Merry Christmas!

As I write this now, small beads of sweat are building up on my face and the closest thing to a Christmas tree is the green construction paper that is taped to our wall. Instead of being near friends and family, I am surrounded by 45 little black kids which 4 months ago were strangers, but now feel like my own. By all typical standards, it does not “feel” like Christmas. However, in many ways, separated from the inundation of the commercialization of the holidays in America, it feels more like Christmas than ever. The calm atmosphere of our remote village, the animals everywhere, the innocence of the children, the warm weather, and the brightness of the stars are all great indications of what it might have been like that first Christmas night. I am thankful for this new perspective I have been given on a holiday whose very origin defines my faith. That being said, please understand that I do not think that decorations, sugar cookies, and shopping are terrible things; we have strung snowflakes from the ceilings, poured sprinkles on doughy reindeers, and were able to purchase a variety of gifts for the children, thanks to the generosity of people at home. The only issue arises when their emphasis minimizes the importance of the baby in a manger. Needless to say, despite those that I miss at home, I am so appreciative of the opportunity to share in this Christmas season with these kids I cherish so much!

This week I ask that you pray for Bless, our second oldest in the home, at 16. I introduced her to you only a couple of weeks ago as she joined us on our excursion to the Volta Region. She is energetic, sarcastic, and has the most contagious laughter! In addition, she thoroughly enjoys attacking and tickling me until I can hardly breathe. I have loved getting to know this amazing girl and look forward to Christmas morning with her and the rest of the family!

Now…

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Love,
Lindsay

Success?

This week I fully intended to write a blog inviting you all to a huge pity party I was throwing for myself. After administering the student’s final exams this week I was ultimately very frustrated; however, on Thursday night I got a glimpse of my real purpose here and was again reminded of all that I have to be thankful for and those once insurmountable aggravations were quickly forgotten.

Every Thursday evening in November and December, we have been teaching the kids Christmas songs in the hopes that they may perform them for their mothers if they are able to visit during the holiday season. This week, after feeling emotionally drained and not desiring to teach a new song at all, I trudged down to the dining hall and set up the stereo. My spirits were lifted somewhat as I began to read them the words to “Do You Hear What I Hear”, traditionally one of my favorites. But the real joy came when I watched them sing the words themselves. Encircled by such beautiful children enthusiastically singing about the goodness and light that is brought to us by a sleeping child was more fulfilling than anything I could have asked for. Witnessing that was more rewarding to me than if every student of mine had passed their exams! I suppose I should learn to evaluate success by the standards of the Lord and the knowledge of His love, rather than the standards of the world such as wealth, fame..… and grades.

I want to introduce you to and ask for prayer for Bismark. I guess it is fitting that he be yet another one of my students! He really is a joy and I love him dearly, but he is an 8 year old boy and would much prefer running around catching lizards or playing hot wheels to sitting in school. When forced to sit in class however, he excels in math. He and Richmond are the dynamic duo in P3 and never allow for a dull moment in my class!

I am thinking of you all this Christmas season.

Love,
Lindsay

The REST of the Big Picture

Last weekend I spent a few days traveling through a part of eastern Ghana called the Volta Region. It is in this region as well as other parts of West Africa including Togo and Benin, that the practice of Trokosi slavery is widespread. It is this region that four of our children at Haven of Hope used to call home.

Trokosi is a belief system in which entire villages believe in and worship a variety of gods. However, in addition to idol worship, this religion requires that in order to atone for sins and appease the gods, one must offer a child, preferably a virgin daughter to the Trokosi priest over the local shrine. That child is then enslaved for a lifetime, at the will and whim of the priest. They are his, for work or for pleasure. There are hundreds of these shrines throughout West Africa, but thanks to the concern and efforts of Every Child Ministries and its full time employees in the Volta Region, three shrines have agreed to the liberation of their slaves just in the past few years and another is being negotiated at this time, hoping for another liberation ceremony in the summer of 2009!

As I mentioned, four of our children come from this region of the country and our mission last weekend, at their request, was to take them to their former homes in order to greet what may remain of their families. While each reunion had its own unique circumstance, their commonality was a lack of attachment, emotion, and love in each instance. As we passed from Sogokopie to Aflau over countless rivers and through soaring coconut trees, I began to ask myself what it was that made these reunions different from those we had witnessed previously in Accra. As much as I tried to avoid the Sunday school answer, it was the only answer that made any sense. The difference was God. Even though they have struggled through poverty, prostitution, and despair, many of the mothers in the streets of Accra know God and believe in the sacrifice of His son. These families in the Volta Region, who participate in an idol worshipping, child enslaving religion completely devoid of the knowledge of the one true God, know nothing of love because God is love. Today I ask that you pray for ECM and its employees in the Volta Region ministering daily to those trapped in the Trokosi traditions, that they may radiate Christ’s love in a land where there is very little.

