Got a Haircut

It’s a small thing but a necessity. Getting a haircut. Who can do it? Where do I go? It was in my mind to look for another Caucasian woman with short hair and ask her who does hers. Then, I saw Mandy again at a meeting, and yep, she has really short hair. I knew Mandy from before. I met her in Buipe where we have Ethiopian missionaries. Her and her husband and kids have been in Ghana a few years with another organization focusing on discipleship training. When I asked her who cut her hair she told me her mom is a stylist and gave her, and her husband Bobby, some tips. Bobby seemed to have a knack for it, and he cuts hers. Her hair looks nice. And to be honest, even if it did not, I was desperate. My hair was starting to go down my neck and, in this weather, you do not want anything on your neck. I knew I would never be able to cut the back of my hair without noticeable bald spots and so, if anyone could help me, I was grateful.

Let me back up. My friend Janice and I were each invited to a Missionary gathering by different people. Apparently, the group started so Missionary Kids (MKs) could hang out together, but I was told the adults enjoy it more. All the people at this gathering are foreigners, except for a few Ghanaian spouses, and they all serve the Lord with different organizations in different areas of the North. They come together at someone’s house once a month for fellowship. It was fascinating to hear what people are doing and how God led them. I was glad I went. And…of course, there was a breakfast potluck, and you know me and my love for potlucks. But I digress, this is about a haircut.

… So Mandy and Bobby were there. Mandy volunteered Bobby and when he found out he was giving me a haircut, he gave that look to his wife… You know, that one that says I-will-kill-you-later. He told me several times he is not a professional and he does not know what he is doing. I mentioned the I-am-desperate-part and told him my hair is curly and if it is uneven no one will really know. I also said, some days I wrap my hair with a scarf, so no one, including me, can tell. AND I told him that anything he does would be better than what I could do. ANY.THING.

He shook his head but agreed. They were staying in Tamale for the night and said I could come to their place. Janice lent me her scissors. Another missionary even had a cape to wrap around my neck! I was all set.

Bobby was quite nervous, but he did a great job. I mean, honestly, I was expecting the worst. I did not even have to tweak it. I was thrilled!! I felt like a new person. The style is the same just shorter. I told him his new name is Bob-ster, the Barber.

You guys, sometimes it’s the little things.

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Weekend Getaway

I had a fantastic weekend. This past week Vronny was passing thru Tamale and stayed at my house. Unfortunately, the power was out in the day and all night. She found a mat and slept outside. I felt so bad but the breeze in the back of the house was enough for her (she’s a trooper!!). In the morning, over breakfast, I shared about the difficulties with the light and water and she was like, “you should come to Gushegu. We have both!” We laughed because Tamale is a big city, where you’d think we would also have those things, and Gushegu is a village. As she left, I was thinking I do need to get away and recharge. I talked to my team leader and got permission to run away, “to a place where I have friends with light and water.”

Gushegu is a couple hours away from Tamale. I stayed there back in 2018 and 2019 to work on my Dagbani. There are Frontier missionaries working there. One, Vronny, who I mentioned, is from Switzerland. She is a nurse and her primary job is serving at a Nutrition Center. It is a great outreach in the community. The other is the Boon family from the Netherlands. They are also doing health work and Dr. Gerbon hopes to establish a maternity clinic serving women. They stay on a compound together in different houses. Usually, they have short termers coming to help for a few months and while I was there I met Martina, from Holland, who is helping at the Gushegu hospital.

I was/always is treated so well. I got to rest, I had meals prepared for me, times of prayer, times to sit and chill. I took a nap. I read a book. Gerbon and Dorien had a third baby boy boy in Holland and they planned a naming ceremony in Gushegu. (side note: would anyone want to come and help Dorien with homeschooling and taking care of the kids?! She would love you for it!) It is normal for all Dagban children to have a naming ceremony and then a celebration follows. Because of COVID, they decided to just do a naming ceremony at church and hand out packs of food and drink afterwards. The Dagbani name they gave their child, named Aron, is Timalma. It means we have an answer, or he will solve…or something like that 😊 It would be compared to a dedication service in our churches. It was lovely. I was so glad to celebrate with them.

