Sewing and Dagbani!

Another full week of language. Some great parts and some not great parts. One great part was that I bought a sewing machine and Rafia is a great teacher! After we went out and bought the non electric, turn by hand machine, I was wondering if she would just make me watch her for a few weeks or what. Thankfully, she let me jump right in. I now know how difficult it is to sew a straight line. I also know how difficult it is to hear the same word but used in a command form, which changes it!! Rafia is continuing to speak only in Dagbani and it is painful but I am very glad.20180321_123450She has another apprentice named Sahada. On Wednesday I broke my machine. Rafia said it just needed to be greased. Sahada took me to the man who fixes machines and he took the whole thing apart and then greased it and VOILA! It is back to normal! While my machine was broken Rafia taught me how to do a hem. Very. Cool. And, in case you wondered, hem in Dagbani is hem :) While I am busy at work little children from the school next door watch me.
My scalp was so sore and I actually have 2 new bald spots. Not Cool...OOOOOO the things we do for beauty.It has been very hot this week. I have also been realizing there is so much in Dagbani that I don't understand. I have felt overwhelmed and told God I want to go home. It would just be nice to be in a clean place where I have friends and can have some homemade lasagna or something while sitting watching TV with mom and dad... then on Saturday night our power went out. It was out for the next 17 hours. I was trying not to get angry. I just accepted it and hoped it would come on soon. I really did not think the power would come back on because it was Sunday. Who is going to fix whatever the problem is on Sunday??? BUT THEY DID!!! I hugged Damary. There was no way I wanted to do another sleep with no fans.I will not give in to negative thoughts. I know God is greater than anything I am dealing with. I know He is with me. I know all these things. I am memorizing Romans 8. One verse says, "Dear brother and sisters, you are under no obligation to do what the sinful nature urges you to do." LOVE THAT. So, when I get all whiney, or wishing I could be somewhere else, or have a different life (even though, mine is really cool) I don't need to entertain those thoughts. Just cut them off.I googled some home remedies for my cyst wound. One is Aloe Vera which we have. I have already started trying it!Love you. Thanks for praying!

Rain, Language, and Pads

I did not take any pics this week. Weird. I usually use pics to remind me of who I saw, what I did or things that happened.I did language, is what I did all week. And it has been soooo hot! OY! On Tuesday as I was walking home I saw some clouds gathering. It had just rained the night before so I thought, this can't be rain again. But little by little the wind picked up. People were calling to me, "Wunizooya, come here, it is going to rain!" but as small drops fell, I told them the rain feels good. I really thought it would just be a few drops...but it was a lot more than that! I got home soaked thru. I have to say, I really did not mind. I was so hot and that rain and wind just cooled me down. It has been in the 100s. Beautiful blue skies and yellow sun contrasting with the red dirt and patches of green grass...but oh, the heat!One funny experience in my language time this week: I met a woman named Mayli. She took me around to greet her friends. Now, my cyst wound still has not closed completely. It opens up almost once a week. When it opens it bleeds a little. I thought it was going to bleed and I didn't want blood on my dress. SOOOOO...I took a light day pad, a sanitary pad (very thin, small one) and stuck it to the back of my slip under my dress. That way it could soak up the sweat and blood, if there is any blood. As we were walking and walking and sweating and sweating I felt for the pad and it moved. I tried moving it back. Then later, I think part of it rolled up because it was sticking the wrong way. Then later...I could not find it! When I got home, I looked at my slip...no pad.So...that means... somewhere around Mayli's village there is a pad!!! It must have dropped out while we were walking. I hope no one saw it. Maybe it even stuck to my flipflop!! Ohhhh the joys!!! LOL :)I am glad I can laugh because Dagbani really drains me. I am still stickin' with it. I have this week to again push thru and talk. On Monday, Rafia and I will go and buy a sewing maching. This will not be electric or foot pedaled. To sew you turn the side wheel with your hand. Should be an experience! I also, hope to get my braids taken out. I really thought I could make it 3 weeks, but I cannot. I just want them out. I want my own hair back!Love you. Thanks for praying!

OOO Craziness

Friday, March 1st is when all the action started. I came down on the bus on Thursday. Friday morning, the groom had a friend who was giving a car for me to drive them around. (How generous, eh?) I went and picked it up. Then I got a call from the bride she needed me to pick her up. This was her traditional engagement day! Her family and the groom's family would meet together and she would be given over to her husband. Unfortunately, I was slacking on my chauffeuring job and I was not ready. Baaba and I rushed to get ready (Amponsah was ready already...totally a guy :)) so we could pick the bride and get to the engagement. I was so late in picking her up! OOO Craziness...We could not even find the place and then when we did arrive the bride still had to get dressed and get her hair and make up done! Ei! People were already gathering. But, somehow in this country, though things are late, it all turns out ok.
On Monday, no more craziness :) I rested. I slept in. I went to see a movie. I bought a chocolate croissant. It was much needed to just beeeee. Tuesday and Wednesday I went out with people. I ate fufu, I prayed with friends, I sat at shops, friends cooked for me, it was bliss!! Thursday, I found out one of my boys is an Uber driver!! So, he took me to the airport. He is now married and they both come to Tesano church. I am happy about that.Now, back in Tamale. I am bracing myself and psyching myself up to be super serious with language. I have a good chunk of time to go all out. There is a new area I want to go to and practice and also I want to get sewing with Rafia! OOOOO let's hope for hope with this Dagbani.Thanks for praying!

