A Tro Tro Adventure

The day was Friday. I needed to be in Wa for a 4:00 meeting. "I'll leave my house by noon," I told myself. After I finished everything that needed to be done before leaving Lawra, I locked my door before11:00! I walked into Lawra Town to the tro station and saw a zillion Senior Secondary School students. They were on Easter holiday! And, they all wanted a seat on the tro. So, I prayed a prayer, "O Lord, PLESE let me get a seat on this tro." I went up to the station master and bought my ticket. "Thank You, Jesus!" Of course, there was no change for my ten Ghana Cedi note. I was to receive two Ghana Cedis in change. "I will give it to you," I was told. I asked who was the driver and asked him if I could sit in the front seat - wrong choice! But, there is more leg room.

 

The driver was getting ready to leave. So, he opened the passenger door and lifted the seat. Then, he did something with the wires or engine or whatever. And, the car started! He flipped the seat back down and we all entered. One of the female students sat next to me, in the middle. And, we were off! Yes, it did feel like we were on a race track. The trip gave me plenty of reasons to pray! I am thinking to myself, "There is a curve in the road - TURN!" The driver did turn, but, never slowed down a bit. Oh, I imagined all kinds of things...fishtailing, sliding on the dry, dirt road.... Then, two tro tros are coming in the opposite direction at the iron ONE LANE bridge. Yet, our driver doesn't slow down. The first tro crosses the bridge and continues towards Lawra. Then, we proceed onto the bridge, at an uncomfortable speed, just missing the other tro. Praise God, we were safe! I decided it would be best if I just closed my eyes for the rest of the trip.

 

As we entered the larger towns, Jeripa and Nadowli, I open my eyes. When I touched my glasses to reposition them, the lens fell out. "Thank You, Jesus, I am on my way to Wa. Please let the Red Cross Optical be open." I put my glasses in my bag. The driver honks his horn and flies through each town. We made it to Wa safely, because of the grace of God. We made excellent time! And, I was provided with the opportunity of doing a LOT of praying!

 

Just another day in the Upper West!

 

 

The Story - My Story

 

The epilogue of The Story ends with this sentence, "The chapter with your name is about to be written." Hmmm....a chapter in The Story is pretty close to a book of the Bible. How would my chapter read? Would it be all "fluff", good reading when one is so tired that eyes are almost closed? Would it be a comedy? A love story? (I doubt it.) Or, would it be a chapter of heartache and broken dreams? Would there be adventure? Will it be a mystery? Or just history? How will it end?

 

I think the chapter would include all of the above. Most of all, I pray it would be a story of redemption, a story of someone who, in their own way, searched for something. A story of searching for Someone and found Him. A love story, yes, but not your typical love story. I pray it will be a chapter of grace - grace received and grace given. I pray that my chapter will be a source of help, and quite possibly, inspiration, to others. When others read about the good, bad and ugly of my life and read how God has used it to glorify the Father, maybe they won't give up, but, press on towards the goal.

 

So, my friends, since my chapter is not in this book, or any other, feel free to ask me about how God has made a beautiful stained glass window out of the broken glass shards of my life. Let's talk! I know that my God can do the same for you! 

Anger or Compassion - What Is Your Choice?

 

Many times, as I read Scripture, something that I always took for granted jumps out at me. I was reading about Jesus' ministry and the thing that jumped out at me was His compassion. He looked out at the crowds and had compassion for them...they were like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus performed miracle to glorify the Father, but, I also believe that He did what no human could ever do because He had compassion for them. If Jesus was 100% human without being God, too, I am sure that He would have gotten angry more often. He may have wanted "His own space." He was always being pulled towards people and their needs. It wasn't often when Jesus heard a "Thank you." And, did anyone truly understand who He was and what His mission was all about while Jesus walked the earth? He was patient because of His compassion. He touched the untouchables because of His compassion. There was a time, He told the same basic story three times, so people would "get it" because of His compassion. (Lost sheep, coin and son in Luke 15.)

