Much Thanks.

If I gathered all of the children

of the Mampong-Akwapim 

school for the Deaf,

And counted the amount of people

who are praying for me,

I wouldn't have enough fingers

and toes to keep tract on.

The number is too much.

I am overwhelmed with 

gratitude for all of your

continual prayers, 

encouraging words,

and support.

It's comforting to know

the size of my army back home

lifting me up into Jesus' arms.

Thank you,

Thank you,

Thank you.

I feel your prayers.

Please keep them coming.

My homesickness and struggle

has helped me realize just how weak

I really am. And just how strong God

really is.

We started teaching last Tuesday morning.

On school days, we are up by 6:30, 

showered and ready in our long skirts,

sandals and solid colored t-shirts 

for a 7:30 breakfast.

We sat and chose our 

classrooms for the week

on Tuesday morning,

although I wasn't sure which 

grade I wanted to volunteer for.

When the head mistress called out

"P-2," meaning primary level 2,

my hand shot up involuntarily.

"Okay,"….I said to myself.

First I team taught Language and Literacy.

with Frimpong, a Deaf teacher from Tutu.

Then it was my turn to teach on my own.

The very first lesson I ended up

teaching was Religious and Moral Education.

The whole study was about

different attributes of God.

I got to teach the Deaf children about

who God is!!

Sometimes God just has a sense of humor.

The kids are pretty good.

They range from ages 8-13.

Their grade level is based on their

skills rather than their age like

in American schools.

Some kids started later than others.

And some have different learning paces

than others.

We did have one fight

that I had to break up.

I had to hug one of the kids 

to my chest in order to protect

him from the other.

This isn't uncommon in these schools

because the kids' punishment 

for when they get into trouble is physical.

Whipping and slapping by the

administration.

It's difficult to watch sometimes,

but it is just a different culture.

Mid-morning we get a 30 minute break.

This normally consists of the students

grabbing my arms and hands

and "leading" me to the cafeteria.

Most of them want to touch

my skin and ask me my name.

They love getting their pictures taken.

Cameras are the coolest things ever for them.

They'll pose and cross their arms,

throw up peace signs or smile sweetly.

They really are just….kids.

They love to play and laugh.

But they also really love to learn.

One of my kids,

he's probably 10 or 11,

loves to take my hand and 

kiss the back of it!

One of my girls

took me by the hand during break

and introduced me one by one

to each and every student.

She knew ALL of their name signs 

and everything.

After break we go back and teach

from about 11am-2pm.

At 2pm the school closes and we come home.

We have the rest of the afternoon

to walk around, take a taxi or tro tro

into town, or relax at the guesthouse.

Today the primary school was closed.

So we all went to the Wood District.

SERIOUSLY cool.

It's a line of little shops that look like

little huts with people sitting outside.

They'll yell, "Obruni! Come come."

So, being polite, you MUST go inside.

And man…so beautiful.

Everything you imagine that would be 

made in Africa is at the Wood District.

Handmade dresses, bags, wooden masks,

sculptures, elephants, nativity scenes, 

wooden beaded necklaces, handmade drums,

and so much more.

I've found that I'm crazy good at bartering.

I'm 99% certain that I will come back 

to America with a Ghanian English accent.

You literally HAVE to talk like they do in order

for them to understand you.

And I've become surprisingly good at it, too.

I talked a man down from 20 cedis to 11 cedis

and a lady from 7 cedis to 5.

Pretty proud :P

Tomorrow we are getting up

and going to the Art Center down in Accra.

They have a lot of Ghana memorabilia and such.

Then we are headed to the beach!

I'll take lots of pictures because how often 

do you get to sunbathe off the coast of Africa?

LEGIT.

You know what else is legit?

My sandal tan lines on my feet.

Pretty great.

Okay and first world problem rant

in the third world country, ready go!

My mosquito bite count is

in the low 40's.

My roommate and I are now sleeping under

a mosquito net that seems to be working 

pretty well.

I became her hero last night as I killed

an orange/clear/black spider the size of

a quarter with a shoe.

Also we've made friends with a praying mantis

named Ben.

Cockroaches, ants, moths, and more.

We just embrace it!

Thank you all again for you continual prayers.

I definitely feel them.

God has started working in little ways each day.

He revealed to me this morning that I need to 

let go and let God.

I really have found that I try and orchestrate

much of my life on my own.

Yet, that kind of "steps on God's feet" if you will,

in the sense that I'm not allowing Him to BE God.

He desperately WANTS to bless me 

and surprise me.

But I'm not letting Him.

So each day will be a gift.

And I'll take one day at a time.

So I don't get in the way and miss a single thing 

He wants me to do or say or be.

This morning I found a shaded spot underneath

an African tree out in the guesthouse yard.

I sat with my feet on the trunk

and my butt on a stool and listened to

"You revive me, Lord…" on my iPod.

With hands open and eyes closed,

I surrendered.

I opened my eyes halfway through the

song and two little boys were walking straight up to me.

Now, mind you, the guesthouse is FENCED in.

I've never seen anyone walk through the guesthouse

yard unless they work here or they're from our group.

But here they come, "Obruni, Obruni!"

I pull my ear plugs out and meet Saryi Benard

and Akyea Richard.

(they wrote their names in my journal.)

They are probably 10 and 12 years old.

(brothers).

They spoke little English, but asked about

my "ear plugs."

I said, I'm listening to music. Do you want to hear?

Akyea nodded.

He smiled when I put the earphone up to his ear.

I asked, "Do you know what they're singing about?

I said, "They're singing about Jesus."

Akyea nodded again.

He asked if I was reading the Bible.

I said yes and I asked if they knew who Jesus was.

They nodded.

Then, they danced for me, sang for me, and 

kept me company until I was done.

I went in to get my camera so that I could film

their dancing and singing.

I look forward to sharing Saryi and Akyea with you all. :]

Little presents.

I just have to keep my eyes open for little presents

sprinkled in my life each day by my loving

Heavenly Father.

Prayer Requests:

1.  For FEARLESSNESS.  That Joshua 1:9

will stay in my heart.

-Be strong and courageous.

-Do not be afraid.

-Do not be discouraged.

-The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Also for Ephesians 6:19-20 "Pray also for me that whenever

I speak, words may be given me so that I may FEARLESSLY

proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an

ambassador in chains.  Pray that I may declare it FEARLESSLY

as I should."

2.  For my family.  Grandma went to be with Jesus

last Monday evening.  Everyone is coping well

back home, but it's hard not being there for everyone.

Pray for strength and support both in the US and in Africa.

It's difficult to imagine her gone now with me being

so far away, but I know it will hit me soon 

and I will need some support to fall back on.

3.  A connection.  That I can meet a woman here, whether

Ghanaian or a missionary who has the same passion

for Jesus as I do.  That we can connect spiritually 

on the same level and act as encouragers and be 

on a team for Jesus Christ.

My love pours out to all who have

prayed, encouraged, and supported me.

You are loved.

Thank you for blessing me.

More blogs soon.

LOVEfromGhana.

-ali