snaps

Everyone!

I have put up new snaps. Now you are going to have to do some grungin' through some old snaps to find the new ones but I do wish you luck in your endeavors.

Love you all!

Sarah

http://uwyo.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2025226&l=20e4d&id=45200525

http://uwyo.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2025428&l=a1cd1&id=45200525

http://uwyo.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2026370&l=2591d&id=45200525

http://uwyo.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2029094&l=4a355&id=45200525

The long awaited blog has arrived...

The longer I am here and the more I learn about this country and everything that goes with it the more I can not understand how someone can not believe in a God. This experience has really tightened my faith even more than it was. Before I came here I believed in God, there’s no doubt about that, but seeing all this has concreted my heart to Christ and all of His creation.

It is very hot here and naturally in the heat people sweat. There are two things that are good to consume when one sweats profusely: salt and potassium. The food here is very salty, not just at the village but everywhere I have eaten has been salty and that’s because that’s how the Ghanaians like their food. God gave them a natural liking for salt because He knew before he even created man that they would need it to survive. Also three of the leading natural sources of potassium are native to Ghana and those are: coconut milk, Ghanaian yam, and bananas. And they are not hard to come by here or expensive to purchase. An entire coconut cost about fifteen cents, and banana maybe ten cents, and I’m sorry, I’m not up on my yam cost. I have no idea if I’m getting my point across effectively but its just amazing how God's provides the needs for people even before they knew it would be needed. He is such a great God.

This past weekend I spent it in Accra with the Kelly family. I went to a youth party on Saturday night as a guest of Judith, the eldest daughter of the Kelly family, and I saw a movie I want to suggest to you. Its called Most. It is a foreign film that looks at Jesus' crucifixion from God's point of view through the story of a single man and his son. It is a beautiful film!

My students are growing so much its hard to imagine them as the same class they were two months ago. I was not sure if I was going to be able to do anything with them when we started our journey together but now they sit and listen. They are getting better about behaving. We can have more fun because I do not always have to be getting on someone. I can see now why teachers love to teach. It is very rewarding in the fruit that it produces. Saying that, I am still glad that I did not follow in the family business of teaching. It is exhausting but I love every minute.

Libbie started working with me in my three year old class this week and it has been so amazing to have her there. I feel I can get so much more done with a second pair of hands. Tomorrow we’re going to try centers. That should be fun. When I leave she will be taking over my class and so we are gradually going to be trying to give the kids fully over to her. I do not feel like I have been here long enough to being weaning my class away from me, however, I think it will be more weaning me from my class

It is so strange, in my head I know that I am in Ghana. Its pretty hard not to know but then I think about it some more and I still can not believe that I am really in Africa. I have looked at this continent so long on the globe longing to walk on it and I really am and have been for almost three months now. In my mind it is just bizarre!

.

Well, I leave you now. It is time for me to go and help clean the school, a daily activity.

Love you too much!

Sarah

P.S. At church this past Sunday I heard a lady says "Most of us in this place believe in God. Now it is time for us to take out the "in" and start to believe God." Funny how one word can change so much.

Prayer request:
-Health for the village
-Mothers
-Our village director’s brother passed away so they left to America, please pray for them as they are there and their return on Sunday.
-Libbie and Rob officially started working this week and there is much to do.
-I’m trying to get classes together for next fall and its been tough, please pray that I can find classes (and get into the classes) that I need.

Quicky

This is just a quick post to tell you I will be posting soon. Sorry, life here has been so crazy. I am going to try to have a post up by tomorrow. Please forgive me. My mind is going in so many different directions its hard to write down a single thought. For now, I pray this photo is enough to get to you tomorrow.

Always my love,

Sarah

Never knew how Baptist I really was.

He is exalted! The King is exalted on high!
I will praise Him. He is exalted, forever exalted,
And I will praise His Name!

I can not express to you the joy I feel in my heart today. My heart is jumping up and down and shouting exaltations to the Lord higher than I have felt in a long time! I have been blessed today. Over and overly blessed. It reminds me of the song my dear friend, Susan, taught the children here:

Running over, running over, My cup is full and running over.