Additionally, I ask that you pray for our child of the week, or in this case, children. Grace is a 17 year old girl with a beautiful one year old baby boy named Seyram. She and her baby accompanied us on our venture to the east. Once a Trokosi slave herself, she now bares the scars of her tribe etched on her face, a constant reminder of her thorny past. Please pray the she will be able to see herself as a desirable young woman and not something that has been simply used and discarded. Pray that she will be encouraged as she cares for her child and sees the miracle of life that she has been blessed with.

Thanks!

Love,
Yevu (the word for white girl in yet another tribal language of Ghana!)

Is Laughter the Best Medicine?

Veering off from the thought provoking entries of late, I want to fill you in on some of the more humorous happenings!

You know you’re in Africa when…

… A lizard crawls up your leg, across your body, and jumps off your neck while you’re in church.

… Your most boyish boys wear pink velvet shorts, a pink Winnie the Pooh t-shirt, and watch Barbie’s 12 Dancing Princesses.

… You hear a Celine Dion song as a ringtone on a grown man’s phone and nobody laughs but you.

… You get proposed to on a daily basis, even if you haven’t shaved your legs in weeks.

… A simple trip to the market is also a muddy danger zone. But don’t worry, the heavy rains will clean you off on your walk home!

… A tractor is the equivalent of a roller coaster.

… A 14 year old boy’s favorite song is “Kiss the Girl” from the Little Mermaid.

… Kids don’t wait for fruit to ripen and fall off. Instead, they scale 20 foot paw paw trees and pick it off themselves.

… Laundry day turns into a fashion show.

… A child’s idea of a pet is a beetle that they caught and tied to a string.

… Your class time is disrupted when the students spot a crab and a bird chasing each other outside your room (see video blelow).



… You are hardly recognizable in your visa photos due to the layer of dirt, beads of sweat, and lack of makeup that adorn your face.

… Instead of “Sweet Home Alabama”, kids think that Lynyrd Skynyrd once sang about “Sweet Home Obama”.

… You lose in a foot race to 10 year old boys who are half your size.

… Friday night entertainment consists of coloring a cardboard refrigerator box! (Ok, so maybe that one isn’t just for Africa. Can you blame me?)

In addition to praying for my sanity in dealing with all of these ridiculous events, please pray for Richmond! He is one of the little honeys in my class (and I do mean little). He is only 8 years old and in P3 which means he is ahead of the game! He is an absolute joy to have in class because not only is he bright, but also more than willing to volunteer and participate (which is always much appreciated). Pray that his sweet personality will flourish in this place and that the older boys surrounding him will lift him up!

Love,
Lindsay

Two Sides of the Same Coin

This past week at the street ministry, I simultaneously experienced firsthand the joy and the despair that an unexpected or unwanted child can produce. What an overwhelming rush of emotions that can be for just one day!

Under the advice of the street ministry director Felicia, we have begun taking a handful of children from our home each week to Accra to see their mothers. Some of the mothers are able to visit the children once a year at the home, but most of them have not seen their kids since they were brought here nearly 7 years ago. This week, we took 6 kids with us, one of which was Stephen. He is a kid, who as I have explained before, is wild and stubborn and has absolutely stolen my heart. Naturally, I was eager to see the relationship between him and his mother. Almost immediately after exiting the van, he spotted her and they literally ran to each other and embraced. All of that hardness and resistance that he uses to guard himself, simply melted away in his mothers arms. Their smiles were beautiful and there was a visible joy shared between them. This child who at one time was nothing but a burden was now an incredible gift!

Now on the other hand, I also had an encounter with some of the most distraught women I have ever met. In an attempt to find the mother of a young girl who was new in the area, Felicia and I wandered from the common area where the service is held to some outlying places near the railroad station where people make their permanent homes in makeshift tents and abandoned marketplaces. In our meanderings, we came to a public shower room. Felicia quickly explained to me that this is where she spends a good deal of her time, and I would soon understand why. Inside this shower room were several very pregnant women sprawled out on the floor. One woman was completely naked but lacked the dignity or self-respect to be fazed by these strangers seeing her and her enormous belly entirely bare. Their few belongings were in scattered piles and smiles were nowhere to be seen. These are the women who already cannot take care of themselves and are stuck in the deep depression of wondering how they will ever take care of a child. Felicia explained that she spends much time here in order to discourage them from aborting their own babies. While clinical abortions are illegal here in Ghana, the grief that can lead to one is still very real.

In his book The Irresistible Revolution, Shane Claiborne says “If I am going to discourage abortion, I had better be ready to adopt some babies and take care of some mothers.” I saw the need for both of those things very clearly that day and will never be able to forget it. May we all have the courage to back up our beliefs with unwavering action!

Our girl today is Afua. She is 10 years old, fun-loving and very energetic. She enjoys getting together with girls to learn dances, and teaming up with boys to play basketball. I told her that I was going to be writing about her this week and she told me to let you all know that she needs prayer for her homework right now, as she is in P5 and struggling with the concept of area in math. Please pray that she continues to thrive in her studies, but that she also continues to be a good influence on the younger girls (like the ones in my class!).

