Glimpses of our Life in Ghana

                                 The holidays are here! It is a time of year I don't look forward to. It's hard to miss family and friends gatherings. I even miss the hustle and bustle, the shopping, the Christmas music, the frosty nights. They celebrate Christmas here too and there is an extra hustle and bustle around this time of year. But just not like what we were used to. This is also only the second time we will totally miss the holidays in the US. In 2020 we were home from mid November to mid December. And last year we were home for Jarell's funeral. But plans are being made and I think we will have an enjoyable time here as well. It is a time of much darkness here. A lot of partying happens and then on New Year's Eve, everyone goes to church and repents of their wrong doing. You can pray for safety. Not only for us but also the people around us. And also that our light would shine brightly in this darkness. Earl and Amanda Shirk asked us to help butcher a pig. W

I wrote this poem last dry season. We are headed into that season again. The heat is getting real and the dust is starting to fly when we drive our dirt roads. We washed and we cleaned Half the day through Then around 4 PM  Our water was all through Yesterday it was electric But which one is worse I would rather have water And not just to quench thirst The toilets need flushing The dirty dishes stack high We all need a shower Maybe a sachet we'll try There is dust on the windows And dust on the floor We have cleaned most all day And still there is more It's dry season in Ghana No doubt about that The weather has us sweating Our ambitions fall flat We all shake our heads Wonder why we didn't see Missionary life Isn't what its cracked up to be!! But in the morning just maybe The water will come And with a decent nights sleep  We will rise and greet the sun Because here in Ghana Is where we are meant to be And for this season We will serve faithfully.

Some days we get extra school work done while prepping okra to bake for supper. Kelsey finished a comfort top. It was a good project for her! Cindy had puppies again. This is the first time she had spotted ones so they are extra special. For Austin's birthday Kenny got him a marble roller. They have spent many hours making new paths and even got it to do a loop. Rich Love started coming along when her mom does laundry. Kelsey is very motivated to get extra school work done so she can play with her two mornings a week. She is such a sweetie! A beautiful sunset on the way to prayer meeting in Assomdree. And a cute boy with a cute puppy!   One Saturday we went to the dam fishing. I was sitting beside the dam and without thinking about what I was doing, laid my phone down beside me. Normally that would be fine but I was sitting on the sloping concrete next to the spill way. It is a pretty steep slope and my phone took a very speedy trip to the river below. The water is not quite waist

     I feel like this post needs an apology. I am not pointing fingers. I am not saying I have it figured out. This has been and is a challenge that I face over and over. I am still learning. But it is a plea to re-evaluate the way we think about giving.                                              I looked at the little car in my hand. Several years ago it was bought from a thrift store and after much loving from my little son the rear axle was missing. My first instinct was to throw it in the trash can. But then another picture came to mind. And I just sat and looked at the little toy.   When we moved to another country to be missionaries, I didn’t wonder what I would do with broken toys and worn-out clothing. I wondered how I was going to feed my family, how I was going to witness to neighbors, and how I was going to support my husband. But never about what to do with broken toys.   But broken toys are a problem that reflects a bigger problem. There are over one hundred childr

 September flew by as every month does. Settling back in and getting into a routine took longer than I had expected but I think school would have been a bit hard to adjust to regardless of furlough. Here are some pictures from our month in no particular order. One Friday Kenny and Austin went with Duane and the students from the shop to Katonka, Ghana's only car brand. They have a lot going on. Typical "Jack of all trades, master of almost none." They have a collection of animals. And some very experimental vehicles, such as this airplane limo. Austin loved seeing everything! Just a beautiful Sunday afternoon at the beach. Kenny said he needs to soak in salt water every so often to stay healthy! We do love how beautiful the ocean is and how empty the beaches are in Ghana. One day we were delighted when a grader started working on our road. It had gotten really bad since the last time they worked on it in December of 2020. The next day we heard a beeping noise in our villa

   Each year the students at the shop complete their school term and go out to do an apprenticeship. Half a year later, if they have done well, they graduate. September 1st was graduation for the last of Kenny's students. The five students with the three teachers, Duane and Kenny.                                 Daddy Zack from Living Hope orphanage had a devotional and prayer.                                                      Duane talked about the program and introduced the teachers. And Richard translated and was the moderator for the entire service.                                   Kenny handed out the certificates. And then after the ceremony it was picture time! We had a very good turn out of over 100 people. School was on break so quite a few children were there. This day always makes me realize again that the shop is not just about touching the student's life. It has the power to have a wider ripple affect to their families and communities. With this event over, we