PICTURES UP ON FACEBOOK...ONLY A FEW FOR THE SAKE OF TIME, THE REST WILL BE POSTED WHEN I GET TO THE US! TAKE A LOOK AND BRACE YOURSELVES FOR THE HAIR LOL MUCH LOVE!
GOD BLESS
LOVE
ANNA
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Saturday
June 6, 2009
They serve breakfast at seven and to me this is early. Especially since, they run on black man’s time, This means breakfast is coming between seven and eight thirty. I am glad that I got up early, even though I am tired, because I have to edit my blog, type out my sermon to give to Pastor Alex.
Today we are going to the African market. I hope I am able to find all of the things that I need. After that, there is a chance that we are going to the beach just to see it. I am going to bring shorts just in case I want to walk in it. Even though they have a beach, it is not something that people are at all the time like in the States. After that, we are going to touch on my hair so that it looks nice when I go home. Then we will go to a café so that I can update my blog and look for Pastor James a computer.
I have to type of my sermon, heavens, that sounds so weird to me. That the word sermon and my name are included in the same sentence. I guess I did not think God was going to use me in this way. When it comes to being a Christian, I am a believer but I never thought I was good enough to be a messenger of His word for a congregation. I am excited for what they future brings, I just need to keep following His path and His plans will be carried out.
We went to the bank before we went to the Market. I had to sit with other people that were waiting while James went and talked with a lady. A gentleman sat next to me. He started to converse with me. Of course, he asks if I am married. I said no. Then without missing a beat he asks me if I will marry him. I laugh it off. It is the white skin that makes people want to talk with me, especially now since I talk in Ghana English.
We went to the African Market and it is very different from anything that I have encountered in America. Everyone pretends to be your friend and wants you to come and talk with them. I already have a tendency to be bad at saying no, so today was a good practice.
After that we went to go eat. We went to a restaurant that is below a hotel so there were white people there. I walk in with pastor James and there are even more stares from the white people than from the black…I feel like they think I am an albino black, which is not the case. I just blow it off with a smile and keep walking.
Pastor James and I start talking about what we thought of each other. He said that he could not believe that I was 19 and traveling to Africa alone. He wondered why my parents let me go so young…this made me smile because they were not happy about the decision I made, especially since I was trusting so much on people that I had never even spoken to. He also said that he worried on how I would adjust to Ghana culture, economy, and the people. He said that it was as if I was from here. I embraced the economic state as being what was normal, like it was nothing different from where I am from even though it is a drastic change. Also, he said that the way I was able to be so open to everyone, especially with Lydia and talking with her for five hours the first time that I met her. He apologized that they are not well nourished here and he said that he appreciated me eating everything they gave me without hesitation. I was not going to be rude and I have found myself eating foods that I would not eat in the United States. I have never in my life had so much soda and fries in my life. There will be some definite working out and refocusing on a diet when I get back to the United States, but I did not come to Ghana to complain and have them adjust to me. He said that it feels like he has known me for years and to be honest I feel the same about him and Lydia. I feel like I have been here so long. This is a life long contact and someone that I can confide in. Next time I come back I will have a group of people with me, but I am will forever feel at home when I come to Ghana. He said that he was amazed by me for the way I carry myself for my age, how I do not complain, and that he and Lydia are proud of me. This means a lot because he is someone that I look up to.
After that we went to the shop to get my hair touched up. It feels so good to have them touch and run their fingers through my hair…I am nervous for the way United States are going to see it. I have not been able to post pictures to brace people for what they are about to see when they see me. I hope that people like it. Like I have said, it takes a minute to get used to since everyone is used to me being blonde…it makes my eyes stand out even more, so maybe that is a good thing…maybe, yes, no?
We went to a café so that I could post the blogs but the computers were so old that I was unable to connect my external hard drive. A man about my age sat next to me and the song “Kiss me through the phone” was playing. I was singing along and he looked surprised. He asked me if I knew this song and I said yes. We started talking about music. It was so nice to talk to someone my age about something that did not deal with the Gospel. I mean I love the Lord and the church, but I am still me. I still enjoy things like dancing and singing to songs on the radio. I saw that he had email but Pastor James was ready to leave so I was unable to even get his name. As we were driving, I told myself that when I come back to Ghana, I need to establish myself among the people. I need to have friends and a network, because to be honest, I would love to embrace their night life of dancing and having fun. As we were driving to the hotel I saw a soccer game going on and I saw a girl bumping a ball in the air. I told James I saw volleyball and he said that it was soccer. In my mind I knew that it was volleyball. So he dropped me off at the hotel and I ran to my room threw my stuff down, locked my door and headed out. It was going to be dark in about thirty minutes. I walked to where the game was going on and sure enough, there was the girl peppering with a person. The ball came to me and instantly she asked me to play. I put down my bag, took of my flip-flops, and played in the red dirt with her. We peppered until it got dark. After we were done a whole group, both men and women, surrounded us. They said they are a club volleyball team and they train Monday through Saturday from 4-6. There is about twenty of them that will come and play. They were unable to play because the pole was broken. They either play guys versus girls or mix it up. I exchanged contact information with two of the girls so that when I come back to Ghana, I can come play with them. Do I love the Lord, I tell him that I want to establish myself among the people and he brings me a coed volleyball squad! AMEN!
I walked back to the hotel and I talked with the woman at the front desk. Learning to speak Ghana English has made all the difference. No one could understand what I said when I spoke American English, I know just need to be able to change it back when I go to the United States. I am now able to converse with anyone from Ghana. They all have their own tribal language but they all speak English. How nice that must be, to have everyone in your country speak one common language.
It was before eight and I was ready for bed. I have to be ready by eight and we go to another church. This makes me sad because I want to go to my church and see my friends one last time before I go.
Now it has not hit me that I am leaving Africa to go home. It will hit be a couple hours into my 18 hour flight…o heaven. I am going to try to stay up late so that when I get on the plane, I will fall asleep. Me and that Tylenol PM and the movies are going to be friends.
Pastor James is counting on me to build a foundation in Africa. It is something that I have a passion for, now I need to God to meet me half way and open the doors. We eventually want to be sending hundreds of people to Ghana every year once we get established. He envisions this in the next five years. Then we can send people for a variety of things, bringing teams sometimes of forty people to come down and build a church or a library, while also continuing doing the ten day tours. I feel like I a going back to the United States with a lot. I need my dad to be on board with me because I know that without him this could fail. I need to make a goal, maybe sending thirty people to Ghana in the next year. I feel like this task is heavier than my new hair…lol. I have to find humor someone because it pains me to fail, to let someone down. I would much rather disappoint myself than anyone else. I will always prefer for me to get hurt instead of someone else. It is weird when someone feels as if they disappointed me, it pains me to know they feel that way. I do not like to depend on people to do things. One thing that my dad has taught me is do not let someone do something for you that you can do yourself. For the most part I have stuck to that.
Actually my biggest concern, is actually a very selfish concern…what about the whales I want to swim with? Where do they fit into the plan? God put that dream in my heart when I was little…My mom always said when we would argue about the “project” people that I brought into my life to help and fix, “Anna why don’t you just help people for a living since that is what you do now.” I said that I help people because I cannot be with whales. Putting this dream aside and trusting in God is going to be my biggest challenge. Anyone that I have talked to knows that I am torn between the two. If I can get the growth out of this Ghana adventure then I can station anywhere in the United States, I will be independent, I will have a known and established name, I will be living a dream, which is a goal of mine. I have always said that I want to live my dream and when it comes to speaking, I want to be able to travel and inspire others while bringing others to realize and grow within themselves. This is exactly what I have dreamed of, I will admit that I never thought Ghana, and I never thought this young, but God knows that I hate waiting for dreams, I like to reach out and take them. He also knows that I like to push the envelope and set a high standard for myself.
Please keep me in your prayers as I travel and start to put together the pieces to the puzzle I call my life.
They serve breakfast at seven and to me this is early. Especially since, they run on black man’s time, This means breakfast is coming between seven and eight thirty. I am glad that I got up early, even though I am tired, because I have to edit my blog, type out my sermon to give to Pastor Alex.
Today we are going to the African market. I hope I am able to find all of the things that I need. After that, there is a chance that we are going to the beach just to see it. I am going to bring shorts just in case I want to walk in it. Even though they have a beach, it is not something that people are at all the time like in the States. After that, we are going to touch on my hair so that it looks nice when I go home. Then we will go to a café so that I can update my blog and look for Pastor James a computer.
I have to type of my sermon, heavens, that sounds so weird to me. That the word sermon and my name are included in the same sentence. I guess I did not think God was going to use me in this way. When it comes to being a Christian, I am a believer but I never thought I was good enough to be a messenger of His word for a congregation. I am excited for what they future brings, I just need to keep following His path and His plans will be carried out.
We went to the bank before we went to the Market. I had to sit with other people that were waiting while James went and talked with a lady. A gentleman sat next to me. He started to converse with me. Of course, he asks if I am married. I said no. Then without missing a beat he asks me if I will marry him. I laugh it off. It is the white skin that makes people want to talk with me, especially now since I talk in Ghana English.
We went to the African Market and it is very different from anything that I have encountered in America. Everyone pretends to be your friend and wants you to come and talk with them. I already have a tendency to be bad at saying no, so today was a good practice.
After that we went to go eat. We went to a restaurant that is below a hotel so there were white people there. I walk in with pastor James and there are even more stares from the white people than from the black…I feel like they think I am an albino black, which is not the case. I just blow it off with a smile and keep walking.
Pastor James and I start talking about what we thought of each other. He said that he could not believe that I was 19 and traveling to Africa alone. He wondered why my parents let me go so young…this made me smile because they were not happy about the decision I made, especially since I was trusting so much on people that I had never even spoken to. He also said that he worried on how I would adjust to Ghana culture, economy, and the people. He said that it was as if I was from here. I embraced the economic state as being what was normal, like it was nothing different from where I am from even though it is a drastic change. Also, he said that the way I was able to be so open to everyone, especially with Lydia and talking with her for five hours the first time that I met her. He apologized that they are not well nourished here and he said that he appreciated me eating everything they gave me without hesitation. I was not going to be rude and I have found myself eating foods that I would not eat in the United States. I have never in my life had so much soda and fries in my life. There will be some definite working out and refocusing on a diet when I get back to the United States, but I did not come to Ghana to complain and have them adjust to me. He said that it feels like he has known me for years and to be honest I feel the same about him and Lydia. I feel like I have been here so long. This is a life long contact and someone that I can confide in. Next time I come back I will have a group of people with me, but I am will forever feel at home when I come to Ghana. He said that he was amazed by me for the way I carry myself for my age, how I do not complain, and that he and Lydia are proud of me. This means a lot because he is someone that I look up to.
After that we went to the shop to get my hair touched up. It feels so good to have them touch and run their fingers through my hair…I am nervous for the way United States are going to see it. I have not been able to post pictures to brace people for what they are about to see when they see me. I hope that people like it. Like I have said, it takes a minute to get used to since everyone is used to me being blonde…it makes my eyes stand out even more, so maybe that is a good thing…maybe, yes, no?
We went to a café so that I could post the blogs but the computers were so old that I was unable to connect my external hard drive. A man about my age sat next to me and the song “Kiss me through the phone” was playing. I was singing along and he looked surprised. He asked me if I knew this song and I said yes. We started talking about music. It was so nice to talk to someone my age about something that did not deal with the Gospel. I mean I love the Lord and the church, but I am still me. I still enjoy things like dancing and singing to songs on the radio. I saw that he had email but Pastor James was ready to leave so I was unable to even get his name. As we were driving, I told myself that when I come back to Ghana, I need to establish myself among the people. I need to have friends and a network, because to be honest, I would love to embrace their night life of dancing and having fun. As we were driving to the hotel I saw a soccer game going on and I saw a girl bumping a ball in the air. I told James I saw volleyball and he said that it was soccer. In my mind I knew that it was volleyball. So he dropped me off at the hotel and I ran to my room threw my stuff down, locked my door and headed out. It was going to be dark in about thirty minutes. I walked to where the game was going on and sure enough, there was the girl peppering with a person. The ball came to me and instantly she asked me to play. I put down my bag, took of my flip-flops, and played in the red dirt with her. We peppered until it got dark. After we were done a whole group, both men and women, surrounded us. They said they are a club volleyball team and they train Monday through Saturday from 4-6. There is about twenty of them that will come and play. They were unable to play because the pole was broken. They either play guys versus girls or mix it up. I exchanged contact information with two of the girls so that when I come back to Ghana, I can come play with them. Do I love the Lord, I tell him that I want to establish myself among the people and he brings me a coed volleyball squad! AMEN!
I walked back to the hotel and I talked with the woman at the front desk. Learning to speak Ghana English has made all the difference. No one could understand what I said when I spoke American English, I know just need to be able to change it back when I go to the United States. I am now able to converse with anyone from Ghana. They all have their own tribal language but they all speak English. How nice that must be, to have everyone in your country speak one common language.
It was before eight and I was ready for bed. I have to be ready by eight and we go to another church. This makes me sad because I want to go to my church and see my friends one last time before I go.
Now it has not hit me that I am leaving Africa to go home. It will hit be a couple hours into my 18 hour flight…o heaven. I am going to try to stay up late so that when I get on the plane, I will fall asleep. Me and that Tylenol PM and the movies are going to be friends.
Pastor James is counting on me to build a foundation in Africa. It is something that I have a passion for, now I need to God to meet me half way and open the doors. We eventually want to be sending hundreds of people to Ghana every year once we get established. He envisions this in the next five years. Then we can send people for a variety of things, bringing teams sometimes of forty people to come down and build a church or a library, while also continuing doing the ten day tours. I feel like I a going back to the United States with a lot. I need my dad to be on board with me because I know that without him this could fail. I need to make a goal, maybe sending thirty people to Ghana in the next year. I feel like this task is heavier than my new hair…lol. I have to find humor someone because it pains me to fail, to let someone down. I would much rather disappoint myself than anyone else. I will always prefer for me to get hurt instead of someone else. It is weird when someone feels as if they disappointed me, it pains me to know they feel that way. I do not like to depend on people to do things. One thing that my dad has taught me is do not let someone do something for you that you can do yourself. For the most part I have stuck to that.
Actually my biggest concern, is actually a very selfish concern…what about the whales I want to swim with? Where do they fit into the plan? God put that dream in my heart when I was little…My mom always said when we would argue about the “project” people that I brought into my life to help and fix, “Anna why don’t you just help people for a living since that is what you do now.” I said that I help people because I cannot be with whales. Putting this dream aside and trusting in God is going to be my biggest challenge. Anyone that I have talked to knows that I am torn between the two. If I can get the growth out of this Ghana adventure then I can station anywhere in the United States, I will be independent, I will have a known and established name, I will be living a dream, which is a goal of mine. I have always said that I want to live my dream and when it comes to speaking, I want to be able to travel and inspire others while bringing others to realize and grow within themselves. This is exactly what I have dreamed of, I will admit that I never thought Ghana, and I never thought this young, but God knows that I hate waiting for dreams, I like to reach out and take them. He also knows that I like to push the envelope and set a high standard for myself.
Please keep me in your prayers as I travel and start to put together the pieces to the puzzle I call my life.
Above and Beyond What I Expected and So Much MORE
June 5, 2009
Today was a day that took me beyond my comfort zone in the best way. I did not know how to feel about it, but it was overwhelming. Today we go to the schools outside of Accra. We are supposed to come and speak to a Junior High School, they are about 12-18. Then after that, we go to the little kid’s school.