Love,
Lindsay

Poverty

Sometimes poverty is difficult to grasp when it’s such a far cry from the comfort and ease of the places we call home. Sometimes the idea of 22 percent unemployment leaves you speechless. This whole concept and what we can do about it is something that I have thought much about and struggled with for a long time, but even more so being here. Strangely enough I keep being brought back to a handful of lyrics from a couple different songs that coincide with scripture. Just something to think about…

Solution – Hillsong United
“It is not a human right to stare not fight, while broken nations dream. Open up our eyes so blind that we might find the Mercy for the need! It is not too far a cry, too much to try to help the least of these. Politics will not decide if we should rise and be Your hands and feet!

Singing, hey now fill our hearts with your compassion. Hey now as we hold to our confession. God be the solution, we will be your hands and be your feet…

Only You can mend the broken heart, and cause the blind to see, erase complete the sinners past and set the captives free. Only You can take the widow's cry and cause her heart to sing, Be a Father to the fatherless, our Savior and our King. We will be Your hands, we will be Your feet, we will run this race for the least of these. In the darkest place, we will be Your light, we will be Your light!”


And believe it or not:

Man In the Mirror – Michael Jackson
I’m gonna make a change for once in my life.
It’s gonna feel real good, gonna make a difference, gonna make it right.

As I turn up the collar on my favorite winter coat this wind is blowing my mind
I see the kids in the street without enough to eat.
Who am I to be blind, pretending not to see their need?

A summer’s disregard, a broken bottle top, and one man’s soul,
They follow each other on the wind you know, cause they got nowhere to go.
That’s why I want you to know…

I’m starting with the man in the mirror. I’m asking him to change his ways.
And no message could have been any clearer: If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make a change!

I’ve been a victim of a selfish kind of love, it’s time that I realize.
There are some with no home, not a nickel to loan
Could it be really me, pretending that they’re not alone?
A widow deeply scarred, somebody’s broken heart, and a washed out dream.
They follow the pattern of the wind you see, cause they’ve got no place to be.
That’s why I’m starting with ME!


Please pray this week for Christian, who is an incredibly handsome 14-year old boy from the Volta Region of Ghana. From his positive attitude and huge smile, you would find it hard to believe that he was formerly enslaved in the Trokosi traditions, his father being a Trokosi priest. He has come so far and exudes such a joy that you are simply drawn to him! Lift him up this week, praising God for the young boy that he is and for the young man that he will soon become.

Love,
Lindsay

Tricks and Treats!

Well friends, on Monday of this week I experienced a setback as far as the progress of my students. As usual, we have been getting a lot of rain, but this day we could see the clouds very dark and low in the sky for the majority of the morning. Reminding you of the fact that I teach in an open activity center with a tin roof and no walls, you can only imagine the kind of work that is (or is not) completed during times of rain. However, this particular day not only did we lose valuable class time, but a lot of our supplies as well. Sure enough at about 1:30, the rain came pouring down. Combined with the wind, the rain more or less flew in sideways through the activity center, showering my class, all of our textbooks, and many of the notebooks we use for exam notes. I was so frustrated! It wasn’t like we had much to begin with, and now what we did have was either damaged or ruined! I stood there soaked and defeated.

The next morning, I was able to gain some perspective on my situation as my devotional referred to the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 with just a few loaves and fish. At first glance I thought little of it since it was a story that I had heard a “million” times and I “obviously” knew everything about it. But after a little thought I realized the stupidity of my assumption and discovered much more. I so often limit God by not truly believing that He can do all He promises to do. If He was able to feed 5,000 hungry people with very little food, who am I to say that He can’t simply help educate 15 eager students with very little supplies? The rest of the week went well and much was accomplished with very little. Praise Him!

Other highlights of the week included teaching some of the boys how to play baseball, having a candlelit dinner club with our older kids due to power outages, trick or treating as ghosts at the other missionary’s homes, and enjoying our second of many dance parties in the dining hall (it would have made my roommates so proud)!

To finish, Bernice is our woman of the week! She is a beautiful 15 year old girl who is very gifted academically and has read nearly every book that I brought with me! Additionally, she displays a sincerity in her faith and a passion for her Savior that is unmatched by any girl her age that I have ever met, and even more so than most adults. Please lift her up this week, praising God for her life and asking him to utilize those gifts that she has been blessed with.

Love,
Lindsay

Facing the Waves

It is true that God chooses to speak to his children through a variety of avenues. He may choose to reveal Himself through a piece of art, literature, or music, through His creation, or even in silence. I have never in my life experienced His majesty so great though, as I have here through the lives of these kids. I am constantly being taught more and more about the character of God through tiny moments with the children.

This week at the beach was just as amazing as I had hoped. The kids were well behaved and we all had a blast. Besides sparing the Obrunis from our sunburns, we couldn’t have asked for anything more! There was one peculiar behavior that I noticed was common among all the children though. They all stayed in only inches of water and flopped around enjoying themselves wildly, remaining where they were comfortable, fearing the unknown. However, I decided to take one child at a time further out into larger waves. I have never felt such an unyielding grip on my arms as I did when they saw a wave, bigger than they were used to, heading towards us. There were seconds of terror followed by shouts of laughter and glee! All the while, the grip on my arms never loosened. After those first couple waves, they had full trust in me that I would not let them go. That is real faith! Clinging to the only one who can keep you from harm and trusting that they know what is best for you. More eloquently put, Oswald Chambers said, “Faith never knows where it is being led, but it knows and loves the one who is leading.”