Another Week

I would like to say it was just a normal week, but it really wasn't. Not that it was super exciting or anything either.I went out for language on Monday. I am trying to find out about Dagbani families. I learned some new words but haven't really tried using them. They are too much!! There is always next week...On Tuesday we had our monthly team meeting and it was held at Yvonne's house in Tamale. The Gushiegu team came and it went really well. We heard what was talked about in council, how we need to move forward in our Dagbani strategies, and how to start figuring out SLC. We had a lovely meal together and shared prayer requests and Yvonne lead us in a devotion from John. I'd call all that was done a success!From Tuesday to Friday we had people at our house. Damary and I work together well and I am so thankful for her and how we just team-thru meals and clean up. Wednesday I tried to do language but with people around and hospitality, it gets kind of lost. Yes, I will be the first to admit it is an excuse! I did go just to my neighbors but I didn't really talk I just played with the kids. I can't quite catch all they are saying so I just keep nodding my head. I wonder when they will figure out I can't understand them?
It was all fun and games until one little boy had poop running down his leg. Eww! But one woman just grabbed him and cleaned up him (and this would be another reason why I don't have children haha).Fela, Pui, Grace and Damary left for Accra on Thursday morning. Salome was waiting for Rema and Maami to pick her up but they got tied down with errands and decided to wait until Friday morning. I met a woman from America last week and said we need to hang out one night. I thought since Salome was around we could all go. So, we went to my favorite place called Chucks. We had a lovely dinner and conversations. I love hearing about how God leads people in their lives. He is so amazing.20180222_201418Salome left on Friday and I had the house to myself. So, what did I do? I went out :) I called my friend Martha, who will put my hair in braids next week, and we went to market to buy hair and a hair-net-thing. I love going to the market with a Ghanaian, they just know where to go and how to do it.When I got to Martha's she was finishing some twists on a little girl. They burn the ends so it won't come undone. It is not her hair that gets burnt, it is the fake hair/string that she uses.20180223_153928Yeah, so that is my week. Damary comes back from Accra today. Things will be all back to normal.Got a lot of words to use this week in Dagbani! Thanks for praying!P.S. My cyst wound...I know, the never-ending-saga, is red and puffy and it hurts. Pray for healing!

Adventures in Language

I am back in the game people! I did Dagbani learning every day. I really had to push myself out the door but as I got out there it became not so much of a chore. THANKS FOR PRAYING!!!!I had some not-so-understanding-times though. There is a little girl who has been afraid of me ever since I moved to Kaakpayili. Usually, kids are afraid of me, but after awhile it goes away. This girls sees me quite often and she still cries when I try to come near. On Thursday, I bought some oranges for my friends and she wanted one.What I thought I said:I give you orange. Come Here. (I said it like, 3 times) She would not come.What I realized, as I was about to sleep that night, that what I really said was:Give me orange. Come Here.NO WONDER she didn't come! I was telling her to give me an orange!! AHHH!!!Remember a gal from last year who I went to fetch water with, Asmawu? Well, her brother called me last week, because she doesn't have a phone. She asked me why have I not visited for awhile. She told me her father died last month. I told her I would come and visit her. I went to greet her and her family. We sat and talked...ok, so, I mostly listened :) At the end she asked me if I would like to go to her village. She stays close to town with family so that she can go to school. The village is called Kukuo and that is where her mother stays and her great aunt (who I have met).On Friday, I drove to her home and picked up her, her brother and cousins. We drove to Kukuo, which is only about 5 km away. It was a very local village. I don't even know if I remember seeing electricity poles. Her brother, spoke some English, and of course, Asmawu speaks some too but mostly it was me trying to hear Dagbani. It was really good for me!!
On the way back, we was able to pass by my home and show them where I live. The brother asked me a question.What I thought he said:Do you have water? Does your water stay?I responded:Yes, thankfully we have water everyday. We also have a big tank.There. Was. Silence.He asked me again a question... this time I heard:Do you have family? Do you stay alone?AHHHHHH!! We all laughed and I told them I have a sister and we stay together. OOOOO the joys of language!! (I mean, how funny it must have been for him to ask me if I stay alone and I respond, " Oh, I have a water tank.")I am so thankful for my week. Though, by Thursday afternoon I kept thinking it was Friday and I could sleep in on Saturday!! Ei!! But, by God's grace I made it through the whole week. I was so exhausted by Friday afternoon, but a good-accomplished-sort-of-exhausted.Thanks so much for praying. I will have a very quiet-not-going-anywhere-sort-of-weekend.Cheers to the next week!

Back Into It

Thanks for praying!! I got back into the swing of things! Feelin' good!On Monday, we had Phil and 2 board members of SIM GHANA come and visit. Patrick and Agnes. They have been on the board for awhile and have wanted to see all the people that they hear about and pray for. It was great to share with them what Tamale is like, how discouraging language can be and them, being Ghanaians who have stayed in Tamale, were very understanding and encouraging. I mean, coming to visit alone was encouraging!Tuesday, I did language. I had a lesson. It was good. I made a deal with Pastor Andrew and Jemima that if I did not listen to my Dagbani recording for an hour every day this month I would have to work for them. We laughed, but they have been asking me everyday! I love accountability :)20180204_114712 Just a pic of what I see on the roads daily.I was able to go out and talk with friends. I have a little talk about my operation in Accra and then people coming up in January. I told them now that I am done with other things, I can come back to language learning. I also met with 3 students at the youth hostel who said they would help me learn when I come by. I hope to build relationships with them in this way.Do you know what Guinea Fowls are? They are loud, annoying birds! My neighbor has raised some. Actually, he has 2 turkeys and he found out that turkeys will care for baby birds other than their own kind, so actually, the turkeys raised these fowls. I heard one gal say that Guinea Fowls have the most beautiful feathers and the ugliest face. I completely agree. They are very good for protein and eating and their eggs are hard but also have a lot of protein. After they fly over our wall and squawk so loudly in the morning, I am about to roast all of them. Ugh...
Other than that, life goes on and God is always good.Love you. Thanks for Praying!