We are about twenty-five minutes away from the school and James said that I would be talking to the youth for about thirty minutes. In my head there is a phrase came to my head, but it is not a word I want to come out of my mouth…so “Oh Holy God” will have to suffice. I asked him what he wanted me to talk about, hoping that he would give me something to go off of. Those who know me will smile at his reply…”I want you to motivate them.” Even as I type I start to tear up with overflowing emotion. I can officially say that today June 5th I delivered my first motivational speech. I have started my career here. I never thought that it would be in Africa, but God works in mysterious ways. They were so welcoming after they got over the initial shock that I was white and only 19. Surprisingly they were more shocked that I was nineteen.
You see I do not think it is a big deal my age, but when others hear about it, it is something intriguing to them; whether I am in the United States or in Africa. Honestly, I see what I want and I will do whatever is necessary to have it. I am so happy that I pursued this. There were so many people against me going, I understand because they love me. I even wanted people to come with me. I realized that this was something that I had to do on my own. This was God’s plan. He likes to put me in situations by myself and watch me grow from there. He definitely likes to put me in situations where I hit the ground running.
I had written some notes about what I was going to say. I rarely looked down at that paper. The words just came to me. I was able to incorporate and preach my faith, while motivating them at the same time. Before I stood up, I did not even know where to start. As I said, it just flowed. When I ended and I sat down, I had to look like I was wiping sweat from my head so that I could wipe the tears from my eyes. It went so well! I dare say that there were at least fifty students in the room. One of them suggested that I sing a song so they could “feel my heart and join me in praise.” Well readers who have heard my voice are most likely laughing at the thought of me serenading a group of teens. I said no with a smile, but the ENTIRE school house yelled, “sing, Sing, SING.” Talk about out of my comfort zone. I told James and Immanuel that they had to come with me. They agreed. We sang one of the first songs that I learned here. It is called “He Reigns.” It goes something like this, “I give glory to the Lord, He reigns, He reigns, I give glory to the Lord He reigns, He reigns...” There is more to it but to hear all of us singing and clapping to the song overjoyed my soul. People were looking at the building from the outside wondering what we were doing inside. To know that they all gave everything they had into the song leaves me speechless. When I get my pictures posted, I will let you see the schoolroom they use. They are in need of supplies badly, they are more in need of space.
There is one major difference between the people of Ghana and America. In America you have to drag some to school and even drag them to church. Not in Ghana. Everyone wants to be there. If they do not want to be there then they simply will not come. They are so thankful to get to come, worship, and engage with other brothers and sisters of Christ. Another difference is that they are nicer as a whole nation. They will say good morning to a stranger, they will help those in need. They definitely treat their women better in Ghana than the average American male.
I walked out of that classroom knowing in my heart that I found my passion. I found what I want to do for the rest of my life. The rush of emotion knowing that what I said to them means something to them. I believe that if you can inspire, or influence the life of one individual then it is all worth it. When one person makes a choice to follow Jesus or choose to follow God and lean not on their own understanding, then every minute of my trip and preparing for my trip was worth it. Without of doubt. I feel so moved being among these young people. Words cannot even describe what I felt. I wanted to call my parents and share with them. But it was six o clock in the morning when I finished the speech and I had WAY too much energy for them. I also would have lost my composer and would start to let my emotions flow.
I wonder if James thinks that I do not get nervous. We always pray before I go talk, but there is no pep talk or asking how I am doing or even if I am ready. He just walks up there and introduces me as if I have done this before, even though I know he knows that I have not. I am glad he does this though. I know that if he made it optional then I would have nothing to say because I would be scared. Well there is no time to be scared or nervous, my audience and/ or my congregation is waiting for me.
After that, we went to a school for younger kids. They ranged from about two to twelve. James said that I was going to play with them and interact. We got there and they all were so smiley when they saw me. We sat down while Pastor Eric talked with them. He then said that I had something to tell them…this caught me completely off guard. So I walked up there still trying to piece together what I was going to say. In the beginning of my visit, it was a little awkward because I did not and they did not as well know the boundary. They started to play musical chairs. I got up from my seat and I joined the ones that were clapping and singing the song that they others danced around the chairs to. They looked at me shocked, both the children and the pastors that I came with. When the game had ended, I reached out my hand to introduce myself personally with a student. Then I shook the hand of every child at the school. They all wanted to tell me their name and meet me. I was just as anxious to meet them. They all just crowded around me touching my hands and my arms. I was talking with some of the older ones while they continued to touch my hands. Pastor Eric came up to me and said that it was time to go. I said that I wanted to take a group picture. I said that I was going to sit on the ground and for some reason all of the adults and the older male students thought that I needed a chair. I believe that I can sit on the dirt floor with the rest of them. Then one of the two year olds, named Jerry, came up to me and sat in my lap. Two others followed. I loved it. This time all of the children crowded around me and we interacted as if we were friends. I loved it. I cannot wait to come back and meet them again. Yes, I did say come back. I have made up my mind that I am coming back. I have concluded that God did not bring me to Africa to have it be a one-time thing. The people I have met and the situations I have been put into was not something for fun. I truly believe that there could possibly be a new beginning in Africa. It is going to be a long road to establish but it is something that I believe will benefit all involved.
Pastor James wanted to drive through a town where it is known to be the worst part of Ghana; all of the criminals live there and there is a strong Muslim population there. I am not inferring that Muslims are criminals. Anyways, I could not bring out my camera or show any of my electronics. He also said that if someone were to hit another person that was walking in the street, then the driver and it passengers would be killed and the car beaten to oblivion. So…there are people EVERYWHERE and weaving in and out of cars. This was the first time in my whole trip where I was scared. I knew that God would protect us, I mean He had to, right. I was counting on him to keep us and other fellow travelers safe. I am glad that I got to see this area, but this is an area of Ghana that I will be happy never encountering again on my visits.
Immanuel came with us today. Him and another gentleman named Evance are James’ right hand men. I wish that Evance had a chance to come with us places. One of the nights that I gave my sermon he was my interpreter.
When we went to the bank, we could not get the car to start. James’ car is a 17 year old BMW. Anyways, Immanuel had to get out and push it. I went to go and help him and Pastor James said no. So we sat in the car as he pushed it out of the parking spot. Then the car started to roll and then it started. I felt like this was a Little Miss Sunshine moment because Immanuel had to run after us as we started the car.
Tonight was my last sermon. I had written it this morning and for some reason I was not nervous. We usually end youth group at eight but the youth leader, Pastor Alex, said that there was no time limit tonight. I got up to speak at 7:40 and ended at 8:30ish. It was by far one of the best speeches and the best sermon I have ever given. Towards the end, I openly thanked them for everything. My sermon was about how we are part of God’s flock. I said that sheep are defenseless, dependent, and stupid and then I related it to us. I asked them why God, out of all creation chose to make us his sheep, fully being aware what kind of animal sheep are. I followed that into how God works in mysterious ways. I talked about my trip here and what I learned. I left them with the Bible verse Isaiah 43:1-3: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God.” Then the last sentence I said was, “I can’t believe something like this and someone like you happened to me.” This is where I also most lost it; I choked up at the end. It was so pleasing to me to see that every sermon I gave more people had shown up. I said, “I hope you have learned as much from me as I have learned from you. I can’t believe that something like this and someone like you happened to me.” I stayed after to take pictures with them. Pastor James went to talk to Pastor Eric and I stayed in there with the youth. We acted like we were all friends, taking pictures, exchanging information, and laughing at jokes. I felt that in this instant that I was apart of a new family. These people all are in their mid twenties and older. Next time I come back I want to have a chance to hang out with them as friends. I was so sad to leave and I wish that they would have come up and embraced me sooner. There is one girl that I have bonded with, her name is Sylvia. She is the lead singer to the worship team. She is going to be someone that I consider a life long friend. I told the congregation that when I was at the school and they wanted me to sing, that I wished that Sylvia was there with me. I have really touched and influenced her and she has done the same for me. We hugged and I truly am going to miss her.
As we drove back to my hotel, I asked James why the youth group meet every day. He said that they did not. They only meet on Saturdays. Before I had even gotten to Africa they had scheduled for me to speak. It really touched me. Because like I said earlier, if people do not want to be there then they will not show up. I enjoyed being able to look out in the congregation and see people taking notes, people writing down what I say, because it means something to them. I wonder what Pastor James would have done if I did not like to speak publically or if I got nervous and stuttered. All I can do is act like I have done this a million times.
When I got back to the hotel it was too late to eat dinner so I went without. I told myself that I was going to jump rope, but when I got out of the car I went and set my stuff next to Solomon. I went to turn the air conditioning back in my room and when I went to return the remote the two other gentlemen that help with the hotel were in the room. One of their names is Tai and I do not know the other man’s name. We got to talking. I am surprised that they talk with me because in the beginning, my English was too “white” and it is hard for the people of Ghana to understand it. Over the course of my stay I have adjusted to the way that they talk. I do this because I want to interact with them and if we do not understand each other it becomes hard. In America, I have good English, but here I am considered to have bad English. Even though we speak the same language, it is all in the way you say the words. They wanted to know if I was married and how old I was. Solomon had told them my age, but they did not believe him. I thought that they were around my age but they are 29 and 32. This shocked me. They are both married with children. We talked about the different customs about marriage and children in our countries.
I was sitting there and a woman approached me. I said, “How are you?” She replied, “I am fine.” I asked her what her name was and she said Tina. I told her my name and then out of the blue she asked me if I would be her friend. I said of course. She asked when I was leaving and I said Monday morning and she smiled and said, good more time. Then she bid me good night. Mathias was right!
My room is at 20 degrees Celsius. I do not know if it is cold or if it is just because it is hot everywhere else but it is cold in my room. I had to turn off the fan because I was in sweats and a jacket.
I do not like taking pills, but it seems that if I do not take Tylenol PM then I cannot sleep through the night. Every other night I have tried going without it, but then I am restless and wake up frequently. I think it is because I do not have my grandma’s blanket with me. I call this blanket “My blanket of Love.” I always sleep sound with it. It usually goes with me when I travel. I do not know what it is about it, but it is the best blanket I have ever owned.
So on the 5th of June, I declare that I am going to have my start my beginning in Africa. I will continue traveling here with anyone that wants to go so that they can experience this life, culture, and economy, because it is an experience that I, personally, would not be complete without.
Today was a day that took me beyond my comfort zone in the best way. I did not know how to feel about it, but it was overwhelming. Today we go to the schools outside of Accra. We are supposed to come and speak to a Junior High School, they are about 12-18. Then after that, we go to the little kid’s school.
We are about twenty-five minutes away from the school and James said that I would be talking to the youth for about thirty minutes. In my head there is a phrase came to my head, but it is not a word I want to come out of my mouth…so “Oh Holy God” will have to suffice. I asked him what he wanted me to talk about, hoping that he would give me something to go off of. Those who know me will smile at his reply…”I want you to motivate them.” Even as I type I start to tear up with overflowing emotion. I can officially say that today June 5th I delivered my first motivational speech. I have started my career here. I never thought that it would be in Africa, but God works in mysterious ways. They were so welcoming after they got over the initial shock that I was white and only 19. Surprisingly they were more shocked that I was nineteen.
You see I do not think it is a big deal my age, but when others hear about it, it is something intriguing to them; whether I am in the United States or in Africa. Honestly, I see what I want and I will do whatever is necessary to have it. I am so happy that I pursued this. There were so many people against me going, I understand because they love me. I even wanted people to come with me. I realized that this was something that I had to do on my own. This was God’s plan. He likes to put me in situations by myself and watch me grow from there. He definitely likes to put me in situations where I hit the ground running.
I had written some notes about what I was going to say. I rarely looked down at that paper. The words just came to me. I was able to incorporate and preach my faith, while motivating them at the same time. Before I stood up, I did not even know where to start. As I said, it just flowed. When I ended and I sat down, I had to look like I was wiping sweat from my head so that I could wipe the tears from my eyes. It went so well! I dare say that there were at least fifty students in the room. One of them suggested that I sing a song so they could “feel my heart and join me in praise.” Well readers who have heard my voice are most likely laughing at the thought of me serenading a group of teens. I said no with a smile, but the ENTIRE school house yelled, “sing, Sing, SING.” Talk about out of my comfort zone. I told James and Immanuel that they had to come with me. They agreed. We sang one of the first songs that I learned here. It is called “He Reigns.” It goes something like this, “I give glory to the Lord, He reigns, He reigns, I give glory to the Lord He reigns, He reigns...” There is more to it but to hear all of us singing and clapping to the song overjoyed my soul. People were looking at the building from the outside wondering what we were doing inside. To know that they all gave everything they had into the song leaves me speechless. When I get my pictures posted, I will let you see the schoolroom they use. They are in need of supplies badly, they are more in need of space.
There is one major difference between the people of Ghana and America. In America you have to drag some to school and even drag them to church. Not in Ghana. Everyone wants to be there. If they do not want to be there then they simply will not come. They are so thankful to get to come, worship, and engage with other brothers and sisters of Christ. Another difference is that they are nicer as a whole nation. They will say good morning to a stranger, they will help those in need. They definitely treat their women better in Ghana than the average American male.
I walked out of that classroom knowing in my heart that I found my passion. I found what I want to do for the rest of my life. The rush of emotion knowing that what I said to them means something to them. I believe that if you can inspire, or influence the life of one individual then it is all worth it. When one person makes a choice to follow Jesus or choose to follow God and lean not on their own understanding, then every minute of my trip and preparing for my trip was worth it. Without of doubt. I feel so moved being among these young people. Words cannot even describe what I felt. I wanted to call my parents and share with them. But it was six o clock in the morning when I finished the speech and I had WAY too much energy for them. I also would have lost my composer and would start to let my emotions flow.
I wonder if James thinks that I do not get nervous. We always pray before I go talk, but there is no pep talk or asking how I am doing or even if I am ready. He just walks up there and introduces me as if I have done this before, even though I know he knows that I have not. I am glad he does this though. I know that if he made it optional then I would have nothing to say because I would be scared. Well there is no time to be scared or nervous, my audience and/ or my congregation is waiting for me.
After that, we went to a school for younger kids. They ranged from about two to twelve. James said that I was going to play with them and interact. We got there and they all were so smiley when they saw me. We sat down while Pastor Eric talked with them. He then said that I had something to tell them…this caught me completely off guard. So I walked up there still trying to piece together what I was going to say. In the beginning of my visit, it was a little awkward because I did not and they did not as well know the boundary. They started to play musical chairs. I got up from my seat and I joined the ones that were clapping and singing the song that they others danced around the chairs to. They looked at me shocked, both the children and the pastors that I came with. When the game had ended, I reached out my hand to introduce myself personally with a student. Then I shook the hand of every child at the school. They all wanted to tell me their name and meet me. I was just as anxious to meet them. They all just crowded around me touching my hands and my arms. I was talking with some of the older ones while they continued to touch my hands. Pastor Eric came up to me and said that it was time to go. I said that I wanted to take a group picture. I said that I was going to sit on the ground and for some reason all of the adults and the older male students thought that I needed a chair. I believe that I can sit on the dirt floor with the rest of them. Then one of the two year olds, named Jerry, came up to me and sat in my lap. Two others followed. I loved it. This time all of the children crowded around me and we interacted as if we were friends. I loved it. I cannot wait to come back and meet them again. Yes, I did say come back. I have made up my mind that I am coming back. I have concluded that God did not bring me to Africa to have it be a one-time thing. The people I have met and the situations I have been put into was not something for fun. I truly believe that there could possibly be a new beginning in Africa. It is going to be a long road to establish but it is something that I believe will benefit all involved.
Pastor James wanted to drive through a town where it is known to be the worst part of Ghana; all of the criminals live there and there is a strong Muslim population there. I am not inferring that Muslims are criminals. Anyways, I could not bring out my camera or show any of my electronics. He also said that if someone were to hit another person that was walking in the street, then the driver and it passengers would be killed and the car beaten to oblivion. So…there are people EVERYWHERE and weaving in and out of cars. This was the first time in my whole trip where I was scared. I knew that God would protect us, I mean He had to, right. I was counting on him to keep us and other fellow travelers safe. I am glad that I got to see this area, but this is an area of Ghana that I will be happy never encountering again on my visits.