Hebrews chapter 11 tells countless stories of regular people who, by faith, “conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions , quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength” (33-34). However, it also tells stories of numerous others who “were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection” (35). I pray that, while we may be clueless as to what our futures have in store, we will press on with full faith in our Creator, facing the waves and clinging tight to His arm!

This week, the child I want to share with you about is one that I have been particularly drawn to. His name is Stephen and he is 11 years old. He is an extremely lively and passionate boy with great artistic ability, leadership, and an unbelievable stubborn streak! Somehow I have been able to fight stubbornness with stubbornness and connect with him in a rewarding little friendship. He is very dear to me because I see that if his energy is directed at something positive, he has incredible potential! Please pray that God will continue to bless our friendship and guide him as he develops his various talents!

Thanks!

Love,
Lindsay

Break Time!

I am writing today having just completed the first half of the first term of my school year here at Haven of Hope! Only 4 more to go! I can’t believe how fast the time is going and can’t possibly comprehend how difficult it is going to be to leave these kids when the time comes. It has been such a joy, in just the two short months that we have been here, to see each one of the children begin to display their individual personalities with their funny quirks and attitudes. Even though the time has gone quickly, it has not been easy. This coming week we are receiving a much needed rest from the daily frustrations, the ups and downs of being in the classroom with these needy children!

School will be not be in session for the midterm break this coming week and we will have a chance to relax and do some fun things with the kids. One thing in particular, I am just as excited about as they are. On Wednesday, we are taking a trek to the beach! I am looking so forward to enjoying one of God’s most awe inspiring creations with them, some of whom have never seen the ocean before. It will be an amazing time of soccer playing, swimming, learning, and worship… and I can’t wait. And because I can’t wait, I have already begun preparations for our grand adventure. How? You may ask. Well, by painting all of the girls toenails of course! For the past few days in the afternoon, I have become the town pedicurist and I have enjoyed every tiny toe! It has been a great time to spend with the girls, pampering them and reassuring them that they are beautiful, loved by me and by God! They have just been eating it up, enjoying the one on one time and showing off their freshly colored toes to anyone who cares to listen. I know that I have enjoyed the one on one time just as much though. Fyodor Dostoyevsky once said, “The soul is healed by being with children”, and I think he nailed it! The sound of their laughter and the joyous chatter between themselves somehow helps to bring clarity to your thoughts, and delight to your heart.

Finally, this week’s child is Georgina. She is a gorgeous 10 year old girl who is a talented artist with a gentle spirit. She is a quiet leader among the girls and I pray that she will continue to grow spiritually and academically, setting a great example for the other children!

Thanks!

Love,
Lindsay

Let That Be Enough

Some moments in time stick out in your mind much more than others. It always seems that those moments, no matter how far removed from the present they become, are never any less vivid as you replay them in your head. This week, I experienced several of those moments, but the circumstances of one seemed especially precious. On Wednesday night, Elise and I headed to the boys dorm to read their nightly story. Only a couple of minutes after stepping foot in their room at about 7:30, the lights turned off for the evening. We thought about just waiting until the next evening, but due to the desperate pleas of the boys, decided to read the chapter by the light of a torch (what they call a flashlight). It was Elise’s turn to read, so I took my place along one of the other walls and was instantly surrounded by little white eyes and bright white smiles amidst the darkness. The boys in particular are always affectionate, but the extent to which they longed to be right by my side was greater than usual. As she began to read, some placed their heads on my legs, my hands, my shoulders, and stomach. They just wanted to be near, to be held, to be loved. One of the boys actually took my arm and placed it around his shoulders so my hand rested gently on his chest. I couldn’t decide whether I should cry out of joy at the privilege of being with these kids, or cry out of sorrow at the fact that the reason these boys longed to be touched so badly is because it was something they were deprived of for so long. I still don’t know which reason it was, but my eyes welled up and eventually streamed down, landing on one of the boy’s cheeks. He didn’t move. Neither did anyone else. All of them had fallen fast asleep.

Needless to say, I have been learning a lot since my arrival here. One of the lessons I keep being brought back to, is what it means to really rest in Him and not need anything more. I think that moment on the evening of October 8th was a beautiful picture of the contentment that can be found in Christ. Those boys wanted nothing from me, but to be near me. They didn’t ask for anything, not even a back rub or a blanket. They simply nuzzled themselves as close as they could and rested. I mean really rested. The Psalmist writes “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him” (62:5). Being literally hurled out of my comfort zone, there has been little to find rest in. My friends and family are many miles away and my intellect, abilities, and even my college education continually leave me longing. Thankfully, after my many failed attempts at success by my own might, I crawl back to Him and find a place to lay my head on His shoulder. There I find rest. It is only there that I find hope.

