The Silver Lining

On the Cusp of a brand new year!

2011-12-31T14:43:00.000-08:00

December 31, 2011

What a totally amazing year my husband and I have enjoyed! This year, we got out of debt, moved to a dream home, saw lot of family restoration -- so many blessings and answered prayers in the past twelve months. I feel a twinge of regret that this beautiful year has come to an end.

And yet -- I realize that it's all a matter of perspective.

I have dear friend who spent this entire year battling breast cancer.

Another lost several members of her family to death.

Another has struggled with being unemployed and depressed.

For them, I'm sure they are happy to bid farewell to this year of struggles and trials.

Whether we kiss 2011 goodbye with a smile of fondness or kick it to the curb and stamp the dust off of our feet, we all turn towards 2012 with hopes, dreams, and prayers for a beautiful future.

So bidding goodbye to 2011, I share with you a favorite passage, Jeremiah 29:11-13: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

What a Silver Lining -- the promise of a HOPE and a FUTURE!

Blessings, y'all, and Happy New Year!

Cookbook Search and Rescue

2011-11-11T14:32:00.000-08:00

I used to say I'd taken "a sabbatical" from cooking.

I looked the word up; according to dictionary.com it means "bringing a period of rest" or " any extended period of leave from one's customary work, especially for rest, to acquire new skills or training."

Truthfully, I just sort of quit cooking. But I have been "on sabbatical" from writing.

While I "rested" my pen (or keyboard) for a period of time, the rest of my life has been a whirlwind. The year of 2011 has been one of profound change for me and my husband -- and included buying a different home, selling our old house, and moving.

If you've ever moved -- you know what stress and "un-rest" that creates!

Just for example, let me tell you about my cookbooks.

If you really KNOW me -- you know that I am the Anti-Cook. I just flat don't do it, if I can avoid it. (Yes, there are definitely some blog stories about my "expertise" in the kitchen, coming soon!) I'm grateful to have married a gentleman who not only is a great cook, he loves cooking and wants to spend time in the kitchen every day! I will wash dishes all night long, if somebody else will cook! We have a pretty good partnership, when it comes to cooking.

Back to my cookbooks -- I have a few that are special to me. A couple I received as a child, including "Betty Crocker's Boys' & Girls' Cookbook" that has a really good Sugar Cookie recipe in it -- plus instructions on how you can make a heart-shaped cake by baking the layers in one square pan and one round pan. (Hint: you cut the round layer in half and place them on adjacent sides of the square.) I remember making a heart-shaped cake for Pop (my grandfather) because his birthday was the day after Valentine's Day.

I also have some "down home" cookbooks, like "The Deep Creek Baptist Church Cookbook" (oh, that Cold Oven Pound Cake is wonderful!!), "Peachland's Kitchens" and "The Peachland Centennial Celebration Cookbook." I actually have a couple of recipes printed in there, proving that not everything I cook turns out bad! These three books all show the marks of being favorites, with their dog-eared pages and stained covers.

Then there's that good old red-and-white-checked "Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook" -- as much a staple in the kitchen as flour and sugar. Oh and don't forget the "Fix It And Forget It Crockpot Cookbook" from my days as a working mom.

When we began packing up to move, we had tons of books. I weeded out our collection, donating some here and there, selling a few on Amazon. But I carefully held on to my cookbooks, packing them away in a box to be moved to our new place. That was in early April.

It's now mid-November -- and I've been looking for those darn cookbooks ever since. This morning, I launched an all-out Search and Rescue Mission: If those books were anywhere in this house, I was determined to find them TODAY!

I looked in boxes under the beds -- surprisingly, most of them were empty! But in one box, I found my gold foil angel wings (YES, I really DO have some!) -- I wore them as a child in a long-ago Christmas play. I dragged EVERYTHING out of the guestroom closet and rummaged through the assortment of boxes and bags. The upstairs bedroom looked like it had been ransacked, with the contents of tubs and boxes spilling out in the floor. I found six rolls of Christmas wrapping paper (just in time!), my old Appalachian State annuals and a set of Looney Tunes drinking glasses -- but no cookbooks.

I looked in the built-in cabinet in the living room. Lots of dvds and our old tax records, but no cookbooks. I emptied the closet in the front bedroom. I found scads of piano music and hymnbooks -- but no cookbooks.

Then I zeroed in on the front closet. Mostly we'd stored suitcases in there, but there were a couple of boxes that I dragged out into the hall. The first one had some clothes in it -- and I found the shoe for my little doll (who spent the summer with one shoe on and one bare foot) -- but still no cookbooks.

The second box was full of computer paraphernalia. I found some blank cds, and a really cool scrapbook of my husband's from his days of service in the United States Marine Corps. Then I spied that beautiful red-and-white-checked pattern, hidden deep in the bottom of the box. HOORAY!! I'd finally found the missing cookbooks!! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!

Gleefully, I inventoried the tattered stack of books. Yep, they were all present and accounted for! I quickly gave them a place of honor on a shelf in the pantry. Who knows, I may get daring and try my hand at cooking something soon!

But I think it would probably be safer for us all if I picked up my notebook and started writing again. Maybe soon you'll read about the time I blew up the shrimp!

Mr. Zeeper's Field Trip

2011-03-18T18:37:00.000-07:00

As I sat in the front porch swing and enjoying the warm sunshine today, Mr. Zeepers began knocking on the inside of the storm door -- he wanted OUT. So I relented; I figured a little time in the Great Outdoors would be good for him. He's a big snowshoe Siamese, but he is rarely allowed outside. We ALWAYS keep our eyes on him when he's outside, because he's been known to take an excursion or two next door. But he so much enjoys wriggling on his back on the front sidewalk -- who wouldn't like to be outside on a sunny warm spring day? When I opened the door, he made a bee-line to the warm concrete, where he plopped down and rolled over. Once he was done scratching his back, he wandered in the yard beside the porch to find some nice grass to chew on.

The mail arrived, and I began to leaf through the letters and papers. A neighbor dropped by, and we sat on the porch and visited a few minutes before going inside to take a look at some work I'd been doing.

About an hour later, it occurred to us he was AWOL. I first searched inside, even though I knew I'd forgotten to bring him indoors. I looked in all of his Secret Hiding Places The Humans Aren't Supposed To Know About -- like under the bed covers or on a shelf inside the closet. When it was apparent that I'd broken the cardinal rule about not leaving the Big Cat unattended outdoors, we began searching. We hunted and called, hunted and called. David has a big metal pan he beats on with a stick -- that usually rousts him out because he is quite skittish and afraid of loud noises. But it didn't work this time.

David searched across the street, and I went back in the back yard. After a half-hour of calling and searching, I finally spied him: Waaaay back in the easement, behind Wilhelmina's and Mary's houses. He was sitting in some tall grass, underneath the trees, just laughing at me. I made a move to unlatch the fence and he shot back up toward Mary's house. So I ventured over into her back yard. There he sat, acting all nonchalant, just this side of her house. As soon as we made eye contact, I said, "Young man, you better get your butt back up on the porch!!" Mr. Zeepers knew he'd been busted then, and hot-footed it to the porch, ears slicked back like he was running some kind of big cat race. As soon as I opened the door, he shot in like a rocket; he didn't stop until he'd crawled up under the bed covers where he proceeded to pout the rest of the afternoon.

He's been placed under house arrest.

At least until he can can one of us into letting him play in the sunshine again.

Restoring Cleopatra

2011-01-23T17:45:00.000-08:00

My sewing machine died. It was a fancy computerized electronic thing that could do everything except serve you breakfast in bed. I'd used it several years, sewing many miles of stitches from basic repairs to outfitting the Anson High School Show Choir. The past two weeks, it has been languishing in a sewing machine repair shop, while the repairman searches for a tiny part that is as difficult to find as a pair of Birkenstocks on the rack in Walmart. Like many products made in the past several years, I'm sure it was designed to be replaced instead of repaired.

Meanwhile, I wanted to sew.

While I was stuck inside during the recent icy weather, it occurred to me that I had another sewing machine. It was an old treadle Singer that I bought for $35 at an estate auction. It had belonged to my great-great-aunt Mary Austin. Her sister, Emma, was my Grandma Eula Belle's mother. When I purchased the machine about 25 years ago, it was still threaded, as though Aunt Mary had been sewing on it that day -- only she died several years earlier. I brought it home and played with it a bit, even making a pair of curtains and using the ruffling attachment. Then the belt broke and I just used it as a table.

I rolled the machine into the spare room and opened it up. Made of cast iron and chrome, it was a workhorse. About 40 years' accumulation of dust and grime blanketed the machine. The entire thing was black, though I could see faint traces of the original gold decals and a glint of silver chrome here and there. I rolled up my sleeves and went to work, using an old toothbrush and some kerosene to try to dissolve years of built-up grime. Soon, the old machine began to gleam. The gold design turned out to be a Sphinx -- I learned that was a very popular design when these machines were made. Eventually I could make out the serial number, and a little online detective work determined that the machine was made in 1921.

After the cleaning, I used a bit of wax to polish and protect the machine. Now it was time to see if she'd still run! I had to get a few new parts -- thank God for the internet! A new belt, a rubber ring for the bobbin winder, a handful of bobbins, and a front throat plate all arrived right on my doorstep within a couple of days. A few squirts of machine oil here and there, and it was time to put her to the test.

After some practice runs, I could operate the treadle. I've relied on electricity with my other machines. A bit more coordination is necessary to rock that pedal and guide the fabric under the needle!

She sewed like a charm, with even stitches and equal tension. It was as though she'd been sewing every day for the past 90 years without a break. Together we pieced six quilt blocks, using some vintage scraps my mom found in my grandma Eula Belle's belongings.

I named her Cleopatra, because of the Sphinx design. Restored to her former glory, she is most deserving of such a regal name!

As I wound the bobbin and threaded the old machine today, my mind wandered through time. I could imagine my great-great aunt Mary, sitting down at that very same machine when it was shiny bright and new, threading it just as I was doing. I thought about all the dresses she made, the garments she'd patched to make them last just a little longer, the quilt tops she'd pieced together with scraps. Did she ever imagine that her sister's great-granddaughter would one day treasure that machine, and sew on it in the next century? I wondered if my sister's great-granddaughter or maybe even my own great-granddaughter might sew on it, ninety years from now.

And the treadle rocked, the shuttle flew back and forth, and the needle punched through the fabric of time, joining the generations together.

Diamonds in the Trees

2011-01-12T05:44:00.000-08:00

Memories of snow...

I’d wake up in the night, and flip on the outside light that was above the window in my room. Peering out into the darkness, I’d try to see snowflakes falling. Oh, to see those fluffy flakes, swirling in the dark night! I'd wake up my sister Becky, eager to share the excitement with her and we'd stare out of the window together. I’d barely be able to sleep, I’d be so excited about the chance to play in the snow at daylight!

I remember walking from our house through the pasture to Pop & Belle’s house. On more than one occasion, I’d dash out the door bundled up in my coat, gloves and hat – but on my feet I’d have just put on the little red rubber galoshes – NO shoes or socks. By the time I arrived at Belle’s, my feet would be like little blocks of ice, and I couldn’t even feel my toes! She’d put my feet in a pan of warm water – and then call my mama to tell her I’d walked up there bare-footed in the snow!

I remember Mama or Belle, pulling a snow-laden tree limb over my head. When the limb sprang back, it would dump all the snow on me, so I’d stand in a momentary blizzard.

I can almost see the smoky gray galoshes my mama wore over her shoes; they had a little elastic loop that went over a button on the outside. Mama had a pair of brown woolly mittens, too. She always loved to play outside with us in the snow, and we always tried to build a snowman.

Mama would make hot Russian tea to warm us up when we’d come inside after playing in the snow. The smell of oranges and cinnamon would fill the house. The mandatory pre-snow trip to the store for bread and milk also included oranges for us, so that Mama could brew that good tea.

Daddy worked, even in the snow. Even MORE in the snow, to be honest. He’d get on the Bobcat and scrape the driveways for everybody in the neighborhood. He’d also drive up to the Peachland Post Office, and collect the mail for all of us. He and Pop had to feed the cows, so they’d pile some hay in the back of the truck and drive through the snow-covered pastures. Those cows were always glad to see them coming, too. Fresh hay was much easier to eat then trying to find grass beneath the snow and ice.

One neat thing about chicken houses was that they made awesome icicles! Sometimes they might be three or four feet long! Daddy would break them off of the roof and bring them to the house for us to play with. We’d pretend to have sword fights with those huge icicles!

Our house was up on a hill, so the road to the chicken houses made for a pretty neat sledding hill. We’d sit in a white enamel dishpan and go whooshing down the hill!

When I was in first grade, we had a serious ice storm. The reason I can remember it so vividly is not completely pleasant. Lines were down, and the power was out for several days. Daddy brought in a kerosene stove to heat the house. I was walking around it, lost my balance, and stuck my hand out to catch my fall -- right on that stove top. It burned a perfect circle in the palm of my hand. I can see my mama, jumping up out of the rocking chair where she’d been holding my baby sister Becky. Becky was all wrapped up in a blanket; Mama handed Becky to my friend and neighbor Margaret. She was about 10 years old, and had come over to play in the snow with me. I know I was wailing like a banshee as Mama grabbed me and held me close. While my burnt hand hurt like crazy....the rest of the memory is actually sweet. She put some vaseline on my burn, then tucked me into her big bed with a burgundy and gold satin comforter. I pretended I was a princess, in spite of my blistered palm. (And for the record, my hand healed just fine; I have a hard time now remembering whether it was my right hand or left hand. No permanent scars.)

As an adult, I looked forward to snow days with at least as much excitement as I did when I was a child! One of my favorite “grown-up” snow memories was taking my 8-day-old son outside for his “first snowfall” experience. He was all bundled up in a yellow zip-up snowsuit – and I have to say he was NOT particularly impressed with the snow or the cold! His loud protests brought squeals of laughter from his older sisters!

After three days of freezing temperatures, snow, and cloudy skies, the sun is shining this morning. Snow nestles in the crooks of trees, and every branch is coated with an icy glaze. Birds congregate around every feeder, enjoying a free meal. My cats sit on the porch, watching the birds through the screen. A truck tries to navigate up the hill toward my house, slipping and sliding and eventually finding success.

Snow gives the world a temporary blanket of freshness, a magical beauty, a chance to slow down. A light breeze blows and the world sparkles with diamonds in the trees.

Finding the Top of the World

2011-01-08T18:06:00.000-08:00

Today I participated in a writers’ workshop at The Farm at Weathers Creek. I had a terrific time, made lots of new friends, and am “mining the mother lode” in earnest as I dig around in my memory in search of “photographic moments.” Check out their website: http://www.weatherscreek.net/ and join us sometime!

On the way to the class this morning, I experienced one of those sublime moments when time seems to stand still. Just for an instant I could grasp that feeling that comes the closest to perfection this life has to offer.

Most of my two-hour drive was up I-77. I zipped along the road (thank God for cruise control -- it guards against my chronic lead foot), listening to classic rock radio, humming along to old favorite songs. Interstate driving CAN be boring, with fields, convenience stores, strip malls, housing developments, and car dealerships lining both sides of the road. But there’s one spot near Davidson, NC, where the road spans two fingers of Lake Norman. It’s a sweet change of scenery – quite unexpected if you are not familiar with North Carolina geography!

As I drove across the second bridge, I saw a flock of white gulls dipping and wheeling over the lake. The air was crisp, and wisps of fog swirled up from the water. Tall green pines lined the edge of the lake, waving in the gusts of wind. For an instant, the rest of the world faded and my spirit joined the birds soaring upward toward the clouds. I felt joyous, complete, at peace. I soared in the freedom and happiness of just BEING.

For a few precious moments, I have no doubt that I found the very top of the world. It was in a little red car crossing that bridge over Lake Norman on I-77 North while the birds soared over the misty water.

International Family, Part 2

2011-01-05T16:08:00.000-08:00

"Family" usually indicates a group of people who are related by blood or marriage. But sometimes, a family can be created by deep and caring relationships between people who are not related at all.

Such is the "International Family" that David and I claim. We both have an appreciation of different cultures and different countries, and we open our home to visitors from around the world.

I remember as a child that I enjoyed reading stories about people in different countries. We had an old set of Childcraft Encyclopedias, and my favorite volume was "Life in Many Lands." I'd read a story, then dream about walking through the country I'd just read about.

Living close to the University of South Carolina has a few advantages -- and one is that we've met some pretty amazing students from other parts of the world. Sasikumar, from Sri Lanka has a huge heart for the oppressed in this world, especially women who are often taken advantage of socially and politically. Joe, from China, is interested in providing clean water throughout the world. Chris, from Ghana, studies about ways to improve the health of citizens in his country. One of my favorite memories is of an evening meal at my house, where these fellows joined us, along with our good friend Victor (who is of Hispanic descent).

Just this week, we added a new member to our international family -- Vera, from Ghana. She's a university student in Colorado, and is doing research about ways to improve the health of people in her native country. She wanted to focus on clean water, so she visited with us to learn about the purification system that we've installed in three villages in Ghana. We're excited to see her passion about helping others lead stronger, healthier lives through clean water practices! We're also excited to "adopt" her into our circle of diversity!

In Ghana, there's our "heartson" Richard & Victoria -- with their kids little Anita, Christabel, and Junior. And Rev. James and his wife, Mary, and their girls Lexie and Kelsey. When I visit their country, I'm always treated royally, and I love them as family.

We also have other "family"-- Sylv in Australia is my "email sister." We've shared a lot in the 10+ years that we've corresponded, and I feel like I know her family quite well! In the US, I have my "sister" Aliza in New York, and David has his "sister" Jacqui in Oregon -- PLUS I have my "DC Chatters" girlfriends -- all of whom I know I can tell anything. They're scattered throughout the US, Canada, and Australia/Tasmania.

My philosophy is simple: We can learn a lot about people by just sitting down together, sharing about our backgrounds and beliefs, and listening with our hearts as well as our ears.

As Matisyahu sings:

"All my life I've been waiting for,
I've been praying for,
for the people to say
that we don't wanna fight no more.
They'll be no more wars
and our children will play

ONE DAY......"

Teetering at the Edge

2010-12-31T05:05:00.000-08:00

Wow…December 31^st already.

So we’re perched here, teetering at the edge of good-bye to another year. It seems to me that the seasons change quicker, the days are shorter, and the years roll by much faster than they used to.

Some years are better, even easier than others. I recall a few years in which I was flat-out delighted to see December 31 finally arrive. Those were the years that brought the pain of difficult decisions, separation and divorce, deaths of loved ones and friends, or just plain “hard times.” They left me eager for a new start, a new beginning, a new year.

But 2010--for the most part--has been very good to me. I’ve laughed a lot this year, and that is always good! At our house, 2010 was The Year of the Kitchen and Back Porch. And for a couple of do-it-yourself-ers, I think we did a pretty darn good job! Little by little, we’re seeing this neat old house develop into Home, Sweet Home. David and I traveled a bit, spending a couple of weeks this summer in Ghana, seeing dear friends and installing water systems. We made several short trips throughout the year to visit my family in North Carolina. In late summer, we visited David’s mom in Florida and enjoyed a cruise with more friends. In the fall, we journeyed to Ohio to spend some precious time with my step-son and grandson. 2010 was also a year of milestones; I saw my oldest child get married, my middle child begin building her dream home, and my youngest child graduate from college. My dad celebrated his 80^th birthday with a big party that brought my aunts and uncles all together for the first time in years.

Tomorrow brings a bright new year; even the date looks promising: 1/1/11. What new secrets will the coming year share? Will this be the year I finally merge that pile of notes and stories into a real book. Becoming debt-free is looking like more of a reality -- will that happen this year? Perhaps I’ll re-acquaint myself with my sewing machine. Will I at last finish that cross-stitch bell-pull that I started (I’m ashamed to say) when my children were babies? 2011 is slated to be The Year of the Bathroom Makeover in this house, and I can honestly say I am eagerly anticipating THAT update! Maybe I’ll learn to play a harp (one of my bucket-list items).

Whether my hands wield a sledgehammer or a needle, pluck a harp string or type on a keyboard, I’m looking forward to a productive new year.

Tonight, though, I’ll fold my hands in prayer, thanking God for the family and friends I cherish, the blessings He’s so graciously given me, and the many lessons I learned in 2010. And I’ll thank Him for 2011, with its unknown mysteries to be revealed over the course of the next 365 days.

One last thing to share with you in 2010 – The Finale from Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite.

This glorious piece of music is one of my all-time favorites, and reminds me of HOPE for new tomorrows!

Blessings and Happy New Year, yall!

Elephants, Green Beans, and Super Glue

2010-12-02T17:16:00.000-08:00

You know, some days you just feel sort of.....well, ordinary. Un-special. Like there's nothing particularly remarkable about yourself or your life. One of those days when you feel like you could just melt into the wallpaper and never be missed.

I was having one of those days a couple of weeks ago. It was just one of those "Blah" days when smiles are rare and laughter seems like a foreign language.

Since this is the holiday season, I keep a running "to-do" list. With a sigh, I picked up my notebook to see what I needed to accomplish that morning.

There were three entries:

Elephants

Green Beans

Super Glue

I sat there looking at that list, and a smile spread across my face -- what an outlandishly ridiculous list that was! I seriously doubt that there was anyone else in the country with a to-do list consisting of elephants, green beans, and super glue! God was nudging me in the ribs, saying, "See, Child, you ARE unique and special! Just take a look at that list!"

And I think He was laughing as hard as I was!

*****

To translate that list:
I was supposed to collect whatever elephant carvings I had to loan to my mom for a missions program. I needed to buy a can of green beans to add to our family Thanksgiving dinner. And I needed to super-glue a tiny rhinestone back into a bracelet.

Or maybe... just maybe....... I was getting creative:

Blessings, yall!

Dashboard Message

2010-11-05T11:04:00.001-07:00

I've been going through some of my old journals and found this story that I wrote about 3 years ago. Hope you enjoy it!

"Dashboard Message" -- written Nov. 19, 2007

Today when I started my car, I got a new dashboard message. Very plainly, the letters spelled out to me "YOU ARE LOVED."

You might find that difficult to believe -- so allow me to share the whole story with you!

I drive an older model Buick Park Avenue. My children always referred to it as a land yacht. Granted, it is a large car. But one thing I really like about it are all the little "bells & whistles" -- the extra features that make it a neat car. For example, it has heated seats, which are oh-so-nice on a frosty morning!

Another feature is the dashboard message center. This small display of bright green letters lets me see my car's mileage. Or it may display a warning, such as "DOOR AJAR." Once in a while, it reads "CHECK GAUGES" when I'm running low on gasoline.

Recently, the message displayed has often read "TIRE PRESSURE LOW." I've had so much trouble lately, keeping enough air in the tires. I'd had a flat tire a few weeks prior, and bought a used tire to replace it -- which apparently had a slow air leak. It seems like every other day, I'd get that "TIRE PRESSURE LOW" message and I'd have to add more air.

Then yesterday, my dear husband checked the air pressure in all 4 tires. Yep; the back tires were both low again -- and one was very low.

Tossing me the keys, he said "Follow me!" He pulled out of the driveway in his truck, and I followed him in my car. He led me to the local tire store -- where he purchased two brand new tires for me.

I tried to pay for them, but he insisted on buying them himself. When I began to argue with him, he took both my hands in his and said, "The most precious thing in my life rides around in that big blue land yacht. It's important to me to know that the tires on it are safe."

As I drove home later, the display flashed some new words. I smiled when I saw it. Perhaps most people would read it as "TIRE PRESSURE NORMAL."

But to me, it said "YOU ARE LOVED."

Stardust and Moonshadows

2010-10-05T18:09:00.000-07:00

Our first night aboard the Grandeur of the Seas....aaaahhhhhh a little rest & relaxation is good for the soul...

Very early the next morning, David prodded me awake. "Come on! Let's go! Let's walk around the upper deck and start this beautiful day!" Now when I am at home, I rise early and take my morning walk, and quite honestly I'd sort of planned to sleep in a bit on the cruise. So much for sleeping in! I got up, donned my walking shoes and we made our way to the upper deck.

Surprise!! It was still dark. Even the SUN wasn't up yet! As we made our first round, I saw maybe 10 people, and 9 of them were crew! I was seriously ready to grumble.

Toward the rear of the ship, the lights were dim. We were so far out at sea that there was no land in sight in any direction. David and I stopped our walk to watch the wake our ship was making: a frothy trail that seemed to glow in the dark water. Cupping my hands around my face, I blocked out as much of the artificial light as I could. It took my eyes a moment to adjust to the darkness, and then I began to see them: stars, thousands of them, dusting far above us. We picked out Orion's belt, the Big Dipper, and located Jupiter. The longer that we watched, it seemed that more and more stars became visible in the velvety blackness. Twinkling, sparkling, multi-colored "diamonds in the sky" -- more than I think I've ever been able to see before. For several minutes, we were totally absorbed in the infinite majesty that is always just above our heads!

My grumbles evaporated -- if I'd stayed in bed, I would have missed the stardust of the morning! Our day was off to a glorious beginning!

*** *** *** *** ***

Fast forward several hours to the late evening...

We stood again at that same rail, watching the sea churning behind us. Overhead the full moon shown like a spotlight. The occasional whitecap splashed into view, reflecting in the moonlight. A few clouds floated in the night sky, obscuring many of the stars. Once in a while, the moon would duck behind a cloud, leaving us surrounded in the shadows. Yet, even shrouded by a cloud, the moon still glowed and we knew it would come back out eventually, returning like an old friend.

The day had been fun and exciting. None of the "regular hum-drum" routine crossed my mind. (Not that there IS much "hum-drum routine" in my life these days!) It had begun with stardust, and ended with moonshadows. How special this day has been, I thought.

And then it hit me. Every day we live is special. The routine days are just as special as the exciting ones. The days we feel great joy and happiness, and the days we feel deep sorrow, hurt and rejection. The days we mark with big red circles of eager anticipation on our calendars, and the days we put a big X-mark over because we're relieved they've passed. Easy days that flit quickly by and difficult days that seem to drag on well beyond their allotted 24 hours.

Even when we don't actually see them, each day begins with stardust and ends with moonshadows. That alone makes them special!

Selah!

Longing For Home

2010-10-02T17:02:00.000-07:00

(Written on Sept. 21, 2010, onboard Royal Caribbean's "Grandeur of the Seas" as we headed toward Grand Cayman.)

I snagged a couple of poolside chairs and managed to get in a little snooze after our early morning walk. But by 10:30, the sun was blazing in the sky and the day began heating up. Rather than risk a sunburn on our first day out, we gave up the lounges to a young couple, and moved to a table in the shaded area on the port side of the ship. I began watching the sea as we churned through the water.

Off on the distant horizon I could see the uneven outline of an island: Cuba, I realized. Purplish hazy hills jutted out of the deep sapphire blue sea; we were too far away to see any details. I stood at the ship's rail, watching as we moved past this mysterious country.

To my right, I noticed an older gentleman. He was dressed in a dark t-shirt, plaid shorts, white socks and tennis shoes. I guessed him to be in his late 70's or early 80's. He was gazing out at the island, apparently lost in deep thought.

After several moments, he looked around and saw that I was also looking out to sea. He did not smile, but nodding his head toward the land, he spoke. "Cuba. My homeland."

He turned back to face the island. "When I left there, I was a very young man, a strong man. Now....I am old." He paused for a long while, then added, "I miss my homeland." With that, he gave me a sad smile, then turned and walked away. I felt almost voyeuristic, realizing that I'd been given a very private glimpse into the gentleman's life.

For a moment, all of the laughter, music, noise, and gaiety of the cruise ship faded to silence as I watched that one lonely soul, longing for home.

***

In a sense, we who follow Jesus share a similar emotion with that gentleman. We exist in the here and now, realizing that we don't always "fit" --but for now we have to stay. There are things we must do, people we must meet, all parts of our purpose. We think of friends and loved ones who linger on in our memories, and look forward to that glad Heavenly reunion day.

We're here, in the world, with all of the noise and distractions -- yet deep inside, we also are longing for Home.

Selah.

86 New US Citizens!

2010-09-15T19:08:00.000-07:00

Most days, I tend to take the blessings of my US citizenship for granted. I grew up reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag every morning at school. (Do they still do that? They should!) I remember my high school Spanish teacher, Dr. Alberto Valdez. A Cuban refugee, he used to stand on top of his desk, waving a tiny American flag, shouting and preaching to us that we had no idea how lucky we were to be born in the USA. We were kids – and likely thought he was a bit nuts! I grew up, I registered to vote as soon as I was eligible, and I’ve exercised that right every election. But to be honest, the privilege of being born in a country that provides me with so much freedom is not something I think about a whole lot. Like most of us, I take it for granted most of the time.

But earlier this week, I had the opportunity to witness the naturalization ceremony of a good friend, Mr. William Aludo of Kenya. And it truly made me stop and give thanks for my country and my freedom.