Immanuel came with us today. Him and another gentleman named Evance are James’ right hand men. I wish that Evance had a chance to come with us places. One of the nights that I gave my sermon he was my interpreter.
When we went to the bank, we could not get the car to start. James’ car is a 17 year old BMW. Anyways, Immanuel had to get out and push it. I went to go and help him and Pastor James said no. So we sat in the car as he pushed it out of the parking spot. Then the car started to roll and then it started. I felt like this was a Little Miss Sunshine moment because Immanuel had to run after us as we started the car.
Tonight was my last sermon. I had written it this morning and for some reason I was not nervous. We usually end youth group at eight but the youth leader, Pastor Alex, said that there was no time limit tonight. I got up to speak at 7:40 and ended at 8:30ish. It was by far one of the best speeches and the best sermon I have ever given. Towards the end, I openly thanked them for everything. My sermon was about how we are part of God’s flock. I said that sheep are defenseless, dependent, and stupid and then I related it to us. I asked them why God, out of all creation chose to make us his sheep, fully being aware what kind of animal sheep are. I followed that into how God works in mysterious ways. I talked about my trip here and what I learned. I left them with the Bible verse Isaiah 43:1-3: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God.” Then the last sentence I said was, “I can’t believe something like this and someone like you happened to me.” This is where I also most lost it; I choked up at the end. It was so pleasing to me to see that every sermon I gave more people had shown up. I said, “I hope you have learned as much from me as I have learned from you. I can’t believe that something like this and someone like you happened to me.” I stayed after to take pictures with them. Pastor James went to talk to Pastor Eric and I stayed in there with the youth. We acted like we were all friends, taking pictures, exchanging information, and laughing at jokes. I felt that in this instant that I was apart of a new family. These people all are in their mid twenties and older. Next time I come back I want to have a chance to hang out with them as friends. I was so sad to leave and I wish that they would have come up and embraced me sooner. There is one girl that I have bonded with, her name is Sylvia. She is the lead singer to the worship team. She is going to be someone that I consider a life long friend. I told the congregation that when I was at the school and they wanted me to sing, that I wished that Sylvia was there with me. I have really touched and influenced her and she has done the same for me. We hugged and I truly am going to miss her.
As we drove back to my hotel, I asked James why the youth group meet every day. He said that they did not. They only meet on Saturdays. Before I had even gotten to Africa they had scheduled for me to speak. It really touched me. Because like I said earlier, if people do not want to be there then they will not show up. I enjoyed being able to look out in the congregation and see people taking notes, people writing down what I say, because it means something to them. I wonder what Pastor James would have done if I did not like to speak publically or if I got nervous and stuttered. All I can do is act like I have done this a million times.
When I got back to the hotel it was too late to eat dinner so I went without. I told myself that I was going to jump rope, but when I got out of the car I went and set my stuff next to Solomon. I went to turn the air conditioning back in my room and when I went to return the remote the two other gentlemen that help with the hotel were in the room. One of their names is Tai and I do not know the other man’s name. We got to talking. I am surprised that they talk with me because in the beginning, my English was too “white” and it is hard for the people of Ghana to understand it. Over the course of my stay I have adjusted to the way that they talk. I do this because I want to interact with them and if we do not understand each other it becomes hard. In America, I have good English, but here I am considered to have bad English. Even though we speak the same language, it is all in the way you say the words. They wanted to know if I was married and how old I was. Solomon had told them my age, but they did not believe him. I thought that they were around my age but they are 29 and 32. This shocked me. They are both married with children. We talked about the different customs about marriage and children in our countries.
I was sitting there and a woman approached me. I said, “How are you?” She replied, “I am fine.” I asked her what her name was and she said Tina. I told her my name and then out of the blue she asked me if I would be her friend. I said of course. She asked when I was leaving and I said Monday morning and she smiled and said, good more time. Then she bid me good night. Mathias was right!
My room is at 20 degrees Celsius. I do not know if it is cold or if it is just because it is hot everywhere else but it is cold in my room. I had to turn off the fan because I was in sweats and a jacket.
I do not like taking pills, but it seems that if I do not take Tylenol PM then I cannot sleep through the night. Every other night I have tried going without it, but then I am restless and wake up frequently. I think it is because I do not have my grandma’s blanket with me. I call this blanket “My blanket of Love.” I always sleep sound with it. It usually goes with me when I travel. I do not know what it is about it, but it is the best blanket I have ever owned.
So on the 5th of June, I declare that I am going to have my start my beginning in Africa. I will continue traveling here with anyone that wants to go so that they can experience this life, culture, and economy, because it is an experience that I, personally, would not be complete without.
Just Kidding Blog Up
June 4, 2009
James gave me the morning to rest. I did not think that I needed it. I honestly thought that I would be twiddling my thumbs for hours. Well I guess I do not know my body as well as I thought. I got up and ate breakfast, wrote my sermon and then around nine thirty laid back down. I woke up around ten thirty and for some reason woke up was curious about how long the vaccinations I got would stay in my body. I looked through my folder, while still lying down. I found what I was looking for and then went right back to sleep. I woke back up at 12:35, which surprised. I do not know the conversion from Fahrenheit to Celsius but I need a coat when I am in my room. My room is at 21 degrees. It is amazing because almost every place we go to is not air-conditioned. I just do not like to sweat in the comfort of my own room.
I went to talk to the ladies about lunch and in the same instant Pastor James showed up. He said that he wanted to go to a café so we could create him a facebook. I was glad that we were able to do that because I needed to upload my blog and do a couple other things regarding email.
I want to thank all of you for following my blog. Feel free to leave comments! The ones that are leaving comments know that it really means a lot to me to have your support. The comments make me smile, laugh aloud, and shed a tear or two in gratitude for the people in my life. When I was praying, I thanked God for the people that have found a place in my life and in my heart.
After the café, we came back and ate lunch. We talked more about getting people to Ghana. I have a lot of work to do before August. I will have to first sit down and talk with my parents about the idea I have mustering in my head. I have found that, in all but one case, that if my parents are against it then it never works. This is a career move and potentially the biggest thing I have ever done. In that one case, I did not have their support in the beginning, but they are now happy that I went to Africa. I just have to come back safely, which I will. Pray up!
We came back, ate lunch together, and talked until 5:30. He said that we needed to leave at six for tonight. As the time gets closer, I start to get nervous. I prayed the entire way to the church. Praying that I did not mess up, that they could understand what I was saying, that I would not trip over my own feet, I prayed for just about everything it seemed.
It makes me happy to be able to walk into the church and have people smile when they see me. It is hard to talk to each other but a smile is all I need to know that I am welcome. We sang and prayed. Even though I do not know the words or even the language to most of the songs, I can still feel the music. Sometimes, I sing my own song. The two favorite I enjoy singing is “Desire” by Phil Wickham and “Believe” by Mainstay. They are great songs, I recommend them!
When Alex, the youth leader, got up to introduce Pastor James to introduce me, the first thing out of his mouth was “fasten your seatbelts.” It made me smile. I still am in awe that I, Anna Alexis, am giving a sermon to a congregation. Though it is small, it is a congregation nonetheless. Their eyes and hearts are fixed on me. They are influenced by what I say. I gave a thirty minute sermon. WOW! I will have my sermon eventually posted, but I touched on not passing judgment unto others and I tied what I said to these Bible verses-Jeremiah 29:11, Galatians 5:22-26, I Corinthians 4:16-17. This last verse I was able to put some emotion into when I was explaining. When I say Amen and walk back to my seat there is a rush of emotion that overcomes me. To hear them clapping and thanking me is an indescribable feeling. After the service, a member of the church came up to me and told me how much it meant to her and others that I am here doing this three day series. She said that she gets a lot out of what I say. This means a lot me. Also as I was leaving Alex approached me and asked if he could have a copy of my sermons. I almost wanted to ask why. I mean they are meaningful and somewhat good, but only having a few hours to prepare each one…I mean…I guess that I did not know how much I was affecting them. Tomorrow they are taking me to talking in a Junior High School and then to another school. I will come back and I will give my last sermon. I have an idea of what I am going to talk about. I am going to talk about how we are sheep and how God works in mysterious ways. I am going to use that to thank them and show my appreciation.
I knew that once Wednesday had passed every other day following was going to fly by. Saturday we are to go the African Market and the beach. Then on Sunday, we are going to another one of his churches. Then I think I will have the day to pack and then we have to leave at six in the morning to get to the airport a few hours before my flight. AHH! Too fast!!! Then it will be time to refocus and prepare myself for life in America. I wonder how I will come back. I also wonder how people will react to me.
Be all you can be, because if you are anything less then you are cheating yourself…My quote for thought.
The greatest challenge is not learning to accept other people, but learning to accept yourself. Accepting yourself for what you can do and what you cannot, what you can be and what you cannot, who you can affect and those you can’t. Embrace the joys and learn from the bad. One thing I have learned is that you cannot do absolutely everything without compromising yourself…second quote for thought
I tell you one day my quotes for thought are going to be posted somewhere lol.
There are two types of people who never amount to anything; those who cannot do what they are told and those who can do nothing else.
James gave me the morning to rest. I did not think that I needed it. I honestly thought that I would be twiddling my thumbs for hours. Well I guess I do not know my body as well as I thought. I got up and ate breakfast, wrote my sermon and then around nine thirty laid back down. I woke up around ten thirty and for some reason woke up was curious about how long the vaccinations I got would stay in my body. I looked through my folder, while still lying down. I found what I was looking for and then went right back to sleep. I woke back up at 12:35, which surprised. I do not know the conversion from Fahrenheit to Celsius but I need a coat when I am in my room. My room is at 21 degrees. It is amazing because almost every place we go to is not air-conditioned. I just do not like to sweat in the comfort of my own room.
I went to talk to the ladies about lunch and in the same instant Pastor James showed up. He said that he wanted to go to a café so we could create him a facebook. I was glad that we were able to do that because I needed to upload my blog and do a couple other things regarding email.
I want to thank all of you for following my blog. Feel free to leave comments! The ones that are leaving comments know that it really means a lot to me to have your support. The comments make me smile, laugh aloud, and shed a tear or two in gratitude for the people in my life. When I was praying, I thanked God for the people that have found a place in my life and in my heart.
After the café, we came back and ate lunch. We talked more about getting people to Ghana. I have a lot of work to do before August. I will have to first sit down and talk with my parents about the idea I have mustering in my head. I have found that, in all but one case, that if my parents are against it then it never works. This is a career move and potentially the biggest thing I have ever done. In that one case, I did not have their support in the beginning, but they are now happy that I went to Africa. I just have to come back safely, which I will. Pray up!
We came back, ate lunch together, and talked until 5:30. He said that we needed to leave at six for tonight. As the time gets closer, I start to get nervous. I prayed the entire way to the church. Praying that I did not mess up, that they could understand what I was saying, that I would not trip over my own feet, I prayed for just about everything it seemed.
It makes me happy to be able to walk into the church and have people smile when they see me. It is hard to talk to each other but a smile is all I need to know that I am welcome. We sang and prayed. Even though I do not know the words or even the language to most of the songs, I can still feel the music. Sometimes, I sing my own song. The two favorite I enjoy singing is “Desire” by Phil Wickham and “Believe” by Mainstay. They are great songs, I recommend them!
When Alex, the youth leader, got up to introduce Pastor James to introduce me, the first thing out of his mouth was “fasten your seatbelts.” It made me smile. I still am in awe that I, Anna Alexis, am giving a sermon to a congregation. Though it is small, it is a congregation nonetheless. Their eyes and hearts are fixed on me. They are influenced by what I say. I gave a thirty minute sermon. WOW! I will have my sermon eventually posted, but I touched on not passing judgment unto others and I tied what I said to these Bible verses-Jeremiah 29:11, Galatians 5:22-26, I Corinthians 4:16-17. This last verse I was able to put some emotion into when I was explaining. When I say Amen and walk back to my seat there is a rush of emotion that overcomes me. To hear them clapping and thanking me is an indescribable feeling. After the service, a member of the church came up to me and told me how much it meant to her and others that I am here doing this three day series. She said that she gets a lot out of what I say. This means a lot me. Also as I was leaving Alex approached me and asked if he could have a copy of my sermons. I almost wanted to ask why. I mean they are meaningful and somewhat good, but only having a few hours to prepare each one…I mean…I guess that I did not know how much I was affecting them. Tomorrow they are taking me to talking in a Junior High School and then to another school. I will come back and I will give my last sermon. I have an idea of what I am going to talk about. I am going to talk about how we are sheep and how God works in mysterious ways. I am going to use that to thank them and show my appreciation.
I knew that once Wednesday had passed every other day following was going to fly by. Saturday we are to go the African Market and the beach. Then on Sunday, we are going to another one of his churches. Then I think I will have the day to pack and then we have to leave at six in the morning to get to the airport a few hours before my flight. AHH! Too fast!!! Then it will be time to refocus and prepare myself for life in America. I wonder how I will come back. I also wonder how people will react to me.
Be all you can be, because if you are anything less then you are cheating yourself…My quote for thought.
The greatest challenge is not learning to accept other people, but learning to accept yourself. Accepting yourself for what you can do and what you cannot, what you can be and what you cannot, who you can affect and those you can’t. Embrace the joys and learn from the bad. One thing I have learned is that you cannot do absolutely everything without compromising yourself…second quote for thought
I tell you one day my quotes for thought are going to be posted somewhere lol.
There are two types of people who never amount to anything; those who cannot do what they are told and those who can do nothing else.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
technical difficulties
I will not be able to update until i get back to the US...but please read because they are some rocking posts!! Thank you all for following and supporting me. This has been a long amazing journey! Cafes are not open on Sundays so i have to wait until monday when i get to new york!
Talk to you soon!
much love!
God Bless,
Anna Alexis
Talk to you soon!
much love!
God Bless,
Anna Alexis
Thursday, June 4, 2009
New Experience
June 3, 2009
I did not sleep well again. This time it was not because my head hurt, my head feels fine. Though I admit it is heavy. Today we are going to the Pastor training center that they are building,
So in Africa we run off black man’s time. When we set a time it really means at least thirty minutes after the set time. He came by and we talked for about two hours before we got on the road. This conversation was inspiring and heart felt.
Dad! I have an amazing something to tell you. You are going to have to brace yourself for such news…but just know…be proud.
Also readers good news for you too!! If you or anyone you know (I am also talking about groups of people ie. Churches and organizations) would like to come to Ghana for ten days or more lets say, I am the person you need to talk to. You will go on the same adventures that I have been going on. So you let me know, and you know that when I say something I am good for it, I will make it happen. I have a life long connection and second home amongst these people. I am a sister; I must be the black sheep of the group, or in this case the white one.
The first stop we made was to the church. They had been building more. There are half-walls put up on the other side of the building. Also there are now swinging doors. They are going to put cement up too. I only know this because they had been making cement blocks and they were drying.
After the church we left for the bank. So here is the weirdest thing about their bank. We park the car where we are directed to and then we give the keys to the security guard. I thought it was for security purposes and found it very clever, but James explained to me that it is if they need to move your car so that the car you are parked behind needs to get out. It is a different system but it works.
After we ate lunch, we drove outside of Accra to his pastor training center. It is huge and when it is finished it will look very nice. The build the frame for the room out of wood, but that is it. The entire building is cement, which they mix and make themselves by hand. There are no cement trucks, well none that I have seen on the road. He hired builders. There were two men when we pulled up that were under a tree. He gave me a tour of the place but then we went to the outside and he started talking with those men about adding a patio to the building. They were doing calculations in the dirt and then they agreed on a price. It amazes me that these magnificent building and houses are literally made by hand.