“Let me know that you hear me
Let me know your touch
Let me know that you love me
And let that be enough”
~Switchfoot

This week’s kid is the oldest boy at our home. His name is Sylvester and he is 14 years old, but cannot read at all. For most of his life, he worked small jobs on the street and tried hard to survive along with his siblings. As can be imagined, school was never really a priority. He is a passionate and caring boy who has big dreams and aspirations. He often talks of his goal to be a lawyer one day, but right now we are starting small. Please pray that progress in his academic subjects would be quick as he has much catching up to do, but more importantly that he will not lose hope in the process!

Please also continue to pray for Abdul as we attempt to contact authorities and social welfare in order to locate his father and bring about his return.

Thanks!

Love,
Lindsay

(we are now becoming recognized faces in many of the places we frequent, so the cries to Obruni are heard less often)

Soccer Mom

If the town of Medie had a newspaper, this week’s headline would read “Haven of Hope and Rafiki Split Matches!” In other words, we had the most anticipated football (soccer) matches in Medie history this weekend! Our boys and girls formed two teams and played against the boys and girls at Rafiki, the orphanage nearby. On Friday night, we pulled out 3 large bags of cleats, shin guards, and socks that had been donated, and dispersed them to as many kids as they could fit. I then told them all to be at our porch at 9:00am to begin the half hour walk to the field. Not to my surprise we heard most of them stirring around on the porch at about 7:30. Some of the kids said they couldn’t sleep because they were so excited while others said they had dreams that we beat them 1,000 to 0. The final scores were 1-0 in favor of Haven of Hope girls, and 0-2 for Rafiki boys. Now I am not a mother and don’t know what it is like to cheer for my child or applaud my own flesh and blood, but I do know that on Saturday morning, I felt like I had 30 kids of my own that were playing with all their hearts and I couldn’t have been more proud. While washing 30 little pairs of socks and smelling 30 little pairs of cleats was not that much fun, I wouldn’t have traded the whole experience for anything!

Even though the anticipation of the “big game” lasted all week, life did proceed as normal. On Thursday, another American couple arrived who will also be staying long term. Jerry and Ruth Ann Gowin will be taking over leadership of the school which is much needed. I am excited about Jerry’s urgency to get things into shape and can’t wait to see some organizational changes around here!

The child of the week this week comes with a very specific and urgent prayer request. Abdul is an 11 year old boy (another student of mine) who comes from a Muslim background. Earlier in the week, his mother came to the home for the first time in the six years that he has been here, stating that she wanted to take him for a few days so he could celebrate Ramadan. The contracts that are signed when the children are brought here allow the parents short periods of visitation off campus. Social services agreed that he could leave, under the condition that he be returned before Saturday evening. He still has not been returned. Please pray that they will return Abdul as soon as possible, or if need be, that we would all have the wisdom to deal with the situation as quickly and effectively as possible to locate him and bring him back home!

Thanks!

Love,
Obruni

Push Start Public Transportation

Awesome week this week friends! I have been able to see a distinct difference in the behavior of my students. By Tuesday, the majority of my students were focused and on task, completing their work, asking questions, and working together! I think that the change was instigated by my altered perspective and therefore lessened visible frustrations. In turn, they are responding to me even better. All relationships within the classroom are much more positive and now, the learning can occur, though very slowly (huge sigh). It doesn’t hurt that I have also begun a type of reward system in which the students can earn points for positive behavior throughout the week and then on Friday, the student with the most points receives a butterscotch candy! Oh the wonders that food can do around here! At dinner club this week, 6 kids, all but one under the age of 10, ate 2 full packages of spaghetti noodles. We were absolutely shocked as they all continued to file into the kitchen and refill their plates! Shortly after we first arrived here, Prince told us that “whoever has food has power”, a bold statement that is right in more ways than he could have possibly understood.

Now for those of you who have ever seen the movie Little Miss Sunshine, this next story may be a little easier for you to visualize. Elise and I have been taking the tro tros everywhere since we got here and are getting pretty good at getting around downtown. So, on Saturday, we took Miss Carolyn with us to try and find the Accra Mall (which ended up being really nice) and just wander around some. On the way there, prior to our first stop, our tro tro stalled and would not start back up again. A few men piled out of the van and started pushing it until it hit first gear, they were able to start it up again, and then struggle to jump back in the moving vehicle. This happened several more times before we reached our destination. Then on the way back, we apparently chose a faulty car again and continued to witness this hysterical event all the way home to Medie! This experience not only provided us with a lot of laughter and a really good story, but also a new perspective on thankfulness. I found myself in those moments thanking God for the little things. I was thankful for the laughter. I was thankful for the cool breeze. I was thankful for the kindness of the people here. In Paul’s first letter to the people in Thessalonica, he says “Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in ALL circumstances.” It does not say to give thanks only when things are good, only when your tro tro works properly and you arrive at your destination in time, but in each and every circumstance. While I experienced a single moment in which I thanked God in a slightly unpleasant circumstance, I have been so humbled by seeing that thankful heart in our children here day in and day out. They constantly thank Him for waking them up in the morning and giving them a bowl of rice for lunch and dinner. They thank Him for the health of the little kids, and the chickens and goats. They thank Him for the chance to go to school and for our families letting us come here to stay with them. These children who have very little are the first to thank Him for every single thing that they do have. May we, who have so much, not take anything for granted, and learn to thank Him in ALL circumstances.