 

Then, I look at myself, at my actions, reactions, thoughts towards people. Are they always compassionate? I think not. My initial reaction oftentimes is to get upset, or angry, although I don't often act on that reaction. I forget that I am an American, with a different world view than the people with whom I work. We have been taught differently. We accept different behaviors as normal. We have different ideas on what should be done in many circumstances. It is OK to do things differently. People who live here know what works, I don't. (example -my garden!)

 

I know that I need to see what Jesus sees more often, not what Sue sees. I need to feel in my heart what the Lord feels. I need to pray more often and more seriously for the people with whom I work. Yes, there will be times of teaching and testing, both of myself and the people. We'll get through those times. God will bless us because of them...because He will be glorified. I will learn. The people of Kalsagri will learn. And, our lives will be a better reflection of the One we serve.

A Household god

What does this picture look like to you? To me, it looks like a pile of rocks with two sticks standing up in it. To the people who live in the compound where I saw this, it is a "household god" or "family god." This surprised me because I know that the people who live in this compound are Christian, they go to my church. At least some of them are and do.

 

I asked about this "god." I knew that ancestors are very important in this area. This "god" is the "god" of the grandfather of the family. The grandfather has passed and so has everyone of his generation. So, I asked, "If the grandfather is dead, why not destroy the 'god?'" "Oh, Mama, we can't do that." was the response I was given. "Why? I am just a nasapog (white woman), I don't understand." "Because the community will not allow it." "The community? As in the elders of the community?" "Yes, Mama. They will not allow it." "What will happen if your father destroys the 'god?'" "The community will get angry and my father will have to pay some money." "What happens if he doesn't pay?" They will come for him." And so the conversation went on.

 

It is obvious that there is fear involved in removing the idol. There are others inside the house, too. So, are people living for Jesus but, hanging onto their Traditional beliefs? Or are people really afraid to rid their homes of "gods" made out of wood and stone? Please pray for the people of Kalsagri, that fear would give way to the peace of Christ and that people would be willing to stand up for their beliefs. Ghana is a Christian nation. Here, in the Upper West, not so much. May people embrace the One who gave His life so they may be free of such things and live life to the fullest!



Off Aain, On Again

Many of you have asked me to write about everyday life in Lawra. Life in Lawra is great. It is a blessing to have the privilege to live here. But, it does have its challenges. Electricity is not stable. Often the current is low so much that if you are using something that pulls a lot of electricity, don't bother. It won't work. That is one reason why I haven't pushed for my a/c unit to be serviced since I returned. If the electricity is weak, how do I know my a/c is working properly?

 

The other issue is "lights off." (No electricity.) Sometimes it is planned, sometimes it is not. Evidently, Lawra is on a four day schedule. Every four days, lights go off at 6 pm or so and go back on at 2 am, eight hours later. Sometimes it is shorter, sometimes longer. It really helps to know the schedule. And, I am so grateful that we are not on the Accra schedule which is 12 hours on, 24 hours off.

 

It is the unplanned, unscheduled lights off that can be annoying. The weekends seem to be a favorite time for VRA (Volta River Authority, my electric company) to work on transformers. So, lights go off for awhile, come back on for an hour or so and go back off again. Or, they may flicker off and on. That can't be healthy for any kind of electronics! Yesterday was Monday, and lights were off again on again most of the day because of work on a transformer. Then, last night was our scheduled night to have lights off.

 

The moral of the story? Keep everything charged. Unplug favorite electronics before you leave the house. Use a stabilizer (to try to keep the current from jumping too high.) Be grateful for the times you do have electricity!