So! We are driving to youth group and Pastor James asks me what I am going to talk about. I said, “Excuse me.” He said that I would be leading the sermon for the next three days. Then on Friday, I will be speaking in two schools in the morning. WOW, let me say that again, “WOW!” So I had to think of a sermon in fifteen minutes and deliver it. We sang and prayed then I got up there. Pastor James introduced me, and with my translator, Pastor Eric, I started. All I can say is thank God for grandma’s book! I used my notes that I took on the plane to deliver my sermon; my first sermon! Heavens does that not sound even a little bit weird. I mean I have gone through and done things in my life that make me a sinner. Yes, I know by the power of Jesus all are saved and made new again. I mean…I do not know what I mean…but the feeling I have inside cannot be described in words. All I know is that I have a lot of work to do in the United States when I return. I was done and the feeling rushed through me…the “high.” The rush that I get when I am doing something I am passionate about. Curious as to what I talked about…ask me in person. I had to talk for 25 minutes and it was a lot. Just to give you a brief I talked about how God is the light and we are able to shine because He makes all Christians “light holders.” I also touched on how in Christ we are made strong, without Him we are weak. I finished up with talking about how tempting it is to complain about our circumstances, but God is molding each one of us into something great, we just need to let Him work through us. As I was talking people had out their Bibles and were talking notes on some of my key points. I felt like I was on top of the world. Or when I would say something and someone would shout out AMEN! What am I going to talk about tomorrow? Well…that is a great question. I am going to pray about it.
I cannot hold it in any longer!! I AM ONCE AGAIN LIVING MY DREAM! Speaking in front of people and motivating them, and with the Gospel, does it get any better?
Quote for Thought—“You are going to have to find out where you want to go and then you have to start going there immediately. You cannot afford to lose a minute.” J. Salinger (Catcher in the Rye).
I do miss my family. I cannot wait to hug them…and my mom better not cry because I already know that I will lose it. I love it hear, but I did promise a return home.
You have to love life and the ones in it, because without love of these things on will never fully be happy. Well here in my quote for thought…God Bless.
I did not sleep well again. This time it was not because my head hurt, my head feels fine. Though I admit it is heavy. Today we are going to the Pastor training center that they are building,
So in Africa we run off black man’s time. When we set a time it really means at least thirty minutes after the set time. He came by and we talked for about two hours before we got on the road. This conversation was inspiring and heart felt.
Dad! I have an amazing something to tell you. You are going to have to brace yourself for such news…but just know…be proud.
Also readers good news for you too!! If you or anyone you know (I am also talking about groups of people ie. Churches and organizations) would like to come to Ghana for ten days or more lets say, I am the person you need to talk to. You will go on the same adventures that I have been going on. So you let me know, and you know that when I say something I am good for it, I will make it happen. I have a life long connection and second home amongst these people. I am a sister; I must be the black sheep of the group, or in this case the white one.
The first stop we made was to the church. They had been building more. There are half-walls put up on the other side of the building. Also there are now swinging doors. They are going to put cement up too. I only know this because they had been making cement blocks and they were drying.
After the church we left for the bank. So here is the weirdest thing about their bank. We park the car where we are directed to and then we give the keys to the security guard. I thought it was for security purposes and found it very clever, but James explained to me that it is if they need to move your car so that the car you are parked behind needs to get out. It is a different system but it works.
After we ate lunch, we drove outside of Accra to his pastor training center. It is huge and when it is finished it will look very nice. The build the frame for the room out of wood, but that is it. The entire building is cement, which they mix and make themselves by hand. There are no cement trucks, well none that I have seen on the road. He hired builders. There were two men when we pulled up that were under a tree. He gave me a tour of the place but then we went to the outside and he started talking with those men about adding a patio to the building. They were doing calculations in the dirt and then they agreed on a price. It amazes me that these magnificent building and houses are literally made by hand.
So! We are driving to youth group and Pastor James asks me what I am going to talk about. I said, “Excuse me.” He said that I would be leading the sermon for the next three days. Then on Friday, I will be speaking in two schools in the morning. WOW, let me say that again, “WOW!” So I had to think of a sermon in fifteen minutes and deliver it. We sang and prayed then I got up there. Pastor James introduced me, and with my translator, Pastor Eric, I started. All I can say is thank God for grandma’s book! I used my notes that I took on the plane to deliver my sermon; my first sermon! Heavens does that not sound even a little bit weird. I mean I have gone through and done things in my life that make me a sinner. Yes, I know by the power of Jesus all are saved and made new again. I mean…I do not know what I mean…but the feeling I have inside cannot be described in words. All I know is that I have a lot of work to do in the United States when I return. I was done and the feeling rushed through me…the “high.” The rush that I get when I am doing something I am passionate about. Curious as to what I talked about…ask me in person. I had to talk for 25 minutes and it was a lot. Just to give you a brief I talked about how God is the light and we are able to shine because He makes all Christians “light holders.” I also touched on how in Christ we are made strong, without Him we are weak. I finished up with talking about how tempting it is to complain about our circumstances, but God is molding each one of us into something great, we just need to let Him work through us. As I was talking people had out their Bibles and were talking notes on some of my key points. I felt like I was on top of the world. Or when I would say something and someone would shout out AMEN! What am I going to talk about tomorrow? Well…that is a great question. I am going to pray about it.
I cannot hold it in any longer!! I AM ONCE AGAIN LIVING MY DREAM! Speaking in front of people and motivating them, and with the Gospel, does it get any better?
Quote for Thought—“You are going to have to find out where you want to go and then you have to start going there immediately. You cannot afford to lose a minute.” J. Salinger (Catcher in the Rye).
I do miss my family. I cannot wait to hug them…and my mom better not cry because I already know that I will lose it. I love it hear, but I did promise a return home.
You have to love life and the ones in it, because without love of these things on will never fully be happy. Well here in my quote for thought…God Bless.
Eye Opening
June 2, 2009
Well I did not sleep well at all. As soon as I laid down, I noticed the big lump of hair that I had not gotten used to yet. Since I had just gotten the braids, my head is still sensitive. For the first time in what seems like forever I slept on my face. The travel pillow that I bought for the flight came in handy. I was able to just stick my forehead in it and still be able to breath.
Morning came too quickly. My alarm went off at five and I was to be ready by six. We had a four-hour drive ahead of us and he said that there was going to be traffic. Well he was right. There was plenty traffic. It is very different than traffic in America because we have lanes, stop signs, and stop lights. Here there are potholes, no lanes, no traffic signs, and basically you squeeze into spaces where you fit or where you have beaten someone else to the spot. This system of driving could never work in the United States. Sometimes there are close calls on whether or not someone is going to be hit. There are also herds of animals that roam the streets and they are left unharmed, which is another that I cannot say for the US.
Well as some of you know, car rides make me sleepy beyond belief. So I fell asleep for some of the ride.
I learned that Ghana has ten regions, which is the equivalent of states. Then each region has its own towns. There are places set up everywhere on the side of the road that sell fruit, candy, clothes, AND…AND SMOKED RACOON! I did not know what it was at first; I knew it was some kind of rodent. I do not know if I am more surprised that they smoke raccoons and cook them spread eagle or the fact that there are raccoons in Africa.
James told me that we were going to a castle in Cape Coast. Well as you will soon see from the pictures, it is amazing. It is one of three castles in Ghana. Here is the twist. The Swedes, originally built this castle as a trading port for ivory and gold, but it was eventually overtaken after being attacked many times. It passed through the hands of the Danish, the Dutch, and eventually landed itself into the hands of the British. We got to look in its little museum and then I realized what this castle was used for. It was a place where they kept and shipped out slabes for the Transatlantic Slave Trade. We were able to walk through the museum and see old chains and shackles along with the history. One interesting thing I learned that I did not learn in my history books was that some of the blacks that entered America were not slaves. Some of the early blacks were able to come as indentured servants. Ghana, today known for its peace, would back then capture slaves from neighboring countries.
When we finished looking through the museum, we were taken on a guided tour. Well this is the first place where I felt out of place and mildly awkward even though this experience was fascinating. The first place we went on the tour was the male dungeon for slaves. We were able to walk through the rooms where they kept 200 male slaves in each of the five rooms for three months at a time. As we were standing in one of the cells the tour guide went and turned the lights off so that we could get a feel for what it was like to be a slave during the day. The experience alone was enough to make me cry. Thirty feet or so from the ground were three small windows and that was it for ventilation. There was also line on the wall that came up about to my knee and the guide, Isaac, said that their human waste would reach that level. Oh and the church was located directly above where they kept these slaves. The slaves were able to hear every hymn the whites sang, the whites were able to hear every cry and plea for help, and yet they did nothing. We then walked up to the top by the coast and it is gorgeous. I do not understand how such controversy of scenery can be in one place. We then walked to the female holding cell. There were three rooms, larger than the males cells, and each held 150 slaves. However, there was one thing different. Just before the cells, a small room also served as a holding cell. They would specifically pick out the prettiest slaves and attempt to have sex with them. If a woman did not comply, she was put in that room with up to ten other females for a week. This room was not even as big as a closet. Then we were able to walk through “The Door of No Return.” This is where the slaves would walk through to the boat and never return, but today they changed it to “The Door of Return.” This is because they invite all generations to come back to Ghana. We then walked through the “jail.” One room was for soldiers who had committed a crime because of heavy drinking. The second room, the one in the very back, could hold up to fifty black prisoners. These men were put in there because they caused a riot or tried to escape. Isaac also turned the lights off so that we could get a feel. I cannot even put into words what I felt. In this room, there were no lights or ventilation. Then he told us that the men that were in this room never saw daylight again. They would be put in this cell and were given no food and water. So the whites waited for them to starve to death. Isaac showed us on the floor the chain marks that were put into the floor by slaves trying to escape. Also we were told that the whites did not clean the room out until all fifty of them had died. This is when you would hope you died first. The last place we went was the white governor’s living quarters. It was stunning. With windows surrounding the rooms, there was a clear view of every angle. After the tour ended, I went back to the male dungeon to take a picture. I honestly could not bring myself to take a picture while on the tour. I was the ONLY white person among eight others. Isaac referred to the slaves as their forefathers and that made me feel out of place. It was completely different hearing their side of the story. We always here white man this and white man that, but to hear about the black side brought whole new light on the subject. Even though I had nothing to do with the Transatlantic Slave trade, I still feel terrible. I mean try to imagine… no matter how much you plea or cry you are trapped into a world of fear and torture and there is no way out. The thought makes me sick to my stomach. I wonder if the circumstances would have been different if they all could speak the same language. Then there is no barrier and you are forced to make some connection.
After that we went to go eat. I wanted to go to the beach but James and Immanuel do not know how to swim so…also I cannot get my hair wet. I just wanted to touch the water, but I think we will wait for a beach in Accra.
I never knew really, where I stood on homosexuality until I talked with Immanuel. I did not even mean to stumble upon this conversation with anyone. All I can remember is arguing this topic in Human Sexuality in the fall. I was unsure how I felt about it, but after watching Milk on the plane I feel like I now know. I also think that being away from every influence I have ever had in my life being absent, I have time to figure out where I stand on certain issues. Either way, this debate of me believing it is not wrong made him say that he likes me. Oh Lord! No way! I am not in Africa to get a boyfriend; God knows that I do not need that, especially since there is so much I am still figuring out about myself. Then some lady made a comment about if he was going to marry a white girl and he said yes. I looked at him, laughed, and said, “Good luck finding one here.”
I feel asleep again on the way home with my arm out of the window. I was wearing Amanda’s band, so now I have a white mark part way up my forearm since the wind had pushed up. Note to self, do not fall asleep with your arm out of the window on a sunny day in Africa.
When we were driving I witnessed two things that took me by compete surprise. First, when we finished our breakfast, which consisted of crackers and pop, the remnants were thrown out the window. I was in complete shock because there is a heavy fine for littering on the high ways in the States. The second thing was that Pastor James was pulled over for going 65km/h in a 50km zone. His speedometer does not work so I was surprised he was in a close range. Anyways he and the police officer start talking and then laughing. Then we went on our merry way. There was no ticket, no nothing. The officer was just showing James that he was speeding. This would never happen in the United States.
When we got back Immanuel asked if I was tired and I said a little. We got back to the hotel and Solomon was there. I suddenly got this burst of energy because I did not see him yesterday. He commented on my hair and we started laughing. He used to work at the hotel in the city so he is used to white people English so we communicate well. He and I can talk for hours. I think it is because I am all alone here and have no form of communication so I am thankful for him
When I return to Africa I will be bringing someone with me. Not only because I want someone to experience this, but it does get a little lonely.
Pastor James and I started talking about the details of how we met and how each of us felt looking for the other at the airport. It was quite humorous. He said that before he even knew me he was praying that if it be God’s will that I would come. He and I are meeting tomorrow to go over something big and important. He wants to me find churches in the states to partner with his church. So the churches would help support his church and as a result this would become a place where the church’s congregation can do mission trips. I will be the middle man. I will be arranging flights, details and be the mediator. This seems like a lot because it is. So I am going to pray and pray and see what God has to say. If I can get this thing off the ground this could be a potential job, I mean it is a job, but a paying job. If it grows I can use churches to support the new churches that will be going up on Ghana with his newly trained pastors. We will see what happens. We could call it Adopt a Church, or Reach Out. We are also looking at recruiting colleges, basically any individual or group of Christians that want to come. We will see where it all goes. It is all just in my head. I have a feeling that my desire to do good will over rides my sanity. It always seems to. If I take this on full force, I might have to give up something, but I do know that it is not school.
Well I did not sleep well at all. As soon as I laid down, I noticed the big lump of hair that I had not gotten used to yet. Since I had just gotten the braids, my head is still sensitive. For the first time in what seems like forever I slept on my face. The travel pillow that I bought for the flight came in handy. I was able to just stick my forehead in it and still be able to breath.
Morning came too quickly. My alarm went off at five and I was to be ready by six. We had a four-hour drive ahead of us and he said that there was going to be traffic. Well he was right. There was plenty traffic. It is very different than traffic in America because we have lanes, stop signs, and stop lights. Here there are potholes, no lanes, no traffic signs, and basically you squeeze into spaces where you fit or where you have beaten someone else to the spot. This system of driving could never work in the United States. Sometimes there are close calls on whether or not someone is going to be hit. There are also herds of animals that roam the streets and they are left unharmed, which is another that I cannot say for the US.
Well as some of you know, car rides make me sleepy beyond belief. So I fell asleep for some of the ride.
I learned that Ghana has ten regions, which is the equivalent of states. Then each region has its own towns. There are places set up everywhere on the side of the road that sell fruit, candy, clothes, AND…AND SMOKED RACOON! I did not know what it was at first; I knew it was some kind of rodent. I do not know if I am more surprised that they smoke raccoons and cook them spread eagle or the fact that there are raccoons in Africa.
James told me that we were going to a castle in Cape Coast. Well as you will soon see from the pictures, it is amazing. It is one of three castles in Ghana. Here is the twist. The Swedes, originally built this castle as a trading port for ivory and gold, but it was eventually overtaken after being attacked many times. It passed through the hands of the Danish, the Dutch, and eventually landed itself into the hands of the British. We got to look in its little museum and then I realized what this castle was used for. It was a place where they kept and shipped out slabes for the Transatlantic Slave Trade. We were able to walk through the museum and see old chains and shackles along with the history. One interesting thing I learned that I did not learn in my history books was that some of the blacks that entered America were not slaves. Some of the early blacks were able to come as indentured servants. Ghana, today known for its peace, would back then capture slaves from neighboring countries.