This week’s child is Mary, though she is not much of a child anymore. She is 12 years old and is better at soccer than most of the boys. She is very athletic and very smart, but her standoffish attitude can make it difficult to get close to her. We are in the process of breaking through those walls and connecting with this beautiful girl. Please pray for our efforts!

I love you all and hope things are going well at home too. Keep me updated!

Love,
Obruni

Dancing Baptists!

Again, first things first, I believe that I should let you in on some big praises and answered prayers! Now a month in, Elise and I have remained healthy as ever and are optimistic about it staying that way. We also met a few other Americans last week that work at an orphanage called Rafiki only a couple of miles away. They are all very sweet and have offered to have us over any time we like! I firmly believe that God knew that my social personality couldn’t do this alone and He has surely provided me with the companionship that I need to keep going! Thanks for those prayers!

“Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp.”
~ Psalms 149:3.
I think that I have a much better idea of what that really looks like after last Sunday. Elise and I were invited by one of the teachers that we work with to attend church with her at Shepherd Baptist. So, after hopping 3 different trotros (which come to find out, are what “cho chos” are actually called), we arrived at a school building with hard metal chairs, a pulpit, and few drums and a large red rug in the middle. Immediately I knew I was in for a treat. Most of the service was conducted in Twi, which is their common vernacular, but they threw in some English here and there to help us out. However, there is a language that needs no interpretation and that is DANCING! And that is what we did, sure enough, in the middle of that large red rug. We might have been worlds apart in language and background, but here we worshipped the very same Almighty God! Amazing. Plus, who needs workout videos when you tote children around everyday and have 3 hour dance parties every week?

Besides church, a few other highlights of this busy week have included, getting stuck in the mud trying to walk to the market, teaching the kids jump rope tricks, getting to the “good part” in Prince Caspian, the incredible storms, and celebrating our one month anniversary by finding a pizza place in Accra!

School is still challenging, but it makes the little improvements all the more exciting. More than anything though, I am beginning to understand that for these kids who have grown up with very little encouragement, my purpose as their teacher is to let them know that they are loved, smart and capable people! Besides that, if I can get them to use their manners and keep from hitting each other from 8:00 – 3:00, then it is a successful day!

On Thursday, a huge blessing arrived from America. Their names are Jim and Carolyn Driscoll and they are going to be long term missionaries here, helping to organize and run the home. The kids absolutely adore them and really respect them more as a mother and father figure, which has already helped in enforcing behaviors and setting schedules. It has also been a welcome change to have someone look after us as we look after all the little ones!

This week’s kid is a sassy little girl in my class. Her name is Tawiah and she is as loud and loving as they get! She is very smart, one of the brightest in my bunch, but can’t keep herself from talking and distracting everyone else. Somehow it’s hard for me to get onto her though, since she kind of reminds me of myself at her age! Please pray specifically for Tawiah this week, that she, with time, would learn how to channel her passions and energies!

Love,
Obruni

The Bigger Picture

First things first, I want to thank all of you for your overwhelming response to my first update! Your emails and comments were unbelievably encouraging and enjoyable to go through at the café last week. It is so nice to know that I am literally covered in prayer by so many wonderful people throughout the country! So, thank you! Additonally, many of you have asked for my mailing address here in Ghana. Unfortunately, like many other things here, the postal system is extremely unreliable and somewhat corrupt. If packages are sent, they will most likely never be received. So for now, your electronic words of encouragement will have to do, and believe me they are more than enough!

Shortly after my last update, I came across some very insightful information that I feel necessary to share with you so that you may understand the big picture of the organization that I am working with. I got a first hand look at the background of many of the children that live at Haven of Hope, where I am staying and teaching. Contrary to what I had originally thought, Haven of Hope is not an orphanage because that term implies children without parents. Most of these children indeed do have mothers, but it is doubtful they have any idea who their fathers are. After leaving the internet café last week, Elise and I headed to the railway station in Accra where we will be working with ECM’s street ministry every Sunday. Haven of Hope was actually birthed from this original ministry, when they saw the glaring need to bring as many children as possible out of their situation on the streets. In the area where we hold the street ministry, there are sheets and blankets, beer bottles and empty food cans marking the territory of various “families”. This is their home, where they eat, sleep, live, and “work”. A large portion of the women in the area have turned to prostitution as a way to support themselves, but in turn have brought many hurting children into this world. When we walked into the station, we were immediately bombarded with over 50 smiling faces! These were the children that daily live with the consequences of their mother’s poor choices, and they were beautiful. Each week, our organization provides a message, a meal, games, and basic first aid to these amazing children. It was humbling and heart-breaking. Soon after we had arrived, an old woman came up to us and simply said, “Regina and Mary” and pointed to herself. I quickly realized that these two girls that she named from Haven of Hope were her daughters. Again teary-eyed, I tried to explain to her that they are doing well; they are very strong and smart young women. Having now a better understanding of where these children come from and the lives that they have led up to this point has provided me with a new perspective and an abundance of patience as I interact with them daily.

