Today...
This was written several weeks ago. I think I feel a little like this many days, like there are little things that stick out from my day and beg to be written down. I just don't take the time to do it very often!
Today we woke up before the sun to prepare for leaving our house.
Today the middle child woke up so happy to be able to spend a day with his daddy! His grin was a mile wide all morning as he walked around with his big boy swagger and talked to Daddy man to man. Days with daddy are few and far between right now.
Today we drove the hour and a half to a city for parts.
Today we bought warm, freshly fried boughfrut at the toll booth from a lady who laughed heartily when Kenny told her he will take her whole dish full. And she was delighted when we actually did purchase five.
Today we drove by a parking lot with a rock crusher and multiple dump trucks sitting in it. The smallest boy in the back said, Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! as if the excitement was too great he didn't know what else to say.
Today I watched ladies set up beautiful vegetables on their stands in preparation for a busy market day. I saw their chatter and friendship and wished I could hop out of our vehicle and blend in with them.
To feel a part of the group, the friendship, and the fun.
Today I sat sweating in a hot vehicle while my husband looked for car parts, down a dusty path littered with trash. Between shacks that were shops and houses.
Today a lady cooking banku begged my daughter to come eat some. She said no thank you! She has never had it, but she is quite sure she doesn't want to!
Today I sat in a dead end alley where men worked on cars while my husband went on yet another walk searching for car parts. Small children discovered the white people and shouted something at us in their native language that made them double over with laughter. They were tickled and shy when we greeted them.
Today my boys played with stones in the dirt while their sister worked at school work because thy were bored but still happy to be somewhere other then their own yard.
Today I drove to a modern shopping mall, ate at a nice restaurant, (other then everything that wasn't supposed to be spicy was and my children donated all their food to Daddy, except the french fries.) and then went shopping with a grocery cart in a store that was rather cold with AC.
Today I had a group of teen age girls ask me to buy them a cup of yogurt. They were well dressed and I am quite certain it was just to see what my response was.
Today a group of young men took pictures of my sister, my children and I grocery shopping.
Today another group of guys walked past us and when I happened to glance back, I realized they were taking a selfie with us in the back ground. We started feeling stalked or something. It is a good reminder for me to be courteous when I take pictures of the people here.
Today I saw a concrete pumper truck. I didn't realize Ghana was that modern!
Today we greeted people as we bumped along the road into our village. And I sighed a sigh of relief to be back where life was slower paced, we were the only vehicle in sight, and I recognized some of the smiling faces.
Today our little neighbor girl shrieked when she saw us coming and barreled pel mel at our vehicle. We stopped for fear of running over her and she was tickled to touch the vehicle carefully and give the Obruni a high five. Then more came running and finally we said we need to go now.
Today we gathered for a belated 4th of July party. We ate pizza topped with carrots, corn, and peas besides the other normal pizza toppings.
Today I went to bed exhausted. And thought of all the contrasts I had seen in one day. Modern shopping mall not a mile from wooden shacks. Village children's greetings and then a gathering of white people where we talked and laughed and felt a bit American for the evening.
Many days I feel like I live in two different worlds. For the most part, it is because Ghana has no middle class. It is either poor or wealthy. There is also the world we left behind in America and the one we live in here. But no matter what world I am living in in the moment, I can find signs of God there if I take the time to look.
Today we woke up before the sun to prepare for leaving our house.
Today the middle child woke up so happy to be able to spend a day with his daddy! His grin was a mile wide all morning as he walked around with his big boy swagger and talked to Daddy man to man. Days with daddy are few and far between right now.
Today we drove the hour and a half to a city for parts.
Today we bought warm, freshly fried boughfrut at the toll booth from a lady who laughed heartily when Kenny told her he will take her whole dish full. And she was delighted when we actually did purchase five.
Today we drove by a parking lot with a rock crusher and multiple dump trucks sitting in it. The smallest boy in the back said, Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! as if the excitement was too great he didn't know what else to say.
Today I watched ladies set up beautiful vegetables on their stands in preparation for a busy market day. I saw their chatter and friendship and wished I could hop out of our vehicle and blend in with them.
To feel a part of the group, the friendship, and the fun.
Today I sat sweating in a hot vehicle while my husband looked for car parts, down a dusty path littered with trash. Between shacks that were shops and houses.
Today a lady cooking banku begged my daughter to come eat some. She said no thank you! She has never had it, but she is quite sure she doesn't want to!
Today I sat in a dead end alley where men worked on cars while my husband went on yet another walk searching for car parts. Small children discovered the white people and shouted something at us in their native language that made them double over with laughter. They were tickled and shy when we greeted them.
Today I had a group of teen age girls ask me to buy them a cup of yogurt. They were well dressed and I am quite certain it was just to see what my response was.
Today a group of young men took pictures of my sister, my children and I grocery shopping.
Today another group of guys walked past us and when I happened to glance back, I realized they were taking a selfie with us in the back ground. We started feeling stalked or something. It is a good reminder for me to be courteous when I take pictures of the people here.
Today I saw a concrete pumper truck. I didn't realize Ghana was that modern!
Today our little neighbor girl shrieked when she saw us coming and barreled pel mel at our vehicle. We stopped for fear of running over her and she was tickled to touch the vehicle carefully and give the Obruni a high five. Then more came running and finally we said we need to go now.
Today we gathered for a belated 4th of July party. We ate pizza topped with carrots, corn, and peas besides the other normal pizza toppings.
Today I went to bed exhausted. And thought of all the contrasts I had seen in one day. Modern shopping mall not a mile from wooden shacks. Village children's greetings and then a gathering of white people where we talked and laughed and felt a bit American for the evening.
Many days I feel like I live in two different worlds. For the most part, it is because Ghana has no middle class. It is either poor or wealthy. There is also the world we left behind in America and the one we live in here. But no matter what world I am living in in the moment, I can find signs of God there if I take the time to look.
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