When we finished looking through the museum, we were taken on a guided tour. Well this is the first place where I felt out of place and mildly awkward even though this experience was fascinating. The first place we went on the tour was the male dungeon for slaves. We were able to walk through the rooms where they kept 200 male slaves in each of the five rooms for three months at a time. As we were standing in one of the cells the tour guide went and turned the lights off so that we could get a feel for what it was like to be a slave during the day. The experience alone was enough to make me cry. Thirty feet or so from the ground were three small windows and that was it for ventilation. There was also line on the wall that came up about to my knee and the guide, Isaac, said that their human waste would reach that level. Oh and the church was located directly above where they kept these slaves. The slaves were able to hear every hymn the whites sang, the whites were able to hear every cry and plea for help, and yet they did nothing. We then walked up to the top by the coast and it is gorgeous. I do not understand how such controversy of scenery can be in one place. We then walked to the female holding cell. There were three rooms, larger than the males cells, and each held 150 slaves. However, there was one thing different. Just before the cells, a small room also served as a holding cell. They would specifically pick out the prettiest slaves and attempt to have sex with them. If a woman did not comply, she was put in that room with up to ten other females for a week. This room was not even as big as a closet. Then we were able to walk through “The Door of No Return.” This is where the slaves would walk through to the boat and never return, but today they changed it to “The Door of Return.” This is because they invite all generations to come back to Ghana. We then walked through the “jail.” One room was for soldiers who had committed a crime because of heavy drinking. The second room, the one in the very back, could hold up to fifty black prisoners. These men were put in there because they caused a riot or tried to escape. Isaac also turned the lights off so that we could get a feel. I cannot even put into words what I felt. In this room, there were no lights or ventilation. Then he told us that the men that were in this room never saw daylight again. They would be put in this cell and were given no food and water. So the whites waited for them to starve to death. Isaac showed us on the floor the chain marks that were put into the floor by slaves trying to escape. Also we were told that the whites did not clean the room out until all fifty of them had died. This is when you would hope you died first. The last place we went was the white governor’s living quarters. It was stunning. With windows surrounding the rooms, there was a clear view of every angle. After the tour ended, I went back to the male dungeon to take a picture. I honestly could not bring myself to take a picture while on the tour. I was the ONLY white person among eight others. Isaac referred to the slaves as their forefathers and that made me feel out of place. It was completely different hearing their side of the story. We always here white man this and white man that, but to hear about the black side brought whole new light on the subject. Even though I had nothing to do with the Transatlantic Slave trade, I still feel terrible. I mean try to imagine… no matter how much you plea or cry you are trapped into a world of fear and torture and there is no way out. The thought makes me sick to my stomach. I wonder if the circumstances would have been different if they all could speak the same language. Then there is no barrier and you are forced to make some connection.
After that we went to go eat. I wanted to go to the beach but James and Immanuel do not know how to swim so…also I cannot get my hair wet. I just wanted to touch the water, but I think we will wait for a beach in Accra.
I never knew really, where I stood on homosexuality until I talked with Immanuel. I did not even mean to stumble upon this conversation with anyone. All I can remember is arguing this topic in Human Sexuality in the fall. I was unsure how I felt about it, but after watching Milk on the plane I feel like I now know. I also think that being away from every influence I have ever had in my life being absent, I have time to figure out where I stand on certain issues. Either way, this debate of me believing it is not wrong made him say that he likes me. Oh Lord! No way! I am not in Africa to get a boyfriend; God knows that I do not need that, especially since there is so much I am still figuring out about myself. Then some lady made a comment about if he was going to marry a white girl and he said yes. I looked at him, laughed, and said, “Good luck finding one here.”
I feel asleep again on the way home with my arm out of the window. I was wearing Amanda’s band, so now I have a white mark part way up my forearm since the wind had pushed up. Note to self, do not fall asleep with your arm out of the window on a sunny day in Africa.
When we were driving I witnessed two things that took me by compete surprise. First, when we finished our breakfast, which consisted of crackers and pop, the remnants were thrown out the window. I was in complete shock because there is a heavy fine for littering on the high ways in the States. The second thing was that Pastor James was pulled over for going 65km/h in a 50km zone. His speedometer does not work so I was surprised he was in a close range. Anyways he and the police officer start talking and then laughing. Then we went on our merry way. There was no ticket, no nothing. The officer was just showing James that he was speeding. This would never happen in the United States.
When we got back Immanuel asked if I was tired and I said a little. We got back to the hotel and Solomon was there. I suddenly got this burst of energy because I did not see him yesterday. He commented on my hair and we started laughing. He used to work at the hotel in the city so he is used to white people English so we communicate well. He and I can talk for hours. I think it is because I am all alone here and have no form of communication so I am thankful for him
When I return to Africa I will be bringing someone with me. Not only because I want someone to experience this, but it does get a little lonely.
Pastor James and I started talking about the details of how we met and how each of us felt looking for the other at the airport. It was quite humorous. He said that before he even knew me he was praying that if it be God’s will that I would come. He and I are meeting tomorrow to go over something big and important. He wants to me find churches in the states to partner with his church. So the churches would help support his church and as a result this would become a place where the church’s congregation can do mission trips. I will be the middle man. I will be arranging flights, details and be the mediator. This seems like a lot because it is. So I am going to pray and pray and see what God has to say. If I can get this thing off the ground this could be a potential job, I mean it is a job, but a paying job. If it grows I can use churches to support the new churches that will be going up on Ghana with his newly trained pastors. We will see what happens. We could call it Adopt a Church, or Reach Out. We are also looking at recruiting colleges, basically any individual or group of Christians that want to come. We will see where it all goes. It is all just in my head. I have a feeling that my desire to do good will over rides my sanity. It always seems to. If I take this on full force, I might have to give up something, but I do know that it is not school.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Bye Bye May
June 1, 2009
WOW June already!
I could not sleep last night. I told myself that I was not going to take the Tylenol PM, but I woke up feeling sore throughout the night. I woke up at seven twenty but then five minutes later Joyce, the keeper of the hotel, knocked on my door to deliver breakfast. See one thing that is different from the United States is that you get your food when they get done making it. So yesterday I got my breakfast at 8:30 and today 7:30. I also think that I did not sleep well because I am a little nervous about my hair. It is going to be longer and more colorful. They say that I could have this in my hair for months. Do not worry mom they are not dying my hair a color. I do not understand how it works but it does. So everyone pray.
I did not mean for my blogs to be so far spaced. I am unable to connect to the internet from the hotel. Do you know what a broken African electric plug makes? A ghetto American plug in! It is a random act of kindness from God that I am able to get a charge. I found a phone that worked and I unplugged my computer last night to go try the phone thing. It did not work. So I came back discouraged. When I came back to the room and plugged my computer into the same plug it did not work. I was so scared that I had lost power. I plugged my phone in to see if it would work, it did, and just my computer did not. Obviously I was able to regain power but it was quite a scare because I still have a week left and with no power would have made typing my blog very difficult.
It is hard not getting to share this experience with anyone. All my great adventures I am alone. It has been a little difficult not being able to call home and share! It is definitely a good thing though, because one of my first thoughts were to get on facebook if I got a connection. O Lord!
I sat down in the chair to get my hair braided at 10:30 and at 10:00pm I was finished. It took three ladies and nine and a half hours. In the beginning I was shocked at the transformation that has taken place on my head. The more I walk by a mirror the more I like it. America is going to freak out! I have always wanted my hair dark and now it is. I have also always wanted it long and now it is a little past the middle of my back. I used to be really close to someone who always wanted to see me with long dark hair but I said I could never, if that person and I were still close he would be in for quite a surprise. I believe that when we see each other he will be because I do owe his brother a trip to Noodles and Company. His brother is my brother, so for once I might look like family LOL…not! Anyways, I cannot even begin to explain what my hair looks like. This is initiative for people to come see me when I return to the United States, if I return that is. Just joking, bad joke, I should not be kidding about such things. However, the down part…I cannot get any part of my hair wet for six weeks! So if I want to teach private lessons my head has to stay out of the water. (Teresa if you could get ahold of the Serafinis and ask them if they still want to do lessons for June if I cannot get my hair wet that would be amazing. I would call them myself but, I cannot and my first lesson is the day after I get back.) I also feel like my head weighs a couple of pounds and squinting is out of the question. I have had my hair braided before but this is not a braid, it is some sort of weave/extension thing. Anyways, it was the most painful nine and a half hours and three minutes of my life. I did not want to insult them so I clenched my book. Then at the end they told me that I had a very tough head because it usually hurts people. I just laughed. I think the thing that I am going to need to get used to is that it is like any other hair. As long as I do not get it wet I am not going to mess it up. Manny is going to flip when I have to come and bring him his stuff…actually everyone is going to take a double take. Like I said, it takes some getting used to, but all I can do is smile. I look way different, but change is good and this hair is not forever…so smile away loved ones and use your imagination!
The ladies tried to teach me how to count…well I gave it my best shot. I am learning…slowly. First question they asked me, “Are you married?” Then they asked how old I was then they told me I was little. I knew they meant young, but this was a humorous comment to me because these women are tiny compared to me…I did not notice it until I stood up, but wow I am gargantuan. Also they asked what I was studying in school. I told them and Sarah asked me about Jenny. Jenny is mentally handicapped but she functions within society because there is nothing else for them to do. I do not know why I was surprised to see Jenny in Africa, but it shows mental disorders happen all over the world, and in some places they cannot be treated.
Tomorrow we have to leave before six in the morning to go site seeing. As much as I enjoy it here, I am alone a lot. I am having all of these new experiences and I cannot share it. I am confined to my own mind. You guys know that I am a person of sharing, I have no problem telling you about myself and how I feel. So this next week of solitude is going to teach me something.
Here is a chance to have your input…Suppose when you are away from it all and certain thoughts enter your mind. Is it because you have no outside influence so it is purely your own thoughts OR is it a moment of weakness, wanting something because it is safe and you are lonely? Especially if you think about it A LOT. That is all I am going to say…It will give me something to read when I get to check my blog.
In one week I will be home…I am curious how I adjust.
WOW June already!
I could not sleep last night. I told myself that I was not going to take the Tylenol PM, but I woke up feeling sore throughout the night. I woke up at seven twenty but then five minutes later Joyce, the keeper of the hotel, knocked on my door to deliver breakfast. See one thing that is different from the United States is that you get your food when they get done making it. So yesterday I got my breakfast at 8:30 and today 7:30. I also think that I did not sleep well because I am a little nervous about my hair. It is going to be longer and more colorful. They say that I could have this in my hair for months. Do not worry mom they are not dying my hair a color. I do not understand how it works but it does. So everyone pray.
I did not mean for my blogs to be so far spaced. I am unable to connect to the internet from the hotel. Do you know what a broken African electric plug makes? A ghetto American plug in! It is a random act of kindness from God that I am able to get a charge. I found a phone that worked and I unplugged my computer last night to go try the phone thing. It did not work. So I came back discouraged. When I came back to the room and plugged my computer into the same plug it did not work. I was so scared that I had lost power. I plugged my phone in to see if it would work, it did, and just my computer did not. Obviously I was able to regain power but it was quite a scare because I still have a week left and with no power would have made typing my blog very difficult.
It is hard not getting to share this experience with anyone. All my great adventures I am alone. It has been a little difficult not being able to call home and share! It is definitely a good thing though, because one of my first thoughts were to get on facebook if I got a connection. O Lord!
I sat down in the chair to get my hair braided at 10:30 and at 10:00pm I was finished. It took three ladies and nine and a half hours. In the beginning I was shocked at the transformation that has taken place on my head. The more I walk by a mirror the more I like it. America is going to freak out! I have always wanted my hair dark and now it is. I have also always wanted it long and now it is a little past the middle of my back. I used to be really close to someone who always wanted to see me with long dark hair but I said I could never, if that person and I were still close he would be in for quite a surprise. I believe that when we see each other he will be because I do owe his brother a trip to Noodles and Company. His brother is my brother, so for once I might look like family LOL…not! Anyways, I cannot even begin to explain what my hair looks like. This is initiative for people to come see me when I return to the United States, if I return that is. Just joking, bad joke, I should not be kidding about such things. However, the down part…I cannot get any part of my hair wet for six weeks! So if I want to teach private lessons my head has to stay out of the water. (Teresa if you could get ahold of the Serafinis and ask them if they still want to do lessons for June if I cannot get my hair wet that would be amazing. I would call them myself but, I cannot and my first lesson is the day after I get back.) I also feel like my head weighs a couple of pounds and squinting is out of the question. I have had my hair braided before but this is not a braid, it is some sort of weave/extension thing. Anyways, it was the most painful nine and a half hours and three minutes of my life. I did not want to insult them so I clenched my book. Then at the end they told me that I had a very tough head because it usually hurts people. I just laughed. I think the thing that I am going to need to get used to is that it is like any other hair. As long as I do not get it wet I am not going to mess it up. Manny is going to flip when I have to come and bring him his stuff…actually everyone is going to take a double take. Like I said, it takes some getting used to, but all I can do is smile. I look way different, but change is good and this hair is not forever…so smile away loved ones and use your imagination!
The ladies tried to teach me how to count…well I gave it my best shot. I am learning…slowly. First question they asked me, “Are you married?” Then they asked how old I was then they told me I was little. I knew they meant young, but this was a humorous comment to me because these women are tiny compared to me…I did not notice it until I stood up, but wow I am gargantuan. Also they asked what I was studying in school. I told them and Sarah asked me about Jenny. Jenny is mentally handicapped but she functions within society because there is nothing else for them to do. I do not know why I was surprised to see Jenny in Africa, but it shows mental disorders happen all over the world, and in some places they cannot be treated.
Tomorrow we have to leave before six in the morning to go site seeing. As much as I enjoy it here, I am alone a lot. I am having all of these new experiences and I cannot share it. I am confined to my own mind. You guys know that I am a person of sharing, I have no problem telling you about myself and how I feel. So this next week of solitude is going to teach me something.
Here is a chance to have your input…Suppose when you are away from it all and certain thoughts enter your mind. Is it because you have no outside influence so it is purely your own thoughts OR is it a moment of weakness, wanting something because it is safe and you are lonely? Especially if you think about it A LOT. That is all I am going to say…It will give me something to read when I get to check my blog.
In one week I will be home…I am curious how I adjust.
Sunday
May 31, 2009
So I have come to the conclusion that the bugs in Africa must be smaller compared to the United States. I have been bitten three times and not see the mosquito once! I even have been looking for them and I cannot find them anywhere.
Today I go to church. I am a little nervous but then again I am excited to have the experience. When we got there they were doing Bible study for the children. They were all so adorable. I said hello and they ALL said hello back. They all wanted to be in there. In the States I have seen parents have to drag there kids to church. They went through all of there names and for the most part their names are the same as they are in America. The pronunciation is different of the ‘I’. For example in the United States when we say Sophia we pronounce the ‘I’ like an ‘e’. They pronounce it like an ‘I’ and then follow it by the same pronunciation of the ‘a’. We all took a picture together when they were teaching me the words to a song. Then Lydia tells them that I have something to say. I did not. The children were talking about how the Lord is our Shepherd. By the grace of God the previous Sunday I was at my church and we had discussed this very thing. So I was able to reference that, Thank you Pastor Scott! At the end they came up to me, Auntie Anna, and shook my hand and told me, “God Bless”
We started off the service by us singing. Well they were singing and I was attempting to learn the words. Then we prayed, but we prayed out loud, everyone saying a different prayer. People walked around and at times I felt like I ran out of something to pray about because this went on for ten minutes or so. There was no need to rush it. Also when we were singing a song, someone in the congregation would start it and then the others would follow. There is no need for hymnals because everyone just knows.
