Gandys Cove Visit, Part 1

Last week, I had the privilege to visit a great group of people in Gandy's Cove, Alabama. (Roll Tide!) I arrived in Huntsville on Tuesday morning and was met by my friend and soul mate, Karen and her husband, Larry. Although it was raining, the temperatures were balmy...in the 40s. Ahhh! Lunch was in Huntsville with Dr. Danny and his wife, Rosario. I feel as if I have know them forever. Dr. Danny even prescribed my typhoid meds for me so I wouldn't have to track down the health department in Erie to get them. I found out at lunch that the basketball game I was to attend was cancelled because of ice on the roads. (Go Wildcats!) When we arrived at Karen's house, my room had fresh cut flowers and a bath set with soap and lotion and lots of fun stuff to pamper myself while there.

 

 

My schedule was set for the week. On Wednesday, I would just hang out and relax. So, we visited the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville. We saw lots of space capsules and even a space shuttle. I crawled into the mercury capsule. (It was not a pretty sight, me getting in and out. Karen likes me enough that she didn't take a picture of that!) An IMAX movie of the Hubble telescope and a visit to Miss Baker's grave (the first Monkeynaut) completed our excursion. Wednesday evening, I was able to celebrate Isaac's birthday with his family. It was really good to see these co-workers for the Kingdom in a relaxed setting and to share stories of ministry.

Thursday, I was to pick up my typhoid meds and spend a few hours at the Cerebral Palsy Center in Huntsville. And, Friday was a Bible study breakfast with some women from Gandy's Cove UMC. Instead, there was four inches of snow and everything was cancelled and / or closed down. It was nice sitting in front of the wood stove watching Celtic Thunder, but I was anxious to do the things that were scheduled. I guess God had other plans, R & R!

 

I sometimes don't take time for myself. Don't take time for friends, to really develop those relationships. This was the perfect time to do that. It took me a little while, but, I was able to be grateful to God for the down time, for the BEAUTIFUL scenery and for getting everyone home safe! Lessons learned or reinforced...take time for me, relationships and gratefulness.

Communication

It's hard to communicate with people, to develop a relationship with them, if you don't understand their language and if you can't speak their language. You don't even have to be in a foreign country to misunderstand what is being said, a generation or two difference between people can at times be worlds apart in the vernacular!

When I live in Ghana, I will have to learn how to speak Dagaare in order to develop relationships with the children at the orphanage and with the people in the community. Dagaare is not a wide spread language. It is spoken only in the Lawra region and in southern Burkina Faso. You can't go to a school to learn Dagaare. You learn it by being totally immersed within that language group and by possibly hiring a language helper.

So, in order to get a "jump" on things, I decided to open up the language booklet to see if there is anything I can learn on my own. Of course, there are letter combinations I have never seen in English! I started out this morning with something simple, "Fo wa song," which means "I bid you welcome" when talking to one person. The response is a little more difficult, "Oo, sori waa maarong." I'll try that when I know the greeting without having to stop & think about it.

As I looked through this language booklet, I saw the heading In the Home. I thought that might be helpful, so I looked at the list of words:bedspread, brush, chair, fan...gun! Axe! Now, those are two things that I don't use here. The axe would be used to cut firewood. But, a gun? I'm thinking for hunting, maybe?

OK, I'll try the list In the Chief's House. The chief is kinda like the mayor, he is the head of the village. Here is part of that list: drum, servant, throne, palace, gong, head gear...executioner! Hmmm. I think I better make friends with the chief rather quickly!

Anyway, many times, communication is not easy. And, it may include words, phrases, idioms that we would not normally use. But, in order to have a deep relationship with another, communication is of the utmost importance whether you are speaking to your friend, spouse, or child. We all need to learn to communicate so that we can hear and respond appropriately, in love and help that person come into relationship with the One who loves us the most!

Teenage Friends

I just returned from having lunch with two teenage friends. I almost didn't go because I had "stuff to do." I am so glad I went. I feel so privileged to have teenagers in my life that aren't embarrassed to be seen in public with a 55 year old woman. I did a couple of errands with them in addition to eating out. I am so glad I went. They keep me young. And, in some small way, I am impacting their lives. One of these two - the boy - even called me up on Saturday to wish me "Happy Valentine's Day!" How sweet is that?

Also this week I had the opportunity to shop with another teenager. I needed something for my trip to Ghana and needed her input. We stopped at three stores to find the best item, then went to Starbucks. It was such a good couple of hours.

So often I tend to stay home by myself. Once I'm out, I'm ok, but it's getting out that's hard. Maybe it's because right now it's so cold out. Maybe it's because I travel so much I like to stay home when I can. The problem comes when I don't go out to be among friends for more than a week or so. Then, depression can set in. I tend to sleep too much at those times, and shun others.

That's not how God made us. God made us to be relational beings. And, even though it might be hard to step outside some days, I'm always grateful I did. So, to my "Favorite Four Teenages"...keep calling!