A Thankful Heart.

Sunday, May 20, 2012. 10am.

We've been without 

running water and electricity

since yesterday morning before

we left for Accra.

This morning Jesus spoke to me

and told me to step out of my

own self-pity.

That word "without" should not

be in my vocabulary.

He told me to start focusing on 

what I DO have rather than what I DON'T have.

I came to Him with a thankful heart.

We don't need electricity.

Because we have the sun to see.

We don't need running water.

Because we have water to drink.

We have shade to keep us cool.

And a house to keep us dry.

We really have everything we need.

And in the broad scheme of things,

we are not lacking.

And best of all,

I have and serve a loving, heavenly 

Father who is shaping and molding me.

And desires so deeply to bless me.

Yesterday was great.

The Art Center was much like

the Wood District, but bigger.

So many people inviting you

in their shops, pulling you

into different directions.

"Come, come! Buy, buy!"

I bought a handmade wooden drum (djembe)

from Abduel at Trinity Drum Shop.

He even gave me a free drum lesson!

A man out back carved two symbols

of my choice in the sides of the drums.

I picked "Nye Gyuema" which means "except God."

Meaning, nothing else matters in this world,

EXCEPT GOD.

Also I chose a symbol that looks like a sun,

meaning "child of God."

Here in Ghana, they take great

pride in the day of the week you were born on.

Most people have their day as their first of middle name.

Since I am Tuesday born,

my Ghanaian name is Abena.

The man carved my name in the bottom of my drum as well. =]

We made our way to the beach.

So many Ghanaians wanted to meet us

and take their pictures with me.

Lots of photos to show you!

THEN!

I got to ride saddleback on a horse

up and down the coastline.

IN GHANA!

Wow, can check that off my bucket list.

We have to pack up fast and leave earlier

than expected.

The rain clouds were moving in like a blanket

of thunder.

We started running for the bus station, 

but got caught in the rain.

A sweet Ghanaian lady invited us

into her shop to sit and wait out the rain.

One of the girls, Cara I was with was a little

scared of the storm.

The wind was blowing hard

and nearly looked like the movie twister outside.

Trash blowing, brown and black dust whipping around.

It was hard to see.
Suddenly a little two year old Ghanaian girl
walked into the shop.
She was the daughter of one of the owners.
She walked up to Cara and stared.
Cara invited her up onto her lap
and there she stay, cuddling
for the remainder of the storm. 

The rain poured down so loudly on the tin roof 

above us it sounded like large trees were falling around us.

It sounded like a hurricane.

But nope, just another beautiful African rain.

Yesterday was just gorgeous.

Everything about it.

The struggles, the successes,

the hustle and the stillness of the beach.

It struck every emotion inside of me.

And I'm ready for more.

LOVEFromGhana.

-Abena