ABC's of Life in Lawra

A Ali's Tea Shop is the BEST place (and only place) to buy bread and egg.
B Bicycle repair shop is under the tree at daily market
C Cakes - local cakes are made out of white bean flour and look like tortillas. They are eaten with fresh vegetables.
D Daily market is where you go to buy your vegetables.
E Eggs have brown shells
F Fruit is not easily available, but, when it is...yum!
G Ghana Post Office is where I pick my mail. There is no home delivery.
H Harmattan is a season of cooler temperatures, high winds, no rain. It is usually mid November to mid February.
I Indigenous people group with whom I work is the Dagaba. 
J Juju is anything worn to prevent evil spirits from attacking you, usually in the form of some type of necklace or bracelet.
K Kalsagri is the village where I do most of my work. The church for which I am a caretaker is in Kalsagri.
L Lights out (no electricity) happens periodically. It is a way of life.
M Maakum is the Dagaari word for "Grandmother," a name that is music to my ears.
N Naa is the word for "Chief." The Traditional government has a chief and runs through the bloodline.
O Oppressive. During hot season, temperatures can reach 120 degrees - very oppressive!
P Parcel. Receiving a parcel in the mail is most exciting.
Q Q...there is no "Q" in the local language. A "kw" makes the needed sound.
R Religions. The three main religions of the area are Traditional, Muslim and Christian.
S Superintendent Minister. I work along side The Methodist Church Ghana, and more specifically with the superintendent minister posted in Lawra, the Very Rev. Ernest K. Baiden.
T Tro tro is how I travel to the nearest city. A tro tro is a van that has seen better days and travels between Lawra and Wa.
U Under a mango tree is the best place to relax on a hot afternoon.
V Vegetables are quite limited here. If you like okra, you will be ok!
W Weekly market is a much larger market and a variety of items are sold. It occurs every six days!
X Xylophones are made locally. They are made from teak wood and calabashes.
Y Yelmenga, the Dagaare word for "Truth" or "True." Everything on this list is true!
Z Zinnias grow wild during rainy season.

 

 

Home Again

 

I arrived in Ghana on Tuesday, February 17, 2015. But, I didn't arrive home until Friday, the 20th. Jasper picked me up at the airport. Then, I exchanged money and went meat and cheese shopping before going to the Jackson's house to spend two nights. When we arrived, I discovered one of my suitcases was broken and in a matter of minutes, I dropped my phone which was now beyond repair! I was thankful for the phone that was given me while in the US. I put my stuff in the freezer. Later that night, the electricity went out. (Accra is on a schedule 12 hours on, 24 hours off.) I prayed my food would survive!

 

Wednesday, Charlie took me to Vodafone to buy a new one. (The phone from the US does not support the apps I use. The operating system could not be updated. But, it works great as a second phone!) I also prepared for my trip north. We decided to take two days, not pushing a 14+ hour drive in one day. Jasper and I left Sunyani on Thursday, and on to Lawra, Friday. We stayed with the Methodist bishop in Sunyani. His deep freeze was working fine and the electricity was on, so everything of mine was solid before we left on Friday. On Friday, we stopped in Wa so I could buy vegetables at the market. Lettuce was available! We arrived in Lawra around 1:00 in the afternoon. There were things to be done before going to my house...greet the pastor, drop off donations to the Lawra Methodist Children's Centre and buy fuel.

 

Finally, home! Sydney was there to greet me and unlock the door. The truck was unloaded and Jasper was on his way back to Accra. I was greeted with dust...EVERYWHERE! I had to clean as I started to unpack and put things away. Even so, it was good to be home!

 

Since Friday, I have had my motorcycle serviced, twice. Once for an oil change and a new battery and once for a flat tire. The tube was spoiled. The plumber is here for the second time. Yesterday, he fixed the kitchen sink. Today, he is fixing the wash sink. The clothes line was spoiled and needed replaced. Monday, the laundry was done and floors were well cleaned. I also found out that I needed to buy a new SIM card for my internet. the one I had was too old! I have worshipped in Kalsagri, visited the pastor, the Lawra Methodist Primary School, and the Tea Shop. I visited daily market and saw some of the ladies from Kalsagri selling their shea butter. (See above picture.) Now, I am trying to catch up on church work, emails, etc. Even though the pastor told me to rest this week, it hasn't happened much. I am just so glad to be home! I thank God for bringing me back safely. 

