The Comforts of Home

 



When I moved to Ghana in February 2011, I brought with me necessities...towels, sheets, clothes, flashlight, insect repellent...oh, and Mr. Mooey! When I returned to Ghana in March 2013, from my visit to the USA, I brought "the comforts of home." My home was comfortable before I left. But, now, it is truly a space where I can rest, relax and renew as well as work, receive guests and bless others. Here is a partial list of the "comforts" that came to Ghana with me:

~ Heinz Ketchup, made in the USA

~ Yankee candles

~ a variety of Bibles

~ more sheets & towels

~ a flip flop shaped pillow (for my beach themed bed room)

~ a variety of crosses for a collage on my living room wall

~ DECAF coffee, hazelnut is my favorite!

~ hazelnut and vanilla flavored coffee creamer

~ pots and pans

~ Starbucks coffee mugs and a mug tree

~ an iPod and tiny speaker

~ slippers

~ STAMPING SUPPLIES...stamps, inks, papers, ribbons, glue, punches, etc.

~ pictures of family and friends

~ office supplies

~ journals

~ decorative pillows

~ a french press

~ books

 

Even without all these "spoiled American" items, God has helped me make my house a home. But, I am getting older and I am here for the long haul. Thank You, Lord for providing all of this for me!



Harvest

In Ghana, harvest time is very important, not only at the end of the farming season, but throughout the entire year. When I first attended a Harvest in 2007, I had in mind what most Americans would have in mind. After all, it was fall, and I imagines celebrating the crops that grew by the grace of God, during the season. But, no, when a "Harvest" is held, it is much different than what I had pictured in my mind.

 

On May 12, the Babile Methodist Church had a Harvest. During the month before this took place, envelopes with the name of the church, the date of the Harvest and other pertinent information printed on it, were given out to church members, community members and any other people who might be interested in financially supporting the church, since a Harvest is a fundraiser!  

May 12 came and I rode on the back of a motorcycle to the Babile church about 1/2 hour away. The church service was great. Surely, the presence of the Lord was in this place. The Very Reverend Ernest Baiden gave a very Biblical sermon on giving. Then, the "festivities" began. First, the normal offering was taken. Then, the envelopes were given. Next a plea for money was given, starting with anyone who could give 50 Ghana cedis all the way down to 1 Ghana cedi. Each amount was pleaded for separately.

 

Now, the fun began! People brought items from home to sell, to auction off and the proceeds would go to the church. There was millet, Guinea fowl eggs, groundnuts, both in and out of the shell, corn, water sachets, rice...You get the picture. It was so much fun to watch and listen to the bidding. When I saw the groundnuts, I KNEW some would be mine...let the bidding begin!

 

I had to be patient, as the water, millet, rice, cassava, even the eggs were auctioned off first. Finally, they came to the shelled, raw groundnuts. The bidding started at 6 Ghana cedis...it went to 7, then, 7.50, 8, 8.50...I finally bought my bay of groundnuts for 10 Ghana cedis (about $5.35 USD). (I took them home and roasted them a few days later. I will be eating groundnuts until the end of June!)

 





After the auction, there was another plea for money, this time, each church represented came forward to place their money in the collection box. The goal was to see which church would "win" by putting in the most money. Of course, Kasalgri, my church, won by 5 Ghana cedis! It was a close race, announcing a winner, then more money given, announcing the new winner, more money given, etc.

At the end of the day, a total of 1580.70 Ghana cedis were given. And, because of a donation by Wesley UMC in Erie, PA, that amount was matched. The church will put a new roof on and start putting in louver windows. It was a wonderful day. Each person there contributed to the cause. They worked hard to raise this money. And, now, after so long, there will be a roof on the church. No more dodging the sun and the rain. Praise God for His provision!

Specs

 

God has provided through Cornwall, UMC. A man I met there last fall happens to be a motorcycle instructor in the state of Pennsylvania. When I was speaking and mentioned that I was hoping God would provide me with the means to buy a motorcycle/motorscooter when I returned to Ghana, he made sure that it would be provided. So, here it is...Thank You, Jesus. The LORD has provided! 