Today I went to church with the Seatons. We went into Accra to Calvary Baptist Church! What we read on the internet for the service time was wrong so we were a bit late but when we walked into the service the fifty voice choir was raised dressed in red and gold robes, the congregation was on its feet, hands were in the air and voices were singing, “He is exalted! The King is exalted on high!” The usher showed us to a pew towards the front that was reserved for guest and I could not help myself, tears started rolling down my face. There I was in my Ghanaian dress, make-up on in the front of the church crying. I did not feel so bad when I looked to my left and saw Libby just like me and then Rob. The spirit was so heavy in that sanctuary and they were singing a song that I knew, it was all too much. I have gone to some really amazing churches here and enjoyed them all however, I felt at home today. I knew the hymns, I knew the choruses, it was my church. I felt like it was my church. The sermon was on imitating Christ by renewing our minds. It had three points like every Baptist sermon I have heard in my life, there was an invitation at the end where three people came forward to accept Christ. I wish you could hear my voice and see my face. I feel as though I am glowing. God has really answered that prayer for me. I followed the sermon so well, the pastor was funny and encouraging. I think my understanding of the culture has grown immensely because some of his illustrations I would not have understood two and a half months ago and now I can laugh with the people. The church even has a little book store where next week I will purchase my Ghana Baptist Hymnal. This will be something that I can look forward to every Sunday! Oh, my heart is so full! Praise the Lord!!!

Now... on to the rest of last week.

This week we celebrated Ghana Day. That’s their Independence Day. This year Ghana is 50 years old. It was so amazing to be here for that celebration. Because of the holiday all schools and most businesses were closed Tuesday, for the actual holiday, and Wednesday, to rest from celebrating. In America we would associate that second day from getting over the hang over that one acquired from celebrating, but if you could see how these people celebrate, you would understand that is not the reason. On Tuesday thousands upon thousands of people crowded into Independence Square in Accra for the over the top celebration. There was no place to move and it was hot beyond belief. Those people had no air to cool them off and they were dancing and going on. They must have been completed exhausted when all was said and done with. Top officials, Presidents, chiefs, etc, from all West African nations, and European, and the U.S. were there to help celebrate. It was a day that no Ghanaian will ever forget.

Every year for Ghana Day schools from within Accra are chosen to march around Independence Square for President Kufuor. They march in military fashion and they do it well. While on our field trip last week we drove past many a football field and all were filled with schools practicing. It was pretty awing to watch. They also had native dancers and the head chief of nearly every tribe was there to do a little ceremony from the tribe. Most of those included offering libations to their traditional gods. Some tribes claim not to worship the traditional gods anymore, they just do it to show respect for the tribe, whatever that means. I learned a lot that day by watching this. (The entire compound watched this in the dining hall on a 19" television. Now if you have ever shared a 19" television with 70+ people you know how that goes.) I was sitting near some of the Rafiki Mothers and they were talking me through the entire celebration. Ghana’s view of Christianity in some places is really twisted. It reminds me a lot of the Native Americans and how they used Christianity as just another god to mix into their practices. I feel that this compound has been so blessed to have the Mother's that it does. Mother's that know Jesus Christ and follow Him and His teachings only and show the kids how to love Jesus as well.

We all had a really good time watching it together. The kids do not get to watch television very often so it was nice for them. Even little Dereck, the picture above, got into it. Our guard, Jake, was in the military and Dereck seemed to like his hat.

On Wednesday we had a swim day. All the kids came out in their swimming dress and we played water games, the little kids played in the little pools while the older kids used the slip-n-slide. It was such a blast! It was good for the kids to get out and have a good time with no school no chores, just good ole fun! It was nice to watch them enjoying themselves so much. Like most teenagers, ours wanted to act too cool, but as soon as they got out there they did not want to stop.

Last night Cathy, a missionary, came to the guest house and taught Libbie and I how to make ground nut stew. I can not wait to make it back home! Katie, it taste like the Tai chicken wrap from Love Joy’s!!!

Well, I guess that rounds out this edition of Ghana Girl’s life. Its been a really good week and I pray that it continues on to next week.