We arrived at the Office of Immigration and Naturalization in Charlotte a bit early. After processing through security – a lot like trying to get through airline gates – we were directed to wait in a large room filled with rows of chairs. At first, there were just a couple of other people waiting, but soon the room was filled with people! Multi-lingual conversations filled the air; this couple was speaking Spanish; another couple conversed in Vietnamese; still others spoke an Indian dialect. Men, women, boys, girls – all ages. One elderly lady hobbled with her cane. Small children tugged at their parents’ hands, sensing the excitement of the day.

The people were all “shades of tan” from very dark to very light – beautiful diversity! Most were dressed in “nice” clothes – like they were going to church. I saw only a very few folks there wearing jeans. One young lady carried a huge bouquet of flowers.

As I marveled at all of these people, I realized that each one of them had a story, a history, that led them to that particular moment. I wondered how they came to the United States, what circumstances led to their decision to seek citizenship here.

An INS officer entered the room with a stack of papers and asked all of the citizen candidates to line up with their papers. They were escorted out of the room. A few moments later, another officer asked those of us who were family members and friends to follow her to the swearing in ceremony.

We entered a large room to the beat of a rousing Sousa march. The 86 citizen candidates were already seated in the center of the room, clutching small US flags. Family and friends sat on the sides. Smiles and cameras flashed simultaneously, lighting up the room. After a brief welcome, the lights dimmed so we could watch a video entitled “The Faces of America.”

That video moved me. It began with a photograph of the Statue of Liberty and the words, “Give me your poor, your tired, your huddled masses…” Black and white photos of people who came to our country years ago, seeking refuge, seeking freedom. It hit me, then, that my own family members once were immigrants themselves. Someone just a few generations ago in my own lineage arrived in this country, seeking a new and better life. I gave thanks to God for those great-great-grandparents, whoever they were. My eyes misted over as I tried to imagine how they felt, being strangers in a strange new land, full of hope for opportunities.

After the video, the INS officers began calling out the countries represented by the new citizens, and they stood when their former country’s name was called. Albania... Botswana... Chile... Ecuador... India… Kenya… Laos… Nicaragua…Peru… Russia… Sudan… Taiwan… Vietnam… Thirty-nine different countries, all together.

They raised their right hands and repeated the Oath of Allegiance: “I hereby declare on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.”

Then the officer beamed and said, “Congratulations to our newest United States Citizens!” The room erupted in cheers and applause! I think every single face in that room was smiling broadly!

We watched a brief video of our President Barak Obama, welcoming the new citizens. One more patriotic video played – Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” -- then it was time for photographs! Families cheered, total strangers swapped cameras and took pictures for each other, people were shaking hands, hugging, clapping one another on the back. Everyone was congratulating the new citizens.

I witnessed pride in accomplishment; I saw brotherly love in action, I heard freedom ring, loud and clear. I felt patriotism for this great nation well up in my heart. This is a day that I will remember for a very long time….

In the diversity of that roomful of people, there was unity, and it just felt GOOD.

CONGRATULATIONS, WILLIAM!!!! WE ARE PROUD OF YOU!!!! GOD BLESS YOU!!!
(L-R: Denise Aludo, William Aludo, David Waters, Davi Trotti, Anita Tarlton)

Culture Shock

2010-07-23T06:26:00.000-07:00

As we emerged from the plane into the busy Atlanta Airport, my senses were immediately assaulted by bright lights, flashy American advertisements, noise, and the usual US rush-rush hustle-bustle. I literally gasped in shock. Too much noise, too much "slickness," too much consumerism....

Driving home on smoothly paved roads, I don't feel any bumpy potholes. The other drivers stay in their lanes, come fairly close to maintaining the allowed speed limit, and don't blow their horns constantly. Quite a change from my experiences of the last couple of weeks.

Once home, I looked at our neighborhood. There were no high fences topped with constantine wire or broken glass to deter robbers as is common in the cities in Ghana. A neighbor, on his riding lawnmower, waved at us. I remembered seeing some men with machetes, hacking at the grass in front of a home in Tema...

I take a deep breath and smell....nothing, really. But the scents of acrid smoke, sweat, sea, animals, and fumes from vehicles all linger in my mind from Ghana.

I loaded the washing machine, added detergent, turned it on and walked away. Then I remembered Aggie and Maggie, sitting on low stools, scrubbing our clothes in a tub and hanging them across the fence to dry.

Ahhhh......hot water and a long shower, feels absolutely delicious. Though the tepid-cool showers in Ghana were a pleasure there, cooling my skin temporarily.

Gazing into the mirror, I suddenly realize that this was the first time I'd seen my image in nearly three weeks. Didn't have a mirror in Ghana; didn't need one. It didn't occur to me that it would matter what I looked like.

Taming my hair with hot rollers to make it conform to my "American standards"... why do I not think I can just let it go here, like I do in Ghana? The breeze blows it dry, the little bit of natural curl I inherited makes it wavy.

My husband comes in, bringing some groceries. We put things neatly away in cupboards and in our refrigerator. There's a gracious plenty of food -- we could live off of the food in our cabinets, refrigerator, and freezer for quite some time and not even have to go to the store. There is very little refrigeration in Ghana, even in the urban areas that have electricity. Most meals take a long time to prepare: peeling and cutting the fresh fruits and vegetables, slaughtering the goat or chicken or cleaning the fish, simmering the spices over a stove or a fire all take a long time.

On the counter, David places two ripe fresh plantains. Neither of us speaks -- but we both smile. We'll have a taste of Ghana at dinner, tonight, just to help us remember.....

Three Days -- what it's all about

2010-07-23T06:22:00.001-07:00

Our game plan was to spend Monday through Wednesday after the team left evaluating the trip, visiting with friends, and relaxing. However I'd begun to feel a bit bad over the weekend. Saturday I nursed a scratchy sore throat; Sunday found me sneezing and sniffling. What I *thought* was going to be a simple summer cold turned very ugly. By Monday morning I was in the middle of a full-blown "asthmatic episode" which left me literally gasping for every breath. As soon as a pharmacy was open on Monday, our friend Stephen took us to get some medication for me. It was pricey (about $90 USD) but at that point I'd have maxed out every credit card I had to get some relief. I spent most of the day doing absolutely nothing. By evening I was feeling MUCH better.

For me, Monday and Tuesday is sort of a blur. I'd get up and go a while, then nap a while. But David managed to get a good bit accomplished and I joined him as I could.

David took the time to go back to the dump, taking Bishop James with him to witness the conditions there first-hand. They discussed several options about ways to help those children. Besides the obvious issue of massive poverty, they face other problems. For example, often the parents do not care if their kids go to school or not; sometimes the kids have to work picking through the garbage for items to recycle. Another big problem is that the schools closest to the dump are still about a 2-mile walk that includes crossing a major 4-lane highway.

Ideas that we are considering include purchasing a van to transport the kids to schools in and around Community 25, or perhaps trying to get a school started at the edge of the dump itself. Given the transient nature of the residents, it can be difficult to keep track of the children themselves. It is a huge problem -- and a huge burden on our hearts.

Early Monday afternoon, we walked to Jerusalem Gates Academy, where donors helped us sponsor several children out of the dump last year. We took some candies to share with the children. We were sad to see that the number of students was significantly smaller this year; the headmaster indicated that since the school was relocating, many students were going to different schools. After more discussion and prayers, we decided to look for different avenues for the dump children's education.

We stopped by Manye Foundation Academy on Tuesday. There we met five volunteers, students from Dartmouth College in the US. We spent some time talking with them, and with the headmaster. The college students were about as excited to see us as we were to see them! Before we left, they'd agreed to stop for a visit on Wednesday, and David planned to take them to the dump for a look around.

We agreed to sponsor four children into this academy. Later I'll tell you their stories, so be watching in the coming days for information about Racheal, Comfort, Raphael, and Joseph.

Also on Tuesday, David pounded fufu with Mary and Emmanuel! He later feasted on that fufu at dinner! They also made my favorite fried plantains! YUMMY!!!

Tuesday evening, I met Joann, who is heading up the Christ Harvests Academies. I am very impressed by this lady's professionalism and drive to help provide a superior education to children, and I look forward to working with her!

By Wednesday, I was feeling pretty good. It was our last full day in Ghana; we were scheduled to fly out Thursday morning at 1 am. We had a lot of things we needed to catch up with before we left, so we hit the ground running.

A few years ago we met a young man named Cedric Emmanuel who had been badly burned on his face, arms, and hands. His medical bills were covered through efforts by Waters Edge Ministries. Recently a friend of ours saw the young man's photograph -- then contacted us that he wanted to help the young man with his education. This benefactor is a graduate student at USC who is from a different country -- and has a huge heart for children. With Richard's help, we contacted the headmistress at the school where he attended. We drove to the school where she serves, and she accompanied us to the junior high school that the now 13-year-old young man attends.

Upon our arrival, Cedric Emmanuel was brought to the office. He recognized us and gave a slight smile, but did not speak much. He wears a jacket all the time to cover his scarred arms; his hands are scarred and the joints of his little fingers are immobile and twisted. One of his ears was burned off; the other is partially gone.

The school headmistress told us that before the accident, he'd been a bright and happy student. When he returned, his scarred face frightened other students and they'd run from him. She expressed concern that he seemed depressed. (Who wouldn't be depressed???) She also shared some information about his home life -- he lives sometimes with his father and other times with his grandmother; neither send enough money for him to purchase food during the day. Usually he brings about 80 pesewas -- roughly 50 cents -- which would not buy a pittance of food. The headmistress often takes him home with her and feeds him dinner at night.

We explained that a benefactor wanted to take care of his educational costs, and he smiled as broadly as he could. My eyes teared up; it was obvious that he was grateful that someone wanted to help him, that someone cared about him.

This is what it's all about:

Connecting people through the Love of Christ.

******

The Dartmouth students came over for a visit; it was fun sitting on the porch and talking with them. David took them for a visit to the dump. It is impossible to see that place and not feel moved...

The rest of the evening, visitors were in and out to tell us good-bye, including Pastor Johnson, Chief Takyi, Ben, Christina, Victoria & the kids. We packed our bags, and shared a final dinner together. I tasted one more slice of fresh sweet bread to hold me over till next year. Gave one more giant bear hug to Bishop James -- also to hold me over till next year.

About 8:30 pm, we loaded Richard's Jeep Cherokee with our luggage. He, Victoria, Little Anita, Christabel, and Junior all piled in to drive us to Kotoka Airport.

At 1 am, Delta Flight 185 took off. We were headed home.

Weekend wrap up

2010-07-23T05:51:00.000-07:00

Saturday and Sunday, July 17 & 18

After the long week "on the road" in the Volta region, everybody slept in on Saturday morning! I think we all needed the rest; we'd worked really hard and accomplished a good bit. Along the way we built some relationships that are precious and priceless -- and help to show others the Jesus that is living in our hearts.

The Grace Team needed to make another trip to the Accra Arts and Crafts Market and they spent most of the day there. David and I ran some errands and made some visits in and around Tema.

We spent some time in the Tema market -- searching in vain for Kingsbite chocolate. That's one of our favorite treats. However, the factory had been shut down for a few weeks for maintenance, so we learned, and nobody in the market had any of the candies for sale. Pastor Paul drove us to the Evergreen Supermarket -- a large store fashioned like those in the USA. There we found Kingsbite, and purchased several bars to share with folks back home.

We enjoyed a long visit with Richard's wife Victoria and their three children Anita, Christabell, and Junior. Last year, they moved into a different apartment. It's outside of Tema, and as we drove there with Pastor Paul King, we were frustrated at how "far out" the place seemed to be. But when we arrived and entered, we were excited about how nice the place is -- bright, airy, spacious. It is by far the nicest place they've ever lived.

Later that afternoon, we walked around Community 11 a bit. I showed David a house I'd stayed in several years ago -- just a couple of blocks from where we were this year.

As we walked hand-in-hand, my mind wandered back a few years....my friend Rita and I walked along these same streets, laughing like a couple of schoolgirls, happy as we could be. I smiled with the memory; then remembering how our lives have changed since those times, I gave thanks.

The Grace Team arrived back home just as we returned from our walk. Everyone was excited about their purchases, and their excitement was contagious. Mackenzie modeled her new dress; John played his new drum; Sydney was thrilled with the carved birds she'd found. It was just plain FUN!!! I giggled to see the excitement among the group, and it was fun to share in their joy.

Sunday dawned and we all got up early -- we were to speak at two church services, sharing a bit about our experience with those who'd hosted and prayed for us. When we arrived at Christ Harvests the Nations in Comm. 4, the place was alive with singing and dancing and praise! We joined it, smiling and clapping. Praising Jesus whole-heartedly is one of my favorite memories of any trip to Ghana! Each team member spoke about the experiences that meant the most to them: the worship, visiting the kids at the dump, going to Potwabin, touring Elmina, worship at Kpeve, seeing village life in Adigbo Tornu, bringing pure physical water and the Living Water to Bame Atome, the wonderful people, the hospitality....we could share forever....

We left Comm. 4 and drove to the new church facility being constructed in Community 25. The building is nowhere near finished -- but that does not stop it from being used for worship and praise!! We shared once again, then left for home.

We had a late lunch -- it was our Farewell Celebration meal. The Grace Team made pasta alfredo and green beans -- I realized how much I'd missed green beans as I helped myself to seconds! Saturday night, Kristy sat on a low stool in the kitchen, teaching Ruth and Esther how to string the beans and prepare them for cooking. Their efforts paid off -- YUM!!!! Our Ghana hosts prepared jollof rice, fried chicken, bread, pineapple, kontumerie (sort of like spinach with smoked fish), goat stew, and a huge salad. We enjoyed the meal immensely -- and the company even more. We shared this meal with everyone that had helped us -- our cooks Aggie, Maggie, and Christina; Ben, Richard, Evelyn, Doris, and Bishop Godlly; Pastor Johnson and Chief Takyi; our drivers Kofi & Yaw. Other friends from Christ Harvests the Nations dropped by just to say goodbyes.

The Grace Team was flying out that evening, so they began packing up and getting ready for a long journey back to the USA. About 9 pm, goodbyes were shared along with hugs and smiles and they boarded the bus. We followed behind them in the car and helped them unload their bags at Kotoka Airport. One more round of hugs and farewells-- and they entered the airport terminal. We drove back to Tema.

They were headed home....or so we thought!

We hadnt even made it back to Bishop James' house when we got a phone call that their flight had been cancelled!!! The airline provided them with a room and some meal vouchers, so they stayed an extra day in Accra -- then flew out Monday night.

Well...actually Tuesday morning.

Ahhh Ghana time.... you just have to learn to adjust!

Retreat at Logba Tota

2010-07-18T01:45:00.000-07:00

Friday July 16, 2010

I woke up in the coolness of Logba Tota, remembering a childhood hymn my mother taught me: "God's beautiful world, God's beautiful world, I love God's beautiful world. He made it for you, he made it for me, I love God's beautiful world."

Logba is a natural retreat; it is the perfect spot to relax and unwind after the busyness of the week. And it is a perfect place to reflect upon God's creation and grace, and commune with the Spirit.

There are several lovely waterfalls around the mountain. Several years ago, I made the hike down to the falls and back -- quite a workout! A few of the Grace team mates laced up their tennis shoes and headed out to see the falls.

I knew that physically I was not quite up to that trek this year (maybe next year!). David and I spent the morning in the village of "upstairs" Logba Tota. We first visited the new school built by some Dutch philanthropists. It is a good sized school; the facility is solidly constructed and is a "jewel in the crown" of the town. The person who donated a good bit of the money for the school is having a home built beside the school. We explored the partially constructed house, which is built into the side of the mountain. Breath-taking views will greet them each morning once they move into the place: the master bedroom has a huge window that overlooks a valley stretching several miles before another rocky mountain rises from the red dirt.

As I stood in that partially constructed home, looking out over that valley, I remembered a song from my childhood -- "God's beautiful world, God's beautiful world, I love God's beautiful world. He made it for you, He made it for me, I love God's beautiful world."

Nobody spoke for several moments as we basked in the newness of the morning, looking across the African countryside.

Eventually, we continued our trek through Logba Tota. We walked back through the town, where we had worshiped the night before, and then continued up the rocky path toward the church building. Christ Harvests is sponsoring a nursery school that uses the church building, and we visited with the 10 children. They had no teaching supplies to speak of: Children took their naps on old cardboard boxes that had been split and laid out on the dirt floor. The teacher did not even have a chalkboard; she used drawings on paper that she'd created herself, teaching English words to the children. David gave the kids toffees (candies) as we said goodbye.

Next we paid a visit to my friend Agben & his parents. They live even farther up the mountain!! Agben's dad is crippled --I think he may have had a stroke a few years back-- and rarely (if ever) leaves his house. Each time I go to Logba, I try to visit this family; it is an important relationship to me. We shared some photographs taken last year, made a few new pictures, and then bid them farewell.

Walking back down the mountain, through this village, then back to Fount Hill, I marveled at God's goodness! And I am always struck at the difference between "needs" and "wants" that becomes so obvious when I visit this place. Life is simple here; yet people give thanks and praise to God every day.

Back at Fount Hill, lunch was almost ready. The Grace Church hikers returned from their trek to the waterfalls -- most of them tired and maybe a bit muddy, but glad for the opportunity to see the beauty of God's creation.

After lunch, we packed up the bus -- which meant taking our luggage and all of the kitchen equipment and supplies back down the hill where the bus was parked -- and headed back to Tema -- about a three-hour ride.

Tired, but joyful, we were "home" again in Community 11. The "work" part of our mission was complete. We give thanks to God for the group, for the trip, for the things HE accomplished through us, and for the opportunities we've experienced in this journey.

Monkeys and an Angel

2010-07-17T11:48:00.001-07:00

Thursday, July 15, 2010

We left Ho this morning by way of Pastor Thywill's home. He is in 9 days of fasting and mourning for his wife; we did not stay long but we wanted to tell him we appreciated the use of the house for the team.

After fueling the bus and car, we were on the road to Logba Tota -- one of my favorite places on earth!

Every year we wind up our trip by a visit to the mountaintop village of Logba Tota. It is a wildly beautiful and spiritual place. As we made our way through the countryside, I noticed men mowing the shoulders of the road with machetes -- back-breaking work, for sure. Fields of corn and cassava dotted the hills.

As a surprise, Chief Takyi arranged for us to visit the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary. We turned off the main road and drove 5 km on a rough, dusty road through bush that was taller than the bus. At last we entered a clearing by a sign "You are entering the Monkey Sanctuary."

We gathered together as a young man introduced himself as Emmanual and said he would be our guide for the hike into the jungle. We began to follow him down a narrow path. We had not walked very far when he showed us a "strangling tree" -- a parasitic tree that was literally strangling a palm tree by growing around and over it. It almost looked like a giraffe's neck, along side the palm.

We followed him further into the jungle, listening as he explained the history of the village and the Mona Monkeys that safely live there.

The Tafi people migrated to this area from the Central Regino of Ghana by the Volta River. They were considered to be fierce fighters, and brought along their idols to worship. They built a shrine to the idol, then when they went to war, they'd leave their belongings in the forest at the shrine. Whenever they won the war, they'd find all of their belongings in the forest, safe and secure at the shrine, being guarded by the Mona monkeys. They decided that the forest was sacred, and made it a preserved sanctuary. The only trees felled were those needed to be removed for a roadway. The monkeys were not to be killed because they were considered messengers to their god.

In 1908, Christianity was introduced and they did away with their idols. Some monkeys were killed; some trees were cut down. In the 1980's, John Mason visited the area and began researching the monkeys. He advised the people of the benefits of conserving the forest and protecting the monkeys. Some non-governmental organizations got involved, creating an official sanctuary of 80-90 acres in 1996. At this time, five colonies of monkeys live here -- the total number of monkeys is about 300. Each colony has a leader.

As we followed Emmanuel deeper into the jungle, he began making a shrill noise to call the monkeys. Before very long we heard a rustle over our heads -- and suddenly there were several monkeys in the trees by the path! Their leader, Commando, was a HUGE fellow, and he kept his distance from us humans. Emmanuel gave us banana halves and we held them up for the other monkeys to peel and snatch the fruit from our hands. It was SO MUCH FUN!!! We laughed and took photographs until our bananas ran out. Then we heard a deep grunt: Commando was telling his "family" it was time to move along. And just as quickly as they arrived, they left us.

This was absolutely one of the coolest "treats" I've ever experienced! I want to return to Tafi Atome again!!

We boarded the bus and drove back out to the main road -- but crossed it: we were on our way up the mountain! Up, up, up we climbed; my ears began popping. About halfway up, the temperature noticeably dropped. The Kofi manuevered that huge bus around all of the hairpin turns -- except the final one up the driveway to Fount Hill, where we would spend the night. So all of the luggage had to be off-loaded at the base of the hill and we carried our belongings the last leg.

The views from Fount Hill are indescribable -- breathtaking African vistas; in one direction you can see Lake Volta in the far distance. Look in another direction, and you see high, rocky bluffs. Still another direction reveals the town of "upstairs" Logba Tota. Chief Takyi's family owns Fount Hill. There are two houses at the top of the hill; one is new this year and has three bedrooms with private baths and a living room. I learned it was built in just 3 weeks' time when family members needed a place to stay when their beloved aunt passed away.

We enjoyed the scenery, had some dinner, and then walked down the hill and up into the town for a worship service in the center of the village. The area was lit by some really bright fluorescent bulbs (we all know how stage actors feel -- we couldnt see a thing because the lights blinded us!). The drumming and dancing was rhythmic and many of us joined in the dance. Pastor John brought a message, translated by Pastor Bertrand; later Pastor Frank also spoke to the worshipers.

As the service ended and we started back to our home for the night, I saw my friend Agben. I always look for Agben; I met him at my very first visit in 2001. He has Downs Syndrome, and is in his late 20's -- Pastor Bertrand is his brother. We'd brought him a bouncy ball that lit up when it hit the ground. The pure joy on his face makes me smile, just remembering ....

He hugged me really tightly, and held my hand while we began to walk toward the house. When he left, he smiled again, then shyly gave me a kiss on the cheek. My eyes filled with tears -- what a sweet and gentle soul Agben is. I know that one of these days, I'll make that trek up the mountain and he will be flying with the angels. But for now, he's an angel here on earth and I am honored to be his friend.

Later that evening as we lay down to sleep, the misty fog turned in to a gentle rain, pattering on the leaves of the trees sheltering our Team 2010 in the house on Fount Hill.

Making visits

2010-07-17T01:34:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, July 15, 2010

We spent a lot of this day on the road. We were invited to a couple of different church plant areas that are part of Christ Harvests the Nations. In these rural areas, wherever they plant a church they also start a school.

Our first stop was at Labo Labo, whose pastor is Ted Heavenway. (Yes, that's his real name! Often Ghanaian pastors will change their names to reflect their Christian beliefs.) Bishop James met us there, along with Chief Takyi. The pastor shared with us that the church school began with 10 kids but after 4 months they had 46 children enrolled. They meet under a palm-roof, seated on wooden benches on a dirt floor; the three classrooms are divided by tarps strung from the ceiling. This building doubles as a church building for services.

Pastor Heavenway explained that while 46 children were enrolled, they all did not always attend. Some days, the children are needed to work on the farms to help support their families. Another deterrent is that the church and school building are across a very busy road, and the people have to dodge heavy traffic in order to attend. Indeed, as we were visiting we saw several large trucks and cars speeding by -- it is indeed a hazard. Most towns have zebra lines and speed bumps to force people to slow down, but there are none in Labo Labo. Believe me, with Ghanaian traffic, you can be taking your life in your own hands trying to cross a busy road!

We asked the Pastor what his top three priorities were for the school at Labo Labo.

He said the number one need was the zebra stripes and speed bumps for the safety of the children. This would cost 200 Ghana Cedis (less than $150 USD).

The second need was for a more permanent structure. The concrete blocks would cost about 3000 Ghana Cedis (about $2100 USD). He indicated that the community would provide the labor to construct the facility.

Teacher salaries are also on the list; this school pays about 30 Ghana Cedis (about $21 USD) per month to the three teachers. Currently, their salaries are paid by fees collected from the students; but sometimes they are not paid because the families cannot always afford to pay the fees.

We talked with the pastor some more, and our team sang some songs with the students. Before we left, a team member had partnered with us to provide the money needed for the zebra stripes and speed bumps. We are thankful for this generous heart who now "has a speed bump in Africa" providing a safer walk to church and school for many people.

Since we had another invitation, we were not able to stay long. We boarded the bus and began driving to the town of Dzodze -- pronounced "jo - jeh" -- almost like a twangy "Georgia". We asked how long a drive -- and were told about an hour. An African hour is about ...oh.... 2 and a half, maybe 3 sixty-minute spans. You never know exactly how long you're going to be on the road, nor if you're going to be having regularly scheduled meals.

We stopped back by the house in Ho and ate some lunch, then continued toward Dzodze. Seemed to me like we rode forever! At last, we stopped by the side of the road. Bishop James wanted to show us a mango farm that Christ Harvests had recently established in order to raise funds to pay its pastors. The 17-acre plot of land had been cleared and a crop of corn had been raised; then they planted the mangos. The first harvest will come off in about 3 years.

Back on the bus -- the town of Dzodze was only another 5 minutes away. Christ Harvests has a church and school meeting in a more permanent structure here. The tin roofed, concrete building housed about 120 children in the nursery, kindergarten, first and second grades. Five teachers serve along with Pastor Wisdom. They serve one meal each day to the students. We noticed that this facility made good use of rainwater harvesting, with guttering and downspouts draining into a huge hand-dug cistern.

Chief Takyi introduced us and we visited a few minutes with the teachers and staff before going outside with the children. We gave them a soccer ball and some other supplies. The team again sang songs with the children. We learned from our conversation with the pastor and teachers that their single biggest need was appropriate toilet facilities. Their second need was for a vehicle to help bring children to the school. Third and fourth priorities for them were land and a permanent structure for a larger facility to serve as church and school.

Time was getting late; we waved good-bye to the kids as we boarded the bus and headed back to Ho for the evening.

*****

Sometimes we face frustrations here. The time factor is always an issue -- we from the US tend to be very focused on using our available time, but our African friends are not that concerned about it. (There was an article in today's Ghana Daily Graphic newspaper about this very issue). And to them, driving 2 or 3 hours is no big deal -- but to us, it is almost an ordeal. And sometimes I feel as though we spend so much time traveling from place to place that we don't get to spend quality time with the children.

Another issue is with utilities. Electricity and water may go off, at any time and stay off for quite a while. This happened at the house in Ho: the water was off for about a day. While I can see that this is improving in Ghana, it does still occur. And to visitors it can be a real aggravation. (I am remembering the "rolling blackouts" they had a few years back. Electricity was off for 12-hour periods every three days. I'm grateful THAT practice has stopped!)

Back in Ho for the evening; we asked about going to a service at Pastor Thywill's church, but none were scheduled. So we relaxed and planned for tomorrow's trip to Logba Tota.

Purify!!

2010-07-15T01:52:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, July 14, 2010

What a great day we had!

After worshipping with Pastor Johnson's congregation in Kpeve and spending the night in Ho, the team boarded the bus and headed toward Adigbo Tornu. Pastor Johnson drove David and me to a hardware stall in Ho to pick up a few plumbing supplies and we met the group in the village.

We gathered in the shade with the chiefs and elders for a formal visit. John Cromer spoke for the Grace Church group, extending their greetings. Then we explained formally the reason for our visit. It was gratifying that the folks in the village remembered us. We had heard that one of the fellows we trained last year, Mr. Blackson, had passed away; we expressed our condolences to them at his death.

David had copies of several photographs we made last year, and we located the individuals to give them their pictures. That was a lot of fun for both the giver and the recipient!

Last year, Waters Edge Ministries installed our very first purifier in this village and they are our "flagship" effort. Pastor Johnson has been terrific as our "man on the ground" here, checking on the system and how the village has been using it. There were some cultural issues to be addressed -- the women would bring the water to the tank, but sometimes the men would not run the system in a timely manner. We determined that installing a pump might solve that problem.

When we arrived, we noticed right away that they had built a steadier foundation for the polytank, and constructed a ladder along side of it. Near the edge of the lake, a gasoline-powered fuel pump was installed. The villagers had also hand-dug a trench through the rocky soil and laid a pipeline from the pump up to the polytank -- approximately 600 yards. Impressive!!!

As David checked on the system itself and talked with the gentlemen in the village who were charged with running it, our team took time to walk through the village, talk with the people, and get an idea of what life in an African village was really like. Many of the children tagged along with us, taking our hands and letting us show God's love through our caring. I recognized Mary, a teenage girl, as one in a video we filmed of last year's "Water Dance" celebration after the installation was a success. She walked with me, as did tiny Allison -- who seemed a bit frightened at first, but soon was smiling and laughing as well.

We saw the kitchen huts, where the majority of the cooking is done using a clay oven. Young boys wove colorful kente cloth on looms that stretched many feet. At the edge of Lake Volta, fishermen were hauling in some of their catch of fresh tilapia as others mended nets. Ladies carried tubs full of freshly caught fish atop their heads back up the slope into the village, where the fish were dried and smoked and ready to sell in the market. Men were chopping the ground with picks, clearing away some brush so that more cassava could be planted. The thatch-roofed mud huts are clustered around neatly swept red dirt yards.