If you could get a close up, Dorien made cinnabuns that looked and tasted bake-shop-quality! What a nice little morning break in the shade of the mango tree (where one of the kids was playing).

Vronny

Pastor dedicating Aron.

The man of the hour.

Gushegu Girls

If you would like more info on the medical work of the Boons check out their site. It’s in Dutch, but if you wanted to contact them you could.

https://www.booninafrika.com/?fbclid=IwAR0A6mTbikolSQAaKCxgjFpgZZ7Kc-9uL0GkvD7PL78cP7KaBioFcCg3Jhc

Surviving

I knew it was coming. I knew I would have to deal with it again. I really wanted to be prepared. I really wanted to be thankful and rejoice and skip around with daisies singing, “la-la-laaaa”. But, alas, those wants did not come about.

I am talking about electricity and water. They cut out power here, for whatever reason, no one really knows. My area always seems to go out more often. I am not saying that to whine louder, but at night, I can see, my area has no light but other areas have lights. They say in our area there are a lot of illegal connections and it causes the transformer to blow and workers have to come out and replace it. How long does it take to replace? This week I was 42 hours without power. Then the next day I was off 8. The other day 5 hours. Who knows.

It was a tough week. When you do not sleep well at night, it is hard to function well in the day. And the heat, it just pulls even more out of you. I try to keep a good attitude. I try to remember that eventually the light will come back. I try to go thru all the things I am thankful for. I try praying. I try…but sometimes, frustration still flows, thoughts of why am I here pop up, and just plain ol’ crankiness rolls through.

We are in the hot season and rains should be coming by May. Everything is brown and dry. Water is short and so the city shuts off water to areas of town and then opens different areas for a day. I can always tell when the city opens our area because women are out with their big bowls to go and fetch it. I have two tanks to store water. When the top one, which is connected to my house is empty, as in, no water comes out of our taps, I have a pump which electrically pumps water from the bottom one to the top. So, this past Sunday, the top one was empty and I had just enough in the bottom one and I pumped up to fill it. THEN…Monday evening came. I had no water flowing out of my taps!! I did not use a whole tank in one day!? It seemed one of my toilets was leaking and it took. the. whole. tank. of. water. Brutal. I had just a little left in my bottom tank so Darlena and I got a few buckets and filled them so we could take bucket showers before sleeping and have some to wash dishes the next day.

Water rarely comes during the week. They seem to open the taps on Saturdays or Sundays. Again, I do not know why, no reason. But I prayed on Monday night. I prayed that water would come and fill my tank. I sent a couple texts out to people to pray.

Tuesday morning, I went and i looked at the road and saw women rushing with their buckets…I thought, “really??!!!” and checked my tank and it was half full!! Yippee!! (Insert the daisies and singing!) Real Miracle. So thankful!

There are so many good things about being here. There are so many good things about following the Lord. There are so many good things that I forget to mention—like, at least I the power did not go off at the same time my water ran out :)

I am not writing so you feel bad for me. I am writing to keep you updated on life here and that it is not all Bible studies and Dagbani learning. Some days, it is just surviving!

Buckets next to the sink for dish washing.

Darlena

In Accra I used to do a kids club. At first, it was insane. Kids were just going mad. I had no control. But God gave me ideas, and with helpers and short termers, I was able to teach and kids were attentive and learned. I grew to love it. One of the kids in the group was Darlena. She and her brother Nii are part of the church where I would serve. Their parents lived very close to the church. If I would come early I would sit at their house and Ruth would cook up some snacks or I would play with other kids. Her and her husband David now have 4 kids. They were a big help to me.

Now, Darlena is 15 years old. Secondary school here is boarding school for most kids. Usually students are posted near to the city they are in, but not always. Darlena got posted to Tamale Girls School. She and her parents have never been to the north of Ghana. They tried to change her posting but it was too late. This was her only option if she wanted to go to High School.