Packing for Home

I leave “home” tomorrow to return to my “home.” Which one is my REALLY REAL home is a topic for another blog. Today’s topic is packing.What do I pack when I live in an area where there is so little available and I am traveling from an area where so much is available. Well, here is a list of things that I’d like to pack, but can’t:

• my sister, brothers and extended family
• friends
• worship in English
• hot and cold running water
• snow, for those really, really hot days
• dependable electricity
• a bathtub
• Tula’s pool
• nice, clean rest stops
• home delivery of mail
• the privilege of having a toilet in which I can flush used TP
• home pick up of garbage and recycling
• a/c when it is hot and heat when it is cold
• a washer and drier
• my bed at Nancy’s lake house
• easily accessible doctors
• the ability to shop for whatever I would ever need or want

I will be satisfied with packing some new clothes, Yankee candles, Smith’s hot dogs and tons of other stuff And, I will thank God for providing me the means to acquire all these things for myself and others. May I bless others as I have been blessed.

Random Thoughts

 

As I sit here and look out over frozen Lake Erie, my mind is filled with random thoughts. The first one is...I'm headed home in 10 days! At least, that's when the journey will begin. Although I would never have chosen to return to the United States last September, I am grateful for the things I have experienced since I have been here. And, if all my experiences weren't positive, there was a lesson to be learned in each one of them.

 

Now, I wonder...do I really want to retire in Erie? There is snow here - LOTS of snow. I would miss my brother and sister who live in Erie, but, with modern technology, we keep in touch even when I am in Ghana. Visiting churches makes me examine myself to really see how I respond to visitors to my church. Are they welcomed? Do THEY feel welcomed? What would I do differently at the church in Kalsagri? I hope I will become more aware of those worshipping with us and take more time with people, not just hop on my motorcycle to go home. Medical issues...I am grateful to have had the knee replaced. I am not grateful for the medical bills. I am grateful that God has provided me means to pay them, even if it takes awhile. I am grateful for the people and places I have seen in the past several months. I have celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas with family. I have attended the wedding of my nephew. I have gone to The Mission Society office to re-connect. I have gone on vacation. I have visited with friends.

 

I am more than ready to move on and go home. I leave in TEN days. I can't wait. Ghana is more home to me than Erie is at this point. Packing is a challenge, even with extra luggage. I am blessed to have so much "stuff" to take back, some for myself, some for others. And, food. I am taking back some food, some things to celebrate special days...hot dogs for Memorial Day. Stuff like that. I am looking forward to worshipping in Kalsagri and seeing my church family again. Oh, how my heart yearns to see them again.

 

Enough of that. Let's just say, my mind is working overtime these days. Ghana, I miss you.  See you soon!

Bus Travel the Greyhound Way

In January, I had the opportunity to travel by Greyhound bus. Boy, was I in for culture shock! First of all, I bought my tickets online. There was actually a schedule of when and where to join on the bus, when and where it would take a break for a rest stop and when and where it would stop and I would alight. 

When I entered the bus station, I noticed right away that it was a clean, shiny bus station! I took my luggage to the desk where it was weighed. I was told how much to pay according to the weight, not just an arbitrary amount, but one that was used across the board!

 

I waited inside until it was time to board the bus. It was clean and comfortable...with wash rooms and flush toilets! (With toilet paper AND running water at the sinks AND soap!)

As I sat and waited, I watched the activity outside the windows, by the buses. Then, I saw it...a bright yellow plastic STEP to more easily get inside the bus. What will they think of next? The announce-ment was made to board the bus, so we all lined up, showed the driver our tickets and found a seat.

 

The bus was not full, so I was able to find a seat by the window. No one sat beside me. The bus left the station before it was full! I had two seats all to myself! In the back of the bus was a wash room! And, under the windows were electrical outlets so people could keep their electronics charged. The ride was smooth and blessedly quiet. We stopped at the rest stop on time and arrived at our final destination on time. Greyhound Bus Lines...I love you!