Just One Hour

I don't want to tell you what I did this week.It did not go as I planned. I planned to be going out, listening to my recordings, and have Dagbani lessons and be all excited. I started. Then, well...I don't know. I couldn't stand it. I was listening to my recording and it felt like forever I was listening to it...I checked my clock--I was listening for 4 minutes! Funny...but not funny. (sigh)I did not lay around and sleep or watch movies. There are always things to do around here like, even just living takes work. I pretty much did every possible thing on my to-do list. I emailed, I made myself a budget!, I figured out healthy meal plans, I visited some friends, I exercised, I organized my Dagbani stuff, I fixed all the light bulbs and bought new ones, went to market (several times), tried to keep up on all the dust (I am not winning on that one), prayed with people on the phone, visited a friend at a school---INTERMISSION WITH AN AMAZING FIND!!Two people, recently, randomly, told me that at a school they have a meat department and you can get pork chops, sausages, ground beef (for the most part I grind my own, a very sweaty process) and other cuts of meat. So, since I had to drop something off for a friend at the school I decided to check it out. Damary and Yvonne came with me as well. You guys, this place was legit!! It wasn't all fancy like a butchery shop in a supermarket store but it was close. The guy talking with us is a meat scientist (never knew that was a thing) and he told us they have farms around and they bring animals and cut them up and sell the meat or freeze it. I know Zaina Lodge, that place we stayed at in Mole Park to see the elephants, gets their meat from this place. It was so awesome. I got pork chops (pork chops people!!!), beef/pork sausages, and ground beef. I could get filet and roasts too. It was heaven for me to know this place is around Tamale!!
OK BACK TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAM--  cooked a lot of food, had dinner with teammates, and tried not to feel guilty leaving my Dagbani alone. But, usually the guilt would come before I slept. I would then tell myself, "Ok, tomorrow is a new day. You can do this!" (sigh)Later in the week, I woke up with the mosques call to prayer and I laid in my bed and I heard that still small voice. Those words that are not quite words but in your chest you know it is from the Lord. It was so gentle. He said, "Just one hour". Over and over I sensed Him saying "Just one hour". I woke up. On my to-do list for the day I put "one hour of Dagbani". I did my quiet time. I ran to town for something. I cooked something. The househelper came over. Other people came over. Then they all left. I took my recordings and listened to them for one hour. It was not a burden. I even listened longer as I prepared vegetables and did kitchen-y things. It was a joy.It is always a joy to obey the Lord. I don't know how He does that. It is just if I want to let my attitude go there and trust that. His kindness brings us to repentance. I felt such love and mercy from the Lord. I told Baaba, on the phone a few days previous, that I need a good kick in the pants to get me going. But the Lord used gentleness and mercy. How can He be so patient with me? I will never forget Him using this to show me this side of Himself. Psalm 145:8- The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. I also thought about the verse from Romans 12:12- Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. I had two different people this week tell me to find joy in language. Sounds easier said than done. But I will try.To be honest, I do not know what my attitude will be like tomorrow morning. I actually have lots to do and people to meet with. I am not sure I will have time for a lesson. But I will remember the gentleness of my God. And that helps me to make me want to do what He wants. When I think about that, I smile. There is joy. It may be hiding under my ridiculous-ness, but it is there, ready to be unleashed.Cyst update-- my wound opened up. I know I said last week I was good to go, but Andrea looked at it again and said that the thin new skin that grew on it tore. It is just not getting "dry time". But, it is not infected and Andrea really was not concerned so that makes me not worry and just continue to wait and pray for full healing.Love you. Thanks for praying! 

Kofi's Ordination

This past week was filled with catching up. I had a list everyday and most days I was able to cross off everything. We had Phil and Andrea come up on Thursday and hang with us until Saturday. They are going 'round visiting us in the North, Upper West and Upper East Regions.I left Saturday morning for Accra because I wanted to be at my friend Kofi's ordination service at Tesano church on Sunday. I took a coach bus. I haven't taken a bus since...since...I cannot remember but whenever that was it not a pleasant experience. When we send short termers or whoever on buses I tell them three things will happen. #!- They will end up sitting next to a fat lady. #2-They will be forced to watch and listen to Nigerian/Ghanaian movies which are played as loud as possible. #3-The air conditioning will be very high and you will freeze. I prepared myself for all these things.
I was a bit sad to leave but I had a plane to catch to get back up to Tamale. I could have stayed another day but (sigh) I really needed to get back to get me in the swing of things. I felt if I stayed one more day it would turn into another day and then another.20180128_163636Arrived back in Tamale in one hour. A bit different from the bus and way more expensive but worth it!Language is calling me. I keep rejecting the call but it keeps pestering me:) I need to pick it and get going again this week. Also, I need to start exercising again and eating right. Pray for me!Love you.P.S. When Andrea was here, she checked my cyst wound and found it is pretty much healed! WOO-HOO!! Praisin' The Lord over here people!!!