People and friends from the church called me and asked me to check it out for them. I went and took pics. I met a woman who works there and she gave me extra info. I relayed everything back to the south, meaning my friends and David and Ruth. They then sent me Darlena’s admission form and off to the school I went again. I was able to pick up her uniforms and get info on what comes next.

David and Darlena came up by flight (first time in an airplane for Darlena) on Thursday, which was the reporting day. They sent their things up on the bus which would arrive Friday morning. We went to the school and they told us she could not register unless she has all her things. Schools require students to bring a list full of things like certain kinds of shoes, socks, or products like toilet paper, and brooms. So, since they did not have these things they had to stay at my house.

I was so unprepared! My guest rooms still were not cleaned. The bathrooms not clean. I had no food to prepare. But they were very flexible. We just went down the road and picked up some local food. But poor Darlena was not in the mood. She did not like the school. She did not want to go there. She likes Accra better. The comparison would be a girl from Chicago moving to Medford, Wisconsin. She is definitely a city girl. We all prayed together several times. It was hard for her.

David went to the bus station Friday morning and picked up all the bags. They arranged it all and headed to the school. She was able to register and move in. David came back and needed a flight to Accra because his wife was starting birth pains for baby #4!! So, I got him to the airport and he made it in time for their baby girl.

I am kind of excited to have Darlena around me. Though, the school has tight policies. They cannot go out of the campus. They cannot have phones (they use a teacher’s phone to make a call). Because of COVID restrictions no one can visit them. But, there will be small breaks from time to time and then she will stay with me. She is a sweet girl and she knows me very well. I pray she will adjust to the ways of Tamale and study hard.

An interesting week for sure!

David and Darlena, with all her things, before heading to the school.

Gettin' Going.

Small small I am figuring things out, getting back to hot weather, and trying to be a part of my community. I had a days of workers coming in and out of my house repairing things like kitchen drawers, leaky sinks, and painting a couple rooms. I went on a big shopping expedition and found that Tamale really has so much, even coconut flour and soy wheat bread. (I do not need to eat things like this. It is just cool that the options are available.) March and April bring in HOT season and daily it is over 100 degrees and if I am out and about I am wearing a mask. It seems church is more difficult to wear a mask, I don’t know why. Maybe because walking around a breeze can float through unlike sitting in one place.

Speaking of masks and COVID-19, here in Tamale there has not been a lot of cases. One Dutch doctor I talked to has a theory about Vitamin D and how plenty of it, keeps COVID cases low. I thought it makes sense being in a country with sunshine everyday. Maybe 2 out of 10 people wear a mask in the neighborhood and maybe a bit more in town because to go into shops most have signs saying masks must be worn. They also have soap and water stands to wash your hands before you enter. I do not know of anyone who has died from COVID, though accusations abound.

I have been so thankful for the water that has filled up my tank from town and my electricity has been mostly on. Yesterday, I think the whole country was off for about 5 hours. I was so ready. I had my phone charged up, a mosquito net, and battery powered lights. Then, the light came on around 7.30pm. YAY!!

Starting up the women’s Bible study tonight. Maybe tomorrow off to meet a woman to start discipling her. Later in the week I can join in on a Literacy meeting and see what all is involved in that. Things are gettin’ going!

My quiet times have been so alive! i know people have been praying for me and I am so thankful!! So thankful to meet with the Lord with enthusiasm and sit quietly before Him. What a privilege.

Love you. Thanks for praying!

By God's Grace

My time in Accra has been great. I had a week of quarantine. It actually went quite fast. I think I am good at doing nothing. And then my second week has been visiting and catching up with friends and people who I used to do ministry with. I was back and forth in and out of the guesthouse. We have to wear masks all the time so that is exhausting and cumbersome but, so be it. Friends came to the guesthouse to hang out, some I went to their place. I am back to greetings like, “How are you? I am fine, thank you and you? Oh, by God’s grace we are doing well.” It is amazing that some of the little kids I used to do programs with are now about to enter high school. Or some of the youth I was part of are now youth leaders. So very encouraging.