At the far edge of the village the kids attend school in a building constructed of mud walls and a palm-leaf roof. They sit on wooden benches as they recite their lessons. We spent some time singing and talking with the kids there; the Grace team also made some balloon animals to share with them.

Soon it was time to leave -- we were going to install a new system in the village of Bame. This system was provided through a grant from the Southern Baptist Association.

After a long drive (I think ALL drives in Africa are long!!!) we turned off the main road and onto a rocky rippled road that led into Bame. The yards were neatly swept around the mud huts in this village at the base of a mountain. Plastic chairs of blue and white were arranged underneath shade trees -- they were expecting us.

We met Pastor Zogli and hiw wife Georgina as well as the elders of the village. John extended greetings from the group, and then Pastor Zogli addressed us. "I cannot express my joy," he shared. There are about 600 people who live in this area, and when Pastor Johnson said we were going to install this system for them, he rejoiced. "It is one of the greatest gifts in my life, " he said. I got chill-bumps all over when he made that remark: that is exactly WHY we do this -- to show God's love through providing pure water an letting them know that it is the LIVING WATER of Christ that has placed this on our hearts. It makes me grateful, so very grateful, for Christ in our lives.

Dottie, Zach, Sidney, and MacKenzie sang, danced, and worked with the children of the village as we got to work on the water system.

A permanent well about 30' deep serves the community. The village had already prepared a platform, atop which sat the polytank, and they had installed a gasoline-powered pump with the pipelines already in place. They had filled the tank in anticipation of our arrival. It was obvious that they were willing to join in this endeavor.

Joseph, Emmanuel, and Komola have volunteered to work the system in Bame. These three gentlemen very carefully followed the instructions, interpreted by Pastor Zogli. His wife, Georgina and another lady, Senna also listened carefully. David, assisted by Sid, Bobby, John, Julia, and Christi explained and demonstrated putting the system together and testing the water for chlorine. They went over it several times, then stood back and allowed the men to try it. They quickly put it together a couple of times -- and then the two ladies wanted to try! They also had figured it out. So there are 5 people there that are able to put the purifier together and run it! AMEN!!!

They set the purifier into operation and allowed it to begin working. While we waited, we talked with Pastor Zogli and visited with some of the folks there. At around 6:00 the chlorine level read 5 parts per million -- BINGO!! A successful installation!!! Another "Water Dance" celebration, with candies for the children, and a prayer of praise!

Darkness was approaching, and we said our goodbyes and began the drive back to Ho. We promised to try to return next year -- it is not just about the water....it's about establishing the relationships, showing people there that we care and that GOD cares.

And as we drove home in the darkness, I smiled and said, "Thank you, God, for a VERY GOOD DAY!!!"

Blessings!

Anita

Christina's Seranade

2010-07-14T01:34:00.000-07:00

Christina’s Serenade -- July 12, 2010 in Tema, Ghana

Christina was our chief cook last year in Ghana, and she has catered for us some this year as well. I very much admire and love her. She has this gentle, sweet spirit about her; an amiable calmness that makes you feel cared about and welcome. When she dances at church she moves with a gentle gracefulness, swaying in the rhythm of the music -- and you cannot help but feel the Spirit is dancing with her.

Sunday evening, I was feeling a bit down, frustrated and hurt about some issues. As the Grace Church group went into the back room for their meeting after dinner, I began to help clear the table. I’d take a load of plates and empty dishes into the kitchen, and she’d take them from me and stack them by the sink where Auntie Aggie started washing them. When we finished, I sort of hung around in the kitchen a little while, and David joined me there. And then God used Christina in a big way to lighten my spirits. We simply sat and talked a while.

We discovered we were all three Wednesday-born people. In Ghana people are given a middle name based on the day of the week that they are born. So Christina and I are both Akua and David is Kweku. At this revelation, she nodded and said that would explain our feeling of connection.

We told her how much we like to see her dance at church. Honestly, it is as beautiful an expression of praise as I have ever seen. She shared with us, “As I enter the worship, I give my whole body, my entire being to HIM. I dance with Him, and I dance for Him.” She spoke of King David dancing so totally in the Spirit that he danced out of his clothing and his wife chastised him. Chuckling, she said, “You cannot be concerned with pleasing the world. Like David’s wife, the world is never satisfied. You only concern yourself with pleasing the Lord.”

Later she remarked to us that she thought David and I “matched well together.” She explained that he is boisterous and energetic while I am calm and more reserved. “You balance one another,” she said -- which is something we’ve heard often, from many different people.

Her eyes twinkled and she laughed. “I want to tell you some gossip about you.” I thought ohhhh kaaaayyyy…. She’s known me for many years and I wondered what she was about to tell on me! She then said, “When I saw you here two years ago, I asked my friend, ’Who is this woman with the white hair?’ I could not believe it! I did not even recognize you -- your happiness has changed your whole face, your whole posture, your whole being!” We laughed, then David and I shared our love story with her. Soon everyone in the kitchen was laughing and enjoying each other’s company, sharing bits about our lives.

“Me? I am still looking. But for now I just dream,“ Christina told us. Then she began to sing that old Everly Brothers song, “Dream.“ David pulled me into his arms and we danced in the kitchen to Christina’s serenade.

Traveling to the Volta Region

2010-07-13T23:30:00.000-07:00

Monday, July 13

We ate breakfast at 7, and were packed up and ready to go by 8 -- we’re heading to the Volta Region for several days! As of 10:30, we were still sitting at the house, waiting to get the trip underway. I was not surprised -- this makes my 6th trip to the Volta Region and we have never once left on schedule!

First, all of our luggage was loaded. We had to pack clothing for the week as well as bed linens, pillows, and towels. And then we waited.

The ladies in the kitchen were hustling more than usual -- I realized that they were packing all of the dishes, silverware, pots and pans into large tubs and laundry baskets -- I think they literally packed up everything but the kitchen sink! These supplies, plus 2 tanks of propane, 2 small gas stovetops, and a microwave oven, were loaded on to the bus. To accomplish that task meant unloading some of the luggage, shifting things around, and re-arranging. Still we waited.

A taxi arrived, loaded with several cases of water. Had to find room for that -- so once again, the luggage holds beneath the bus were unpacked, re-arranged, and re-packed. And still we waited.

Mary (Bishop James’ wife) and her mother Elizabeth left to purchase some vegetables at the market -- reasoning that those would be a safer choice for us than produce purchased off the street. Once they returned, those items -- and a picnic lunch of sandwiches and drinks -- were squeezed into the bus.

At last, at 11:00, we finally boarded the bus: our team from the US, Richard & Ben as Christ Harvest representatives, and Auntie Aggie and Maggie, our cooks. Oh yes -- also Kofi the bus driver, and his first mate Yaw!

We barely made it out of Tema when we were flagged to a stop by a police officer. Kofi opened his window; the officer said something and an argument ensued. Earlier we’d passed through a toll gate, and Kofi paid the 1.5 cedis (roughly 85 cents) but did not take the receipt (common practice). Since he could not produce the receipt to prove he’d paid, he had to turn the bus around and drive back to the toll gate. No amount of arguing convinced the officer otherwise, yet we SAW Kofi pay the the toll. In fact, you cannot get through the gate without stopping and handing them money. But anyway…we backtracked to the toll gate and pulled off the road. Kofi stayed with the bus while Yaw, Richard, & Ben went to pay the 1.5 cedis. They seemed to take an awfully long time, and I had a feeling they were having to bargain us back on the road. Sure enough, when they came back to the bus, Richard told us that besides the 1.5 cedi toll, they also wanted to assess a fine of 200 cedis. A busload of American obrunis with out a receipt apparently looked like a golden opportunity. After much arguing, a phone call to the district commander, (and I am sure an exchange of “dash” -- a small bribe), we were finally allowed to be on our way once again.

We stopped for a picnic lunch near the Akosambo Dam -- the views from there are spectacular.

At last we arrived in the city of Ho. Our first stop was to pay a visit to Rev. Thywill Oliver, a good friend of Bishop James. He recently lost his wife, quite unexpectedly, and we paid a condolence call to him. A member of Rev. Thywill’s congregation graciously provided a house for our team, so upon leaving Rev. Thywill’s home, we headed for the house. It is a comfortable place, with a large central room and three bedrooms available for us. Three bedrooms housed the nine members of the Grace Church team -- but David & I opted to find a room in town rather than crowd the group. The “silver lining” to that is that here I do have limited internet connections, so we can get some of our blogs posted.

We took some time to refresh and have dinner, then we traveled to worship at Pastor Johnson’s church in Kpeve. What an awesome time of sharing and fellowship! This church was rocking with worship, singing, dancing, drumming! I felt like my face just automatically moved into a smile of joy that I could not contain! I LOVED being there, feeling the beat of the drums down into the very center of my being, sweating, singing, clapping, breathing in the night air, and praising our God and Creator and Savior, Jesus Christ! The Grace Church team members each shared with the congregation -- some shared verses, others a testimony. Pastor John Cromer brought the message, translated into the Ewe (pronounced EH-veh) language by Pastor Johnson. At the end of the service, the worship rocked the house again -- and this time Pastor Cromer played the drums to the glory of God. I smiled as he began playing, because after just a few seconds, several men in the church grabbed their cameras and took photos of John as he played. It made me wonder if they’d seen an “obruni” that could carry a beat like that before!

As we drove back to Ho for the night, I looked out of the window. The stars twinkled in the black velvet sky -- so many that I remarked to Pastor Johnson that I believed Africa had at least twice as many stars shining above it as the US does. Now I am fully aware that since we have so many “permanent lights” outside many stars are simply not as visible to us in the USA. But a part of me wants to think that while the world looks to man-made things to satisfy their hunger for beauty and wealth….Africa has all of these glorious natural God-made wonders, all free for the taking! The stars in the nighttime sky, the explosion of wild colors and fragrances in the tropical flowers, the tastes of fresh fruits and vegetables…. And in Ghana, the abundance of human hospitality, warm smiles, and friendship.

Blessings!

Anita <><

Sunday worship, then Labadi Beach

2010-07-13T14:41:00.000-07:00

Sunday, July 12, 2010

I love worshipping at Christ Harvests the Nations. There is such joy in the praising of our Lord Jesus Christ; it takes me to the mountaintop as I participate in the singing and the dancing! This morning’s service was exciting and insightful. The Youth Choir sang -- accompanied on the drums by our own John Cromer! Richard sang, as did his wife Victoria. Our team took a few minutes to introduce themselves and bring greetings. Rev. James began his sermon with praise, singing “O Come Let Us Adore Him.”

It was a spiritually electrifying morning!!

After worship, we had lunch then packed up to spend the afternoon at Labadi Beach. We’d looked forward to this “day of rest.” very much.

The beach was absolutely packed -- we snaked our way between people, chaise lounges, tables, and umbrellas until we found an area where we could all sit down. We ordered some cold soft drinks, splashed in the surf (the rip-currents are very strong here and swimming is not advisable), and watches some of the entertainment. An acrobatic group of 3 men and two children tumbled, flipped, built human pyramids, and performed amazing stunts to the delight and applause of folks surrounding them. They passed the hat to collect tips, then moved on to another patch of sand and another group of spectators. Strolling musicians, with guitars and djembes did the same, sharing their talents with the folks on the beach. Several horses ambled along the beach; for a couple of cedis you could take a ride. A lady came by with a small basket of nail polish -- did we want a pedicure or a manicure? Only 3 cedis (5 if you wanted a design painted on your nails). Several of us ladies jumped on that bargain! Where else can you get a fresh pedicure for around $2.25? We ate plantain chips, popcorn, beef kebobs, French fries -- and could have ordered full meals from the restaurants behind us if we’d desired! Many many people, much laughter, entertainment, sun, sand, surf -- what more could you ask for?

The sun began to set so we boarded the bus and drove back to Tema. After dinner, we packed up for the week’s journey into the Volta region. The Grace Church group had their time of sharing while we uploaded some photographs and completed some other work.

*****

I feel happiness & joy here. It is hard to explain; there’s a freedom I feel here that is somehow squelched in the hustle-bustle of my US lifestyle. As a result of that, my emotions tend to be right at the surface. I laugh easier -- and I cry easier. I seem to feel more. Sometimes that is a good thing; sometimes it isn’t quite so grand. At times this trip, to be honest, I have felt shut out and even unwanted a time or two. I am trying to shake it off, I’m a “big girl” you know. (I always recall my mama teaching me about the Golden rule. Treat all people like you wish to be treated. I’m grateful for her teaching.) It is times like these when I have to really lean on HIM, as He will send gentle reminders to me that I AM in the right place, at the right time, doing what HE has instructed me to do. His first commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength; and His second commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. If you truly follow these commandments, we believers are charged to PROVE IT through our actions, words, and deeds. I want to live my life in such a way that Jesus is seen through me -- regardless of what language people speak, what belief system they hold, where they were born, or how they view the world.

And in the end, that’s what matters, you know?

Blessings,

Anita <><

On to the Volta region

2010-07-11T23:29:00.001-07:00

Just a quick note this morning before we head northeast toward the Volta region of Ghana.

We may not have internet access there. So it may be several days before we can post pictures or stories again. Check back by -- we will post if we are able!

Blessings!

Anita & David

Sharing Jesus with a soccer ball

2010-07-11T01:21:00.000-07:00

POP! HISSSSSSSSS…..

I felt the pop beneath my feet more than I actually heard it. And by the sound and the reaction of the driver, I knew it was not good.

Kofi (the driver) eased the bus to a stop, got out, and took a look. The bus had blown a compressor -- needed to operate the brakes.

So there we were, stranded on a muddy, pot-holed road, right beside the Tema dump.

Why were we there? Read on….

********

It rained a lot in the night, and the skies this morning were overcast. An intermittent mist of rain kept the air and everything else quite damp. Our team slept in; our original plans to travel to Keta had to be changed. So after breakfast we developed “Plan B” -- we wanted to return to the dump.

Christine & Auntie Aggie packed a light lunch of pb&j sandwiches, bananas, and bottled water. We boarded the bus, and headed off across town. Many of our teammates play soccer -- a couple of them played in college -- and yesterday they had purchased some brand new soccer balls. It was time to try them out!

We arrived at the dump. Kids remembered our visit earlier this week, and began to cluster around. A few adults joined them. We all walked to the big field where the kids play their games. It didn’t take long before there were plenty of folks to make up two teams. GAME ON!!!

Soon the air was filled with the sounds of cheers, clapping, laughter, and pounding feet as the Americans vs. Ghana Mission Match was played! One particularly impressive player was a fellow playing goalie. He was deeply into the game, and worked hard to block the opposing team’s attempts to score. Julia & John asked if he went to school. He answered yes, that he attended Jerusalem Gates -- he is one of Waters Edge Ministries sponsored kids.

Final score: Ghana 2, USA 1. It was a great game!

Dottie drew a hopscotch game in the wet dirt and soon several kids were playing hopscotch, using a flattened plastic bottle as a marker. David & I talked with some of the residents of the dump (more on their stories will come at a later time).

David & John trekked over to take a look at the main dump area. People scrambled for the trash as it poured from the backs of the dump trucks. They grappled for items they might use or recycle as the garbage poured over their heads. Acrid smoke hung in the air. Goats and pigs rooted in the piles of refuse alongside the humans. Birds circled overhead.

Soon, it was time for us to go. The team shared lollipops with the children, then we boarded the bus to leave. As the bus doors closed, many of the kids who’d played soccer gathered around. They were asking us a question in Twi , so we asked Richie to translate for us. They wanted to know if we wanted the soccer balls back. When we told them it was theirs to keep, they cheered and waved.

Our bus lurched out of the dump village area, and turned back toward town. We hadn’t gone very far when the compressor blew. We were right beside the edge of one of the dump mountains. Kofi (our driver) put on a long jacket to protect his clothing, rolled out a mat underneath the bus, grabbed some tools and went to work. Richie flagged down a small van, and half of our crew got on it and rode to the church, where they ate some of the picnic lunch the ladies packed for us.

A youth meeting was in progress, and Christi and Dottie gave a program there on evangelism.

Meanwhile, back on the bus, the rest of us waited, hoping for another van to come get us. Kofi continued to work on the bus. We couldn’t open the windows because of the flies; it was really kind of hot and sticky. Each time the doors opened, flies swarmed inside the bus. Soon the guys began a fly-killing contest.

FWAP! “That’s 32 for me!” FWAP!! “No way! I’ve got 35” FWAP!! “Three in one! That gives me 41!” And so it went. For the record, John Cromer is champion fly killer, with a whopping 50 flies! Bobby Brown and Joe Chen were runners-up!

After a while, Emmanuel (another friend from the church) arrived with two taxis to pick us up. We got off the bus and into the cabs -- then Kofi let us know he’d repaired the bus! THANK GOD!! Off to the church we headed -- we wanted some pb&j sandwiches too!

Once Christi & Dottie finished their program, the group hit the streets to share about Jesus. Four people accepted Christ today in Community 4, Tema, and we are thankful for their lives and looking forward to seeing them at church tomorrow.

David, Richie, & I attempted to find a battery to purchase -- we need it for the new water purification system we are installing next week. However, many of the stalls and shops were closed and we could not get the kind we needed. We’ll just have to pick it up Monday before we head to the Volta region.

At the end of the day, we had Dinner for dinner. Yep -- goat and fufu, on the table when we walked in. Most of the folks tried the fufu. The ladies also served rice, salad, and fresh fruit.

*****

As I think back over the day, I see many things that transcend the barriers of race, language, age, nationality, color, and creed:

A smile
A handshake
A rousing game of “futbol” (soccer)
The playful laughter of children playing
An appreciation for a job well done
Genuine interest in someone just because you want to know them
A sharing of beliefs and our personal “God stories”
A prayer in any language
A prayer request in any language

Each one of us has the potential to make a difference in the Kingdom of God. Each one of us has different talents and gifts; different ways of expressing our feelings and beliefs; different purposes ordained by God. We who are followers of Christ may have different ways, different tactics to accomplish these purposes, and sometimes we might even disagree about some things. But ultimately, we are all concerned and charged with sharing the Gospel with others. Sometimes we share with others who are also believers, in order to encourage them. And others, we share with non-believers so that they also might feel the joy and passion that a surrendered heart can bring.

In Jesus’ name, we press on….

A Link to the photos for today.

http://picasaweb.google.com/weministry/Ghana_2010_Day06#

A visit to Potwabin & Cape Coast/Elmina

2010-07-09T14:49:00.000-07:00

July 8, 2010

UP AND AT ‘EM!!! BRIGHT AND EARLY!!!

We have a road trip today, so we set our alarm clocks to rouse us out of our sleep. We are going to the village of Potwabin, then on to Cape Coast to tour Elmina.

After a breakfast of crepes, bread and jam, oatmeal, and fresh pineapple, we collected our backpacks and loaded up the bus. Our goal was to leave by 7:00 am -- while it is virtually impossible to “beat the traffic” in Accra…we hoped to at least get through with the least delay as possible!

Accra, the capital city of Ghana, is a bustling metropolis filled with people, cars, noise, and exhaust fumes. Maneuvering through the heavy traffic there is harrowing -- but we have a terrific driver who snakes this big bus through some of the tightest spots you can imagine!

Driving through I see lots of construction -- evidence of Ghana’s growth. We’re on a major thoroughfare through the city; yet there are patches of red dirt, huge potholes (I’m talking car-sized holes here!) and muddy ruts mixed in with the pavement. To describe the traffic with a simple word like “snarled” does not truly give the experience justice! If I had a dollar for every car I see on this road…I could probably pay off the national debt!

One thing I love about Ghana is reading the names and slogans posted on vehicles and businesses along the way. It is not uncommon to see the words “Thank U Master” or “Jesus is Lord” or “Praise Jehovah” plastered across the backs of cars, busses, tro-tros, or vans! For example, you could buy a car from “Good Shepherd Motor Works” and fuel up the vehicle at “Paradise Service Station,” where an oil tanker from “Jah Alone Transport Company” is filling the underground tanks. If the car gives you trouble, you can have it repaired at “To God Be The Glory Brake & Clutch Repair” and catch a ride on the “Pentecost Fire” tro-tro to do your shoping at “MerciGod Enterprises.” You can get your hair done at “Who God Bless Let No Man Curse Beauty Salon” or if you prefer “God’s Time Barber Shop.” Grab a fresh meat pie from “Trust & Obey” vendor’s stall, buy a mattress at “God is Able Enterprises,” select a musical instrument at “King of King’s Drum Works,” pick out some furniture for your home at “But Seek First the Kingdom of God Construction Works,” learn a new skill at “The Lord is My Shepherd Computer Education Center.” When you need help managing all that money you’re making -- there is “Broken Yoke Financial Services,” ready to help you out! And at the end of your days, your family can select your casket at “Glory To God Coffin Contractors.” ALL of these are real businesses I saw as we passed through Accra!

A van passes us with “Count Your Blessings” painted on the side -- a great reminder, huh?

There are also some words in Twi: Adom = grace; Ensuro = Do not be afraid; “Na asem pa endi wakyi” = God’s word is after me; “Yehovah Nissi“ = Jehovah is great and mighty. . Our friends Ben, Richie, and Pastor Johnson are quick to help us with translating and pronunciation (though admittedly my Twi is very sketchy!)

We eventually untangled ourselves from Accra’s morning traffic and drove westward toward Potwabin. Our driver turned off of the main road and onto the familiar dusty red dirt road that leads to the village. We emerged from the bus as Pastor Isaac greeted us, then busily set out chairs and benches for our greeting ceremony with the chief. We all sat under the trees, and exchanged greetings with the Chief and Elders of the village. We formally asked about the water purifier that we installed there last year. They recently installed a gasoline-powered pump with pvc pipes purchased through donations to Waters Edge Ministries so that water could be brought directly from the source to the purifier. Then explained that heavy rains had toppled their polytank and it had broken, but they appreciated that we had acquired another polytank for them. (We knew all of this -- it was simply proper protocol to discuss it formally.) They invited us to inspect the system, and to walk through the village.

We walked through the village -- the familiar mud huts with thatched roofs were surrounded today with the laundry, spread out on bushes to dry in the sunshine. Goats trotted from one patch of shade to another; a few cur dogs lolled beneath the trees. I was happy to see Grace and her mother, Rebecca, again.

We spent some time re-working the purifier. It took a bit longer than we had expected to work on, but it was ready to run by the time David finished. Meanwhile, the rest of the group played with the kids, making balloon animals and singing songs with them.

Before we left, the village shared fresh coconut with us, and presented us with a goat as a gift. (The goat, appropriately and perhaps unfortunately named “Dinner,” is currently tied to a tree in the back yard.)

We left Potwabin, and stopped to eat lunch at a café/service station. We actually brought our own food, and just went inside the café to eat it. Try doing THAT in the USA!

We then headed to Cape Coast, where we toured Elmina. What a sobering walk through history; the place stands as a grim monument, reminding us of man’s inhumanity to fellow man. As we entered the women’s dungeon -- where the rocks still cry out in pain -- I noticed the words on the back of John Cromer’s t-shirt “Pray As You Go.” In my mind, I could suddenly hear the prayers of the thousands of people who endured this prison centuries ago. I am sure they did, indeed, pray as they went to an uncertain future in a strange, cruel world. It is impossible to visit that place and not feel moved.

The long drive home was made even longer by the traffic we encountered AGAIN in Accra -- only this time it was dark! We decided that Carowinds could develop a terrific new thrill ride: 3D IMAX Accra Traffic.

We were grateful for the delicious dinner waiting for us when we finally arrived back at our house. Our day was done. We learned a lot of history, we learned a lot about people, we made new friends, and reacquainted ourselves with old ones. We laughed some, and we shed some tears also.

Thank you, Lord, for a very good day!!

Praising Through The Storms

2010-07-09T00:43:00.000-07:00

The tree still stands, tall and proud

A giant in the landscape

A closer look reveals the damage

A lightning hit -- burnt and scarred to the core

Some limbs and branches never recovered,

The life is gone from them

An ominous dark streak from top to bottom

Yet the tree still stands, tall and proud

Arms lifted toward the heavens in praise

Living branches full of green leaves

The scar healed with new bark

And the tree lives on

Praising through the storm

Praising through the lightning strikes

Praising through the healing

Praising through the sunshine

How like that tree we followers of Christ can be

Life's lightning bolts can hit us

Damage us

Burn us

Injure us

Leave parts of us for dead

Yet we praise Him through the storms

We praise Him through the lightning strikes

We praise Him as we trust for a sunny day

Our injuries are scabbed over

Healed

New Growth can sprout

The scars remain to remind us

Of HIS healing powers

And that He carries us safely through the storms

And we are

Just like the tree standing tall

And lifting praises toward the heavens

Thankful for a new day

(As we drove through the Ghanaian countryside yesterday, I noticed a particular tree. I think it is an acacia tree, though my own name for them is "watchtower tree." It towered over the landscape, standing all alone. I spotted this one from a good ways off -- and as we passed it, I noticed it had been struck by lightning. God gave me this poem to share.)

Hitting the ground running!

2010-07-08T15:17:00.000-07:00

July 7, 2010

The photos from Wednesday's activities were posted earlier -- here's a bit of what we did that day! (I am posting this to both blogs, Silver Lining and Waters Edge Ministries.)

After a night of trying to sleep off jet-lag, we feasted on a huge breakfast of rice water (mmm my favorite!), bread and jam, and fresh pineapple. Our group’s morning devotion included some tips about evangelizing from Christi, who works with Campus Crusade for Christ.

Our first stop was at the Tema dump. Something new I noticed was a thick brick wall, several feet high had been erected around parts of the dump; We were told that families were being “discouraged” from moving there with small children -- but there are many kids living there anyway. Christ Harvests the Nations had requested permission for us to visit with some of the residents prior to our arrival. However -- someone contacted the local police when they saw a busload of American obrunis wandering around. Within minutes of our arrival, we were visited by three officers, clad in blue/gray camoflage. Richard and Ben talked with them a few moments, explained the purposes of our visit and that we’d obtained permission to be there, and they eventually waved us on.

It does not take long for children to give in to their curiosity and begin following us. A small sackful of lollipops or “toffees” brought smiles to their faces. Zach and Sydney helped the kids tear open the packages so they could enjoy the sticky sweetness of the suckers. I think they made some friends for life!

We recognized one boy as a child we’d seen at Jerusalem Gates, and we asked him about his mother. He shortly brought her to speak with us, with another small child holding her hand and a baby on her back. She said her son had attended school, but lately money and transportation to and from the school had been a problem. It is families such as this that tug at the heart. The little boy wants to go to school -- but they lack the resources to make that entirely possible.

Soon the group of children had grown into a fair-sized team -- literally! They led us to a large open field and soon a rousing soccer match was in full play! Our girls Julia and Christi were OUTSTANDING!! Soon laughter filled the air as the kids and our team members ran up and down the field, kicking the ball, cheering for each other whenever goals were made or blocked.

Our time at the dump flew by fast -- we made our way back to the bus, followed by a handful of the children and some of the mothers. The team brought long, skinny balloons and much to the delight of the kids, they twisted them into animal shapes -- dogs, elephants, giraffes -- and gave them to the kids. Pastor John Cromer shared some cookies with kids before we all loaded back into the bus and waved goodbye.

It is sobering to see the vivid evidence of “needs vs. wants” and as we leave, each of us carry in our minds images of the life we’ve witnessed here. Amidst the smoke, the grayness, the ashes, the piles of refuse trucked in from across the city -- there are yet touches of God’s grace. The laughter of children fills the air; a mother’s face shows pride in her children; a colorful butterfly drifts through the air. And I am reminded of God’s promise to give us beauty for ashes.

******

We drove to the home of Bishop James Godlly and his wife Mary. After lunch, we walked across the road to a local school, Manye Foundation. While David and Rev. James and I met with the headmaster to talk about educating some of the kids at the dump, our teammates spent some time in the classrooms, talking with the kids, sharing more balloon animals, and seeing what life in a Ghanaian school might be like. Joe soon had a couple of the classes shouting “GO GAMECOCKS!” and “WE WANT A TOUCHDOWN!” He drew a picture of an American football (as opposed to their “football“ -- which is a soccer ball) on the board for them!

The team spent some time in Community 25 with Emmanuel, evangelizing in the area. Sharing their testimonies, hearing other testimonies, helps us all to realize that we are all God‘s children no matter the circumstances of our birth, our color, our nationality, or our economic status.

*****

Big bowls of spaghetti, rice, meat sauce, steamed vegetables, and fresh mangos were on the table when we arrived back at the house. Delicious!!! We ate, freshened up a bit, then headed to church for the Wednesday night service.

Christ Harvests the Nations is growing and moving. When they began worshipping together, they met in a field in Tema. After much prayer, they were able to begin renting part of a building in Community 4, sharing it with a small clothing manufacturer. Eventually, they leased all of the building. From this home base, Bishop Godlly trained many pastors, and as a result there are several small churches throughout Ghana that have been established . Again, after much prayer, they acquired some land in Comm. 25 Tema, and are working on erecting their own permanent church building on that site.