We sat in the front at the beginning of the service. Some of the service was in their own language. The beginning of the service was in their language but Lydia told me they were talking about faith. The first time they spoke the message in English was the story of Joseph in Genesis 37. I find this ironic because I was hanging out with my friend Josh one night and he had mentioned the story of Joseph being sold into slavery. This is one of the many things I heard about when I talked with another individual about Africa. God amuses me. We also talked about how love is give and take.
There are three pastors that came up and spoke. When the next one came up we discussed how you can never love man (creation, both male and female) 100% because man will fail you. Not necessarily on purpose but because we are sinful and make mistakes. Man can also misguide you and do you evil. We need to forgive man and serve a living God. You must put God first in everything that we do. Give all you love to God and some of it to man, for God will never fail you.
We also talked about marriage. They say do not hunt from man to man because in the long run it will hurt your marriage because you will compare. This pastor came up and said he had the secret to marriage because that past Friday he had celebrated his ten year anniversary. He said that it was forgiveness and he does not hide his feelings. When something happens that one of them does not like they talk about it then, and do not wait, and separate their differences. Also they make the families stay out of it; the family cannot openly enter their domain. (This is something different from where I am from). You need to go into a marriage with both people putting the love for God first. You should love man more than God. If you love anything more than God it is a stumbling block.
Before you marry you have to leave you family, meaning you have to be able to support yourself on your own. Counseling is very important before marriage. Also for content in the marriage the family is not allowed to deal with affairs regarding the business between the couples, whether good talk or arguing, the family is not allowed to interfere. By living alone and keeping outsiders out of your business, you allow yourself to be in an environment where it is just the two of you, full enjoyment.
Do not marry for money. Marry a born again believer, someone that is going to live and defend the Bible and not tempt you or risk your chances of going to heaven. If you want to get married, seek God first, by being able to do this your husband will be able to trust you more. It is about two bodies becoming one flesh.
One thing that they do differently in this church is something called contribution. This is where you say and state your opinion and also back it up with a Bible verse. It amazes me how well they know the Bible. Lydia shared with the church a conversation I had with her yesterday. Yesterday we had talked about how it is hard for me to truly stay upset at something. I told her that it is so wasteful to hold on to negative feelings.
We referenced to Isaiah 43:7 and Jeremiah 7:9.
Contribution is voluntary but for some reason it was not for me. LOL Once again I am put on the spot. I talk about forgiveness and I tied it into holding onto the bad emotions makes it hard to remember the good.
After the contribution there is more singing, where two ladies come up and lead song, while two of the gentlemen play the drums. We then have offering. They are trying to save up for a generator which is 300 American dollars. They want this generator because they have no lights when it gets dark. It gets dark here around six in the evening.
Then we went around and greeted everyone. People came up to me and welcomed me, one lady said that I was now apart of them. This is my family.
Then there was a time for something that we call testimony. I hardly understood any of it. An individual gets up and starts singing a song of praise and then follows it by a personal testimony. When they are all done with that, Lydia, who they call mom, walks to the front of the church and tells them that I have a message from America. Well…So I walked up there and said my name, where I was from, and my message from America. Honestly, I just spoke from the heart. I thanked them for how kind they had been to me. They opened their arms like I was one of them. OH!!!! Then Lydia tells them that I will be heading up the youth ministries that start on Wednesday. Some of them say that they will attend. Oh boy! I have had to change the way that I speak English, the way we speak in America is very clear cut. My words run together when I speak their English.
Church lasted from 8:30-12. I know I know, some of you readers are grueling at the thought, but it was so diverse and different that everyone was kept interested. I think it is because in America we have the same Pastor standing up there talking and you just have to sit and listen. Thank God my pastors at Northern Hills are charismatic.
After service we got a taxi and went back to the hotel. I have found that my lunch and dinner are the same, chicken and chips. A few hours later Pastor James came. He brought me cookies and soda. The soda cans are different here and it seems like everything that is manufactured comes from the US or Sweden, basically anywhere but from here. He and I talked for hours. We talked about what I thought, American customs, differences in culture, food, marriage, prison, and black man’s time versus white man’s time. It was very good.
I have fallen in love with Ghana. We are in the outskirts, the slums but I absolutely love it.
He said that this is my country now. So I can feel free to take pictures and talk to anyone and learn the language because this is my home away from home. I am a sister among the people here…every person I have encountered treats me like I live there. It is a nice feeling.
I honestly thought that me being in Africa would make me appreciate things, in some ways yes, but in others not at all. Ghana is about acceptance and openness. This is something that I cannot say for any other place in the United States that I have been too.
Live, Love and Be Happy…the end!
P.S. Did you know that even thought a plantain is referred to as a big banana it is nothing like a banana at all! You have to cook the plantain before you can eat it. The reason they are giving white people food is because there food is spicy and will hurt my stomach as they say.
So I have come to the conclusion that the bugs in Africa must be smaller compared to the United States. I have been bitten three times and not see the mosquito once! I even have been looking for them and I cannot find them anywhere.
Today I go to church. I am a little nervous but then again I am excited to have the experience. When we got there they were doing Bible study for the children. They were all so adorable. I said hello and they ALL said hello back. They all wanted to be in there. In the States I have seen parents have to drag there kids to church. They went through all of there names and for the most part their names are the same as they are in America. The pronunciation is different of the ‘I’. For example in the United States when we say Sophia we pronounce the ‘I’ like an ‘e’. They pronounce it like an ‘I’ and then follow it by the same pronunciation of the ‘a’. We all took a picture together when they were teaching me the words to a song. Then Lydia tells them that I have something to say. I did not. The children were talking about how the Lord is our Shepherd. By the grace of God the previous Sunday I was at my church and we had discussed this very thing. So I was able to reference that, Thank you Pastor Scott! At the end they came up to me, Auntie Anna, and shook my hand and told me, “God Bless”
We started off the service by us singing. Well they were singing and I was attempting to learn the words. Then we prayed, but we prayed out loud, everyone saying a different prayer. People walked around and at times I felt like I ran out of something to pray about because this went on for ten minutes or so. There was no need to rush it. Also when we were singing a song, someone in the congregation would start it and then the others would follow. There is no need for hymnals because everyone just knows.
We sat in the front at the beginning of the service. Some of the service was in their own language. The beginning of the service was in their language but Lydia told me they were talking about faith. The first time they spoke the message in English was the story of Joseph in Genesis 37. I find this ironic because I was hanging out with my friend Josh one night and he had mentioned the story of Joseph being sold into slavery. This is one of the many things I heard about when I talked with another individual about Africa. God amuses me. We also talked about how love is give and take.
There are three pastors that came up and spoke. When the next one came up we discussed how you can never love man (creation, both male and female) 100% because man will fail you. Not necessarily on purpose but because we are sinful and make mistakes. Man can also misguide you and do you evil. We need to forgive man and serve a living God. You must put God first in everything that we do. Give all you love to God and some of it to man, for God will never fail you.
We also talked about marriage. They say do not hunt from man to man because in the long run it will hurt your marriage because you will compare. This pastor came up and said he had the secret to marriage because that past Friday he had celebrated his ten year anniversary. He said that it was forgiveness and he does not hide his feelings. When something happens that one of them does not like they talk about it then, and do not wait, and separate their differences. Also they make the families stay out of it; the family cannot openly enter their domain. (This is something different from where I am from). You need to go into a marriage with both people putting the love for God first. You should love man more than God. If you love anything more than God it is a stumbling block.
Before you marry you have to leave you family, meaning you have to be able to support yourself on your own. Counseling is very important before marriage. Also for content in the marriage the family is not allowed to deal with affairs regarding the business between the couples, whether good talk or arguing, the family is not allowed to interfere. By living alone and keeping outsiders out of your business, you allow yourself to be in an environment where it is just the two of you, full enjoyment.
Do not marry for money. Marry a born again believer, someone that is going to live and defend the Bible and not tempt you or risk your chances of going to heaven. If you want to get married, seek God first, by being able to do this your husband will be able to trust you more. It is about two bodies becoming one flesh.
One thing that they do differently in this church is something called contribution. This is where you say and state your opinion and also back it up with a Bible verse. It amazes me how well they know the Bible. Lydia shared with the church a conversation I had with her yesterday. Yesterday we had talked about how it is hard for me to truly stay upset at something. I told her that it is so wasteful to hold on to negative feelings.
We referenced to Isaiah 43:7 and Jeremiah 7:9.
Contribution is voluntary but for some reason it was not for me. LOL Once again I am put on the spot. I talk about forgiveness and I tied it into holding onto the bad emotions makes it hard to remember the good.
After the contribution there is more singing, where two ladies come up and lead song, while two of the gentlemen play the drums. We then have offering. They are trying to save up for a generator which is 300 American dollars. They want this generator because they have no lights when it gets dark. It gets dark here around six in the evening.
Then we went around and greeted everyone. People came up to me and welcomed me, one lady said that I was now apart of them. This is my family.
Then there was a time for something that we call testimony. I hardly understood any of it. An individual gets up and starts singing a song of praise and then follows it by a personal testimony. When they are all done with that, Lydia, who they call mom, walks to the front of the church and tells them that I have a message from America. Well…So I walked up there and said my name, where I was from, and my message from America. Honestly, I just spoke from the heart. I thanked them for how kind they had been to me. They opened their arms like I was one of them. OH!!!! Then Lydia tells them that I will be heading up the youth ministries that start on Wednesday. Some of them say that they will attend. Oh boy! I have had to change the way that I speak English, the way we speak in America is very clear cut. My words run together when I speak their English.
Church lasted from 8:30-12. I know I know, some of you readers are grueling at the thought, but it was so diverse and different that everyone was kept interested. I think it is because in America we have the same Pastor standing up there talking and you just have to sit and listen. Thank God my pastors at Northern Hills are charismatic.
After service we got a taxi and went back to the hotel. I have found that my lunch and dinner are the same, chicken and chips. A few hours later Pastor James came. He brought me cookies and soda. The soda cans are different here and it seems like everything that is manufactured comes from the US or Sweden, basically anywhere but from here. He and I talked for hours. We talked about what I thought, American customs, differences in culture, food, marriage, prison, and black man’s time versus white man’s time. It was very good.
I have fallen in love with Ghana. We are in the outskirts, the slums but I absolutely love it.
He said that this is my country now. So I can feel free to take pictures and talk to anyone and learn the language because this is my home away from home. I am a sister among the people here…every person I have encountered treats me like I live there. It is a nice feeling.
I honestly thought that me being in Africa would make me appreciate things, in some ways yes, but in others not at all. Ghana is about acceptance and openness. This is something that I cannot say for any other place in the United States that I have been too.
Live, Love and Be Happy…the end!
P.S. Did you know that even thought a plantain is referred to as a big banana it is nothing like a banana at all! You have to cook the plantain before you can eat it. The reason they are giving white people food is because there food is spicy and will hurt my stomach as they say.
My First Day
May 30, 2009
I got up this morning to the sound of one of the biggest rainstorms I have ever heard. As I gain consciousness I notice that water is also dripping from the ceiling to the end of the bed. Foolishly I grab for my water bottle so I can catch the rain…I cannot use my water bottle now, because of the contamination until I get back to the States, but I caught the water so that there was not a big mess. For breakfast they made me what I think is an egg (it was white instead of the yellow color I am used to) with onions and two pieces of bread. The bread was amazing, it was just plain, but I knew that it was not bought at a store, someone had to make it. It was served with pineapple juice. Pastor James came to get me around ten. His wife Lydia and a friend, Immanuel, were also in the car. We were going to Pastor James’ church.
I knew we were going there but when we got there it did not register that we were there. It was the base of a torn down building and then right next to it was a tin shed being held up by about twenty wooden poles. Lydia and I sat and visited while the men got to work. Lydia and I talked about the youth here and the lifestyle of a third world country. I was left speechless to say the least. All the little shops I have seen are usually run by teenagers and they work those shops to make a living. This means that there are days when they only eat once if at all. She also said that many of them sleep on the side of the road. How are you supposed to tell someone that God loves them when they are living in such poverty? This will be my biggest struggle I will have to face…but I learned from someone once that if you force your faith on them they will turn away from you and possibly never believe at all. It is going to be very important that I am open and honest and share. Part of me wants to share nothing of where I come from. Lydia was telling me that when she was in America it was hard for her to distinguish the poor from the rich just by seeing them on the street, because all of them have the basic needs; food, water, shelter. In Accra, which is roughly five million people, there is a noticeable distinction between the poor and not poor. One can notice this distinction because the basic needs are not met when you are poor.
There were a few other men that came up to the church to help. They nailed 2x4 boards in between the poles and then dug out of the rubbish some sort of covering. This did not cover the walls completely but it did the job. There is no door, and it is a dirt floor. There was a place where there was cement and there was a broom next to it so I picked it up and started sweeping. They let me sweep for a whole four minutes. They would not let me help at all and it made me wonder if women were not suppose to do labor like that because Lydia just sat there as well. They would not even let me put up my chair. They said it looked good, but this broom is not like any broom I have seen in America. The bristles are made out of twigs. The weird thing is that I absolutely love it! I love the run down buildings and the dirt floors. I love the random herds of goats and chickens. Lydia made a good point; God is everywhere, which means that church does not have to be in a building.
I am ready to let my heart pour into Ghana. I am ready to learn the language and refine through Mathias when I get to America and I am ready to come back. Tomorrow I will walk the streets and look in the shops. I am excited. Monday I am getting my hair done. Words cannot explain what is going to be done to my head but it will be shapes and colors. They are going to teach me to take care of it so that I may have it when I return to the United States and weeks after. Lord I am so so so so so so excited. I want Ghana to imprint me; I also want to use this experience to give me the opportunity to go speak in churches to fundraise to come back. The thing with me is that it is hard for me to just do something once. Like Hawaii, it has been in my life and I want to continue to have it in my life. These are people and relationships that I am establishing and why stop at just once. Do what you love and I love experiencing and living outside of my comfort zone.
The looks went a little better today. I actually had people wave to me. In the area of Accra that I am in there really are NO white people, but I am completely okay with that. It does not bother me. When children see me and have to take a double take it makes me wonder if I am the only white person they have seen up close.
We went to the mall to eat lunch. Lydia and I both got a beef burger. She got fries and I got a chicken salad. The salad was okay but the burger was the SPICIEST things I have ever tasted! Legitimately my mouth was on fire, my lips felt like they were swelling, and my nose was running. O heaven! Lydia thought that it was very spicy too. So I did not eat all of that. I knew that I would be hungry later so I tried to push through but I just could not. We had an afternoon snack before that. He brought me a Sprite and some Lemon cookie things. One of the weirdest things here, which should be expected, is that there are not calories counts anywhere. Lydia and I started talking and the first question she asked me was if I was married. I said no, I was not. We talked from 10:30 to about 5:00. I really like her. I feel like she is my age, she looks my age but she is 37 with three kids. She jokingly told me that maybe I might find a husband in Ghana. I laughed and said then I guess that would mean I would have to stay.
When Pastor James found out that I had a leak in my room, he instantly called the hotel and said I would be switching rooms. I told him it was fine. Lydia said that since I am a guest I should have the very best. When Lydia came in the room I asked here what I should wear for church and she said whatever makes me feel confident and happy. That is some of the best advice I have ever been given. Image is not something of huge concern for the people I have encountered. Probably because there are other things, more important things to worry about and it makes me feel like I have been worrying about some very very stupid unnecessary necessities. For example, we were at lunch talking and the topic of working out was brought up…I realized that it is not everything, though it is important for my American lifestyle, it is not everything.