Love Me a Lil' Travel

Continuing my adventure from last week...On Monday the dads went to do the same course in a village called Fumbisi, which is 32km away from Sandema. In the morning, we went to Paga and met with an amazing woman named Nafisa who helps women in poverty by selling the beaded jewelry they handcraft. http://detiina.com/online/ feel free to shop online!! Nafisa has a beautiful story and now wants to help other women. Emily may end up selling some of her things.Then we headed to Fumbisi because Emily and Katie needed to sit on a panel at the conference with the topic being about entrepreneurs. There were also people from Ghana on the panel.20180115_15000220180115_140559we stayed in Sandema until Tuesday and I took Emily and Tara back to Tamale with me. We met up with one of my fave pastors, Pastor Stephen Aputara. He came to visit my family way back in 2004. He fell in love with cheeseburgers, custard, and cheese (you wonder where we took him for dinner??). He knew I was in America for Christmas and he facebooked me and said I needed to bring back cheese for him! I told him it was too big of a sacrifice, he will get zero blocks of cheese. But... (sigh) since I am a christian :) I decided I better give him one. So, we made sure to pass by Navrongo on the way to Tamale and hand over the Wisconsin cheese. When I gave it to him he said, "At last". HA.We stopped in Bolga where Em and Tara went looking for cultural treasures like cloth and bags. They ended up with some good finds. Emily remembered a shop that sold tea and fried eggs when she was little. That shop is still there! We had coffee, Milo, and fried egg sandwiches. Classic Ghana. I asked her if it was what she remembered and she kind of shrugged her shoulders and said, "I think everything is a bit more magical when you are a kid."In Tamale we met up with another woman who helped Emily make bags and dresses. We did not stay very long because we had to stop at home before meeting up with Yvonne for dinner. Yvonne helps christian business owners in Ghana to use their work for Kingdom purposes. She is an amazing woman!Now...work time was over...ok, so I still had to drive BUT...where we were driving...O.MY.GOODNESS! Emily, Tara, and I went to Mole National Park, which is beautiful. BUT...we stayed at Zaina Lodge http://zainalodge.com/.
 This was such a treat and a beautiful getaway for the night that we stayed. Of course, the next day rolled around and as lazy as we were feeling we got back in the car and headed to Tamale. They wanted to go back to the shop where the seamstress girls are and get a few more pics of them. Tara, being an amazing photographer, would set up for her shots, mostly portraits. I just stood back and watched the girls. I know they could not figure out what she was doing :) I think they loved it. Loved that someone would want their photo. Loved that someone kept telling them how beautiful they are. Loved to get some attention. I am proud of Tara to be such a professional and yet laugh and smile and get the girls to feel comfortable.We met up with Katie and the dads for dinner along with Damary and Yvonne. It was fast and lovely but the dads were meeting one last person and the girls needed to start packing up. They stayed at our house and we had such a great time for one last night. Katie and Damary strummed and played on the guitar, we laughed some more, and we talked about the highs and lows of the day. I did not want the night to end.Friday morning they left. (sigh) I was sad. In some ways, because they were from my culture, I found I talked more and didn't have to explain myself as much. Like, I was more comfortable being me, if that makes any sense. Maybe because we would understand each other? Anyways, I was supa-dupa blessed by these gals. I hope to have a reunion with them when I come for Home Assignment.How I love traveling around and hanging out with people but real life needs to kick in...or I need to get back to a routine would be more exact.Thanks for praying for my cyst wound. There has not been any more blood. It is still healing. There is still no infection. YAY!!  

By Grace

In 1998 I came to Ghana to do a short term trip for 5 months. I kind of came as a nanny. I split my time between 2 families. One of them was the Moon family. I helped with the house, homeschooling the kids and just giving the mom a chance to get out and learn language and be with the people in the community. One of the kids in the Moon family is a girl named Emily.Emily is now grown up and has co founded a non profit organization called By Grace. She started working with a woman named Lamisi. Lamisi is a seamstress in Tamale and Emily can help her sell her goods in America. Lamisi is even able to train women to be seamstresses and Emily has helped towards that. This has been a process over at least 3 years. Now that I am in Tamale, Emily asked if I could be a middle person/quality control person for her. I am cool to do that.DSCN7618For the past couple months I would visit Lamisi and her apprentices. I would interview them so Emily could get a feel for who they are and their backgrounds. Maybe in the future I can pray with some of the girls or lead a Bible study.Emily has been here this week. She needed to work out details, talk face to face with Lamisi, and look at cloth and products here in Ghana. She is with her dad Jay and his friend Ed and daughter Katie. Ed and his family were also missionaries in Ghana in the 90s. Emily has a friend-photographer who has also come to take photos and make a video of what By Grace is trying to do with women in Ghana and her name is Tara.Jay and Ed made plans to come back to Ghana and I think when Emily found about it she joined in with Katie. Jay and Ed worked in the Upper East Region of Ghana in towns called Sandema and Fumbisi. While they are here this week they are doing a course for Good News Bible Churches in those areas talking about bitterness/reconciliation and also entrepreneurship/finances and saving.I am so glad Emily is here because though, I am just the middle person, I have so many questions about business (I know nothing). It has been good to see her joy about the work God has given her to do and made me proud to work with this organization. Emily has helped them to put up a shelter where they can sew because right now they are under trees. She also had a little dedication party for it and gave the girls certificates for what they have accomplished so far. She and Tara have done interviews. One of the questions she asked to a girl was, "What does the word grace mean to you?" The girl did not answer. Then the translator said to Emily, "She is M*slim. She does not know what grace is." That was very powerful to us who believe in Christ. Grace is favor, undeserved favor. God loves us and saved us by his grace, not by anything of our own works. As if our good things could be good enough...oh, we silly little humans. What an amazing merciful, loving God we have to love us just because He is Love!! WOOOO HOOOOO!
We still have some people to see in the UE region and then in Tamale so I still have some full days ahead but again, I have really been encouraged to hear Emily's story and how God is working in her life. Last year, her and her co founder won a national competition run by Forbes or something big like that...and they WON!! They won $20,000.00! So, this is not a small girl doing some little thing. They also have organizations in India and in America. I am really honored to have a way to help By Grace help women in Ghana. Check out her website http://thebygracefoundation.com/This is all of us. (Emily is the blonde.)20180114_161018 One totally different subject-- my wound where the cyst was removed...it was bleeding the other day. Thankfully, near Sandema we have a nurse named Pat. I quickly went to visit her. She said it is not infected but there are 2 little openings yet. It is still not healed. It is in a hard place to heal. Somehow I need to keep it dry. Easier said than done!! You can be praying it would heal and let's hope infection stays away.Love you! 

