Getting ready for the #GlobalDisciples Breakfast @WillowValley this morning! Anyone else going to be there?

“Falling Inside The Black” by Skillet

Tonight I’m so alone
This sorrow takes ahold
Don’t leave me here so cold
Never want to be so cold

Your touch used to be so kind
Your touch used to give me life
I’ve waited all this time, I’ve wasted so much time

Don’t leave me alone
Cause I barely see at all
Don’t leave me alone, I’m

[Chorus:]
falling in the black
Slipping through the cracks
Falling to the depths can I ever go back

Dreaming of the way it used to be
Can you hear me
falling in the black
Slipping through the cracks
Falling to the depths can I ever go back
Falling inside the black
Falling inside falling inside the black

You were my source of strength
I’ve traded everything
That I love for this one thing
Stranded in the offering
Don’t leave me here like this
Can’t hear me scream from the abyss
And now I wish for you my desire

Don’t leave me alone cause I barely see at all

this has been a super bad day . . . just desperate for it to be over . . .

5 things I will miss the most . . .

I and the rest of the staff were hanging out with Micah & Debbie the other night. Having a great time discussing life in Ghana, the Ghanaian culture, things we like and dislike about Ghana Etc. Micah and Debbie have been here for almost 2 years, and have lots of insight into the culture and the way people think. It is always fun and educational when we hang out. Our discussion range from the beliefs of various denominations (Baptist to Methodist to Mennonite to Pentecostal).  So in the course of our discussion, Micah pops out a question . . . what are the 5 things that I will miss the most about Ghana? This got me thinking . . . I love this country, the people, and there are things that I will miss a great deal. So here is my list

The 5 top things I will miss about Ghana

1. The Ghanaian Staff . . . I.E. Driver Ema, Interpreter Ema, etc, etc,
2. The kids at the orphan houses and school!
3. The relational focus of the culture in comparison to the individualistic, goal oriented culture of America
4. Minerals (Coke, Pepsi, Fanta etc.) in GLASS bottles – they beat cans hands down!!!!
5. The worship at CCC. I love it!

I could give a list fo 5 things I won’t miss, but I won’t. I like to try to stay positive and find the good in things (notice I said try, not succeed!)

My life is feeling very much in limbo right now . . . so many little decisions that feel like they can/will have huge impact upon the next couple of years . . . I think that God is really trying to wean me from my tendency to need to have my life planned out . . . to know what is going to happen for the next couple of years. Maybe, just maybe I will change. This is such a huge part of my personality though . . . the change will be hard, very hard . . . but I have a big God. As Max Lucado says “GOD LOVES YOU JUST THE WAY YOU ARE, BUT HE REFUSES TO LEAVE YOU THAT WAY. HE WANTS YOU TO BE JUST LIKE JESUS.” So I guess change is on the way . . . just not exactly sure what that change will be!

late night thoughts and feelings

lately I have really come to love the music and lyrics of this song

“For Those Who Wait” by Fireflight

This is for those who wait

Another day, another waiting game
A little different but it’s still the same
I am here, but where’s the one I’m longing for?
I’m having trouble feeling all alone
Will my heart ever find a home?
I want to hope but sometimes I just don’t know
I know I’m not the only one

[Chorus:]
So we sing a lullaby to the lonely hearts tonight
Let it set your heart on fire, let it set you free
When you’re fighting to believe
In a love that you can’t see
Just know there is a purpose
For those who wait

I want to open up my eyes
I know that all I need is time
I’m growing stronger every single day
God, I’m going to lean into You now
Letting go of all my fear and doubt
I can’t do this on my own so I’ll give You control
I know I’m not the only one

[Chorus]

The pressure makes us stronger
The struggle makes us hunger
The hard lessons make the difference
The pressure makes us stronger
The struggle makes us hunger
The hard lessons make the difference
And the difference makes it worth it

So we sing a lullaby to the lonely hearts tonight
Let it set your heart on fire, let it set you free
When you’re fighting to believe
In a love that you can’t see
Just know there is a purpose
For those who wait…
(Sey your heart on fire…)
This is for those who wait…

thoughts on: school, leaving, coming back, etc

Let me start off this post for apologizing for a) my lack of updates. I could blame this on a number of things – my horrible internet provider (VodaPhone), my busyness but mostly it is probably just laziness. b) I want to apologize if this post appears very disjointed and or random (at least compared to my normal randomness). My brain is feeling like a combination of corn meal mush and fufu or maybe banku.