I feel like they are serving me American food so that I will like it enough to come back. For dinner the hotel made me grilled chicken with fries (they call them chips). The French fries were very salty, but it was like baked-in salt. The ketchup is weird too. Like it taste a more solidified and colder version of tomato soup. Even the chicken tastes different, but it is a good different. I mean everything here does not come processed and from a store. I see all of these chickens crossing the road and wonder if they are now one chicken less because they eat them. Just a thought I am indifferent either way. Even though I rarely eat French fries, sprite, and cookies, I did. Something about wasting food in Africa just seems morally wrong to me. So I am going to eat everything that is in front of me, good or bad, because I get to see the starving children in Africa.
It is 8:15 and I am already sleepy! I have to be ready to go by eight tomorrow for church. He said after church I will have the day to myself. So I will wander the streets of Africa. They said to go as I please as long as I can make my way back. Also Lydia told me to walk around Ghana like I have always been there. So basically walk with confidence and act like I know where I am going when indeed I do not. This sounds very familiar to something that I do in the states.
Is it bad that when I see white people I am a little upset by there ignorance? When we were at the shopping mall there were tourists and for some reason it bothered me. Maybe because people are vacationing in a place of poverty…whatever it was, I am completely content with not interacting with a white individual until I get on the plane to leave. Everything is so simple here. I think I like it so much because there is no pressure to be anything else but me. There is no pressure to own many cars, a big house and have a successful husband. I really do like it here…a lot.
I got up this morning to the sound of one of the biggest rainstorms I have ever heard. As I gain consciousness I notice that water is also dripping from the ceiling to the end of the bed. Foolishly I grab for my water bottle so I can catch the rain…I cannot use my water bottle now, because of the contamination until I get back to the States, but I caught the water so that there was not a big mess. For breakfast they made me what I think is an egg (it was white instead of the yellow color I am used to) with onions and two pieces of bread. The bread was amazing, it was just plain, but I knew that it was not bought at a store, someone had to make it. It was served with pineapple juice. Pastor James came to get me around ten. His wife Lydia and a friend, Immanuel, were also in the car. We were going to Pastor James’ church.
I knew we were going there but when we got there it did not register that we were there. It was the base of a torn down building and then right next to it was a tin shed being held up by about twenty wooden poles. Lydia and I sat and visited while the men got to work. Lydia and I talked about the youth here and the lifestyle of a third world country. I was left speechless to say the least. All the little shops I have seen are usually run by teenagers and they work those shops to make a living. This means that there are days when they only eat once if at all. She also said that many of them sleep on the side of the road. How are you supposed to tell someone that God loves them when they are living in such poverty? This will be my biggest struggle I will have to face…but I learned from someone once that if you force your faith on them they will turn away from you and possibly never believe at all. It is going to be very important that I am open and honest and share. Part of me wants to share nothing of where I come from. Lydia was telling me that when she was in America it was hard for her to distinguish the poor from the rich just by seeing them on the street, because all of them have the basic needs; food, water, shelter. In Accra, which is roughly five million people, there is a noticeable distinction between the poor and not poor. One can notice this distinction because the basic needs are not met when you are poor.
There were a few other men that came up to the church to help. They nailed 2x4 boards in between the poles and then dug out of the rubbish some sort of covering. This did not cover the walls completely but it did the job. There is no door, and it is a dirt floor. There was a place where there was cement and there was a broom next to it so I picked it up and started sweeping. They let me sweep for a whole four minutes. They would not let me help at all and it made me wonder if women were not suppose to do labor like that because Lydia just sat there as well. They would not even let me put up my chair. They said it looked good, but this broom is not like any broom I have seen in America. The bristles are made out of twigs. The weird thing is that I absolutely love it! I love the run down buildings and the dirt floors. I love the random herds of goats and chickens. Lydia made a good point; God is everywhere, which means that church does not have to be in a building.
I am ready to let my heart pour into Ghana. I am ready to learn the language and refine through Mathias when I get to America and I am ready to come back. Tomorrow I will walk the streets and look in the shops. I am excited. Monday I am getting my hair done. Words cannot explain what is going to be done to my head but it will be shapes and colors. They are going to teach me to take care of it so that I may have it when I return to the United States and weeks after. Lord I am so so so so so so excited. I want Ghana to imprint me; I also want to use this experience to give me the opportunity to go speak in churches to fundraise to come back. The thing with me is that it is hard for me to just do something once. Like Hawaii, it has been in my life and I want to continue to have it in my life. These are people and relationships that I am establishing and why stop at just once. Do what you love and I love experiencing and living outside of my comfort zone.
The looks went a little better today. I actually had people wave to me. In the area of Accra that I am in there really are NO white people, but I am completely okay with that. It does not bother me. When children see me and have to take a double take it makes me wonder if I am the only white person they have seen up close.
We went to the mall to eat lunch. Lydia and I both got a beef burger. She got fries and I got a chicken salad. The salad was okay but the burger was the SPICIEST things I have ever tasted! Legitimately my mouth was on fire, my lips felt like they were swelling, and my nose was running. O heaven! Lydia thought that it was very spicy too. So I did not eat all of that. I knew that I would be hungry later so I tried to push through but I just could not. We had an afternoon snack before that. He brought me a Sprite and some Lemon cookie things. One of the weirdest things here, which should be expected, is that there are not calories counts anywhere. Lydia and I started talking and the first question she asked me was if I was married. I said no, I was not. We talked from 10:30 to about 5:00. I really like her. I feel like she is my age, she looks my age but she is 37 with three kids. She jokingly told me that maybe I might find a husband in Ghana. I laughed and said then I guess that would mean I would have to stay.
When Pastor James found out that I had a leak in my room, he instantly called the hotel and said I would be switching rooms. I told him it was fine. Lydia said that since I am a guest I should have the very best. When Lydia came in the room I asked here what I should wear for church and she said whatever makes me feel confident and happy. That is some of the best advice I have ever been given. Image is not something of huge concern for the people I have encountered. Probably because there are other things, more important things to worry about and it makes me feel like I have been worrying about some very very stupid unnecessary necessities. For example, we were at lunch talking and the topic of working out was brought up…I realized that it is not everything, though it is important for my American lifestyle, it is not everything.
I feel like they are serving me American food so that I will like it enough to come back. For dinner the hotel made me grilled chicken with fries (they call them chips). The French fries were very salty, but it was like baked-in salt. The ketchup is weird too. Like it taste a more solidified and colder version of tomato soup. Even the chicken tastes different, but it is a good different. I mean everything here does not come processed and from a store. I see all of these chickens crossing the road and wonder if they are now one chicken less because they eat them. Just a thought I am indifferent either way. Even though I rarely eat French fries, sprite, and cookies, I did. Something about wasting food in Africa just seems morally wrong to me. So I am going to eat everything that is in front of me, good or bad, because I get to see the starving children in Africa.
It is 8:15 and I am already sleepy! I have to be ready to go by eight tomorrow for church. He said after church I will have the day to myself. So I will wander the streets of Africa. They said to go as I please as long as I can make my way back. Also Lydia told me to walk around Ghana like I have always been there. So basically walk with confidence and act like I know where I am going when indeed I do not. This sounds very familiar to something that I do in the states.
Is it bad that when I see white people I am a little upset by there ignorance? When we were at the shopping mall there were tourists and for some reason it bothered me. Maybe because people are vacationing in a place of poverty…whatever it was, I am completely content with not interacting with a white individual until I get on the plane to leave. Everything is so simple here. I think I like it so much because there is no pressure to be anything else but me. There is no pressure to own many cars, a big house and have a successful husband. I really do like it here…a lot.
Anna Meets Africa
May 29, 2009
I arrive in Amsterdam to find that from the aerial view of the place, I think I like it. The airport was confusing and I had to walk a long way to get to where I was going. I leave with Dave, the Gideon, and we find it together. I would not have found it on my own. When we arrive at the gate I see more of these white men. I also see someone else. I am introduced and his name is Chris. He is a Marine. He was told two days ago that he was to ship out to Accra to protect the US Embassy. As it turns out he went to Green Mountain High School ’04 and he is from Lakewood, CO. So we were able to laugh about the mountains and the American water that I had in my 32 oz water bottle. I said I was going to hold on to it as long as I could. I went into the gift shop to find shot glasses. I do not drink but I do collect shot glasses. Never have I seen prostitution and marijuana publically displayed on items. They had the red light district as well as marijuana leaves to make there shot glasses accustomed to Amsterdam. I was fairly amused. There were other things as well besides that. I also bought some post cards.
We have to do another security check before we can get on the flight. Well just my luck, I cannot take my full water bottle on the plane. So instead of throwing it away, I decided to drink the enter thing. The guard looked at me in some sort of amazement. When I got done I looked at him and said, “My mom bought this for me.” He laughed and said, “Good thing it was not whiskey.” I smiled and went on my way. I had an aisle seat this time. I was sad that it was not the window but I was thankful that it was not the middle. Once I sat down and got situated I started to become sleepy. I do not mean like yawning sleepy but I cannot even keep my eyes open. I was asleep before we took off and before they were able to give the “In case of emergency” speech.
As we are flying over the Mediterranean they serve us food. It was different than anything I have had. We had rice and beef, with some sort of fruit separating the two. We you combine them all they taste very good. Then for dessert there was this AMAZING dish. Sarah would be in awe. Growing up I would never try anything. It was only months ago that I had my first strawberry! Anyways…this dessert had graham cracker crumbles on the bottom, coconut whipped cream fluff stuff and then covered lightly in a guava jelly syrup substance. I was surprised that I was able to identify the fruit. When I would be in Concordia, KS with my family, my Nana would always have Guava nectar. I would drink it so much! It tastes just like that. When I get back to the states I think it is something that I am going to invest in. I hope this dessert is something that Mathias knows about so we can talk about it. Hannah and Ansley would be surprised because I always save the middle for last…not this time. I saved the edges!
I am noticing that since I got on the plane that I was starting to break out into a rash on my forearms. I used to get this in my earlier months of Accutane when I switched climates. This is probably also because my arms are confined and do not have air to breath.
I am reading my grandmother’s collection of Bible verses and stories and as I read I feel like, by some of the words and expressions that she uses, they are coming out of my mouth.
I have found that living is hard. There are so many decisions and challenges. I think I understand why people ‘check out’ early. Sure I am off living an adventure but where am I going on life. I know what I want to do and I think I know how to get there but everything seems like such a toss up. I have gone from being a planned organized freak of nature to being a leaf blowing in the wind.
5:22…we have officially hit the African continent.
I have seen more Obama shirts on this flight than I have anywhere else. Mathias told me that he is visiting Ghana in July. I believe he has become a global inspiration. I think it is good that he is our president because it is giving not only the United States but also the world a chance to be apart of a historical event. It has taken far too long for blacks to gain independence. Yes we say that all men are created equal, but we do not mean that. Racism surrounds us everywhere we go in the United States. Whether we stereotype every Mexican to be an illegal who wants to rape the economy, every black to be someone who steals, does drugs, and is a ‘thug’, and every white to be arrogant and selfish. We surround ourselves with people that are like us, we conform.
We are 100 miles from Accra. The moment of truth is arriving very soon. I woke up on May 28th at 6:45 to my mother’s voice in my own bed. It is not 12:40pm on the 29th of May and I have maybe slept five hours. It has been 24 hours that I have been awake and in this time I have left two continents and about to land in my third. Not bad for a day.
Now they are saying that we have fifteen minutes left until we land. The worries and fears have left my heart. This is probably because I had some way to express them. People, especially in relationships, would get upset at the fact that I can just forget. Once I express fully a fear or an emotion it is no longer there. It simply leaves my mind just like the words flow onto the paper I was writing on. I enjoy that I am only upset for a matter of minutes, there is so much time that is wasted holding onto the past. I know that I have been guilty of this at times. I mean honestly something that happened last week, last month, or years ago, does it really matter? For some people they carry this transgression with them for years if not until death. That takes a toll on someone, to remember all the hurt and bad people have done to them. Forgiveness. “Forgiveness is not something that you do for another person, forgiveness is a gift you give yourself. There are things you want to do, you want to move on.” Quote for thought.
Honestly there is no room to be frightened…yes there is bad in the world. Take notice to the word world. This means that it happens everywhere. I just so happen to be out of reach when it comes to my world. In all honesty if something bad were to happen, no one could save me. God forbid this happens but no one from America could come to my rescue. I have my God, he is the only one that can save me from harm.
READY OR NOT HERE I COME…ANNA MEETS AFRICA
We landed! They said that we were forbidden to take pictures. We also landed outside and had to walk off the plane and into the building. As we are walking to customs there is a sign that we would not see in America;
Ghana accepts all good willed people
Ghana does not accept pedophile or other sexual deviants
Ghana imposes the right to severe punishment to all people not of good will
If you are not of good will we feel it is best for us and you that you go elsewhere.
I like this country already, straight and to the point. See I am in favor of the prisons they have in the Middle East and third world countries. The crime rate is low because jail is a very bad and dreadful place. We are so spineless in America; we have to care about everyone’s feelings.
I met up with one of the Gideons while I was in line waiting to get cleared. He and I started talking and he gave me his card. He is from the UK. He starting talking to me about something called M.O. Basically you travel the world on a ship selling books to all sorts of countries and you do this for a job. This sounds interesting, he said to email him and he will give me the details.
So I was praying that my bag did not get lost. I had lost all hope, shame on me. After ten minutes of waiting my bag arrived. I felt bad because I prayed that all would go well and I doubted it when I should not have. I could not find Pastor James anywhere. I walked outside of the airport because there were more people out there with signs. He did not have a sign…he just came up to me and said my name. However, he says it like this,”Aud-ree-Na.” We hugged like we had already knew each other. He drives an older BMW with no radio or air conditioning the leather is torn, but it works and that is all that matters.
As soon as we started driving I got my camera out. I did not take one picture. I was in awe. Sure I am in the capital but I am in the outskirts. Where there are few paved roads, no traffic signs anywhere, where there are abandon building, where people are everywhere. I have never seen so many people. I do not know if I was scared to take pictures or if I thought it was out of place. I mean these are people’s every day lives. There would be a gorgeous luxurious building next to ruins.
Pastor James is from the same tribe as Mathias so we have been working on how to say things. Also there is a special handshake that they do, it is pretty cool. I cannot wait to show Mathias when I get to Kansas.
I am staying in a hotel. It is very simple; bed, closet, bathroom. Here is the weird thing. The sink and the shower are in the same room. I mean it is a 6’x4’ room with a door. There is no plumbing for the sink. Only a pipe that goes onto the ground and eventually goes down the drain. There is also a mirror in the shower.
Pastor James said that I will be doing some Evangelical speaking in his church. I am a little nervous as to what it means. I still cannot believe I am here! I am in AFRICA!
GET EXCITED AMERICA!
I arrive in Amsterdam to find that from the aerial view of the place, I think I like it. The airport was confusing and I had to walk a long way to get to where I was going. I leave with Dave, the Gideon, and we find it together. I would not have found it on my own. When we arrive at the gate I see more of these white men. I also see someone else. I am introduced and his name is Chris. He is a Marine. He was told two days ago that he was to ship out to Accra to protect the US Embassy. As it turns out he went to Green Mountain High School ’04 and he is from Lakewood, CO. So we were able to laugh about the mountains and the American water that I had in my 32 oz water bottle. I said I was going to hold on to it as long as I could. I went into the gift shop to find shot glasses. I do not drink but I do collect shot glasses. Never have I seen prostitution and marijuana publically displayed on items. They had the red light district as well as marijuana leaves to make there shot glasses accustomed to Amsterdam. I was fairly amused. There were other things as well besides that. I also bought some post cards.