2018!!

I love resolutions. It could go back to when one of my aunties would sit each of us kids down and make a list with us of what we want to accomplish. I remember numerous years in a row with "stop biting fingernails" finally in my 20s I accomplished that. I kept the tradition going. When I was 33 I made the decision to stop swallowing my gum. (I hate when people throw it on the ground and I step on it or when they put it under the chair. I would rather just swallow it and take care of it simply.) Last year I memorized 1 Peter chapter 1. I don't always accomplish all the things but I try. This year:

  • Dagbani fluency...not like, super-amazing-fluency but where I can teach in Dagbani or hear a message and understand.
  • Listen or read the news more.
  • Eat only when I am hungry.
  • Memorize Romans chapter 8
I have lots but those are my big ones. We will see how it goes.I had a great time at home and an uneventful travel coming back. I got to see many people and just be with my family. It got really cold and I LOVED it! My dad was so amazed I never complained about being cold. Cold, as in --25 Farenheit. Yikes!
This week I have lots going on, will tell you next week or so about it. I feel like I have not quite caught up with everything. I lost my house keys among other things (even my pen, today at church I couldn't find it and then I remembered it was in my hair). So, I am feeling out of sorts and I don't really have time this week to catch up and I have several lists of things waiting to be done and crossed off. Damary told me, "RELAX". I think I left in such a hurry I was not able to put things into place and now that I am back it seems there is a backlog...backlog of what you ask??? I don't even know. Small, random things that all add up.But it is Harmattan season and things are cool and dry. I love it. It helps to not be sweating! Thanks for your prayers!

Home During the Holidays

Continue on with the holidays! Family and friends and food. Wow. I am taking it one day at a time and just enjoying every moment. Sometimes I think about how I only have a few days but then I just stop myself and enjoy where I am at right now.
It has been nice to see family and do all the Christmas-y things. I am excited to be at church tomorrow and worship with people from my own culture. I am excited to eat all of our traditional foods and spend time together with my 4 siblings and all the extended family.Praising God for his goodness. Praising, praising, praising! It's the most wonderful time of the year!

H.O.M.E.

I am home!!!So amazing. So beautiful, even with the snow and freezing temperatures. I'm calling it "refreshing".I flew out Tuesday night at 10pm. I did all my errands and last dressing change on Monday so that on Tuesday I could go to the beach. And the beach I went. I took Debra and Jerry with me who are 2 youth from Tesano church. Great young people.20171205_120848I did not go in the water because of my wound, which is healing quite nice and still pain-free! We enjoyed food and I wanted to get something that I would not get in America and a big ol' ball of banku and huge tilapia were delicious!
I am trying to enjoy and focus on every moment!  I am so thankful to be home!!Love you!

The Cyst is Removed!

The surgery/procedure is finished! Trust Hospital did well. 20171130_120148It went very well. I went on Monday morning with Andrea. I don't think they had an order or schedule of patients. It was like if-we-told-you-to-come-Monday-morning then it is first come first served. So, I had to wait a couple hours. Then I was put into one of those lovely hospital gowns. Thankfully, this one was big enough I could wrap it around myself and did not have to have the back wide open. And I was really thankful for that because I had to walk down 2 floors of ramps 20171127_121103to get to the "Theatre Room", which is what we would call an Operating Room. There I had to wait because the doctor came out and said, "Where have you been? I have been here all morning and now I have to do an interview. I will be back in a half hour." Um...Ok... one of the OR nurses brought me a newspaper. While I was waiting, 2 nurses finished up the last patient and then needed a nap so they came and slept on the empty stretchers while we waited for the doctor to come back. I did see another nurse spray with disinfectant the stretcher the last patient was on and then wiped it down. 20171203_092814I was impressed because really it was about a half hour and the doctor came back in ready to go. The nurses woke up and walked into the OR to prepare. I noticed they wore flip flops and had their nails done. I remember working, just as a file clerk, in a hospital in Chicago and nurses were not allowed to have artificial nails, for the health of the patient. Then they called me in. They did a nice job of making me feel comfortable, but really, how comfortable can you be lying on a table with your rear end for all to see? Ugh...I heard the doctor scrubbing in. The nurse who connected me to the blood pressure machine was not wearing gloves. They found out I could speak Twi so they talked to me a little bit but I kept responding in Dagbani! They all started speaking Ga. When the doctor injected the area with numbing stuff the nurse compassionately patted my arms. I thought that was sweet. That was the only pinch I felt. It took about a half hour. He had to numb more because I could feel it a little and said so. He said the cyst had an extension and he had to really get at it to get it. I think this doctor really knew his stuff. I was impressed with the mostly pain-free-ness of it all.He finished and sutured me up. They covered me up and wheeled me 2 floors up the ramp to where I could change into my clothes. I was all numb so I could have walked and actually did when I got up there. The clerk told me I had to pay my bill. That was on the ground floor. I asked her if I have to walk down there and do it. She was like Duh, yeah. Ok, she did not say it like that :) Andrea offered to do it for me but I was actually feeling fine and kind of sort of wanted to see how much I could do. I walked down and paid and then back up. When Andrea and I were leaving I even told her I could drive! I was very surprised.I felt good all day. I took 2 Paracetamol (Tylenol) and any pain that was hinting at coming ran away. Then Tuesday, I got tired of sitting all morning so I went to take a walk. That probably was too much for me. I took 2 Paracetamol and rested. On to Wednesday, which was very boring, I did not go out at all. How boring! I can hear my mom saying, "You need to learn to be a Mary, not a Martha." (Guess who I learned that from!? MOM!)Throughout these days though, I really had no pain. Of course, when I sat down, I had to do it slowly and I have a donut ring pillow-thing, which really makes sitting wonderful.I went for a dressing change on Thursday and they said it is clean, dry and healing. YAY! This has gone way better than expected. Thanks soooo much for praying!! I just cannot believe it. So, then, since things have been going well...I was able to do other things like finish my prayer letter, write Christmas cards, shop for things I can't buy in Tamale, shop for Christmas presents, visit friends. Friday was a holiday and there was a young women's conference. My friend Baaba spoke. She is so amazing. We then took a trotro to the guest house, with a pit stop for some food, and ate and talked together.
This week has definitely not been slow. I have made use of the time, which I am thankful for but a part of me is like, "did I really need to spend all this time down here?" Maybe.Whatever. It does not matter. I AM FEELING GOOD. I will still bring my donut pillow with me on the plane :) Tuesday night I fly out and reach home Wednesday night Ghana time. I AM SOOOO EXCITED!!! Thanks for praying. I am sure the plane ride will be no problem in regards to my procedure.Look at all the answers to prayer! Ahhhmazing. Serious. Why do people want to live without God? He is Love. He never leaves or forsakes. He encourages. He is my treasure. 

