Of Waakye and Reggae

“To the weak I became weak to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.” ~ 1 Corinthians 9:22

This verse has been one of particular significance to me for several years, but has taken on a whole new meaning since my arrival here in Ghana. While I do not boast any previous experience in missionary work or any degree in such a thing, it has been made very clear to me that in order to reach a people, you need to become like them. If I came to this country whose culture is so vastly different than my own and refused to learn their language, eat their food, ride their transportation, appreciate their music or attempt their dance, I might have saved myself from a lot of embarrassing moments, but I also would not have been able to develop relationships with their people. Elise and I have gotten to know several ladies in the local markets because we choose to do the majority of our shopping in nearby villages rather than at the mall, a location which would maybe be more comfortable for us. We have had countless encounters with the local people in tro tros who are shocked that the obrunis are joining them, but are eager to hear our stories. We eat dinner with the kids several nights a week and have even learned how to pound fried fish, pepper, and onions into a delicious sauce that you eat with yam! And even though it is extremely difficult and opens me up for endless ridicule, I try to learn phrases in Twi from the kids and let them teach me their favorite dance moves. While I thoroughly enjoy all of these things, I also believe that they let the kids here and Ghanaians elsewhere know that we care about them and their culture. Who wants to listen to what you have to say if they think your only purpose in being here is to change them?

Jesus set the ultimate example for us in the fact that He “made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” I have rarely heard a more difficult yet feasible challenge. If only we can selflessly humble ourselves to such a point!

In a musical interpretation of the great commission, Derek Webb puts it well.
“Take to the world this love, hope and faith.
Take to the world this rare relentless grace.
And like the three in one, you know you must become what you want to save,
‘Cause that’s still the way He takes to the world.”

This week’s child is Matilda, a sweet 9 year old girl in my class. She is precious and extremely smart, but also extremely chatty. She always finishes her work early and tends to distract the others. Please pray that we work together to find a way to keep her challenged and on task! She has also recently been struggling with an infection in her right eye that is affecting every area of her life, so pray as well for the pain to ease and for complete healing!

Half Way There!

This week, I have a confession to make. While some may look at what I am doing here in Ghana as brave or noble, I have to admit that I absolutely love every minute of it and there’s nothing I’d rather be doing right now. In that regard, I feel completely undeserving of any praise, as I may be enjoying it all too much to consider it a sacrifice. However, on Friday I was humbled as I learned what it’s like to serve when you don’t particularly want to.

Due to the fact that our weeks are so busy, Elise and I cherish our weekends very much. For us, the weekend starts on Friday at 2, right after the bell! Last week though, Madam Salome, a Ghanaian teacher at our school had a death in the family and invited all of the teachers to attend the funeral for her aunt this Friday afternoon. We debated for some time about whether or not to go because due to commute time, it would take up the entire day. My own selfish attitude thought about how much I could get done during that time or how relaxing a few hours by ourselves would be. After a little coaxing, we decided to make the trek into Accra for the funeral to support Salome during her time of grief. It was the last thing I really wanted to do, but after seeing her face light up at our presence and recognizing her sincere appreciation for us being there, it was worth it. God does not call us to serve others only when it is enjoyable for us, but whenever he presents us the opportunity for service! Let’s jump on those opportunities!

The two boys this week are part of the reason I find little hardship in my service here in Ghana. As you can see from the pictures, their smiles pretty much melt away any anger, frustration, or difficulty I may have faced throughout the day and truly bring joy to my heart. Moses and Gabriel are both three years old and are loved not only by us, but also by all of the other kids here at the home. They are blessed with wonderful “older siblings” who enjoy torturing them as much as they enjoy hugging and kissing on them, but I ask you to pray that they are blessed as they grow up in this loving environment!

A Tribute to Parents

To anyone who is a parent… I applaud you!

To my own mom and dad, I hate to tell you, but you were wrong. You always said that you only disciplined me because you loved me but that I would never understand that until I had kids of my own. I’m afraid that understanding has far preceded my own children.

Being a surrogate parent of sorts to 45 kids has the tendency to break you quite quickly and teach you to do things you swore you would never do. I always envisioned myself being a “cool” parent and being able to treat my kids more as friends than children, but after only 4 months here at Haven of Hope, I have been made well aware of the fact that children need boundaries and discipline whether it is “cool” or not. This week I have had to deal with one of our oldest boys in a way I never thought I would have to. In addition to disciplining him as his teacher because of disrespect and disobedience in the classroom, I have had to carry out that discipline after school as his mother. It’s terrible. It makes me want to cry. It breaks my heart to punish a boy that I love like my own who has a great heart and an even better smile, but I know it is in his best interest to teach him these lessons now rather than later in life when the consequences will be far greater than extra chores or isolation from his friends!

While I may very well have failed Parenting 101 miserably during the first term, I have high hopes for a passing grade the second time around! In the end, I stand in great appreciation to all you parents out there who struggle with your children day in and day out. Your unconditional care is the closest thing to Christ-like love that we can see in this fallen world. If you are lucky though, your children may have the privilege of seeing how much you loved them one day, even prior to having kids of their own!

Our beautiful child this week is Maabena. She is 5 years old and in Kindergarten. While she is an extremely petite little girl, she plays just as hard as the rest of them and is even growing accustomed to our beastly puppies! She is quite a joy. Please pray for her throughout the week that she would grow strong in the Lord and be a small girl of great courage!

Love,

Lindsay

Happy New Year

Happy New Year Everybody!

As cliché as it may seem, I spent a good portion of my day yesterday reflecting on some of the ups and downs of 2008. I usually like to set some goals for myself for the New Year, resolutions if you will, but this year I decided that I will forego setting those goals for myself and focus my efforts on the unchanging resolutions that Christ has already set before us, to love our God and love others. I know that is broad, but there’s nothing that can really be added to or taken away from that idea. Despite that simple yet lofty resolution, I know that I will fall short many times. I will continue to experience drastic highs and lows as have been common the past four months. I will know joy and failure, love and loss. But in the end, I look at the following passage from Ecclesiastes and take comfort in Solomon’s wise words and the fact that whatever 2009 may bring, God makes everything beautiful in its time.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
A time to be born and a time to die,
A time to plant and a time to uproot,
A time to kill and a time to heal,
A time to tear down and a time to build,
A time to weep and a time to laugh,
A time to mourn and a time to dance,
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
A time to embrace and a time to refrain,
A time to search and a time to give up,
A time to keep and a time to throw away,
A time to tear and a time to mend,
A time to be silent and a time to speak,
A time to love and a time to hate,
A time for war and a time for peace.

Our first kid of the new year is Emmanuel Kwesi, an amazing 12 year old boy. Though reluctant to get attached at first, Kwesi has really opened up in the last few weeks, allowing us to see more of his beautiful smile and kind heart. Please pray that we continue to be able to foster our relationship and that he would feel comfortable enough to get out some of the hurt that he keeps neatly tucked away inside.