Bus Travel the Metro Mass Transit Way

 

 

When I travel in Ghana, it is usually on public transport. I love living in Lawra, but, it is not the easiest place to travel to or from. When I need to travel ANYWHERE except Wa, the day begins long before the sun comes up. I leave my house at 3:30 in the morning, carrying my baggage to the bus "station" in downtown Lawra so I can get a seat on the Metro Mass Transit bus going to my destination . Some mornings the bats are swooping down as I walk, sometimes not. Once, I walked through a torrential deluge. Needless to say, I was soaked way before I entered the bus.

Once on the bus, I look for an empty seat and settle in for the duration. It is comfortable at first, the sun is not up, so the heat is not yet stifling. We stop many times along the way, picking up passengers and dropping them off.



People bring whatever they can on the bus. Room in the boot is limited, so the aisles are frequently full of all kinds of things: luggage, yams, paint, chickens, Big 50kg bags of rice or produce...When we have a rest stop, it is challenging to make it to the door. The facilities at the rest stop are usually behind a building, parked vehicle, tree or some other vegetation. But, that is not always the case. Once in a while, there is actually a urinal or maybe just an open space where I take my cues from other women on the bus. The rest areas that I am used to as an American, are not even a dream here. (That is why I quit drinking most everything 6-8 hours before I travel.)



 

 When it is raining, one has to be careful. If you have a window seat, you most likely will get wet. Once, I was on a bus where the water came up through the floor every time we went through any size of a puddle of water. It made for an interesting ride!

After a long day of heat, dust and bumpy roads, my destination is reached. Praise God! In the midst of  a smooth or bumpy ride, heat or rain, break downs or not, I have always reached my journey's end safely. Metro Mass Transit...Moving the Nation!

 

 

 



The Best Sunday Ever

I have visited several churches while in the US. It is amazing to me to see how many churches are unfriendly. Unless I go with a friend, or am the "missionary speaker" for the day, no one greeted me or noticed that I was a visitor. They just handed me a bulletin.  Hmmm....am I that way in Kalsagri? Anyway, this past Sunday, I returned to a church that I had visited with friends. But, I was by myself and at an earlier service. I was handed a bulletin...walked in...and someone greeted me! Asked if I was visiting and had a conversation with me! I sat down, introduced myself to the people who were sitting in the same pew and read the bulletin since the service had not started yet. And, I read...

the prelude was to be The Birthday of a King. I love that song! Sure wished the choir sang it, but, the music was the next best thing! As I continued to read, I saw that the service included John Wesley's Covenant Service. Thank You, Jesus! Love it. It is the ONLY way to start the new year. And, to top it off...communion! O, what a blessed service. The Spirit of the Lord was definitely in that place!

 

So, now, I will leave you with Wesley's Covenant Prayer. As you read it, meditate on the words...can you really pray that prayer with all your heart?

I am no longer my own, but Thine.Put me to what Thou wilt, rank me with whom Thou wilt.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed for Thee or laid aside for Thee,

exalted for Thee or brought low for Thee.

Let me be full, let me be empty.

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and heartily yield all things to Thy pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

Thou art mine, and I am Thine.

So be it.

And the covenant which I have made on earth,

let it be ratified in heaven.

Amen.

 

Words for a New Year

The other day I was in a bookstore in Erie, PA and came across the book, Shepherd of Many. It is a book of "lessons" or sayings of Msgr. James Peterson. I knew Father Peterson many, many years ago. As the old year has ended and a new one has begun, I would like to leave with you some of his lessons:

 

~The future will be no more important than today, not in its work or ministry or prayer. No moment is more important or valuable than the present moment.

~God is in charge. I'm the director. I'm only here.

~You have to forgive, not excuse.

~Don't ask about changing the situation. Ask about changing your heart.

~Remember Mary doing laundry pleasing God where she was.

~It takes humility to accept God's gifts and courage to use them.

~God wants your friendship more than your ministry.

~Seek trust, not understanding. When you trust, nothing else is needed.

~You're in God's care. You don't have to rush Him. Stop trying to help Him so much.

~There's a world of difference between the uncertainty that is frightening and the uncertainty that is promising.

 

There are many more lessons in this little book. But, if I learn the ones listed above, I will have learned a LOT!

 

May God be with you and draw you close to Him in this New Year.