Despite that patience though, the beginning of the school week proved to be quite a challenge. Most of my struggles stem from the fact that my class is the largest in the school with 14 students, 10 boys and 4 girls. Half of them can read at a 1st grade level, and the other half can hardly read at all. Most of them also do not understand respect or hard work because of their backgrounds, providing me with a tough disciplinary issue. And finally, we spend a good deal of time figuring out ways to keep our papers from flying away with the wind, and then chasing them when we are unsuccessful. In the face of those challenges though, by Friday, Ms. Lindsay’s P3 class was having a blast. We were able to laugh and enjoy each other while reading Hop on Pop (my personal favorite), playing flash card games, and digging for earthworms in the black soil.

Elise and I remain busy after school as well. In an attempt to provide some structure and organization for the kids, we are facilitating various clubs Monday through Thursday. Small groups can choose to participate in art, bible, puzzles, and cooking clubs (which leaves Friday and Saturday for market trips and laundry)! We also help the kids with their homework for an hour each night and read a chapter of Prince Caspian before bed. Needless to say, I am usually ready to go to sleep before the kids are! Please pray for endurance for me and Elise as we are completely exhausted, physically and emotionally, by the end of each day!

Finally, the child of the week this week is a little boy that I am extremely fond of (who we affectionately refer to as my hunny bunny). His name is Nii and he is 3 years old. He and his little sister Comfort are the most recent additions to the home. He is such a happy boy (especially when he can play with a ball of any kind) but can also be extremely withdrawn. He has strange scars on his hands and chest that tell stories of his previous situation. I ask that you pray that he will learn boldness and be able to overcome whatever events in his past inhibit his interaction with other children.



Love,
Obruni

The Two Week Mark

Well friends, it has been 2 weeks now. The days are starting to get busier and the only thing that keeps them from absolutely flying by is my desire to see all of you!

The kids started school on Monday. My classroom consists of one corner of a large covered concrete gym, an old blackboard, and a few wooden desks. One thing is certain, I will never complain about a lack of materials in a classroom in America! As I mentioned before, I am teaching P3, but still do not have all of the books or materials necessary to teach. Also, the age range is more like 8 to 13. Hmmm. Normally, in America, I would be completely stressed out, but nothing seems to be of any urgency around here. We have met the other Ghanaian teachers and they are very sweet, but the lack of organization or motivation is unbelievable. It is not simply an issue with the school or orphanage though; it seems to be pretty common among the rest of the population as well. Frustration! Elise has recently gotten to witness my sarcastic side coming out, as that is how I seem to deal with this frustration best! Sarcasm, along with the occasional reading of Oh, The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss. Both have been pretty therapeutic, but nothing has helped as much as the further understanding of what it means to really abide in the Lord; to remain or endure in Him. It is one thing to say it, and another thing entirely to rely on it in every moment.

On a brighter note (no pun intended) we finally got some electricity this week. It comes on at about 6:00 pm and turns off at about 10:00, but we are usually in bed by then. The running water is still minimal. My roommate and I dart for the shower anytime we hear the generator running. Despite the occasional shower though, it remains absolutely impossible for me to obtain clean feet. I know that many of you may know my tendency for “grocery store feet” but you really have no idea!

Some other highlights of the week have included showering in the rainwatching the Ghana vs. Libya soccer game on the tele, catching bubujas (fireflies), riding a cho cho (their public transportation), putting flying beetles on a string, and watching the Little Mermaid with the kids. They have a small TV in the dining hall and can watch movies on occasion, but I had to spend most of the movie explaining to the kids that we do not have mermaids in America.

Finally, I would like to start sharing with you about specific children that live at Have of Hope from time to time, with specific prayer requests for each. So this week’s child is a boy named Prince. He is 11 years old and we have immediately become buddies. He loves retelling me bible stories and is constantly asking questions about anything and everything. We have been able to share some sweet moments reading books on my porch, and he has an intense desire to learn. I think this is a child that has amazing potential, but is many years behind in his schooling, having arrived here only a year and a half ago. I ask that you pray that he will be provided with all of the necessary tools to not only carry on his education, but be successful and challenged; realizing his full potential.

I hope you are enjoying looking at the pictures I send over email, because I cannot seem to attach them to the blog over here. If any of you are not receiving those emails and would like to, send me a quick note at lindsay.hendrix@gmail.com.

Love,
Obruni

My New Home!

After 25 hours of travel, we arrived in Accra on Monday at 8:30 pm (we being me and my roommate Elise). At first glance, it looked like most other large cities with lots of billboards and hotels right near the airport. However, as we began traveling away from Accra, towards Medie where Haven of Hope is located, the roads quickly deteriorated. After that ride, I promised that I would never complain about the condition of Tucson roads again.

Arriving late at night with no electricity, and trying to unpack with no place to put anything, was a little depressing. I was totally and completely overwhelmed. Teary eyed, I went to bed beneath my mosquito net to try and get some rest, hoping the morning would be a bit brighter.

