The Silver Lining

Hi everybody! I'm trying to "catch up" quickly. We've had two wonderful days, but they've been LONG -- starting very early, and ending after 10 pm. I havent had much opportunity to share with y'all what's happening. I'm going to try to just throw in a few photos, and tell you what we've been up to! We spent Tuesday at several schools, delivering some supplies and meeting with the teachers & headmistresses. Victoria (Richard's wife) prepared lunch for us. Then we headed to the market -- we'd purchased some shoes for Eban House Orphanage. I also bought a little fabric (while my friends were bartering for the purchase of supplies for Logba Tota, where we're headed today). It took a LONG time in the market, because we're taking a lot of food/drink for the kids up there. We left the market about 5 pm -- just in time to get hung up in traffic! It took us nearly 2.5 hours to drive to the orphange, but it was worth the wait!! Those kids...

July 27 & 27, 2008 Hello everyone! It's been a whirlwind weekend! I've much to share with you. Saturday, we planned to go into Accra to see the new MALL! This is a "first" in Ghana, a huge shopping mall with lots of shops & two grocery stores that make Wal-mart look like a Super Dollar. There is standard pricing -- no bargaining. It was elegant & obviously for an "upscale" clientele. I stood in there, amazed -- this is one sign of the progress made in the past 3 years. The last time I visited here, that was simply unimaginable! However, before we left for Accra, Rev. James said he was going with us to a "surprise" and then we'd go on to Accra. He instructed the driver to an area deep inside Community 25. Comm.5 is the newest community to be incorporated into the city of Tema. It's just in the beginning stages of development; not many houses -- YET. As we drove the narrow muddy potholed road that had only recently...

Thursday & Friday After delays both from Charlotte AND from JFK, we finally arrived a couple of hours late at Accra. We had a minor “scare” at the airport in that we began to wonder if our luggage had arrived – then they brought one last cart from the plane, and *there* were our bags! Slipped w/o problem through Customs, then headed to the exit. We were checked by a security guard before exiting the building, who checked our passport w/ the luggage tags to be sure we were taking the correct bags. When he determined we were “ok” he looked at us very seriously and said, “You may go.” I replied, “Medasse,” and his face just lit up and he said, “Oh you speak Twi???” I smiled & answered in Twi, saying, “Yes, but just a little. I understand only a tiny bit.” He was still smiling as I left. People w/o tickets aren’t allowed inside the terminal to meet travelers, so there’s always a large group of people congregating outside. I scanned the crowd, then saw Richard wave! Oh it was so goo...

Waiting for our first flight, from Charlotte to JFK, thought I'd check in here! One of my best friends, Cat, stopped by my house last night. Her arms were loaded with boxes of goodies to finish filling up our bags so we could share some US "stuff" with the kids at the orphanages & schools. I plundered through the bags to find a large stash of stuffed animals, crayons, coloring books, pencils, and other toys. I had a cool time just imagining the kids' faces as they receive this offering! Then I put them in the bags & took them to the bedroom where we've been packing/weighing the bags. BTW, Cat & friends -- THANK YOU!!! We sat down to a delicious meal (thanks, AJ!) then I got busy with some last-minute emails & bill paying and "stuff." I finished my chores, and at last headed back to the bedroom. As I entered the hallway, I heard laughter -- almost silly giggles! Joyful, bubbling, anticipating fun laughter! The kind that makes you...

Well, my bags are packed, I'm ready to go.... Almost! I have just a few more things to tuck in here & there. But Dave & I will take off for Ghana tomorrow! Am I excited? HONEY I AM TICKLED PINK!!!!! My last visit to Ghana was 3 years ago. My pal Davi Trotti & I had a terrific time, returning to some villages and exploring a few new ones. At that time, Rich & Vic (my Ghanaian "family") had just celebrated the birth of a 2nd daughter, Christabel. Their oldest daughter, little Anita was an energetic 2-year-old. The family has enlarged once more, with the birth of Richard Jr. a couple of years ago -- so we get to cuddle a new lil fellow! Reverend James & Mary also have had two daughters since I stayed with them. Wow, I've got a lot of new folks to introduce David to!!! I want to take a moment and express a BIG THANK YOU to those of you who have supported us with prayer, encouragement, donations for the well project that God has laid upon our...

The past few days, I’ve been a bit quiet. Some folks would laugh at that; I guess I have a reputation for talking. But if you really get to know me, you know that I like my “quietly alone” time. I’ve fasted from TV. That’s not a really tough thing for me to fast because frankly I don’t really enjoy watching that much. But this week, since I’m home alone, I’ve felt the need for solitude and time to commune with God in preparation for next week’s journey back to Ghana. I confess that I have played several worship cds, at night and during the heat of the day. Instead, I’ve spent most of the past two days outside, listening to the backyard symphony of birds, crickets, frogs, horses, cats, & dogs. I’ve watched the tiny hummingbirds swarming my feeder. Blue indigo buntings & brilliant red cardinals fly from tree to tree. So my “silence” really wasn’t quiet, at all! The sun’s warmth reminded me to drink my water, to which I added a sliced lemon and some sprigs of mint from my herb gar...

It was a clear & sunny Tuesday. The temps were unseasonably warm for November; it was Veterans Day so many people were enjoying a mid-week break from work. That was the day I moved to an apartment, alone. A couple of trusted friends had helped me load up a few belongings onto a trailer, then unload them in my new home. I was glad for their company as much as their help. I was very fragile, emotionally, though. I was undertaking a major life-change. By mid-afternoon, I stood in the living room, looking at the few pieces of furniture I had and the packing boxes. I'd taken a couple of chairs, a dining room table, and my piano, but otherwise left the furnishings that were in my previous home -- where I'd lived for nearly 30 years. My sister dropped by to check on me. Becky's not one for a lot of chit-chat, but as she stood looking at the semi-organized chaos of my apartment she asked, "What are you sleeping on? I dont see a bed." I explained to her that I didnt h...