Tonight’s service was held in the old Comm. 4 site, and I was glad to see many familiar faces among the worshippers there. We introduced our teammates and each of them gave a brief greeting before our own Pastor John Cromer brought the message. He reminded us that God’s love is freely available, freely given, and available to ALL -- and that while the Gift of Love is wonderful, the GIVER of that love is even better!

We ended the service singing praises -- what a glorious way to wind up our day!

Blessings from Anita & David and Ghana Team 2010!

Greetings from Ghana!

2010-07-06T12:24:00.000-07:00

The plane touches down and the passengers clap and cheer -- you KNOW you have arrived in GHANA! AKWAABA!!

As I step off of the plane and down onto the tarmac, I breathe deeply and smile.

Baggage claim is the usual zoo, with people clamoring for their luggage and parcels, and young men offering to assist you by asking for your luggage tags. (For a tip, of course!) Then everyone queues up to go through Customs. Some people are waved on through; others (like me -- with the odd looking tubs instead of suitcases) are waved to the side. The Officer asks me what is in the tubs and I explain very briefly our water purification ministry, and describe the contents. Not totally satisfied, she asks David to cut apart the zip-ties so she can look inside. He complies with her request; the top tub contains plastic 2-gallon collapsible water containers, buffered with a few t-shirts. That satisfied her and she waved me through without looking inside the other containers.

Joining the rest of our group, we walk through the airport. As we pass through our final checkpoint, we hear a big “HEYYYY!!!!” There stands Richard, Chief Takyi, and Pastor Johnson, along with another friend, Joe. The next several minutes are filled with bear hugs and introductions. We chatter as we walk across the street to a large bus that the church secured for our transportation. As our bags are loaded into the bus for the trip to Tema, a kente cloth welcome banner is given to each of the team members.

It is odd, to feel so “at home” in a place so far FROM my home. But it is also a GOOD, warm feeling.

Our group this year is the largest we’ve had in Ghana. As a result, we are not staying at Rev. James’ home. A lovely 8-bedroom house in Tema is our “new home” for a few days.

When we enter the house, tables are set for a sumptuous breakfast. Soon we are feasting on omelets made with fresh eggs and vegetables, Ghanaian “sugar bread” (ooooh my favorite!) with a choice of pineapple or ginger jam, Milo, coffee, tea, and juice. Several ladies are busy in the kitchen, preparing our next meal for later in the day.

Our team this year includes John Cromer, Dottie Wiegel, Bobby Brown, Julia Brown, MacKenzie Brown, Sydney Allsbrook, Syd Allsbrook, Zachary Johnson, Christie Farley -- all from Grace Church of Columbia, SC. Joining us here also is USC graduate student Joe Chen; our partner Davi Trotti will be joining us later in the week.

We will be resting some more today -- and perhaps will make a trip to the market this afternoon. But God has assembled us here together for a PURPOSE -- perhaps for several purposes. And we are eager to serve, alongside our Ghanaian friends from Christ Harvests the Nations Ministry.

"Ordinary" people

2010-07-03T17:12:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, I was talking with a friend about people and their testimonies, their "God stories." She mentioned that one "ordinary person" with an obviously changed life is better than ten thousand sermons. I tend to agree.

It made me think about "ordinary" people. Folks like you and me, who do the "ordinary" every-day life things: we go to work, we fight the traffic, we cook the meals, we wash the dishes, we do the laundry, we scrub the toilets. You get the picture. Then I tried imagining folks that I consider to be "other than ordinary" doing some of those same things.

For example....imagine Oprah with her hair tied up in a bandana, on her knees scrubbing out the toilet. Or maybe picture Joel Osteen, in an old t-shirt and cutoff jeans, changing the oil in the car.

Hard to picture, huh?

People who seem "larger than life" talk at us through the television or the internet, telling us how we should live our lives -- and yet, I think they might have a hard time walking around in "ordinary" shoes.

(Please do not misunderstand me here, I'm not judging them at all. I'm just not so sure that their lives have much in common with "regular" people.)

My mind then wandered to folks I've met in my lifetime whose LIFE is a sermon.

I think of Miss Mildred, who has always worked as hard as anybody I've ever known. She took in a little girl and raised her as her own daughter. She tended an ailing husband for many years. She was at church, praising God every opportunity she got. She had what many would describe as a difficult life. And yet....when I think of Miss Mildred, I think of a woman who loves the Lord, who smiles at and encourages everybody she meets, a woman who is grateful for ALL things life has handed her, both the good and the not-so-good.

I think of my friend D. (not going to spell out her whole name), whose quiet behind-the-scenes generosity has made huge differences in the lives of many people near and far (including mine).

I think of my parents, who brought me up in a solid Christian home. They set an amazing example for me and my sister about how to treat other people. I remember my dad putting together a "care package" for a young man who was in training school for breaking the law. I remember my mom reminding me to "think about how the other person feels." I do not recall ever hearing my parents argue, fuss, or fight. (A counselor once told me I grew up in one of the most normal households he'd ever heard described!)

I think of my husband David whose life totally transformed with his surrender to Christ.

I think of my neighbor Mary Lynn, who sometimes serves as a "conduit" -- she will hear about a need someone has, then link them with someone with an ability to fill that need. Her heart is tremendous -- she gives of herself in service throughout the community.

I think about Christine, Abigail, Gettie, Emmanuel, Alex -- people I met in Ghana over the years that worked "behind the scenes" when we'd be there. These folks prepared our meals, took care of our laundry, helped us in more ways than I can count -- but more important they made us feel welcome.

Ordinary people, who live ordinary lives -- and yet, God uses them in such powerful and extraordinary ways.

Yes, their lives and examples are far greater than any "three points and an altar call" sermon I've ever heard.

A smile, a caring word, an even temper, a bit of encouragement, a card in the mail, acceptance without judgment, a helping hand, a hug when someone is down, paying the next car's bill at the drive-through -- each act like this is a sermon that ordinary people can "preach" without being in a pulpit.

Sometimes, the only Jesus some folks will see is the one in YOU.

Blessings!

Turning Flashbacks into Fertilizer

2010-06-13T07:04:00.000-07:00

We spent an enjoyable afternoon in Charlotte yesterday, watching the play, “Wicked!”

Take a few minutes and enjoy a song from the play:

While my husband came away from the play comparing the story to the “institutional church” and the relationship of good/evil….it made me think of something entirely different. As the young lady Elphaba was shunned for being green she sang a song called “I’m Not That Girl.” Her lament gave me a couple of flashbacks…..

The first one took place at my elementary school. I was about 7 years old, I guess, when the concept of “pretty trumps ugly” reared its’ head. Linda Lou (not her real name) was in my class at school. She had honey-gold hair, big blue eyes, took dance lessons – and one day she decided that I was not as pretty as she was. And she announced to the class that no one should be my friend because I wasn’t pretty. Most of the other little girls spent recess that day making fun of me and calling me names. I remember crying into my pillow that night. The next day, they let me back into the group; apparently they’d all forgotten about it ….but I never have.

Fast forward a few years….

I’m about 13 or 14, and just beginning to have puppy-love crushes on guys. The popular hang-out for us kids was the swimming pool, and my mom took my sister and me just about every afternoon. That summer, I remember Jackie (not his real name either) coming to the pool too.He attended an out-of-town school because he was deaf; our lifeguard learned a little bit of American Sign Language that summer so she could converse with him. I thought he was just about the cutest guy I’d ever laid eyes on…and secretly began to learn the ABC’s in hopes of being able to sign “Hello” or something, just to try to befriend him. At any rate, a group of us were splashing and playing, and he signed something to the lifeguard and nodded toward me. I smiled, and asked her what he’d said. She said he told her he thought I was ugly and he wished I’d get out of the pool so he wouldn’t have to see me.

To this day, there are triggers that jolt my mind back to that moment. I can tell you the exact spot in the pool where I stood (4’deep, just to the right of the lifeguard stand), the colors in my swimsuit (yellow and white), the feel of the water splashing on me (stinging almost like a slap), the song playing on the juke-box (‘Cecelia’ by Simon and Garfunkel), and the emotion I felt (a white-hot flood of embarrassment that I felt in my gut). I abandoned the idea of learning American Sign Language, and never once attempted to communicate with Jackie. In fact, I remember steering very clear of him from then on.

So at the play, as I listened while Elphaba sang about wishing she could be loved and accepted, yet realizing she’s “not that girl” – I could feel it. And the little 7-year-old me crawled up in my lap. And the skinny 13-year-old me came and sat cross-legged on the floor next to me. And we all three listened to the green lady singing to us. And we could feel the pain of not fitting in, of wishing we looked different, of wanting to be celebrated for who we are…

Then I smiled and nodded at the other two imaginary images of me, just to let them know that everything truly turns out ok, eventually. I appreciate the lessons that the earlier versions of me have shared, and I’ve grown from their experiences in positive ways. Eventually, they'll see, that we can "defy gravity" and rise above hurts of the past! The younger Anitas smiled back at me, and evaporated back into my memory.

Not to give the end of the play away….but throughout life things happen that are both good and not so good. Our lives intersect and inter-connect , sometimes it’s pleasant and sometimes it stings. And yet we learn and grow from BOTH types of interaction. How we manage an unpleasant interaction – what we do with it -- is the key. We can either wallow in negative, hurtful rejection, or we can let it be “fertilizer” that helps us grow. Negative, hurtful rejection can give us a peculiar insight into the lives of others – developing our compassion.

It also serves as a reminder of what Christ went through FOR US. The suffering we humans go through can’t hold a candle to what He endured.

These days, the first words I hear every morning from my husband are “Good morning, Beautiful! I love you!” The lady who gazes back at me from the mirror is okay with me; she’s not perfect but she tries her best.

And my life continues to be an amazing collection of experiences, interactions, and events that offer opportunities to grow into the woman that seeks to fulfill her purposes for existing! And hey, who knows...I might just try defying gravity!!

Saying Goodbye to a Big Blue Buick

2010-04-22T18:43:00.000-07:00

I spent sometime this week telling an old friend farewell. She’s moving to Florida, and I will surely miss her – though I plan to see her again when I can visit there.

She’s been with me for years – through some really tough times and then, thankfully, through some much easier ones. She’s never let me down, always been ready to go at the jingle of a set of keys. She’s always provided a “safe place” for me to vent pain, or sing praises, or just bounce around different ideas.

This “friend” is not a human, by the way. She’s a big, blue Buick Park Avenue.

She became mine September 19, 2001, and the day I drove her home for the first time, her odometer read 20,500. Now it reads almost 170,000 miles – she’s been a workhorse for me, that’s for sure! She’s also been somewhat of a stabilizer, and at times a comfort – that sounds odd, doesn’t it? I mean, for a car to be a comforter?

In 2001, I was a wife and mother with a career (I refuse to use the term “working mother” because I believe that ALL mothers work, regardless of whether or not they “clock in” somewhere). My job was hectic, strenuous, and stressful. I was trying to juggle that with the demands of being a mom to two daughters in college, and a son in high school. My marriage was failing, and I knew it – but I was trying desperately to figure out someway to prop it back up. Again. I often felt like everybody wanted a piece of me, but there wasn’t enough of me to go around. One day, I realized that the only place I was ever truly alone was in my car. That was the day that the big blue Buick became a sanctuary, of sorts. The rest of the world could be screaming and shouting at me, exploding in its fury – but I was safely cocooned inside her blue shell.

I could put a worship music cd into the player and sing, or pray, or meditate as I commuted. That car bore witness to so many prayers as we sped down the road. Would it surprise you to know that I’d talk to myself, aloud, in that car? Sometimes I’d question myself about what I was doing, where I was going, what I really wanted out of life. Sometimes, I chastised myself; other times, I encouraged myself with an “Atta Girl!” That Buick always roared to life with a turn of the key; on particularly stressful days, I’d push the button for the heated seat and soon she’d warm my back, easing the stress away.

There were days when I’d get near my driveway, but I really wasn’t quite ready to face the hassles that waited in the house for me in the form of laundry that needed washing, floors that needed cleaning, meals that needed cooking, bills that needed paying, and a husband that needed pacifying, just to name a few. Those were the days that the Buick would just sort of miss the driveway on the first pass, and we’d drive around a bit longer, circling through my hometown and around on a country lane, then back around to the driveway. It wasn’t a long delay – maybe ten minutes at most – but it was enough to give me the encouragement I needed at the time.

In early November of 2003, I realized that my marriage was no longer worth salvaging and for my own mental and emotional health, I had to get out. For months, my beautiful blue Buick had heard my cries to God, my teardrops had fallen on her gray leather interior on more than one day as I wrestled with the questions of “Do I stay or do I go?” and “Where can I go?” and “How will I make it alone?”

On the day I moved out, a couple of dear friends came over with a truck and helped me load the few pieces of furniture I chose to take with me. After they left, I took my clothes and put them in the back seat of that car. When I started the car, the radio came on – and Tracy Chapman’s plaintive voice was singing “Fast Car” as I began to drive the car out of the driveway one last time. (“Give me one reason to stay here and I’ll turn right back around…”) I had to smile – even then, that Buick was in my corner! I have to admit, she kicked up some gravel as we made our escape! I think that is one of my favorite memories of that car – she made me smile on one of the most difficult days of my life.

When the dust of the divorce property settlement cleared, there was only one thing I owned outright: that beautiful blue Buick.

Since those days, she’s taken me to work and back until I retired. When I later dated and married David, she took me to South Carolina every other weekend. Together, we’ve traveled from here to Ohio and down to Florida and back!

So the miles have added up, and my husband and I decided that it might be time to trade to a different vehicle. I’ll admit – I’ve had mixed feelings and emotions about it. Along the same time, we realized that my mother-in-law was getting in need of a decent car. So we decided that we’d give the Buick to her and buy another car for ourselves. A couple of weeks ago, I found my “dream car” – a gently used Toyota Solara. I’m having fun driving it, getting to know it, getting used to the smaller sized vehicle. (I made sure that it had heated leather seats – just like the Buick!)

The past couple of days, I’ve been cleaning the blue Buick, getting her ready to make the trip to her new home in Florida. I conditioned the leather seats one more time, cleaned the dust off the dashboard, cleared all of the papers and maps out of the glove compartment. David re-filled the window washer fluid, and we drove her through the carwash one last time. I patted her hood and posed for a picture with my old friend one last time.

So now she’s retiring to the warmer weather of Florida. She’ll spend her days making the rounds at the local thrift stores, and I’m sure her trunk will be laden with all sorts of bargains very soon. I’ll miss her, that’s for sure. But I know she’ll take care of her new owner, just like she took care of me.

Blessings, yall!

Does the Cross mean anything to you?

2010-04-02T16:16:00.000-07:00

One day last week as I was getting dressed to face the day, I rummaged through my necklaces to find one that would go with the shirt I intended to wear. I selected a silver one -- but it had been so long since I'd worn it, I grabbed the silver polish and an old brush, and went to work, scrubbing the chain and pendant until they both gleamed. After giving the necklace a final rinse and patting it dry, I slipped it over my head and went to town.

I've been attending orientation sessions for my new job. We are all "newly hired" staff, and we've been getting to know each other bit by bit as we attended our classes. I sat next to Beverly; we'd chatted some throughout the week but were still pretty much strangers.

She greeted me with a smile and we exchanged pleasantries. Then she paused a moment. She pointed to my necklace and said, "That is such a lovely necklace. Does the cross mean anything to you?"

I guess I was a bit shocked at the question -- I "heard" it in the spiritual, even though she'd asked it in the natural. So I have to say I stammered a bit as I searched for the right words to answer, not sure how my new friend would understand what I had to say.

"This cross stands for Jesus," I said with a smile. Before I could say another word, the look on her face changed to one of complete understanding, possibly mixed with relief. She confided that she thought I was a believer, and how I answered her off-beat question was what she'd hoped to hear. She then went on to share a recent experience she'd had, relating how God was working in her life in a major way.

We bonded as friends at that point, with the realization that we had a similar understanding of our beliefs. It's comforting to know, when you're in the workplace, that there's at least ONE other person there who seems to be on the same spiritual wavelength as you are.

As Easter Sunday has drawn nearer, I've pondered her innocent question more and more. Does the cross mean anything to you?

Frankly...it means EVERYTHING. That cross was where my sins were nailed, that empty cross reminds me that Jesus arose from the dead and is alive in this world today! All I am, all I have, all I ever hope to be is due to that One Supreme Sacrifice of Love! I look at the blessings in my life -- my husband, my parents, my children, my friends, the talents and abilities that God has given to me -- and they all point back to The Cross. It's an amazing thing, a beautiful thing, a comforting thing in times of trouble.

And so, on this Good Friday evening, I really want you to ask yourself this simple question:
Does the Cross mean anything to you?

Selah.

Anita

Little Pink Socks

2010-02-28T18:17:00.000-08:00

It’s a small, simple thing, really.

Soft, pink footies, gentle to the touch, soothing to the feet after a long day.

We were in a store a few days ago, and David saw the aloe-infused socks. Taking a pair off the hook, he looked over at me. I’ve been working on some “self-improvement projects” lately and I think he wanted to either encourage me or maybe reward me. But after he felt how soft the socks were, he asked me which color I wanted. I selected the pink ones; he placed them in his shopping cart.

Like most folks, the economy has squeezed us tightly in the past couple of years. When we shop, we tend to focus on NEEDS rather than indulging in our WANTS. I didn't need the little pink socks, even though I knew they'd feel heavenly on my feet. But David NEEDED to give them to me -- a tangible way to "appreciate and reciprocate" in our relationship. This has always been our marriage motto -- to let each other know in many ways how much we value each other.

So the little pink socks have been waiting for me to slip them on. I’ve saved them until tonight to put them on. We were out of town a couple of days, and I just wanted to be back in my at-home routine. Somehow, that makes them a bit more special, a bit more of a treasure.

Like I said, it’s a small, simple gift. But the fact that he saw them, felt how soft they were, and wanted me to have a pair is a huge gift!

Little gifts, small gestures for no apparent reason, a smile at just the right time, a dance in the kitchen to a sweet favorite song, a word of encouragement, a bouquet of flowers, a simple prayer of thanksgiving – these are just a few ways we “appreciate and reciprocate” each other. It makes a world of difference on a hard day to be gently acknowledged in some small way.

Like receiving a pair of soft pink socks.

Think I’ll go put them on right now!

Blessings, y’all!

Rough days, chicken houses, and quilts.

2010-01-06T12:27:00.001-08:00

Some days are just better than others, you know?

Not that today has been "bad" -- it has just sort of been....blah.

I've let several things sort of get under my skin the past few days. Not really big things, but just an accumulation of junk that keeps dragging me down. For example, not having a job yet. That has been a "mixed blessing." I've enjoyed the break; 30 years of getting up before 5 am and being dressed, ready to go, and out the door by 7 was not a lot of fun. Add to that the pressures of the jobs that I have had, plus the pressures of being a working mom (yes I know ALL moms work!!!) -- I sometimes look back and wonder how I managed it for so long.

So it has been nice to get up whenever I wanted to, read the papers, work the crossword puzzle, then do whatever I wanted to with the rest of the time.

Yet...some days I need more of a sense of purpose.

I gazed out the kitchen window this morning, and through the woods I could see some of the buildings that make up Winnsboro Mill. Most of the older part of the mill is built of red bridk, but the particular part I was seeing had a lot of metal. I realized that I was trying to imagine them as chicken houses, to make me feel like I was "home." I've sort of laughed at myself all day about it -- I mean, who misses chicken houses?? And yet, inwardly, I know the answer is that *I* do. (Boy, won't my mom & dad crack up over THAT one!)

So I plundered for a purpose today. A couple of things I've wrestled with of late haven't worked out as I wished, so I resolved not to think about that today. I opened one of my old trunks, and rummaged through the fabric scraps until I found an old quilt top. My mom gave it to me; she'd discovered it among my grandmother's belongings. We're not sure how old it is; nor are we sure who pieced it (Belle or Great-Grandma Sally? maybe Great-Grandma Emma? Forever a mystery.) It's not an especially intricate quilt -- just strips stitched together by hand to form 20 blocks. It's very colorful, with scraps of red velvet here, green calico there, orange satin over there. I spent a while smoothing it out, then laid it on the table with some batting and fabric for a backing. Now it is pinned together, ready for me to quilt each square and finish the blanket.

A nice warm project for such a cold day, huh?

And the heart-ties help ease the little bit of homesickness I seem to be experiencing lately.

Maybe one of my purposes is to finish projects that were begun long, long ago.

OK, going to thread a needle now.

Blessings,

Anita <><

International Family

2009-12-17T18:44:00.000-08:00

We had dinner guests this evening.

Sasikumar and Liu Lei -- both USC graduate students -- visited us and shared dinner.

I met Sasi earlier this year in response to a craigslist posting. I was actually trolling the list to try to find job opportunities. Sasi posted that he was a foreign-born graduate student who needed someone to proofread his papers for English grammar. His post stated that he couldnt offer any monetary gain, but would be very grateful for any help.

You know me.

I answered the ad. **laughing**

He's an anthropology major, working on his doctorate. Home, for him, is Sri Lanka -- the other side of the world.

I've found his work to be fascinating, and have learned a great deal just by reading his papers. (His English, by the way, is really quite good -- so it's an easy "job" for me to proofread!)

Along the way, we've become friends. He's a young guy, in his 20's -- far away from home. We've shared a few lunches, he's joined us at church, and we've "adopted" him into our family.

This evening, he brought his roommate with him -- Liu Lei is Chinese.

David cooked chicken, green beans, and garlic mashed potatoes. I'd made a salad and devilled eggs. Sasi told a story about a guy in Sri Lanka who went into a restaurant and wanted an egg -- only he didnt know the word for "egg" in the dialect used at that place. So he asked for "chicken's daughters" -- and when I brought out the platter of deviled eggs, I announced that we had "chicken's daughters" amid lots of laughter!

We look forward to enjoying more of Sasi & Liu Lei's company, and I believe both of these young men will one day do great things that will benefit many people.

******

As a child, I had cousins who often brought home international friends from college, especially at the holidays. One of my fondest memories is of a gentle Japanese lady named Sadako who visited with my cousin Nancy. I remember seeing her dressed in her beautiful kimono, and thinking how cool it was to get to meet people who were born on the opposite side of this planet!

In my own way, I've gained many friends for my International Family. There's Richie and his family from Ghana, and also Reverend James and his family, too. Sylv's in Australia. Joanna is a missionary serving in Kenya. Sasi from Sri Lanka. I love being part of God's Big Family!!!

As David & I talked this evening, we realized that here at our home we've had people from Sri Lanka, Kenya, China, and Ghana right here in our little house in South Carolina, within the past two years. Amazing!!! And we pray for MORE opportunities to add to our International Family!

Blessings, all!

Anita <><

****

We worship the SAME God!

2009-12-06T17:42:00.000-08:00

It's been a not-so-good week, but we're still standing, so it's all good.

God sends us signs to remind us that HE is in charge, and I'm really glad that He is. If i was in charge, I'm sure I'd goof things up. :D

This past Sunday, we went to church twice.

During the morning, we went to a local church that we attend fairly regularly. Our pastor moved away last week, so we were greeted by an interim pastor this morning. The choir sang a beautiful song, we joined in with hymns. Then the pastor delivered an eloquent message telling us of God's love. I left feeling uplifted.

That evening, we accompanied our neighbor to her church to listen to some Christmas music. The choir processed in, carrying lighted candles. I loved the singing and the scriptures -- all about the Advent Season. A couple of solos filled my heart with such joy -- and the pastor's message about the Gift of God's Son caused my skin to tingle.

In the morning service, everyone was white.

In the evening service, all but 5 people there were African American.

It strikes me, over and over, about how segregated our worship is.

We took communion in the evening. We followed exactly the same rituals, we spoke the same words, we tasted the same bread and wine that I've had over and over my whole life. And once again I found myself thinking -- WE WORSHIP THE SAME GOD, yet why do we still seem to have to do it separately? I've heard it said that 11:00 am Sunday morning is the most segregated hour in America. It really bothers me that we dont seem to be able to bridge the gap on Sunday mornings.

As I talked with some ladies after the service tonight, one of them mentioned that she really enjoyed joint services, shared with others of different denominations.

I agreed with her -- in our splintered, fractured society there needs to be a place where folks can come together for healing. Where better than church to begin learning to get along together?

There's so much strife in our world. So much work that the enemy does to try to undermine the work and purposes that God has planned. It gets frustrating, as a follower of Christ, to be body-slammed into prejudices, hatefulness, lies, and evil.

But the Bible gives us encouragement and reminders:

John 16: 33 -- "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Mary Chapin Carpenter wrote a song with lyrics that remind me of this verse. I especially like the last verse that goes:

In this world there's a whole lot of cold.

In this world there's a whole lot of blame.
In this world you've a soul for a compass
And a heart for a pair of wings.
There's a star on the far horizon, rising bright in an azure sky.
For the rest of the time that you're given, why walk when you can fly?

We each have to face troubles; we each suffer pain, we all have to face issues that we don't understand. But God ultimately has a plan for us, we do have a "soul for a compass and a heart for a pair of wings."

So why do we continue to walk (apart) when we could fly (together)?

Looking for that Silver Lining....

Blessings,

Anita

Bobbing like a cork through heavy seas

2009-12-02T04:51:00.001-08:00

I've enjoyed swimming since I was a child. I guess one reason is because it came so easy to me. For whatever reason, I am exceptionally bouyant. I can stretch out on my back atop of the water and take a nap. It is difficult for me to get below the water, and for me to dive down to the bottom of a 10' pool is almost impossible.

A couple of years ago, I attempted to scuba dive. The instructor (who was very impatient to start with), gave me a couple of weight belts to strap on. I still was unable to get more than a foot below the water, and the guy gave up on me, ordering me back up to the boat. My husband was able to go on, and he really enjoyed the lovely views of the world beneath the waves.

A day or so later, we went swimming. David was going to "help" me get below the water, and wrapped his arms and legs around me in an attempt to show me how "easy" it was to submerge.

Instead -- we both bobbed like a cork, on top of the water. My bouyancy kept us BOTH afloat, just drifting along on the surface of the sea.

Most of the time, I am bouyant spiritually as well. Since I surrendered to Christ, I know that He is in control, and by keeping my eyes on Him, my outlook is upbeat. My husband -- nicknamed the Eternal Optimist -- is much the same way. He's the most cheerful guy I know -- looking for the good in people, looking for the good in ALL situations.

Our "match" has been beneficial for both of us. When life's thrown a curveball at one of us, the other one of us has usually been able to float us both up to the surface by encouraging and reminding each other of God's love . We have a blessed partnership, and know we are both "answered prayers" for the other. We both have a heart for Africa; we both appreciate optimism; we have many similar likes/dislikes. We met each other later in life (in our mid- to late-40's) and our own "history and baggage."

But when you KNOW it's right, and you KNOW God has brought you together, "history and baggage" is just that -- past and gone. I am not the person I was 10 or 20 years ago; neither is he and I dare say that neither are any of you who may read this blog.

Working with our ministry has brought us such a great joy. Seeing people being able to drink pure, clean water as a result of the work we've done makes my heart flutter because I know it is what God wants us to do. Seeing kids who have to scrounge for food in a dump (because that's where they live) become able to go to school, able to have a real meal each day -- it's an indescribable feeling to know that you're helping the coming generation.

There is always a struggle between good and evil; spiritual battles are waged in areas that we mortal humans know nothing about. Just becoming a follower of Jesus Christ does NOT make everything peach-keen and rosy; in fact it often has the opposite effect.

I recall Reverend James -- my pastor and spiritual mentor in Ghana -- telling me once that life is like a huge highway with all the cars speeding down the road. When one becomes a follower of Christ they TURN AROUND, going in a different direction from the rest of the world. That turning around, though, gives greater potential for head-on collisions, because you are going in the way of TRUTH -- as opposed to the way of the world.

Back to bobbing like a cork ---

Within the past few days, we've both had some issues to arise that caused us to feel dragged to the bottom. We've felt bombarded by attacks from satan, sucking us both into an ocean of hurt and despair. We've slogged through what seemed like endless days and each step felt as though we were dragging in quicksand.

And yet, we realize that our lives are in the hands of Christ. We ARE working in ministry, doing the things we believe God intends us to do. We try our hardest; we share our faith; we share the transformations that have taken place in our lives as a result of turning around and living for Jesus. We've received encouragement in the form of prayers and scriptures from friends. And we've found that we've been bobbing back to the surface. Only this time, we're wrapped around our faith in Jesus to bring us back into peace and tranquility.

Life gets hard sometimes; slings and arrows can hit us from all directions. Our protection comes from the Helmet of Salvation, the Shield of Faith, the Breastplate of Righteousness, the Belt of Truth, the Sword of the Spirit, and our feet planted firmly in the Gospel of Peace.

Funny to think that all that "armor" can float us back to the top, and it can hold us up -- but it DOES!! We're still standing, we're still smiling, and we're still believing that ALL THINGS (the good AND the bad) -- ALL THINGS work together for GOOD for those who love the Lord and have been called according to His purpose.

So the "cork" that brings us floating back into the Light is Jesus, reminding us in many ways that God is in control; that even in the worst situations God can and will create something good.