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I would like to share with you one of the quiet times I had.

One night, I could not fall asleep. I was desperate. Since Dagbani makes me tired I pulled out my Dagbani Bible and English Bible. I went through Matthew 5. Jesus says, “ Do not resist the one who is evil.” The evil person here is one who takes your cloak and then you should give your shirt. Or one who slaps you, you then give him the other cheek. Or one who forces you to go one mile, you go with him another. Also he says to give to the one who begs.

The phrase that got me was “Do not resist the one who is evil.” “Really, Lord? Ok, ! I will be ready to love this kind of person, one who is evil.” My pride in me was thinking I love people, this will be easy.

The next morning. I borrowed the SIM van to run errands. I came up to a traffic light. At traffic lights here there are beggars. The man who came towards my vehicle was a person of a different religion. I could tell by the way he dressed. I heard myself in my mind say, “This man is evil because he is against God.” So, as he passed I did not give him anything EVEN THOUGH this Scripture passage came to me and pricked my conscience! I was grateful for the green light so that I could run away from what I should have done.

Now, there are lots of discussions on what to do with beggars. Give or not give. Give money or food. Share a track or pray with them. This is not the point. The point is I had an encounter with the Lord in His Word about not resisting one who is evil. I failed. I decided what was right in my own eyes. I judged this man based on his religion and previous experience with these people. My attitude and actions fell short of love.

Does anyone love this man? Does anyone care for him and feed him? I do not know. Just because I give him a few coins does that mean he is cared for? Have I done my Christian duty by helping a beggar like the other part of the Word says?

God, how can you love this man who doesn’t believe you, who may even hate you? I asked this to the Lord and sensed a quiet response of, “because he doesn’t know Me.”

God gave me an opportunity to experience Him and his ways. I was stuck in a way of thinking that is familiar with a pharisee. I thought myself to “big” to stoop to this level. The level was love. The level was not resisting. You would think it is so simple. You would think a missionary would be an A student at this.

I needed this reminder to see where I really am in reading and doing the Word. There are many people here who I would consider “one who is evil” and yet that was who I once was too. But by God’s grace I have been made friends with God says Romans 5. I am sure these people also would love to know how they can be friends of God.

Next time may I be ready in word or deed to show them they are loved.

Back in Ghana

God really outdid Himself. Or is that just normal Him-being-God? I went from a “I wonder what God is doing?” to ending up in Ghana singing “God is so good”.

It was the evening of the day I wrote my last blog, January 17th. I was ready to fly on the 19th. I got a call that night from a nurse telling me I am positive for COVID-19. I listened quietly, holding back sobs, and asked her when I could retest again since I am asymptomatic. She said in 10 days. I hung up. I balled. My family was just as shocked as me. But we sat, we trusted in God’s knowing more than us, and we rolled out the next 10 days. I think we all enjoyed that extra time. I had nothing to do. I had no place to go. My family all had COVID already, so they were not concerned about getting it. We played games and I read books and I cooked and relaxed. It was a blessing.

So, then January 28th came around to get tested again. My amazing parents took me, and we waited. I had a travel agent on standby. I had my last suitcase just waiting to be filled with last minute toiletries and such. AND…they emailed me early on the 29th that I was negative. YEEE HA! So, I had time call the travel agent and I got a seat on a flight for the 30th. I filled out paperwork that would be needed for a COVID test at Accra airport. I took an online health screening test provided by Ghana. We left at 6.30am for Minneapolis and the Delta attendant was very kind. All papers, visa, tests were accepted. The man next to me was being told he had the wrong COVID test and could not fly! How terrible! I got to JFK airport and had a long layover, but I didn’t care—I was going!! The flights had seats empty next to me so I was able to stretch out. I arrived in Accra the afternoon of the 31st and went thru all the lines and my rapid COVID test came back negative. I had people waiting for me. And here I am now, at our SIM Guesthouse, in isolation, for a week. I will then take another test, which will hopefully be negative, and then I am FREEEEEEE!!

