It's not always easy, but in the end it's worth it.

I think you could call this a rant. But let me just say, I do love Ghana. I do love Tamale. I love my life. I am so thankful to God He is in me and working in me and it just so happens He chose Ghana to do all this. How lovely.But there are times when all is not perfect.Some days I am really giving it all I can. I am listening to the words people are saying. I am trying to pick out words I know. I am watching people's lips as they speak. I am walking in 90 degree weather talking (mostly listening) to people and some try and tell me it is too hot for me to stay in the sun (duh, I know). Many days I come home feeling good. But then the next day comes and I am like, "what did I learn yesterday???" and it is gone! UGH.Speaking of walking in the heat. Oh. Wow. Yeah, Africa is hot, I know. But Tamale is a bit hotter than where I was before. I looked on the weather and it said-- 91 degrees but feels like 108 or 93 degrees but feels like 107 degrees. Yeah, that is impressive.Also, with it being so hot there really is no way to look nice. I am wearing the coolest (not as in stylish), most modest clothes I have and I feel so frumpy. So sweaty. No wonder some missionaries dress the way they do. It's because it is so stinkin' hot! They don't care about what they look like, they are just trying to stay as cool as possible. (Sorry to all who I made fun of when I was younger!) Imagine your beet red face from walking and you have B.O. and your little whispy hairs around your face are matted to your cheeks and then you stub your toe on a rock...so not helpful to a joyful attitude...but then...a beautiful thing happens: a sweet breeze rides right up through that ugly skirt. You really don't care how ugly it is at the moment. You are just happy the wind got through it or... you are just happy there was a breeze at all. And speaking of breezes... My hair is tied back everyday and riding in public transportation you want all the air and breeze you can. But for curly hair people we can't really pull off the beach wave stye, well I can't anyways. It is more like...poof! and then ratty. I really don't know how much more attractive I can get. Oh wait, I can. Let me tell you about my amazing tan lines. I have a great red neck, as in my neck is red or gradually turning brown, farmer's tan on my arms, thee whitest legs (because they never see light), and the start of some sweet flipflop lines on my once-perfect-feet, which are looking like they are in need of a serious pedicure. I am just sooooo classy. I can barely contain my sarcasm.When I wake up in the morning all the call to prayers are going on but they are not at the same time. Men on megaphones praying in Arabic. Why can't they just do it at the same time? Apparently there are exact times when to do it but I guess people's watches differ...if they are wearing a watch, that is. What should last a bit goes on and on because another one started later and then another one later than that and the megaphones are everywhere. I bet I hear at least 6 different prayers to Allah, which I don't understand because I don't know Arabic.Something happens to my allergies when the barometric pressure changes. I usually know when it is going to rain because my eyes start itching and I start sneezing. It is weird. I am like an old lady who can tell the weather by how her bones feel ...except mine is with itchy eyes. So, if I don't have my allergy eye drops with me I itch them (even though I hear my dad's voice in my head telling me to stop) and I end up with puffy slits that I can barely see out of. I'm like Rocky fighting Apollo Creed and he tells Coach to, "cut me, cut me" because his eyes are so puffy. Again, can I get any more attractive?And then there are days when I miss home. Where my family lives is so beautiful. Ok... it is really, really cold too, but, it is so beautiful. And my family is beautiful, my whole family, even 2nd, 3rd and 4th cousins (yes we still know each other) and even my brothers. HA HA HA ( I love them, really I do!). I think being away from family is the hardest thing about living overseas. I miss my family. Just today I was making chicken tacos (SHOUT OUT TO COUSIN DENNIS FOR SENDING ME A PACKAGE WITH TACO SEASONING PACKETS!!) and I got teary eyed. My family loves tacos. I cannot tell you how many times I ate them while I was home. It is a very family-ish meal. We always seem to have it when people are around and everyone enjoys it. (sigh) Then the other day riding in a yellow-yellow I was coming home and wondering what I was going to cook and eat. I thought about Culvers. My most favorite restaurant. And I thought about a delicious cheeseburger and amazing ice cream and again, I got teary eyed. Not just because I missed all the incredible-ness of it but also because it is convenient. You can just pull up, tell 'em what you want and VOILA! You get it. How nice. How brilliantly simple. (sigh)I just sighed again.I am thankful Jesus makes this all worth it. Read John 14 and be encouraged.