(That's our Silver Lining. It's the BEST "silver lining" there is.)

We praise Him in the good times, we praise him in the not-so-good times.

We praise Him when we're floating in calm seas; we praise Him we we're being sucked beneath a tidal wave.

We praise Him when our hearts are singing, we praise Him through tears and heaving sobs.

We praise Him for deliverance; we praise Him for pain because that is what helps us grow.

We praise Him for all gifts, and we will praise Him with our last breath on this earth.

We praise Him, we wrap ourselves around Him and hold on for dear life as we bob like a cork through sometimes heavy seas.

Selah.

Leaf Lessons

2009-11-02T17:25:00.000-08:00

The sun was shining, the air was unusually warm for late October. David had an early morning appointment in Columbia, and we decided to spend a little time at River Walk. http://www.riveralliance.org/West%20Columbia%20Riverwalk.htm and

http://www.scgreatoutdoors.com/park-westcolumbiariverwalk.html

It's a lovely "secret" in downtown Columbia, SC, with miles of paths alongside the Congaree River. If you get the chance, come and visit!

We walked along the winding path, hand in hand. The Walk itself is neatly maintained with boardwalks and concrete paths. Occasionally we'd meet someone jogging, or walking a dog; a few people were taking advantage of the sunshine and enjoying picnic lunches.

Eventually, we stopped underneath a bridge for some CO2 time.

Not Carbon Dioxide -- CO2 stands for Church Of 2. Just the two of us, worshiping together, on a glorious afternoon by the water's edge. Underneath a canopy of red and golden leaves, we sat on a large rock and worshiped God. David read aloud Psalms 23, 24, and 25. We shared quietly with each other what we thought the Lord was telling us in these verses. Then we meditated a while on what we'd just read.

I sat there on that rock, watching water flowing downstream, joined by more water gushing through a spillway, splashing over the rocks below. Colorful autumn leaves fell like snowflakes from the trees along the riverbanks, and some fell into the water.

I watched those leaves -- red, gold, brown, and burgundy -- drifting, swirling, dancing in the water. Some landed in rushing water and whoosh! Bouncing and splashing, getting bruised in the process against obstacles, those leaves quickly got caught in the current. In moments they were far, far downstream.

Others slowly lazed along, bumping into rocks and logs, sometimes getting caught for a while before turning loose and catching the rapids. Still others seemed to cycle over and over again in the same tidepool: they'd be pulled under the water, eventually swirl to the surface, nearly break away to flow downstream only to be sucked right back underneath in the same place by the current.

It occurs to me that those leaves are like us humans. Some folks dive right into life, rushing through the rapids, taking things in stride, bouncing over the obstacles -- but making it past the rough parts quickly and easily.

Others take things slowly, more tentatively. They give thought to the process. Sometimes, they might get stuck in a tidepool, but they eventually work themselves through it and can continue on with life. Occasionally they are afraid to let go, afraid to leave the calmness of their security, content to watch others go whooshing past them.

The last group is to me the saddest ones. They get sucked into a continuous loop, never making it past immature thought patterns or bad habits, always making poor choices that land them right back into the murky stagnant area where they re-circulate the same old issues over and over and over again.

So which leaf are you? Are you hung up on some issue that seems to keep you from being able to move into the freedom of life? Are you clinging to the banks of the river, afraid to venture into the rush of the deep waters? Or are you jumping right in, immersing yourself in the joy of living -- even if it includes some rough patches?

Honestly...I think I've been all three types, at different stages of my life! But right now, I'm whooshing down the rapids, splashing and bobbing, sometimes smacking into walls but bouncing off with only minor dents to my soul, giggling with joy as I go.

Life is short -- enjoy the ride!

Romance 101 and beyond!

2009-10-22T17:30:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you just have to let a guy know that he's doing the right things. I've got a husband that works really hard to do what is right. So this blog entry is a little testimony about this special guy I married!

I may be over 50, a bit pudgy, and silver-haired, but I'm still a girl at heart. And a little romance can go a long, LONG way! David truly amazes me, with the "little things" he can say or do that makes my heart flutter.

For example -- just yesterday, we were at the SC State Fair. As we walked by one stage, we could hear a fellow singing a beautiful ballad. David pulled me into his arms and in the midst of the crowd we danced for a few moments. Right there, near the rows of crazy fair food and a few steps away from the rides. It was almost like the rest of the world just sort of stopped and all we knew about was one another. I never in a million years thought I would ever be with someone who would even think about a dance in a crowd -- much less actually DO it!

He brings me flowers sometimes, for no apparent reason other than he likes to see my smile. We light candles at dinner -- even if all we're having is a plate of turnips and greens, that little sparkle can ignite our smiles.

Today, while I dusted and folded the laundry, he vacuumed the house. Now that doesn't really sound very romantic, does it? But believe me -- ANY kind of help with the housework scores big romance points in my book. And I'd wager that MOST women feel the same way. As I think about it, the fact that he keeps up with simple household repairs is romantic. If there's something broken -- he fixes it! I don't have to resort to my meager carpentry/repair skills (using my itty bitty hammer, duct tape and fishing line, mostly) .

Another romantic thing -- he knows I do not like to cook. He LOVES to cook -- so from the beginning of our relationship HE has done most of the grocery shopping and cooking. I set the table, and wash the dishes. It's a great partnership that works for us, because I really don't mind cleaning up!

He offers encouragement to me. He tells me he thinks I am beautiful. He lets me know nearly every day that he treasures me like a gift.

We've based our marriage on our faith in God, and from the very start, we've shared prayers together. I remember telling my mother once, "This man prays with me, for me, and about me every single day!"

"Appreciate and Reciprocate" -- that's our main slogan. We appreciate each other's efforts and actions. Then we reciprocate by our own words and deeds. That can be practical or romantic! But it is beyond romance. It's all about trying to help each other. It's all about taking a marriage and creating a true partnership. It's all about sharing the last scoop of ice cream in the box. It's all about encouragement. It's all about a sweet slow dance in the middle of a crowd. It's all about appreciating our strengths and helping improve our areas.

It's all about loving God -- through loving each other.

Blessings!

Mathematics and THE REAL THING

2009-10-15T15:58:00.000-07:00

I wasn't very good in math. It has bamboozled me ever since the 4th grade when my parents would make me stay in my room and try to memorize the multiplication tables. YUCK. I still hate it. I limped through Algebra 1 and 2, making the absolute lowest grades of my high school career. I almost enjoyed Geometry, though. I could draw pictures and figure out the right answer, many times. My teacher would be provoked that I didnt follow the same steps as those she demonstrated (I'm sorry, Mrs. Randall!), but hey I still got the right answer.

My senior year of high school, I was forced to take Advanced Math. According to the guidance counselor, ANYBODY who planned on going to college MUST take Advanced Math. That turned out to be a crock, unless you were going to major in engineering or something. But I sat there struggling through that class, taught by one of the biggest male chauvinists I have ever had to associate with it my life. There were only about 6 girls in our class of 30; we were rarely called upon -- unless he was fairly certain we wouldn't know the right answer, so then he could berate us in front of the "guys."

All that being said....I'm still able to look at some numbers and see a pattern, a progression. I can still use the word "exponentially" and know what I'm talking about.

And I am seeing an exponential increase on the horizon.

Last year, our team to Ghana consisted of 2 people.

This year, we doubled that to 4 people.

And next year...thanks to a partnership being forged with a nearby church -- we may have as many as 16!

2 x 2 = 4 4 x 4 = 16 See, exponential increases!

Nearly every week, we meet people who express an interest in the work we do in Ghana through Waters Edge Ministries. Many of them ask about accompanying us on the journey. It is so exciting to think about this, because it is answered prayers. It's long been a dream of mine to take other people with me to Ghana, to share in the experience. (My greatest dream is for my own children to accompany me there. Perhaps one day they will have that desire.)

I can tell you about how it looks, feels, smells, tastes, sounds to be in Africa but my feeble words dont compare to the REAL THING! It's all about relationships. Meeting people, becoming their friends, sharing in each other's lives, learning about each other's cultures and traditions. Seeing life there first hand can give you a whole new "world view."

Relationships -- another exponential explosion.

I have a friend, then we meet each other's friends, then that branches out further to include our friend's friends' friends. CARING for each other. Ultimately, that is the meaning of life -- to care about people.

I've been asked "why?" Why bother with helping someone on the other side of the world? The answer is simple. It's my purpose to help my brothers and sisters, wherever they might be.

Truly, that is life's purpose for everyone -- to CARE.

The Ultimate Relationship I have is with Jesus Christ -- and it is through my walk with Him that I see the need to care about other people. They might be next door, or around the block, or halfway around the world. I can describe my feelings and relationship with Jesus just like I can describe Africa -- but for you to truly "get" the Real Thing -- you've gotta have that relationship.

Numbers might still bamboozle me at times, but I still know when I see a good thing increasing!

Blessings!

Rejection, plain & simple

2009-10-05T14:27:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid I was NOT athletic in the least. I was a bookworm, loved to read anything I could get my hands on. When we had spelling bees, I usually won. Classroom games were fun for me.

But out on the playground was a totally different story. I absolutely hated it when the teacher would pick two team captains and have them choose their team members because I was ALWAYS the last one chosen. In fact, there were times when the “captains” would actually argue over who would HAVE to have me on their team. I’d feel my face burning flaming red with the humiliation, and I’d hang my head and hope nobody would see the tears in my eyes because then they’d taunt me even more about being a cry-baby.

My first big dose of rejection – and somehow that feeling never quite goes completely away. With every form of rejection throughout my life, I still can feel that hurt, deep in the pit of my stomach.

Recently I’ve had to slog through what seems like an endless pit of cruel rejections. Some of the heartaches have dredged up feelings nearly identical to those I once felt in the last years of a toxic relationship. I’ve been physically ill, unable to eat, from the hurt caused by cruel words and actions. At one point, I curled up in bed next to my husband and sobbed that I just wanted to die. He gently whispered in my ear, caressed my shaking shoulders, and let me work at exorcising the demons that were tormenting me.

It’s almost like coming to grips with the death of a loved one. I’ve had good days and bad days, ups and downs. I’ve “put on the pretty face” in public, but in private I can be myself. I’ve smiled some, even laughed some. But more often I’ve burst into tears at anything or nothing.

I’m blessed to have a husband and mom and dad who are loving and compassionate. They’re my greatest encouragers and cheerleaders. I know that they, too, are feeling the rejection through me. It is through their love that I am learning to crawl out from under the triple truckloads of rubble burying my heart.

But there’s another Great Helper I’m leaning upon. I believe that in order to truly love others, a person must first learn how to love themselves. This means learning to overcome past rejections, learning to see yourself as Jesus sees you. This also means that any time the enemy can slow you down by slinging stuff “in your face” – he will do just that. So somewhere, in the midst of the muck & mire of rejection, a person just has to focus on that one clear thought: that JESUS doesn’t reject us, no matter what. That’s like a rope, lowered down into the pit, that we can grab hold of and begin to be pulled back into the reality that we’re really “OK.”

Life’s not always peachy keen, and the rules can change as we go. Sometimes people do things out of spite or meanness and they simply don’t realize how deeply their words or actions cut into another’s soul. I have to believe that sometimes folks are encouraged to perform cruel actions by others who are, quite frankly, cowards.

I’ve come a long way since the days of humiliation on the playground. I’ve learned to laugh off some things. I’ve learned to develop a “thick skin” where many of my shortcomings are involved. I’ve also learned that there are people who are toxic to my emotional well-being – and it becomes necessary for me to step aside for a while.

Life goes on. Rejections – though difficult and painful – are NOT the “end of the world” to me. In fact, they are helping me to press in to Jesus and press on to fulfill the purpose He has for me in this lifetime.

And, in the midst of rejections, that is my Silver Lining!

Blessings, Yall.

Restoration

2009-09-17T12:34:00.001-07:00

The dresser was part of a bedroom set. Made of mahogany, it had brass drawer pulls and a larger mirror, and it matched a chest, nightstand, and pencil-post bed. I remember where it stood in my parents’ bedroom, when I was a little girl. Mama kept her things in the drawers on the right and Daddy’s things were on the left.

In the 50’s and 60’s, my mama’s jewelry box sat on top of the dresser. It was made of white pearlized plastic, with dark red velvet heart insets. I used to love to peek inside, and look at my mom’s collection of bracelets, necklaces, and earrings. In her top drawer lay her secret stash of makeup. When I got a bit older, I’d sneak in her room and try out eye shadows, or mascara, or lipstick. Once I spilled some of her pink nail polish inside the drawer – the spot still remains as evidence of my furtive explorations!

Time passed. My sister and I both got married and moved to other homes. My folks remodeled their home and purchased a new bedroom set. They kept the bed, chest, and nightstand in their spare room, but loaned the dresser to me. I was a young mother with three children; the dresser held t-shirts, play clothes, and jeans that belonged to them.

My marriage eventually deteriorated into a suffocating shell, and I made the decision to leave. Starting over was difficult, to say the least. I moved out of the home I’d lived in for nearly 28 years, taking very few possessions with me. At the time, the dresser was crammed with the belongings of my youngest child (who was nearly 16) so I left it behind.

More years flew by, and my parents offered me the remaining pieces of the bedroom set. I was thrilled to get the bedframe, chest, and nightstand! But it needed the dresser to make it complete. I made a phone call to my ex, who agreed to exchange the dresser for another of similar size and design. He cautioned me, however, that the dresser might “need a little work.” My son delivered the dresser to a storage room at my parents’ home, and a few days later I drove to the homeplace to retrieve it.

I gazed with dismay at the old dresser. The veneer was chipped badly in several places. White water rings dotted the top. The top drawer – where as a little girl I’d spilled the nail polish – was in pieces. Scratches and gouges covered every surface and the wood was dry and dusty. It looked forlorn, abused, unappreciated, neglected. I swallowed a huge lump in my throat as I realized that I’d left that same home years before in much the same condition. Nothing came out of that place unscarred – and that included me.

Yet the old dresser still had potential. Structurally it was in great shape. All the hardware was still intact; most of the drawers opened/closed easily. And the mirror looked great. I gave the dresser a little pat, loaded it in the pickup and took it home. A trip to the hardware store provided some steel wool, sandpaper, stain, wood glue, scratch cover, finish restorer, and furniture polish. Then I went to work.

First things first – a thorough cleaning eliminated a lot of dirt. As I washed away accumulated dust and grime, I recalled how God had washed away years of negative thoughts that cobwebbed my brain.

While nothing could replace the pieces of veneer that had long ago chipped off, a bit of sanding smoothed the rough edges. A touch of stain then camouflaged the scar left behind. Abuse leaves permanent scars, but a bit of loving care can reduce the damage so that eventually the scar goes unnoticed. A life covered by the bloodstains of Jesus is healed!

The white water rings were tough to remove, and took careful scrubbing with fine steel wool and finish restorer. A lot of “elbow grease” lightened the spots, but it took several tries to make them disappear. Those white rings were lingering reminders of bad decisions and past mistakes. Even after I thought they’d vanished, I’d look and they’d be sneaking back up to the surface. Getting rid of those reminders took repetitive applications of work – and getting rid of my own bad reminders takes repetitive applications of the Word. Reading the Scriptures provides a constant source of guidance and encouragement.

Scratches and gouges are expected on furniture that is over 50 years old. They are as normal as the scratches and gouges we endure in everyday life. As I daubed scratch cover on the fronts of the drawers, I realized that prayer can ease the burdens that leave marks on our souls.

Five pieces of wood lay in a heap – the sides and bottom of that top drawer represented the shambles that my life was in before I surrendered to Christ. Just as He collected those pieces and began fitting them back together for His purposes, I began to re-position the sections of wood. Glue and clamps supported the pieces, holding the drawer together until it could stand for itself again. I thought of the many friends and precious family members who had literally held me together as I walked through the years of pain and loneliness. They offered love and support until I was able to hold my head up with self-confidence and assuredness again.

Some finishing touches completed the transformation. Soap on the runners helped the drawers work smoothly with practice, offering renewed purpose. The dresser took its rightful place in the bedroom with the rest of the pieces and I began to fill the drawers once more. Smiling, I placed my own pink nail polish in that top drawer.

A light coat of lemon oil brought out the natural lustrous sheen of the wood. Similarly, the love of Christ applied to my life gave a warm glow that I cannot contain! That once forlorn dresser had been redeemed with renewed purpose, just as Christ had redeemed my life.

No one is beyond hope – God’s restorative power can take even the most dejected, dried out, broken down heap of a life and breathe freshness into it! New purpose, new outlook, new life – all available through Christ!

And that’s truly a Silver Lining!

Signs along they way

2009-09-10T13:38:00.000-07:00

Our lives are personal journeys; we don't start out with a roadmap or even a particular destination in mind, but we make it step-by-step and day-by-day.

Sometimes we stand at a crossroads, puzzling over what choice to make or what direction to follow. At times, the choices are easy; some decisions are made for us by parents when we are young or by circumstances when we get older. Other decisions require a lot of thought and prayer.

More often than we realize, we're given signs along the way. God uses subtle, everyday objects to help guide us along life's paths. And He uses Big Bang, Knock-You-Over-The-Head tactics as well. We arent often tuned in to His signs. I wonder, sometimes, if He watches us stumbling around here, waltzing all around what He desires for us to do, ignoring the hints He's strewn in our paths. He probably rolls His eyes at us sometimes, as we miss even the most obvious signposts every now and then.

I remember wrestling with a life-changing situation a few years ago, trying to make a choice between equally difficult situations. I began to pray, asking God to make it obvious to me what road I should take. Sure enough, very soon I received an answer. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I had to make a move, I knew I had to start over, I knew it was a matter of life or death for me. It was the hardest decision I've ever had to make, but it was the best choice I have ever made. That sounds like an oxymoron, but looking back, I see clearly that for me it was the right option. I believe it was the only healthy option I had.

The sign came on a Saturday. As I sat alone at my home, surrounded with a mountain of hopelessness, I heard in my spirit "Get Out NOW!" The feeling in my gut was unmistakable. By Monday I had rented an apartment and had the utilities turned on. And by Tuesday night I had moved out. As I lay alone in my bed that first night, I felt a peaceful blanket of comfort fall over me, tucking me into the peace that comes when you are satisfied that you've done the right thing.

About a week after I moved into that apartment by myself, I drove by my old home. Some guys from the highway department worked beside the road, erecting two new signs. As I slowed down to read them, I laughed out loud! "Wrong Way" and "Do Not Enter" warnings were posted on either side of my old driveway (and they are still there today)! Who says God doesn't have a sense of humor? He literally placed roadsigns to give me confirmation!

Signs can come in the form of friends. My husband has a dear friend he met long ago. He and Leslie were seatmates on a train from Florida up the East Coast. They began to chat, sharing some of their stories, and exchanged email addresses as they parted. They've remained in contact, encouraging one another throughout the years. She was one of the first people to really encourage him to write his book, "Sowing and Reaping A Fearless Heart: Convicted Not Condemned." Last year, we stopped in Jacksonville and had brunch with her and her husband one morning. Again this past week, we visited in their home and shared lunch together. David & Leslie have seen each other "in person" a grand total of 3 times -- but they are important markers in each other's lives.

I also have friends like this -- Aliza, for example, who limped along with me through a divorce, making me laugh and encouraging me. Cathy, who has always "been there" even in the rough times, to load up a truck or to prop me up. And God uses another Cathy, who is handicapped and trapped forever in a 9-year-old's brain, reminds me to me to never give up and always be joyful by sending me pages she's colored in the mail. And then there's Sylv, my email pal from Australia. We met 9 years ago tomorrow on "THE 9-11" as she posted a note of sympathy and encouragement to her American friends on a huge inspirational group that we both belonged to -- and I responded with a thank you. She's been my confidante and most definitely a guidepost for me in this life!

I've never thought of myself as being a sign to someone else, but this summer in Ghana I received two surprise gifts that have caused me to look at myself a bit differently. Both were wood carvings; the first was given to me at Jerusalem Gates School. Our ministry has "adopted" this school, where most of the students live in the Tema Garbage Dump. If we can keep these precious ones in school, they can get at least one good meal a day that is not scavenged from the trash and they can have a chance at a better future. You know it just isnt right for a child to have to plunder through garbage, competing with dogs for food.

The headmaster gave us a carving of a pregnant woman, carrying a load on her head, using a stick to prop herself up.

He explained that the woman symbolized Jerusalem Gates Academy, struggling under the load of trying to educate these dump children who have so little. She is pregnant with promise -- a birthing place for the future for her boys and girls. But she is weary, and needs some help. So someone has given her a stick. The stick holds her up, gives her strength, offers her support. Our ministry, he said, is that stick -- strengthening Jerusalem Gates, helping her to stand. The carving hangs on the wall in our home now, and each time I see it, I am reminded of those kids and how God uses us and the people who support our ministry there to help them.

The other gift was given to me by Christ Harvests The Nations Ministry, my "home church" in Ghana. It is a carving of "The Oracle" -- the one who sounds the horn, to let people know about great things.

As Reverend James and Chief Takyi gave me the carving, they reminded me that when CHNM was a brand new ministry, I was a part of one of the first visiting teams -- and I went home and began to tell others what God was doing in Ghana, bringing more people to visit, writing "Two Watches." The Oracle reminds me that I have a voice and a responsibility -- I have to let people know of God's goodness, mercy, love, and grace!

We each experience "signs and wonders" -- and signs that make us wonder -- as we travel through life. While there have been "Oracles" and "Sticks" that God has placed in front of me that I've become aware of -- I know that there are so many more that I've been totally oblivious to. And I realize that God has used me -- sometimes as an "Oracle," sometimes as a "stick," and perhaps in other ways -- as a sign to other people.

So my silver lining today has a challenge for both you and me: Have you seen a sign from God lately? Are you really looking? The Bible promises blessings to us -- some of them come wrapped in unusual packages (like struggles -- which make us stronger). We should expect those blessings! Let's open our eyes to the signs and wonders, the "Oracles and Stick" that God is using to point the way for us!

Blessings, y'all!

What's it REALLY like?

2009-08-30T19:53:00.001-07:00

Note: This blog entry was originally posted on the Waters Edge Ministry blog (weministry.blogspot.com) in late July. I resubmit it here; the feelings remain the same. AT

What’s it really like? People sometimes ask me that question after I’ve returned from a mission trip.

When you get there, it’s like a curtain has been opened for you.
Your senses are heightened; you want to see, smell, hear, taste, touch everything so that you can experience it to the fullest. You’re the first one awake in the morning, and the last one to sleep at night because you don’t want to miss a thing by being asleep. Time sort of downshifts, and people move at a different, slower pace. Yet it also flies by quickly, creating a time warp for those who dare to step into this place.

Every pore, every cell in your body is attuned to your surroundings.

You see more stars in the darkness of night because there are no other lights competing and blocking out their brightness.

The birds’ singing brings you into wakefulness every morning, and you lie there, eyes shut, listening to them praise the Creator for another morning.

You feel the drumbeats, all the way into your bones, into your heart, into your very soul. It is impossible to be still, you must move and become a part of the rhythm.

The earthy smells of smoke and sweat mingle with the heady aromas of flowers growing wild and glorious alongside the roads.

Sunshine feels warm upon your back; perhaps gentle raindrops feel cool against your skin. Gentle breezes – and powerful winds -- remind you of the Holy Spirit’s presence.

Voices rise in song, melodies and harmonies intertwining into heavenly sounds, punctuated by handclaps in syncopated time give you a tiny suggestion of what the angels’ singing must be like.

Spiritually, you begin to feel closer to God. His Spirit surrounds you, feeling as tangible as a warm, soft blanket as you worship and pray, and you cling to His presence.

You may become physically tired, but you press on.
You may become hungry, but you share what you have with others.
You may thirst, but there is pure, cool water available – and the Living Water is by your side, as well.

The entire time you are there, it is a worshipful experience, unlike any church service you can imagine.
All too soon, though…it has to end.

The curtain drops once again as life returns to what is supposedly “normal.”
Back to telephones ringing, schedules pressing, bills waiting. Like the creepy old man with binoculars at the bottom of the hill trying to peer into your business, the enemy tries to steal your joy, your privacy, your sanity as you try to merge what you’ve just experienced with what you call “real life.” Well-intentioned friends ask, “How was your trip?” But if you tell them much more than “Great!” their eyes begin to glaze over and you realize that very few people honestly have the time or energy to care. And that realization hurts, partly because you know what they are truly missing. You don’t “fit” any more, and cannot exactly explain why that feeling persists. A whiff of a familiar scent, a snippet of sound, a fleeting memory can all trigger that lump in the throat, that sting in the eyes. So you give your senses a shot of novocaine, you push back emotions. Life goes on, as usual.

Sometimes, in that sweet haze between sleep and wakefulness, you are able to peer behind the curtain in your dreams. Your feet may walk down those dusty red dirt roads, you might hear the people singing or drums beating, you might see the brilliant colors of flowers or dresses as people swirl in dance. And you try so hard to cling to that brief glimpse, even if it is just a dream. When the fuzziness of sleep evaporates, you feel a tear slide down your face as you rise to face another day.

Gradually, you re-adjust to life “in the material world,” but you look at things differently. Your perspective has changed, your priorities may be re-arranged. And you begin to realize the burdens that were laid upon your heart are actually gifts.

How can you use those gifts? How can you share them?
THAT becomes the challenge. And the challenge becomes the desire to seek God’s will.
And that is what it is “really like” to me.

Blessings,
Anita <>

Leaving Ghana, once again

2009-08-28T07:47:00.000-07:00

Tuesday morning dawned with rain.

Our trip this year coincided with Ghana’s rainy season. For two solid weeks before our arrival, it had rained buckets. Friends emailed us, advising us to be sure to bring an umbrella. Indeed, when we landed two weeks earlier, we landed in a rainstorm. But by the time we left the airport that day, the sun was breaking through the clouds. There was no rain at all during our stay – until the morning we were to leave. God knew what kind of weather we needed and He provided!

The gray clouds on this day of our departure mirrored my mood. The suitcases sat by the door, glaring at me in accusation: WHY are we leaving this place? Since we had to be at the airport by 8:00 am, we had to leave by 6:30. This was a mighty early start to what would be a very long day.

We shared a quick breakfast of rice water, bread with jam, and tea with Rev. James’ wife Mary one last time. (We already said our good-byes to Rev. James on Sunday evening, because he left to go to Norway to counsel some friends.) Trying to swallow food when your heart is aching is really tough. Couple that with attempting to carry on some small talk – the feeling was almost overwhelming. Once we finished trying to eat, we loaded the bags into the back of Richie’s pickup and ourselves into Rev. James’ car headed to Accra’s Kotoka International Airport.

Our adopted family stood, clustered by the house. They waved and blew kisses to us as Stephen backed the car out into the road. I’d miss Mary and her daughters Lexie and Kelsey, Ben, Pastor Johnson, Pastor Isaac, Stephen, Emmanual, Christina, and Lizzy so much.

We were a fairly quiet bunch driving to Accra. I suspect each of us was lost in our own thoughts of leaving Ghana and going back to the USA. Richie, Stephen, and Pastor Isaac helped us unload our gear, and I said my last good-bye to Richie with a long hug. He’s a good man; I am honored to be his heart-mom and friend.

Checking in at the airport went smoothly. We ended up with a bit of extra time to spend in the little shops at Kotoka Airport. I really wanted one last Fanta Pineapple soda, and was able to find one in a newsstand. I sat down, sipping the sweet drink slowly, so I could savor it as long as possible.

When we were called to the gate, we worked to cheer each other up by pointing out ladies we thought would possibly make a good wife for Ben! We’d played this game with Ben throughout our journey – we’d point out a lovely lady and Ben would find some reason to reject her! It was all in fun and Ben would laugh with us. So even though Ben wasn’t there to defend himself, we still managed to play the game of “Let’s Find Ben A Wife.”

The flight crew walked past us and shortly thereafter we began boarding the plane. The flight home was not full and we each ended up having a full row to ourselves in the back of the plane. The plane’s engines began to throb. I watched the rain splashing on the windows of the plane and felt tears begin to prickle in my eyes. The plane started to taxi, my tears began to trickle down my face. As we took off, I craned my neck to say good-bye to Ghana as the tears streamed full-force down my face. (I was such a mess that the flight attendant came to check on me – I told her I always cried when I had to leave Ghana. She smiled, patted my hand, and said she understood.)

Once in flight, I began to mentally coach myself back into the US lifestyle.

By the time we landed in New York almost 12 hours later, I had shored up my defenses, and stepped dry-eyed off the plane back into the Land of Plenty of Stuff.

You’d think it would get easier. I mean, this was my 6^th visit to Ghana. Why does my heart still feel like it’s ripped in two when I leave?

Perhaps it is one way to keep the fire burning, to keep the hopes and dreams alive for helping others have a better life. Maybe it is just a reminder that God has a definite plan for my life, and I need to keep walking in it.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 comes to my mind: “ For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

That promise is the Silver Lining of life!

Blessings!

Monday at Jerusalem Gates

2009-08-21T14:08:00.000-07:00

Back to Ghana.....