Other missionaries have cooked food for me since I cannot go out. Some have asked if there is anything I need and went shopping for me. Some other missionaries traveled with a truck up north and I was able to hand off most of my suitcases, now I do not have to worry about them. My phone number is connected and I can call people. I have all I need. I am so thankful. I am so so very thankful.

Love you. Thanks for praying.

This is the cute lil’ back apartment I am staying in for quarantine at the SIM Guesthouse. We call it the back flat. No one else stays here. Other guests stay in the main house which is about 25 feet away from me. Both buildings are within a compound with a wall and gate. I cannot go out past the gate. But I can walk around the compound with a mask.

Last days

Last days, last drives with snow on the roads, last foods, last goodbyes. But many firsts a wait me. Like the first time arriving in Accra I will quarantine for 10 days. First time I will not go and run around and visit my friends. First time I will have someone grocery shop for me.

I sent out a prayer email for people to be praying for me, and I have at least 70 people walking with me, going to Ghana with me. This morning I woke up and had no worries, no “oh no! I forgot this”, no “what do I do if this doesn’t work out?” or butterflies in my stomach. And as I thought and praised God about it, I realized that every day since I sent out that prayer update my worry has lessened, my to do list has shortened, my complaints are quieter and my joy for returning has increased.

I don’t want to say I don’t believe it, because I do. I know it is because I have people praying for me. But there is a part of me that is like, “NO WAY!!!” I said to my aunties something like: if this is how God is going to be answering his people then, I am so excited to go!! What is God going to do these next few years?

Our world is unknown. When I say goodbyes to people, I wonder what they will be doing, or where they will be when I come back or if they will be closer to the Lord or farther away because of the circumstances that come around. And me too, what will my life be like in a few years or even a month??! I have my ideas, but really, I do not know. I do not know what COVID has done to the country, even though, I hear of very few deaths and people not wearing masks. I do not know what ministry will look like even though I have contacts and needs and ideas.  

So, since I cannot control any of this, since I cannot control how people are going to change with the world changing around us, since I cannot control my COVID test, or the airlines, I will let it go and not worry. Anne Graham Lotz says that worry is unbelief as it frets over things instead of trusting God completely. So, let’s just believe. Believe in God’s bigness. Believe in God’s love. Believe in God’s plans. Sounds cheesy. Maybe a bit too simple. But the Word says that worry is not going to add anything to your life. So, let’s keep it simple.

Love ya. Thanks for praying!

Pickin' Apples

Do people love what they do everyday and wake up all excited to get going at it? What would that look like consistently? There are so many times I dread having to do something. But, when I am in the midst of it, it is not so bad. And, when I am finished, I look back and think that was great.

I helped my Dad pick apples the other week. I am sure I have mentioned that my Dad is a very creative man who engineers things and systems to make things work easier. He somehow turns chores into a party, examples include: freezing corn, cutting wood and now picking apples.

We have a very old tractor with a lift on it. He made a stand with railing to slide onto the lift. I stood on the lift and had boxes on it as well. Dad lifts me up to the tops of trees and i just pick away. I filled two boxes in 15 minutes! I do like heights, so it almost has a feeling of a fair ride…weeeeeee!!! Unless Dad holds on the hydrolic button and I am jolted up and down, wondering if my apples, or myself, are going to fall off. Then he says, “Oops, sorry” Did I mention he can be a punk too?

I really enjoyed picking apples. I thought I might get excited about doing something like this. I wonder if I would wake up ready to go everyday and do it? I like outdoors, I like apples, I like hanging out with my dad, I like heights, I like helping my family, I like being on a tractor again. Well, maybe, I like it because I know it is only a season and not a rest-of-my-life sort of thing. Oh dear, sounds like commitment issues :) Maybe it is because I know the goodies that will come from these apples…yes, it all comes back to food. HA. Maybe because I like doing different things all the time. When I did a short term trip to Ghana, that was one reason why I loved it. Every day was different. And even looking back at my past term, every day is different.