 

A colleague of mine, Ron B., was wondering about the specs of my bike. So, Ron, this part is for you...please remember I live in a remote area of Ghana:

My bike has:

~ two wheels

~ four gears PLUS nuetral

~ a down shift AND an up shift pedal

~ a kickstand

~ handlebars

~ turn signals

~ a horn

~ a light

~ a seat

~ a place to put your feet

~ a gas tank that holds 5 Ghana cedis worth of gas

~ brakes

~ a battery

~ two tires and tubes

~ acceleration

~ two mirrors that I have a hard time getting "just right"

~ two key fobs which will lock & set the alarm, only one has never worked

~ two keys to the gas tank

~ a place to put the "number plate"

~ a wire rack to put a small package or water bottle

~ an exhaust pipe

~ I am sure there is more, I just don't know what it is. :-)

 

I did ask for an owners manual. The shop owner tried not to laugh. He did give me a generic one, but not specific to my "Sunny Best 110."

 

Learning to drive is not in my comfort zone and it is WAY beyond my learning zone, it is in my TRUSTING the LORD zone!

 

 

Choices...

I know in the United States, health insurance can be a controversial issue. But, for the most part, parents have health insurance for their children. There are government agencies that help to provide insurance if the parents cannot afford it. Most children are able to see a doctor if they get sick.

But, what happens if a parent has to make a choice...does the family get food today? Or do the children get health insurance? That is the question, and sometimes it is a difficult one to answer. Parents know that their children will get sick. They will get malaria. They will get dehydrated. They will get parasites. But, can they really chose not to eat today so that when someone gets sick they will be able to see a doctor and be able to get the needed medicines? Even at the low cost of health insurance, it is a tough choice for parents.

Today, because of the generosity of people in the United States, 109 children were signed up for health insurance. A young girl in western PA told her pastor that she emptied her piggy bank so the sick children could see a doctor and get well. As I sat and talked with the children and played with them, their parents would come up to me and thank me. It was a humbling experience, an emotional one, too. I responded with, "Thank God!" It is because of Him all of this was possible. One hundred nine children is a start, a drop in the bucket in an area where people struggle to feed their families. Hopefully, this will be repeated in January. And, then, too, I will respond with, "It isn't me, it is God. Thank Him." And, thank all of you who have supported this project. God bless you!

God Winks



Do you know that God winks at you? He really does! You can catch Him winking at you everyday! A "God wink" is when God lets you know He is with you, that He is watching over you and taking care of you. It isn't in the "moving mountains" type of stuff or the "throwing lightening down from heaven" type of stuff. It is in those little, everyday occurrences that people would say is "coincidence," but really, it is God.

This past weekend was full of God winks. I had traveled to Tamale with a friend on Thursday. When we arrived, Janette was not feeling well at all. I was starting to feel "green at the gills."So, we greeted Nancy & Bob and went to our separate beds! My Cipro was almost finished, so Bob went out and bought us each our own package for the morning. (God wink.) When morning did arrive, Janette wasn't any better and I was worse. So, we went to the lab to get pricked. We both had malaria! So, Dr. Mom and Dr. Dad took us to buy meds and sent us back to bed. (God wink.) (Of course, we had to stop at the craft shops on the way. And, I found EXACTLY what I was looking for to give someone back in the US...God wink!) Lawrence had bought us return tickets to Wa for Saturday. I stayed in Tamale and he traveled with Janet to Lawra. His father was in the hospital and Lawrence wanted to visit him. So, the ticket didn't go to waste. (God wink.) Lawrence spent time with his father, talked with him, prayed with him several times. His father died early Sunday morning. (BIG God wink.) I spent the day drinking tea, taking meds and napping...and buying pork chops! (God wink.) Sunday morning, before we went to church we were talking about how disconnected the pastor preaches. When we arrived at church, there was a guest speaker with an EXCELLENT sermon! (God wink.) Bob was able to purchase a ticket for me to travel home without him knowing somebody who knew somebody who knew somebody who could get me a ticket. (God wink.) And, when I arrived in Wa, I ran into Sarah and Pegi who took my large bag in their car for me. They didn't have room for me, but they had room for my bag! (God wink.) And, when I arrived at the tro tro station with a new friend, there were only two tickets left for Lawra, so the both of us could get on the tro and not have to wait. (God wink.)

The whole weekend was filled with these little glimpses of God watching over me and providing for me, just what I needed, when I needed it. Thank You, Jesus!