We woke on our final Monday with full hearts and a full agenda for the day. I always like to lie in bed at dawn, listening to the birds wake the rest of the world. I allowed myself this little luxury then rose to start the day.

First was a quick visit back to the market!
We'd purchased some bracelets on Saturday, and the lady was stringing them on elastic bands for us. So we went to pick them up; I was also getting some colorful waist beads for a friend of mine. I loved looking at the colors of the beads -- no two waist bead strings were alike!

I walked through the market one last time, absorbing all of the sights, sounds, and smells into my soul, trying to burn them into my memory. The place is bustling, alive, organic -- and as I recall the tiny stalls filled with beautiful fabrics, colorful beads, household goods, dried fish, beans, groceries, and on and on...I'm feeling nostalgic. I can hear the "sss--sss--sss" of the young men as they push wheelbarrows through the narrow alleys....women bantering back and forth as they bargain for the best prices...a voice singing.

As we left the market, Dave bought a Fanta pineapple drink for me -- one of my favorite Ghana treats! Our next stop was the Rasta's place -- I am not sure of the correct name of this arts and crafts store in Tema, but the gentleman running it is Rasta. He has very good quality wood carvings, drums, and some paintings. He remembered us from last year as he welcomed us into his business. We purchased our last minute gifts, then headed back to Community 25.

Today, Jerusalem Gates Academy was hosting a 7th anniversary party, and we were invited as honored guests. We walked to the school from Rev. James' house. As we entered the school yard, we noticed the entire yard had been brushed neatly with a broom. There were several rows of chairs set up, and a few parents and other local folks were already seated. The children were clustered to the side. We were ushered to our seats in the front, and the program began.

The Headmaster, Julius, made some welcoming remarks and introduced us. Then we sat back to enjoy the performances by the children. They sang, danced, played drums, recited, and acted out skits.

One of the skits featured some girls dancing. Then some boys, wearing slouchy hats and over-size clothing, began dancing up behind them. The boys would make advances, and the girls would bump them off with a wave of an arm or by turning around. The boys would re-group, and try other means to attract the attention of the girls -- who just kept on dancing as if the guys were not even on their radar screens! It was obviously a skit about courtship, and it was hysterically funny! Eventually, each young man won over their girl, and they'd dance off arm-in-arm.

Another skit featured a stuttering preacher. Several of the "congregants" asked for special prayers or healing and the preacher stuttered and stammered his way through them. Everyone in the audience was howling with laughter at the antics of the stuttering preacher and his little flock!

Next we were treated to lots of singing, dancing, and drums! We clapped along with them, wrapping ourselves in the music, getting lost in the rhythm resounding from the young men with their drums, sticks, and shakers.

At the end of the program, we were each given a gift of appreciation for our part in helping the kids at Jerusalem Gates. I thought of all the people back home who had made it possible for these kids to be educated for the coming year and wished that each one of them could have been there, watching the kids perform, seeing their smiles, and understanding the huge difference they'd made in the lives of these young boys & girls. We each spoke briefly, thanking the headmaster, guests, and children for the gifts and the program. And we reminded them that we were just the vessel -- that many donors in the US (and a couple in Australia!) had been led by God to give money for their education.

All too soon, we had to leave. The children clustered around us, hugging us, bidding us farewell as we walked back down the road toward home.

At home -- the Goat Feast awaited!

We'd been given a couple of goats, and Emmanuel had butchered them earlier in the day. Mary, Christina, Lizzy, and Victoria had worked all day preparing a feast for our whole household to enjoy! The dining room table had been moved outside to the front porch, and our whole "family" gathered together for one last huge meal together. There was so much food, I think the table was groaning from all the dishes piled upon it! Rice, fresh pineapple, goat stew, fufu, thick slabs of sweet bread, soft drinks, and more! We ate like kings and it was absolutely delicious! Isaac from Potwabin was there, as well as Pastor Johnson and Chief Takyi. Victoria with her three kids, Rev. James & Mary & their girls, Stephen, Ben, Christina, Lizzy, Emmanuel... I'm sure there are some I am not recalling at the moment. We ate, told stories, shared remembrances, laughed -- it was a fabulous afternoon, and the fun lasted until well after dark.

Going in for the evening signaled "the end." It was time to pack. We'd need to be up and out early the next morning.

By the time I finished my packing, the room was bare. I had a box of clothing and other odds and ends I was leaving there, and my bags were most definitely lighter going home than they had been arriving.

I lay down, my husband wrapped his arms around me, and we both cried ourselves to sleep our final night in Ghana. We'd miss our friends, the love, the freedom we both felt here.

Blessings,

Anita <><

All too

Trying to learn to love....me

2009-08-14T18:44:00.000-07:00

This will be a short entry, unrelated to Ghana. I'll finish the Ghana series next week. But something occurred to me today that I feel I must write and share.

My husband is a handsome guy, fun-loving, athletic, and FULL of energy. He used to say he had "all the energy of a 2-year-old" then a year or so ago he decided he had "matured" a bit so now he says he has "all the energy of a 4-year-old."
That actually is a fairly accurate statement!

He enjoys golfing, dancing, swimming, boating, scuba-diving, sky-diving, the list goes on and on...and he is really good at anything he tries.

If you know me, you know I was the kid in school the team captains fought about who had to take me on their team. In recent years, I've had to take steroid medications to help me with breathing -- which has added several pounds to my already chunky frame.

So today, we went out for a boat ride. It was a lovely day, and we swam a bit, played with Scarlett (who LOVES to fetch sticks the size of small trees in the water), and fished a while. At mid-afternoon, we decided to call it a day, and David brought the boat up alongside the dock at Dutchman's Creek, where we'd left the pickup. He hopped out and began tying it up.

Then I tried to get out of the boat. David offered me his hand and I took it. However, I am not very steady on my feet, I feel hugely overweight, and to my horrors, as I stepped out of the boat I tripped. I fell --SPLAT-- on the dock, bruising my knee, my hand, and my pride. David helped me up; I was not really hurt and tried to shake it off.

Satisfied that I was okay, he secured the boat back on the trailer, and we hopped in the pickup and headed back home, mostly in silence. He was listening to NPR...but I was brooding.

Here's a guy full of life and energy; he wants to DO things, he wants to run and jump and play and dive and live the most actively full life in the world. And yet he's saddled with a partner for life like me. I cant even get out of a boat without tripping. I'm klutzy, my walk is more of a lumbering gait...on and on and on I beat myself up mentally for my physical/athletic shortcomings. I thought about all the things he could do, WITH someone, if that "someone" was another person who was "slim, trim, and athletic." Oh the self-talk I was mentally giving myself was pretty darn cruel. And as we got closer to home, I felt worse. And worse. And worse.

Then...
About two miles from our house, David broke the silence by praying aloud: "THANK YOU GOD for this gorgeous day, for the fun we've had, for the sunshine, the boat, and for my lovely wife!"

He had no idea what his prayer to God had spoken to my own heart. I hadnt given him the first clue about the things I'd been thinking about myself. The mean self-talk evaporated with the realization that he didnt really care that I'm not "slim, trim, and athletic." He loves me just the way I am, clumsiness and all.

I thought of times he's swept me into his arms and danced with me in the kitchen. I'm not a good dancer at all -- but he ignores when I step on his toes, or go right instead of left. He's just happy to be holding me, happy to be dancing with ME. It makes me feel like the most special girl in the world.

In our lives today, we're bombarded with how we "should" look. I'm far from the ideal and tend to put myself down about it a lot (like today). I have a difficult time loving myself. But God has given me a husband who thinks I am absolutely "the bomb" (his words). I wonder why it is so hard for me to see myself as he does...

And that made me wonder why it is so hard for me to see myself as God does. I dredge up all the shortcomings, all the "bad stuff." But God sees me as HIS CHILD, his daughter -- a PRINCESS. One who is worthy of being loved by others -- including herself!

Learning to love myself is a challenge: I have to keep on beating back the negative self-talk that I've played in my head for so long. I'd like to eject that tape and throw it into the river.

So for now...I'm thanking God for who I am, how I am, what I am. And for a husband who thinks I am a rare and precious jewel. :)

Sunday worship, Sunday fellowship

2009-08-13T15:33:00.000-07:00

Sunday dawned and we prepared ourselves for church service. Each of us on the team wore new outfits, designed & sewn by Richie's wife Victoria. Mine came with a headwrap, which I figured out how to wear, tie, and look halfway decent.

I love worshiping at Christ Harvests the Nations Sanctuary. It is spirit-led, spirit-filled and I have learned much there. This morning was no different, the air was super-charged with worship when we arrived! Singing, clapping, praising -- a glorious riot of song and energy! I couldn't wait to get inside, to add my own voice to the praises and prayers being lifted high!

Victoria sang a couple of songs, oh how I wish she would record a cd. Her voice is pure and strong and so full of feeling. Then the choir sang -- and the whole congregation stood, clapping in time to the music.

Several church members gave testimonies. One young man spoke of getting an unexpected job offer; another talked of getting a pay increase. Then Chief Takyi, my dear friend, approached the microphone. Wearing his chieftain's robe, he exuded wisdom and dignity as he began to speak. He held his Bible in his hand, and began to talk of finding salvation, then answers to problems, in Christ through the Word. He raised his Bible high -- blue soft-cover, giant print copy. I recognized it as being a copy that David & I sent to him at Christmas. We're all about the same age, and finding that we need larger print materials. He held his Bible high, and began to give thanks for words written in giant print that he could see "even in the dark night with a candle" -- and then read aloud the inscription that I'd written to him, months ago. I was humbled to realize that a simple trip to WalMart to buy a giant-print Bible for our good friend Chief would have made such a powerful impact. Once again...I realize that a little thing I take for granted is so much needed and appreciated in Ghana.

Each of us in the team took a turn speaking and sharing. It was difficult, in a way, because this was yet another "good-bye" to a church family I have come to love. While there are folks that drift in and out of the congregation --- there are always some folks that are "constants" there, who have been there from the start.

When we sat back down, Rev. James approached the pulpit. Instead of preaching, he began to sing, deep heartfelt praises to Christ the King! The music just flowed from his soul, filled the church, and wrapped around us like smooth silken robes. I could have listened to him forever.

I have to say here that I love Rev. James. He is my pastor, my teacher, my advisor, my confidante, and my friend. My first visit to Ghana -- he spent a lot of time with me, helping me try to understand some of the things I was seeing, hearing, feeling, & experiencing. When I have needed someone to listen to me, it didnt matter the time or day -- all I had to do was pick up the phone and call him. He'd listen, he'd console my hurts, he'd laugh at my jokes, and always -- ALWAYS he would tell me that I was God's precious daughter, and that God loves me no matter what. He is a great man, and I thank God every single day for his life, and I am privileged to be his friend.

All too soon, church was over.
The team traditionally takes our hosts out for a meal together, so we headed to Tsing Tao Chinese Restaurant for lunch. This was a time to show our appreciation to all of the Ghanaian friends who had worked with us, cooked for us, traveled with us, shared with us, and served with us. We had a great time, laughing, sharing great food, telling stories together.

We headed home in the late afternoon.
I stood in the doorway of my room at the Mission House, looking at my belongings scattered about, realizing that within a few hours I'd need to have things packed up to return to the USA. I sighed....

******

I am realizing that it becomes difficult for me to write about the "end" of my visit. I guess I just dont like to think about goodbyes, even after they've been said & I've flown home.

A friend of mine made the comment that it becomes difficult to "reconcile" our lives back home in the USA with what we see and live for our short visits in Africa. We live in the "Land of Plenty" -- with respect to material goods. Yet we are so poor in spirit. My friends in Ghana might not have "stuff" -- indeed, many folks over there have next to nothing materially -- but what they have in spirit, in heart, in soul far, far exceeds what we experience here.
It is like all our worldly goods seem to crowd out the Spirit.
But they dont crowd out the NEED for the Spirit -- which we continue to seek, but tend to substitute more "stuff" for the things that only God can provide.

It is time to break away, time to step aside. Time to let the world and all of its "things" slip by -- Time to focus on Who is in control, Who is worthy of our praise -- Time to worship in spirit and in truth.

Blessings,
Anita <><

Shopping Day, "Road to Emmaus"

2009-08-03T04:32:00.000-07:00

Our last Saturday in Ghana, we loaded into the van and headed toward Accra. We'd "play" today -- most of our work was finished.

The Kwame Nkrumah National Shrine was closed for repairs. We had hoped to visit there; I've been a time or two, but I like to share it with team members because it gives a good view of Ghana's recent history. The symbolism of the place intrigues me, also -- the building itself looks like the handle of a sword; indeed it is supposed to look like a sword buried in the sand up to its hilt to symbolize peace.

We went to the Arts and Crafts market. What a busy place! Tiny stalls, jam-packed with jewelry, carvings, paintings, clothing, baskets, leather goods, drums, just about everything you can imagine! A riot of color and sound, with people calling out to you, beckoning you to come take a short look at what they have to offer. It can get a little bit suffocating, to be honest. Bargaining is commonly the way to shop, too. "Come, Madame, I give you the best price. Just thirty cedis..." And you look at it, then offer them about half that amount. You bicker back and forth until you settle on some mutual amount. Or not -- in that case, you just walk away; sometimes they will chase you down and agree with your last offer. It can be a lot of fun!

We spent a couple of hours there, then decided we'd go to the Tema market. While we'd found a few good deals in Accra, we thought we'd be "less harassed" in Tema -- plus the prices on many things were more reasonable in Tema. As we left the Arts & Crafts market, we shared the "goodies" we'd purchased with each other. Becky got a terrific deal on a gorgeous leather rug -- I think that was the best bargain any of us got. She paid 60 cedis for it -- roughly $40 USD. I got a basket for a friend, and David & I both got some paintings.

Once I began paying attention to our travel, I noticed that we were not going back to Tema by our usual route down the main thoroughfare. With dismay...I realized we were heading down Spintex Road. More like Spintex Parking Lot. Or Spintex Collection of Gigantic Potholes. It seems we had to pick up a couple of packages for someone. I have yet to figure out why our entire group had to do this -- why couldnt one person gone in a cab, or better yet, why couldnt the lady have brought the packages to us? At any rate -- normally it takes about 35 minutes to get back to Tema. Going down Spintex Road took about 3 hours.

By the time we arrived in Tema, it was well past lunch time (nearly 4:30) and we were tired, hungry, and quite honestly cranky. The Spintex detour eliminated our time at the Tema market.

But after we ate the lunch that had been waiting for over 3 hours, we went for a short trip, anyway. The market closes at 6:30, so we had to "make tracks" -- we made a bee-line to a couple of places we needed to go. Evelyn's store, to pick up a few grocery items, mainly. We also ordered several bracelets from a lady who did beadwork. We arranged to pick them up on Monday (smiling to ourselves because this would assure us of a trip back to the Market one more time!)

Tomorrow would be Sunday -- and each of us would be expected to speak at church the following morning. I was trying to determine exactly what God was willing me to say, but the words to a song kept rattling around in my head. I realized that *this* was the message God was giving me: that sometimes we found ourselves like the "two fools on the road to Emmaus" -- walking and talking with Jesus but not even realizing who He is.

There's a line Jason Upton sings here about being "so lonely that a stranger's your best friend." I always relate that line to when I first surrendered my life to Christ. I was, indeed, so lonely that my "best friend" became a young man named Richard in Ghana. I am so grateful for that friendship -- we've become "family" to each other. But the friendship we both share with Jesus is even more special, and I treasure that gift above all else.

*****
I hated to think about the trip drawing to a close. Even as I write this, two weeks later...my eyes well with tears and I get an ache in the back of my throat. Leaving never seems to get any easier.

Man Plans, God Laughs

2009-07-31T14:52:00.001-07:00

There’s an old saying that man plans and God laughs. I dare say God had more than one belly-laugh at us as we came home from Logba Tota.

We were headed home a day early because Rev. James was battling malaria and clearly needed rest. While we hated to miss out on the things that had been set aside for us to see and do on Friday, we realized that it gave us a golden opportunity to return to Potwabin and finish setting up the water purifier there!

As we headed southward toward Tema, the four of us began making our plans. We decided that we’d ask Chief Takyi & Pastor Johnson to go with us, and that we’d need the van – but with just 6 people, we ought to be able to leave very early. We reasoned that we could buy a loaf of sweet bread to share for breakfast – that way we might even be able to leave early enough to beat rush-hour traffic as we went through Accra, right? And we could eat lunch at a restaurant in Mankessim – no need for anybody to cook for us.

So satisfied with our plan…we began to set it in action.

We called Isaac, the pastor in Potwabin, to let him know we’d be returning. He let us know that since we’d been there the week before, they had secured a 400-gallon polytank and placed it in a field between the river and the village. They’d be ready and waiting for us, he said!

Next we asked Chief about securing the van and going with us. He agreed. We expressed our desire to eat lightly – breakfast on the road, lunch at the place in Mankessim (a town close to Potwabin) – so we could get there, get to work, and get done before dark. He nodded in agreement. All was well. Our plan was working!

As we made our way back to Tema, we stopped in a village near Kpeve where a trade school was located. Pastor Johnson said that the students at the school had a gift for us – and they presented each of us with an embroidered kente cloth. Lovely! We looked at their fabrics – tie-dye and batik of all colors, some shoes, clothing, and more kente strips. Then it was back to the van and rolling on home.

We made pretty decent time, considering we didn’t leave Logba Tota until midday. We arrived in Tema around 4:30. Ahhh it felt good to be back home to a hot shower, a good shampoo, and our own familiar beds!

Friday dawned. All four of us were up with the roosters, ready to hit the road to Potwabin. We hoped to be there before 11 am; that way we could get the system set up, allow it to purify, and hopefully it would be done by late afternoon. Pastor Johnson arrived around 7 am, ready to go.

Remember we’d planned our breakfast of sweetbread, on the road?
God laughed. It didn’t happen. No van, no Chief. We waited a while, then Christina announced that breakfast was ready. So we ate a big delicious breakfast…while the clock ticked.

Around 9, Chief Takyi arrived with the van. OK, so we’d be there by lunchtime, that was cool. We loaded up, drove off toward Potwabin. Uh…not quite.
God laughed again. The driver veered onto a street leading into Tema.

We asked, “Where are we going?” To pick up Ben and Evelyn – who had made our lunch. So…..we picked up two more passengers, and a cooler filled with freshly made jollof rice and chicken. The clock ticked and God laughed some more.

Next stop was an auto supply store. It seems the car batteries we’d purchased were sub-standard, so we were going to exchange them for better ones. God was really guffawing by now! The Lebanese man who ran the auto supply store was not the least bit interested in customer satisfaction. We explained that the battery we’d purchased was not working and wouldn’t hold a charge, and that we wanted to exchange it for a better one. He refused. A very heated exchange occurred between David, Chief Takyi, Ben the driver, Ben our friend and the Lebanese guy and a couple of his workers. They got so loud in their disagreement that the security guard from a nearby Forex Bureau wandered by.

In order to even consider exchanging the battery, we had to prove it didn’t work. That meant we had to take the battery – and a young man from the store – across town and put it on a charger. So…we drove to the place, had the battery tested and it was of course dead as a fence post, and the young man from the store agreed. So we had to drive BACK to the auto parts place where the argument resumed. Eventually, the son of the Lebanese owner agreed to swap the battery for a larger one.

We finally left Tema around 11:45. God laughed as we fought the traffic through Accra, and stopped at a roadside café to eat our packaged lunches served to us by Evelyn.

We rolled into Potwabin around 3 pm. We had about 3 hours of daylight left to accomplish our task. So we rolled our sleeves up and got to work.

The polytank was situated in a good place, though it needed to be raised up about 3’ off the ground. Young men were dispatched to round up some blocks, and very soon the tank was secured. David & Pastor Johnson worked with Isaac and a young man named Samuel to set up the purifier. Women and young girls (my friend Grace included) began hauling water from the river to the tank, and soon they’d brought up nearly 300 gallons. This water was murky-dark, very dirty. Even poured through a filter, it was still muddy looking. The guys hooked up the pump and the battery, and we waited for the purifier to show some action. Soon, the hazy bubbles began forming – it was working!

Meanwhile, we played with the children who had gathered around. Bubbles are always a great diversion. Plus, we’d brought some blow-up globes and the kids began playing kick ball. After a while, Evelyn rounded everybody up and began singing songs with them, like “Roll, Roll My Burdens Away” and “God Bless Our Homeland Ghana” (the national anthem).

After a while, we began testing the water with a pool chlorine kit. The objective is to purify until the test reads 5 parts per million, then the system stops and the water gasses off for several hours. The water is then pure of contaminants, and by allowing the chlorine to gas off, it tastes good as well. After purifying about an hour, though, the test kit was still showing negligible results.

Realizing we were running out of daylight, David made a call to Duvon McGuire, who invented the system. He wanted to ask Duvon about kicking it up a notch by adding more salt. “Add more salt, by all means!” he said. When water is very muddy, he explained, it takes more salt to produce the desired results. So we instructed Isaac to double the salt in the brine. That worked! At last, the chlorine levels were moving up!

Around 5:45, the chlorine levels were high enough! We CELEBRATED again, just like in Adigbo Tornuu! Success – like the water – tasted sweet!

We had just enough daylight left to take the system down for storage, take a couple of photos, give the kids some candies, say our good-byes, and pack up for home. As the driver turned from the long dirt road onto the main highway back toward Accra, it was as dark as night. We celebrated all the way home – though in the back of my mind it was a little bittersweet: we were nearing the end of our mission. Only three more days left in Ghana.

God might have laughed at our plans to be up and at ‘em, and get it done….but I’m sure He smiled at our joyful success. And even though it was very late when we arrived back home in Tema, we were still elated that a second village would now have clean pure water!

Blessings, yall!
Anita ><>

On to Logba Tota!

2009-07-27T17:42:00.000-07:00

We woke up in Alavanyo and went outside to take a look around. It had been so late when we arrived we couldnt really tell what the place looked like. The guest house where we stayed was surrounded by vegetation -- corn planted on one side, mango trees and cassava planted on the other side, and forest in the back. Across the street the hills rose up, exposing their rocky faces toward the morning sun. This was a really lovely place!

Worshipping with the people in Alavanyo the night before had been such an exhilarating experience! Christ Harvests plants churches all over Ghana; I've had the priviledge of meeting with some of them over the years. This was a new plant, just a few months old, and the people were already looking for a "home" for their church. In order to do this properly, representatives of Christ Harvests had to meet with the chief to request permission.

The meeting was scheduled for this morning, and we were to take part in the ceremony. I've had the honor of participating in this type of ritual before, it is exciting to witness the tribal council "in action." We drove to the center of town, and drums began calling for the citizens to come.

We were shown to our seats: a few rows of plastic chairs, arranged under a tarp for shade. To our left were more rows of chairs, and as we waited, the queen mothers and other women arrived, some of them singing, and took their places. Facing us were two rows of chairs, and one additional chair was in the center front. The elders arrived and took their places. the chief sat on the front row, in the center; the second-in-command chief sat directly behind him. Another gentleman sat directly in front of the chief -- between the chief and all of us. This guy was the linguist. It is not proper to talk directly to the chief; all communication must take place through the linguist.

So our spokesmen, Pastor Johnson and Chief Takyi, communicated with the linguist. He asked what our purpose was in Alavanyo; we explained that it was our desire to establish a church there. After some exchange, this was approved. The town also agreed to sell a small parcel of land on which a church structure could be placed -- a little closer into town instead of way out in the jungle! According to tradition, there is supposed to be a drink offering shared with the chief & elders once permission has been granted. In more modern day, the "drink offering" has become a cash offering -- so we gifted them with some money.

After some singing and a few more exchanges, we said goodbye and loaded into the van. I look forward to returning to Alavanyo; I believe it will be a strong church!

Back over the washboard road! It was no smoother in the daylight than it had been in the nighttime! But at least as we left, we could see where we'd been.

We wound our way around, through dirt roads, some semi-paved areas, heading toward Logba Tota. The Volta region is beautiful, with lush rain forests and tall mountains. It was a pleasure to see the countryside.

After driving several miles, we stopped to watch some young men weaving kente cloth. The looms are quite complicated, and the fellows used foot pedals as well as multiple shuttles to create the colorful, intricate designs. Their hands fairly flew as they wove the narrow fabrics, and the shuttles click-clacked as they worked. We purchased several pieces, then finished the ride up the mountainside to Logba Tota.

I love Logba Tota. It is one of the most beautiful places on earth. We stayed in Chief Takyi's mountaintop home. Across the valley is the town; in the far distance you can see Lake Volta on the horizon. I've visited here nearly every time I've gone to Ghana. When we pulled up to the house, I jumped out of the van, eager to see the vistas from all sides!

Rev. James hadnt been feeling well since we left Tema. By the time we arrived in Logba Tota, it was clear that he was battling malaria. I've never experienced malaria myself; I am grateful to have had medication to keep from getting that on the short-term visits that I make there. He really felt bad, and retired to a bedroom as soon as he could.

Last year when we were in Logba, I had a lot of difficulty breathing. My asthma was just beginning to be brought under control; the high altitude coupled with strenuous climbs made it difficult for me. I remember having to deal with my rescue inhaler, just to make it to church.
This year was a different story, praise God! When we made the trek up the mountain that night for church, I made it with no problem at all! No inhalers, I didnt have to stop and catch my breath, I just went right straight up -- and immediately gave thanks for proof that I was better!

By the time our worship service in Logba Tota ended, it was getting late. We went back to the house and bedded down for the night.

*****
The next day dawned bright and clear. We took a walk into town, stopping by the new school. My first year at Logba (2001), the school was in sad disrepair. But now, there is a brand new school built by a grant from some Dutch benefactors -- we took a brief tour and visited in each classroom.

On the way back to the house, David and Becky decided to try carrying water, Ghana-style: on their heads! I was really proud of them -- Becky particularly -- she carried that bottle of water balanced atop her head for quite a long distance up & down hills! :)

We had a prayer meeting with church leaders, then decided we'd head back to Tema. Rev. James really needed to get home, he was feeling really bad. We cut short our stay, loaded up the van, and began driving.

We stopped on the way home for a brief visit at Bishop Hermann College, where Chief Takyi's son Samson is studying. It was good to see Samson again, he's growing into a fine young man.

At last, we pulled into the gate at Tema. Home again! :)

A Day of Glorious Joy, Part 2

2009-07-23T17:43:00.000-07:00

After spending all day in Adigbo Tornuu, we were elated with the success of the water system! I actually hated to leave; a big part of me would have loved to just spend the night in one of those mud huts in the village. I'd love to feel the village rest at night, then wake in the morning. Perhaps one day I will get that opportunity. We shall see.

*smile* It's one of those things that I think about doing, and then wonder what kind of reaction my mom & dad would have if they could see it happen.

Our van was full, but not over-crowded, as we drove out of the village and into the night. Our next stop was Alavanyo -- but I had no idea how far away it was. Christ Harvests the Nations plants churches all over Ghana. A few months ago, they began a new church in Alavanyo, in the Volta region. Starting with just 5 worshippers, the church grew to 35 in just a few weeks time. We'd been invited to join in their service this evening.

We drove for a long time, through small towns and even smaller villages. The road was mostly paved, but full of potholes. After about two hours, Ben turned onto a very rough and rocky dirt road. Our progress had to be slow as he navigated the big van down the narrow path that led to the village. After about a half-hour, the road ended. We were to walk the rest of the way.

Night falls quickly in Ghana, and this night was very dark. Stars twinkled vividly overhead -- more stars than I can see at home because there are no street lights competing in the darkness. Not all of us had flashlights, so our hosts used their cell phones to help light the way as we followed single-file down a winding path that led out of the edge of the village. Our progress was slow; we were tired, yet excited about this new church. At last, we reached a thatch-covered shed in a clearing in the jungle.

No one was there. It was probably 9:30 or 10:00. Had we ventured deep into the forest too late?

We stood there a moment, the darkness broken only by a couple of cell phones. Then, we heard a gentle rustling as shadows began to move in the surrounding vegetation. From out of those shadows emerged people, some bringing benches or plastic chairs. The place began to fill with people, ready to praise God. One guy spooled out a wire, attached it to a long skinny neon tube that was attached to one of the supports of the roof and voila! We had light!

A lady began to sing, then more voices joined in. A drummer began to pound out an accompaniment for their singing; other rhythm instruments added texture to the music. We clapped and sang along, then the ladies began to dance. We joined with them, bouncing in the rhythm, clapping our hands, sweating in the jungle night air.

The praise and worship in that little palm-leaf shelter was fabulous! No keyboards or electric guitars -- just drums and shakers. No microphones, just real voices. As tired as I was, I would not have missed this for the world! We counted 98 people worshipping God with us that evening. We each spoke a few words, and the pastors shared a short message of encouragement with the folks who had gathered there. I did not want the evening to end; as I sit here remembering the night I have to smile because of the wonder and beauty of the evening, shared with total strangers, all worshipping the same God.

We sang, clapped, danced, and worshipped deep into the night.

Eventually, as with all good things, we had to end the service. Just as quickly as they appeared, the people began to drift back into the trees, heading for their homes. We passed single-file back down the path to the van.