So, maybe I do not wake up excited to do what is in front of me, but I am excited that I do not know exactly what is in front of me that day. And, at the end of the day, I look back and say that it was great. Usually.

I’m thankful.

Love you!

Memorizing Romans 5

One of my New Year’s Resolutions was to memorize Romans 5 using the NLT. Yeah, like the whole chapter. It seems memorizing Bible verses is so passe, so, that’s-what-I-did-In-AWANA. We do not do it anymore. And yet, what is the Bible for us? It is the weapon of the Spirit! It tears through lies, it makes Satan leave, and it has life in it. Why am I not putting more of this into my mind?

In church last Sunday, Pastor Kim said something about who talks to you the most…and it is ourselves. It is true. We are always talking to ourselves. How much of it is true? God’s Word is always true and it always brings Life.

When my brother had an accident in July. I ended up driving to the hospital several times in those next couple hours to pick things up from home to bring to him before they transported him to a bigger hospital. That was 4, 45 minutes drives. There were thoughts of “if only, should’ve-would’ve-could’ve, is he going to be ok? what comes next?, etc, etc” my mind was racing. So, I pulled out my index cards that have Romans 5 verses on them and started going over what I know, and new verses. I had such a peace. It was unreal. It was my Lord. I drove the last way smiling and praising God, not for the accident, but that God is big enough to handle this and that He is there. I set my mind on things above like Colossians tells us to do. Game Changer, you guys! So cool!

I really think Satan has blinded us to the power of the Word. He knows if we disregard it, he can lie to us and accuse us and turn our minds to him and on earthly things and we will be powerless. And so he does lie. He says a few things:

—Just check Facebook one more time and then go read your Bible.

—You have too many other things to do today, read your Bible tomorrow.

—You won’t even understand it, if you read it, so just leave it.

—It is not true. It can’t be. Why read it?

—The Bible is so old, it has nothing to do with your life today.

I have never regretted spending time reading my Bible. Instead, there is more regretting not reading it more. And there is a hunger that grows in me. I want more. I want to memorize more because that helps me meditate on it more.
I just love God’s Word. It was really when i started reading it in college that my life started to change. My mind changed, which changed my behavior. And the only thing I could think of was this transformational book had something to do with it.

That is why I love what I get to do in Ghana. I get to share and teach the Bible to young people. May they love it at an early age. May they apply it to their hearts. May their lives be transformed by the power of the Spirit. Then we watch and see what God will do.

Love you. Thanks for praying!

p.s. i am on romans 5:16-17. it is such a powerful chapter! read it!!

He Always Knows.

Not a lot here happening on the home front. Not a bit of minding about that either. Am I gifted, in that I don’t get bored? As a kid I remember whining to mom about being bored and she would find something for me to do…as in…chores. Made me not whine to her about it anymore :) .

The weather has been beautiful. Wisconsin is so green. I have had lunch dates several times this week. Every time I wish it did not have to end. I have had good quiet times, times where I actually allow the Lord time to speak to me. How lovely.

As I meet with people, my world opens up. When I am in Ghana, so many times, it is me, me, me. And my problems, and my issues, and my exhaustion. But, even though, we live in this first world, convenient country of America, problems are problems. After one chat with a couple I said, “Thank you for making me realize how good my life is!!” I was truly thankful that I lived in Ghana and have the life I do. God knew I would resonate to the adventure he has given to me than life here at home, even though, these are my people and my culture. I don’t get it. I still wonder why he would call me to live overseas but he wired me to love it. God always knows, doesn’t he?

A reminder to keep on trusting him…because He always knows.

Love you.

My Own Website? Who Woulda Thunk?

First time posting on my new site. How cool is this? How blessed am I? There is no way I could have done this on my own. Shout out to James Stokes (https://www.james-stokes.com/) for all the help…and then more help…and then emails and texts of needing more help, you get the picture :)

I celebrated 43 years of life this past week. In Ghana, people always give thanks to God for their life and they always pray for long life. I know some people who did not make it to 43, so, I too, will thank God for my life. I was able to celebrate with two of my brothers and my parents. Of course food was involved. Of course Culver’s was involved. And of course presents were involved. What more needs to be said? It was a splendid day.