Time In Accra

I drove down to Accra from Tamale on Sunday. I left very early. The drive down was uneventful and safe. Praise God! Thanks for praying. The police did stop me a few times but they never troubled me, just slowed me down. I think they were bored :)On Monday, I got my blood drawn and Tuesday, I saw the doctor with the results. He gave the go-ahead for Monday the 27th, no earlier :( He said it should take about 15 minutes and everyone is different in the way they heal, some faster than others. So, we will see. I plan to stay at the SIM guesthouse and Andrea is nearby in case I would need anything. As of today, Saturday, I am not worried or nervous but I wonder what I will feel like Sunday night or Monday morning! Be praying for calmness. I hate hospitals. Don't they all have a funny smell?To fill up my time the rest of the week, I represented SIM Ghana at the Ghana Evangelical Mission Association Conference. They do one annually. I sat at a table with SIM information in case anyone would be interested in serving with us or just wanting to talk about missions. There were around 200 people.
I also did some shopping. Trying to find what I can in Accra to take back North. I don't think I will have much time when I come back to Ghana from USA. I really want to get back up to Tamale fast. In the evenings, I went to a church where I used to do a children's program and Bible studies with the youth and sometimes attended church and sang with the praise team. It was great to see the children grown and participating. It was nice to see friends and laugh about how my Twi language has disappeared! Haaa! Traffic in Accra was not nice and trying to get home was Eiiiii!!!!20171124_211109From Tuesday to the weekend I have stayed with my lovely friends, Baaba and Amponsah. She cooks yummy food and they give me a room to sleep and chill. It is so wonderful!! And we talk, talk about everything new and old. OOOO how I love them.Be praying about the procedure Monday morning at 8am Ghana time. Pray for quick healing. I fly home December 5th!! Woo Hoooooo!!!

Phew, Made It!