Ben drove us to a guest house at the edge of the town. Two rooms shared a bathroom on each side of the house; there was a central room that served as living room and kitchen/dining area. David & I shared a room while Becky & Davi shared the adjoining room. Most of our church friends shared the rooms on the other side, though a couple of the men slept in the living room.

Smiling, we finally closed our eyes in sleep.

This day, starting with the water purification in Adigbo Tornuu and ending with the most awesome praise and worship in Alavanyo, had been one of the most glorious days in my life.

A day of Glorious Joy, Part 1

2009-07-22T15:43:00.000-07:00

Adigbo Tournuu -- What a glorious day!

We shared breakfast at the Chances hotel, where we’d spent the night after our visit to Labo Labo and Kpeve. Fresh fruit, oatmeal, omelets, tea, milo, coffee -- we had our fill, then piled into the van and moved on toward the village of Adigbo Tournu, where we planned to install a water purifier.

Pastor John Johnson is one of the most dedicated servant leaders I have ever met. He is the “motorcycle minister” of Christ Harvests, and pastors the Kpeve church while training and mentoring new pastors and assisting in planting new churches. It is through him that we learned about the village of Adigbo Tournu last year. When he took us there, the villagers explained to us that while they had the lake as their water source, it was contaminated; the people there suffer from shistosomiasis -- a parasitic ailment that causes blood in the urine. Clean, pure water would help that village overcome a host of health issues. When we held the initial training on setting up and using the system, Pastor Johnson paid rapt attention, asking questions and practicing over and over until he felt confident that he could set the unit up himself and teach others to do it as well.

We turned off the paved road and bumped along for several miles down the dirt road that snaked its way through the bush toward the edge of the river. For quite some distance, we saw nothing but tall green grasses and a few trees. But once we caught sight of the river, the road widened and we began to see a hut or two. Rounding a curve, we could see the school. I noticed some improvements to that facility since last year: one wall that was crumbling had been restored, and a new tin roof now covered the whole building.

There were kids of all ages there, dressed in their traditional uniforms. We waved as we drove by, and the kids returned our greetings with big smiles and more waves.

Just past the school was the village itself, a cluster of clay huts on either side of the road. Most of the huts had thatch or palm-leaf roofs. Smoke drifted from small cookfires, filling the air with the smell of charred wood. Here and there, articles of clothing hung on trees or small shrubs to dry in the sun. The day was pleasantly warm, and gentle breezes blew. At one end of town, young men and boys wove kente cloth; we could hear the clack-click-clack-click of their shuttles and foot pedals as they deftly created colorful patterns of bright blues, oranges, reds, greens, and yellows into the narrow strips. Dun-colored dingo dogs roamed around, scrounging for whatever scraps they might eat.

Ben parked the van by the side of the road, and Pastor Johnson led us through the village past several huts and into a small clearing. Quickly, some young boys brought several wooden benches and plastic chairs for us to be seated -- we had to pay a visit to the town elders before any work could begin.

Speaking through interpreters, the elders asked us the purpose of our visit. We explained that when we visited last year, we’d been concerned about their water problems, and God led us to seek a possible solution. We requested permission to begin work; the elders gave the nod. All of this is simply a formality -- they already knew we were coming and quite honestly I think they were as excited as we were! But in African villages, the protocol of establishing relationships is a huge priority.

David, Pastor Johnson, Chief Takyi, and Ben began unloading our equipment. In preparation of our coming, a 400-gallon polytank had already been delivered and placed in a central area. People began to cluster around, watching our team carefully. Small children crowded in, and every now and then older kids would sneak away from school to see what was going on. Once they were discovered, however, they would be greatly chastised and sent hustling back to class!

First things first: plugging two of the ports in the polytanks, and installing the service connection. We recruited the help of a small boy, who crawled inside the tank and attempted to push the fittings through. The connector didn’t fit. (This was the first of many challenges -- nothing is ever easy in rural Africa.) David grabbed a knife and began shaving the edges of the hole, carving it out bit by bit until Small Boy could shove the fitting through. He was very proud when his task was accomplished, and emerged from the tank grinning from ear to ear. One of the older men watching noticed that now there was some dirt in the tank, left from Small Boy’s feet. He grabbed a long pole, wrapped a rag around one end, dipped it in water, and instructed Small Boy to clean up after himself, which the child quickly did. When he completed that task, he emerged from the tank to a round of applause, then joined his playmates to watch the rest of our activities.

Becky & Davi began working with the children, in an effort to distract them from the work area. They played games, blew bubbles, and sang songs -- so as the men and women worked, the laugher and singing of the happy children drifted through the air.

The community began to come together to help us. While Small Boy was helping in his way, several young men hauled and stacked concrete blocks to build a platform that the tank could sit up on. Working together, a group of men hoisted the black tank into place, underneath a tree. As all of this took place, women delivered water to us, bringing tub after tub up the hill from the edge of the river. We could begin filling the tank now.

Using the hand pump, David and Pastor Johnson showed the villagers how to quickly move the water from the basins, through the filter, and into the tank. Using the pump was not easy, but as David explained, it would become easier once the pump was mounted onto a post. Almost immediately, two men brought a long thin post, and another fellow began hacking a hole into the dirt by the tank, using a long machete. It took him a while to dig the hole deep enough to hold the pole steady, but he eventually accomplished the task. Meanwhile, the men worked together to fill the tank by pouring the water from the basins into buckets, lifted high to a young man perched atop the tank itself. He poured the water through a makeshift filter made of a t-shirt stretched across the top of the tank. Before long, the tank was nearly ¾ full. I couldn’t imagine hauling 300 gallons of water atop my head, basin by basin, nearly a half-mile up a hill -- but a handful of women had done just that!

Setting up the purifier is a quick process, but David and Pastor Johnson took it step-by-step to show a couple of gentlemen in the village how it is completed. These fellows will be the point-men in the village, and it will eventually fall solely upon them to run the system. They paid rapt attention, and I noticed a few others who were concentrating on the set-up as well. Once the unit was in place, they poured in the salt, connected the power -- and we began to watch and wait. Soon, the bubbles began forming -- indicating that the system was “cooking.” A simple test, using a pool chlorine tester, showed progress. We were elated!

Our first complete system, in operation, purifying water for the people of Adigbo Tornuu -- I cannot begin to describe the joy that began to flood through me, when I realized this was working!!! And to say that David was excited is an understatement of dynamic proportions! He began to sing and clap his hands and, much to the delight of the 70+ children , started distributing lollipops we’d purchased the day before. The sucker sticks were small whistles -- so soon the sounds of whistles filled the air. David made up the “happy water-man dance” and those kids mimicked his every move! He’d play a rhythm on his lollipop, and they’d imitate it! He’d say “I love you” and the kids would all respond “I love you.” He’d say “I love you more!” and they kids would repeat that, too! Then he’d say “Jesus loves you most!” and those kids would parrot it as well! We all were joining in the laughter, the singing, the clapping, and the dancing.

It was one of the most joyful afternoons I’ve ever experienced!

Once the system reached it’s peak, Pastor Johnson and David showed the fellows how to take it down. They were instructed to let the water gas off for a day-- to allow some of the chlorine to dissipate -- and we told them we’d return in a couple of days to check it.

Amid laughter and toots from the kids’ and their lollipops, we loaded back into the van, and drove away, our hearts soaring with the joy of sweet success, thanking God for the opportunities He’d given us.

It was around 6:30 pm when we left. It was dark, and we had a long way to travel. But our Joyous Tuesday was not over! I’ll continue the story on my next blog entry!

Blessings!

Anita <><

Watchtower Trees

2009-07-19T11:07:00.000-07:00

The silk trees stand

Giant lone sentinels, like guardian angels

Silently watching over the African landscape

Each sunrise, each sunset

Hot noonday sun and dark moonless nights

Still they stand

Roots plunge deep deep deep into the soil

Intertwining

Invisible beneath the ground

Like rods of iron they set a foundation

That holds for centuries

Massive trunks soar straight and tall

Reaching up up up

Bark gleams pale in sharp contrast

Against the lush green hills

Limbs open wide at the top

Like giant outstretched arms

Reaching heavenward

In permanent praise to the Creator

Like a watchtower

Carefully guarding the untamed

The wonderful

The wildly beautiful

The treasure

That is Africa.

Wishing the week would never end...

2009-07-17T15:43:00.000-07:00

July 13, continued….

We left Labo Labo, waving to the children. It had been a fun visit, full of promise and hope.

Seems to me that there are no “shortcuts” in Ghana. There are many villages, but you may travel many miles between populated areas. So often it seems that we drive a long time to get to whatever destination we’re seeking. AND the roads --OUCH. The main roads are paved, somewhat -- but there are as many potholes here as there are stars in the heavens! Our driver, Ben, is great at dodging the worst holes (while going about 90 mph, I might add) -- but that makes for a lot of careening and hair-raising moments!

Our next stop was Kpeve. We had to have phonics lessons on how to pronounce this town’s name. For a year, we’ve been saying “Kah-PEH-vey” only to learn that it is more like “BEH-vey” -- I guess we live & learn, huh?

Last year, David & I visited the Kpeve branch of Christ Harvests the Nations. Pastor John Johnson is passionate about sharing Christ with many people. He is stationed at Kpeve, but oversees many other church plants in the Volta Region. The Kpeve church was established 3 years ago with about 5 people, but it has grown significantly in this time. Last year, the church met in a thatched roof hut with bamboo slat walls. We were excited to see that this year, we’d meet in a newly constructed wooden building with a tin roof -- a great blessing for us when it began to pour rain! We’re excited about the growth we see at this church!

David was invited to be a guest on a live radio broadcast, which was very exciting for us all. He left with Lizzie, who is also with Christ Harvests. She’s recently recorded a cd and this radio broadcast was also an opportunity for her to get some publicity. At any rate, David & Lizzie left with a local pastor in his car, zipping off in the pouring rain.

Meanwhile….we loaded into the van and headed toward the church. On the way, we tried to tune in for the radio broadcast. Mostly we heard a lot of static, but at last we recognized David’s voice! We heard the last 2 sentences of the interview -- oh well! He was able to secure a recording of the interview, however!

The church service in Kpeve was really cool. Each of us spoke a few words, then Bishop Godlly and Pastor Johnson preached. We gave the kids glow-in-the-dark snap bracelets -- as we drove away, we could see the bright green, yellow, orange, and blue bracelets bobbing in the dark as the children walked home into the night.

We had a rare treat this evening -- we spent the night in a nice hotel! Chances Hotel is a large hotel and conference center in Ho. We had a nice clean room with a comfortable bed, hot water showers, and even a television -- we watched “Good Morning Ghana” on Tuesday morning!

Road trips can be quite grueling. We travel miles and miles over poor roads, packed tightly into a van. If you want to know the distance between the seats in our van, measure the distance from my backside to my knees -- then subtract about two inches! I’ve been wedged in pretty tightly as we traveled along -- but so have my companions. Fourteen of us crowded into the van, along with food and luggage for 4 days. It could be very easy to start getting on each other’s nerves, traveling in such tight quarters. But we’ve spent the time with each other as friends, laughing, joking, and singing.

One of the young men in our group, Ben, is such a neat fellow. His quick smile and easy-going nature makes him everybody’s friend. We’ve all been searching for a wife for Ben. It’s all in fun -- but we’ll point out a young lady and say, “Hey Ben, how ‘bout THAT one?” And he’ll just smile, sometimes voice an opinion or two, hahaha! At one point this week, Ben said, “I wish this week would never end! I am having such fun!”

We all agreed with Ben…and the realization that our time here is fleeting made tears sting my eyes….

Road Trip -- Visiting Labo Labo

2009-07-16T12:32:00.000-07:00

So much has happened in the past 4 days, it will take me some time to catch up! So here’s the first installment!
Be sure to check David’s blog and Becky’s blog for their stories, too!
http://weministry.blogspot.com and http://craigandbeckycheek.blogspot.com

July 13

Road Trip! Today was the beginning of our week-long trek into the Volta Region! We were up early, ate a hearty breakfast, and set our bags by the door waited for the van. And waited, and waited, and waited. At last we heard the familiar beep-beep at the gate of the compound.

Our first stop was a villiage called Labo Labo. Our arrival was obviously anticipated: there were rows of chairs arranged under a canopy of trees, and a lace-covered table in front. The village mothers and elders were singing, dancing, and celebrating. Their dresses were quite colorful -- a vast array of mint, red, teal, brown, gold, white, blue , and dark green.

The children soon arrived, pouring out of the classrooms like wild mustangs being set free! Oh the laughter of those children will stay in my memory for a long, long time! I noticed three children with Downs Syndrome: a small girl, a small boy, and a larger boy. This larger young fellow gathered up his courage and came bounding over to us, extending his hand and saying “You are welcome! You are welcome!” to each of us. Hr returned to his friends amid high-fives and claps on the back.

One thing that caught our eyes here in Labo Labo was a water harvesting project set up using one of the small buildings. The roof was covered with corrugated tin, and there were gutters, angled down in the center to a small funnel. This funnel diverted the water into a large polytank. Neat idea!

There was a layer of thick sand, almost carpet-like, under the trees where we sat. I watched some children playing nearby, laughing and chasing each other. One child dragged an old electric iron around, creating paths in the deep sand.

We were introduced, and each of us spoke to the group briefly. When Pastor Johnson introduced Chief Togbe Takyi VI, he said he was “proof that a chief can be a Christian.” I felt such a rush of respect for Chief -- he’s a dear friend and I have admired him from the moment I first met him in 2001. He was brought up practicing animism, but came to Christ a few years ago. As chief of his area, he was able to encourage Christian beliefs among his people, and countless people have come to know Christ simply because of this one man.

Before we left, we talked with the children a bit. They want to be teachers, doctors, bank officers, lawyers, scientists, when they grow up.

We piled back into the van, and drove off toward our next stop: Kpeve.

…to be continued…

Blessings!
Anita <><

Sunday in Tema

2009-07-12T14:25:00.000-07:00

We've had a truly wonderful day!
Each day has been great, and I am so thankful for all that we're experiencing here.

We started this morning with a terrific worship service. I was delighted to see some friends that had returned to Ghana after several years' absence: Angela and Lizzie. Both of these ladies accompanied me on "road trips" in past visits here, and they both sang and gave testimony. Lizzie has just recorded a cd, and we were excited to be able to purchase a copy. Some others also gave their testimonies, and then the choir sang.

I wish I could have a recording of the Christ Harvests the Nations Choir. They just filled the place with glorious songs of praise. It was impossible not to stand to your feet and sway to their music, their voices interweaving with each other in beautiful harmony.

Each of us then had the opportunity to speak. Davi spoke first, and she spoke about the need to love God with all our hearts, minds, and souls. Then Becky told us about praying for her children & their future spouses -- and how we all need to pray for our families. I felt, for quite some time, God wanted me to remind them that HE LOVES US. And David gave his testimony, purifying/clarifying a container of dirty water to illustrate his point. And then Rev. James stood to speak, weaving all four of our testimonies together.

I have to say I am really proud of my teammates. Davi & Becky both say they are "not public speakers" -- but they both seemed to be comfortable with the microphone and each of them had very important messages that were well received. David likes to "live out loud" and when he gave his testimony today, folks were rapt with attention. I believe each of us touched others with what we said, in our own ways.

Worship at Christ Harvests is truly a joyful experience. I always look forward to services there because we have fun as we praise and give thanks to God. :)

*****

After church, Davi went back to the mission house to do some homework. She is taking a class in World Leadership, and needed some time to get an assignment completed. Becky, Dave, & I walked with Richard to his home, where Victoria had prepared "waakye" (pronounced "wah-chee") -- beans & rice. She served it with chicken in a tomato-based stew, and some hot sauce. Delicious! We were joined by Mary & her girls, and Ben.

Later, we took Richard, Ben, Little Anita, Christabel, Junior, and Eric to the beach. We walked by the water; little Anita played tag in the water with David and got soaked to the skin! :) We bought some plantain chips and shared them by the sea. The weather was beautiful -- overcast skies, but pleasantly mild temperatures.

Ice Cream was next on the agenda! We picked up Victoria, and all of us went to Southern Fried Chicken where we enjoyed chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry ice cream.

The day was ending, so we traveled back to the Mission House. Angela and her husband were visiting, so we enjoyed sharing dinner with them. It was fun, catching up with her -- it's been 7 years since she joined us on our mission team.

Now it's getting late, and we have a Big Week ahead of us. We're packed for a road trip to the Volta Region, and we'll be gone until Friday. We're going to Ho to see a purification operation and an agricultural research farm, then on to Kpeve to spend the night. Tuesday, we will spend in Adigbo Tournu, installing a water purification system there. We are excited about this opportunity, and look forward to a successful project there. The remainder of the week, we will visit two newly planted churches, and then spend a day or two at my favorite place, Logba Tota. :)

We'll return on Friday. But until then, we'll be away from internet. So...no blogs until next weekend! We ask you to say some prayers for us, for traveling mercies and a successful trip to the Volta region. (David isnt feeling too good this evening, so I'm asking for extra prayers for him, please.)

Much love & blessings -- more next Friday!
Anita<><

There's always a silver lining!

2009-07-11T16:02:00.000-07:00

July 11

This is my 6th trip to Ghana, and one thing I have learned is to expect the unexpected. Things very rarely go like you *think* they will.
Today was no exception.

We did not have an easy start today. While we left the Mission House at 9 am, we actually didnt get on the road to Potwabin until around 10:30. We had to make a few stops before leaving Tema -- to pick up a car battery, and to get Ben and Evelyn who were going with us. Once we hit the road, it was ok, until we got to Accra. Traffic slowed to a snail's pace. At one point, it felt more like a crazy-quilt parking lot. Then our driver swerved into the left lane, drove several feet (toward the oncoming traffic EEK!!!) and took off down a side street. After we collected our wits again, we realized the driver was taking us on a shortcut that helped us get around several blocks of traffic snarls. We made pretty decent progress after that.

We stopped to get some small containers at one point, and I took advantage of the down time to call my mom & dad. It was good to talk with them, and hear about Peachland Baptist's VBS. Then we bought a loaf of fresh bread -- it is wonderful, very dense, almost sweet white bread. We tore into that loaf like starving people, ripping chunks out of it and sharing with each other.

We stopped for lunch, which Christina and Evelyn had prepared and packed for us. Delicious jollof rice and chicken, with cold drinks.

We finally arrived in "greater downtown Potwabin" at 2:30.
Potwabin is near Mankessim, close to the coast. A long narrow red ribbon of dirt road cuts through savannah and marshland. Many mud huts with thatch roofs are clustered atop a small hill at the edge of the river. Women tend small cook-fires, goats and chickens and the occasional dog or two ramble throughout the place. This morning had been wash day, so there were clothes hanging to dry on bushes, in trees, and pegged to strings attached to low-hanging tree limbs and the eaves of houses. Many of the children wore nothing more than shorts or underwear. There are banana trees planted in the surrounding areas, and some pineapple plants also.

To get to the river, you walk through the village and then down a winding path cut through the vegetation. Recent rains have cut deep gashes in the soil, making the path downhill slippery in places and very narrow. A cleared meadow serves as the community's "park" and the kids sometimes play ball there.

Isaac serves as the community's pastor and school teacher. He has recently been ill with malaria, and was unable to come to the training. Because of that, he did not have some of the necessary items on hand and in place. We asked Chief Takyi and the van driver (also named Ben) to try to purchase a large 400-gallon polytank and bring it back to the village, while David and Ben (from the church) trained Isaac on the installation of the system. Off they went....

....only to discover that since our President Obama was in Cape Coast (about 35 miles away) NOBODY was "manning the stores." While they **found** some poly-tanks, they couldnt find anybody actually working -- everybody was in Cape Coast hoping to catch a glimpse of the Presidents!

Another issue we ran into was that since Saturday is "Market Day" -- the ladies of the town were all away. So we couldnt do much in the way of hygiene training.

HOWEVER!!! There's a silver lining to all of this, in that we DID get a chance to build and strengthen some relationships. I've known Grace and Isaac in Potwabin for several years but now we know many other people by name. It was a joyful pleasure to watch Davi & Becky with the children. Davi gave out lollipops (nearly got mobbed at one point with children all clamoring around her!) and Becky had them all singing Old MacDonald, then Jesus Loves the Little Children. A couple of times, the children burst into songs in their native dialect, and we all sat there listening with big grins on our faces.

I never cease to be amazed, though...that many of them knew ME when I got out of the van. I've been in that village several times over the years, but it's always at least a year between my visits. But this time, I heard my name from several of the people there and quite honestly it surprised me!

Grace joined us soon after word of our arrival spread in the village. She is growing into such a pretty young lady. She's now 14 years old, and was tending her infant niece. In previous visits, she didnt speak much and took a while to "warm up" to us. But today...her smile was easy and quick, and she spoke quite a bit with us. It was wonderful to see her again.

There's much more to tell about this day, but since it is nearly midnight here, I will stop for now. I'll try to share more tomorrow.

Blessings!
Anita <><

Water Training, Jerusalem Gates, Time to Rest

2009-07-11T00:19:00.000-07:00

July 10
July 10

When the power went off around 6:30 am, I had already been awake a while. Once the whirr of the ceiling fan was silenced, I could hear the birds outside. For a moment, I was transported back to my very first visit to Ghana in 2001. I’d be awake before most of the household, and just lie there listening to the world as it rubbed the sleep from its eyes and began another day in Africa. The gentle chirps, tweets, coos, begin softly as the dawn creeps in. Then a rooster crows, perhaps a dog barks. Sometimes there is a patter of rain on the roof.

I love to lie quietly and listen, before human interference begins.

Once day breaks, you begin to hear people talking, cars toot-tooting, the rumble of traffic on the expressway. The sounds of people existing drown the sounds of life in nature.

*****
Once the power went off, I knew the room would get hot very quickly. I dressed for the day, then oh-so-quietly, I tiptoed to the windows. I slid the first one open and pulled the screen in place. Glancing over at David, I saw that he was still sleeping. That first puff of cool breeze entering the room felt refreshing. I dared to open the second window -- but the noises I made shutting the screen on that one woke him up. Once he’s awake, he’s at full-speed ahead J so I stepped back, let him get dressed for the day, and then I was alone with my thoughts (and battery-powered laptop to type them out!).

While yesterday was an emotional roller coaster, I think today will be a time roller coaster. We will have water training with key community leaders today. There will be some “down time” before they arrive, but while they are here, we’ll be quite busy. Then once the training ends, again there will be a chance to re-group ourselves. It is good -- downright essential -- to have some lulls in the action on a trip such as this. At times our work here can be physically challenging, but the emotional challenges drain the energy even more. Opportunities to rest, think, write, and pray are vital in order to synthesize much of what we experience.

*****
As I’m writing, David brings me a cup of hot tea (thank God for gas stoves!) and a sweet banana. I am spoiled with this breakfast-in-bed treatment. A few moments later little Kelsey, still dressed in her white pajamas, pads into the room. I shared part of my banana with her, then her mother called her and she skipped out of the room. Kelsey (age 2) and Lexie (age 4) are Rev. James and Mary’s little girls. They are quite the little hostesses in their own right -- and we all enjoy playing with them.

*****
One of our purposes here is to install some water purification systems. If we can get into a village with a way to provide clean drinking water, we can also share with them the Living Water of Christ. Today we held our first water training session. David carried the brunt of the teaching -- and by day’s end he had trained 5 men on how to set up and operate the equipment. We women gave some hygiene training, similar to what we will be doing in the villages with the women. David worked hard all day, assisting in setting up, using, then taking down the system numerous times.

Becky, Davi, and I slipped away to visit at Jerusalem Gates Academy, taking some goodies like bracelets, small toys, and a few testaments. We took lots of photos, learned many names, sang some songs, and shared MANY hugs! This was a wonderful uplifting afternoon for us. On the way back, we saw more of a bright red and black bird that we’ve grown very interested in. We don’t know what kind of bird it is, but they are absolutely shockingly scarlet, with a black “collar”. They fly similar to the way a hummingbird moves -- more of a hover than a swoop. We also have spotted some bright yellow birds, and one small bird that has a long flowing tail. (Note to self: find a photo book about birds in Ghana!)

The power went off again this afternoon for a while, and I took advantage of the time to take a little nap. We had planned to go to church this evening, but the service was going to be long and late, and we’ve had a couple of very active days, so Rev. James suggested we rest this evening. We will be “on the road” a good bit of time tomorrow, going to Potwabin for a visit with Grace and her family. We’ll install a water system there, and train a few people on its use while we are there.

As I spent some time this evening catching up with my journal and blog, I was visited by Kelsey & Lexie again. Their mom, Mary, also came in and we had some fun catching up with each other’s family and learning about some of our friends. Davi joined us, and we played some games with the girls before they kissed us goodnight and headed for bed.

Today has been a good day, with successes in the training and fun building relationships with the children. I’m thankful to God for my teammates Becky & Davi, and I’m also grateful for my husband David. He has poured “heart and soul” into the water systems, and it is a joy to watch him teach the others how to use it to help others.

Tomorrow is Saturday, and we will rise early and drive to Potwabin. I expect traffic to be heavy, due to President Obama’s visit. He is in Accra this evening, and will travel to Cape Coast tomorrow -- Potwabin is between Accra and Cape Coast, so there will likely be many people going in that direction, trying to catch a glimpse of the US president.

Blessings, yall!

When the power went off around 6:30 am, I had already been awake a while. Once the whirr of the ceiling fan was silenced, I could hear the birds outside. For a moment, I was transported back to my very first visit to Ghana in 2001. I’d be awake before most of the household, and just lie there listening to the world as it rubbed the sleep from its eyes and began another day in Africa. The gentle chirps, tweets, coos, begin softly as the dawn creeps in. Then a rooster crows, perhaps a dog barks. Sometimes there is a patter of rain on the roof.

I love to lie quietly and listen, before human interference begins.

Once day breaks, you begin to hear people talking, cars toot-tooting, the rumble of traffic on the expressway. The sounds of people existing drown the sounds of life in nature.

*****
Once the power went off, I knew the room would get hot very quickly. I dressed for the day, then oh-so-quietly, I tiptoed to the windows. I slid the first one open and pulled the screen in place. Glancing over at David, I saw that he was still sleeping. That first puff of cool breeze entering the room felt refreshing. I dared to open the second window -- but the noises I made shutting the screen on that one woke him up. Once he’s awake, he’s at full-speed ahead J so I stepped back, let him get dressed for the day, and then I was alone with my thoughts (and battery-powered laptop to type them out!).

While yesterday was an emotional roller coaster, I think today will be a time roller coaster. We will have water training with key community leaders today. There will be some “down time” before they arrive, but while they are here, we’ll be quite busy. Then once the training ends, again there will be a chance to re-group ourselves. It is good -- downright essential -- to have some lulls in the action on a trip such as this. At times our work here can be physically challenging, but the emotional challenges drain the energy even more. Opportunities to rest, think, write, and pray are vital in order to synthesize much of what we experience.

*****
As I’m writing, David brings me a cup of hot tea (thank God for gas stoves!) and a sweet banana. I am spoiled with this breakfast-in-bed treatment. A few moments later little Kelsey, still dressed in her white pajamas, pads into the room. I shared part of my banana with her, then her mother called her and she skipped out of the room. Kelsey (age 2) and Lexie (age 4) are Rev. James and Mary’s little girls. They are quite the little hostesses in their own right -- and we all enjoy playing with them.

*****
One of our purposes here is to install some water purification systems. If we can get into a village with a way to provide clean drinking water, we can also share with them the Living Water of Christ. Today we held our first water training session. David carried the brunt of the teaching -- and by day’s end he had trained 5 men on how to set up and operate the equipment. We women gave some hygiene training, similar to what we will be doing in the villages with the women. David worked hard all day, assisting in setting up, using, then taking down the system numerous times.

Becky, Davi, and I slipped away to visit at Jerusalem Gates Academy, taking some goodies like bracelets, small toys, and a few testaments. We took lots of photos, learned many names, sang some songs, and shared MANY hugs! This was a wonderful uplifting afternoon for us. On the way back, we saw more of a bright red and black bird that we’ve grown very interested in. We don’t know what kind of bird it is, but they are absolutely shockingly scarlet, with a black “collar”. They fly similar to the way a hummingbird moves -- more of a hover than a swoop. We also have spotted some bright yellow birds, and one small bird that has a long flowing tail. (Note to self: find a photo book about birds in Ghana!)

The power went off again this afternoon for a while, and I took advantage of the time to take a little nap. We had planned to go to church this evening, but the service was going to be long and late, and we’ve had a couple of very active days, so Rev. James suggested we rest this evening. We will be “on the road” a good bit of time tomorrow, going to Potwabin for a visit with Grace and her family. We’ll install a water system there, and train a few people on its use while we are there.

As I spent some time this evening catching up with my journal and blog, I was visited by Kelsey & Lexie again. Their mom, Mary, also came in and we had some fun catching up with each other’s family and learning about some of our friends. Davi joined us, and we played some games with the girls before they kissed us goodnight and headed for bed.