The last couple weeks have been pretty stressful! I guess that might actually be an understatement, but as always God has shown is faithfulness in some amazing ways. He seems to delight in making us rely on Him . . . on letting us exhaust our options and then providing His solution.

I have been working on a great biography of J. Hudson Taylor, he is such an inspiration to me right now. Whenever I feel like my life is completely stressful and out of control. I can just pick up my book and read a little more and realize that he definitely had a crazy life. Much crazier than mine is right now . . . and I have continually been challenged by the way that he kept himself focused on God . . . relying completely on him. If you want a challenge both mentally and spiritually – get these books (I say books because it is a 2 volume set) Hudson Taylor by Dr. & Mrs Howard Taylor.

The thought of leaving and coming back has been weighing heavy on my mind . . . reality has been crashing in . . . what ifs have been pressing in . . . doubts, fears, they all have to be dealt with.

The school has taught me a ton, I think it has taught me more about myself than anything else . . . I think my faith has been growing, trust has been strengthened . . .

February will definitely come, and come fast . . . but God will be guiding us, giving us strength, and we will move forward in his might!

Where to start…..

Today there were some funny happenings here at our house! At the Love house they have a mentally handicap young lady named Abigail. She is 10 years of age. She came to the orphanage when Jon was here 7 years ago. She was 3 years old at the time and was extremely malnourished. Her arms were like twigs and was not able to even sit up. She laid in a car seat and cried nonstop. Now we are not sure if she was mentally handicap from birth (her mother is mentally handicap) or if it was caused by the malnutrition. Anyway, Abigail’s house dad was commenting that she’s not progressing in school. I could hardly believe it. The girl isn’t stupid. She will be playing football (soccer) and go to kick a goal but before she does this, she will kneel and cross herself (she attends a Catholic school) before she attempts to kick the ball. And they say she’s not progressing??? She’s obviously learning something! I’m almost positive this girl could learn even the most basic of sign language to communicate. She is able to speak somewhat clearly. It all depends upon her moods (i think). Some days she speaks very clear and the next time, you can’t understand a word!

Luckily, I grew up with a girl who was somewhat similar. And I think when Abigail is around all the other children, she gets super excited and sometimes can not focus. It is really odd sometimes! But i don’t see any reasons that she can’t learn some sign language so that she could communicate on the days that she isn’t able to speak. We’ve wondered if she could be demon possessed in any way. There other things that have happened that make us think this.

So when the new school year starts we are going to attempt spending an hour a day after school and work with her one on one! We don’t know what we’re going to do or how we’re going to start….but God knows what will work for her!

She really likes Jon! He does a good job of singling her out!! For instance, Abigail wondered into our house today and Jon was standing in the kitchen and had just opened a bottle of Pepsi. Abigail promptly says “I want a Coke”. It was super clear and understandable. Jon told her that she needs to ask while he went to get her a cup! So I led her in saying “May I have a pepsi”. Her enunciation wasn’t perfect but you could tell what she was saying! Once her cup was empty…she beelined for the door. We stopped her and told her to say “thank you”….which she did with a big ol’ smile on her face! This experience caused me to want to work with her more and encourage her to improve herself. She gets made fun of ALOT by the other children and I wonder that if she gets some positive praise and input if that would change her demeanor. I don’t know! The culture around here does not encourage lots of uplifting words and/or encouragement!

Abigail came in later looking for Jon! And I was talking with her a little and had her say Marilyn’s name. She said it well and i gave her a high five. It’s almost like she didn’t know what to do! It really made all 3 of us ladies want to really help Abigail. She’s fine when the other kids are not around! So we’ll see what happens!!

