Home, Sweet Home

Home, sweet home. It's so nice to be home again. There is something very comforting about being home. It's at home when I am most content. It's at home I can be myself and feel/express whatever emotion I am feeling without having someone wonder about it. Everything at home is familiar-clothes, food, rooms, books, storage, and the veranda...my place where I have my time with the Lord. I can study at home. I can work at home...sometimes. The children come to play at my house. I love to hear them call to me, "Maakum! Maakum!" and see their smiling and expectant faces.I provide an island of familiarity to expats from Europe and the United States. When a respite is needed for these volunteers, I can provide it. But, most of all, being at home means being with "my people." God has given me family and friends for this chapter of my life. They are the people with whom I work and "play," those with whom I live among-the Dagaaba of the Upper West Region of Ghana, in the Lawra area. 

Life can be very challenging at times. I had three different plumbers here for a total of five times before my toilet was fixed! The ATM machine was broken. When it was fixed, it wouldn't take my US bank card. The next closest ATM machine is a two hour one way trip away. I can arrive at church on a Sunday morning, and no one is there, not even at the time the service is supposed to start. Being sick can present it's own set of challenges, too.

Praise God! He has a plan for all of these challenges. I am happy to say that the toilet was fixed before I got sick. And, when I was sick, I had the luxury of soft toilet paper that I bought in Accra, 15 hours away! When I traveled to Wa to use the ATM machine, I was able to buy "soft chicken" and potatoes for Christmas dinner that was shared with Ghanaians and expats alike. The Physician's Assistant is a good friend, and makes house calls! And, even thought it was VERY cold on Christmas Day (80 degrees F)  and no one was in church at 9:30 am, there were 20 people who came to worship Emmanuel, God with us! Even now, there are children's voices coming from my veranda. What a sweet sound. 

Home, sweet home. It's so good to be "home." Yet, I am a stranger here in Lawra because I am not Ghanaian. And, I am a stranger in this world because I am a follower of Jesus. I look forward to someday being in my Heavenly home...just not yet!

Morning Visitors

Yesterday morning I was moving slowly. I had been sick most of the night. So, I wasn't on the veranda having my quiet time as early as usual. As I was getting my Bible and other things ready, I heard a small voice, "Maakum! Maakum!" It was Boniface. He still had his pajamas on. He wanted to play. "Good morning, Boniface. You can come sit, but it is too early to play. It is Bible time. You can read the Christmas story." I brought out a Children's Bible and we began to read together. He read the easy words and I read the hard words. Within a few minutes, two more children arrived. They, too, were still in their pajamas. They always watch my house to see when I allow others on my veranda, then they come over to join us. Now, one extra person for quiet time is fine. And, helping one person to read is about what this Maakum can handle. I NEEDED my time with the Lord, plus, I still wasn't feeling well. (I had big plans of going to the clinic for medication.) So, Boniface finished reading the story. We talked about it small. Then, I sent everyone home. There would be plenty of time to play later.

Who was your divine appointment yesterday morning?