We have to do another security check before we can get on the flight. Well just my luck, I cannot take my full water bottle on the plane. So instead of throwing it away, I decided to drink the enter thing. The guard looked at me in some sort of amazement. When I got done I looked at him and said, “My mom bought this for me.” He laughed and said, “Good thing it was not whiskey.” I smiled and went on my way. I had an aisle seat this time. I was sad that it was not the window but I was thankful that it was not the middle. Once I sat down and got situated I started to become sleepy. I do not mean like yawning sleepy but I cannot even keep my eyes open. I was asleep before we took off and before they were able to give the “In case of emergency” speech.
As we are flying over the Mediterranean they serve us food. It was different than anything I have had. We had rice and beef, with some sort of fruit separating the two. We you combine them all they taste very good. Then for dessert there was this AMAZING dish. Sarah would be in awe. Growing up I would never try anything. It was only months ago that I had my first strawberry! Anyways…this dessert had graham cracker crumbles on the bottom, coconut whipped cream fluff stuff and then covered lightly in a guava jelly syrup substance. I was surprised that I was able to identify the fruit. When I would be in Concordia, KS with my family, my Nana would always have Guava nectar. I would drink it so much! It tastes just like that. When I get back to the states I think it is something that I am going to invest in. I hope this dessert is something that Mathias knows about so we can talk about it. Hannah and Ansley would be surprised because I always save the middle for last…not this time. I saved the edges!
I am noticing that since I got on the plane that I was starting to break out into a rash on my forearms. I used to get this in my earlier months of Accutane when I switched climates. This is probably also because my arms are confined and do not have air to breath.
I am reading my grandmother’s collection of Bible verses and stories and as I read I feel like, by some of the words and expressions that she uses, they are coming out of my mouth.
I have found that living is hard. There are so many decisions and challenges. I think I understand why people ‘check out’ early. Sure I am off living an adventure but where am I going on life. I know what I want to do and I think I know how to get there but everything seems like such a toss up. I have gone from being a planned organized freak of nature to being a leaf blowing in the wind.
5:22…we have officially hit the African continent.
I have seen more Obama shirts on this flight than I have anywhere else. Mathias told me that he is visiting Ghana in July. I believe he has become a global inspiration. I think it is good that he is our president because it is giving not only the United States but also the world a chance to be apart of a historical event. It has taken far too long for blacks to gain independence. Yes we say that all men are created equal, but we do not mean that. Racism surrounds us everywhere we go in the United States. Whether we stereotype every Mexican to be an illegal who wants to rape the economy, every black to be someone who steals, does drugs, and is a ‘thug’, and every white to be arrogant and selfish. We surround ourselves with people that are like us, we conform.
We are 100 miles from Accra. The moment of truth is arriving very soon. I woke up on May 28th at 6:45 to my mother’s voice in my own bed. It is not 12:40pm on the 29th of May and I have maybe slept five hours. It has been 24 hours that I have been awake and in this time I have left two continents and about to land in my third. Not bad for a day.
Now they are saying that we have fifteen minutes left until we land. The worries and fears have left my heart. This is probably because I had some way to express them. People, especially in relationships, would get upset at the fact that I can just forget. Once I express fully a fear or an emotion it is no longer there. It simply leaves my mind just like the words flow onto the paper I was writing on. I enjoy that I am only upset for a matter of minutes, there is so much time that is wasted holding onto the past. I know that I have been guilty of this at times. I mean honestly something that happened last week, last month, or years ago, does it really matter? For some people they carry this transgression with them for years if not until death. That takes a toll on someone, to remember all the hurt and bad people have done to them. Forgiveness. “Forgiveness is not something that you do for another person, forgiveness is a gift you give yourself. There are things you want to do, you want to move on.” Quote for thought.
Honestly there is no room to be frightened…yes there is bad in the world. Take notice to the word world. This means that it happens everywhere. I just so happen to be out of reach when it comes to my world. In all honesty if something bad were to happen, no one could save me. God forbid this happens but no one from America could come to my rescue. I have my God, he is the only one that can save me from harm.
READY OR NOT HERE I COME…ANNA MEETS AFRICA
We landed! They said that we were forbidden to take pictures. We also landed outside and had to walk off the plane and into the building. As we are walking to customs there is a sign that we would not see in America;
Ghana accepts all good willed people
Ghana does not accept pedophile or other sexual deviants
Ghana imposes the right to severe punishment to all people not of good will
If you are not of good will we feel it is best for us and you that you go elsewhere.
I like this country already, straight and to the point. See I am in favor of the prisons they have in the Middle East and third world countries. The crime rate is low because jail is a very bad and dreadful place. We are so spineless in America; we have to care about everyone’s feelings.
I met up with one of the Gideons while I was in line waiting to get cleared. He and I started talking and he gave me his card. He is from the UK. He starting talking to me about something called M.O. Basically you travel the world on a ship selling books to all sorts of countries and you do this for a job. This sounds interesting, he said to email him and he will give me the details.
So I was praying that my bag did not get lost. I had lost all hope, shame on me. After ten minutes of waiting my bag arrived. I felt bad because I prayed that all would go well and I doubted it when I should not have. I could not find Pastor James anywhere. I walked outside of the airport because there were more people out there with signs. He did not have a sign…he just came up to me and said my name. However, he says it like this,”Aud-ree-Na.” We hugged like we had already knew each other. He drives an older BMW with no radio or air conditioning the leather is torn, but it works and that is all that matters.
As soon as we started driving I got my camera out. I did not take one picture. I was in awe. Sure I am in the capital but I am in the outskirts. Where there are few paved roads, no traffic signs anywhere, where there are abandon building, where people are everywhere. I have never seen so many people. I do not know if I was scared to take pictures or if I thought it was out of place. I mean these are people’s every day lives. There would be a gorgeous luxurious building next to ruins.
Pastor James is from the same tribe as Mathias so we have been working on how to say things. Also there is a special handshake that they do, it is pretty cool. I cannot wait to show Mathias when I get to Kansas.
I am staying in a hotel. It is very simple; bed, closet, bathroom. Here is the weird thing. The sink and the shower are in the same room. I mean it is a 6’x4’ room with a door. There is no plumbing for the sink. Only a pipe that goes onto the ground and eventually goes down the drain. There is also a mirror in the shower.
Pastor James said that I will be doing some Evangelical speaking in his church. I am a little nervous as to what it means. I still cannot believe I am here! I am in AFRICA!
GET EXCITED AMERICA!
May 28th
May 28, 2009
The flight to Minneapolis was a breeze. Less than two hours and everything else seemed to fly right by. I got a window seat but I was asleep within minutes after we had gotten into the air. I woke up to take pictures but that is about it, then I would fall back asleep. I am thankful that I have a window seat for this flight. It is the longest flight I have out of the three flights, eight hours. Here we go!
The person sitting next to me on the plane is a Gideon, which means he voluntarily travels the world handing out Bibles. We talked for a little but he seems so pessimistic, like my bags will never arrive in Ghana on the first try and just the way he carries himself makes me feel as if he is someone of higher authority to these people instead of just someone who is more well off. Then again who am I to judge? When I would see Hispanics rambling in K-mart I would get upset because in American we should all speak English. So I have my fair share of bad judgment.
I see that there is a selection of movies that I am able to choose from. The first movie I watched was MILK. It is about Harvey Milk who was the first openly gay man to hold a public office. It is a very inspiring movie and I recommend it to everyone. The second movie I watched was Benjamin Button, I did not get all the way through it so I have twenty minutes or so to finish it but I recommend this one as well. Not as much as MILK but Benjamin Button gives you a chance to use your imagination.
4:26 am in Amsterdam…it just hit me.
4:32…what in heaven’s name am I doing on this plane? What did I get myself into? I have come to the conclusion that I stayed confident and strong for the people around me. I mean you cannot really be scared about going to Africa alone to meet a stranger can you? I think it is just my stubbornness. Now what do I do when there is no one around me and the only person I can be strong for is me?
5:14…Canada. You see I am always near Canada but never in Canada. First I was in Canadian water and now I am flying above it…someday I will actually step foot onto it.
I wonder if I will make a difference? What am I doing here? Now I understand why my parents were crying, especially when I talked to my mom right before I was about to board the plane to Amsterdam. That was the last time that I was going to have contact with them until I arrived back into the United States. I mean they can read and comment on the blog but sometimes, you just need to hear the voice, hear the emotion. This makes me a little scared. I officially have lost contact with everyone I know. I now see why my parents did not support the trip. They say that are proud of me but up until I left I have a feeling they were wishing I was not so stubborn when it comes to getting what I want. It is all in God’s hands now…but if something bad does happen there is no redo or start over, it is just over.
“If you want to live big, you have to dream big, you have to want it” Quote for thought.
5:37…I wish I had someone here to share this feeling with. Someone to tell me it is going to be okay. Basically I need I hug. When I left, some of the last words I heard were, “Come back.” I said I promise. I needed a hug because I assured everyone that I was coming back safely, but who was there to assure me of that.
6:25…we have hit the OCEAN!!
6:42…I am a stupid naïve but optimistic young woman.
7:11…we are at the tip of Denmark and all I can see is a sea of clouds.
7:19…I need to go to sleep. This is the longest that I have ever stayed up, when it comes to movies anyway. Literally I am awake for maybe the first ten minutes of a movie and then I fall asleep. So those of you that I have fallen asleep while watching a movie with you…be impressed! I blame the sun for this, or my anxiousness to land. Sun keep on shining! We have five hours left on the plane.
7:32…you cannot wait for change, when you wait and just want something it will never come. That is why you have to go after things that you want ALWAYS. This will work out, I am headed on the biggest adventure of my life! I mean HOT DAMN! I am 19 years old and headed to Africa alone. I am living an adventure, I am living my dream, just the way that I want it!
Go for it, run for it, dive in head first, live life with no regrets, put your heart out there, don’t be scared that you might get hurt, it will all work out in the end because the best is yet to come…Hinder.
I am definitely going to feel jet lag!
Slept for a couple of hours
10:11…flying over the United Kingdom
10:18…back to the ocean
10:26…flying by London
The flight to Minneapolis was a breeze. Less than two hours and everything else seemed to fly right by. I got a window seat but I was asleep within minutes after we had gotten into the air. I woke up to take pictures but that is about it, then I would fall back asleep. I am thankful that I have a window seat for this flight. It is the longest flight I have out of the three flights, eight hours. Here we go!
The person sitting next to me on the plane is a Gideon, which means he voluntarily travels the world handing out Bibles. We talked for a little but he seems so pessimistic, like my bags will never arrive in Ghana on the first try and just the way he carries himself makes me feel as if he is someone of higher authority to these people instead of just someone who is more well off. Then again who am I to judge? When I would see Hispanics rambling in K-mart I would get upset because in American we should all speak English. So I have my fair share of bad judgment.
I see that there is a selection of movies that I am able to choose from. The first movie I watched was MILK. It is about Harvey Milk who was the first openly gay man to hold a public office. It is a very inspiring movie and I recommend it to everyone. The second movie I watched was Benjamin Button, I did not get all the way through it so I have twenty minutes or so to finish it but I recommend this one as well. Not as much as MILK but Benjamin Button gives you a chance to use your imagination.
4:26 am in Amsterdam…it just hit me.
4:32…what in heaven’s name am I doing on this plane? What did I get myself into? I have come to the conclusion that I stayed confident and strong for the people around me. I mean you cannot really be scared about going to Africa alone to meet a stranger can you? I think it is just my stubbornness. Now what do I do when there is no one around me and the only person I can be strong for is me?
5:14…Canada. You see I am always near Canada but never in Canada. First I was in Canadian water and now I am flying above it…someday I will actually step foot onto it.
I wonder if I will make a difference? What am I doing here? Now I understand why my parents were crying, especially when I talked to my mom right before I was about to board the plane to Amsterdam. That was the last time that I was going to have contact with them until I arrived back into the United States. I mean they can read and comment on the blog but sometimes, you just need to hear the voice, hear the emotion. This makes me a little scared. I officially have lost contact with everyone I know. I now see why my parents did not support the trip. They say that are proud of me but up until I left I have a feeling they were wishing I was not so stubborn when it comes to getting what I want. It is all in God’s hands now…but if something bad does happen there is no redo or start over, it is just over.
“If you want to live big, you have to dream big, you have to want it” Quote for thought.
5:37…I wish I had someone here to share this feeling with. Someone to tell me it is going to be okay. Basically I need I hug. When I left, some of the last words I heard were, “Come back.” I said I promise. I needed a hug because I assured everyone that I was coming back safely, but who was there to assure me of that.
6:25…we have hit the OCEAN!!
6:42…I am a stupid naïve but optimistic young woman.
7:11…we are at the tip of Denmark and all I can see is a sea of clouds.
7:19…I need to go to sleep. This is the longest that I have ever stayed up, when it comes to movies anyway. Literally I am awake for maybe the first ten minutes of a movie and then I fall asleep. So those of you that I have fallen asleep while watching a movie with you…be impressed! I blame the sun for this, or my anxiousness to land. Sun keep on shining! We have five hours left on the plane.
7:32…you cannot wait for change, when you wait and just want something it will never come. That is why you have to go after things that you want ALWAYS. This will work out, I am headed on the biggest adventure of my life! I mean HOT DAMN! I am 19 years old and headed to Africa alone. I am living an adventure, I am living my dream, just the way that I want it!
Go for it, run for it, dive in head first, live life with no regrets, put your heart out there, don’t be scared that you might get hurt, it will all work out in the end because the best is yet to come…Hinder.
I am definitely going to feel jet lag!
Slept for a couple of hours
10:11…flying over the United Kingdom
10:18…back to the ocean
10:26…flying by London
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Africa, Africa here I come!
Africa Africa here I come
Ready or not. I sit here at the airport absolutely astounded that this is actually going to happen. It still has not hit me that I am leaving the continent by myself with only prayers to guide me. This will be a culture and a life shock to say the least.
I do not know what I will see when I get there. Will I be taken back with joy or despair! I think I am starting to get nervous…Seeing the look on my parents face made it real to me. When my mom started to cry and then as my dad took me to the airport. We jammed out to songs and then the last one was There is no place that far by Sara Evans. Even though it is a love song it made me think of my dad. I started to cry at the airport because he could have cried too.
Ready or not here I am.
Thank you all for the support you have given me in the last couple of months. This trip would not be possible without your love and support. Please keep me in your prayers! All good things come from God and with Him in my heart, I am never alone.
Oh!! I got a window seat to Amsterdam! How exciting! Even though it might be dark…the sun has to come up sometime.
Now I am starting to get nervous…but there is a plan at hand. People have said that I am going to come back changed. I believe that I will. I believe that my eyes are going to open to see things that I did not see before.
As I have always said, “You cannot change the world by looking through one pair of eyes” Quote for thought!
God Bless
Anna
PS this has not been edited for lack of time and computer battery
Ready or not. I sit here at the airport absolutely astounded that this is actually going to happen. It still has not hit me that I am leaving the continent by myself with only prayers to guide me. This will be a culture and a life shock to say the least.
I do not know what I will see when I get there. Will I be taken back with joy or despair! I think I am starting to get nervous…Seeing the look on my parents face made it real to me. When my mom started to cry and then as my dad took me to the airport. We jammed out to songs and then the last one was There is no place that far by Sara Evans. Even though it is a love song it made me think of my dad. I started to cry at the airport because he could have cried too.
Ready or not here I am.
Thank you all for the support you have given me in the last couple of months. This trip would not be possible without your love and support. Please keep me in your prayers! All good things come from God and with Him in my heart, I am never alone.
Oh!! I got a window seat to Amsterdam! How exciting! Even though it might be dark…the sun has to come up sometime.
Now I am starting to get nervous…but there is a plan at hand. People have said that I am going to come back changed. I believe that I will. I believe that my eyes are going to open to see things that I did not see before.
As I have always said, “You cannot change the world by looking through one pair of eyes” Quote for thought!
God Bless
Anna
PS this has not been edited for lack of time and computer battery
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