And it was. In the morning I saw what I was here for. We were introduced to the kids and got a tour of the orphanage. After a short trip to town to get some groceries and a phone card (so we could finally let our families know that we were still alive), we returned just in time to play a rousing game of “wolves and humans” or something like that. Mostly, it just consisted of us chasing the kids around for an hour. When we went back to our “apartment” to shower, we realized that we had no water and we were out of fuel to pump it. Bummer. I pretty much am planning on smelling myself for 10 months.

The following days have been filled with picking maize (corn) from the farm nearby and learning to carry it on my head, playing in the rain, catching bush rats, taking long walks to see the neighbor’s pigs, chasing snakes through the weeds, and playing red rover in the dark (which is really difficult with black kids J). The kids have more energy than I can handle, being fueled mostly by peanut butter, strawberry jam, beans, and rice. However, I did eat lunch with the kids today. It was a maize cake thing that you eat with your fingers and dip in a super spicy sauce. It tasted decent, but I probably won’t know how it sits until later tonight. Yikes.

There are a few things that I have seen so far that I wish you could experience for yourself because they are hard to comprehend. One being the fact that everywhere you go, there are people on the side of the road selling everything from calling cards to toilet paper to hard boiled eggs. Something that might not be strange to some of you, is that there are goats and chickens everywhere! Finally, the kids here are unbelievably self-sufficient and take care of each other. It was strange for me to see a 6 year old carrying a baby on his back, a 4 year old picking corn, or a 1 year old standing in line to eat lunch just like everybody else.

School starts on Monday, and I am teaching the level P3 which consists of 8-10 year olds according to skill level. I am a little nervous because it is younger than I am used to teaching so I ask that you all pray for the first week to go smoothly and that I will be able to communicate the knowledge and skills necessary for the students’ success.

Also continue to pray for strength from the Lord to persevere through homesickness and long days. I know that if He has brought me this far, he will continue to renew my strength and lift me up on wings like eagles. I will run and not grow weary. I will walk and not be faint!

Thanks again for your prayers! Feel free to comment or ask questions if you have any! I hope to post again next week! I love you all!

Obruni (white girl)

Last update from America!

5 days and counting...

I took my first of 319 malaria pills this morning. I guess that means there's no turning back now huh?

Please continue to pray, specifically for wisdom and contentment, the ability to rely on God in the absence of my friends and family.

I can't wait to send my first update from my new home! I love you all!

Lessons from Unlikely Places

For those of you who did not know this about me, I love homeless people. I thoroughly enjoy spending time with them, and believe it or not, homeless people have been a constant source of encouragement in my life.

Today, I was asked for the first time why I wasn't scared to hang out with these homeless men at the park not too far from my house. I hesitated for a moment, which was obviously too long because one of the men answered it for me, meanwhile paying me one of the greatest compliments I have ever received. He said simply, "Don't you see, she's as bold as a lion" and then continued on to quote from Proverbs as well as Paul's second letter to Timothy.

"The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion." - Proverbs 28:1

"For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." - 2 Timothy 1:7

Just about 5 weeks away from leaving, I am increasingly anxious. Today, I was reminded of where my strength comes from. Thanks Michael!

Closer...

8 weeks and counting.

My room at my house in Tucson is now filled with boxes and feels pretty empty. In a few weeks I will be making the move from this place I have called home for the past three years, back to my parent's house in Phoenix. So, in addition to preparing for Africa, I have been preparing myself for this move as well. So many changes, so little time.

Anyways, I wanted to share a few pictures with you all from the orphanage and school where I will be working. If you want to see more or have any questions about the organization, please don't hesitate to check out their website at www.ecmafrica.org

It's coming...

11 weeks and counting...

First... a quote, courtesy of a friend who is currently experiencing life in sub-Saharan Africa. Thanks Jeff.

"if you go to africa with a hard heart, you come back with a soft heart,
if you go to africa with a soft heart, you come back with a broken heart,
if you go to africa with a broken heart, you don't come back."

I'm nervous. Terrified. Ecstatic. Overwhelmed. Anxious. Overjoyed.

It has been a real trial recently to get a grip on my emotions, but I think that's normal... I hope that's normal. While I have never been to Africa before, I know that it will be so completely and utterly different than what I am used to. I know that I will love it... this ministry is a combination of all of the things that I am most passionate about: kids, education, and the impoverished. But at the same time, I feel extremely incompetent. How am I supposed to make any kind of a difference in the lives of these people who are of a different culture, race, religion, skin color, and economic status. I guess that my only comfort is that it will not be me who is making the difference, but God working through me. There is one problem with that statement though. In order for God to work through me, there is one attribute that I need to obtain a lot more of; humility. I know that I need to humble myself to the point that I am fully usable. To the point where there is nothing left of me and my own agenda.

I am leaving on August 24th but I ask that you begin praying for that supernatural humility NOW! Also know that I thank you in advance for your prayers and support!

"God uses men who are weak and feeble enough to lean on Him." --Hudson Taylor