I have done more speaking at churches in my area. I have had some zoom meetings which I have enjoyed, more than I thought I would. It is still possible to share about Ghana while in my own home. LOVE IT. Nothing beats face to face but this is second best. I think I would rather do this than phone calls. I love seeing people’s faces.

Love you All.

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Sherri Is Back

May 31, 2020

We made it back safely to Wisconsin. It has been wonderful to feel like myself and enjoy home. We came when trees were just budding but now things are popping out and the greens are so vibrant.

I have already done some zoom calls with churches and people. It is definitely going to be a different Home Assignment. Not sure when churches in big cities will open but SIM has given me ideas in how to manage.

The aunties are still here for another week so we will hopefully be heading up to see Lake Superior for a day, visit friends another day, and celebrate my mom’s birthday a different day. Busy, busy!

Memorial Day weekend was full of family. I started off by helping some cousins shingle their house. Yep, I was laying down tar paper and using a nail gun. But I have to say, I am terrible at looking to see if lines are straight. Then after that, the days were filled with food, walks in nature, talks, enjoying moderate humidity while everyone else was sweating, and then more food 🙂 I was so full of thankfulness. AM so full of thankfulness!

Then I will drive them down to Chicago airport and they will fly home and I will stay overnight at a supporter’s home. Depending on things maybe visit other people too. The virus, though, makes things difficult to plan for.

Thanks for praying. Feeling so refreshed. I feel like myself again!

Packing Up

May 10, 2020

We have set a date to drive back to Wisconsin. My dad bought a car from Auntie Rosemary’s friend and I will be able to use it while I am home. Dad was going to fly out here and we would have drove home with it, but with the virus that did not happen. So, the Aunties stepped in and said they would do a road trip with me. They usually head to Wisconsin during the summer, so it is just a little earlier. I am thankful.

We will go thru the Grand Tetons, the park is closed but we will drive on the nearest open highway. We will head to Montana where my girl, Stef, who I discipled in Chicago years ago, lives with her family. The AWANA kids from her church have supported me financially and with prayer so I will share a few minutes in church. (Her church’s first Sunday back is tomorrow!)

Hopefully, by Tuesday the 19th we will roll into HOME. I have a meeting with someone to help me make a video about the past term on the 20th so I really hope we will not have any unexpected stops!

I met with some people interested in what has been going on in Tamale this week on Zoom. Did you know I am a few miles away from Zoom’s headquarters, not to mention Netflix, Google, Ebay, and Apple? Silicon Valley is right here!

Need to start thinking of snacks for the trip, finding hotels along the way, getting good podcasts and music to listen to, and packing up another suitcase.

So So So So thankful for this time here. Thanks for praying!

HAPPY HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!!!! I LOVE YOU MOM!!!

Routine

April 13, 2020

There is a routine going on here and it is lovely. It is not super exciting but I have enjoyed it. My days seem to go fast. The weather is getting sunnier and warmer, I have good books to read, and I get to chill with my aunties.

Easter weekend we have watched several online Good Friday services and programs. Today, we watched a couple online church services and then thoroughly enjoyed a ham dinner topped off with a fresh strawberry pie. I told myself while in Ghana that I would eat berries as much as possible because I rarely get them. Or if I do, they cost me about 1$ per strawberry!

Thanking God for this time. I mean, really thanking Him for this rest time.

Thanks for praying!

In The Midst

March 29, 2020

I do pray this virus will end. I do pray that God will stop the spread of it. I do pray for His mercy.

I have kept the verses in Philippians in mind. The ones that talk about rejoicing and being anxious for nothing. And then, with prayer let God know your requests and His peace will guard your hearts. It is wonderful to dump things off in his hands.