In other news……WE ARE PLANNING ON COMING BACK FOR 3 YEARS! We’re thinking it will happen in February sometime! We didn’t feel a strong sense either way about coming back but at the same time we had no reasons not to. It would only be our selfish stateside pleasures to make us say no. And trust me, i was able to come up with LOTS of them!! But it’s going to be a very short 4 months that we’ll be home!
Oh boy! The biggest thing to get rid of is my church organ…..so if you know of anyone who may be interested…..please let me know!!

~Sheila

Headaches . . . Life . . . and Questions

Recently my life seems to be full of two things – mainly headaches, as in my head is pounding like someone stuck in in the bosh with the dough hooks in and turned in on high. That and questions . . . the kind that don’t really have answers, or maybe I should say the kind that only time will answer . . .

In other news . . . I miss my Droid . . . in fact I just miss technology and civilization – I would die to go to a B&N right now and enjoy a nice Venti drink from Starbucks!

I should really be studying right now, I have to preach for the HIV Clinic tomorrow and still feel completely clueless as to what to share . . . maybe due to the pounding headaches or the lack of Mt. Dew. Either way . . . I need to get my caboose in gear!

Mama Essie

Last week was an exciting week in some aspects. The picture I had posted of Abba in a previous post, I had mentioned that she has been thru a lot. Well, here is a bit of her story but it’s mainly centered on her mother. Mama Essie, Abba’s mother, has 6 children between the ages of 21 and 6. On the same day that her youngest child was born, her husband died. Then a few years ago her mother died and it’s Ghanian culture that the eldest member of the family has to pay for the funeral. Well, Mama Essie is the oldest in her family! She had to get a loan to pay for her mother’s funeral and is faithfully working at paying that back.

Mama Essie works for us at the Love & Blessing House, doing their laundry every day. In the mornings she comes and washes it then leaves and comes back later in the day to take it off the line. She works very hard to provide for her family. We found out thru another source that what she was getting paid wasn’t enough. Some days her family would have to go without food because the money was not available.

So Jon and Leona talked with her and made it available for her to sell eggs off of our farm. We usually have plenty of eggs (although currently we have none!) and are giving her a good price so that she can get started. Eventually we’re going to increase the price per flat but it’s a way for her to start a small business. We are so excited for her! She’s sold 10 flats thus far and hasn’t had a problem! She takes them to her village, which is just down the road! She seemed happy that we were willing to help her and listen to her. She is not the type to come asking for help!

We have also offered to pay her children to come weed the gardens. School has just left out for the school year and so this week they should be available to come and weed and help the family.

We wanted to be sure that we weren’t just going to give her an increase in pay or a hand out due to the circumstances. But we are thrilled that there are other ways for her to make an income due to what we’ve been blessed with. This past week she made a little over 6 Ghana Cedis ($5 USD). Here, that can go a long way for a family that doesn’t need much.

Every time I think about the whole situation, I rejoice & get excited! God is working and providing!

Facebook!

If you want to connect with Sheila and I – check out our facebook profiles or the Living Hope Fan Page!

Sheila

Jon

Living Hope Fan Page

Enjoy!

Cassava Harvesting . . .

This post is especially for all of you people that have been asking for more pictures (Brian Ranck & Elizabeth Mong you are getting your wish). This week we have been harvesting cassava, it is a plant that they use quite a bit of here – it would be similar to a potato but with a lot more juice in it. To harvest it, first you pull it out, cut off the top of the plant and then take the roots which is then processed to make gari. The first part shown in the picture below is to take the harvested cassava and grind it into a mush. It was amazing that we didn’t end up with any fingers in the mush, I could hardly believe the equipment they used, or maybe I should rephrase that, the speed that they went the equipment that they had!

Grinding the Cassava

After the cassava is made into mush, it is then put into the press for 24 hours to squeeze all of the juice out of it!

The Press

After 24 hours in the press and with most of the juice squeezed out, they take what is left and break it apart. After it is broken apart they then sift it. After it is sifted they take it and dry roast it over a fire.

Roasting Gari

While the ladies are roasting the gari, it must be stirred continually so that it doesn’t burn.

Close up shot of what Gari looks like during the roasting process

After the Gari is roasted it is sifted yet again to get any lumps out!

Sifting Roasted Gari

This is the pictorial manual to making Gari! If you want first hand experience, come join us sometime!