O.My.Goodness. What a week!! Are you ready to hear this?I continued to keep my thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ and left everything in God's hands and let me tell you what He did:1. Got to Tamale airport and boarded the plane.
I am so thankful for these cute lil' planes. I sat next to an older man who was reading Arabic on his phone. I never talk with people on planes. I don't know why, I just don't. But this man spoke to me and I continued the conversation. Ghanaians have a bold way of talking about what they believe. I mean, they just come right out and say it. I admire that. And so Bobo and I had a nice conversation about our belief in God. In the end, I just had to ask, "What do you hope for?" He did not answer me so I told him about the hope that I have because of what Christ did for me on the cross. I get so excited about the hope that we as Christians have and I knew I had this ridiculous grin on my face while I was sharing.When we got off the plane I had to put on my bargain-with-a-taxi-face, but then Bobo asked me if his driver could take me to where I needed to go. WOW! I got to share the hope of Christ and I got a free ride to the clinic!2- At Akai Clinic, they were so efficient and after landing at 9:00am, I was in seeing a doctor at 10:00am! 20171114_100609He was very kind and he was able to refer me to a surgeon in Osu. He took me to the front desk and left me in the capable hands of the receptionist. She called Trust Hospital, where the surgeon worked, to see if I could get an appointment. As she talked I could tell they told her I could come on Thursday but I whispered, "I live in Tamale." She then asked if I could come today. They told her if I come right now I can see him. Then she took me outside to where there was a taxi and told him where to take me and how much it would cost. She was beyond helpful!3. I am off, in a taxi, to Osu, a very highly traffic-y area and was starting to let my worries crowd in...but as we got closer...there was NO TRAFFIC!! Nothing!! I said to the driver, "Where are all the cars? Where is the traffic?" He said he didn't know. He has never seen this before. HA! This is my God!4. I get to the hospital and had to do the paperwork/blood pressure stuff and then waited to see the surgeon. He was an older sort of man, not much for talking. He examined me and said he could do it. I asked him how long it would take to recover from this. He said, very nonchalantly, about 2-3 weeks. Ei!! I had to tell him that I would be traveling on December 5th. As he looked at his calendar and openings he said he could do it in December. My heart sank...Nooooooo... I boldly came up with other options, wondering if I was overstepping my bounds but not caring at the same time. He doesn't usually book people unless they have blood work done. I told him I could be down next week and do the blood work but PLEASE book me in so someone doesn't take that spot. He agreed! The plan right now is I will do blood work on Monday, November 20. Then Tuesday, he will look that over and hopefully give me the go ahead and also give me things I need for my insurance to cover this. Then the procedure is scheduled November 27th, the following Monday. That gives me about a week to heal before I get on a plane. He didn't really like that part but I must have been so convincing :)5. I was finished before noon. Since I was in Accra, I might as well see if I can find some celery to go with my stuffing that I would make later in the week. I got a taxi to one mall. and they did not have any :( I took a taxi to another mall and they had some :) YAY!!6. I was back at the airport around 2:00pm. My flight wasn't leaving until 3:30pm so I had plenty of time to reflect and rest. I brought food with me and was just chilling and praising God for all the ways He made this day go so smoothly. I know that if you don't know Accra, you can't fully understand the amazing-ness of all of this going like butter (butt-ah haha). I was just in awe of the power of God and so thankful I did not waste any of my time worrying.Let's fast forward to Friday. Friday, Damary went in for her language evaluation. She was in there for like, 35 minutes! I was wondering what they were doing for so long and that made me nervous. She came out with a smile--she passed!! Ok, my turn. I also was in there a long time. They must have asked almost every single question etc, etc. but I knew all of them. And-- I passed too!! What a weight off my shoulders! Hooray!!! Let me tell you the house was full of screams and rejoicing.And then to top it all off-- Thanksgiving Dinner!!! All the food turned out. Everyone enjoyed themselves. I enjoyed them enjoying :) I am so thankful for my team. How they really are my family here. Afterwards, we each shared about what we are thankful for. What an amazing end to an amazing day...week?!Thank you so much for praying! Thank you, Thank you!! Next thing on the prayer list is for my trip to Accra on Sunday. I will leave very early and hopefully arrive in Accra before evening. Pray for safety on the roads. Pray for police not to trouble me. Pray for a very uneventful trip :) Then, pray when I see the doctor on Tuesday that he would give me the go-ahead and even have an opening earlier like Thursday or Friday. That would give me a longer time to heal before having to sit on an airplane.Praise God with me! Just PRAISE HIM FOR BEING HIM! Love you all.

Language, Visitors, and a Cyst

Aaaaaand there goes another week! So fast, I tell you. So.Fast.It was quite normal in terms of language learning. It has been fun...did I just say fun??? Hmmm...not exactly fun, but a good time of having my friends help me speak and say things correctly.Check out these kids from church. They have started their own praise and worship team. One kid is on the piano, one with the microphone, one on the drums and one with the guitar. HOW CLEVER!! 20171108_164032In the middle of the week, missionaries from Sandema, in the Upper East Region, stopped by. They do a lot of marriage and family training. It is very needed here. They don't really do counseling but they teach and train church leaders about it. Families here are very broken. Church pastors and leaders are not immune. I have heard some very sad stories. I have even had couples tell me their problems and I am like, "uhhh, I got me no ring on my finger. Why are you asking a single person??!" But I was honored they talked to me about it.So, yes, Doug and Heather passed thru and stayed at the Sher-Damar house :) Heather needed to do a bit of shopping and Doug went to get their car repaired. We hopped a yellow-yellow and accomplished a lot.
For the past few months I have had some issues with a cyst on the bottom of my tailbone. It comes and I soak in hot water--can I just say, some days have been 90 degrees. And here I am, sitting in this big bowl of hot-hot water just sweating. UGH...not fun. But then it goes away. When I don't soak, it comes back. Heather is a nurse and we talked about it and she said to really take care of it I will need to have a procedure to rid myself of it.I then talked to Andrea, another SIM nurse who lives in Accra, and she asked if maybe I would want to do it at home. My sister asked me that too. I am going home for a holiday at Christmas but I am not going home to have surgery! AND, I found out that my insurance will cover everything if I have it done in Ghana and in America it would not be like that.So, I booked a ticket to Accra this coming Tuesday. That day I hope to see a doctor who can do this minor operation and get my insurance to be on board with it. Then in the afternoon I will fly back to Tamale. It is crazy. Accra has terrible traffic. But I think 6 hours is plenty of time to go from the airport to the clinic back to the airport. We will see. It all depends on the doctors at this clinic. BE PRAYING.I did freak out a bit at all this and trying to call the insurance etc, etc. But I sensed God have His hand on my shoulder. He was like, "Girl, you worship me in your quiet times and say how great I am. Why are you worrying?" Since then, any time a worry creeps into my brain I take the thought captive to the obedience of Christ. God can take care of this. I am smiling to see how God will lead me thru this. He is so good.Also, next week, on Friday we have a team meeting and then I will do my second language evaluation. I am at the point where I just want to get it over with! BE PRAYING.Then, Friday evening I have planned a Thanksgiving dinner for my team. Many of them have not had one before. I was going to do a turkey but these wild ones are so tough and just trying to bake a local, wild chicken was brutal. I gotta keep it simple. I found some frozen chickens and will bake them instead but the rest of the trimmings will be there! I am sure I am more excited than everyone. I have already prepared everything that can be prepared ahead of time. Apple bars, mango pie, rolls, potatoes, squash, etc, etc...Then after that, I should be FREEEEEEE! Free to say goodbyes to Tamale and drive to Accra and have this procedure. Then freeeee to fly home!! Woo-hoo.But until then, I will stay the course.Love You. Will Keep You Updated! 