Always in Him,

Sarah

Prayer request:
-That the mood of the compound will stay positive
-Mothers
-Rest, I have been extremely tired lately.

Ahhh... nothing like drinking a nice cup of banana tea to end the week right. I picked up some Ghanaian banana tea at the Accra trade fair on Tuesday. Its pretty good. Its like liquid banana bread. What a horrible way to describe something. Sorry. My similes need some work it appears.

This week was pretty good. My students are coming along great it seems. Of course, they are three and four years old so most of my day is full of head banging hysteria. Then I come home and pour myself a cup of banana tea and laugh about everything.

This next week is Independence day here in Ghana. Its so exciting. I’m here for the 50th Anniversary of Ghana!!! Everyone is so excited. There are people everywhere. Yesterday the President even drove by us. Its so cool that I could see the John Kufour himself any day. Next week we only have three days of classes. They are taking Tuesday for the Independence Day and then Wednesday to rest from celebrating on Tuesday. Hey, I like it!

Now, the story I’m about to tell you might not be for everyone and its not something I would usually share with the world but oh is it funny. I’ve been meaning to write about this for some time now but have regretfully forgotten. My students for the most part sit on the floor for everything. That is due to the amount of head trauma that was received from kids rocking back in their chairs and hitting their heads on the nice cement floor. That sounds harsh but most of the time it was funny. Anyway on with the tale ‘o the day. For the children it is really special for them to sit in front next to my chair when I am reading to them or doing any lesson of sorts except the day I decided not to shave my legs. (That last sentence just promises funny doesn’t it?) I have one little student that is so delicate. Everything hurts him. Everything! And he has this really high pitched scream whenever something hurts him and it makes me laugh all the time. He was sitting in front that day while I was reading the story of Noah and the Ark, the children’s favorite Bible story. I had just gotten to the part where Noah and his sons were working tirelessly to construct this monstrosity of an ark when all of a sudden my little dandy lion of a student decided to pet my leg. Without any warning this shriek comes from the mosh pit of four year olds that pretty much made everyone cover their ears within a five mile radius. You would have thought a cobra had just slithered his way into the room and was about to attack. Oh, how I wish that was how the story ended but it isn’t. He looks up at me holding his hand as though blood might trickle out of his finger tips and said, “Madam Sarah, your leg is sharp!” Needless to say then everyone had to feel Madam Sarah’s sharp legs and then continue to tell everyone that Madam Sarah has sharp legs. One of the missionaries told me, “Hey they are just four. To them it’s a novelty.” Well, to me it was just plan embarrassing. When a four year old tells you in a not to subtle way that you need to shave your legs, one tends to take notice.

Yesterday we took a field trip into Accra with both my preschool classes, the kindergarten, and the first grade class. I was really nervous. Being in a classroom with my kids was one thing. There are boundaries there, walls to keep them in and door handles to high for them to reach, but in a city? There are cars, people, open fires and gutters! Not that our kids are badly behaved that is not the case, but they are in fact children. I prayed continuously for a week it seemed about this trip. I did not want to be the mini missionary that lost a kid in Accra. What a legacy that would leave! But, it was so much fun! Really. We went to a pet store. That seemed a little odd to me when I was first told about the pet store but this is not the average mall pet store that has little puppies and kittens sealed behind a glass case. Oh no. This is a Ghanaian pet store. There were some of the most beautiful birds I have ever seen, one called the fantail pigeon (google that!) that was unlike any pigeon I had ever seen walking the streets. They had bunnies and lizards and some weird looking ferret thing that had the coat of a hyena. It was set up more like a zoo setting than a pet store. It had a canopy of vines that hovered above it. There were plants and trees that the pet store was built around. It was beautiful. That was however until we got to the monkey cage.