I think that has allowed me to rest. Let me clarify that a bit more: it has allowed me to rest, guilt free. It has allowed me to enjoy a nap and a walk in my afternoons. It has given me focused time in prayer. It has let me unwind myself from a tense 3.5 years. I am more than thankful. In the midst, I can rejoice.

I know this situation is hard for so many people. I can’t even imagine what added hardships are burdening people with the addition of the virus. But I know God’s Word is true. And if He says His peace will guard our hearts, then it will.

Thanks for praying! I got another great week of rest coming up. This is so exciting!

Corona Virus

March 21, 2020

I think the words for the week are “unprecedented” and “essential”. This virus is giving a shake down on things we thought had control of. We have to change schedules, plans, habits, and decide what is essential and what is not-so-necessary.

I had a sweet few days in Wisconsin. Mom was able to get me a doctor to get me something to take care of that parasite and voila, it’s gone! But then, Monday I had some swelling on my face. Weird. Then, on Tuesday my tongue swelled a bit and then my throat glands were very swollen. On Wednesday morning Mom asked how I was doing and I had to say that it hurt to swallow.

She, being a nurse, told me we will go to the ER. First, I had to call the Coronavirus hotline. It didn’t seem to them I had it but told me to come in. We arrived a bit later and they were aware of my coming so I was able to go in.

In talking with the NP, she also agreed it was an allergic reaction. They gave me a drip and some meds. I asked if I could do a Coronavirus test but she said my symptoms do not match. They were short of tests so she didn’t want to use one. She said I did not have it.

I was relieved to hear it because several times this week I felt…I felt…maybe I was putting people at risk. One family member asked me not to come over. My brother was asked not to come to work because his sister (me) was out of the country. And we got a phone call of someone annoyed telling my dad that I shouldn’t have come to church on Sunday. So, to tell people I did not have the virus was a relief and I think for my family too. I know people are very scared and I understand all the situations. I am not offended.

By Wednesday evening my swelling had come down and I was feeling much better. I changed my flight to California from Saturday to Thursday and out of Minneapolis instead of Chicago because of all the uncertainties.

When I landed on Thursday night in California, I checked the news and read California was on lockdown. Welcome!

But, it is ok because I just wanted to chill and sit around anyways. I am thankful. Thankful for God’s continued goodness and faithfulness in the midst of unrest and changes.

Thanks for praying!

More Testimonies

March 14, 2020

I am writing from Goodrich, Wisconsin! Classic little farming community with no population because it is just too cute and small. What a week!

So, I mentioned that I needed to change my flights. My travel agent is the queen of being on the ball. She changed my flight and redirected me through London, on to Chicago, and then to central Wisconsin. It was thee most smooth flying I have encountered. Now, maybe I was expecting lots of masks, heavy lines, harsh screenings or whatever. There was none to be found. I had my temperature taken when leaving Ghana (kind of weird?) and that was it. If I did not know about the virus, I would not have known about it from traveling! My flight from London to Chicago was about 2/3 full and I had a lovely, empty seat next to me. The customs was unbelievably easy. No lines, no questions. Nothing. I flew on home to Wisconsin and was greeted by a very relieved Mom and Dad. And we then moved forward to the nearest Culvers, which was everything I remembered it to be.

When I got home-home, I looked at the news. President Trump just announced that they would not allow European flights coming in, or something like that. I just sat back and PRAISED THE LORD!!! I was 36 hours from being caught in that!!! Talk about God being in control. When I was all moany-groany from not being able to go to Spain, I told God that He did know this would happen, He did know that flights would need to be rescheduled. He knew all of this, so I just said, “ok, do your thing.” And of course, our God, our amazing, loving God brought me through this situation and gave me another testimony to share with people of His goodness! Thanks for praying and being part of this.

Now I also brought back with me a little parasite. It thinks it is my friend, but it really isn’t. I was able to get a prescription and it still seems to be hanging on. Pray for healing. Pray it would leave me 🙂

I have seen all my siblings and other family members. I will head to California on Saturday for a month to rest and think about what to share with supporters. Looking forward to the next month.

Thanks again for praying!