100 Points

You are going to be shocked at what I did this week...you will never guess...Ok, if you guessed language, you are correct and get 100 points!Praise God for you praying for me as I go through this to be able to share the Good News with people who are living and dying without hearing the Gospel. I had a hard week, but a good one. Somehow, my feet continue to take me out and I just keep walking. I have been speaking more too! Thanks so much for praying for me!I have told some of my neighbors that I have an exam this month. I told them it will not be writing but only speaking. They laugh at me because they always see me writing things down. And I do write things down when they are saying something I don't understand and then I take that to my language helpers and they try to give me understanding. But, yeah, one said, "Wunzooya... speaking? OY!"Out and about this week an old woman stopped me and said, "Snap Me", in English. Cute.20171101_091908Then a woman who sells rice and stew or fufu and soup just bought a fufu pounding machine! To pound fufu, it takes a lot of strength and many times young men do it, so for her to have one will really help her. I was amazed by it. You can see the fufu coming out. She will put it into a ball so it will nicely fit into a bowl and then you can pour your soup in it and enjoy                                                                                               . 20171101_091828Walking around I found out a seamstress, who I have sat and talked with, died in child birth. So sad. People around the area were quiet to mourn with the family. I went to sit with this girl named Mariam. I told her I heard about our friend who died. Mariam said, "So are you afraid of death?" I said, "Noooo! I know exactly where I will be when I die. I know that I will be with God." She gave me a smile as if I did not know what I was talking about and to humor me. The people who live around me have no hope. They have only their good works to get them to heaven. God says those are not good enough. I pray I would have another chance to talk to Mariam about this.One morning I was out for 3 hours and I received 4 marriage proposals. All of them from married men. How lucky am I? ugh...With one, I got into a discussion on how in my country we are all equal and so if you have 2 wives then I will have 2 husbands and OOO! the response I got from that. It is unimaginable for a woman to do that here.The end of the week my neighbor Hamdiya had a naming ceremony for her baby girl. The name is too difficult for me to say, so sorry, I can't tell it to you :)
The week has been very hot. I see Harmattan really trying to take over but it is like the sun and humidity are like, "hey now, hey now". My sleep still is not consistent. I have gone to bed once before 1am in the past 2 weeks. I am hoping to buy an air conditioner this week or next week. I know that will help.Pray for a mostly-uninterrupted week. I have 3 weeks until the big level 2 evaluation! Pray for good sleeps! Love you. Thanks for your care and support in all this.P.S. If you got 100 points go to your nearest shop and buy yourself a piece of candy :) 

Good Week and a Goal Set

Sometimes, to write my blog, I have to look at my phone pictures. I never can remember what I have done in a week.I had no interruptions this week from language learning. Whoooooa. It was a very good language week where I spoke and went out every day. I spoke more than I have been and that is a praise. I decided to just bite the bullet and set a goal to do my 2nd language evaluation the end of November. It may be brutal but if I pass I can go home for Christmas with an extra extra smile. Or if I don't pass at least I can see where I am at and how I can improve. Both win-win. Let's see.So, this week I went back to Northern Star school. They put me in a 3rd grade class and the teacher taught about greetings and that was very good.
I am sure if/when I have a bad language day, coming home to a puppy would make everything feel alright :).In the midst of so many good things it has been hot again, usually around 95 degrees and the breeze has been lacking. I have not been able to sleep until it cools...and that can be after midnight. I was so angry at not being able to sleep but by the end of the week I have tried to adjust to it. I just feel guilty if I am still in bed at 7am but there is no other way. Another problem was my stomach. I had some goat kababs and the next day I knew something wasn't right. I finally have bought some medicine and am on the mend but some days of going out was like, "ok...how far can I go without having a toilet around?"Thanks for praying. It has really been a good week. I was/am so encouraged to get out there and keep going. On to another week!

A Little of This, A Little Of That

Hopefully dry season will start in November. Nice, dry, weather with cool nights. Right now the rains have stopped but it is still humid. I know it has been around 100 degrees. I have been so tired. I said I quit this past week. I quit language. Just let me get into real ministry...and then, I knew I would regret it. I knew I would miss out in hearing the realness in people's hearts not knowing their heart language. So...I will continue...(sigh)We went back over to Gushiegu. On the way, there is a Good News Bible Church. We stopped there to greet the pastors. I was shown a back room in their church. In this room were huge-huge sacks of peanuts. I was told the pastor has been teaching on tithing. People in this area don't necessarily have cash but they have the crops which they will sell at the market. Many church members felt led to give back to God what He had given to them. I thought it was just beautiful to see God's Word penetrate people's lives in real ways. What a blessing it is to be obedient! One sack could sell for 1,400.00 GhCedis. That would be about 333.00$. That is a lot for a church who has a weekly offering of about 15.00$.
Damary and I, again, stayed with Fela and Pui. They are doing well at gardening! We don't have broccoli here and they are growing it! 20171019_092021I gotta start me some of this gardening somethin-somethin' :) They were so generous to give us some to take back to Tamale. Something else I think you would find interesting is they keep their motorbike in their house. Thieves are quite clever and can and will use any means to steal a bike no matter if there is a watchman, big gates and/or high walls. So, they keep their motorbike in the house. 20171019_205231The new week is here! Be praying for a steadfast heart! Thank goodness God is with me.