They have two monkeys there named Sonny and Cher. Clever, eh? Before we even got on the bus we were warned about Sonny, the monkey. Madam Ann said, “Be careful of the monkeys. One is rather frisky so watch it.” And who was the one that forgot about the frisky monkey? Me! The madam! I forgot like a lame-o. We went to the monkey cage and all was going well. The kids were touching the monkeys and petting them. I was taking pictures of the entire experience (which will be posted at a later date) and everything was going well until Sonny approached me. Now, they were in their cage but the fencing was to where they could poke their hands out and grab things. I thought Sonny and I had hit it off quite nicely until he reached out quickly and pulled my hair! Sneaky little bogger. I got some pictures taken with him just to prove that I could and turned to leave. I had started filming the kids walking around the pet store and exploring when out of no where my head was swung and slammed against the monkey cage! Sonny had taken my entire pony tail into his little monkey paw and pulled me back into the cage! I was a bit startled but more embarrassed that I was the one that did not mind the monkeys as I should have. All of the other kids stood their distance but not me. The kids laughed about that for a while. I did too.

I am having such an amazing time here. Its very hard work. Nothing about this place is easy but it is rewarding. My little boy that has trouble with his hands buttoned his knickers today on his own. He came to me today and told me he needed to urinate (use the restroom). Usually that’s my cue to unbutton his knickers for him so that he can go but today he looked at me and said, “and I can undo my own knickers.” Then when he came out of the restroom he buttoned them right in front of me his own self. He was so proud. I have been working with him for nine weeks now on his hands. When I first started he could not button a shirt, zip a zipper, hold a crayon, even swinging was too painful because he had to hold on. Now he can write on his own, he can button his own knickers and he is so proud! If I got nothing else from being here, I got that. Everyday this little boy looks at me and says, “Madam Sarah, God loves me. And Jesus He loves me.” I reassure him that is true but also tell him how much I love him. He never really responded to it until this past Wednesday. We were walking to our tutoring spot which is in a gazebo at the end of the village and like usual he said to me as we were walking hand in hand, “Madam Sarah, God and Jesus love me. And Madam Susan, she loves me. And Mr. Paul, he loves me. And Madam Sarah, you love me. You love me, Madam Sarah. You love me.” Just to know that he knows that is a blessing. I have quite a little connection with this child. I can’t really point out what about him makes me love him so but I do. I just want so much for him and I want him to know that it is possible.

Little things like that make me realize why I am here. I do not really feel qualified to teach. I don’t know what I’m doing teaching little ones. Its quite daunting really. I mean you think preschool, how hard can it be? Just letters and numbers and colors. Yes, that’s true but if you really think about it that’s where you learn to share, to sit in class, to respect your teacher. How can you learn to read if you don’t know the alphabet. How can you add if you don’t know numbers. I might be reading a whole lot more into this than I should be but its just things that I think about while I am teaching.

I am so pleased with my four year old class. They are coming along so wonderfully! They are learning to behave and to listen. They are learning to identify letters and associate them with words. I can be holding up a story book and they will point out the letters that they know. Its fun to watch them learn how to learn. I had one little girl the other day that wrote her name. It was a little slanted and two of the letters were backwards but it was clearly her name.

God is so amazing how he creates. I see these children and they are so young but already they are so different. Even my triplets its amazing to see where they differ. How God programs us all so different and how he creates so perfectly and teams people together so perfectly just shows how big and great God is. He never fails to create beauty. One of the Mamas and I were talking tonight about the differences in where we live and the climate and people and she looked at me and said, “How does someone look at this world and these children and say that there is no God? How?” I don’t know. I just can’t even begin to imagine what that would be like. I told her that I know people that don’t believe in a God and she just looked befuddled. “Where do they drawl their strength from? Who do they thank?” It reminded me of that quote from G.K. Chesterton: “The worst moment for the atheist is when he is really thankful and has no one to thank.”

I praise God everyday for this place and the time I am having here. I thank him for his creation and his faithfulness to this place. Nothing here would be possible without the love and mercy of Jesus Christ. There would not be one shred of hope for these children without the mercy he bestowed upon them. No, they don’t have gameboys or top of the line sneakers. They don’t get to pop into the kitchen and grab and bag of crisp. However, they get to eat three meals a day, have a different change of clothes, they get to shower, have clean water, electricity, an education and they get to hear the word of God. For that they are truly grateful.

Always my love,

Sarah

Prayer requests:
-More mothers.
-For the Seatons that they will continue to transition smoothly to their new home. -For everyone on the compound. That God’s grace will be poured out all over and that Satan will be bound from this place and these children.