Today has been a good day, with successes in the training and fun building relationships with the children. I’m thankful to God for my teammates Becky & Davi, and I’m also grateful for my husband David. He has poured “heart and soul” into the water systems, and it is a joy to watch him teach the others how to use it to help others.

Tomorrow is Saturday, and we will rise early and drive to Potwabin. I expect traffic to be heavy, due to President Obama’s visit. He is in Accra this evening, and will travel to Cape Coast tomorrow -- Potwabin is between Accra and Cape Coast, so there will likely be many people going in that direction, trying to catch a glimpse of the US president.

There are photos posted today at http://picasaweb,com/weministy/Day4#
Be sure to check out Dave's blog at http://weministry.blogspot.com
and Becky's blog at http://craigandbeckycheek.blogspot.com

Blessings, yall!

Thoughts, after visiting the people of the Dump

2009-07-10T02:53:00.000-07:00

Rutted muddy roads lead to the mountain of garbage at the edge of town. Our driver swerves to the left, then to the right, then back to the left to avoid the huge potholes filled with water. Red pools of standing water remind me of Exodus 7, where God turned the waters of Egypt into blood.

The smell of smoke mixing and swirling around with the stench of garbage, assaults the nostrils even before we open the doors to the van. We stepped out of the vehicle, into a world that we’d never imagined, and now will never forget.

Dogs, chickens, goats, and pigs root in piles of trash for food. Humans, also, plunder through the mountains of cast-aside thrown-out hauled-off refuse. Seeing one so much like me -- scraping through garbage just to find a morsel to eat -- sent powerful waves through every nerve in my body. Even the tips of my fingers felt that flash that comes with a great shock.

A pile of cans, stripped of their labels, sit by the path. Their naked shiny surfaces fade to rust, matching the rivers of mud. Mountains of paper -- labels, boxes, magazines, office dregs -- slowly soak into the earth. I wondered about the people here, stripped naked of dignity, slowly sinking throughout their lives into the depths of the earth.

Paths are blackened with oil, ashes, soot, animal droppings. Standing water reflects a rainbow-sheen of oil floating on top. We follow the littered trails deeper into this village, this village in the dump. Shanties and shacks, constructed of tarps, scrap lumber, bits of tin -- whatever can be patched together -- provide shelter from beating rains, scorching heat. A place to lay one’s head at night can provide at least some resemblance of security.

We learn that particular area of the dump village is called “Airport” because this is where the airport’s garbage is brought. The airport brings the “best” trash -- leftover meals and refuse from recent flights and the terminal. Because of the quality of this particular garbage, folks must pay a fee to plunder in this area. We never found out exactly who is paid the money -- but the people themselves know. I am stunned when I see a huge bag of trash emblazoned with the logo of the airline that brought me here -- and I thought of the food left on my dinner tray. If I had known earlier where it would end up, would I have eaten as much? A flash of an unnamed emotion spread through my body -- was it shame for having eaten most of it? Pity for those who grovel for the morsels we leave behind? Gratitude that I don’t have to live like this? I still don’t know, exactly, but the feeling came to rest like a rock in the pit of my stomach.

Families struggle -- most are single parents with their children, scratching through the refuse of society trying simply to survive. A mother, dressed in rags, with her baby on her back, pokes through the latest offerings brought in by truck. Women, clustered around a small fire, cook whatever scraps they can find to feed their children. A small boy, eyes oozing with disease, gazes without a smile at the strangers passing through the midst. A tiny naked girl, toddles by, sucking the stickiness out of an ice cream wrapper, long-ago discarded.

We amble through, seeing hopeless eyes gazing into our own. And I wonder about these people that society has discarded, like the ice cream wrapper. How did they end up in this hell-on-earth? And what of the children born into this place? Will they ever know of any other kind of life? And why am I here? What right do I have to come poking into their lives? What will I do with this knowledge? Is there anything I can do? These are questions I must petition to God, and seek His answers.

We do not linger here much longer. We are, after all, intruders into their lives, observers who come and thn go. They think we leave empty-handed, but they are wrong. Our own minds are crowded with all that our senses have taken in, hoisted like too-full backpacks onto our shoulders, and then we turn to leave.

And we surreptitiously squeeze the liquid sanitizer in our palms, rubbing our hands together to dispel the germs, hoping that none of the villagers see this act that could translate into disgust.
But there’s no sanitizer strong enough to eliminate the pictures in our own minds.

And we load up in the van and make our escape from the smells and the sights of the dump.
But there’s no route out of that mud-mired place in our own minds.

And we fill our stomachs with good fresh foods and clean water.
But their swollen bellies growl from hunger and the sounds echo throughout our own minds.

And we enjoy a hot shower and clean clothes that make our bodies feel cool and comfortable.
But the naked child, sucking on an empty food wrapper plays forever in the memory pools of our own minds.

And at night, we rest our bodies on our comfortable beds with fresh linens, closing our eyes for rest.
But sleep is interrupted by the things that we have seen in the dreams fabricated in our own minds.

And life goes on for us all…

copyright 2009 Anita Tarlton

Jerusalem Gates, life in the Dump, We Press On

2009-07-09T15:40:00.000-07:00

Evening of July 8, 2009

After a good brunch, a long nap, and a warm shower, I felt more human again!
So many blessings, we take for granted.
I notice little improvements each year -- for example, this year, we have a water heater for our showers. No more cold showers or bucket-baths! YAAAY!!!!
There seems to be a lot more construction going on, also.

We took a little walk when the rain let up. Our team and Rev. James walked over to Jerusalem Gates Academy. While school had already been dismissed for the day, we still managed to talk with Headmaster Julius and his wife Salome. What a welcome we received from them! We will go back there tomorrow morning and visit with the students, and later in the week we have a program planned for the parents and kids together.

Dinner was marvelous! Knowing how much Dave loves fufu & goat --that’s what they prepared! I was really proud of Becky -- she ate that fufu like a pro! I’ve tried it before, and its just not my cup of tea, er…fufu…. So Davi & I shared some spaghetti! Dessert was fresh pineapple and mango , oh so sweet!!

Ordinarily our first night we just crash -- but this evening we went to Wednesday night church services. It was spirit-filled worship that soothed my soul in places that had been worn raw…
There’s something about the harmony of African voices, raised in heartfelt praise, that makes me tingle all over! And while I am NOT proficient in the Twi language, I am able to pick out a word or two here & there in the twi songs to help me understand what they are singing.

I was so tired I don’t remember when David came to bed. I think I must have fallen asleep instantly when my head hit the pillow.

*****

July 9
This day started out really hard for me. I woke with a sick headache that made me feel dizzy and a bit nauseous. It wasn’t a migraine, but it was close. I tried to join the others at breakfast but couldn’t eat a bite. I took a couple of aspirin and went back to bed for a couple of hours. When I woke again, I felt a LOT better -- and I was relieved, I was afraid I was going to be AWOL on our first day.

My friend Ato visited with us this morning, and he joined us as we walked to Jerusalem Gates Academy. The recent rains left deep ruts in the roads, and everywhere was red mud. Walking was slippery and we traced each others’ steps in single-file as we made our way to the school.

We met first with Julius, who said the children were excited about our visit. As we walked into the school, we were met with a sea of smiling faces. The children crowded into one room, smaller kids in the front and the older, taller ones were in the back. We each spoke to them, then they asked us questions or told us what they wanted to be when they grew up: a scientist, a doctor, a good mother.

Jerusalem Gates school building was created from an abandoned chicken house. It is located in what is now Community 25 in Tema -- an area that is being developed with very nice homes. This little school building, with its rag-tag group of children is slowly being shoved aside. Where their soccer field was last year is a new, large home. Land has been donated for a new building; getting a new school erected is the next issue.

Most of these children are “Dump kids” -- they live in the dump, scrounging for the barest of necessities. Often their education is interrupted because of their inability to pay school fees of $18.00 a quarter.

We left the school, and went for a ride out to the dump. This was my and David’s 2nd visit, but it was the first glimpse for Becky and Davi. It is, as David puts it, a “kick in the gut” to see families struggling just to survive on the trash left by the rest of the world. I have many words in my vocabulary, but describing this place is a real struggle for me. As I get my thoughts collected to the images in my brain from today, I will share more. I know Dave & Becky are both struggling to describe it as well.

*****

We made a quick trip to the market, and our friend Evelyn helped us to purchase fabrics, lovely batiks and wax prints, to be made into shirts or dresses. The market is such a mixture of sights and sounds and smells and people! We wound our way deep into the market, among the stalls with people selling everything from dried fish to bed linens to clothing to fresh pineapple. After making our selections for fabrics, we took them all to Victoria, who will be creating lovely garments from the yardages.

*****

Winding down the day….we had a delicious dinner, then our group gathering. Each night, we try to spend a bit of time caring and sharing with each other. Some things we see, hear, and do can be a struggle to manage -- and we can always use group hugs!
We press on, there are challenges, but joys come through the pain.

Please, if you are reading this, say some prayers for the children who live in the dump. Pray for their survival, pray for a way they can climb out of that lifestyle, pray for a peaceful, healthy future for them.

More later, Blessings yall.

Flying the Friendly (though rainy) Skies!

2009-07-08T06:19:00.000-07:00

July 7 & 8, 2009

I woke before the alarm went off. Contemplated getting up, and after about 30 minutes of just lying there awake, I rolled out of bed & started the day. Going to Ghana today!
Davi & Becky spent the night with us, so soon after David & I got up, they followed suit. We gave a quick scan of emails and morning news as we breakfasted on bagels, eggs, juice, and coffee/tea.
All the “last minute” readying took place in a flurry of activity, then David began loading the luggage into the truck. We’d weighed each bag the night before on our bathroom scales, shifting an item or two from one suitcase to another, as needed.

The morning air felt pleasant as we sat on the porch for a moment. David said his good-byes to Scarlett -- ahhh a boy & his dog, it‘s a beautiful thing! *smile* She will miss us terribly while we’re gone, as we will her. She is absolutely the World’s Best Dog. But we’re leaving her and our kitties in the capable hands of our friend Frances.

Rush-hour traffic in Charlotte wasn’t too hectic, and we arrived at the airport with plenty of time to spare. On international flights, you have to check in at least 2 hours early, so a lot of the time it seems like “hurry up and wait!” Once again, each suitcase was weighed -- this time “officially” -- and we held our collective breaths as the heaviest ones clocked in at 50 pounds on the button!

Sitting at the gate area, it must have looked like a Geek Fest -- all 4 of us, wearing matching navy Waters Edge Ministries shirts, pecking away on our laptops! Gotta love technology! ;)

*****

There’s something pretty cool about feeling a plane take off. After taxiing to the runway and waiting patiently, you can feel the heavy engines rev, and hear the whine turn into a roar. At first, it’s easy to see cracks in the pavement as you roll down the runway, but soon it all becomes a blur as the plane picks up speed. You can feel the plane as it leaves the grasp of gravity and begins to climb into the sky. I love to look out the window, watching my perspective of our earth changing as a Larger Picture becomes visible.

Life can be like that, you know? As you break away from situations that seem to be gigantic and overbearing, you can gain a larger view of life, in general -- letting you in on the clue that the issue might not be so huge in the Grand Scheme of Things. Sometimes a fresh perspective gives you energy, strength, and confidence to handle whatever you have to face.

*****

Pouring rain in NYC -- hope the Carolinas are getting some, we need it.
The gate filled quickly with people speaking many languages and dialects. It’s interesting, just to people-watch here. Many folks are clustered around the large television sets, watching the CNN broadcast of Michael Jackson’s funeral services. I wasn’t ever able to connect to the internet at JFK, so the blog post had to wait a while.

It was raining very hard in NYC, and the flight was delayed a couple of hours. At last we took to the skies & flew into the night. It’s kinda tough to sleep on a plane, but we did the best we could.

*****

Landed! It’s pouring rain (well, it IS the rainy season, what did I expect, huh??) It was so good, seeing Richie, Stephen, & Chief Takyi waiting for us at the airport! We loaded the luggage into a pickup and ourselves into a car and headed to our “home” in Tema -- Rev. James & Mary Godlly’s house.

Brunch was an omelet with tuna, tomatoes, & peppers (yummy!!), toast with jam, fresh bananas and oh-my-goodness-oh-so-sweet fresh pineapple! And right after lunch I called my mom to let her know we'd arrived, safe & sound.

So I’m feeling a bit woozy, but I think its likely because I am tired. This afternoon is sort of a “catch-up” time -- though David and Richie have already gone back into town to price the polytanks for the water training. Becky, Davi, & I are huddled around the table with our mini-laptops -- it looks kinda like a nerd fest, hahaha!!!

Oh one other thing -- the Kotoka airport had a fresh coat of paint, and there were many signs posted all around, welcoming US President Barak Obama. He’ll be visiting here Friday & Saturday. Hey, who knows, maybe we’ll see him here!

Blessings, all! Oh, and I'll post pictures soon, so check back by!
Anita <><

Ghana Eve

2009-07-06T19:33:00.000-07:00

Tonight's entry will be "short and sweet" -- but a forerunner for the next several days.

It is "Ghana Eve" for us -- tomorrow I'll depart for my 6th journey to Ghana, where I'll work with Reverend James Godlly and Richard Asomaning and Chief Togbe Takyi of Christ Harvests the Nations Ministries in Tema. It honestly is like a "homecoming" each time that I return -- I am welcomed and embraced by many friends who have become like family to me.

The bags have been packed, weighed, and some contents shifted so that none of our bags weighs more than 50 pounds. Carry-ons are all set with a change of clothes & "necessities" like reading materials, mp3 players, and light snacks. We have two large rubbermaid totes that contain the water purification units we will install in Adigbo Tournu and Potwabin. We also have some funds that will assist some kids with their school fees -- kids who live and scrounge for the daily necessities of life in a garbage dump.

The year has been fast & furious, and David has worked extra hard in the fund-raising area for the water systems AND the Jerusalem Gates Academy program. He has amazed me with his unfailing optimism and strong efforts -- and the results are wonderful!
We have sponsorships for 65 kids, plus both water systems have been fully funded. I would like to publicly express my thanks to him for the work he's done for Waters Edge Ministries this year -- he's awesome!!! His smile never fades, his love for Jesus shines through, and I am blessed to share the journey of life with him.

Last year, there were two of us. We've doubled the team size, taking Becky Cheek and Davi Trotti with us this year. Tonight we're having a "house party" -- sharing stories, and feeling the excitement of a brand new journey, beginning tomorrow.
I'd like to invite my readers to also read Becky's blog at http://craigandbeckycheek.blogspot.com as well as David's blog at http://weministry.blogspot.com .

God has opened many doors for us in this past year with Waters Edge Ministries. We are prayerful and hopeful for more opportunities in the coming year to share both the physical pure water AND the Living Water of Christ!

So that's this evening's edition of The Silver Lining. In the morning, we drive to Charlotte, board a plane to New York (JFK), and later in the afternoon we'll fly to Accra, landing there around 8:00 am (Ghana Time) on Wednesday morning. All prayers appreciated!

Blessings, yall! :)

Center of the Universe/Bloom Where...?

2009-06-23T12:38:00.000-07:00

CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE
We’ve made an amazing discovery at our house about the Center of the Universe.

Several years ago on one of my trips to Africa, my dear friend Ato gave me a leather & snakeskin rug. It is one of my favorite possessions, because it reminds me of a place I found happiness and purpose. The rug’s design is one of concentric circles, leading to a center medallion.

Moving in with David presented many challenges, particularly with merging my belongings in with his. It has taken weeks to sort through the boxes of our things and determine what to place where. Additionally, we share our home with three furbabies: a black Lab named Scarlett, and two Snowshoe Siamese cats named Zeepers and Lil’ Jazz.

Our house has a small central hallway/room, about 8’ square. In its earlier years, this room was where that new-fangled communication device called “the telephone” was located. I know this because of the special shelf built into this room. Anyway, from this little central room, you can enter the living room, the bathroom, or either bedroom. When you stand in this room, you can also see into the dining room, the breakfast room, and outside to the deck. It’s the center of the house.

I unpacked the African rug, and wandered from room to room, trying to determine the best location to use it. In times past, I’ve used it as a bed coverlet and (briefly) a wall-hanging – but it’s best purpose is as a rug. I stood in the hallway, looking at the rest of the house – then realized that the absolute best place for that rug would be in that tiny room. Spread out on the floor, the rug fit nearly perfectly.

Zeepers is a huge tomcat, he makes his presence known just walking through the room on his enormous paws. He is regal-looking with his creamy fur blending into deep chocolate points on his legs, tail, and face. His white paws stand out, illustrating that the term “snowshoe” is appropriate for his breed. Perhaps the most striking feature are his deep sapphire-blue eyes.

If you were to ask him who was the owner of our house, I am positive that Zeepers would yawn, stretch, blink his eyes, and respond, “Ah Grasshopper, need you even ask? Bring me some tuna!”

About two days after I placed the African rug on the floor, Zeepers claimed it as his domain. Daily, he saunters from his bed into the hallway. Carefully, he steps onto the rug, looking around at his domain. He’ll circle the rug a time or two, then move to the exact center. From this vantage point, Zeepers spends the majority of the day. He stretches out and snoozes. He bathes himself fastidiously. He observes the comings and goings of all “His People” right from his favorite spot – now known as The Center Of The Universe. From that spot, Zeepers sees all, governs all, rules all, owns all!

Well…at least HE thinks so!

***************************************************

BLOOM WHERE...?

My new “good habit” is to get up early & walk, before the day heats up. I have developed a little route through the neighborhood, circling several blocks. I haven’t driven it to see exactly how far I’m walking, but hey ANY exercise is better than none, right?

Anyway, I enjoy my walk, partly because of the solitude. It gives me a chance to think or pray or meditate. God often speaks to me through nature, and I look forward to the chance to hear His voice.

I live in a mill village. Most of the homes are neat, with trimly mowed yards and colorful flowers. Some yards have fences surrounding them. One can track my progress from afar by whose dog is barking as I pass!

I’ve been thinking a great deal about my next visit to Ghana, coming up in a couple of weeks. This is my 6th journey, and it’s like returning to my second home now. As I walked this morning, I was remembering my earlier trips. When I first began traveling to Ghana, I ran into some opposition from time to time. While my parents & sister were supportive (and continue to be so), other family members were less than enthusiastic. More than one friend or relative would sort of sniff and say, “Bloom where you are planted. You do not need to go far away to find ministry opportunities.” I know that opportunities abound right in my own hometown. You don’t have to drive far to see the needs.

And yet…I just knew that my calling involved traveling. But sometimes, I still struggle with where I am “supposed” to serve.

Just down Holly Street, one of my neighbors has worked a great deal this spring on her yard. She has many flowers, a small fountain, and the place is colorful and lovely. She also has a chain-link privacy fence. As I made my way down the street, I could see that her gladiolus had begun to bloom.

Glads are one of the first flowers I learned to identify; I remember my grandmother planted them alongside the barn. They stand up tall and regal, with many blooms on a single stem.

My neighbor has planted some pink variegated gladiolas. As I neared her yard, I could see that one of her glads – planted inside the fence – had poked its way through the fence, and the colorful flowers were showing outside the fence. I smiled, realizing what God was telling me.

“You are in the world, but not of the world. You can bloom where you are planted, but it’s ok to reach out!”

While that flower’s roots were inside the confines of the fence – where it was planted – it’s blooms were outside the perimeter, for everyone to enjoy their pink glory!

I’m reminded of Avalon’s song, “In Not Of” –

I hide me far away from trouble
The world outside me grows darker by the day
So I promise to stay here close beside Him
Surely God would want His children safe
Then reading, how my eyes were opened
I find that He is leading us out into the world
Into the middle of fallen saints and sinners
Where a little grace is needed most

CHORUS
Come take the Light to darker parts
Share His truth with hardened hearts
We are not like the world but we can love it
Come bring the Hope to hopeless men
Until the lost are found in Him
He came to save the world
So let us be... in it, not of it

Yes, I could stay inside the safe confines of my own little “fence” but as a Christian I am called to show His love and light to others. Being human, I must live “in” this world. But I don’t have to be “of” the world – I can show God’s Glory in my words and deeds, in how I treat others who might be different than me, loving God and loving people.

So, like that gorgeous ruffled pink gladiolus, I choose to “stick my neck out” a bit beyond the fence! I might be “planted” in one spot, but I can “bloom” anywhere God wants me to!

Blessings, yall!

Strawberry Shortcake Day

2009-06-06T20:09:00.000-07:00

I watched the two men at the door.
The small Asian man watched intently as the larger white man inserted the key into the lock, turned it, and opened the door. Neither of them spoke, but when the door opened, the white man pulled it shut, turned the key, and locked it again.
Then, he handed the key to the Asian man and stepped back, motioning to him to give it a try.

The Asian man held the brass key in his hand a moment.
Almost reverently, he pushed it into the lock, turned it, and *click* -- the door opened.
A broad smile spread across his face as he nodded to his American friend.
He had just opened the door to his own home, in the USA.

I looked away, blinking the tears from my eyes.
This is just one of many precious experiences we shared with Meh Reh and his family. Our House Church has sponsored this Burmese refugee family, and we’ve spent the past several days getting to know them, helping them settle into their apartment, and assisting them with their adjustment to American Life.

I’ve tried to imagine what it would be like…to have fled my homeland in the face of civil unrest, lived for years in a refugee camp, and then escaping to another country far away to begin again. I’ve thought about what it would feel like, to carry everything I owned in a couple of grocery sacks, to be unable to understand the language. How would I manage, finding myself in a place that was totally different from what I was accustomed to? Suddenly there are new things to learn, like how to warm food in a microwave, or how to count strange currency, or how to count to ten using words that felt strange in my mouth…or how to lock and unlock a door.

Today has been a strawberry shortcake kind of day.
You know how strawberry shortcake blends several textures and flavors. There’s the spongy softness of the cake, the juicy tartness of the berries, and the soft sweetness of the whipped cream – and they all combine to dance upon the taste buds in a delightful mix.
Well, today has been that kind of day.
You see, I began the day preparing for a lunch shared with friends from “back home.” What a pleasure to share my “new space” with a friend that I cherish very much!
In the mail, I got some information from my former job, with a handwritten note on the outside of the envelope that made me smile – someone remembers me there, with fondness.
Later, David & I visited with our Burmese friends a few moments. They smiled with recognition when they opened the door at our knock. While we don’t share any common language skills, we DO share smiles and laughter.
This evening, I’m sharing my chair with my cat Zeepers, who sits right behind my head and peers over my shoulder to watch me type. The attic fan pulls the night air into the house, making it feel cool and comfortable. And across the room is the guy whose face lights up whenever he sees me enter the room.
Every person should know how good that feels: to be appreciated simply for being yourself.
And as I reflect back on the day, I realize there have been many flavors and textures in this day – and it has all been blessedly sweet. So there – now you see what a “strawberry shortcake” kind of day is all about.

We’re beginning to seriously prepare for our next trip to Ghana. In about a month, we’ll be traveling. It’s time to begin collecting things like mosquito repellant, some gifts for our Ghana family members, a journal & pen, a camera.
This past week, I had the pleasure of re-connecting with Sandi Laufenberg, Bonnie Heathershaw, and April Calnin – three of the ladies who were with me on my very first visit to Ghana. It’s hard to believe that was 8 years ago!
Each time I’m in Ghana, I am invited to share a word with church groups. As I am beginning to prepare for this trip, I’ve been asking God what to talk about. Overwhelmingly, I feel as though I’m to share with the people the salvation that comes through Jesus Christ!

One thought that came to me today – if I was in a boat that capsized, and was floundering in the water, and suddenly I found solid ground, or something to cling to, I’d start yelling for others to come, to hold tight to what I’d found.
It should be the same with Christ – I’ve found something solid to hang on to, something that saves me, something that gives me hope. And I need to let other folks know about Him – so that they might be saved, too!

That’s a terrific “silver lining”!

Blessings, yall!

Condolences Sirens Still Merging Anonymous **

2009-05-20T19:18:00.000-07:00

“Condolences"
Back home in NC, a dear friend of mine is mourning the loss of his beautiful daughter. She was killed in a tragic car crash, only a few days before graduating from high school. To Steve, Susan, Brandon, & their family and friends – please know you are in our prayers and we ask God to give you all much comfort at this time.

*******

"Sirens"
When I was 15, there was an awful car accident that claimed the lives of 3 of my friends, and badly injured two others. To this day, whenever I hear of car accidents that claim a young life I remember them. For a split second, it’s 1971 again, and I’m at band practice, standing at attention on the goal-line of that football field in Wadesboro. I feel the sweat roll down my back, and my stomach goes queasy as I listen to the wailing sirens of the rescue vehicles as they rushed to the crash sight.

Funny, the things that hide within the recesses of the mind.

*******

"Still merging"
Still merging households here. I’ve unpacked several boxes, but still have many to go through. David’s easy-going and generous – which makes it easier. Though I have to admit that sometimes it is tough for both of us! I’m learning not to leave the mail on the dining room table, and he is learning that bathmats do not need another towel spread over them to keep them from getting wet! ;)

Life is GOOD and it is getting better every day!

*******
"Anonymous"
Moving to a different town where few people know me creates an unusual anonymity for me. For years, going to the local WalMart was like a class reunion – I rarely got through my shopping without running into a former student who would stop and speak to me. Any kind of errand usually took a few extra moments to just be sociable and chat.
It is taking some getting used to, to be an “unknown” here in Winnsboro.

There have been many times in my life that I “felt invisible” – there were LOTS of times when I felt like nobody really “saw” me as far back as high school. I mean, I wasn’t an athlete, I wasn’t in the pretty/popular crowd, there were plenty of others who were smarter than me – and I tended to just sort of fade into the background. And later in life, there were many days that I felt invisible in my own household, as I struggled with career and family. It’s crazy, but as I type this I think of the many times when I’d be listening to some music and someone would come in and turn on the tv loud enough to wake the dead, without acknowledging my music or existence. I’d just sigh and turn whatever music I was enjoying off. See, I was invisible. Not of any great significance.

Today I ran some errands alone. It was almost weird, walking through the aisles in silence, nobody calling my name or saying hello or stepping up for a hug. Other than the young lady at the cash register, no one spoke to me. I’m usually a happy, smiling person and today was no exception – but few people smiled back. Like I said, it was almost weird.

Eventually, I know I’ll make more friends here. That’s part of the joy of moving to a new place – collecting more friends! I have friends in many places, as far away as Australia and Ghana and Kenya, as near as across the street, and more than I can count “back home” in Peachland.

Right now in Winnsboro, I’ll just enjoy being quietly anonymous a while.

But you know, I am not "invisible" to the One who matters most! God sees me, and He is interested in the desires of my heart. (Ps. 37:4)
He knows the very number of the hairs upon my head (Luke 12:7) -- and I'd expect He knows how many more of them are "silver" than brown!
Even when I find myself feeling insignificant and "invisible" God is there, "seeing" me so completely that He can look into my heart.

And one of these days, when my time here is finished and I "move" to Heaven, it will be such a glad reunion with family and friends! What a Homecoming Celebration waits us, if we only believe and receive!

That's a silver lining, for sure!

*******

The Silver Lining

On the Cusp of a brand new year!

Cookbook Search and Rescue

Mr. Zeeper's Field Trip

Restoring Cleopatra

Diamonds in the Trees

Finding the Top of the World

International Family, Part 2

Teetering at the Edge

Elephants, Green Beans, and Super Glue

Dashboard Message

Stardust and Moonshadows

Longing For Home

86 New US Citizens!

Culture Shock

Three Days -- what it's all about

Weekend wrap up

Retreat at Logba Tota

Monkeys and an Angel

Making visits

Purify!!

Christina's Seranade

Traveling to the Volta Region

Sunday worship, then Labadi Beach

On to the Volta region

Sharing Jesus with a soccer ball

A visit to Potwabin & Cape Coast/Elmina

Praising Through The Storms

Hitting the ground running!

Greetings from Ghana!

"Ordinary" people

Turning Flashbacks into Fertilizer

Saying Goodbye to a Big Blue Buick

Does the Cross mean anything to you?

Little Pink Socks

Rough days, chicken houses, and quilts.

International Family

We worship the SAME God!

Bobbing like a cork through heavy seas

Leaf Lessons

Romance 101 and beyond!

Mathematics and THE REAL THING

Rejection, plain & simple

Restoration

Signs along they way

What's it REALLY like?

Leaving Ghana, once again

Monday at Jerusalem Gates

Trying to learn to love....me

Sunday worship, Sunday fellowship

Shopping Day, "Road to Emmaus"

Man Plans, God Laughs

On to Logba Tota!

A Day of Glorious Joy, Part 2

A day of Glorious Joy, Part 1

Watchtower Trees

Wishing the week would never end...

Road Trip -- Visiting Labo Labo

Sunday in Tema

There's always a silver lining!

Water Training, Jerusalem Gates, Time to Rest

Thoughts, after visiting the people of the Dump

Jerusalem Gates, life in the Dump, We Press On

Flying the Friendly (though rainy) Skies!

Ghana Eve

Center of the Universe/Bloom Where...?

Strawberry Shortcake Day

**Condolences ** Sirens ** Still Merging ** Anonymous **

Condolences Sirens Still Merging Anonymous **